Today I think I will just send you all to this video by Alan Holdsworth. It's about people who have - or are described as having - learning difficulties, and questions many of the preconceptions people commonly hold. The film is not without it's problems: the opening demand of 'full inclusion now', for example, should be treated with caution. Inclusion should be treated carefully, and I am now of the opinion that to rush head long into full inclusion, blinded by dogma to the consequences, is folly. Anyway, the film is still very interesting; go watch.

Lyn and I are currently training up a new PA - Godfrey - to work alongside Dan. They are currently working together; they seem to enjoy it, as they're good friends. Both are rather noisy people, and seem to love computer games, so it's almost ,like there's a family in our house. Lyn and I are the parents, and godfrey and Dan are our rather hyperactive boys.

Seriously though I'm rather pleased with how things are coming along, godfrey is very punctual and attentive; he does, however, use a very curious form of English. For instance, last week he claimed to have 'Bigged' something to mean he had mastered it. The local dialect really is strange. I really must teach my sons better use of language.

I think I am starting to get to know London quite well, and I'm starting to get used to it's ways. At first, it was a strange, intimidating, laberynthine place; coming down here as a kid to visit my grandparents, I always felt a little scared. Yet now the fear has been replaced with fascination.

I felt pleased with myself this week: I mastered the docklands light railway! Lyn and I wanted to go to Greenwich market, but first I needed money. We worked out that the easiest way to achieve our goals was for me to go to Woolwich and then rendezvous with Lyn and godfrey in Greenwich. This meant me taking the DLR alone, which made me feel apprehensive. However, as it turned out, the DLR turned out easy to use - I just told the guard where I was going, and he arranged the ramps - and I even got there before Lyn!

I know it's only getting on a train, but it made me feel proud of myself. It's just another little step towards a complete mastery of my world, and away from the timid little boy I was ten years ago.

Tomorrow, youtube intends to make a film called 'Life in a day'; it apparently wants as many users as possible to film things that are pertinent to them, and send the footage in. the overall film is going to be directed/edited by Ridley Scott, and is intended to create a snapshot of life on earth. It won't, of course, as only certain types of people - western, petit-bourgeois nerdy types - will send their footage in. everyone else will be too busy to piss about with Youtubes projects. Thus while I think iit really is a great idea, and will probably form a fascinating film, the project will ultimately fall short of it's goal.

Link

This place seems to have gone Ipad crazy. Both Lyn and our pa Dan have one, and they both seem to be constantly using them. More often than not, they're playing games on there - the Ipad has various little puzzle games which are apparently highly addictive. Every now and again, I hear little yelps of joy as someone goes up a level. I wouldn't mind - I tried playing one on Sunday and it really was engrossing - but it has reached the point of silliness. I popped down to Woolwich yesterday afternoon, and when I came back, it was like I had entered some weird dimension where I didn't exist; everyone was so fixated on their Ipads it was like I'd become invisible. I'm now considering buying one, just so I don't feel so left out.