The Velcro Wars

Actually this has less to do with velcro and more to do with the (rather worn looking) man selling it. Not that I have anything against looking worn, I'm kind of that way myself .

After a brief expedition to the equally despised bank and supermarket (both of which consume large amounts of cash), I was passing the local haberdashery shop, which is in fact about the size of a large broom cupboard and overflowing with rolls of fabric and other such stuff, asked the chap working there if he had any self adhesive velcro. He did. I have in fact purchased velcro from this shop before but the quality is a bit iffy, so I usually go elsewhere (I can be such a snob about velcro).

He asked me if it was for school (because I look school age?), I explained that Dimitri uses a communication book requiring reams of velcro and the reasons why. As I braced myself for the usual suspects - that is replies such as:

The lord doesn't give us more than we can handle

We all have our cross to bear

Oh, I'm sure everything will be fine

He'll grow out of it

If he can hear he will talk

My friends, neighbours cousin didn't speak until they were 31

So....... does it run in your family

Didn't you have tests when you were pregnant

I was actually quite pleasantly surprised when instead of any of the above he started talking about the governments responsibility towards people with disabilities and how they are not doing enough and the general state of health care in Greece, in an equally pleasant matter of fact way with complete absence of pity. It was refreshing.

He has in fact seen me and Dimitri pass by frequently, as we squeeze between the front of his shop and the periptero (and the chairs they have on the pavement to sit and have a chat), where Dimitri has on occassion been quite upset and even had a sit down strike, we are not unknown in the neighbourhood.

Anyway, I have made a mental note for any future petitions I may be waving about, he is now on the list of potential helper-outers.

Angelman Syndrome and H1N1 vaccination

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics has a webpage with information regarding A.S. and the H1N1 vaccination here. No earth shattering news unfortunately, just the basics, although there is a link for how to administer tamiflu tablets to an individual who can't swallow the pill which could be important.
(FAST is now also using Twitter here

There has been bad news amongst the Angelman Syndrome community recently, and it has been in regards to the H1N1 virus and complications arising from it. My condolences, my heart goes out to the families.

Master Chef (maybe one day)

Dimitri used to really enjoy cooking, but in the past couple of years has lost interest in my suggestions of making something together. He prefers to be more of an impromtu cook, trying to help me out while I'm making dinner - which usually results in me sending him off elsewhere for safety reasons:

(a) hovering around a boiling saucepan,

(b) adding inedible objects - nearly broke my tooth on a magnet once,

(c) trying to cut himself a piece of cheese with a carving knife

I think Dimitri feels the difference between cooking being an activity and being *real*. He is the same with other things too, my husbands toolbox is much more exciting than any fisher price equivalent. There is no kidding Dimitri as to what is a real job and what has been arranged for his benefit. I've always noticed that although Dimitri has never really been very successful at imitation, as in waving, clapping, touching his head etc, he will imitate what adults do as a part of everyday life. Cleaning the table, putting the washing in the basket, are all things he finds much more interesting (meaningful).

I was quite pleased though when I received a note from his teacher saying once a week the children will be making their own snack. It's pretty basic, toasted sandwich kind of stuff, but in this context Dimitri will enjoy doing it. It has purpose, it's for his lunch. Although I wouldn't be suprised if he tries to nick the other kids cheese slices.

They will also have the opportunity one day to make a favourite, hm, Dimitri's may well be the avocado, tomato and cream cheese dip (from an Annable Karmel book years ago), which Dimitri likes as a main course.

YUMMY!

Remember Remember

the fifth of November............

Aha Guy Fawkes night! The Britsh excuse for building pyres and setting fire to effigies. Seems to be a fairly common practice throughout the world, any excuse to burn something - I'm sure this says something about human nature.

V for Vendetta is on TV tonight - I quite like Hugo Weaving's speech which is further down the post.

I still haven't read Alan Moore's graphic novel although a lot of my friends were reading it when it came out, I wasn't so keen on the graphics, prefered Stray Toasters which has pretty colours.

The British Embassy school here in Athen's usually does a joint Halloween Guy Fawkes celebration, (if you don't mind paying 10 euros a head to get in), we went a couple of times but stopped after the great pumkin disaster of 2006, as it turns out, the smell exuded by Jack o Lanterns is one of the smells that makes Dimitri vomit. Although he did really like the fireworks, in a kind of over-excited, frightened but also happy kind of way. I may watch a bit of the movie tonight, atleast until I fall asleep on the sofa.

Me and the Sprog

I have hundreds of photos of Dimitri (no suprise there I'm sure), a disturbing amount of photos of the cat, but very few family shots.

As my husband was messing about with the computer (again) over the weekend, to amuse myself I was trying to get a shot of me and Dimitri together. I'm sure it would have been simpler and quicker to get Christos to take some pictures, but he has a disturbing disregard as to whether I end up looking like a dogs dinner in photos, which is not good for my budding mid-life crisis.

I took about 60 shots, there were a total of 3 in which we both came out looking OK-ish. In most, when I was looking relatively sane, Dimitri had his eyes closed, and when Dimitri had his eyes open I was looking really quite scary!

As my MIL has fairly recently commented to me that my complexion is a little jaundiced looking, I decided to make the picture black and white. The advantage of this picture is that it makes me look about 10years younger - even if the lop-sided sneer is less than flattering.

Ah, vanity!

And here is one of the sprog glowing

The Cat, The Kid, His Shoe and it's Univited Visitor

Saturday morning, a seemingly ordinary morning. Wake up, get dressed, drink coffee, feed kid, so on and so forth.

Decide it's time for Dimitri to put on some shoes to reduce the general wobbly walk. Kid on sofa, find shoes lurking on living room floor. One shoe on. Bit of fluff in other shoe, shake it out. Nothing. Shake again, hm, maybe there was nothing after all. About to put hand in shoe when notice small fluffy object. With eyes. AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bloody cat!!!!!!!!

The mouse stares at me. I stare at the mouse. Carry shoe in direction of front door whilst shouting at husband. Nearly there - mouse jumps out. Muffled screaming and cursing. Mouse sits under the radiator - husband suggests I pick it up. Thanks a lot. With hands wrapped in wads of kitchen towel attempt to catch mouse. Success! What now? Ah....out the window. I now feel guilty. Great.

Bloody cat.

(in case you suspect my house is filthy - it's not that bad. The cat has brought in an assortment of small lizards and bugs before, but not mice - at least I hope not -and they have all been disposed of relatively humanely. And I did spend alot of time armed with a can of dettol spray after the departure of the mouse. It really isn't that dangerous to your health to accept tea and biscuits if you visit)

Saint Dimitri?

Yesterday was Dimitri's name day, not that I'm Greek Orthodox - or for that matter a religious person in any way at all, but it's nice all the same for Dimitri to get wishes for "many years". Anyway, Dimitri celebrated with a treat of chocolatey things. I know, I know - not very healthy, but you know sometimes you've just got to let kids be kids. At least it wasn't a macaroni and cheese day too.


Chocolate croissants are a long time favourite, and to make sure of their location, Dimitri keeps one in each hand (lest anyone one else dare consider eating them). The "kinder" chocolate is Dimitri's purchase from the corner shop (he chose it, went to the counter and gave the 5euro note - although he doesn't know to get the change as yet). Yes this seems over-indulgent. Yes Dimitri is a messy eater. He is not a "regular" kid, he has dyspraxia and he is doing his best, give the kid a break!