Heat is a killer, as we know. British people are unprepared for bouts of overly warm, muggy weather like that we’ve experienced in recent weeks. Neurodivergents – people who have a condition affecting their brain that makes them different from ‘neurotypical’ people – have added stresses. Systems we had in place to get by might need modifying.
In my case, I’ve gone out and bought factor 50 sun lotion, as anything lower just won’t protect me. (My skin tone isn’t connected to neurological issues, but it’s taken me 40-odd years to realise I can’t go below factor 50.) Over the last few weeks, I’ve been out in the garden, reading and working out. I still forgot to reapply and still got burned. I’ve got memory difficulties from an Acquired Brain Injury. I have my systems to stay organised, but no system is perfect, is it?
Take last weekend, for example. My sister’s wedding in Yorkshire. I wrote out an inventory of everything I’d need for the 2 nights, including what I was going to wear at certain points. Then I tried to pack it all. The first thing I realised once I got to the first venue – the registry office – is that I’d left a blazer to one of the suits at my mum’s house. No biggie – it was that warm that nobody could handle wearing blazers anyway.
I jotted a few extended family names and relations into my Omninotes app.
We went for food. We’d already chosen our meals, and I’d noted what I’d ordered in my calendar.
Later that day, when we got to the hotel, I realised I’d forgotten my phone charger. I remember looking at it when packing, thinking, I’ll unplug that in a mo and throw it in the bag. Then I never did. Thankfully, Mum had a spare.
I typed my room number – and parents’ room number - into Omninotes. I needed an early night after that.
Saturday morning: pollen count was high. I could feel it in the room. I realised that although I’d got my hayfever tablets, I’d forgotten eyedrops and nasal spray, despite them being on the inventory.
I hit the hotel gym and realised I’d forgotten my drawstring bag with weight gloves inside. I don't think they were on the list.
Later that day, getting ready for the wedding itself, I realised I’d forgotten cufflinks (also not on the list). Reception didn’t have any spare. I rolled up the sleeves, keeping the build-up thin so it didn’t show too much under the blazer. Looked fine when I took the blazer off later anyway.
After the ceremony, according to correlating notes and pictures, I had a Fireball Mule cocktail - my first alcohol in 2 months - and had pie and peas from a vendor. Later that evening, cheesy chips.
Relatives were asking me if there’s a girl on the scene. Well, twist the knife as per, why don’t you. They’re all good people though. Lots of other things happened, parts of which I made notes on, but they weren’t necessarily about me.
My dad dropped his phone somewhere- we found it the next day by dialling and hearing it ring under a sofa seat. Good job the battery held out.
When I got home I realised I still had the hotel door key card, so mailed that back to them once I was in work.
A lot of errors happened due to the heat, a lot due to a break in my routine. Weekends away are key times when I’m likely to forget one thing or another, even with a check list.
Brilliant weekend, all in all.
