Speed Session; High Tea at Radisson Blu & the roller coaster of autism parenting

I woke up this morning and it was 6.40am.  On my half-marathon plan for the day was a speed session - 1km, 2min rest, 1 km, 2min rest and another 2min. I spent 10 minutes in bed saying to myself will I or won't I head out for the pain fest.  I got my backside out the door and did it!  It was the first speed session since I've started running again.  It hurt...but afterwards I felt great. I used my Garmin Forerunner 10 but it started beeping at me every 30 seconds.  T2 had pushed all the buttons and set it to 30second repeats.  He is NEVER getting his hands on that watch again :-)

After I dropped the boys at school my mother-in-law and I caught the bus into the city.  I had a birthday voucher from Zara to spend.  The last time I went there it was lunchtime and it was chaos but this time it was early and I immediately spotted two items that I loved!  I've got to say that since I've stepped up the exercise and trying to eat better (well, except for a gigantic high tea!) its so much more fun clothes shopping.

I'm starting to love this store

my new jacket - love it!

my new shirt - buying this made me happy :-)

Then we headed down to the Radisson Blu for High Tea with French bubbly.  We may have got a little giggly!  Its a beautiful old building with the most comfy lounge chairs.  The food and service are consistently excellent at the Radisson Blu.  We wiled away the afternoon chatting and decided we would return for our Mother's Day gift, and maybe spend a night at the hotel, with eldest son.

Beautiful old building

Love the decor.  An art deco feel?

I can't chose a favourite item!

Added bonus - Sochi in the background!

The only negative - tea bags :-)

It had been a perfect day.  Great company, a shopping high and a lazy lunch.  The twins have been going great at school.  But today, unfortunately, T2 had a public 'behaviour' while we out in the late afternoon.  Often he saves his worst behaviour for public consumption (or is it just me being horrified?  I don't know).  Anyway, without going into detail, no harm was done, except to my pride.  And after a few tears in the car (mine!),  T2 realised what he had done wrong and how upset I was and later he said sorry.  At the time I think he knew that he was doing the wrong thing but didn't understand he was doing any harm.  Kids with autism often look like any other kid.  I felt like explaining that he had a disability.  But I know that it probably wouldn't do any good.  If people can't 'see' it they often don't 'get' it.

We all got home, calmed down and its nothing a nice bath and some good chocolate hasn't healed.  I know I'm lucky in so many ways, though sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

7.5km run, T1& T2 wearing me down and lovely outing with my eldest and husband

This morning I knocked over 7.5km as part of Week 4 of my 10km program.  I was very slow and very stiff.  But no niggles, so gotta be happy with that.

T2 has been really challenging in the last couple of days.  There's been a few broken items, alot of scrunched work papers and thrown things and general non-compliance.  T1 has been bothering my eldest.  At one time both myself and my eldest were sitting in my bed with tears because of the twins' behaviour.  I need to contact my BCBA...quickly.  I'm also considering some form of respite for the first time.  This is the last week of the school hols and I think there's a combination of frustration, worry about starting school and a few financial headaches that are forming the perfect storm.  I'm feeling worn down.  My husband is more stoic than I am, but he gets frustrated with them too.  The worst thing is not knowing the best way to react, or knowing the right way and not doing it.  Autism is exhausting.  And frustrating.  And sometimes...just crap.

On a positive note, I still had a voucher left for High Tea at the Swissotel (I've banned myself from voucher purchase for the foreseeable future.  Sad, but true :-(.  After having my earlier meltdown it was great to head out for some quality time with my eldest and husband (my poor mother-in-law looked after the twins).  We went to the Swissotel (they're starting to get to know me there).  We had a great time venting and talking NFL (well, I tried to look interested during the NFL conversation).

Mmmmmm...

Only improvement could be the cream - it needs to be clotted

oh the chicken, mayo and lettuce sandwiches were so delicious!

Kids were only $20 - bargain!

Check this out.  A man with severe autism has started a business with the assistance of his dad.  Guess what he does?  He goes to people's houses assembling Ikea flat packs.  He only charges $20!  I wish he lived in Sydney (he's Canadian).  My first thought was to start getting T2 reading Ikea manuals!  I love stories like this.  Just fantastic.

Treadmills have come a long way & a blissful break at The Langham Sydney

As part of the Lazyrunner 10km program (week 3) I am due to run 7km on one of my runs.  I was going to do this on the treadmill at the wonderful Langham (see below) but discovered you now need a PHD to fully operate a treadmill.  Well, I haven't really seen the inside of a gym since the twins were born.  The treadmill was very nice and I plugged in my headphones and searched for radio..or music of any kind.  And failed.  There were shortcuts for youtube, Ebay, CNN, BBC, my own personal on screen TV, but all I wanted was some music.  So after 5 minutes I decided I'd just listen to my iPhone.  I found it a little tough on a treadmill after such a long absence, so settled for 5km.

The treadmill screen - I just want a catchy tune (you can Facebook on a treadmill??)

Two treadmills - we had the gym to ourselves (and they had refrigerated face towels )

Happy Birthday dear mother-in-law! And thankyou thankyou thankyou for letting me share your birthday present.  We arrived in the city at lunchtime and found the delicious Fish Cafe in the Rocks.  We shared entrees, a crisp chardy and some chips.  You know you're in a fancy shmancy establishment when they roll out the complimentary hot bread.  It was a lovely start to our break.  Check-in at The Langham was at 3pm but unfortunately our room wasn't ready on time.  But we were duly placated with complimentary drinks while reading in the Drawing Room.  At last our room was ready, and it was worth the wait.  It was a Harbour view mini-suite.  So we played ladies while sitting in our little sitting area reading and drinking English Breakfast tea (with choccies!).

This place was an absolute find - we'll be back!

a crisp white on a hot day

This photo doesn't do the meal justice - it was delicious!

I love complimentary bread - no holding the butter for me!

Then we decided to hit the gym and swim in the most gorgeous 20 metre pool with a huge spa.  I used to do a little swimming and I've forgotten what a good upper body workout it is. Then we went for a walk around the Rocks.  It was a beautiful evening and the view from Observatory Hill was breathtaking.  We returned to our suite for a night in with biccies, cheese, choccies and Rose.  While we were gone some magic fairy had turned down our covers, replaced our bottled water and put fresh slippers by the bed!  It was so quiet!  We just read and talked and enjoyed the calm.  In our modern lives there is always noise - well in my life anyway.  Its either TV, games , kids laughing (or screaming:-).  We both drank in the serenity.  The time flew by and we retired for a fantastic night sleep.  At The Langham they have a pillow menu - yes that's right - a pillow menu (there is also a pet menu but we had no need of that!).  I didn't need to consult it because my pillow was just right as it was.

my first visit to The Langham

The drawing room - loved this

foyer

The most comfortable bed and pillows

Loved the ceiling on the indoor pool. There was a huge spa - no photos as was occupied

The next morning was a wonderful buffet breakfast in the Galilleo Restaurant.  It wasn't like other buffets I've been to.  No jostling, or lines or loud clattering of dishes.  It was all very civilised.  We checked out and headed to the spa for a great massage I've ever had.  She really worked my neck and I felt it release at one point.  When I get a migraine my neck really stiffens up.  Finally, we headed to the Globe bar for Tiffin at The Langham.  Served off Wedgewood especially designed for The Langham, we spent the next 2 hours sipping tea and sampling sweet treats.  Ahh yes, it was a real treat.  

breakfast - first course

a perfectly poached egg

hot choc to order and breakfast sweet treats

We were conquered - we just couldn't finish all of it

Wedgewood design made especially for The Langham

It tasted as good as it looks

We love our boys, but we all enjoy a rest from the stress and busyness of looking after the twins.  Before we left, T2 decided he would drink some bubble mixture (just like Horrid Henry - his favourite show!).  There was no adverse reaction but sometimes it feels like we're always on high alert and it really is lovely to truly relax and recharge.  

What is the most luxurious Hotel you've stayed at?

Do you have a favourite restaurant in The Rocks, Sydney?

Lazyrunner 10k Week 2- day 1, ABA session & High Tea at WoodenSpoon Bar

An early start to the day, thanks to T2, meant that I got a 5km run in before the day warmed up.  I didn't time my run.  Partly because T2 was playing with my phone and partly because...I didn't want to.  I still haven't quite come to terms with how slow I am.

Then I did an ABA session with T2.  It was great to get started early while we were both fresh.  T2 was great - really fantastic.  Very compliant and focused.  He has had zero behaviours during therapy sessions for ages.  The new approach where T2 chooses what targets he does and has a visual program for the session really works.  For reinforcement we built a train track, coloured in Thomas pictures, played with with Thomas Laptop.  And of course a snack!  As you can tell, T2 is really into Thomas at the moment :-).

Then I updated T2's folder and had a swim with the family.  The twins are really great readers and T2 is sitting next to me reading this.  He just asked 'why did you write 'had a swim with the family'?  Ha!Ha! gotta love those why questions (us autism parents never take language for granted!)

Then it was a girls  High Tea for me and my Mother-in-Law.  It was the second time we had a high tea at Wooden Spoon bar on Military Road, Cremorne.  For the second time, it was fantastic.  We were greeted by a very friendly staff-member who sat us in the front.  We sat on the world's most comfortable lounge and were swiftly served with French Champagne!  They make all cakes and savouries in house and everything tasted SO fresh and delicious.  The waiter went through what everything is, the cream was clotted-tick!, the tea was tea-leaves-tick!, we served water as well- tick!  In fact everything about this place deserved a big tick (I think I've been collecting too much data!).  It was really quiet where we were sitting and good quality jazz was playing in the background.  Really, I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Classy decor

Everything is made in house... and delicious!

French Champagne!

Let's take a closer look

Savouries

Proper tea  (tea leaves)

Proper cream

This high tea was purchased from Living Social vouchers.  At no stage did we feel different because we used a voucher.  We will definitely be back!

Where is your favourite High Tea?

Couch to 5k - Completed!, Christmas Buffet high tea at the Swisshotel, ABA session with T2

Well its been a very busy couple of days.  This morning I finished the Couch to 5k program.  Hooray!  For the next 2 weeks I plan on running 5km 3-4 times a week before extending my runs.  My next aim is 10km!

This morning I did an ABA session with T2.  I was really worried about behavioural problems because I haven't done a session with him for about a month.  Anyway he was really good and did really well on many targets, like riding a bike, pronouns, occupation functions, mazes etc.  But he is still  getting confused with some where/when questions and having trouble making up stories.  For reinforcement we did chasing where I pretended to be a dinosaur or a ghost, roly poly with a blanket where I roll him up in a blanket and then he does the same to me, alphabet puzzle (sigh!) reading books and a snack.  Reinforcement is so important in ABA, just as it is in life.

After that, my mother-in-law, my eldest and I went to the city to the Swissotel for a Christmas High Tea buffet.  It was AMAZING.  I bought a Groupon voucher so it was very reasonably priced.  When I wanted to bring my eldest they only charged $20 extra for him to come (this included full buffet, orange juice and a hot chocolate!).  I asked to speak to the chef about my eldest's peanut allergy and there was only one dish with peanuts.  And there was a chocolate fountain!  We were all in food heaven and were seated in a quiet window seat together.  What a fantastic afternoon.   It was my eldest's last day as a 10 year old.  I can't believe it!

T1 and T2 would have ripped into these pressies :-)

Savouries

Don't you love, love, love a buffet?  I do

I should have had some fruit salad - but I did have strawberries dipped in chocolate :-)

Santa strawberries!

love these meringue snowmen

a peach something cocktail - yummo!

hot chocolate for my eldest - and his hands

my favourite oriental teapots