Being 16

So here we are…

17,

the age I was when I had you.

This time last year we signed off by sharing our village, a group of our nearest and dearest sat round a long table eating, drinking and being merry. Little did we know that would be the last time we could do anything of the sort and that I’d be doing it alone for over a year….

So lets talk about how it’s been ‘Being 16’

16 began pretty normally, attending gigs, eating out, travelling around and getting a hair cut. (Wow, its the simple things you miss innit?)
Alastair joined a group called Loud Mouths, a group of young people with disabilities who met up monthly to learn about what affects them and to get their voices heard, despite at first being quite shy Alastair used his AAC to successfully talk amongst the group.

This coincided with Brexit, after discussing this with Alastair we decided he would hand make some badges but this time with the words ‘Ex-EU Citizen’ and a lonely star on them. We popped them up on instagram for £1 and Alastair would make them to order, sign thank you cards and make regular trips to the post office to send them.
Enter stage left, Ollie from Friends On Every Street who designed Alastair a logo that we thought we’d use for a festival style fundraiser to raise money for a new all-terrain wheelchair. It was that spectacular we started making badges with the logo on to.
I’ve just had a look back and it was Cactus Cafe who first asked for the logo to be printed on a tee….and i suppose the rest is history as they say.

Alastair has had his merch in stores across the city, enjoyed a live steamed gig in his honour, had a Nando’s inspired meal made and sold for him and has even had his own donut! Needless to say Alastair is now not only the proud owner of a brand-new wheelchair but also made enough money to buy himself a new trike too!

Lock down was tough for Alastair, he thrives with routine, his routine went from being here, there and everywhere to pretty much doing nothing. Despite my best efforts I just wasn’t enough for him. The trike saved us.
Everyday we would take advantage of our one exercise a day and just trike, trike and trike and trike. By 30th May Alastair had ridden 100miles!!

May also saw our first trip to the coast as restrictions eased up slightly and this is where we spent most of our summer. However it was this point when Alastair developed severe travel anxiety. For an avid explorer this was heartbreaking to watch, his whole body would tense up and shake. While this is still present in Alastair it has started to ease slightly so we’re hoping this lockdown doesn’t reintroduce it.

Being 16 saw Alastair shave and bleach his hair, finish high school and meet his new baby cousin.His kayaking and sea fishing adventures landed him on TV and he even got to ride a stunt horse!
We’ve had a camper van holiday on the jurassic coastline, doorstep dances and helped to rescue toads.

September saw us having to say goodbye to PA superstar Betty but welcome Anna to our team with open arms. Alastair started a brand new college where he knew no-one and basically bossed fuck outta it.

Alastair has ended his year of being 16 by developing a love for skating, wether that be towing Jack or heading down the local skate park on his trike. I have a feeling we might see this skill develop this year.

If you’re reading this then can you please take a moment for Alastair’s friends he has lost this year. Close school friends Ollie & Mia, Angelman bud Brodie and IG chums Torben & Casey. Our hearts this year have been with their families.

Over and out, until next year….

Unless you want a green hoodie?

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