Carpenter

Speaker 0 00:00:11 Hi, welcome to autism on shift. This is Thora today. We have a very special guest. His name is will, and he is a carpenter, and he's also an advocate, uh, for autistic people. And, um, we had a great conversation with him. So we are actually going to split it into two episodes today. You'll meet will the carpenter next week, we'll meet will the advocate. Speaker 1 00:00:35 So just be aware at the end of the show, it might end a little abruptly. Speaker 2 00:00:38 Thanks Speaker 0 00:00:41 Today. We're talking to will a will is awesome and fun, and he is a carpenter for trade. He actually does a lot of things and we're going to talk about a lot of stuff today. Um, we'll thank you for being here. Hi. Speaker 3 00:00:55 Hello. I think the other thing that you're forgetting to mention is, uh, um, British as well, which I think, is it a first for you on the podcast? Speaker 0 00:01:05 No, no, Nikki, it lives in the UK as well. She's the autism coach. I don't know if you, um, Speaker 3 00:01:12 No, I don't think I've reached up to there. I think I'm up to, um, about coding and I just finished the, uh, the dog training. I thought that was a fantastic one. Speaker 0 00:01:22 Awesome. Yeah. Tara was really fun. Thanks for listening. Yeah, that's exciting. And thanks for being willing to come talk to us. Yeah. I have actually seen some of your work online and I am in, I am. I'm impressed. You do really good woodwork. And when I can afford shipping, I'm going to, I'm going to commission a, um, a screen, one of those room screens. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:01:49 Oh, um, did you see the Japanese one that I did? That was actually my first year project at university. I've still got it downstairs. I've put it up to sale. It's I I'll probably under priced it and everything. Um, and I've had lots of interest. It's just, nobody ever seems to follow through and actually purchasing it. And, um, it, it EV it was my first real handmade piece of furniture. I, I love it. I even did the embroidery and the reverse a playcare myself. Um, and, uh, uh, the bottom sheets, uh, pleaded for anybody who's listening. It's um, uh, I, I, I chose to do a Japanese inspired room divided, so it's, it's got, um, panels, uh, in it, um, that have been painted, uh, gloss block to kind of fit in with the Japanese room, feel with color, color running through the center. And I've, um, done the bonsai tree with red leaves and, uh, the, um, the actual tree, the wood of the tree is in black, uh, fabric. Um, and I've used a technique called reverse appley care, um, which is layering up fabrics. And then I've embroidered, uh, congee letters into a each side. And the congee is, um, dragon and God, because, you know, I was watching a lot of dragon ball ballsy when I was at uni. Nice. That's awesome. That's beautiful. Speaker 0 00:03:15 Um, if anybody wants to look at it, um, will you share your, um, website? Are you willing to share your website with Speaker 3 00:03:21 Always? Uh, I was like, uh, uh, uh, feedback. It's got links on my social media and, uh, you get the most up-to-date on my Instagram or Facebook tends to be my, my finished products, but my website is I read this book, but that's spelled I R and then it's a number air bespoke, B E S P O K e.com. Uh, I've moved more into, um, fine, fine furniture rather than the rustic style and everything. And it, the name doesn't kind of go with what the logo, everybody seems to recognize the logo. So, uh, I kind of feel, uh, uh, I need to stick with the name as well. Speaker 0 00:04:02 Cool. So, um, tell us about, um, a day in the life of a carpenter, what what's. Speaker 3 00:04:08 So, um, for example, today, um, uh, I I've, I've got, um, I tend to have several projects on the go at the same time with the way I work. If I focus on one thing too much, I start making mistakes. So I like to have two or three projects on the gore, um, and move from one to the other, um, today, uh, lawn, um, I've, um, uh, I set up the machines and the, one of the hardest things with wood are found moving more and more into the fine, uh, furniture is trying to get things flat. It's absolutely insanely difficult to get things. Cause the other thing that, um, it's mentioned around, and I'm still learning more and more, um, but would movement because it's a living thing. If you cut it or you take too much of one side, it'll start to bend in different ways and sometimes you just can't predict it. Speaker 3 00:05:08 So when you make big cuts, you've got the wet a week between the big cuts, just to allow for any wood movements. So, um, to make it flat, uh, I've been pissing all over a what's called a planet and it's just two really sharp blades spinning around, um, really, really fast. And I'll have to put my hands on top of the woods and push it over the top of these spinning blades. Uh, I've spent most of the day, uh, passing large pieces of wood, uh, through the planet and then through the thickness of, to get the other side done, lifting it up, carrying that back over, and then passing it through again and then lifting it up and passing it. And it sounds monotonous, but I mean, it's, it's orcs smells fantastic when it's freshly caught. And, um, you know, I, in I'm in the workshop on my own sub, just being able to, um, relax, I'll be wearing a vest like, like I am now. Speaker 3 00:06:03 And, uh, um, you know, you have those moments where you, uh, my mentor says, said this, uh, three moments when a man feels like a man, um, shooting a gun, which I've done. And, uh, and I do love, uh, love going on in, and things like that. And sharpening a year, um, a pencil with a knife. And, uh, what was the other, the last one was being able to write your name in the snow. Uh, when you P I create videos while I'm in the workshops, I set my phone up on a little tripod and do a time-lapse videos and then put them together neatly. And they're on my YouTube channel as well, as well as on Instagram and things. So if you wanted to see how that works yeah. When I've got a doll, for example, I mean, when you say, oh, I'm making a doll. Oh, really? I use doors all the time. Yeah. But Kenya make it, um, you know, uh, I'm building a house, oh, I've got a house. Did you build it? Um, you know, um, dogs are actually quite calm, uh, like difficult because they have to fit, um, the specific doorway and everything. Yeah. There, there's going to be a bit of trimming down once it actually gets there. Cause you can never get it. Perfect. So you make it just a little bit bigger than the frame to be able to fit in. But, um, Speaker 1 00:07:22 I actually watched, uh, people, uh, on YouTube build things. I've built things. I've, I've built our, uh, entertainment center here out of wood. And I enjoy, I'm not probably nearly as good as, you know, I'm not as good as you, but, uh, I enjoy it. And I really enjoy watching the process and I've actually seen someone build a door and then have it when it goes into. And it was like, I find it relaxing. I wanna, I wanna ask you, there was a couple of things that, uh, brought up one thing, uh, one thing you had mentioned a mentor, so I do want to, uh, go over that. Cause in the states I was a little bit, a bit different. So I do want to ask that question at the moment, but also, um, because you had mentioned, you know, something you like about your work, which is, you know, being able to be comfortable where, you know, wear a t-shirt or, you know, whatever. Uh, is there anything you dislike about like, cause here's, here's what I imagined real quick. I was in my head, uh, when Thor asked that question earlier about, you know, tell me about the, you know, the day in the life of a self-employed, you know, you know, I said, well, first I have to pull myself out of bed and motivate myself, you know, but that's clearly not an issue for you. You sound like you're a get up and go kind of person, which is fantastic. Speaker 3 00:08:30 It's made my hobby into my work. So it's, you know, um, I mean on that subject, I was thinking like, uh, one of the tables I was doing, uh, when I by org, um, uh, by very, very rough cut or could still got bark attached to it. And you've, you've got this thing called a draw knife, which is, um, it's a bled, but it's got two handles, either side, draw it towards yourself to rip the bark off. And, um, there was one day I had to take six, uh, meters, uh, of bark off. And, um, it was two hours. It was hot. It was last summer. Um, I was sweating, I was exhausted. My back was hurt and I felt this is one of the hardest, most arduous things, but at least I'm still working with wood. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:09:17 You said you went to university. What was the, what was the major for what you do or was it even specific to that? Speaker 3 00:09:26 Um, design technology and engineering. So, um, Speaker 1 00:09:31 Would actually be interested to go there. I'm sorry to interrupt. I was curious though, what actually got you interested in moving into that field? Anything, or was it something you always liked? Speaker 3 00:09:43 Uh, what, uh, doing woodworking and things like that. Speaker 1 00:09:47 Um, I mean, did you have an idea in mind when you went to university or was that what you went for because you wanted to do woodwork? Speaker 3 00:09:53 Well, okay. Of course. Quite back a bit. And, uh, I had, uh, I had quite a good teacher at school. He honestly, he seemed like he was on his way out, but he took time with the kids who actually cared and the ones that didn't, he still got them to produce the work. And, um, so he, he kind of let me do whatever I want and eh, it's what we called it at the time was CDT, uh, craft design technology, what you'd call it is shop class. Sure. Um, and yeah, yeah. Um, so he, uh, I made like, um, uh, electronic games and things like where I made the body out of MDF and the sun did it and spray painted it. And fuck you informed the, uh, the actual panel fit electronics with just basic, uh, electronics, like a basic PCB and everything. And, uh, when, when I left school, I went on to, um, six from coach cause school in England finishes at 16, and then you get the chance to do, um, uh, further education. Speaker 3 00:10:58 And then higher education is a further education is six form or college or some form of, uh, extended education, whether it be an apprenticeship to become, um, in the trade, like an electrician, plumber, joiner, and things like that. Oh, you can go down the educational route. Well, what's seen as traditional education, uh, which is classroom based six form, um, and ended up dropping out, uh, the agreement, uh, hard with my parents from a young age is, um, an education and they'll support me or I'm working. And I pay some bills, which is a fair deal when I had to pick which type of degree I wanted to do. Um, I thought, you know, I can go down the literature. I could go down the science, I do enjoy science and everything, but I chose to go down tech because, uh, well design engineer and technology, that type of thing, because I had so much fun in a classroom when I was 13, 14. And, uh, it was, uh, I'd been out in the world for about, I'd worked for a bit. Uh, and granted, I was only 19 when I chose it, but it influenced me to that point. I'm Speaker 1 00:11:58 Curious, uh, when you, uh, chose to go from, was it right out of school or from like, you know, um, employee to self-employed? When was that turned for you? Was it, so I Speaker 3 00:12:12 Left university, I got a graduate job straight away. Um, it wasn't right for me. I was constantly arguing with, uh, management because it was about that, that bothered about their pie charts and fit in. And, uh, but I was bothered about doing it correctly. And, um, I worked for, um, uh, uh, for apple care for a short time as well, about a year and a half. And when I left there, it was, um, um, I'm always quite ambitious when I, when I go into things. So I always tried to go from management and move my way up and training and things like that. And, uh, uh, when I was at apple care, it was on their CPU, the computer. So we were dealing more with Mike's cause, um, iPhone it's turned it off and turn it on again and contact your provider. Um, whereas max, we get to actually play with the software. Speaker 3 00:13:01 Um, but, uh, yeah, you know, uh, you know, from an inside apple point of view, I w you know, regardless of what you might think about that company, they actually really push the customer has to have a good experience. I mean, that was w w w what we told, which is interesting, because what they kept saying is it does not matter if you fix that problem, the customer has to leave happy, and if you can't get them to believe happy, they go to a manager and their manager makes them leave happy. And they're so focused on you, half the customer has to have a good experience. Like you get people saying, and I'm working, but, but you're very pretty, Speaker 1 00:13:40 Thank you that didn't work, but I feel a lot better. Speaker 3 00:13:45 Yeah. You know, it was, it was stuff like that. I mean, sorry, that's just remind me of when I was selling computers one year, and I think I really should have known, I was autistic at this point. Um, this woman was talking to me and she was talking about different computers and it was a busy store. It was a Saturday it's getting close to a holiday season and stuff like that. And all of a sudden she turns around and goes, yeah, are you gay? I went, no. And she said, well, I've been flirting with you for ages and you won't give me any money off. So, uh, why, why is that an in the middle of the shop, I just went, are you going to sleep with me? And she said, no, and you're not going to get any money off that. And then we, we finished up and I sold through a computer. I really should have known at that point. I would say it was just when you said, oh, um, I can't fix your computer, but you're very pretty, it's just reminded me of that moment. But yeah, Speaker 0 00:14:39 We all have those moments. I own an old journal the other day and read a poem all about how much noise people make, and I should have known. Speaker 3 00:14:49 Yeah. It's, there's always those markers. And people just think that you're either, um, uh, being obnoxious or you're just too full of yourself or you're being too. Yes. I've heard all the Speaker 1 00:15:04 Info I, myself. That's very interesting. Now, now there's two things now, because now I want to hear the end of where, when you switched over, uh, you know, but then I also want to know, uh, when were you, when you found out you were autistic or are you diagnosed as autistic? Speaker 3 00:15:23 No. So, um, uh, so that I can answer both questions at the same time. So I was, um, I was bouncing around jobs and there was, um, I actually had, um, did test some, um, uh, cognitive behavioral therapy. And one of the statements they made was you do not show any signs of empathy, and you give me a habit. You may be empathetic, but you don't show any signs or empathy. So I leveraged that because I'd been saying for a long time, I mean, I've been saying since my teens, I don't feel normal. And when you, when you say, I don't feel normal, almost everybody agrees, you have the same response. The person puts down what they're holding. They cross their hands over their lap and go tilt their heads slightly and go for what is normal. And you're like, oh, well, Speaker 0 00:16:17 You are not. Speaker 3 00:16:18 Yeah. Um, but the, the problem with that statement is people think that they're trying to be helpful. They're not what they're doing is that they're not wanting to discuss the subject. They're wanting to discuss the title of the subject. And because of that, I've had to learn the words neuro-typical and neurodiverse, because it's the only way at the heart of the conversation, um, or at least start the conversation. Um, so I, I went to my doctor and I said, I, you know, I think there's something different about me. I've, you know, I've had this, um, assessment done on me. Um, I think there's a good chance I'm autistic. And he says, well, why do you think that now let's fill up some reason. He goes, well, you're probably not. So if the 90% of doctors, wow. Only 90%. Um, uh, so I, uh, I eventually it took six months, which is extremely quick to talk to the diagnostic nurse. Speaker 3 00:17:12 Um, and you know, I live in England. I love the NHS. It has its problems. Uh, it has, it it's quite slow and backed up, but we have it. And, you know, at least it's there as oppose, um, and the six months, and which was incredibly fast. And I sat down with the diagnostic nurse and, uh, we had a bit of a chat. We went through a few things and she said, what makes you think you're autistic? And I said, well, I'm either autistic or I'm, uh, psychopathic. And she said, why would you say that? And I said, well, it's, it's this lack of empathy. And, uh, there is a certain emotional disconnect in everything. And I went through, uh, the reasons, and I said, when, say a psychopathic, I mean, like the DSM, um, diagnosis of psychopathic, I don't mean I'm a psycho, uh, which isn't a psychopath, you know, that is not a psychopath, that's a high-functioning sociopath. Speaker 3 00:18:00 And I, you know, I, you know, and, you know, even just having that conversation, she was like, yeah, this guy's okay. Um, so they explained to me, right, but we're going to have a few conversations. We're going to ask you, we're going to have a few questions. And, um, uh, it may take, um, two years to diagnose you. Uh, it's not an easy process at the end of two hours of talking to me the, when yeah, you're definitely autistic. And they actually gave me the diagnosis wrote down on that day. Now you flirted with her Speaker 1 00:18:32 To get the autism. You Speaker 3 00:18:34 Know what, I don't know how the, I don't know how the F sorry. Well, literal, um, uh, I don't know how to flirt, but apparently I'm extremely charming, which my, uh, my ex, um, the mum, my daughter's mother, uh, when I told her I'd been diagnosed, she said that you can't, you're too charming. And this is what this is when she was still upset with me as well. So, um, you know, I wasn't quite sure whether that was a compliment or a escaping insult. Um, but, uh, yeah, so I, at that point, yeah, I realized I was having trouble with employment and I sat around and I thought I can either do nothing, or I can try to do something on my own. And across the road was a nursing home and they were getting there, you know, just standard fence replaced. And I turned around to them and I said, um, what do you do with the fence? Speaker 3 00:19:25 He says, oh, we take it to a yard and burn it. Otherwise we've got the habit to take it away. It gets put into a landfill, you know, burning, it's getting put in the unfold just as bad, if not worse. I said, um, can I take it? And he says, yeah. And I was like, can I take it for Frito? And he was like, yeah, cause that means it's just saving us petrol. Um, so, okay. So, uh, I took away most of the fence from round this nursing home, and I spent three days dismantling it with what basic tools I had leftover, uh, during which time I had to have a tetanus booster because I kept standing on the rusty, um, uh, I, I had all this wood. And so then I had some stock to actually work with. And then I started using my tools, uh, cleaned it up. Speaker 3 00:20:09 I've still got the first coffee table I made out of that wood downstairs in my house now, because I really like it it's like that rustic, shabby, chic, uh, you know, uh, type of look, but, um, uh, I make certain things and then sell them. I'd might only get, you know, 20, $30, like 20, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, but then I'd use that to, uh, that money to then buy, uh, another tool that would make it then easier so that, you know, I, eh, I'd be sending them by hands-off the next money I made a, I buy a Sunday and then, uh, I be sending, so then I buy a planner, which makes it even faster. And, you know, I just keep leveraging, leveraging it and reinvesting in myself. And, um, that was 2016. So I did that for a couple of years, a bit unfocused. Speaker 3 00:20:56 And, um, then I was working with like, uh, somebody from w we, we get a benefit called universal credit, which is, you know, unemployment welfare, but it doesn't necessarily have that same stigma to it in England. Um, and I, I said to them, I do want to work. Um, but I do have trouble with, you know, standardized employment, um, and everything, but I'd like to set my own business. So I've got some support to, um, that was funded by the EU to help me write a business plan, which looking back it's horrific, but it was my first business plan. I'm proud of it. Um, yeah. Um, and I registered with HMRC, so like, oh, uh, um, inland revenue service, um, uh, as self-employed, and then I got talking to a lady called Pam Lawrence, who I got put in touch with, because I agreed to do some studies with, I think it was Newcastle university, uh, into autism and things like that. Speaker 3 00:21:58 And I got talking to a man called Malcolm Osbourne, and Malcolm is ex military ex military medic. I think he actually was. And he only found out after he left the military, um, late in life, uh, I think for his, that he was autistic. And then he's created a, um, a small company called kayaks, which helps kids get rest by, in text them out as a special educational needs. Kids, you know, especially autistic kids takes them out. Um, does, uh, adventure, um, weekends or dares or anything like that with, with them. So I got talking to this guy, Malcolm Osborne, and he said, you should really talk to Pam Lawrence. And I did not know how important Palm Lawrence was in the world, never mind, uh, how important she was going to be in my life. And, uh, uh, I started when I got registered, um, uh, self-employed I started doing craft fairs with some of the, uh, shabby chic type, the things that I was making of all fencing and pallets and anything I could get for free, because I couldn't really afford to buy materials. Speaker 3 00:23:04 And wherever I was buying was to help me refine the materials I was using. And, um, at my first craft fair, I met a woman called, uh, Jen Winton, um, who was set up in the stall next to me. Um, and she was, uh, volunteering for, um, the friends of, uh, the friends of the local woods who helped maintain it and they've got talk and she said, my husband's always working. And I was like, oh yeah, this again. Um, uh, so she introduced me to Pete and her husband and stuff. And, uh, she said you should come and do wood Fest, which is the, the, it was the, uh, annual, uh, crafty Woody. Um, you know, it was somewhat Bohemian type of a event in the woods and the sing songs as, uh, people making stuff, people selling stuff, local craftspeople and all the rest, no big business, rarely or anything. Speaker 3 00:23:57 That's promoting a ecology that had alarms. It was great. And I had people using like Woodlands that looked like they were built in the 1850s and, you know, all hand driven, you know, and it was nice. And, uh, I'd been talking to this lady, Pam Lawrence for awhile. And, uh, she agreed to come out to my second craft fair, which was wood Fest. And she came out and she was quite full, quite direct. And her business is spectrum enterprises, CIC sort of CIC in England. Is it, uh, um, um, uh, charitable, uh, um, community interest company. So it's a charitable company, it's a for-profit company, you know, it you'd probably consider it as a nonprofit type of thing that they're not out to make big money, but they're there to support. Um, so, um, uh, she has a CIC called spectrum and the price, and, uh, so she looked at what I did and said, I'm interested in working with you. Speaker 3 00:24:54 Um, let's meet up again. So ma and the way she explained it is in England, we have DWP, which is not the department of water and power. It's the department of work and pensions. These are the people that, um, uh, you know, help you with the benefits or help you get in the work or stay in work or, uh, anything like that. And then we've got HMRC which deals with this tax. So, you know, yeah. Stay away from them. Um, but, uh, they have this fund called access to work and the way access to workers, it supports a person, an individual again, um, uh, uh, to help overcome barriers into employment. Now that could be, if they're working for a big company and they, they, um, uh, get a headache injury, which causes a long-term effect. It means that, uh, training can be provided, not at the expense of the company, but they'll, uh, they'll, uh, the department of work and pensions, DWP will pair for somebody to come in and explain to the company what it is and how to deal within how to help the person and things like that. Speaker 3 00:26:06 Yeah. Um, uh, if your deaf, they can, um, help, uh, peer for some technology that might help you, or they may have pay for some software, or they may have pay for training for you personally, which is just like a four, a four session thing, or, you know, it, it helps you overcome barriers. Now, what Pam does is share, she looks at what your needs are. She applies to access to work and says, you know, this person has the chance, but then they need somebody to help them, uh, just grow, uh, grow, uh, that little bit further and overcome things. And then with autism, um, the main issue, overarching is communication. Okay. Um, you know, we can, we can argue all sorts of different things. And I do argue all different sorts of different things, but it's, it's the way we communicate. We communicate in a different way, which is why I don't show empathy. Speaker 3 00:26:59 No, I, I actually been told by a psychologist, I don't actually have empathy. I have reverse empathy, um, with, yeah, the fish you pull in, it kind of what everybody does. So empathy is defined by AB no, no. Um, empathy is defined by able to understand what somebody is going through and understand why they're struggling. I can't do that. Um, I, uh, I have to understand it as if I was going through it. So I I'm understanding it, the complete opposite where it's meant to happen, but I usually, I usually not always, but I usually come out at the same element that that's considered an empathetic response, right. Oh, that must be frustrating. If you've ever run an AppleCare, you, you know, that that's the statement you're going to get, because that's what they teacher in training. That must be frustrating. I totally understand that being frustrating. Speaker 3 00:27:56 Let me see what I can do to help you. So I don't necessarily show, um, empathy because I've got flat effect. And, uh, I also don't necessarily do empathy the traditional way I do reverse Sanofi. So what Pam did was she said, well, what we need to do is try and raise your skill level. Do you know any woodworkers? Cause she was really trying to struggling cause it's, it's a, you know, it's an art, that's not necessarily, um, about as much in England as it might be in America. I mean, you know, everybody's like, no, somebody that's a woodworker by trade or something in America, you know, do furniture. It was, we were very Ikea best in England. Um, overall there's a lot of flat pack or it's built in a different company, uh, country, sewing, not even company. Um, so those skill levels, uh, disappearing a lot. Speaker 3 00:28:47 So Pam really looked hard all over the place. She found several places, but there was a lot of travel. I wasn't driving at the time I had my license, but I didn't have a car. So it was, it was a bit of a nightmare to get to. Um, and there was, well, I actually did. I said there was two guys. I said, one of them, um, a statement he gave me like, uh, was more about, uh, grandizing himself, which was, how much are you charging? I said, I'm charging 15 pound now where he goes, I don't get out of bed for anything less than 25 pounds an hour. And I thought, well, lots of shitty thing. This is anyway. Um, P uh, so Janet actually, and then, uh, I went and did what Fest. And then at Christmas time, sh uh, in the, the, the woods to do a Christmas tree sale, but they have a law that only have like five or six local, um, crafters of businesses, uh, come in and sell our things. Speaker 3 00:29:42 So she'd invited me to come and, uh, sell, um, cause that's what she was involved with at the time. And I live, um, the, the Chapo woods is just like a small woods for America, but you know, it's a decent size for England and my house is a 10 minute walk from the entrance to it. Uh, the, uh, and the, the car parks at the opposite end of the woods, just straight across now it's a half an hour walk normally, but my, uh, my car had broke down that I was getting a lift in. So I, then I had to be there for it at nine o'clock in the morning. So I put all my stuff in the way yeah. Suitcase and dragged it through the center of the woods. Um, and when she found out about that, she was a bit horrified and she said, Pete, we'll give you a leftover paint. Speaker 3 00:30:28 You're giving when I left home anyway. Okay. Janie. So we were in the car and, uh, Pete, uh, started talking to me about my woodwork and he was giving me some, some nice praise, which was w which is a change for somebody who says they do woodwork. And I said, so what type of wood work he'd do you do? And he goes, oh, well, I was trained by this expert, covenant maker in London, who they used to buy the wood off the board and then Polish it down. And that's what the bar tops are in London. Um, and this, that, and the other. And they talked about how we went to college and it was actually a little bit inspired, you know, it's, it's almost inspiration porn, listening to him and everything. So he dropped me off and, uh, I had a meeting with Pam about a week later and I said, I'd like, Pete, I'd like us to ask Pete if he can work with me and tread me. Speaker 3 00:31:15 So Pam said, okay, if that's what you want, we'll have a meeting with Pete. So Pete came down and, uh, he, he said, yes, I'd be interested in it. But if your struggle is communication as well, my wife, Jenny is just, uh, left. I call a Jen, he's the only one on the planet that calls it Jannie. So I'm just remembering it, how he fell there, but he says, uh, Jen's just left, um, marketing for the big trend companies, Virgin and are, and things like that. Um, she's looking at, uh, what she wants to do with the rest of her life. And she might be able to help as well. So then we, we arranged a meeting with both of them and, uh, Jen actually agreed to be my communications mentor. She's a marketing specialist, but, um, uh, uh, and everything. So, um, they both agreed to do it. Speaker 3 00:32:04 And what Pam does is she applies to DWP on my behalf, sits down with me, goes through everything I struggle with. She goes to DWP and argues on my behalf to get funding. She may, um, so she would necessarily say, oh, I need 30 pounds an hour to be able to support him. And then she pairs a mentor, 20 pounds an hour to support me and then takes a small cut for her to be able to help somebody else, which she explained to me on pretty much the third time we'd met. So she's very open and honest about this. W uh, I think she also asked me a question, started laughing and said, this is why I like dealing with people with autism. They always tell you the truth, whether you want it or not. I can't even remember what I said, but it was one of those statements. She kind of sit back and think was that offensive or not. And she's just that laughing. So, um, Speaker 1 00:32:53 A wonderful thing too. I agree with that. Speaker 3 00:32:56 Yeah. So, um, no, he's actually a commanding officer in the, um, in her Majesty's army, um, is lift tenant while he'd just been given his new, um, uh, promotion as Lieutenant Colonel. And he was waiting for his, um, new command. Uh, he's got it now. Um, but we'd go into the workshop and spend three hours working in the, you know, teach me about how, uh, sharpen tools we go back to basics was one day we spent three hours talking about screws and I swear, I kid you not. It was fascinating. I loved it. Um, talking about the different, whether it's a PO what's a positive drive versus what a what's a crosshead w uh, uh, slot, why you'd use Chrome. <inaudible>, Speaker 3 00:33:45 uh, like what it is. It is actually quite interesting once you get into it. And he was very inspirational and gin, uh, took me one side and she helped me. So I'd spend like a couple of hours with her. I'd spend a whole day down there cause he's got custom workshop on his property. Um, uh, and I'd spent like the morning with PE and then I'd spend the afternoon with Jim to try and focus my business around. And it's been extremely inspirational if nothing else, because they made me realize I could do all these things. Cause I was still working with scrap bits of fam uh, fence boards and pizza just handed me pieces of OCO now see what you can do with this. And I'm like, oh, holy crap. It's like six inches of Oak. And like now I'm buying a 10 cubic foot of org, uh, at a time and going, oh, well, yeah, I can afford the 500 pounds. Speaker 3 00:34:43 I'll get it. I'll make a couple of tables and then I'll buy some more. But at that time I was terrified of working with hardwoods and stuff and it was, um, it was good. So I still, I still get, um, support through access to work. And, uh, Pam is quite supportive. And last year I actually registered my own CIC with the aim of helping people with hidden disabilities. So the idea I was going to have before COVID and everything hit and lockdown was, uh, I was going to get a workshop and set it up for me, but I was going to run it through, um, the small charitable company, but that meant I would be able to bring people in and give them real world work experience, even if it was just making basic planters and garden furniture and things like that. Um, Speaker 1 00:35:32 When you're helped out and you turn around and you, you know, it's so inspirational and it, and it really showed you are human. You can, you know, you're just as beautiful as anybody else, you know, and not in the, you know, but in the term and then you can turn around and you, you know, you want to give back because it's such a wonderful experience. I think that's, I've Speaker 3 00:35:51 Always liked fighting for the little guy to a point as well. Uh, I, uh, I, you know, people who, who are considered little guys, um, uh, and stuff, but yeah. Um, yeah, uh, Pete's diff so, I mean, he has a command, uh, I think, eh, usually with left turn kernels, it's a commander of about 2000 men below them, all 2000 soldiers. Um, so, you know, he has like, I'll come into the house and Jane will say, oh, you need to be quiet. And then all of a sudden I'll hear Pete walking through going, yes, curdle, no cuddle. I'll answer to the general. So yes. And I'm like, you know, but on the other side of it, I'll turn rugby in the workshop and I'll say, Hey, well, what did you do this weekend? Well, I went to the cinema and I managed to get a KFC. Speaker 3 00:36:35 So I feel quite good. He goes, oh, well, I was at, uh, on the mirrors and we were firing ballistic missiles just to see how far they'd go. I'd be like, oh, well, you know, fine. Um, and then the next weekend, um, but, um, Pete's, uh, you know, so good. Um, I mean, he's an expert cabinet maker. Um, he got commissioned by the army. Uh, they had, um, an old Mount for a con cause he's in, um, uh, uh, I want to say the, uh, the artillery, um, that's what his, that's what his main post is and everything. And so he got asked by the general to do a piece where he used the original wood from a 200 year old, um, uh, Canon Mount to be able to create a box from it. But, uh, it has to be very, very specific. You have to work to the general specifications, which the general wouldn't was necessarily trained in design. Speaker 3 00:37:31 Yeah, well, he is. So he had to then translate across and then, then he got told, well, it's going to go up in the, um, uh, DOD headquarters, but we need to present it first. And the Queen's going to be there having a look at all these things that have to do with the army and the chemo, the whim at the beginning of the day. And it says, um, excuse me, um, uh, you, you can't talk to the queen for longer than five minutes, answer her questions, but don't talk about it. Say yes, ma'am no ma'am and you know, no other, they went, that's not a problem. I can do that. And then, uh, the came up to him about five minutes before she was meant to get there. She's running fast. She needs to burn off about 10 to 15 minutes. Can you talk about, would for 10 or 15 minutes? Speaker 3 00:38:14 He goes, I think I can do that. So there's this picture of him explaining how he, uh, came up with this design and everything to the Queens and this guy trains me. So not only have I got this, um, uh, um, uh, army S uh, person who just on that alone, I have a massive respect for, he also, you know, presents his work to the queen. And so, and he's training me. Um, Jen is really, really supportive. And before dealing with me, she'd never really had to deal with anybody. Well, any adult that was necessarily autistic or identified that way. So she didn't know what she was dealing with Shayla and a lot from me, but she's got a really good working relationship with Pam Lawrence. And now she mentors about, I don't even know. I think it's five or six different people with autism to try and get that business up and running. Speaker 3 00:39:07 Uh, Pam also works with companies that are run by NTS to try and help them take on people with autism and, uh, help them with that, what we'd refer to as reasonable adjustments. And this is what I'm talking about, uh, mentioned, uh, before we started about the difference between, um, awareness and acceptance. And before we started talking, I mentioned that I really dislike autism awareness week. I'm not against an autism week, I'm against the word awareness. Um, and what I said before we actually came on was, um, the thing that I prefer is acceptance. And we're all aware that, you know, people are different, whether they guest rate, whether they've got autism, whether the neuro-typical, whether the, uh, the hub days where they're down, whether they've got anxiety or anything, these are all things that can make things difficult. Um, and we're all aware. We now need to start moving towards an acceptance and this for me, Hannah, uh, who she's, she's hitting retirement age and the acceptance that she's put in place. I mean, this is just what I've seen and what they've actually fed back to me personally. Uh, you know, it's that level, that's absolutely fantastic. And this is what companies potentially are missing out on because they're turning around and saying, well, that's not the way we've always done it, Speaker 0 00:40:28 Right? Yes. So disheartening when you know, well, when you know that all it takes is a little extra something. Sometimes it's intention. Sometimes it's a change in the way that you speak sometimes it's, I mean, it, it, it doesn't take a lot for, um, a company and organization and enterprise to, to make room for somebody, um, who could be an extreme asset. If you just change a couple of things, sorry about that abrupt ending there, but we warned you, Speaker 1 00:41:06 You were warned Speaker 0 00:41:07 Join us next week, uh, where we finished Will's interview and he talks about his advocacy. Also, we are in dire need of more guests, please join us. Tell us about your job. Go to carve resumes.com, fill out the contact form, and we'll get right back with you and schedule your interview with the board to hear from you. Thanks. Thank you.