The new Barbie comes with a range of accessories to reflect her status as an autistic woman, such as: - noise-cancelling headphones - a fidget spinner - intense social media scrutiny about how she's Being Autistic Wrong

Seeing in the new year in the somewhat traditional-for-me way with a bought of insomnia. Ugh.

Who the fuck chose the puzzle pieces for the autism news piece on BBC South Today? 🤮

Nothing quite like hosting three of your youngest son’s friends for his birthday to readily invoke overstimulation! 🙃😫

testing

Greggggggggggg Wallace can fuck off. Using autism as an excuse for being a filthy, degrading, misogynistic bastard is beyond wrong. It’s entirely possible to be autistic AND know how to behave around other people.

Purple hair… neon glow in the dark nails… living my best life 😁

Survey to collect data on experiences of autism and ADHD assessment in England using NHS and Right To Choose services. All responses are anonymous. forms.gle/Xnon2j7U1Dgp... #AutismDiagnosis #AutismAssessment #ADHDdiagnosis #ADHDassessment #ActuallyAutistic

I think this week has been too much, and I realised too late. Wasn’t anticipating a meltdown this evening.

@susiedent.com do you know?

The government is considering removing EHCPs for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools. SNJ team member Rachel Filmer has started a petition to call for the protection of disabled children’s rights. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Really concerning hearing Farage saying he wants an end to working from home and wants to get rid of DEI positions. More concerning are the people who think this is ok, or right, and have voted for Reform. Think back 80 years; have we learned nothing? 😭

Today has been too different and too hot and too peopley. In a coffee break I even went out to stand in the cool corridor area alone and someone found me and talked to me. PSA: just because someone is on their own doesn’t mean they’re lonely and that they want human interaction!!!

It’s not been the best week (understatement of the century). Time for cocktails. Many, many cocktails.

Looking forward to getting my new specs. Then my eyelids might stop twitching and I’ll be able to see clearly again! 👓

It’s really depressing to see how many people - usually cis white males - are so anti diversity, equality, and inclusion. Also the fact that, as much as I’d like to think it’s ’keyboard-warrior’ bravado, they’re actually just as bigoted away from the internet, too.

The Legend of Zelda Sheikah inspired nails 🤩

It’s been a full-on week at work so far this week. I’m wiped out now! At least I can work from home for the rest of the week, and then I’ve got some annual leave booked.

Hope I haven’t peaked too early this week. Had a fabulous training session today with wonderful delegates, who expressed how great they found the session and especially me as their trainer. I’m exhausted now, and got the rest of the week ahead of me! 😬

First time ever in my life not feeling kind of jet lagged after the clock change. I don’t think I ever adjusted properly to being back on GMT. Clearly I operate better on BST!

It’s so great* when my brain does that thing of taking a scenario at work and convincing myself that I’ve done something wrong and I’m in trouble. Even though I haven’t and I’m not. Especially when it’s directly attributed to being autistic. *shit, I mean. Shit.

My (early) birthday-money purchase. Although my choice wasn’t related specifically to the infinity symbol for autism awareness & acceptance (I’ve had this ring on my wish list for years) it still feels very apt that it arrives today of all days, on Autism Awareness Day in Autism Awareness Month!

Aqua aerobics cancelled tonight and next week (guessing the instructor isn’t available and they can’t get an alternative). Thought I was ok with this. Actually, I’m not. 😭

The clocks haven’t even gone forward yet tonight and I feel pre-tired for it. 🙃

There’s a very good reason why I don’t tell anyone outside of work when I’m on annual leave, and today’s a prime example. I’ve had less time to myself than I get on a usual weekday (now I’ve cultivated the healthy habit of a proper lunch break). 🤦‍♀️

I wish whoever has left their dog alone and barking for most of the day so far would come home. It’s clearly unhappy and my nervous system cannot handle the barking.

Back in October I injured one of my toes. Since then, the nail has been black and I’ve been waiting for my toe to properly heal. This morning I was trimming my toe nails which caused the old nail to come off, revealing a regrown one underneath! I’m simultaneously in awe and utterly disgusted.

Happy #caturday

Me: yay weekend! I don’t need to get up early on Saturday! Also me: slept an extra hour & woke up with an awful migraine, which didn’t shift by sickness beforehand, which was also particularly bad 😢 gave in and took Migraleve (held off as it was my last 2 & my pharmacy think I buy it too often!)

I genuinely forgot it was World Book Day today until I saw friends with primary-school-aged children sharing photos of them dressing up 😂 and at that point, I’m not sorry to say, I breathed a huge sigh of relief!!! 😅 🤣

My brain is being such a dick right now. Had at least three unpleasant dreams that I can remember, and a fourth but I don’t remember details, last night. Why?!

Apparently the maximum number of browser tabs you can have open in Safari on iOS is 500. No need to ask me how I know this… 👀 🤭

So apparently lots of drivers can operate their fog lights, but only when it isn’t foggy. When it’s actually, genuinely, can’t-see-the-vehicle-in-front foggy, they stick to daylight runners or side lights, if you’re lucky. 🙃

Now have my diagnostic report. Oof, that hits hard. I thought I’d be fine and fully prepared for it; I’ve seen lots of these things now with the kids. But when it’s yourself? Ouch! #ActuallyAutistic

Had a lovely evening out last night with friends, and did my first ever pub quiz! However, in order to accommodate it I had to use flexitime to finish work early yesterday and start work late today, and I get a migraine to boot. This is one reason why I rarely socialise. #ActuallyAutistic

Over the past few months I’ve not consciously known of any dreams I’ve had, until recently. Suddenly, the past few weeks I’m dreaming most nights and usually not very pleasant dreams, either. Would love to know why!

Movies you’ve watched more than six times, using only GIFs.

Day off work today and kids off school, so I slept in a bit. Was tired anyway from yesterday’s over-stimulation and migraine. It seems, though, I slept too much (even though it was only an extra couple of hours) and so migraine is back. Ugh.

Movies you’ve watched more than six times, using only GIFs.

Movies you’ve watched more than six times, using only GIFs.

Movies you’ve watched more than six times, using only GIFs.

I usually mask pretty well at work. Today, though, it was apparent to a colleague when I hit my limit and became overstimulated and I was reaching the point of shutdown. I left the office to work at home shortly after. Thankful for that flexibility.

Today I learned that no matter how much you spell out to people that they must bring their work-issued laptop with them to an IT training session, someone will make a conscious decision to turn up without their laptop 🙃

Have a #SuperbOwl everyone 😉😂

Had my final appointment last night for my autism assessment. Turns out, I’m definitely autistic. Feels weird being able to say it officially. But also satisfying to know I was right all this time.

So far today I’ve dropped a brand new* tub of butter on my foot, from about 4ft above ground, and burnt the corner of my lips and side of my mouth on breakfast. That’s how today’s going to go, then?! 🙃 *important fact, because that means it’s the entire 500g plus packaging weight

He be shrimpin’ 🦐

Tried out the mop function of the robot vacuum cleaner today. Not disappointed. Mixed feelings about it being unable to do the stairs; would be great if it could, but that would mean it could use the stairs…🤔😬

Feeling this today, despite the all-year-round fairy lights remaining in situ! First year in a while I’m sad to say goodbye to the trees and other decorations!