Today I reminded a little fellow who has high functioning autism that he needs to use his hands gently. He responded by placing his palm on my cheek and stroking it softly, looking intently into my eyes for a reaction. He whispered the word "gentle" several times, and repeated his touch of my face with other parts of his hands, his eyes both more ( Read more... )

Every week somebody posts a secret that stops me in my tracks. This week it was this one:

I don't know how
To find a new boyfriend
Because the guy I'd like
Is probably sitting at home
Alone
Spending time on his computer
Reading this card.

Come find meDon't quite know weather to feel empathic with the writer or frustrated; or if it would be ( Read more... )

Tomorrow I will read my Pre school darlings The Witch's Children and the Queen in celebration of International Women's Day. If it hooks them in, I'll try and get them talking about the women they know, probably just their Mums and Grandmas, and why they are proud of them. Even that might be to abstract for some of them, or they might just be to ( Read more... )

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I had two odd little knacks. The first was to be given free food... I think that was not only because i was more than usually thin back then, but also because I was somehow hungrier on a soul level, and people will sense that. The other was a tendency to be approached by strangers and told long, ( Read more... )

Yesterday evening I watched a cicada gently ease itself from its shell, exposing a new, shimmery body to the night air. It was like being reborn myself.

I have always disliked team sports. never really saw the point of organising events that deliberately foster aggression and competitiveness. But what do you do when a thirteen year old that never really asks for much, says "Alison you never watch me play soccer"? If you start going to his games its about the fact you love him; and nothing to do ( Read more... )

Friday morning I decided I had to go to Major's creek... given I can't do Woodford this year it was my last chance this year for a festival. I managed to wrangle a lift, and dug a tent out of the cupboard... crazy last minute stuff, only found the tent half an hour before i was due to leave. I was worrying about money - wandering off to festival ( Read more... )

Tonight walking home alone, I saw the brightest, shooting star I have ever seen.

A little girl gave my roses from her garden on Friday, to say thank you for teaching her class for seven weeks. I was so touched, I love being given flowers, perhaps even more so when they come from a feisty little miss with big brown eyes. When it came to it, saying goodbye was hard... though it always is.

The honey clogged possum box has been lowered from the tree outside, and the bees are in a frenzy of distress. In spite of the wind, the garden smells of honey, though wether it's the bees or the foamy purple wisteria, slowly strangling the woodshed is anyone's guess. Soon we will taste the honey ( Read more... )