What was your favourite subject in school?

After 3 main stream schools, a stint in a children’s psychiatric unit alongside attending school there and another special needs school. I ended up at Underley Hall School in 1995, fare to say it was a wake up call. But it certainly was the best place to be, it taught me life skills, outdoor pursuits, it was structured in a way for each child that went there. A specialist diet was in place alongside proper structured routine each day as well. We spent time in Kendal and alongside a lot of time in the Lakes. There was one teacher alongside a learning support assistant to around ten kids per class. I was there from 95-99 and I still consider Kirkby Lonsdale as home, more so than my home town in Lancashire. We lived on Dormitories with care staff at night and during the day at weekends. There were many activities in place, although I preferred being inside with a mug of tea and a book. When we did our work experience, it wasn’t the traditional way that many mainstream schools did. We lived in a lodge in Kendal on rotation with peers of a similar age living on the senior dorm at school. The school operated two blocks of four weeks set out in late 98 and early 99 for my year. I worked in a local computer shop and would often go out on calls with a senior member of staff.

From 98 into 99 instead of us going home in a minibus with two staff, we would be dropped off at Oxenholme train station and then made our way home from there. For me it was eye opening, as it consisted of three separate changes on a Friday and then the same on the Sunday.

@StarryEyed I started down the Computer road in 1976, how old do I feel now.

The days of writing in Binary then Machine Code.

Later CP/M and Basic ( Commodore Pet 2001 ) both at school and part time real work, much simpler then.

English and History were my best and most enjoyable subjects. I remember one of my English teachers in high school saying my writing was too flippant, and it always stuck with me. A couple of years later i wrote something which got read out in front of the whole school, so i was quite pleased with myself! 😁 I've also now written 6 books. I'm sure that teacher is probably no longer with us, but i think deep down she inspired me subconsciously……😶

Well they are all fictional, with the last one containing some historical facts, and the main character is really me from 20 odd years ago, but the others' vary in the storylines etc. They are not in print yet, they are available as ebooks on various sites, they are not that long, maybe would be classed as novellas rather than novels, all very reasonably priced so if anyone's interested i can give them more details! Hope i'm allowed to do that on here?!!🤣😏

@Rag_793 what an interesting, heartwarming story you tell. And what a stunning photo. Wow. I had (and have) mental health problems so I just scraped by in secondary school and was frequently held back after secondary school through college and uni. By going in fits and starts, I was 29 by the time I finished my degree. But then I was never strong enough mentally or physically to manage working with people, so almost all my working life was spent on off-hours shifts and working from home. Were you able to thrive after your special schooling?

@CarNineSix all my work was from the user end, as a student to write essays and then working as a transcriptionist. So were you in IT?

@SheffieldMan1976 your English here is superb.

@Starman congratulations 👍🏼

@Mary_Scope what did they teach you in Religious Education?

@StarryEyed I have been in and out of IT on many levels.

My career took a big change after a motorcycle accident, I was hit be a drunk driver.

My outlook on life changed from wanting loads of money to a lot more freedom so I found a job to suit.

I still play around in IT, but I don't need the pressure or strain of a full time job just work in the background.

Oh dear! I'm sorry you had this dreadful experience. I too had a terrible accident at the age of 21, and the pains get worse over the years. It has also affected my ability to work. In 2011 I started working part-time and getting government help. By 2014 I was so sick that I stopped working, and started getting disability pension. Are you at the age where you can get pension now?

Wow, you've really had an incredible life. Your story is a testimony to the resilience and adaptation and beauty of the human spirit. I really love your writing too. You're raw and honest and direct. It's such a privilege to hear your story. Have you considered writing a biography? I would definitely read it. ❤️😊