The very observant amongst you will notice a plant pot which looks remarkably like a drum from a tumble drier. Best and safest use for those which had a habit of catching fire. Ours did get modified to make it less likely to explode (after many months of waiting) then promptly died one day after the new warranty period ran out. So better get some use out of it. So we acquired a large metal plant pot.

Some things are more challenging to find and acquire.

Things like Popcorn. It’s a staple part of our Saturday Night Home Movie Experience. Well it has been until now. At the moment it is like gold dust at the supermarket which is our only real pandemic option. For two weeks it’s been sold out. Maybe it’s become the new currency of the survivalists. Replacing bathroom paper (toilet paper). As a result I suddenly have a real urge to go popcorn hunting. Must be able to find some popcorn somewhere. Must have a rummage.

Another challenge which is far less enticing and attractive is the prospect of trying to get our son to venture past the front gate. So far the tentative attempts have failed. Even just venturing onto the road, just a few paces from the front gate is proving a challenge for him. This won’t be just isolated to this family. So many others will be in a similar position. Trying to deal with these issues largely without any help. Our leader of the opposition party has been pushing the need to address the mental health consequences of the last few months. Sadly our government doesn’t seem to get it. The response seems to be well we have released the lockdown, just go out and act normally. Unfortunately that response is typical of the last 10 years. Mental Health funding has been one of the easy targets for government cutbacks. This has led to untenable waiting lists for some essential children services and worse. Many parts of children and adult support have just disappeared. You can just see the likes of Johnson and Hancock smirking while telling us

If you have the money then you can buy help, if you can’t then tough. It’s your fault for not having massive bank accounts. Let’s think of the real issue. How can we get our hands on the profits from a switch to a US type health care system.

So we will keep trying to take those little steps. Trying to raise awareness of this issue. This is going to be a long and very winding road. Importantly it’s a road which will be driven by our son. He will decide when and where to take those steps. He has to find his own way and be comfortable with it. Today he won’t be going down that road. That’s for another day.

So I will go back to dreaming about popcorn hunting.

65 thoughts on “Finding Popcorn”

  1. I have been dealing with the mental health issue of fear of leaving the house too! It’s with my own 14-year-old son. The longer this goes one, the worse he has gotten. The anxiety is crippling, and it is definitely a result of the pandemic. I do feel less alone in this struggle after reading your post though.

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    1. Even in the garden if he touches something dirty or even if he feel a bug/fly on him then he’s straight inside to wash. It’s gone on so long that he’s forgotten how to live outside the garden. Not entirely sure how we overcome this. So hope things work out ok for your son and you. It will be so tough on you as well.

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  4. Electrical goods have a habit of reading the warranty I’d say. But good thinking . I must say cos we don’t eat popcorn I’ve not noticed if places have or not. But I hope you get some soon. As for the rest?? Well the awful thing is many without your boy’s problems are struggling horrendously to get back out there having sat indoors for weeks now. We have this fruit loop of a neighbour here who this was not going to affect because she was recluse anyway… Well.. one should never make these sweeping statements given how start raving she’s gotten. So it must be unimaginable for people with the problems you are both facing. It’s not just adults who are going to have mental health issues. Children have been forgotten casualties in this. I’ve had great long talks with my wee grandie… ones I had to wait my chance cos he is very proud. But it is breaking my heart to see this new normal re schools given all they have been through and how what they need is to be able to walk back into the class with their friend at their side. The new normal re everything is not a term to be used. It is abnormal. And already it is being used to condition people, just as so many of their slogans have been through this, ‘a give certain segments of society something to clobber all dissent with, and shame those who are not towing the line into towing it’, while we do all sorts behind the scenes. I am truly heartbroken for kids like your son. These bastards don’t care.

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    1. They only care about themselves. I was reading that Gove and his wife went to posh party. They left there 10 year old kid in the hotel on his own. He was discovered by a porter in the middle of the night looking for his parents. If that was Sturgeon or Starmer the press and BBC would hammer them. Strangely not a peep.

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      2. It’s like Johnson being cleared of malpractice. They are quick to say he’s clear. They did seem to mention the stuff in the report about him having an affair with the person who got awarded public funds. They don’t mention the deleted files and failure to provide access to emails.

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      3. Ken what?? the real deal here re Gove??? HE has a child??? When you think of the mechanics the real question is WHAT??? In the same category as Bodge being cleared of everything actually

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      11. Some very interesting threads on twitter today about how he has used this lockdown to asset strip a ton of things….. It is beyond disgusting as is the way they have conned the public into reiterating their stay safe lockdown messages, clapping the carers, the 2 meter rule from nowhere, the lot, and every minister who has backed him on this lockdown trip …they are involved in this stripping…

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  6. I’m sorry that it so difficult to get that support, and so glad that I could finish reading your post! When I hit that part about bathroom paper I couldn’t stop smiling and thinking he didn’t have to do that! You’re toilet rolls are fine! 😃 I was just giving you a hard time. Anyways, yes, that made me get so distracted I had a hard time focusing on the rest of your post. Alas, I finally regained my focus. 😁 Thanks for the smiles.

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  7. Dad, I don’t face the mental health challenges your son faces, but I am also wary about how I will move around in public spaces in the days and months ahead.
    As to your popcorn hunting, maybe there’s someone among your followers who may be able to mail a supply to you.

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  8. I used to love the buttterkist popcorn, but it is terribly bad for me. A friend introduced me to the delights of salty and sweet popcorn, and I’m hooked. I had my last pack yesterday and as we don’t intend to do any shopping until the middle of next week, grapes will have to do, which are actually one of the highest total items on my spreadsheet.
    Hope you can get your son out of the gate, if only for a few steps at a time.

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  9. Hello Gary. I am wondering if your Son’s aversion to dirt and insects is part of his autism? Or has it developed over the last few months due to fears of a unknown virus? The reason I ask is I am a bit OCD on somethings. Like washing my hands. I like to grow plants and do the work, but I can’t stand dirt or even a feeling of stickiness on my hands. So as soon as I am done doing the job I rush into the house and clean my hands. In the house I lose count of how much I wash my hands. But I do not have the issues in life you son does, he is a growing learning young person, trying to figure out how to navigate this place he is in. Is he overwhelmed by the news of what CV19 is doing, or is he just getting an aversion to feeling dirty? I wish you, and him, the best. As tough as life can be normally, you are facing a times ten level of hardship, and it seems you are not getting support from your government. I wish I could give more than my best wishes. Oh have you tried online shopping for popcorn? Here in my area online orders get priority from in store shopping. Hugs

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    1. It can be one of the elements to it. Equally it may not be and it could be due to other factors potentially linked to the death of his mum. Best way to describe it is hyper OCD. It’s never really been properly assessed. He has a great nurse counsellor who really tries to help him, but she openly admits that she is not an Aspergers expert. But she is not allowed to see him at present, plus her case load is getting ridiculous due to government cut backs. Going to have an online go tomorrow. x

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      1. Hello Gary. ( Insert swear word here ) I am sorry you and your son are going through this. It is infuriating and totally against the idea accepted today that many people in history that made the most advancement for the species have been on the spectrum. I wish I could offer more than my best thoughts, it seems so useless sometimes when I wish I could offer you something more concrete. Hugs

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  10. I really hope your son can start to venture out a little further. I agree, I think there will be many people (adults and children) feeling serious levels of anxiety about being outdoors or mixing with others. It’s just not going to be as easy as ‘off your go, lockdown lifted’.

    Oh and good luck in your hunt for popcorn. I hear you can find it in the most unusual places. X

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    1. It’s going to be a long process. His real nice nurse counsellor is going to have a dreadful caseload and backlog to get through. Being a CAMHS she will have to focus on the at risk kids. So not expecting anything this side of Christmas. I do understand you can find popcorn is some interesting places. x

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  12. I’m not saying this is you, Gary, but I think too many adults are bitching and complaining about not being able to “do adult things” in front of their children (complaining, not doing). The result is children start to worry about ever seeing their friends anymore, or doing things they love to do “away from their home, no adults around!” This causes unnecessary stress, and kids don’t know yet how to handle those stressors.
    Life under Covid is not as bad as some people make it to be. The airways are filled with the noise of the rabblerousers, but are silent about those who are accepting life as it is without griping. Those are the people kids need to hear from (good role models) but don’t. The world is going through changes. Please let these seem the best of times, not the worst. All it takes is a little common sense.

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  13. We order Ben’s White Cheddar Popcorn in the little bags by the case from Amazon. And I just noticed we’re on the last box😱 I can’t find it at the stores. Maybe a gas station, sorry petrol station might have some microwave popcorn?? It will cost you though🤑☹
    Would wearing gloves and mask help Son? You guys will need some advice from someone with more mental health expertise than me. Phobias are difficult and it sounds like Son’s fear is headed into phobia-land. So sad and completely unfair!! A kiddo ought to feel free to run and play and explore.💌💌

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  15. My son is exactly the same. We live in city centre and he won’t go out the front until/unless every single person we are likely to encounter is wearing a mask. Which is never gonna happen. Pity as we used to go on walks around town to calm him down before bed. Pacing round the back garden too much like exercise round a prison yard.

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  16. I fear this is going to have a lot of mental effects on a lot of people. It will be very hard for some to feel safe going outside or being near others. I read an article today that said the virus will be around for another couple of years and that we need to learn to live with it being around us and not let it control our feelings towards others. That is going to be very hard for some, I imagine.

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