My Sunday photo 15/09/2019

Autumn date ideas that don't break the bank. **AD**

Hey readers,

Whether you're in a relationship or single we can all admit that autumn is a time to get cosy and spend it with someone you enjoy the company with. 

Running up to Christmas maybe you feel you have to tread cautiously with regarding money and not overspending. 

That does not mean to say you can't have any fun with someone and don't even have to break the bank. 

Below I have written some date ideas that may give you some inspiration on how to have low-cost dates that have lots of fun. 

Film night. 

Get cozy at home, turn down the lights and get the throws out, close the curtains and feel safe in the warm when it is cold and dark outside.

 There is plenty of films on during the autumn months so what better way to spend an evening with someone. 

Cooking.

If your into cooking or baking a fun thing to do is make something together in the kitchen. It creates a relaxed environment and less focus on you and more on the cooking which makes it much more fun. 

Singletons. 

If you are in the singles market and want to have naughty fun with like-minded people then check out datenaughtysingles.co.uk/.  

You can grab a date with no anxiety about putting an impression on because it is all about living in the moment and enjoying yourself with someone with similar needs to you. 

Pumpkin Carving.

Who says pumpkin carving is just for kids. It is a great way to get in the spooky mood and maybe even do a competition to see who can carve the best pumpkin. 

You don't need to go to a fancy pumpkin patch there are plenty of reasonably priced pumpkins in Lidl or Aldi for the fraction of the price. 

Stargazing. 

During Autumn the evenings can be mild and darker earlier so a sweet idea is to get the blankets head outside and lie next to one another cuddling and looking at the stars. 

No strings.

Of course, some people just want to get intimate with no strings attached which are fine because we all have different needs. 

Check out nostringsdating.net  where you can meet like-minded people to keep you warm this autumn ;) 

Board games. 

A fun way to spend an evening is to just the old board games and get competitive to see who can win, it is great way to relax with one another and you will never know where the night will lead.....

Early night. 

In this day and age, we can spend time not on our loved ones but on the old screen. So why not take a night off and go to bed early with your partner and get cosy and cuddly in the sheets. 

It is great way to show you appreciate your partner especially if you ditch the phone to spend some quality time with them, I am sure it will but a smile on their face. 

Bath. 

Nothing is relaxing than sharing a bubble bath with someone you like and it is a perfect way to wind down for the night and feel cosy in autumn. 

What ways do you like to have dates with someone in the autumn time that doesn't' cost the earth? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

This is an AD however all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Why autumn is the best time to date in Warwickshire. **AD**

Hey readers,

Can you believe we are in September already which gives me all the cosy feelings.  This time of year is a wonderful time if your single and ready to mingle and let me tell you why. 

Now, I live close by to Warwickshire which is a beautiful place to go explore with someone new who may not know the area or simply enjoy the location as much as you. During Autumn in Warwickshire makes a wonderful backdrop when going out and having a good time with someone new. 

Because autumn is a mild month this means that you can still take advantage of the pleasant weather. You can go on walks in the evening say to a park. Don't worry there is plenty of parks to walk around in Warwickshire such as Abbey Fields in Kenilworth.

 The park idea is fab because you don't have to spend money on getting to know someone as that in its self can be costly depending on where you go. 

Walking around Abbey fields during autumn means one it is mild so you don't freeze to death but also you can enjoy the beautiful autumnal colours.

 At abbey fields, you can take in the view of the lake with the wildlife and see Kenilworth castle in the distance. 

You can bring a picnic along as there is plenty of fields to sit in or if that is not your thing there are some picnic benches. 

With internet dating, it is so much more easy to find people that live close by that you may not have stumbled upon that could be the one for you. 

A brilliant website that is designed for people in Warwickshire or close by is Warwickshire Singles .  

It is easy to join up and free. You don't have to worry about security. Warwickshire Dating
makes sure that each profile is checked by customer service and they are there to assist with any worries that you may face on the site.

Alongside the park idea, another thought is that during the lead up to Christmas means events are held around Warwickshire. 

These events are mostly free so you don't have to break the bank especially if you're conscious about Christmas around the corner. 

One thing I like to do is wander around the towns locally such as Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth and check out the Christmas lights.

It brings about the childhood feels especially in the evening when it is dark and the lights twinkle to get you feeling all fuzzy.

 Of course, during the lead up to Christmas, there are plenty of Christmas lights switch-on through many of the towns of Warwickshire which are free to attend and there will be entertainment such as some celebrity figure doing the switch on. 

Alternatively, there are many free museums in Warwickshire such as Warwick Hall Museum, which is free to enter.

Going to the museum is perfect for when it is a bit chilly or wet and want to escape and take the opportunity to know someone new whilst learning a bit of history along the way. 

What kind of free date ideas during the autumn do you like to do? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X 

This is an AD for Warwickshire Singles. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Autumn Tag 2019

Hey readers,

I saw this and had to do it as it makes me feel or cosy snuggled down in this horrid weather. I do have a little bit of an addiction to tags as well, oops!

1. What signifies the start of Autumn for you?

Middle of  September with the cooler climate, the leaves are starting to fall and it gets darker at night.

2. What is your favorite Fall scent?

Cinnamon.

3. What is your favorite Autumn colour? 

auburn or mustard, can't decide both are bloody gorgeous in their own right.

4. What is your favourite Fall drink? 

Hot chocolate with all the trimmings - cream, marshmallows!

5. What TV show, new or old, are you looking forward to this Fall? 

Don't really watch much telly, more of a YouTube addict. But I like Humans and Dave Gorman's Life is Goodish. I also like the odd bit of comedy like Mock The Week or have I Got News For You.

6. What is your favorite Fall fashion trend?

jumpers/cardigans/capes. Yes, cosy is my ting!

7. What is your favourite frugal Autumn activity? 

Staying in curling up with a hot drink or going for an autumn walk in a park or woodlands

.

8. What is your favourite makeup look come autumnal weather? 

Not really got a particular thing.

THE AUTUMN 2016 TAG QUESTIONS - FEEL FREE TO COPY + PASTE

1. What signifies the start of Autumn for you?

2. What is your favorite Fall scent?

3. What is your favorite Autumn colour?

4. What is your favorite Fall drink?

5. What TV show, new or old, are you looking forward to this Fall?

6. What is your favorite Fall fashion trend?

7. What is your favorite frugal Autumn activity?

8. What is your favourite makeup look come autumnal weather?

Cheers for reading X

5 awesome date ideas that wont break the bank.

Hey readers,

As a parent, it can be hard fitting in time alone with your partner, as time is so precious but I think it is important to take some time when you can to do something together as a couple.

 Here are my top five things to do on a date night that won't cost the bank. 

1) Film. 

I suppose the simplest thing you can do is watch a film with popcorn and you don't have to live the home. I always find good is being mindful and turning off the old technology.

2) Breakfast date.

 Something that I and the other half do now that my eldest is at school and the other one is at nursery is going for breakfast at a cafe.  it is refreshing and a tad bizarre but find it really pleasant to do something different rather than the normal discussion over who is doing the washing.

3) Boardgames.

I know this might not be to everyone's taste, though this does float my boat and that is playing a board game. I love exploding kittens and Monopoly to name some. It is great to get competitive and it is great lighthearted aware to spend an even with your hubby.

4) Baking. 

 This slightly unusual with the next suggestion being baking, however in my experience if it something that myself and hubby enjoy. I feel it is a way to relax and make a creation together in the kitchen.

5) Walkies. 

 If that doesn't tickle your pickle then going outdoors for a walk is a lovely way to spend time together. plus. it doesn't get the world and it gives you a chance bye of scenery which is always a winner in my book.

What do you like to do for dates with your partner? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 08/09/2019

Autism anxiety with the return of school.

Hey readers,

It is the start of September which means the return of school if you have children, which I do by the way.

So what is this post about your asking? Well, it is about my eldest who is autistic (hasn't got a diagnosis because to get a diagnosis you need an assessment at school but sadly my son masks his behaviour).

Masking refers to an autistic person using coping skills learnt through observation to hide autistic struggles. 

This is learnt behaviour so he will hide his anger, his hitting out and meltdowns until he gets home and releases it all where he feels safe and comfortable to do so. 

This, however, has a cost which means the school doesn't see this behaviour, therefore, means that he can't possibly be autistic because he doesn't show the right characteristics in ONE setting.

Bear that in mind that it is a spectrum and people behaviour different in settings and with different people. Sadly the child that doesn't exhibit the classic characteristics correctly does not get the right support and will carry on struggling.

 It is ridiculous and unfair and let's face it comes down to money which is being cut drastically in this government.

 I do feel frustrated but it is something that is out of my hands and I have no control over.

Right anyway that was tangent (by the way I am autistic and that is a very common trait in autism). Getting back to my main point of this post is that I want to discuss the week and a half leading up to the return of school for my eldest and the struggles that he faces with the change.

School holidays are six weeks at home with less structure which my eldest struggles with so much. I try my best to have a flexible structure. However I myself have been dealing with a flare-up of a kidney disease that I have so that is wiped me and lost a lot of energy being ill in bed.

I am lucky in one sense of having autism that gives me an understanding and empathy with my son because he is basically a mini-me in pretty much in response to anything.

My son in the past two weeks has struggled and not just a little bit but a lot. He finds it extremely hard to deal with emotions and putting his thoughts coherent in a sentence to someone.

He struggles greatly with change which let's face it returning to school is a big change from having no school to six hours at school in a busy and loud environment.

He struggles with the anxiety knowing he is going back though he does have friends and has fun with them there are challenges he has to deal with.

 One being at break time he goes over-stimulated and stressed so much that he has a chair placed in the school playground where he can have a break from the stimuli and has a book to read to give him a chance to switch off and escape.

The hardest aspect of my son's behaviour to deal with is his anger which is just a response to the anxiety. He has big outbursts and even stamped on my sons head. This is worrying and was the first time however he is been very hostile and it is scary as a parent. It is something we are ongoing to try to find alternative strategies but it is something that takes time.

Sleep is a big problem. He finds it hard to switch off and constantly asks questions before bed. He always asks what he can think about. He doesn't normally go straight to sleep but stare at the ceiling thinking things over. The times when he does fall straight asleep when is totally exhausted and burnt out physically that he hasn't the strength to stay away.

He has repetitive behaviour where he asks the same question over and over again or he repeats words. This is an autistic trait where repeating words or phases is comforting for the individual.

My son does non stop talking and hardly stops unless he is fixated and lost in something such as colouring or making something like a den. It is exhausting because it is not the classical conversation with to and from responses. He states facts and lots of questions which is unbelievably exhausting after an hour.

With anxiety, my son does self inflict pain to cope with the emotional side of how he is feeling. He typically scratches his neck, bites his nails, hits his head, picks his skin around his fingernails. This is his way of coping with the unknown, anxiety or something that he is not in control with. It is not ideal as it causes pain but is very common in people with autism as a way of trying to communication and expressing the feelings that they have as communication verbally is something very difficult to master with autism. 

My son ever since a young age has a desire to have something in his mouth to chew or suck on for comfort. When is a baby he would suck his thumb and we spend ages stopping him from doing it.

 At first, we thought this was a baby thing however he has not lost that need to have something to put in the mouth and through observation, it is a result of stress, anxiety or having no control over something. 

He now everyday chews and sucks on his t-shirt. He has a chewie which is a silicone shaped item that he can chew on safely to self-sooth him. However, he takes off the chewie or he forgets to put it on when he gets changed therefore ends up chewing his top. The result of this is that his top is soaked and his chest is getting bad skin. He has to change his top 2-3 sometimes a day when really stressed. 

He finds it hard to focus on anything when he has anxiety. He can't settle and constantly moving. I try and give him things to do to distract him and calm him down. He responds well to using his hands so he could be making jewellery, colouring-in, writing or putting sticker cards in the book as a way to help give him some focus on something then dealing with the anxiety.

Meltdowns during the lead up to the return of school are coming more frequent with my son. He just screams for long periods of time. He really struggles to deal with emotions and change along with the uncertainty of something new occurring. He can't cope and needs to get that anxiety and frustration out somehow and the thing that he does regularly now is what is called a meltdown. 

A meltdown is a response to the overstimulated and emotional situation that he has experienced during the day or over a period of time. It is like you lose control and don't know what to do, you just really want that extremely unpleasant feeling to go out of your body and get back to normal. 

I myself have meltdowns and they are exhausted because they take your energy, frustration, angry at that moment. They are intense and after you have to deal with the guilt of the outburst because you know it upsets you and the other people involved. 

When my son goes through a meltdown he doesn't want to do anything, he refuses everything. It takes a lot of time and energy to bring him back to save place where he is violent and shouting. 

Most of the time I take him to a quiet place (normally my bedroom) and shutout as many stimuli as possible such as closing the curtains, turning on soft lights etc and this has been somewhat helpful to calming him down. He also loves mummy's bedding which is waffle and that is a sensory pleasure he can get to help him to calm down. 

So, yeah a couple of weeks is like a volcano that builds up with time and you know that he will blow. He has does this for the past four years now since he has been in school and responds exactly the same way everytime without fail. 

All you can do as a parent is provide support and space. Making sure you talk to him and give him as much information. He can frustrate me and sometimes I feel helpless. But I still crack on and keep going because as a parent you do your best for your child with what you have.

Cheers for reading X