Aspergers | update on 1st achievement of 2015

Helloooo :)

Just thought I would give you an update on my achievement. As you all know I made it up to Yorkshire all by myself.....well good news I also made it back to Essex in one piece and all by myself! Well Barney was with me of course but he's a dog so he doesn't actually talk, otherwise me and Barney would be millionaires by now living on an exotic island called Anbar. Barney slept the whole way back today but I think it's because he was completely knackered after his walk round the Yorkshire showground with Ted and Jessie the puppy. 

Jessie the puppy on the left and Ted on the right

I arrived home with a big smile on my face today as there is no better feeling than completing one of your biggest challenges. There were even less phone calls today but I think that's because everyone was working other than my Gran. I was lucky enough to have lovely weather for the journey home and I always think the Sun instantly puts everyone in a better mood. 

Whats your favourite type of weather? 

I did think I had a flat tyre again at one point and had a slight panic but then I realised it was just the road surface that had changed. Also the A1 is a long old road, a very long road, it felt like a never ending road so lots of singing took place again. 

I ended up staying at my aunts whilst I was in Yorkshire. She lives in Harrogate which if you haven't been is a lovely town, if your ever visiting Yorkshire and your nearby definitely pay it a visit. Whilst I was there I went in to Harrogate for some lunch with my aunt. We went to this lovely tea shop called Jakes which sold the biggest cakes and meringues you have ever seen in your life, so big that they could probably eat you. Not that food can eat people that would be a strange world if it could, would be a bit like the film Cloudy with a Chance of meatballs. We had a lovely goats cheese and beetroot ciabatta  sandwhich with rocket and tomato salad and vegetable crisps. It was delicious! Vegetable crisps seem to becoming more popular, they are very yummy. 

Have any of you tried Vegetable crisps? What did you think? 

Yummy sandwhich

Charlotte came over for dinner last night and we went to the Yorkshire Meatball co for dinner. Which was delicious. However as we where eating it started to snow. I had a little panic (I worry and panic a lot) as I was worried about how Charlotte would get home, and I was worried that I wouldn't get home the next day. When I get something in my head that is happening it has to happen otherwise I just can't seem to cope. Things have to go to plan but again that's my Aspergers brain for you. Charlotte got home safe and sound and as I was going to bed it started to snow heavier so mum got a few panicked texts. When I woke up the road was covered in snow, but turns out it was just a light covering and the main roads where fine so panic over! After a lovely snowy walk around the showground again this morning with the dogs Barney and I set off on our journey home. My aunts road was still snowy and had turned icy and I was very worried about driving on it so my aunt very kindly came in the car with me till I got safely to the main roads and then she walked back. Thanks Auntie Sarah! Despite this I then had a lovely journey home and am tucked up in bed. A big tick next to this achievement! I did it and survived and its the best feeling. Don't give up on any achievements you want to do you will get there :) Remember anything is possible when you put your mind to it and also never forget to smile, smiling makes everything better :) 

 Yorkshire Showground this morning 

Did any of you have any snow? Have any of you got any plans on something you want to achieve this year? Have you guys done anything exciting today? 

Barney had fun in the snow this morning, at one point he got all confident and ran down a hill in the snow, but ended up sliding down it on his bum! He was very confused bless him! He has never seen snow before! 

Barney in the snow

Hope you are all well and jolly! 

Anna-Louise

xox

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Aspergers Syndrome | 1st achievement of 2015

Hello Lovely People!

How are you all? Hope you've had a lovely day :) Remember never forget to smile. 

So today I thought I would write a blog post about something that's quite close to my heart. You may or may not know that I have Asperger's if you already did thats cool, if you didn't know, well you do now. If you don't know what Asperger's is think of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory and well that's a very good interpretation of what it is.  I was only diagnosed about a year and half ago, and throughout a lot of my childhood a lot of basic things have been a struggle for infact even now somethings I'm unable to do. However since being diagonsed I've been working really hard on getting to know myself and working on the things that are a struggle for me. I believe in the saying you can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it, well at least I think that's the saying. I thought that I would write a blog post every time a make an achievement. It might help other people who read this who are in the same situation as me, to help them work towards achieving the things that they want to you. 

Now to a lot of people the big achievement I made today will seem like nothing but to me it was one of the biggest things of my life. I have a real thing about being by myself, or doing anything by myself, or going anywhere by myself. I get incredibly anxious, and my emotions go all over the place, my only way of describing of how I was in those situations is out of control, no matter what people said nothing would stop how I was feeling. I think I may have only ever been to Tesco's once or twice by myself before, and usually then I would have someone waiting in the car for me. The other day I put fuel in the car all by myself for the first time since learning to drive which was 2 and half years ago, and I didn't even panic when something went a little bit wrong, instead I handled the situation well (That's a first for me). I've been working so hard on my confidence, and today for the first time I drove all the way to Yorkshire with just barney in the car. 

I've been to Charlotte's in Yorkshire a number of times since she moved up there but somebody always took me and stayed close by. However after lots of practice shorter drives I finally decided to make the 3 hour drive up to Yorkshire and....... I DID IT!! YAY!! I made it all the way there safely and I'm so proud of myself. Let me just say though there where still lots of phone calls made throughout the journey mainly to my mum, but also my dad, gran and Charlotte. The weather was awful which didn't make driving condition's easy, the rain was so heavy at times I literally couldn't see, I also thought people where following me and that I had burst my tire at one point as I herd a funny noise! Neither of those did happen but that's just my Aspergers brain for you, always over thinking and thinking about the worst possible out come. Despite those things I still made it in one piece. I had my music really loud and was singing at the top of my voice (I can't sing) but the nice thing about travelling with just Barney was the fact my brother or dad weren't there to tell me to stop attempting to sing so I could just carry on!  I have still got to make it back on Wednesday, I'm sure I will but will keep you updated. 

So there you have it, that's my first big achievement of this year. I'm definitely going to keep writing my achievements in the hope that it may help others learn that nothing is impossible or that it will just make people smile hearing about how I'm coming on. 

Whats big achievements have you guys made? I would love to hear about them or if you want to share any of your own experiences of Aspergers with me then I would also love to hear them.

Also a big thanks to the lovely Barney for keeping me company, giving me confidence and putting up with my singing. 

Hope you are all well and Jolly

Over and out 

Anna-Louise 

xox

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5 things I'm loving this month so far....

Hey Everyone!! 

Sorry I didn't get chance to write a blog yesterday, time just ran away. I think that's a saying although knowing me I've probably mixed it up. Opps oh well. 

When I was younger my friend told me a joke about trousers and a jacket, and I found it hilarious so always wanted to tell it to everyone but always got it mixed up, in fact if I said it now it would still probably be a muddle. I think it goes like this.....How do you put a jacket on last? You put the trousers on first!! Hahahaa, makes me chuckle everytime. 

I'm thinking of doing regualr blog posts every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday as like I said time runs away sometimes, and then I will try and fit in some extra's as and when I can :) 

It will be kind of a shorter blog post today as I've been working all day at the pub and its rather late now, well it is for me but that's probably my age again. I'm not really a party girl at weekends would much rather stay in in my comfy cosy's and some fluffy socks and a good book or film. Oh and I would put some smelly candles on as they are so relaxing!

What do you guys get up to at weekends? What would your ideal evening be? Do you have a favourite smelly candle? 

Fun fact: If any of you where wondering or had forgotten finding nemo's dad is called Marlin. 

Finding nemo is such a good film, need to watch it again! Dory is the best....."just keep swimming" 

Now I thought for this blog post I would tell you guys the things that I am loving this month so far. 

1. Estee Lauder double wear stay-in-place foundation. Now I don't know about you guys but I'm always on the hunt for the perfect foundation, I love trying out new ones and I've herd a lot of good reviews about the Estee Lauder one so thought I would give it a try and oh my word I think I may have just found my favourite foundation. It's brilliant, when they say it lasts all day it really does, it does not budge, it also holds the colour of my blush really well throughout the day! I honestly don't have enough good things to say about this foundation, I think it may become one of my make up holy grail's! If you are looking for a long lasting high coverage foundation I definitely recommend this one! My only negative about this product is that it doesn't come with a pump, however the mac foundation pumps fit it, so I just brought one of those think it was only £4 or something. 

2. Daniel Wellington St Andrew watch. I have recently just purchased my first Daniel Wellington watch and I am so glad I did I am in love with it. I went for the St Andrew one with silver and it's truly beautiful. Go and check out their website, they have a variety of different ones, definitely worth a look. https://www.danielwellington.com/uk/ 

3. Listen to the Man - George Ezra. This is currently my favourite song, I can not stop listening to it. I love George Ezra anyway I think he has an amazing voice and have loved all his other songs however this is the current favourite. Personally I think it's a happy song, well one that puts you in a happy mood and make you want to dance and bob your head from side to side although not to much to make yourself unwell. Therefore it is my current happy song. 

What's your current happy song? 

4. Broadchurch. I am still so excited that this is back on our screens. I thought the first series was brilliant and thought the first episode back was brilliant too so high hopes for the rest of the series. I feel it's one of those programmes that has you glued to the screen the whole time. It's on on Monday's at 9pm on ITV. 

5. Toilets of the world. This is a book which shows pictures and tells you about lots of different toilets around the world. Now yes you make think this is weird, but I love weird facts like that, so I find it really interesting and let me tell you now there are some interesting toilets in our world. It was a present from my dad as he thought I would find it amusing. So thanks dad best gift ever!! :) 

Barney got on the kitchen table again today, very naughty dog! We had cracked this habit for a while, but he has cracked our defence mechanisms so it may be another visit from the dog trainer. Like I've said before I think he just things he's important, (which he is to me) so therefore he can lie where he likes. We have also not been gassed out yet this evening which is good! 

Turns out it wasn't actually a very short blog post in the end, that's my rambling for you!

Hope you are all well and jolly :)

Anna-Louise

xox

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Favourite Drink

Hellooooo there!

Sorry I didn't get chance to blog yesterday, I was super busy again and then I had to watch the second part of silent witness. That programme  always keeps me on the edge of my seat, and well then I fell a sleep. You probably didn't need to know all that but now you do haha!

It's raining here today.....a lot! Rain rain go away!

Today I thought I would write a blog post about my favourite drink! Everybody drinks as your body needs fluids to keep you alive. Therefore everyone drinks which means everyone must have a favourite drink.

My all time favourite drink is chocolate milkshake! I literallly could drink chocolate milkshake all day everyday and be just fine, apart from the fact it probably wouldn't be the most healthiest thing in the world for me. I have at least one everyday. It's probably a slight addiction to be honest. If I go anywhere for dinner or to eat that sells milkshakes then I will be guaranteed to have one. I also love milkshake shops! We don't have many round where I live but whenever I see one I'm straight in there like a kid who's seen candy :) My favourite milkshake shop is one in Pocklington in Yorkshire, they make them with fresh ice cream in there and you can choose your flavour and what chocolate or biscuits you want to go in it! Its the best if you ever happen to go to Pocklington you need to go and get a milkshake from this shop! Sorry me being me and having no memory (my old age 19 going on 90 remember) can't remember the name of the shop, but its the only milkshake shop there so you can't miss it :)

What's your favourite drink?

I'm also a big fan of bottled water, I drink at least two bottles a day. It's the best, it tastes so much better than tap water too, well in my opinion. I think all water tastes different though anyway. No one agrees with me on this, well no one I have discussed it with so far but different makes definitley taste different. Must be because they come from different places, although does all water come from the same place? I'm not sure on the bottles they say where they come from and different ones say they take the water from different parts of the country, but then does all water come from the same place originally. I'm not so sure now, if any of you know the answer then your thoughts would be most welcome!!

Do you guys like bottled water?

Thought i'd insert a picture of my favourite milkshake in Devon, it's a little cafe in Colyton, not far from Seaton and just a minute walk or so off you get off the tram which runs from Seaton to Colyton. If you ever happen to go on that tram, call in at this coffee shop you won't regret it! They also have chickens and llama's or alpaca's I'm not sure of the difference outside! We have been going there for years and the milkshakes they make are amazing. They also make them with fresh ice cream :)

Barney's just been cheeky and got on the kitchen table again! Naughty puppy, he's not in mum and dads good books at the moment to say the least. Here is a picture of him the first time he did it! I think he does it to feel like king of the castle!

Hope you are all well and jolly and have a lovely day :)

Anna-louise
xx

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Favourite Book (current)

Hello there :) Hope you have all had a fantastic day, if not smile its only 353 days till christmas!! Yay I hear you say just what you wanted to hear, well now you've herd! I even know some people that have brought wrapping paper already, now that is organised. I actually think it was because it was in the sale and super cheap, and who doesn't love a bargin right?!

I'm lacking a bit of inspiration today, well basically my mind hasn't had enough time to wander and think yet as I've been rather busy. I won't bore you all with what I've been doing, some of you who know me will probably be able to guess, those of you who don't I've been riding magical unicorns around planet spanner! I joke I'm just going to tell you now as I've started to ramble. I've been riding horses, and if any of you are horsey people you will know far to well that horses take up so much time, tears, energy etc yet we still love them stupid amounts! Maybe we are all just mad!! 

Fun fact: My brother is wearing tiger socks today!! Maybe he wants to become a tiger?!

Anyway back to my blog title! I absolutely love reading! Who doesn't?! I think it's a great way to relax and I think there is nothing better than losing yourself in a book!! Not literally though otherwise the world would be full of giant books, or we would be super cool and have the ability to shrink ourselves and get lost in the pages! Guess the second idea would mean you would be able to get out of doing jobs around the house, but actually thinking about it the first idea might mean we all get squashed! 

Anyway the book I am currently reading at the moment is Graham Norton's memoir, The Life And Loves Of A He Devil.  I Literally don't have enough good words to say about this book! If you haven't got it or already read it, I definitely recommend you to go and buy this! I got it on offer at WHSmith from £20 down to £8, I'm not sure if the offer is still on, but even if it isn't still go buy it. Personally I don't think you will regret it! I have literally never stopped laughing whilst reading this book! I'm currently still reading as I have a great habit of falling asleep after reading a few words, saying that I fall asleep whilst doing anything, even whilst I was at the Olympics!! My favourite paragraph so far is the dogs one (obviously). It was hilarious and I think pretty much every dog owner can relate to it. I love how he says If dignity is something that interests you never get a dog. I think he is so true haha! I love Graham Norton anyway, I always watch is programme! One of the things that I think a lot of people love about him is his personality, he does not at any point come across as being arrogant or better than others instead he comes across as a down to earth man, a hilarious one. If you haven't seen any of his shows, I also recommend checking them out! So yeah that's my favourite book at the moment!

Whats your favourite book at the moment? 

My brother has one of his first university interviews tomorrow, and it's for one of his top choices. Fingers crossed for him please everyone as he has worked so hard on his portfolio and is such a talented little bean (he might kill me for calling him a little bean so bye if he does :P ) 

Also forgot to say yesterday, I apologise if my spelling isn't great or my grammer isn't brilliant its never been my strong point, we are not all perfect so please no hate :) everybody is different a good at different things that's what makes us all different! Remember its all about celebrating difference not indifference. I love that quote, I found it on the autism website and its something that I never forget and remind myself when I'm feeling down or when other people put me down! So maybe say that to yourselves at times when you are feeling down or negative :) Remember positive thoughts are the way forward! Turn that frown upside down :) :) 

I wonder what it would be like if we where all the same? Who would we all look like? I reckon we would all be like the queen! Imagine how funny that would be! Hundreds of the queen walking round everywhere, but then there would need to be men to........who would they be like? Zac Efron maybe? Now that would be a good world, actually it would be really strange. Wait and would their even be a Queen or Zac Efron if we were all the same. I'm thinking into this far to much. 

Here is a picture of Barney on one of his chairs today :) He loves sitting on these, sometimes I think he thinks he is a human, he's not though he's a dog as he sniff other dogs bums and well humans don't do that! He pushed me off this chair today to, I only wanted to sit on the chair with him but no he gave me a right shove with his legs! Rude just pure rudeness!! 

Hope you are all well and jolly :) 

Anna-louise xx 

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