The telephone rings, it’s a producer they are interested in making you a reality star.
They’ve closely followed your work i.e. interior designer for example and think that you and your partner have all the qualities that are needed to become reality stars or television personalities.
You don’t think twice as you sign on the dotted line and as the ink dries on the contract that you’ve just signed all you can think about is what benefits will now be coming your way as you head for a life of stardom and wealth.
What they can’t foresee is that as soon as they become a reality tv show hit the stories dug up by journalists about their past lives begin to appear in the press.
Old enemies can’t wait to take a large sum of money in return for a juicy story or two that they want the readers of (insert any woman’s magazine’s name here) and their readers would be interested in.
So, with that in mind what do we know about me?
Well we know this;
I spent forty years of my life knowing something was different.
I spent many times blaming myself, thinking it was ‘my fault’ or that I was doing something wrong. Getting that diagnosis had changed my life completely. It felt like a fog had finally been lifted. Everything from there on started to ‘make sense’.
I’m now at the age of 43 and I am still finding my feet as a newbie within the Autism community.
I’m learning more and more about what it means to be Autistic and I feel extremely blessed that I can now utilise all the fantastic supports out there for people living on the Spectrum.
I hope by sharing my story that my experiences can help others on the spectrum and can hopefully help to combat the stigma that sadly still sits around being Autistic.
But here are 6 yes 6 things that you didn’t know about me (unless you are my family then well you either should know these things or you didn’t know me as well as you thought! In which case you should be subscribing to my blog)
ONE
THONGS/FLIP FLOPS/ JANDALS (DEPENDING ON WHICH COUNTRY YOU ARE FROM)
Yes, the thong/flip flop/jandal it’s the one thing that unites us Aussies.
This the bit that sets my senses off
It’s the one key item of shoe wear that we all own.
As you come out into the world in a hospital in Australia your parents get handed a pair of brand-new thongs and they proudly wait until the day you can start wearing them to important events like your first job interview, your first date, your first court case.
Thongs are as Aussie as BBQ’S are.
They go hand in hand in fact.
Beach wear fashionistas have thongs down as their number one essential fashion item that is a key must have.
Every Blogger in Australia when they compile there essential ten things you can’t live without in Australia list thongs/flip flops/jandals make it into the top three.
But I had to make an admission to this great Australian piece of footwear.
I can’t wear them.
An audible gasp echoes out across Australia.
Now it’s not because of the footwear itself but rather it’s a sensory issue for me.
You see I cannot bear that toe thong the bit that wedges itself between the big toe which holds the shoe to your foot. I tried once to overcome this but only lasted 5 minutes before I had to kick them off my feet.
And are you on a commission by advertising these? No, I am not on a commission (I wish).
John I’ll take a 12% cut thanks.
We’re excited to present our new Kira branded polo shirts! Our new black shirts are now available to purchase for $30 each, come in a wide range of sizes (Ladies and Men’s). You can choose to have the Kira logo in black and white (as shown) or in colour. If you would like to purchase your own shirt, contact Elyse on 9243 0366 or via email on reception@kira.org.au.
I am talking about these because I cannot along with shirts, polo necks (in the US they are known as Turtle necks), sweaters with a roll down neck.
As I am writing this I my free hand went to my neck to check that it could breathe!
I cannot wear these because I don’t enjoy that feeling of being restricted in clothing.
I only wear v neck or round neck t-shirts this is the same with jumpers and sweaters and they have to be 100% cotton, or I cannot wear them.
I also wear dark colours like navy or greys.
I also have to cut out labels in any clothing that I buy.
Why do they put like 3-4 long labels in their clothing?
Stop it, it’s annoying!
THREE
FOOD
Food is consumed three times a day.
These are called Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Snacks are usually consumed twice during the day between breakfast and lunch and then before dinner.
This is because I find some flavours and foods are too strong and overpowering because of I have very sensitive taste buds.
Certain textures can cause me discomfort
Mushrooms
Here is a small list of what foods I simply won’t eat
Grilled Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Asparagus
Kale
Duck
New or boiled or jacket potatoes
There are more but I don’t want to bore you
FOUR
PEOPLE
When it comes to meeting someone for the first time say in a work environment I am very cautious about handing over my social media details.
I am not one of those over enthusiastic individuals who whips out their phone and begins scrolling through Facebook or Twitter or Instagram and clicking on the follow me button. No! I stand back and observe.
Social Media
I have a good sense of people and the motives behind their character.
I am always 100% right when after a period that person’s true colours come’s to light and those people that rushed into being on of their followers get hurt in some way.
FIVE
ADRIAN MOLE
Cast your minds back to 1982 when a novel was published called The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾. Written by a woman called Sue Townsend these novels tell the story of a young man named Adrian Mole and his life written in diary form growing up in the East Midlands market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in the city of Leicester.
Adrian Mole Books
Eight novels have been published since 1982. The reason that I fell in love with these books is the character of Adrian really resonated with me and it wasn’t until many years later that I found out why.
From the way that he talks, to the way that he handles himself in social situations
I felt that I was Adrian and I was to some degree!
You see Adrian I believe sits somewhere on the Autism spectrum. And those Autistic characteristics have been beautifully captured by Sue’s writing of this young man’s thought process.
If you get the chance to please check out the following novels in the series.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (1982)
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (1984)
The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole (1989)
Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years (1993)
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years (1999)
Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004)
The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 (2008)
Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years (2009)
SIX
EVEN NUMBERS
I have a thing for even numbers. When I enter a car park I must be number two in the car parking space or four or six. If that’s not possible then I’ll find a way around it.
Even-Numbers
It’s the same with food. If I am being offered some chocolate I must have two pieces of chocolate.
My brain is unable to deal with being offered one single piece.
I remember that for one birthday my eight I asked for a red number eight painted onto a blue piece of cardboard. To this day I don’t know why I asked for it but it gave me a sense of happiness. You can read more about that here https://autisticnick.com/2018/06/11/circling-autism
The Birthday Gift that I asked for
Carry on the Conversation
As always, I can also be found on Twitter: @AutisticNick9 and at my email autisticnick9@gmail.com
Autistic Nick 