Buckley
Well-Known Member
Last year: https://forum.ibiza-spotlight.com/threads/hows-your-year-been-2016.76087/
For the foreseeable future, maybe forever, my eldest boy's autism is probably the deciding factor in how my life is. With a good dose of luck, a fair whack of cash, a missus who will not be beaten and a boy who is in there and wants to come out and is doing so, life is pretty good.
Highs:
Day at the Royal Court of Justice against the Local Authority. Had to appeal against their decision that Tommy couldn't continue the therapy that had progressed him so much, in a state school, even if we pay for. The missus pulled together a crack team of experts and we handed them their arse. They had to let us do it, and they had pay for it. Gearing up for fight to maintain at annual review. (If anyone on Spotlight ever finds themselves dealing with this stuff, God forbid, get in touch. The systems set to deny you help, but you can make it)
Over 35 Veteran Football European Cup on The Algarve. 11 men got the plane, 11 heroes came back. Lost the final on penalties against a team with a 16 man squad, 2 physios and a non-playing manager. 5 games in scorching heat with the first game at 10am, after last beers at 6am....
August BH weekend away with the family at a good friend's new county pile. Wonderful to see how well he has done and I'm very proud of him. Great to spend time with other old friends and their beautiful kids too.
Glastonbury - never ever fails. I believe Brad Pitt still talks of meeting two (of the best) Spotlighters
Some stag dos - Liverpool for Grand National, Manchester last month
The Missus - I don't think anyone else could do what she has for my eldest. Or cope with my youngest and me as well.
The Buckley Brothers - from inauspicious beginnings, they now have a real bond.
New client - start on 2nd January, finishing here on 22nd December, meaning I will have no work while on family Xmas holiday in Tenerife. Result.
Camp Bestival - Just making it there with the family and staying there for a night and day was a triumph
Lows:
Pa Buckley spent much of the year pissing around with cancelled NHS appointments before finally going private and it taking 15 mins to get diagnosed with Parkinsons. Drugs prescribed killed the worst of the symptoms in a couple weeks, but we are at the start of journey.
The hardest bits of Tommy's autism. He went through a period of scratching his little brother's face and it's impossible to watch them close enough 24/7 to intervene in time every time. We seem to have trained it out of him, I hope. I don't think your average parent ever has to crap themselves taking a 2 year old nursery fearing someone's going to say you can't protect him from his big brother.
The fear. It's the hope that kills you. 2 years ago, Tommy's autism was described as 'profound and severe'. It was doubtful that the would ever live independently, hold down a job, form relationships with anyone but us. Today, he's in 'normal' school, joining in, if a bit behind. And every bit of progress makes you want more, hope more, dream of a complete or almost complete recovery.
Billy's fractured collarbone. Decided to leave his sleeping bag on when vaulting out of his cot and did himself a mischief. Remarkable how quick they heal though
Camp Bestival weather - Boo!
Brexit - an act of self-sabotage we'll all regret
Trump - say no more
For the foreseeable future, maybe forever, my eldest boy's autism is probably the deciding factor in how my life is. With a good dose of luck, a fair whack of cash, a missus who will not be beaten and a boy who is in there and wants to come out and is doing so, life is pretty good.
Highs:
Day at the Royal Court of Justice against the Local Authority. Had to appeal against their decision that Tommy couldn't continue the therapy that had progressed him so much, in a state school, even if we pay for. The missus pulled together a crack team of experts and we handed them their arse. They had to let us do it, and they had pay for it. Gearing up for fight to maintain at annual review. (If anyone on Spotlight ever finds themselves dealing with this stuff, God forbid, get in touch. The systems set to deny you help, but you can make it)
Over 35 Veteran Football European Cup on The Algarve. 11 men got the plane, 11 heroes came back. Lost the final on penalties against a team with a 16 man squad, 2 physios and a non-playing manager. 5 games in scorching heat with the first game at 10am, after last beers at 6am....
August BH weekend away with the family at a good friend's new county pile. Wonderful to see how well he has done and I'm very proud of him. Great to spend time with other old friends and their beautiful kids too.
Glastonbury - never ever fails. I believe Brad Pitt still talks of meeting two (of the best) Spotlighters
Some stag dos - Liverpool for Grand National, Manchester last month
The Missus - I don't think anyone else could do what she has for my eldest. Or cope with my youngest and me as well.
The Buckley Brothers - from inauspicious beginnings, they now have a real bond.
New client - start on 2nd January, finishing here on 22nd December, meaning I will have no work while on family Xmas holiday in Tenerife. Result.
Camp Bestival - Just making it there with the family and staying there for a night and day was a triumph
Lows:
Pa Buckley spent much of the year pissing around with cancelled NHS appointments before finally going private and it taking 15 mins to get diagnosed with Parkinsons. Drugs prescribed killed the worst of the symptoms in a couple weeks, but we are at the start of journey.
The hardest bits of Tommy's autism. He went through a period of scratching his little brother's face and it's impossible to watch them close enough 24/7 to intervene in time every time. We seem to have trained it out of him, I hope. I don't think your average parent ever has to crap themselves taking a 2 year old nursery fearing someone's going to say you can't protect him from his big brother.
The fear. It's the hope that kills you. 2 years ago, Tommy's autism was described as 'profound and severe'. It was doubtful that the would ever live independently, hold down a job, form relationships with anyone but us. Today, he's in 'normal' school, joining in, if a bit behind. And every bit of progress makes you want more, hope more, dream of a complete or almost complete recovery.
Billy's fractured collarbone. Decided to leave his sleeping bag on when vaulting out of his cot and did himself a mischief. Remarkable how quick they heal though
Camp Bestival weather - Boo!
Brexit - an act of self-sabotage we'll all regret
Trump - say no more
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