Headspace in littleworld

This week I've been thinking a bit more about Headspace.

What is Headspace?

Headspace to me means the vantage point my mind looks upon everything around of it and relates to it in real time, being a felt, experienced and physical thing I interact with that ties in your sense of you in time and space.

People can have differing senses of head space not least of you're a Middle or Little because you may have, depending on your own development a more adult sense of what you do and how you'd see your role as well as a younger one where in effect you go back to those things and ways of looking at life that you may recall from your childhood.

The way people may move from one to another depends on the individual and their circumstances such as you may have a triggering thing such as a particularly activity that from the second you start to interact with it, you subconsciously move to that side of you.

For example I used to find being in schools often brought out the more Junior side of me so much so if I was left their for long enough on my own I'd 'drop' into being that child or playing with say dolls just does.

It may be also that how you are attired does and with me putting on my school clothes like what I'm wearing right now typing this 'throws the switch'.

I think one thing a good number of us find useful is where we can meet up because it enables us to interactive not just with our own person sense of being a Middle or Little in such a headspace but also with others as if we were over at other folks houses playing which I think is something many of us did as children and it's that kind of feeling we're recreating.

When looking at recreating there is a question to be asked about the extent to which it is or can be complete replication simply because the nature being a child and the 'play' has itself changed over the decades.

The modern child has electronic play devices and quite often access to say a Tablet Computer which may be used to play games on or join sites like Club Penguin or use to write or draw things on. A computer may be part of your Little/Middle headspace.

How much of that we may do when we're together is something that we'll need to work through in the same way thoughtful parents do with their own children and for similar reasons because it is easy-too easy perhaps-to have a situation where we're all huddled together but staring into our own screens so while individually we're having fun the one thing we aren't doing is interacting with each other. That is a genuine concern.

The other area with that and the all pervasive Smartphone is handling Adult related things such as any requirements an individual may have to check emails and the like from 'work' which whatever your personal thoughts on the rights and wrongs of  (and I think it has for some gotten too intrusive in folks free time) such things are part of their working conditions they are expected to comply with when outside work such as at such meets.

I feel it needs to be done in way that doesn't disturb the Middle/Little space of other people attending which may involve say the use of your own private space or a designated area and certainly the associate electrical gubbins like chargers need to out of peoples way when sitting or walking about.

For some of us, though this isn't necessarily the biggest threat to that very headspace at all and while I won't speak for everybody one reason I do like being in that Middle/Little space is to be free from adult level intrusions not least those I have functional difficulties with.

When we were younger the Grown Ups, knew it mattered that while the Big World went on around us, it was wrong for that to dominate Our World so some conversations and topics were 'not for young ones ears' because playing talking through our thoughts and ideas mattered more for us.

That's why it does matter to some of us the sense of leaving things like political, religious and 'adult matters' out of where we are playing, talking or even sleeping and it may be sensible to check with any Little or Middle if they wish to be involved in or ideally leave that to as something in another room people may do.

Personally I have no inclination at all to engage in discussion around those areas simply because it's not part of Middle me that comes to meets apart from experiences in other groups that had allowed it lead to enmities between folk whose reason for being together had had nothing to do with these topics.

To me then to the extent one cannot and would not want to restrict what people can talk about not least that of any groan ups/Caregivers present, there's something to be said for holding back it until after little bed time  or perhaps of having that in just one area of a meet you'd make a deliberate point  of entering.
That way it's managed but those of us who are either playing or just resting have our needs respected so we can enjoy ourselves in our younger headspace freely.
To conclude being in it to me is the mark of being a middle or little. It is us.

Think Pink!

Sometimes  you come back with things you didn't expect and I don't mean colds and the like but in the best traditions of Littles and Middles people do bring things with them that they either no long want or perhaps bought and found didn't fit or something.
Well at Camp there was a full rail of things from various people with their own stories to tell and in the best tradition anything is between you and the girl (or their Caregiver/Groan up) including paying up for things you want not Camp organizers and the like.

Way back in late June last year I did get a dark blue gingham school summer dress that I quite liked not least for how Junior it made me feel, which as far as I'm concerned is quite a good  thing and I had been thinking about something in a more classic pink.
Coming in with a few things on Sunday last was this one with two pleats at the front I like - I'm big on pleats - that caught my eye from Jillian which having put it against me, seemed to be just perfect so I paid her for it in notes of the Bank of Purrland.
That was the one modelled on Monday with a long sleeve t shirt underneath cos it was cold out of doors otherwise being Winter.

February 2016 Camp

For me this Winter's Lg Camp somewhere in South-East England started a bit earlier than most with the exception of three US guests who naturally had to fly in and Sammy who had other things ™ first, I set out by bus and rail to GHS to be picked up by Matron who does a super job of looking after me.

Stopping overnight meant I had to take a bit more stuff than I normally would but by the power of Middles power packing and added compression, I managed to get everything into two Tote bags and a small wheeled suitcase including Maddie the rag doll.

As I think I wrote sometime around of November last, Matron had kindly given me a grey tunic (aka pinafore dress/gymslip for Brits) that fitted me well so noting she said she'd like to see me in it, naturally I wore it on Friday and when travelling down Saturday morning.

After getting dressed Saturday, brushing my hair back properly with a wooden hair brush and fixing some breakfast, Jennifer, Susan and I made our way down travelling through the delights of Dudley, home to a great Castle and Zoo and South Birmingham before getting to Leicestershire enroute to our location, a big place for fun.

Because the place is one you have to fix stuff like food and play activities for yourself, we had to carry quite a bit of stuff outside of our cases like a film projector and a consignment of Staffordshire's finest pies that was around the trunk and right next to me in the rear passenger seat. That made for a really well packed car!

Upon arrival, we emptied the car in a systematic way with help from the others as two of us have physical disabilities, putting food into the kitchen area, games in a room and our cases in our downstairs rooms to be emptied.

Something shocking emerged from one room downstairs in the late afternoon: a black tunic'd Catgirl complete with black ears and a Junior Prefect badge who roamed from room to room meowing. How had something that belonged to F.A. gotten in the building? Better ask Matron.....

Most people placed an order by the wonders of the internet for various Curries from a Indian Takeway locally that two people went to pick up while we cooked a large meat pie with potatoes and vegetables for the three of us which was done and consumed before everyone else's!

Every meet, different people come depending on their schedule (that's pronounced with a K) some from the past and others perhaps for their very first time so among the many attendees, so many every room was fully booked, Karen, America's answer to me (a uniformed schoolgirl), Ruffles and Beth were present.

Starting on Saturday, we began work on completing one of two large jigsaws between ourselves collaboratively on the lounge table surrounded by Jelly Babies and other assorted candies as people who weren't just chilled out.

By Sunday as if by magic the Camp chores Rota appeared as until then nobody who wasn't actually organizing an activity knew what they were doing as the idea is ensure everything like getting things set out for meals and tabling clearing isn't kinda left to a few who tend to the sort that already have things to do that make camp happen as well.

This year Greenlands High, the bestest school in Staffordshire I'm reliably informed, did the catering providing midday salads and cooking two evening meals using fresh ingredients for the most part with some help from Karen and Suzy plus the odd other whose name escapes me.

The first part of Sunday having gotten up was a more do your own thing so I played with some Duplo, making buildings and did some colouring which I find very relaxing before midday. As well I  played with a Town and Country wooden train set and had my photograph taken outside. The lens didn't shatter!

In the afternoon we had the Colour Quiz, it maybe an invention of Sammy's I'm not too sure but the theme was Disney Princesses and having gotten in teams you have to find in strict order pictures of them, each giving you a clue to next to find until you finish.

I teamed up with Jennifer as we ran around the building up and downstairs looking through every public space for them sometimes for what seemed like ages several times over.

Eventually we found ours and so had our Chocolate Egg.

We had a full-blown Chicken roast that night complete with 'Pigs in blankets' plus stuffing balls followed by either Raspberry or Strawberry vanilla ice cream which was scrumptious.

Later on that Evening, Jillian held her Big Quiz with lots of general knowledge questions and a name the person in the photo section and Mr Paul's team (which also included Sammy, Fudge and I) came second in it.

Monday saw something unique emerge around 7:10AM, a pink gingham'd Catgirl modelling something she apparently bought from Jillian the day before but didn't let on. Sneaky...

Samantha R had organized a marvellous arts and crafts event where people could paint (finger or brush), draw, make things (Cut out Dollies to dress anyone?) or colour with Sammy kindly drawing some unique pictures using her amazing drawing skills just for us.

I coloured two pictures which like everything else was photographed for the groups private use.

The afternoon of Monday saw a traditional all analogue Film Show that Jennifer had spliced together (there's a dying skill) that amongst other things featured the 1933 Disney version of the Three Little Pigs and Speedy Gonzales in Chilli Weather from 1963, a documentary on the English Inland Waterways from 1968 and Laurel and Hardy in the 1935 short, Tit For Tat which was most enjoyable especially when Ice Cream was served as it was when many of us went to the movie theatre as kids.

Rachael joined us for the evening talking away to various people as we ate traditional British Fish and Chips that had been ordered earlier with Alice and Samantha R collecting which the Catgirl soon got through, licking her lips.

In the evening Daisy and Sally~Jane performed songs and Jennifer read a bedtime farmyard story very much in the South Staffordshire Black Country dialect that I'm very familiar with even if with the exception of Auntie Andi no one else is.

I was feeling rather tired as I'm prone to unfortunately so had to bed early having missed my afternoon nap after part packing to save time the next day.

I got up the next morning more relaxed putting my Green pleated skirt and red sweater on cos I love the colour and I know Matron loves me in green.

Tuesday was the last full day with having to vacate Wednesday by Twelve Noon so after breakfast we watched and laughed with each other looking at pictures set to music of what we'd been doing.

* "Catgirl Airlines Flight CA271 made and flown!

After Midday, Alice had organized her Surprise Event, that involved drawing a Pictionary entry for something based on what we'd been doing people had to guess, a make, decorate and fly paper Airplanes competition and a “Chinese” Whispers activity where two phrases were to be exchanged between two groups and we were to see if the message delivered really was the same as the one the first person gave. It wasn't by a long shot!

After Bostin proper butchers own Steak & Kidney or Stake and Ale pies that we'd brought with us, a large bowl with cream arrived at the table and was given to the Catgirl to lick!!! Everyone had either Lemon cheese cake or Chocolate cake.

It wasn't to be the only crazy thing that happened that night for, during the Evening Disco Mr Paul had set up, a Catgirl started Catgirl dancing something Bruno Tonioli didn't teach her with Beth complete with paw actions to the Cure's Love Cats!

Wednesday saw us finishing off the last bit of packing before tidying up, getting the vacuum cleaner out and packing our Car where if it wasn't for the observant Catgirl we'd of left our notice board behind!

Driving back toward the Midlands we encountered heavy rain although it didn't hinder the journey significantly although as you'd expect their were a few minor delays along the M6 with lane closures before unpacking, fixing a hot drink of tea, munching through Roast Chicken flavoured crisps and getting the coal fire lit.

We had Steak and Kidney pies later on, watching the Midsomer Mysteries on tv as we relaxed from what had been a busy day before we went to bed as I had to leave in the morning to catch my train home and get a cab to the front door.

This years camp felt different, had more things taking place you could take part in compared with the last two February's with people interacting more with each other which is really what it's meant to be about a place we can let our little more 'child-like' side out amongst friends sharing in the excitement of it all and it was great to see a good turnout including one who hadn't been to a LG Camp before.

Making this happen takes people who need to work on things such as booking our accommodation, fixing our food and organizing activities both before when they may have other things to do and while we are there. We all need to get involved if this is to happen so people don't feel burnt out as after all it's everyone's break so why we shouldn't leave it to a faithful few volunteers?  I'd like in that spirit to thank in no particular order Suzy for taking care of the bookings with other odd things together with Susan and Jennifer for doing the catering with some help in addition to the film show, Alice, Jillian, Samantha R and Paul for your activities and Daisy and Sally~Jane for their performances.

It was a pleasure to see Karen and Ruffles for the very first time, having fun.

On a personal level I'd like to thank the Matron of GHS for looking after me during the entire six days where I did manage to be good throughout helped by her ongoing guidance and we'll have to see about the tie!

Getting around

If I ran with a tray in my hand even assuming I was able to hold on to it with my hand shaking, it's very likely it would be at an angle with the risks of spillage as I'm so unco-ordinated which is why it's so important to either let us go around with someone to help us get food before people start pushing and diving in or for you to actually get and carry it for us.
It is okay to ask if I or anyone like me would like some help in situations like this and please consider our difficulties where you're getting yours and I'm trying to get mine so I don't loose my balance, tripping up.
Small things often make our lives better.

Teen beat XX- The Electric Light Orchestra

The Electric Light Orchestra and I go back in time buying the 45's as they came out in the 1970's and early 80's a good number in their colourful picture sleeves, playing them at school and home and later on getting a good number of their albums on cd having borrowed  them from either brothers, friends or the public library.

The Elo, were a band that defied the single or album orientation bias  many back then had issuing worthwhile albums and many memorable singles such as Telephone Line, All Over The World, Mr. Blue Sky, Don't Let Me Down and Rock and Roll Is King.

That can make having a compilation quite desirable however there's been a good number starting from 1979's Greatest Hits that in some ways is remains the perfect summary of the 1973-77 singles and double or even triple cd sets.

The one I remember getting in December 1997 was Light Years, a mid price British double issued on cd, cassette and mini disc which was jam packed full of material including edited versions from singles and an EP, in no particular order and suffered from being too consistently loud and bright so I relented and got the original Greatest Hits album on a cheap cd. 

I did briefly get 1991's Greatest Hits Vol II but that sounded very thin although the selection was very good so I got rid of it.

That did leave missing a selection of the later hits as most miss off anything from the  Zanadu soundtrack that gave us three hit singles and to which the title song had been re-recorded in 1991 for the Flashback cd  box set that was criticized for chopping off the very start and ends of a number of tracks.

The one pictured above most would consider the best of the bunch having most of the essential tracks including the very early tracks and was very well mastered by Vic Anesini in 1995 who did excellent work on a number of Columbia projects like the Simon & Garfunkel remasters.

It was only issued in North America and recently I obtained a copy to fill those gaps and having the European Zanadu soundtrack on cd that came out in 1998, the missing tracks from it aren't so much of an issue with me. 

It sounds really good with the extra resolution from using good tapes and taking extra care about how you make each track sounds. 

Studying in discomfort

Golly gosh so much rain this weekend that him who hacked my account on Friday been begging to stay in and use his litter tray instead!
On Saturday in English, I've been looking at the second bain of my written life the one below spelling which I'm officially lousy at and above structure, namely paragraphing.
You know I never really knew what they were for and this section left me thinking for like ages I'd thought a paragraph was the exact same thing as a sentence but seemingly they are not.
A paragraph apparently is a group of sentences talking about the same thing or follow on from each other and at least over in the UK in handwritten work you do indent the first sentence of a new paragraph whereas in typing classes I was taught not to!
The benefit of using paragraphs are that they show clearly you're writing about something new. It may be a new point in an essay, when you talk about new person or they speak if it's a story, if you're talking about a new place or a different time when people read your written work.
The section also looked  at how you link sentences together too.
I got 100% on the end test for that which included writing three paragraphs of a story to demonstrate your ability  to use them well although needless to say some of my linking words show Canadianisms.
As well, I looked at punctuation,something a person I know who helps  people stay on track but who also does private English tuition recognizes is a weakness of mine with the work covering capitalization, clauses  and phrases amongst many things.
Sunday saw the return of Math dealing with the efficient use of calculators and what the keys really do, like I didn't know what the +/- key was for(!), working out formulas which was very hard and  ordering Decimals which isn't like the Hallway Monitor bellowing at you if you're going to fast or not in line, which is something that sure happened at my school.
I got 100% in the first and last areas and just 66% with formulas but even getting that was a minor miracle compared  to how I used to be and shows just much changing how I'm treated and at the same time giving me proper support and guidance can help

I'm also working in some discomfort cos I hurt my small toe yesterday with the inward top bit nearer the foot hitting a hard plastic object as I lost my footing, getting up quicker than perhaps I should of, not really thinking. I'll spare you a picture but a small portion of is definitely bruised (it's black!!!) and while I'm a bit better today, last night I was limping on my right foot! This is not what I'm needing for later on in the week.

More Rollermania

It is Friday apparently and there is actually another entry this week...

 A loud high pitched scream is heard, several heads look puzzled and Sammy's covered her ears up. What could possibly produce such a reaction in Jo?
Easy, anything connected to the band she was in love with in her Tweens, screaming at the television at, covering her bedroom walls with pictures of Woody, that's what!
Toss in strong Lothian  accents, more plaid than the Edinburgh Wool shop stocks and simple, easy to sing a long to songs and you have it plus she wrote about it a time or two.

I'd definitely recommend covering your ears up as Jo's gotten this, a kind of cd replacement for her original lps imported from the UK (Dang American companies mixing up the songs and adding extra strings on the local copies) covering the first five essential albums from 1974 to 1977 that were played to death back then in card sleeves that have the front and back covers. She says these were original 'gatefolds' but the only gate I know is the one at the end of our path.
She's only one you'll find who could quote the lyrics to "Give a Little Love" and sing along to Rock n' Roll Love Letter" for  more times than anything by the Beatles and thinks "Summerlove Sensation" is the best ever pop record, period.
Worrying I saw her copy this on her 'puter  and put it on her music player the other day so she might have it on her when you next see her...

Regards Marmalade,  the original sticky ginger cat and proud member of the North Staffordshire Tom Cat Club.

Final January study weekend

If you looked around of Friday and nothing seemed to have changed, that's okay cos I didn't make a optional late week entry.

Anyway, this Saturday saw me working at English looking at different styles of writing, formal and informal, the sort of language, sentence structure and introductions, concluding paragraphs and the way you sign letters.
Writing I learned can be about many things thing, such as stories, essays, informing, explaining ,advising and persuading people by argument and how each has their own needs to be effective.
As well, I learned about the importance of planning what you write, setting the topic, the points or when it comes to stories, the plot, seeing it through to a conclusion that leads to the reader understanding fully what you were saying.
It's very tempting to just plow on with an idea very much as it comes to you without really making sure at the end you've fully covered everything that's relevant to it and while it's possible in the age of the text writing program to change things, it's still more time consuming to rework everything compared to just setting down and making a plan.
Structuring matters especially to ending a piece of writing, which has never been my strong point as while I did lean how to write a decent business letter at college a good number of years back, everything we did was very business orientated including how to compose telegrams.
The other area of English I did was around Reading, looking at descriptions and how authors compare and contrast characters answering questions on extracts including quoting to back up the points in my answers.
I got 100% in one test and 70% in the second, which for someone with my disabilities is pretty good going.
On Sunday because I'm better now, I had math work to get on with such as looking at using and calculating Ratios, working out Units and Money (the making sense of that I really struggle with in shops).
That sort of thing can help if you're trying to figure what's the best offer in the shops, what the total cost of things are and how much change should have cos as embarrassing as it is it's all stuff that adds to the other aspects of being out, shopping emotionally that soon takes me into very negative oppositional behaviour.
In addition I have Long Multiplication and Division to work at which I struggle with, being warned of consequences if I flat out refuse to try get to grips with them cos I'm like that at times.
I did the tests on this and I got them all right just using paw, pencil and paper.
My BFF suggested trying a Times Table cd to help me learn my Times Tables as I struggle with them so I got one, copied it and it lives on a portable player so I can both learn and keep them them fresh in my head.
Knowing my times tables helped me especially with long division  which I think was the big problem at school - taking to take me to more advanced work without really grasping the basic things - so I just dug my heels in.
Thanks to everyone not least my BFF for supporting me checking in across the two days.
Lucy, you're a star!