Mary Cole
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dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Mary Cole
@dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
470 followers 410 following 140 posts
European. SEND parent and campaigner.
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dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
#Carer #LearningDisability
Widget symbols showing 'I feel tired'.
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Taken yesterday.
Close up photo of an orange rose in full bloom. The rose tree is in front of an old brick wall.
October 31, 2025 at 7:28 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Anglesey Abbey looking glorious yesterday.
Row of trees by water. The trees are reflected in the water and some have golden leaves. View of a river bank taken through the leaves of trees. The leaves in the foreground are green. Those on the opposite bank are mainly golden. Cyclamen growing in a wooded are. The cyclamen are surrounded by fallen leaves. Herbaceous border with green leaves on shrubs in the foreground. There is a small tree with red and golden leaves.
October 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
I managed to snatch a brief outing last week to Wimpole Hall. When my son was in better health, he always told me to 'look up' whenever we went out to walk in the woods near our house.
Sound advice I think.
View of the canopy of trees taken from below.
October 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
I finally found some blackcurrant juice so I could replicate johannisbeere which I enjoyed on my trips to Germany earlier. this year.
Close up of a glass containing a dark red drink.
October 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Meanwhile at my daughter's student flat they are watching the Muppets and eating cupcakes.😂
A plate of cup cakes decorated with green icing and smiley faces.
September 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Owls in parks in Edinburgh and Freiburg.
Wooden carving of an owl. It is on a plinth which has the image of two smaller owls carved into it. There are shrubs and trees in the background. Stone carving of an owl. There are shrubs planted behind.
September 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Yesterday should have been the first day of year 13 for my son, but he's been unable to attend school since March. Due to a decline in health, he now rarely leaves the house. Yesterday was his granddad's 80th birthday and we did manage an outing for celebratory cake.
#LearningDisabilty #SEND
Three plates, each with a cake and fork on them. There is a lemon cake, carrot cake and chocolate cake.
September 4, 2025 at 7:53 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Well, it truly has been a school holiday of two halves this year. Lovely trip with youngest to Freiburg to visit our daughter who was studying there. The rest of the time has been swallowed up with appointments and paperwork for our middle child. #SEND #LearningDisabilty
Historic city gate with a painting of St George and the dragon on one wall. There are branches of trees in the foreground and and tramlines going through the gates.
August 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
My son (when he was well enough and still had speech) used to tell us to look up whenever we went walking in the woods near our home. He was right.
A picture of the canopy of trees in full leaf taken from below.
August 31, 2025 at 8:02 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Bit of a theme emerging here. Crocodile on the left is in Baden Baden (spotted yesterday) and the other one is in Freiburg.
Large green statue of a crocodile in a park. Statue of a crocodile's head in a stream.
August 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Visiting daughter in Freiburg today. Some quirky statues around the old town.
Statue on a wall by a city stream. It is an image of a face in the style of the Easter Island statues. There are trees around the statue and buildings in the background. Statue of a the head of a crocodile with it's head out of the water in a small stream. Statue of an ammonite fossil on a plinth on a pavement. There are parked bicycles in the background.
August 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
This popped up in my my memories today. A bit of peak nerding with youngest last summer when B was at respite.
Bowl of jelly babies on a table next to a Dr Who DVD.
August 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Brief outing with my son this morning. He's pausing to look at some butterflies.
#LearningDisability #DownSyndrome
Young man in a wheelchair. He has his back to the camera. He has brown curly hair. The photo was taken on a footpath with fencing and foliage either side of the path.
June 20, 2025 at 1:12 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
It's wonderful what a few reasonable adjustments can do. My son had a gastroscopy today. It was undoubtedly uncomfortable and scary for him but the staff did everything they could to make it easier.
#LearningDisability
Blue teddy bear with a colourful sticker on his chest which says 'I am brave'. Blue teddy bear lying down. He has a cannula on his right paw.
May 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
It's tough going at the moment with my son being very poorly, so I am taking whatever glimmers of joy I can just now. This is growing in our neighbour's garden but has come through our fence. It makes me smile every time I go into the garden.
Close up of a large iris flower growing next to a fence. The petals are white with purple at the edges.
May 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Drinks stop for marathon runners. The drink on offer is beer.
April 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Crossed the boarder into France today to visit the beautiful city of Colmar.
Wooden double doors to a shop. The is a bicycle in front of the doors and in front of it a wooden sign which says La Petite Venice. There are hydrangea plants in pots either side of the wooden sign. Large sign in red letters with the city name Colmar on it. It is on a large piazza with historic buildings in the background. There is a row of flags in front of the buildings. Upper stories of an old shop building. It is on a street corner and has a timber frame structure. Two buildings with timber frame upper stories. There are Easter decorations in the windows, and some of the windows have flower boxes.
April 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Sightseeing in Freiburg today.
Pavement gully next to shops. There are six pairs of colourful children's wellington boots in the water. Photo taken through the Schwabian Gate showing a view of the street beyond with the spire of Freiburg Münster in the background. Painting of George and Dragon on the clocktower of the Schwabian Gate. Tram approaching the Schwabian Gate.
April 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Wonderful day watching the Freiburg Marathon. Pleased to report our amazing daughter completed her first marathon and the atmosphere here was wonderful.
Sign for the Freiburg marathon. Some runners with their backs to the camera can be seen on the left of the picture. A road which is closed for the marathon. It is near the finishing line and there is an illuminated sign directing runners to the finish. University of Freiburg library buildings. The road in the picture is on the route of the Freiburg marathon.
April 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
In Germany visiting our daughter who is running her first marathon today. Never had complimentary Haribo at a hotel before.
Hotel bed. The photo shows a small packet of Haribo sweets on the pillow.
April 6, 2025 at 5:55 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Here's a couple of photos from the Cambridge Botanic Gardens.
Tulips in ceramic pots in a glass house. Those in the foreground are white, behind are some yellow and red tulips and red ones in the pot to the left. Boarder in a flower bed with daffodils in flower in the foreground.
March 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Using language that is dehumanising to people with Learning Disabilities doesn't emphasise the point. It hurts people.
A page from an early twentieth century text classifying people with Learning Disabilities using what is now considered dehumanising language.
March 28, 2025 at 8:31 AM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
These words are tossed around just now without much thought but were important to the early 20th century fashionable euthanasia agenda. It didn't end well.
Text from an early twentieth century text book categorising types of learning disabilities using dated language.
January 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
Eldest back from university placement in Brazil. Best Christmas present ever.
Photo of a house stair case decorated with balloons saying 'welcome home' and bunting with Brazilian flags.
December 13, 2024 at 9:30 PM