Autism ... communication.

Being Autistic you can sometimes be locked in your own little world, even though you sometimes cannot communicate verbally, it doesn't mean you cannot communicate in other ways from makaton (of which I know nothing myself, to usual visual pictures with simple words on.


The simplest thing that I have found that brings me joy to unlocking the silent world that lies within an autistic  is a tray with sand in it and a paint brush. Who knew that such simple items could break such pleasure.

Many children are unable to vocalize their emotional state because of their autism or if they are on the autistic spectrum . Incorporating the element of a familiar medium, the sand, allows a child to instantly achieve a sense of comfort and security. With little instruction from the teacher or a teaching assistant like myself , the child is free to play and develop his or her own expression of situations. Oftentimes the children will experience a sense of independent play and will begin making assumptions and behavior changes without cues from the teacher or teaching assistant. This method therapy serves as a valuable and powerful outlet for children and an incredibly insightful method of opening access to their world.

The way that I used it was that i said the sound and the child with a paintbrush drew the letter in the sand. Amazing with phonics going off all around us this served as reinforcement for the activity we were doing. A calming and pleasant activity, you will often find they will do letters that you never thought that they knew.

Jml Mircowave Steamer Review.

Micro Steamer

With the handy Micro Steamer, you can combine the nutritional benefits of steaming with the convenience of a microwave. Micro Steamer is a quick and easy way to get tasty, flavour-filled food that’s full of goodness. Simply place your food in the special perforated container, add water and cook on full power. Steam is released and circulates around the container to give perfectly cooked food that’s never limp or tasteless. All the nutrients stay locked in your food, so you can have healthier meals in no time at all. Once you’ve tried Micro Steamer - you’ll never boil again!

Pros

• Self-venting cover for even steaming


• Locks in goodness and flavour


• Non-stick and easy to clean


• Dishwasher and freezer safe


• 2 litre capacity

Cons:

• Doesn't look all that attractive, perhaps a colur change would be better!.
• 
  

Is it Value for money?  yes its not a bad level entry steamer.

My Overall Reaction: It was easy to use whilst I got on and cook the rest of the curry whilst the steamer when to work with the rice. You have to remember to stir it half way through!.

( I was sent this for purposes of review)

I added the desired amount of water to the steamer. Then put in in the mircowave for the required amount of time.

. £7.99, jmldirect.com

There you have lovely fluffy rice after being cooked in the JML mircowave steamer.

nostalgia remember when

Many people can identify with certain memories or recollections , especially those of us who are now considered "pre interneters!" and reminisce about days gone by nostalgia -- things the way they used to be before the age of computers, iPods, iPads, and the Internet.

Do You Remember When...

• Monster munch and Wagon Wheels really were bigger years ago .

• A family picnic meant spreading a blanket at the side of a busy A road road and enjoying homemade sandwiches, curled up sausage rolls, and Mr Kipling's finest.

• The martians from the Smash adverts they really were cool.

• You wondered if you really would wrinkle up if you tipped in the bath too long!

• Jim will fix it. I so wanted to go on but never wrote in.

• Rentaghost was ulttmaley the best programe on television along with mr 'Ben' 'Jamie and the Magic torch'

'The Spy who loved Me' I loved the Underater car The Lotus Espirit S1 it was my favourite car. I love james Bond anyway but as everyone has a Doctor Who of their generation. This car is my car of the my James Bond era. And when Corgi bought a model of this car out I was there it was my heaven , while other little girls where playing with Sindy and that Barbie I was playing with cars, cap guns swords and Mr Potato head.

Meowgon Pawney cooks @Very Lazy food Chicken Chasseur.

I knew that you couldn't what to see the happy chef Meowgon Pawney again the temperamental chef that swear like a trooper.

Well those nice chaps and the lovely ladies over at Very Lazy food decided to send me their Chicken Chasseur concentrate to cook with.

Simple....

You require the concentrate of course and a willing assistant, well sort of willing and taking a break from world domination.

Rollie is smiling within honest.

Add the chicken and the onion and brown for 2 minutes.

Add the Lazy Food Chicken Chasseur concentrate.The recipe calls for tin mushrooms for some reason I much prefer fresh so that's is what I added.

Add a can of tin tomatoes cook for ten minutes.

Voila the chasseur served with potatoes as suggested.

I 'd like to see some posh easy suggestions of how to do potatoes apart from the obvious mash that you can do, all in all and enjoyable recipe to cook and only takes 5 minutes preparation and 15 minutes cooking.

Rollie says cook with Very Lazy Food or else he'll smile.

Don't worry all surface are wiped down if I ever invite you to dinner....

A Hampton Court review.

Here I am working at a school as a teaching assistant a world a away for what I am qualified for. You may indeed wonder what I am qualified for? NASA space scientist =No, Nobel peace prize winner= No, or maybe an angst poet= sadly No.

Well its heritage Conservation , "Whats that" I hear you cry? Well its the care of old buildings and artefact's . I have a qualification from Nottingham University it called an ordinary Certificate which equates to the first year of a degree.  I have further qualification from Derby University in American Studies which would add further to the completion of a full degree.

Why don't I go for it , I don't now really., I suppose its cost , it would cost be a fortune to pursue my dreams of being an archaeologist or museum curator.

So I am instilling my love of history and archaeology into my son who is loving it. We were all really impressed when we went to Hampton Court for the day a few weeks ago , J totally loved it. I love the way children from a young age are immersed into the history of Hampton court. Children and even adults can dress up as people from Tudor times. And it was great fun to see Henry the 8th wandering into the chapel, there was musicians playing,it was a joy there was something every corner you turn. The palace is larger than you think so you need a whole day there. However, we were there over 6 hours and didn't get to see all the palace, and not all of the the gardens as well. You can see the gardens from the palace and there are descriptions of them through the audio commentary when you walk around.

J enjoying looking at the highly intricate ceilings at Hampton Court.

Hampton Court Palace

The wine flows from this fountain on a Bank holiday!.

J loving the interactive features in abundance at Hampton Court Palace.

Tudor kitchen hands spit roasting chickens.

Hampton Court gardens.

A plethora of History here long may it reign!

New! Royal Beasts at the Tower of London
For 600 years animals were held in the Royal Menagerie.  And now they're back!  
See how the Tower would have looked, smelt and sounded before the animals left, 
with stunning life-size sculptures of lions, baboons, a polar bear and more.  To 
book visit http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon




Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that looks after the Tower of 
London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew 
Palace. Although the palaces are owned by The Queen on behalf of the nation, we 
receive no funding from the Government or the Crown, so we depend on the support 
of our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors.  Our aim is to help 
everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in 
some of the greatest palaces ever built.