Brough Castle, built around 1092 on the grounds of an old Roman fort.

Once a grand old well kept castle. Once an impressive, seemingly impenetrable fortress. Attacked by an army from Scotland, destroyed and rebuilt. Rebuilt to be stronger, even more impenetrable. It was for 250 years…..

Then it met its new destroying army in the form of a Christmas Party… in a desperate attempt to cook the Brussel Sprouts properly, a fire broke out, destroying much of the castle.

OK I’m guessing on the Pesky Green Veg Villain, but something went badly wrong with that Christmas Feast in 1521.

The castle was partly rebuilt in the 17th century, but within a couple of years, fire struck again. Maybe don’t have 24 fireplaces…..The harsh northern weather has subsequently taken its toll since then.

Far too many children in the UK never get the support they need from the health and education systems. Hawklad was fortunate, it took over two years but he finally started to get some of the support he needed. Over the years that support made a real difference.

Then the day he reached 18, it was pulled. There is no equivalent adult support service. It’s only been a few months since then but I have started to see some changes, not positive ones. Hard earned progress starting to slow, halt or even reverse.

How many more are in the same position.

38 thoughts on “Grand Old Castle”

      1. There are so many and spectrum is huge. Maybe one day things may get better until the time we parents need to work with whatever is available. It is 7 years since my son left the school system and he will be 28
        years and time flies.

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  6. Love that castle… we’ve loads of ruined castles here too. Researching the history is so interesting. (Also love Brussel sprouts but I know not everybody does..). But so sorry about your son’s support system. Something needs to be done about that and the “powers that be” (hoping for your vote in the next election) would need to take action now on behalf of the many people in this situation. He is so young and he has his talents. Everybody does. He needs encouragement and help and I pray he gets it at this time in his young life. 🙏

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  8. A crumbling castle, fallen into ruin, might be a good metaphor for the current state of educational systems, especially when it comes to teaching/supporting people who are neurodivergent or have other learning challenges, people who are poor, etc. Maybe for wealthy people and for one type of learner, the system seems like a castle, but for the rest, it is a shell that offers no protection at all.

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  12. I so badly want to believe in the Brussels sprouts part of the story, Gary! 😆 You really made going there for a second.

    In all seriousness, the regression we are seeing around the world – recently with the Trump bill in the US – is just so troubling and depressing. Our most vulnerable are always the first to suffer. No words.

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  15. I wonder what is available as self help groups in your area? Thing is, things cost money and people willing to be part of things. I always hope for the saying to become personified: Where there’s a will there’s a way.

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  16. The castles around here are in double figures, with many in the same condition. It is literally showing us things don’t last for ever, change is the only constant, to live with this now, this moment, this “Oh drats my coffee is cold” 😁

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    1. one day I wish someone crazy would rebuild a castle, restore it to exactly how it was hundreds of years back, so you could experience it. We gave some well kept castles but they have digital screens, posters and so much modern life. Just one castle which is a proper castle.

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      1. You know the tower in Carew and of course the bathroom facilities on each floor. Well I wouldn’t be tempted to poop on that or would I?

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