Sushi :>

hehe finally got a photo of it. :) Made sushi for the Singaporean gathering later on this evening. It's much better than when I made it the first time. At least I got the ingredients in the centre this time :p

My new housemate bakes GRrreeeat :>

My dear housemate from Czech baked for her friend's birthday last week. She saved some for us :) Apple tarts and a fruitty cake thingy (she got the latter recipe off the wrapper) :>

I'm Not a 'Girlie' Girl??

This week...

1. A friend was talking to me about a young person who might need a personal assistant [under a direct payments scheme in which people needing extra support in their daily living can employ some one to provide that support] to do 'girlie' things with her. She was talking about how that might be something I want to do, and I do... but then we agreed I'm not that kind of 'go shopping', 'paint your nails', 'dress up', 'read female magazines', type of 'girlie'... hmmmm....

2. went to salsa class today for the 2nd time... There are always more girls than guys at such social dancing classes. This time I made sure I got to dance the 'girl's' part for most of the lesson, unlike last week... but I still did the guy's part for the merengue (which is probably a bad idea coz I can't lead people and I don't know the steps). We were doing the couples dance in a big circle and change partners after each dance. hmmm.. I don't want to dance the guy's part next week...

3. My new housemate and her friends were going to a 21st party today.... They looked stunning, in their pretty frocks and snazzy shoes. hair-straighteners to do their hair... matching handbags... I always say I cant be bothered to dress up anyway... but I guess its also when I want to... I get confused about what's nice... usually I don't have too many options to choose from anyway... coz I can't be bothered to go shopping so don't have that many nice things.... It's a simple case of 'you sow what you reap OR you get nothing out of sitting on your bum at home all day instead of going to MeadowHELL (term of affection by Sheffieldians for Meadowhall, a big shopping centre in Sheffield which is crazily busy on weekends)'. haizzzz...

I'm definitely not the only 'un-girlie' girl amongst my friends... haha but at least they have better fashion-sense than I do... (Disclaimer: I'm not in any way saying 'un-girlie' is an un-desirable trait... 'girlie' or 'un-girlie' are both neutral descriptions of how people behave in this world)

also, I think I'm not bothered enough to change myself... I find it a little tiring trying to be 'girlie' when I'm not... I think I'll concentrate on my salsa dance steps instead :p

Can't take on too many things at one time can I? :p

It takes 2 hands to clap...

This is a poem written by Jim, a 27 year olds man with Autism (Cesaroni and Garber, 1991, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders).

Jim feels that suggestions of people with autism lacking empathy and not taking other people's perspective, are unfair. He feels it more objective to say that people with autism have difficulties with expressing their thoughts and feelings, and understanding social cues. He writes about the tremendous efforts he puts in to interact with other people, though very often unsuccessfully. The poem also seems to have a hint of disappointment, at how people without autism often do not help make interactions with people like him, easier.

I built a bridge
out fo nowhere, across nothingness
and wondered if there would be something on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of fog, across darkness
and hoped that there would be light on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of despair, across oblivion
and knew that there would be hope on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of helplessness, across chaos
and trusted that there would be strength on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of hell, across terror
and it was a good bridge, a strong bridge, a beautiful bridge

It was a bridge I built myself,
with only my hands for tools, my obstinacy for supports,
my faith for spans, and my blood for rivets.

I built a bridge, and crossed it,
but there was no one there to meet me on the other side.