I support a little girl with autism at a local youth group...It made me happy today because she was really happy and seemed to be having a great time

My son has autism and has been in a lovely mood all day (I teach him at home, so I know!) He has been a delight to be around (and he isn't always!) Perhaps it's that Friday feeling?!

Exactly two weeks ago today my beautiful ginger and white tomcat disappeared. This is the third cat we have lost in three and a half years - always the same thing - just disappear and never return. I should add that we are very careful - they are all castrated, vaccinated, have electronic identification etc. We don't know what is happening.

We decided not to bring in another cat until we have finished reinforcing the fencing around the property.
So what do you do when a delightful little grey and white kitten gets dumped in your garden - we found her this morning. All our resolutions about no more cats for the moment have gone out of the window. I hope she will be safe with us - it seems so far only the toms who come to grief. Anyway she made us happy this morning - and what is more she caught a mouse in our kitchen!

Aww. the kitten sounds lovely Aquarelle.

Ginger cats do have a very strong tendency towards finding their own homes, so I'm sure it isn't anything you've done. I don't think I've ever known a ginger cat to stay with it's correct owner (some seem to stay for years but then still move) - but did get adopted by a beautiful ginger puss as a teenager.

This is why I wouldn't bother with having a cat as a pet. They are essentially narcissistic by nature.

Cats don't have owners, they have staff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQIfQNFrhZc



These guys are my anti-depressants

Apparently my clarinet performance at a nursing home about a week ago is still being talked about by the residents - one of them asked if I was professional I can recommend going to play at a nursing home to anyone who needs a confidence boost

That's lovely Skylark.

Finally getting home after a difficult journey from Durham. We spent 1 3/4 hours on the M1 near Nottingham to drive 25 miles - very frustrating!

However, it does make you appreciate being in free-flowing traffic again.

Not much.

My mum has tried getting me in to the home where she works but when she asked, I didn't have the confidence to do it, even in front of people who probably have hearing that is failing them I might consider it sometime soon, though.

Yes that's a *huge* advantage

What they particularly enjoyed, I gather, was being able to sing along, eg to Daisy Bell. And apparently the lady called Olwen for whom I played "Dream of Olwen" - her face still lights up when she talks about it

My boyfriend has an aunt called Olwen. Whenever I speak about her I call her Arwen

My happiness is not a reaction to external events

Constant p***-taking and general banter in the office. I love working here

Seeing my dog walk.

Last year we lost our beautiful Shepherd Mix "Fluffy" and endured a miserable year.

Two month's ago we adopted two dogs from our local animal shelter, Oliver and Enya. Both were checked out by a local vet but the shelter reported back that "Oliver" needed an operation - We said to the shelter that we would adopt him anyway and that we would take care of the operation as well.

Ollie had his operation for his luxating patella (kneecap kept jumping out of place) in August and has been undergoing hydrotherapy sessions to build up the muscles in his leg, and has made steady improvement. Ollie is 8 and should have had the operation years ago.

Anyway, I took him for his morning walk today and he was walking without any stiffness, just strutting down the road as happy as can be - That's what made me smile today!!!

For anyone who is interested our gallery is:-

http://gallery.me.com/nigel.chatterjee

There is only one downside - I'm not practising as much as I should!!

All the best,

Nigel

Realising that I can (probably) sing just about...

Putting up posters around school advertising the year 7 choir that my two friends and I are starting next Wednesday! And hearing that a group of girls have already been asking our music teacher about the choir Yayee!

This post has made me happier today. That is so lovely, Nigel. And beautiful looking dogs too.

My dog actually helped to cheer me up today too. Brodie's always been really boisterous (Patterdale terrier...crazy!) and has never been what you might call 'cuddly'. Well, today I sat down on the sofa beside him and he put his front paws on me, curled into my body and fell asleep.

Oh, Aquarelle, I'm SO sorry to hear of your latest loss - I know just how awful it is when a cat just goes missing, and to have it happen so much is just dreadful (and somewhat suspicious? I know previously you have wondered about another family locally..?).

But I'm delighted at your new acquisition..!

Aquarelle I'm so sorry - I remember when something very similar happened before.

We have a handsome Tom who has started coming to visit, and sits in our garden for ages at a time. I think he wants to be friends, although Rosie doesn't want to know.

Blimey - how does one achieve this state of nirvana?

A cancelled meeting

disco biscuits?

I was going to say something like that... flood control stopped me though, and then I forgot

After a loooong wait since February (I apparently was "lost in the system") I can now be fitted for my hearing aid next Monday!

It won't get rid of the tinnitus but at least I'll be able to hear again in my right ear.

Rather a silly thing to be happy about I suppose...

Not at all, it must be immensely frustrating, especially to one so musical! Good luck with it, DC Are you getting one of those tiny "invisible" digital things?

Thank you. I hope so..though it's NHS so it may be one of the plastic type thingies. I would use an ear trumpet if I had too! It can be very frustrating..especially when playing higher notes on the piano. I can't hear them at all at the moment. My singing sounds odd to me too..

*Next year I will summer in Heiligenstadt!*

It can't hurt to mention it to them. Sometimes being a little pushy with the NHS can get what you want I'm sure there are some excuses that could be found to try and go for the more subtle model!

How can that be silly I hope you are OK with it. Feel free to ask for help. Ask your audiologist loads of questions too.........they are very highly qualified.
How exciting



Sometimes Solari, it depends on how deaf you are as to which aids are the best for you. It's not always a cost thing.

Getting this sent to me

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

Ha like the cute doggie. Good luck with the hearing aid. My OH has one, and it took a bit of perserverance to get him the right model and right software for it, be patient and don't let them fob you off that they've done the best they can. You also have to give yourself time to adjust to a new 'attribute'.

The suns shining and the paracetamol is working on my tooth.

OMG! MY CHOIR IS GOING TO BE DOING A CONCERT AT DURHAM CATHEDRAL!!!

Ooh, when? You'll love it - the acoustic in there is fantastic.

I've just come back from my school open evening, where I ws playing in the jazz band, and I managed to do my solo right for the first time.

Well done! It's immensely satisfying to get it right for the first time when it really matters.

Passing the annual sales target today - with 3 months of the year left!

Just got back from a meal/drinks, my girl mates are absolutely mad... I didn't stop laughing! 3 of them started singing "Barbie Girl" when a WAG type lass walked past our table... !

H ha.

What's made me happy today? Receiving positive, constructive feedback on my provisional DipABRSM Piano programme (via my thread in the Diplomas forum) thank you, my fellow forumites.

denmark77

Rickrolling about 40 people at school today

It's a fabulous thing to be happy about DC That's great news!

Thank you...I may even be able to get Herman out of his case again!

Wonderful!

Who is Herman? A violin?

I've had the privilege of meeting Herman! He's a clarinet

Ooops. I didn't make a very good guess there.

Was I the only one wondering if she had one of the Munsters locked away under the stairs?

Nope

We audiologists take great care to supply and programme the most appropriate device for the client ; I'm sure no one is ever fobbed off. The NHS uses commercial technology and the sound quality will be equal to anything available privately. They may not be as 'pretty' as a pop-in-the-ear type but then pop-in-the-ear does not necessarily mean 'digital'.
JaneS is right that you need to adjust to a different way of hearing - a bit like getting used to bifocals, I believe, and it may take one or two appointments to get the levels correct.

Good luck DC!

BTW if it was easy, I would be a lot less stressed than I am, and would post more!

Good luck, DC! xx