Does Disability Inclusion Come Easy ?

Does disability Inclusion come easy ?

When I first joined my local ladies choir I was made very welcome but it took me a very long time to slot in and that, in part, was down to me being autistic. When a disability is invisible it can be very hard for you to been seen as anything other than normal but you are normal and being accepted is part of that. Being autistic I don't light up a room always socially and people find it hard to understand me and putting myself across takes a shed load of work and leaves me exhausted. I can write these words now and even now I wonder and worry how my words will be perceived!

Choirs are not always sunshine and roses - the real turning point for me was a rainy Sunday in May last year – my first performance with the choir, it was outdoors, raining hard and hardly any audience. It wasn’t our finest hour and I felt ill-prepared. Things have been much easier since although sometimes I still do find it hard to make myself heard but that is the rhythm of life just like the song! So like a phoenix out the fire I have grown in confidence and faith of heart. Throughout the last year and especially these last few months the choir have been there for one another and I am very honoured to be part of it. And that is the point of belonging to a choir it is a social anchor point and it more important that I ever realised especially during a pandemic such as we find ourselves in and I am so grateful that I have lovely members to reach out to even though we are not singing together.The power of music and friendships should never been underestimated as it is pure magic

Hot Dog Topping Grated Carrot and Black Bean

A few days I had hot dogs ( no it wasn't hot pets ) it was the food ! and I decided I really didn't want chips or fries or anything that was really heavy in carbs with them other than the hot dog buns. So I decided to instead grated some carrot and throw in some black beans and the result was I do have to say rather tasty.


Ingredients

Grated Carrot

Can of Black Bean ( drained )

Dash of Soy Sauce


Method

Grate the carrot I used the big grating part of the grater

Next put a wok or frying pan on a medium heat with some oil in


Stir fry the carrot and black beans together till cooked and warmed through add a dash soy soy sauce and again mix.

serve on top of hot dogs or as a side accompaniment

Social Distancing At English Heritage Properies

English Heritage have started opening a number of their properties up and as soon as I heard I jumped straight on the booking site which I have to say was slightly easier than the National Trust as I could book far in advance with English Heritage.The first property we decided to go for was Kenilworth Castle as we hadn't been there in their yonks and we were desperate for green space and fresh air as we hadn't been further than the end of our noses in weeks and weeks.

And the signs were clear and the staff were remarkably well informed and there was a very calm atmosphere about the place.Social distancing is the new normal and it’s taking a bit of getting used to.

Kenilworth Castle is perfect for a relaxed stroll and it really does help to blow the cobwebs away.

Slow Cooker Spanish Style Chicken With Pitted Green Olives In A Piquillo Pepper Sauce

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I was provided with some of the ingredients for this meal and the place curtesy of Sous Chef and of course it is up to you where you get your ingredients from you will find the links to the ingredients I was sent obviously in the ingredients list.







Ingredients

Chicken breasts for the number of people  you want

Chopped peppers

Fried chopped Onion

2 tins of chopped tomatoes

1 can of chicken soup

2 teaspoons of smoked Paprika from Sous Chef 

pitted green olives from Sosu Chef 

Chicken herb seasonings or chicken stock

Piquillo Pepper Paste from Sous Chef 


Method

Fry the onion to begin with

Add the tins of chopped tomatoes and soup to the slow cooker along with the chicken , chopped peppers and fried onions

add in some chicken stock or a cup or 2 or water along with some chicken seasonings

Switch the slow cooker on medium and least for at least 5 hours ( longer is ok )

Serve with rice or Cous Cous 

Please do look at Sous Chef's Spanish collection 

Those Little Steps For your Mental Health

Now I will be brutally honest my mental health has not been the greatest at times and it isn't always linked to myself being autistic there are many other factors at play, depression is a complicated beast and can strike at anytime and lifting yourself out of it can be a herculean task i do have to say.

But do what you need to do to give yourself and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.It is as they say unprecedented times and we all deal with stuff in our own way. I have had periods of depression strike and it was hard for me before I knew I was autistic as I just couldn't get a handle on how I was feeling or why.I was never a take of pills for depression and why well they just didn't suit me personally as I later found out due to me being autistic they messed with my autistic function.This will not be the same for everyone and if you want and need to take tablets then do then is nothing wrong or shameful in doing so.

What helps me is music I telly love classical music and repetition is key for me it is the equivalent of someone stroking my forehead in a soothing manner and is like cool breeze on the soul.I partucalry love Beethoven and also I love at the minute the music of Joshua Bell when je played the theme Ladies in Lavender.


What helps though sometimes it is a murky place is social media I can tweet and Facebook all I like with I have to say unambiguous statuses and someone will come along and offer wisdom and advice.I have to look for the innate light in the darkness and I have to cling onto any chink of light I can fight to find my way again.And given lockdown it has been a topsey Turvey time.