getting there (slowly but surely)

Hey guys :D:D
I know its been a while. Sorry. Its been intresting tbh with my stammer. I had an interview last Tuesday for another college. Good news is I got an unconditional for it, so Langside here I come. I didn't let my stammer get in my way. Yeah, I did stammer, and the people interviewing me knew it was there. But the great thing was, I had never met these people before, and they just saw my stammer as part of me. They didn't but in, they gave me the time to say what I had to say, and LISTENED. That was the great thing about it. :D :D Even better that I got an unconditional :D
Anyway, moving on. Thursday night, I was playing in the Royal Concert Hall with one of the bands I play in. (Twas very emotional as it was possibly my last concert if I dont go back next year.) Anyway, a group of us were asked to sell programs and raffle tickets. Just sell them to folk coming in. Whenever I asked people coming past if they wanted to buy one, I didn't, or hardly stammered. I was pretty amazed. Again, these were people I had never met, and will probably never meet again in my life. And I never stammered. I was proud of maself :). For me, that topped off what had been a good day, and what was going to be a good night :)
Cya :D

UNcomic relief

Right this blog is a quick one. Its just to show my disgust at the begining of Comic Relief last Friday, with Lenny Henry. It was a scene from the Kings Speech, in which the Duke of York (later known as George VI) is shown at Wembley, and he is stammering while making a speech. Lenny Henrys comment was "hurry up we've only got 7 1/2 hours."
This comment received loads of complaints, and the founder of comic relief has came out and apologised. However, as someone who stammers, I know what its like to be told to hurry up, and have my sentences finished off. Its the worst feeling in the world. Its a right confidence knocker. The BBC, comic relief and Lenny Henry should be ashamed. They wouldnt dare of said anything  about people with cebral palsy, or other disabilaties. Why should stammering be any diffrent? Its protected under the Equality Act 2010.
I've never been a big supporter of Comic Relief, but Lenny Henrys comments has put me off even more. I also used to think Lenny Henry was quite funny. But now he has shown the guy that he really is. Just a sick sick guy, who thinks its ok to mock those who stammer. Well, thanks to Mr Henry and the BBC for supporting the bullies instead of those who need their support

never give up

Right, this may sound like a sad blog (not literally sad, but you know what I mean)
Right, I've had a dream of doing music since I was tiny. I've been singing as long as I can remember, I've been playing instruments, and anything musical, I'm willing to give a try. When I was six, I started on recorder, then moved onto clarinet when I was 11. Im now grade 6 going on grade 7 on the clariet, I've got my higher music, managed a bit of keyboard, and honestly love music to bits. I'm involved in a few bands and sing in the choir in my local church. Best part is, I've now got a college place to do music. Starting the end of August. Has my stammer held me back? Not one bit. Actually, it's helped me. If I'm honest, its made me even more determined to get to where I want to be. There have been a few teachers (surprise surprise) who have put obstacles in my way, and tried to stop me getting to where I want to be, but they've not stopped me.  So now, I'm going to college to do music, I aim to go to uni after it, then become a music therapist. So yeah, life seems to be good the now. There have been times where my stammers really pissed me off. But I've just picked myself up and kept myself going. Thanks mainly to my family and friends and my amazing girlfriend for supporting me to get where I want to be.
So yeah, if you have a dream, and you stammer, don't give up. Seriously, take any route possible to get to where you want to be.  No matter how long it takes. A wise person said to me a few months ago (she knows who she is cause I used this quote on her the other day) here it is:
"you can get to wherever you want to be. It might just take a little bit longer."
Thats a wise piece of advice, so just as I was given it by someone who who meant a lot to me then, and means a lot more to me, I'm giving this advice to you, (even if you dont stammer, take that advice, feel free.)  It doesnt matter how long it takes you, as long as you get there in the end. :)
So thats it for this week. Cya :)

the best reaction to my stammer.......

.....was this wee guy who I had met for the first time. In school, I'm doing a course called peer tutoring, where we help first years with their reading. I had this wee guy, lets call him Joe (I aint wanting to tell you his real name cos of the confidentiality stuff) So the first time I met Joe, I got talking to him. As usual when I meet someone I dont know, I was stammering. So Joe stops n says to me "Right, just take your time, breath and slow down!" Of course, I was taken by surprise. I could tell that he meant it in a laid back sort of way. My first thought was, I dont even know you and you know some of the tips that I know on how to deal with my stammer. It was great just the way he casually said it.
The worst reaction Ive had, was unfortunatly, from a teacher. Yes, a grown woman, who you think would be mature. Unfortunatly, she acted worse than a five year old would act. Again, it was in peer tutoring. Those who were in the class, whom I ranted to (sorry about that, to everyone I ranted to) So, we had this guy in talking to the class, giving us a talk. I walked into the class a little late, apologised for being late, and quicky got settled.  After a couple of minutes, he asked me what my name was, to which I went to answer. I stammered when I was saying my name, so this teacher just butted in and told the guy my name. I was fuming at this. So, the next day I went down to see her. My girlfriend came down with me. I went in and spoke to the woman, and told her how I felt about the situation. Her reaction was to pull me in front of the head of support for learning, and state that I had "a complaint." So, I explained the situation to this woman (who cannie do the job to save herself. I dont really care if she sees this tbh, cos its the truth) and her attitude was pretty much the same. I was fuming, so fuming that I ranted to my girlfriend all the way back to the library. Sorry about that. That was the worst bloody reaction Ive had. Talk about acting your shoesize. Any teacher that is reading this, or any potential teacher, treat a kid who stammers the way you want to be treated. If you treat them like a child, expect them to be a child back. If you want to be an adult, treat the student as if they are an adult. Best advice I can give you. Anywho, thats another blog, for another week. See you guys next week :)

Now is the winter of our discontent

Sorry I've not updated this in a couple of weeks guys. The name will make sense later :)
Anyway, I had an interview a couple of weeks ago for college. Twas very intresting. The great thing was, the guy really gave me the time to speak. We had never met before, and he was great. So I was offered a place there and then :D:D:D Those of you who saw my facebook, will know that, but I just thought I'd tell you again. I GOT INTO COLLEGE :D :D just couldnt help it there.
So, a few days later, there was the British Stammering association open day in Glasgow. It was very intresting actually. It was great to get together with other folk who stammer. There was this really nice guy, I think he was from India or something, that I got talking to. Turns out he was a lawyer. Know thats a random fact, but tbh it really showed me that if I work, then I can get far. He seemed to be in a job he enjoyed, and obv had worked hard for it. So now for the explanation of the title of this blog. In the afternoon, there was a workshop called "Linoel Louge: Maravik or magician" For those of you who have not seen the Kings Speech yet, Linoel Louge is the speech therapist in it, the character that Geofry Rush plays. So, Jan, the woman that was taking the workshop, got us to all lie on the floor, facing the ceilng. We had to imagine a colum of air coming out when we breathed out, and it could go as high, or as low as we wanted it. Then she got us to do the same with Shakespere quotes, and swear words. So yeah, anyone walking past would be wondering what the hell was going on in this room.  It also involved getting into pairs, and doing either toungetwisters, or the acutal Kings speech, that was read out by George VI when world war two broke out. I done the speech thing, with this other guy who stammers. Jan came up and listened to us both saying it, and was encouraging us to swear. It was brilliant, cos I was stammering, and she just shouted (excuse the choice of words here)
BUGGER BUGGER FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK BUGERDY BUGGER :P
So yeah,that was very intresting.
Thats pretty much it for this time folks. Hope you like it :)

phones :)

Ok, sorry about last week guys, the stress is begining to hit us with the exams. I never thought I would actually be doing a blog about phones. Basiclly, the phone has been the bain of my life since I started to stammer. Ive honestly hated the thing. Its not even that its that scarey a thing, its just I do not like the thing. So basicly, I thought, its time to conquer my fear of the thing that must not be named. (ok I know I've mentioned it a couple of times before)
So, last week, before I went out to my girlfriends, I had to phone a guy about my clarinet. But when I dialed the number, it was impossiable for me to actually go any further. So, I spent about ten minutes doing this deep breathing crap in the kitchen. Tried it again, and I still couldn't do it. I tried about 3 or 4 times to actually phone him. So, thinking back to the kings speech, I remember the bits where Bertie was swearing, and how it relaxed him. So, I tried swearing, and the various other things Lionel taught him (IE singing, dancing about the place) and if you have seen my hall, its not exactly the best place to be dancing. Anyway I tried it, and I felt more relaxed. I phoned the guy, stammered when I started talking to him, but as I got into the flow of the conversation, I did not stammer :D:D:D:D
Anyway, yesterday the phone goes. And as I was going up to answer it, I kept saying swear words. It felt goooooood that I could actually talk without stammering as much as I do. It felt pretty awesome. I can honestly say, that, although I'm 100% confident with the phone, I feel I'm on my way to conquering one of my biggest fears. Its funny, one piece of technology can make  even grown people terrified. Just one tiny thing,  can make one person, scared out of their wits. Honestly, thoe of you that don't stammer, don't know how terrifying it can be.
Anywho thats this blog for this time.  I don't know when my next one will be, but I've got a couple of intresting things coming up. I've got a college interview a week on Tuesday and theres the BSA open day in Glasgow in a couple of weeks. So yeah, cya next whenever it is :)

alright :P

Well hello again those of you who choose to follow/have a look. How you all been doing, alright?
This week has been...very intresting I must admit. Lets just say, I've been stammering like hell, but I dont actually care. Monday morning, I had a free period. So me n my mate were sitting in one of the RE classes, and talking to the teacher (while doing work of course.) We were sitting talking, and I was stammering like hell. The great thing is, the teacher, who I dont know that well tbh, gave me all the time in the world. She didn't but in, or try and finish my sentences off for me. She just happilly sat there, giving me the time I needed, waiting for me to say what I had to say. Honestly, that's one of the best things ever for someone who stammers. I went to my next class honestly feeling good.
Monday night, my mums phone goes, but she was on the house phone. I answered it for her, cos I knew who it was n most probably what it would be about. (Got to tell you, talking on the phone is something I don't do voluntarly that often. Since I started stammering, it's been the bain of my life) I answered it, spoke to the person, and honestly, its a wonder I dont use the phone that often. I stammered at every word, it was unebelievable. But I suppose I'm feeling a bit more confident now. I prooved to myself that I can talk on the phone, and yeah it will take a bit of work, but I honestly can do it.
Talking about phones, I remember I was at a summer thing at Strathclyde uni a few years ago. We had to do this challange, and one of us had to talk on the phone. I (for some strange reason I must admit, I must of been on something at this point) happily put my hand up and said I'd do it. To this day, I don't know what possesed me to do this. Anyway, about ten minutes later, the phone goes and I go outside n start talking to the person on the other end. One of the mentors came out with me, and all I remember was every two seconds, this guy was doing breathing motions, telling me to stay calm. And the best thing is, the whole time I was talking on the phone, I did not stammer once. It was pretty amazing. (Sorry had to mention that.)
Anyway, Thursday night, the cinema was calling, and the Kings Speech was the film it called me to see. Honestly, the film is so good. I won't say too much, as I know there are people who want to see it, but I know that I learned some stuff from it.  However, no speech therapist I've met, has encouraged me to swear as a way to combat my stammer. (But i've noticed that if I have had to swear, I do not stammer at all.) Mabye thats saying something. If I stammer in front of teachers, just swear, it may work. I've got a valid excuse, Geforry Rush says it works :P
Anywho thats my blog for this week. Know its a bit random, but hope you enjoy it. :)