Obstructions

autism, injury, mountain biking 1 Minute

Like most people on the spectrum, I spend time building a routine. I use various tools to help me with this, including iPhone apps with reminders and a dry wipe magnetic weekly planner on my fridge door.

My normal week involves a mix of tutoring and training as well as spending time with my girlfriend, attempting to socialise on occasion and the more mundane tasks such as cleaning and housework. Some of this, I classify under the heading of ‘adulating’.

Amongst last weeks ‘adulating’ was an interview for a teacher training provider: this process is a lengthy one, understandably so as it is teaching and influencing children and the training providers want to be sure of the right fit. So, a forty minute trip became a two hour journey because of a burst water mains and involved cancelled public transport and me running later than intended. Cue, stress and anxiety levels increasing. This followed by a three hour interview and testing. On the return home, I decided to relax and go for a G&T in my favourite bar in the town. In walking to the site, I discovered that the site was closed because of an overpriced concert the following day. I also then managed to sprain both ankles on damaged paving and broke one of the screws in my ankle.

Having inspected the site of the injury, there is a potential negligence claim and as such, I have instructed a lawyer to act on my behalf. I hate dealing with lawyers as it almost always involves me chasing them constantly and reminding them how to do their job. Stress I don’t really need.

This is now forcing changes to my routine, which compounds my discomfort and stops me training, means loss of out of pocket expenses and hassle as well as making life more difficult. Needless to say, this is causing me further stress. I will, as always, endure but it’s all additional energy required and just gets in the way of a normal routine.

I would be interested in learning what methods of organisation others use.

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Published by autisticmountainbiker

I'm one of the many people who discovered that they are on the autistic spectrum as an adult, indeed, in my mid-forties. I'd always assumed that I was just a little socially inept, despite having a reasonably large circle of friends and associates, I often felt along in a crowded room. A long term injury placed restrictions upon my physical mobility, that said, I through myself into various things with typical enthusiasm. It was once stated, by a long term partner that "You don't have hobbies, you have obsessions." It's true, for example, I've climbed mountains, included some of the UK's highest and most technical (Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Pen y Fan included, whilst on crutches, in the name of what I considered to be a hobby and other's considered to be a bit more life-absorbing. It's true, I assumed that everyone who had a hobby became incredibly passionate about it. I was a very successful DJ on the UK and European Gothic scene, the music of which and running events was indeed an obsession, but one which afforded me the chance to hide behind a drink and a set of decks. Then there was Switzerland, the bikes, the mountains, the open expanses with very few people; even in the busy resorts. Now, I'm back in the UK. embarking on new adventures and learning how to make the best of my unique and special, albeit, challenging life.

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