Birthday edition

 

Recently it was my birthday although I never feel older because for medical reason's I've never and can't really grow up as in being an adult although I can be mature and learn some new things so inevitable birthdays for me are little.

This year was no exception except for the arrival of a couple of soft bodied dolls.

Although they're not as 'classy'  as some dolls, the little loves ones are pretty good value  and my version of 'Lucy' which is 14 inches in height  was the one on the left with the big pink bow coning with a nice dress and leggings.

A nice touch is that the eyes shut when she's on her back sleeping. 

That's 'Jessica' a 18 inch Gotz soft bodied creation which being that size it's easy to get new dolly clothes for such summer outfits and school uniforms to dress her in. 

Her box was a bit damaged but she's fine so I was able to get her at a discount as after all I have dolls to handle and play with rather than that sad boxed collectors stuff that sits on shelves gathering dust.

I had some money, a few cds and finally got the outstanding Christmas present from me brother!

The Bay City Rollers and I Pt.III

The last instalment of this series from January 2011, looked at four original albums that meant a lot to me at the time and how they were received. 

Some artists have a relatively simple recorded history that sees all their commercially released recordings being on regular albums and perhaps a "Best Of".

Like many British groups the Bay City Rollers had a number of singles not issued on album, unique singles mixes and exclusive 'B' sides because over here issuing singles from from albums fans have already bought is looked down upon.

This new entry looks at a couple of compilations.

This was the second attempt in Japan in 1977 to create a compilation and remains a most essential choice on vinyl because it takes all the UK singles in their original forms from the 1971 Jonathan King produced Keep On Dancing in the original mono to the string less  version of Give A Little Love of July 1975 compiling them in release order with the often non album b sides.

As the title suggests the emphasis is on their earlier recordings.

It also has Mary Anne, the B side of Money Honey which was included on the UK Dedication album and Mama Li, the B side of Love Me Like I Love You and two Japan singles.

The twenty six tracks are spread across two lps for the best sound quality while being more convenient than changing the original 45's by hand every three minutes rather than the auto changers we had with a few stacked up at a time.

It does sound very good.

Following a series of changes in the bands membership and after the issue of the It's A Game album and single, Arista in the US felt the need to issue a compilation even if the first US album "Bay City Rollers" was just that pulled from the UK Rollin' and Once Upon A Star albums.

Most issues followed the US version from the stingy five tracks per side and album art but a number of European countries had their own versions which were different.

This is the original West German version which is particularly useful for having both 1976 non album singles Love Me Like I Love You and the cover of Dusty Springfield's I Only Wanna Be With You, Money Honey outside of its appearance on the UK Dedication album coupled with the lovely decision to start each side with their most current singles from the It's A Game album.

This album featured the North American and continental Europe Yesterday's Hero and Rock & Roll Love Letter singles, the latter being a Power Pop gem.

Keep On Dancing on this album is the remake in stereo for the Once Upon A Star album.

Of the single lp best of editions this is the one that showcases the Rollers talents the best and compliments that Japan Early Collection double well. 

Things from the past

That's cool. I mean it's sunny of not exactly warm today as I was out walking around locally, taking in the smell of the farms, seeing the lambs in the fields grazing and even watching with amazing a flock of over forty birds take of in a 'W' formation from a field near the woods circling just above me. They were all occupying the field ready for it.
Isn't nature just so awesome?

I just so loved watching it patiently as a child usually as we walked to school along the sidewalks and farmers fields unless we were fortunate to get a lift with one of them taking their daughters to school in his car with mud covered tires.

 That's the tie I had on when I was with some friends, a silk deadringer for the one I had at Junior school where we kinda had to wear it.

 

The photo didn't quite do full justice to the badge - and two schools I attended we did have prefects and house systems -  so here's one of it in its shield design.

Some schools use either rectangular or rounded badges to denote such earned status.

Did I ever say I did on a few occasions I got mentioned in 'Special Mentions'  on Friday weekly assemblies and given a badge to wear on top of my uniform connected with it? 

Going forward with a Bear

Before I get out for some breakfast ready for a kickabout here's a post.

 I recently saw this motivational piece of art a few weeks back and I feel it's kind of apt really not least with me, working with one person to assist me and having a bit to do with others who are working on things that hold us back be it unhelpful attitudes, perhaps learning the 'wrong' lessons from our past experiences or struggling with organizing life.

 Sometimes it's easy to go with easy, to think that the only things to do are just fun things and rely perhaps more than is good for you on others, ignoring the things that others may have gotten their heads around.

But it's never a all or nothing situation as being 'on the move' puts you ahead of those who aren't and as hard as the last two months have been for me making changes, living with rather more accountability than I'm used to, I am making progress which makes it all worthwhile, not least feeling calm enough to do things that have bad memories for me.

As you might recall, something unexpected was given to me at Christmas (and I'm still overdue one present!) but it needed shall we say a bit of work to give it some life

That's right the Grafix build your own teddy bear  that needed some groan up assistance with it  as I don't do sowing and so on with my amazingly bad hand to eye co-ordination.

Well at least he's alive is Charlie Bear having been named, having his birth certificate filled out and quite huggable too.
Tis a good life to be a teddy bear of a little.

Playing the game cos nothing has changed

 

Being a little sissy gurl does not mean I have to give up the passions of my boyhood youth because being a sissy gurl does not mean you aren't sporty or physical or that you lack gumpton when it comes to stamina.

I loved playing footy in juniors and early high school for both the competitive game and also for the social side as it was a great means to bond and because I love wearing skirts and dresses no more means I can't than today many girls love playing knowing they're still girls for all that.

It's just about me being the authentic sissy me, that's all.

Because students deserve the best..however they present

 

This is almost right,  I mean something you are going to wear for some seven and a half hours a day in all weathers needs to be comfortable and leave you feeling you really look the smartest you can to reflect your confidence.

This isn't super expensive but has all around box pleats that stay put and the polyester doesn't wrinkle under you was you are sat at the desk.

It is a good length too so it looks modest being at knee length.

Some schools do official list skirts,skorts and dresses in either as options within the boys uniform or just as options for all with very little gender based variations while others leave to you to start negotiations on behalf of your child

I just they should of shot a second picture of a boy in that skirt and featured it in the promotional material as skirts ARE an option for boys and sissies.

The needs of littles II

This entry is a more personalized follow up to the original from August 2013 where I looked at  the role of routines and structure as it applies to the lives of a good number of littles, not all obviously.

Since writing it, It has become clear to me through conversation and observation much of that rings true to differing degrees to a number of us which I suppose kind of validates it but for some of us, additional disability related matters do come in.

For some of us, the limitations are such that what might (cos we're all different) be more a relaxing way to live outside of the demands of work say for some merges more in with in many respects is the limits of our everyday functioning.

It's never the easiest thing for me to say but with the combination of physical disabilities as well as developmental issues that leave me struggling at times with what most past their mid teens can cope with, such considerations as having some fixed routines and structures are critical for getting the best out of life as we can and some sense of independence.

For me, such everyday tasks like going shopping are impacted when you find it hard to recognize what you're looking for, working out how much things cost, handling money and then trying to communicate with the assistant take a lot out of me so I'm feeling quite stressed so if then add things like fresh multiple upselling offers at the tills when I can't process verbal communication particularly well (not least to respond to), words being delivered quickly completely lose me and I'm stood there... Well, lost is the best way to describe it.
You feel like stomping your feet too.

 The first time I became aware of this was about a year after after the playground accident that left me with additional brain damage having been drifting in and out of consciousness on top of that from birth, when out with a  friend while physically disabled using a wheelchair that I was meant to helping him with, it became obvious he was needing to help me rather more with all of that. He could do everything other than physically handling items far better than I could.

I find situations like that very very stressful to the point I could easily snap cos there's too much going on for me to process which is why if I have to engage with such things having fairly common routines and expectations help. You may need to calm me down.

Similarly you could be busy going around people in an unannounced way and I may have no idea that you are and even if you do talk in passing, there's no guaranteeing I've made any sense of it so you do really need to ask me face to face and check I've understood.
I may only know you have from being told much later on!
That was something I found very painful during actual childhood, being the last to know anything.

I do find very necessary to have structures in place to ensure the needs I have such as knowing what I am to do, what I need to do to do it, who is doing what are met to avoid anxiety and do respond much better in situations where I'm told effectively this is what were are going to do next rather than just by trying make sense of what's not directly said.  Cos I won't.

I find keeping to and following plans difficult either by distraction or just not getting around to doing them which is why I'm getting some one on one help with it and other associated issues around accountability and responsibility, for while there are very real limits on what I can be expected to do, I do need help to meet those even.

When you're not in any kind of for want of a better word, a more formal care structure, you're very much left on your own including any programs to help you with such things.

For me it can include both rewards, positive  reinforcement in a more child like way that for some may come in a relationship such as "That's a good gurl" to deal with insecurities I may of tackled well or the completion of an assigned task as well as anything more discipline such as a firm spanking if say I'm on the edge of losing it in again more child-like way as anything very wordy just gets lost completely in a fog of words with me which either results in 'switching off' or getting more frustrated with you.  That's the best use of twenty minutes with me-NOT!

It's also one reason I do say in all sincerity, in a very real sense when I'm out remember  whatever number might be on the birth certificate, you do need to 'look after me' more like you would a child of 12 as I can lose track of you easily and when I'm lost I get very worried plus I'm useless with directions too.

I cannot say learning to come to terms with my needs never mind be honest about them to others has been easy but being able to accept them and prepared to work on those areas I have some potential for improving on is of more help than just flat out denying them.