CATCHING UP

What a week; I realise it's been that long since I last posted. I've found myself thinking longingly of my half hour in the MRI scanner after the frantic nature of the past seven days. I took the photo above in Sunday morning's glorious sunshine. Hasn't it been lovely? Apologies to any snow-bound followers out there; it looks like our spring has arrived at last. I was wearing short sleeves! I think the photo is very calming and, given the next paragraph, I need a bit of that....

It would be safe to say that our meeting with the paediatrician last Thursday did NOT go well. The incompetence of this department along with the infamous CAMHS (child and adolescent Mental Health Services), which I now discover is run, not by the NHS, but by Richard Branson in the shape of 'Virgin Care', is quite staggering. Last January, we received a letter from another member of the department following an initial meeting which read very clearly:

DIAGNOSIS: Tourettes Syndrome

Now, it seems, they are retracting that given current 'GUIDELINES' which say that Tourettes Syndrome must include tics that are considered to cause public offence. I should mention that Tourettes Action, the respected charity to whom they directed us last year, tell us that 90% of Tourettes sufferers DO NOT swear. A major discrepancy there. There were many of those and we weren't going to take it all lying down. The doctor was completely wrong footed by the fact that we were very upset and very angry and weren't going to let it drop. We were in there for over an hour and he was visibly shaking by the end. We felt utterly depressed when we came out but he was very, very contrite if not admitting liability for the complete balls up. OB does have Tourettes and if they spent half an hour in our house when he gets home from school, they would have no doubt. Their issue is now the fact that the Virgin run CAMHS is responsible for its diagnosis, rather than them. There is a lot of offloading and we're just completely fed up with it. We said how disgusted we were and asked what on earth they suggested we say to OB? He has spent the last year coming to terns with and telling people about his now doubted condition. It's disgraceful. He was grudgingly apologetic BUT, he did say he would try and get us the referral to the Great Ormond Street Hospital tic clinic that we've been asking for. If we get it, it would make the nightmare worth it. 

Right, enough of that. Our lovely son will be ten tomorrow and it must be a positive day involving that new bike, which has the frame size for a small adult and 26 inch wheels! Lots of books too which he will be less enthusiastic about initially, but enjoy later. I have a huge backlog of pictures but have really tried to edit better than usual. It used to be my job so there's no excuse. Here goes...........

These were taken in watery evening sunshine after dropping Trigger off with the madams:

The dogs have been having fun:

The birds have started to appear, including the first Stonechats, ready to try and fit in four broods:

Having sunshine has been fantastic. It brightens every scene. This view of the 'Round Pound' is almost impossible to photograph without it as it disappears into a flat line without the shadows:

The garden birds are happy too including rather greedy Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Pouncing male Chaffinch:

And this lovely Blue Tit:

I keep finding Trigger asleep in the sun

The Dartmoor Madams have taught him to eat Gorse; he would never have even tried it without their guidance but on the way to see them, he keeps stopping to snack on its agonising prickles:

Lady Jane is always pleased to see him

I saw my first Ladybird of the year on Sunday up in his paddock here:

Don't you think this lichen/moss combo looks like some kind of aquatic fossil?

So sorry I've been so rubbish at posting and visiting. The chaos carries on with OB taking five friends to the cinema and then back for tea here on Saturday. I'm planning to do a Rubik's Cube on his cake with coloured icing. I always ice his cake with whatever his current obsession is. I'm not looking forward to this one. Failure is NOT an option. Thanks so much for all your lovely comments on the last post and good wishes regarding the so far inconclusive MRI scan; am still waiting for feedback. So, until next time, here are those dogs this week.