General Chat

you lose track of time and realise you should have left for college 15 minutes ago and now its too late!! :O( Daddy i do promise I will go back next week and finish this course with my BSL 1 qualification!! xx

Ooops indeed lol You poor lamb - it's horrid when you can't sleep - I'm sure it will sort itself out in time (((hugs))) xxx

your allowed to have sickys like this diana, and be forgetful, your bound to be preoccupied, what is your course in

I'm doing British Sign Language level 1 sweetie..... was doing it to help me communicate with Daddy and his friends in their first language but now decided there must have been a reason for me being bought up in the deaf community and I hope to qualify as an interpreter eventually..... should take a few years but it'll be my tribute to Daddy!! xx

Run! If you miss a lesson you will find it harded to catch up. I've been their, I've started to learn sign 3 times and each time the teacher left due to falling class sizes:- oh well one day I'll get to complete the course. Hope you do well.

Rachel - I grew up with deaf people so trust me one lesson won't hurt!! The deaf community can't believe I have to do the course as me can do basic sign but needs must and i can't take level 2 til I pass level 1!! xx

Diana, I was thinking about today about 11am as I saw some lovely PINK Hunter boots.Only £12 at a shop near my house. Hugs Sue

Hunter wellies? Oh Sue me want some!! :O)

i have to be honest its something ive always wanted to learn, sign language, its fascinating how fast people can do sign. maybe one day soon ill get off me butt and go for it

Me thinks being able to sign is fantastic! Wish I could!!! Perhaps our next trek could be in aid of BSL!?! Gems xxx

We could do it for National Deaf Children's Society but I think that's too personal to me!! Maybe the next trek we'll let someone else from the boards decide the charity!! xx

My diL passed BSL1 about 5 years ago but decided not to go on to BSL2. She did it for interest. Diana, it is a lovely idea to go on with the course as a tribute to your Father. Ann Glos

I personally think the basic's should be taught to children and I'm pleased to say that some parents are using it with babies as a communication method..... I love seeing a child doing sign..... even better when that child is hearing!! xx

My little girl has just turned 5 and is in Reception class at school. They have a boy in the class who is not deaf, but cannot speak....so all the children have been learning a few basic words so they can communicate with him (though he cannot sign back he can understand them!)...............They are all doing really well.....now she is teaching me a few words! Merry

Sandra - that's almost the same as BSL - Makaton is a form of BSL!! I have put a link up which has a site to learn it online and its very good especially if learning with young children!! :O)

Diana Don't give up on it I have it never in a million years did I think I would pass. Did start level 2 but moved half way through course so didn't finish it. We should have a meet and use sign language but then apparently the amount that is drunk at these meets think it is only sign language that is understood. Keep going with it.

Pink, Go get that level 1 gal and then the level 2 and be a damn good translator for your dad !!! I had a six week basic BSL course when at college and have learnt a little Makaton, Sign-a-Long and Cued Articulation whilst working with speach and lanuage and special needs children. I don't think I'd have the stamina to do the full course these days. Thinking of you Love Viv xxx

Merry - that's fabulous!! Viv and Dawnie - yeah me gonna go as far as I can.... still have deaf rellies (aunt and uncle) plus loads of deaf friends (daddy's lot) and i can't just disappear from their lives now!! xx

Hi Diana just a small thing about teaching children who can hear to learn sign. When i was at school many years ago a pal's parent's were deaf and dumb (he was not) i used to go round all the time to his house, and his family were great, but Keith had to translate to me what was said and vice a versa, so his dad told him to teach me basic sign, i did learn enough to chat to them and that was great.<<< move on a lot of years>>> so when my kids were small i taught them it (told them it was spy language lol) and they used it to annoy there mum ect. but long story as short as as i can. Between xmas and new year gone, 16yrd son and I pulled up outside a large electrical retailer and parked next to the disbled parking as we got out of the car i noticed an oldish lady trying to ger a large box into a small car while her husband sat in the car, so isaid to the boy 'son give that woman a hand while i get out stuff out the boot' son wanders over taps said woman on the shoulder, now remember he is 16 and has long black hair dressed in black and a goth, woman looks round son says can i help you put the box in the car woman nods, son has a bit of a chew on gets box in car, shuts door, by this time the woman is back in car with hubby, son comes back mutters stuff about manners closes boot for me, but as we walk past their car the window comes down and the woman passes son a note she smiles hubby smiles and nods, son opens note writen inside was a thank you 'my husband and i are deaf and he uses a wheelchair so thank you for your kind help plus a fiver son then turns round and signs thank you to the woman, her face was a picture the smile was so big i had a lump, mind typical teenager once insde he said dad for once being polite does pay, he missed the point lol but he made that couples day. Then when my daughter went back to school after this half tearm a new girl had arrived, in her tutor group, she is deaf, but can lip read very well said girl was introduced to the class so she could see them say hello, she signed back hello, Daughter stood up and signed 'hello my name is Kerry' the poor girl cried, both now have a new best pal, and she is teaching my daughter modern sign, coz mine is over 30yrs old lol so Diana it should be taught in schools i think, sorry this is long but i wanted to tell you it. Stay safe hun Steve

Steve that is so so lovely!! I always get asked if i am deaf as I understand sign so well (to me it was you lot with hearing parents that had strange lives) so I understand what you are saying when you can make someone's day with a simple!! Deaf people can be rude but only because their education was sh** usually only being taught to speak and spell, so please don't judge the older generation if they are!! And I know what you mean about out of date sign..... I learnt from birth and 40 years later i am no longer PC with my sign!! :O) See its not just English that has to change to become PC!! xx