ODAAT - one day at a time

Crawling

Li Li crawled for the first time yesterday. She has been commando crawling for a while now, but yesterday, whilst at Maloo's brother's 40th birthday party she actually got on all fours and started moving forward. A sight to behold. To celebrate, she woke up at 4am and had a party and decided that was a good time to practise some more. She may regret that decision later today, though she did go back to sleep about 6am for a couple of hours.

An actual sentence I said yesterday...

"C'mon Li Li. Let's retire to the conservatory with our Pringles pot, our magic wizard and our keys that don't open any doors."

Learning to play

I am currently learning to play "Across the Universe" by The Beatles, with the help of my guitar teacher and this book here:

It is not a bad book, pretty close to the originals, though the accompanying CD is rather stilted and mechanical. Needs a bit of life pumped in to the songs, but I guess that makes it easier to learn if they are very specific about what they are playing.

There is a finger picking introduction then  it basically goes in to a few chords and a strumming pattern. Not too hard and should sound pretty good once I have got the hang of it.

Also enjoying playing "A Boy Named Sue" and "The Man in Black" by Johnny Cash from this book:

The book gives you all the lyrics and the chords and even tells you where to put your capo (politely). I have had to develop my own alternating bass strumming pattern to make it sound a bit more like the orginal, but again, it sounds quite good.

What with these songs, a few other Beatles numbers and "Hotel Yorba" and We're going to be Friends" by The White Stripes, my repertoire is coming along.

Not quite ready to go busking or to an open mic yet, but hey, Li Li enjoys it. For a while anyway.

General chit chat

Had a good week at school, though time is dragging on and can't wait until 3 weeks is over so I can start looking forward to my new class and school properly. I have bought a couple of books to read over the summer which I ought to update to the side bar, including Autism for Dummies and a book about Intensive Interaction and Sensory Integration by Phoebe Caldwell. I also found out today that my new school is having its ofsted inspection next week, which means I won't have to endure the next one for another three years or so. Cool. Just been for a swim in Henleaze Lake which has to be the best way to end a plodding week at work. Just waiting for Li Li and Maloo to come home- they have been fruit picking in Chew Magna which sounds fun. Loving my new Piaggio moped. I give it less than two years before I take my full motorcycle test and get the urge to upgrade to a more powerful geared bike.

And

The Zutons looked like they kicked some butt too. But everyone else can still go fuck themselves. Especially Mark Ronson.

Alison and her friends

Okay, so maybe Goldfrapp looked pretty groovy too. And a begrudging nod to another band might go someway to making me seem slightly less curmudgeonly. In other news, I can now ride a motorbike up to 125cc with L plates on anywhere except a motorway. Whoopee doo.

Jack and his mates

Just watched Raconteurs on the Glastonbury TV coverage. The rest of the artists can go fuck themselves, Amy Winehouse and James Blunt included, but the Raconteurs looked pretty awesome and a great vibe. Will have to check out if they are playing Bristol some time soon. Doctor Who was pretty great too- the finale should be even better.

Juno and some existential angst

Just watched Juno. Bit of a feelgood film but great script and funky, quirky soundtrack. Will look it up on iTunes. And a main character who was more mature as a 16 year old than I probably am at 34. Still, we keep striving forward. I have had a bit of a 'I know nothing about football and probably should know more' day today. The same could apply (on a different day) to music, films, playing the guitar and/ or physical activity. I hate days like this because I lose all my gratitude and instead, focus on all these weird, unrealistic expectations which I pile on myself. I should remember the fact that I suffered from an all-consuming, potentially fatal illness for quite a few years before I really started doing constructive things with my life. I also need to remember that I have also achieved loads in the last few years and, if I put sobriety and AA first, the world is my oyster in the future too. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.on a slightly more positive note, I was swimming in the lake this afternoon and saw a pair of jays on the bank. It might not sound like much but it kinda made my afternoon.

Today

Li Li has realised that she has got a tongue. Much amusement all round as she pokes it and rolls it around. She can also sit up independently, but rarely stays still long enough to bother. Her lateral movement includes rolling, 360 spins and commando crawling, which has really come on in the last day or two. She is also still very funny and smiley and everyone says how pretty she is, which is impressive given that she has got us as parents.

In other news, I am really happy with my new job- teaching autistic teenagers in a different school. They are also gonna give me a month's induction when I start in September - not bad considering most schools give you a day or two then you are left to get on with it. The staff seem really chilled and happy and easy going too and to top it all, I will be leading music and ICT. Just the job.

And finally, I will be picking up my Piaggio Fly 100 4T on the 29th after completing my CBT. Very exciting. Maybe I won't be so chronically late for AA meetings now...

Listening to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, followed by The Associates, thanks to Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2.

I got a job

I got a job today. Full time permanent working with older kids, starting September. It will either be a mixed class or a an autistic class, either of which I am totally happy with. All is well.