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People swimming in a lake. In the middle a non-binary person in a red hat smiles and does thumbs up to the camera.

3rd anniversary of cold water swimming

Two weeks ago was my 3rd anniversary of my first cold water dip. Over the years I’ve got a deeper understanding of myself. While it’s never resulted in depression curing euphoria or made stopped me having anxiety, I do keep returning to the sea. I remember being fascinated

The Milky Way galaxy floats in a sea of stars above a bay with mountains on the horizon.

Was my camera an early stimming toy?

A few years ago I found some Super 8 mm film footage of me playing with a camera as a young boy. I may have been 4 or 5 at the time. The camera has a range finder like look to it, but I doubt my parents were able to

What even is this time of year?

What even is this time of year?

As I write this it is the 2nd day of Advent, aka 2nd December… one google later Wait, it’s not. Advent started on 27th November. It’s the 6th day of advent. So, Advent Calendars start on the 1st of December and countdown to Christmas. But Advent, the Christian

A street in Zagreb, Croatia. Most buildings are three stories high and painted yellow / orange.

An autistic person travels to Europe – Part 4

Disability in Croatia Before leaving the city of Split, my body decided it didn’t need my breakfast coffee. I followed the sign to the WC to be greeted by a full-body high turnstile gate. To the side, a woman sat by an open door with a disabled wheelchair sign

Sunset over Lake Geneva. Clouds roll over the mountains in the distance and yachts bob about on the lake.

An autistic person travels to Europe – Part 3

Ordering foreign food in a foreign language As an autistic person, I have food issues. If we go out somewhere I make sure they have a plain burger on the menu as anything else will be too complicated to order. At home I can eat all kinds of food, but

An autistic person travels to Europe – Part 2

An autistic person travels to Europe – Part 2

Overload In Croatia, we got a coach from the capital City of Zagreb to the seaside port of Zadar. We booked specific seats as I’m 6 foot 5 and wanted the best legroom possible, and upon arrival found two women in our seats. Explaining the situation to the coach

A starry night sky over a body of water with some islands in the distance.

An autistic person travels to Europe – Part 1

Recently, my wife and I took a trip to Europe. It was our first big trip in years, and I decided to note down some thoughts along the way. I’ve learnt a lot during the pandemic about disability and how to be in the world as an autistic person.