Nothing is impossible: I keep worrying about this and that, but worrying solves nothing. I find it leads to defeatism, which is never healthy. I was worrying about this post-graduation meal, when all it took was a simple question and a few emails and the solution was found. I have misplaced Cyril’s email address so I’ll just use this entry to tell him I would like him, after the graduation and drinks reception, to drive me to the venue of the meal at 6.30, help me eat there etc, then drive me home after (if need be, he can stay at my place the night, as can Esther if she goes). We should, I imagine, be home before 12, but you never know I suspect he’s in for a treat.

See? Sorted! I hope the rest of my readers don’t mind me using my blog to sort out my social life. I do feel, however, that for a person with limited speech, any means of communication is valid. You must use what is at your disposal. It is the only way to get past barriers.

I have difficulty using zips, especially small ones (like on a zentai, which are at the back). So what do I do? I don’t give up, leaving the suit in the cupboard, but either ask someone to help me put it on, or, if nobody is about, attach a chord to the zip so I can pull it up. It works a treat! To every problem there is thus a solution. My very first day at school, I was asked to take my coat off; ‘I can’t’, I said, only to be told there was no such word. These days, not only do I take my coat off, but I can even put it on too. All it takes is a little time and ingenuity. The same principle works for coats, zentai suits, and degrees.

This is precisely what I’ll be telling the guys at 1voice this weekend. Couldn’t email Cyril, so I used my blog; couldn’t do the zip so I used string; can’t talk clearly so I use a voca. No problem!