(31 Jul 2015, 7:00 pm)BusLoverMum wrote That's not uncommon, either. My son clams up completely with strangers (once he knows you, he'll let you know exactly how he feels about something, in no uncertain terms!)

Does having a written list of things to do (including things to ask for) help you? If you clam up, you then have something to busy yourself with to cover your embarrassment and point to if the words really don't come.

(31 Jul 2015, 7:40 pm)Jimmi wrote No idea, never tried it.

Usually fine in places like Greggs but struggle in other situations where I have to ask things.

(31 Jul 2015, 8:31 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Probably because you know what to ask for in Greggs - it's a transaction you're familiar with and you know what to expect from it. And if you don't feel like speaking, you can grab something from the fridge, hand over your cash and escape.

I bet Subway would be a different story!

(and for full disclosure, both of my boys have ASD and I have enough traits that, despite seeming articulate and together, I fall apart, some days and need to do no more than sit in my armchair, hiding behind my laptop. Sometimes the day starts full of promise and I'll set out for a leisurely kid-free morning in Durham, only dash around in 30 minutes flat and get straight home again, relieved to not have to speak to another person for several hours but safe in the knowledge that I now have enough of the correct flavour of M&S hot cross buns in the house to stave off early morning meltdowns over that particular matter for the next few days.)

(31 Jul 2015, 8:45 pm)MrFozz wrote I'm like that sometimes, just want to stay indoors forever, happy to be sitting on my computer, I have mental health problems, something similar to BPD...

In my case I have to go out everyday as I am on medication that requires me to goto Seaham everyday

(31 Jul 2015, 7:05 pm)Diamond One wrote South Shields McDonald's toilets being closed and I need a wee

(31 Jul 2015, 6:51 pm)Jimmi wrote It's not that easy for me to ask for anything, my autism holds me back from doing so, it really is a problem for me with many things.

If anyone would go along with me I might do it but it's not going to happen if I'm on my own.

(31 Jul 2015, 9:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote Me thinks we need to have a forum meet at some point so everyone can get to know everyone and then hopefully share experiences etc

(31 Jul 2015, 9:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote Me thinks we need to have a forum meet at some point so everyone can get to know everyone and then hopefully share experiences etc

(31 Jul 2015, 9:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote Me thinks we need to have a forum meet at some point so everyone can get to know everyone and then hopefully share experiences etc

(31 Jul 2015, 5:26 pm)MrFozz wrote Not sure what you could do in place of your bus hobby...

(31 Jul 2015, 9:27 pm)Jimmi wrote I would love to meet more members of the forum in person but my autism prevents me from going over and talking to anyone but if people come over to me I am not so bad although I am a little nervous at first. Often seen some of you out and about but have been unable to go over and to you and it can really annoy me.

(31 Jul 2015, 9:39 pm)GMitchelhill wrote I found something to interest me instead of buses, but it was a seed that was sewn a few years before because of this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8er83h9Bbn8 - basically as a fan of Transformers (plus Starscream being my favourite Transformer), I ended up watching that video.

Then when I was really down last October, I ended up watching a few episodes of My Little Pony and well became hooked. Ended up playing the card game that came with it too and also met my partner thanks to the show.

(31 Jul 2015, 9:55 pm)MrFozz wrote My Little Pony...I remember that when I was a kid...My sister used to like it and I liked things He-Man and The Turtles, might look to My Little Pony or something like that myself and see if I can pull...sounds like it was a godsend, so to speak

(31 Jul 2015, 10:15 pm)GMitchelhill wrote The stuff I watch is Generation 4 which is what most Bronies watch, some are more daft to watch the earlier generations. (Shudders)

Well me and my boyfriend have been together 6 months now.

Also since playing the card game, I have done pretty well in tournaments. Managed 2nd a few times, plus I've managed to win one.

This is my tournament deck, though I do have 13 other decks of which 6 I plan to rebuild or deconstruct into new decks.

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=gf1x1-pr10x3-pr14x3-pr42x3-ad97x2-cg17x3-cn163x2-cg80x3-cg149x3-ad11x3-cg14x2-cg36x3-pr44x3-cn15x3-pr79x3-ad55x3-cg9x3-pr160x2-pr115x3-cg6x3-cn21x3-cg164x2-ad8x1-pr198x2-ad155x2-cn19x1-pr11x1-ad182x2-pr166x1-cn170x1-pr168x1-cg178x1-cg175x1-pr176x1-pr178x1-cn186x1-cn1x1

But it's not just about the show, the fandom is great. People make their own music, animations, comincs, drawings etc. One person even made their own episode (Double Rainboom). There is also 2 films (so far) where they end up humanized, so fans aren't keen on it, but a lot like it (including myself). And trust me, some aspect of it are no longer girly lol. The show even caused an offence because of one character.

Here are some examples....
Animated Short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnnpBlNEMtA
Music (including video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5U34RCgAWg (note this has 2 songs, and it's a bit dark)
Anaylsis videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erFwoRWsbXY
Oh yeah, and the mane 6 are well go crazy at some point - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD2rV1CfQjo

Theres loads of stuff all over You Tube.

(31 Jul 2015, 9:55 pm)MrFozz wrote Can be easier if your with someone, like last week when we spoke to that guy at Park Lane, I introduced us and you seemed fine, so being with someone would go a long way to helping you talk to people...I mean you did not say 3 words to me for at least 15 minutes lol, but we ended up having a laugh, I never expected you to know how to laugh

Seriously, joking aside, I would like to l think you could comfortable enough around me if I was introducing you to people or at least standing by to kinda help you...if that makes sense...

While I am not autistic myself, I know what it is like to feel uncomfortable I'm society, my own depression has led me to lose trust in people, I was bullied, nearly to death, at school, so sometimes found it hard to talk to people, in fact when I was 15, I only had 3 friends at School, and 3 friends who were bus drivers.

JUST REMEMBER THIS JIMMI...I CAN AND WILL HELP YOU OUT AND LOOK AFTER YOU WHEN THE CHANCE ARISES [THUMBS UP SIGN]

(01 Aug 2015, 10:36 am)R852 PRG wrote I was planning on abusing the facilities of a ''Cobalt Clipper'' B9TL (WiFi, plug sockets...) and I've been landed with 5247.

(01 Aug 2015, 10:36 am)R852 PRG wrote I was planning on abusing the facilities of a ''Cobalt Clipper'' B9TL (WiFi, plug sockets...) and I've been landed with 5247.

(01 Aug 2015, 10:36 am)R852 PRG wrote I was planning on abusing the facilities of a ''Cobalt Clipper'' B9TL (WiFi, plug sockets...) and I've been landed with 5247.

(31 Jul 2015, 1:18 pm)Jimmi wrote Can't help but feel I am wasting my life on this hobby. Why the hell do I feel the need to go to Peterlee on the off chance a IndiGo Solo SR might be here (there wasn't!).

Honestly don't know why I do this to myself.

(01 Aug 2015, 3:05 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Bunch of gobby half drunk 50 and 60-somethings  got on the x21 at Chester, wearing half a perfume counter between them. One complaining loudly about how annoying all the open windows were. I refrained from using my mum voice to explain to her how it was a two way street and to please use her indoor voice.

On the bus home now and looking forward to my armchair.

(01 Aug 2015, 3:24 pm)danpick wrote Lee asked me if I would come to Carlisle I didn't have enough money I get in after a day out and my parents said if I'd asked for the money annoyed is an understatement.

(01 Aug 2015, 6:29 pm)aureolin wrote Certainly a better (and probably more effective) approach than they'd have got from me. It's quick fire sarcastic answers or comebacks usually! 

(01 Aug 2015, 6:44 pm)BusLoverMum wrote We're going out by car, tomorrow. I refuse to deal with Sunday buses, anyhow.

(31 Jul 2015, 9:22 pm)R852 PRG wrote Trying to think of how many forum members I've met on my travels... Dan, Adrian, Jimmi, Adam Y, Adam, citaro5284, Lee, Bazza, mb134, I'm sure there are a few others but it's twenty past ten and I am tired. Sorry I find I missed you out. On my own tomorrow.

(01 Aug 2015, 2:36 pm)Jimmi wrote Screwed up my shot of 1920 on the 63 because of my stupid nervousness around other enthusiasts and me thinking the 63 turned left instead of right out of Middlesbrough Bus Station.

(01 Aug 2015, 7:35 pm)tyresmoke wrote Nothing turns left out of the bus station now unless there is some disruption, planned or otherwise.