18!!
I feel like a conspiracy theorist must have felt when all the computers didn’t crash on the millennium. 7th January 2022, the day we’ve been working up to for a number of years in relation to transition to adult services with A LOT of different professionals. Today is ‘the big switch’ but in all honesty, we’re not there, everything isn’t in place. I’ve spent years educating myself, asking questions, filling forms, repeating Alastair’s medical history and disabilities over and over again, chasing people and demanding that that things move quicker….I feel like I haven’t done enough but at the same time couldn’t have done any more. We are exhausted, have spent the last year exhausted all because we’re fighting a system that’s broken, today has been a shadow looming all year and I’m so mad that this has taken away some of the excitement we all have that makes us shine.
18 has given me a lot of time to reflect, probs when I should be sleeping. Every time I go back to the beginning I can’t help but feel angry surrounding the disappointment and sadness that surrounded us at the time. Seriously, if you meet teenage expectant parents please just say ‘congratulations’ or whatever, please be excited for them too. We were told our life would be over, didn’t we wanna travel? Yes, so we did, ta! Alastair’s diagnosis was met with a lot of ‘oh what a shame’ or ‘I’m sorry’. Nowt to be sorry about mate! I hope we have spent the last 18years proving that there’s nothing shameful about either, just difference, and that’s cool.
One thing I was told way back then tho was ‘enjoy every second, it goes so quick’ I have made such a conscious effort to be present in a moment, or to sit back take everything in, enjoy even the seemingly meaningless seconds but it’s still gone too quick, I have an adult. But, the most adventurous, courageous and loving adult who I couldn’t be prouder of if I tried.
We’ve had to cancel Alastair’s birthday get together tonight as I really don’t want the responsibility of getting all our loved ones together in one room right now. Berlin is shut. But we’ve found a pub we can take the van up to stay over in so we’ll bolt there after college, run away!
So now I’ve got that off my chest….here we are…
BEING 17.
After flirting with the idea of skating down at the skatepark on his trike Alastair first actually stepped on a board shortly after his 17th birthday! After a wobbly start we bought some bungee cord so we could secure his board under his walking frame for a little more stability. Within months he was able to step and place his feet correctly, skate unaided, attempt ramps and finally push his board independently!
Alastair continues to love his trike and this year took on his longest solo ride, 10miles! He has once again joined the ECB Knights on one of their silly rides to Patrington on the tandem for cake and covered all 45miles grinning.
Alastair’s Smiling and Waving brand has continued this year, Alastair has used his own mark making and mono print techniques firstly to raise monies for Oscars Chance and Roux Army and then to make a range of tee’s including the ‘Stardust’ tee and both white and black tie dyed drops.
College has been a bit on again/off again but Alastair did manage to finally get out and complete his first level of his sailing course and has been out on a gig boat, speed boat and paddle board. I had to add words like ‘jib sail’ onto his talker and I don’t even know what one is!!
We have been out in the North Sea on Grandad’s fishing boat and even took it out on our own for the first time. It’s a bloody good job Alastair likes water as we erm….kinda took on a lot and the waves knocked him flying a few times.
But, as we all know the biggest thing to come out of being 17 was all the incredible support we had in converting our van Ronson into an accessible camper we can use to travel forever more. Alastair had his own burger, pizza, prints, tee and leggings. Fronted up by @friendsoneverystreet we were once again blown away by the creativity and kindness of many of our local independents that we will forever be indebted in gratitude to. So between the end of July and mid September we didn’t spend a weekend at home and explored our local area in the van, ironing out a few faults and making it work so we can get it over to Europe in hopefully the not too distant future! Our longest trip was visiting North Wales for the first time and what a stunning place it is, we couldn’t believe we got to explore it in the van, camp by a stream over looked by vast woodland, drive on the beach. And better still we got to explore it with friends, something we love about travel is meeting up with friends old and new. Please do holla if we happen to be near your home.
Spent a lot of time in Brid, it’s the tits. (Even holidayed there for a night ;))
GIGS!!! Gigs have made a comeback this year. We’ve stuck local and small but oh my what Hull has to offer! Looking back through our IG archive I’ve noticed how many pop up events and artists, music and dancing there has been this year too, we’ve done ‘em all.
I’ll finish with Alastair’s continued love for water sports and his first dabble at surfing, not something we’d ever really thought about until the day we happened to walk into a surf shop. But, even after one lesson we know this is something we would like to continue, so this year, instead of presents we asked if people could put together to buy Alastair is very own paddle board!! So for all those asking what Alastair will ‘do’ once he’s 18? He’ll probably be found down the beach, minding his own business and continuing to be effortlessly cool.
Happy 18th birthday my ‘perfect baby boy’
Smiling and Waving 