just a little sister

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A ticket to be trouble!

It is the October holidays and I have realised something about Trudy. She has a ticket to be trouble! I have often written about visible versus invisible disability. Trudy wears her 47th chromosome on her face, which means that everyone knows she has Down’s Syndrome. Children are much better at dealing with this than adults…
An incredible performance by Julia Hales

I know I haven’t posted for a while and Trudy has started school so there is lots to say but, as usual, I am trying to navigate the political tightrope which is having a daughter with a disability in mainstream. Nevertheless, I went to see a performance last night. It was a great performance about…
This girl can

There are two magical moments that I did not capture with a photo this holiday that shows that this girl really can. There are plenty of moments that we don’t capture, that people don’t see but which are part of family life with Trudy. We were recently on holiday in Balmedie, north of Aberdeen. Fifteen…
Our social contract

There is a political philosophy which states that everyone must adhere to a ‘social contract’ and leave behind their instincts to obey their own impulses and solely look after themselves. Rousseau’s idea of ‘le contrat social’ formed the basis of socialist political theory which encourages democratic and altruistic thought. Socialism. This could not be truer…
A ‘thank you’ to a community

Almost four years ago, my friends and I decided to publish a book. It started with an innocent conversation in our local bar about a really frustrating book I had just read to Patrick, to help him come to terms with having a sister with Down’s Syndrome. I won’t mention the book to protect the…
A rare moment of sibling appreciation

There are few more precious moments than when a brother says openly and unreservedly how much he loves his sister. These statements don’t come easily so I’d better write this one down! We have been on holiday this week and it has been a great opportunity for Patrick and Trudy to play together and discover…