Thoughts one year on about John Noakes

Just over a year ago, May 29th 2017 a man who was a part of the backdrop of my boyhood died aged 83 years from Alzheimer's complications.
You see ever since I was able to take in television, I'd always watch Blue Peter, the very long running BBC Children's program which at the time had a massive viewing and certainly I can recall seeing it from 1970.
The presenter John Noakes was a very much a hero to me cos he did things of extraordinary skill and bravery like climbing up Nelson's Column to clean it with no safety gear or Bob-sleighing at a truly hurtling rate of knots along the course.

Of course it did also help he had a dog called Shep, pictured and the pair were inseparable leading to the catchphrase, "Get down, Shep" because we could relate to that  and John while quite shy off camera had a lot of boy dare devil instinct which most certainly appealed to me in an era of fairly tame presenters.

This was 'the' classic line up of presenters from the mid 1970's going from left to right, Peter Purves, Lesley Judd, Valerie Singleton and John Noakes complete with pets.
It probably says a lot about what the show meant to me that I still have many of the yearly Annuals from this era, with just the odd pencil mark stored carefully.

About being an Adult School Boy

This week after spending just two days as "Chris_minor" on an asb site that seems to have been stopped, I'm talking a little around what I was so much looking forward to chatting there about.
You see, at one point when I considered writing this blog, I had said in a rather matter of fact way it wasn't going to be about being an adult schoolboy or adult little boy and that is quite true because the bias tends to be on past boyhood.
This said, because the way my life actually is I'm living that way and inevitably I do end mentioning bits of it so I might as well write something about it although my own understanding won't be everyones.
People of all genders do regress to the past in different ways sometimes more by doing things connected to their pasts such as a past-time, interest or hobby or by physically becoming that 'child' by dressing more like they used to.
This generally comes from a state of actually 'being' that little - in this instance a little boy - at a mental and physiological level as it works through how  they play letting out their younger 'inner child' side in a fluid natural way rather than acting out a role play which is more where 'age play'  comes in.
It's just you  letting a side of you that is there all the time out to play.
For some people it is a response to things such as trauma or learning/developmental disabilities for others still it's just calming 'place' to be for a period before returning to any necessary adult chores and responsibilities. It doesn't matter which and none is more virtuous than the other.
Some do play with things such as toys, colouring, play, traditional board games or read sometimes books from childhood or connected to it like stories about school days which at least here in Great Britain is a popular thing.
Like the adult schoolboy shown, when I do this I have clothes that go with it and for me  this does involve both formal clothing such as tailored shorts and grey schoolboy socks as well as t shirts and pe type shorts for play wear I originally experimented with that in hindsight clearly was an indication of my own age regression needs.
It was actual school uniform with a red sweater, white shirt, grey shorts and socks that I last week wore to met a man who let's me be that little boy under his wings.
A combination of a greater interest around wearing school uniform post school leaving age and the need to cater for actual 'plus sized' children and the internet has made it easier to get uniform from suppliers on Ebay, amazon or high street stockists off the shelf  easier.
One doesn't have to use specialist adult school wear suppliers unless you're wanting more bespoke items nor does one doesn't have to trape around Marks ands Spencers or as I did at the time BHS in the uniform department sizing things up. 
The kind of look of a British Schoolboy was one I did emulate at the time rather like that picture  although I would say I took care to remove excess arm and leg hair apart from shaving my face so what I saw was rather more like a  junior version of me rather than looking like an adult male stuffed into a school uniform.
I don't like preaching but I think this does matter.
For some the allure of the return to school days can be strong  which is one area I tend to be a little forthright over which is to say the idea of coupling your regression, your wearing a school uniform and having actual lessons (or following actual school study guides) can be a great one.
Sometimes we forget some of what we have learnt which has everyday import such as letter writing or say times tables or maybe like me you didn't do too well so a 'second chance' would help you.
Some places not least over here do have actual adult schoolboy (and girl) classes run typically at weekends although I'd suggest doing some research first as to exactly what's on offer if it might appeal. It's not uncommon with consent for them to feature corporal and non-corporal punishment which is something some do look for and to which as far as I'm concerned is fine if that's your thing.
What I come down hard on is where it seems the entire point of attending is to get a spanking  and most of the time is taken up with that rather in British terms being a re-run of a pre 1987 class where you would only if you break clear and usually serious rules while actually studying to a syllabus with tests.
To summarize, I feel there is a benefit for a good number in age regressing and letting out their adult schoolboy side that not only may help with might be troubling you for the calm and structure it can bring but also help potentially with things in your more adult life.

Following the red devils 70's style

One day I can remember quite well was when we decided to visit Old Trafford, the home of England's Manchester United soccer team in the Spring of 1977 where we were given a tour around the stadium, got to meet a number of the players getting autographs and the then Manager Tommy Docherty.
A few of the players such as the Greenhoffs lived locally so while most people here support Port Vale there was much interest in their upcoming FA Cup final against Liverpool on May 21st and as it was 1977 by that Saturday afternoon we'd all sit glued to BBC TV's Grandstand program watching the match on our newly acquired colour television.
The match by tradition was played at the Wembley Stadium,Middlesex, just outside London which was refereed by Bob Matthewson.
The Liverpool side of that era is by consent one of the strongest ever including players such as Kevin Keegan so it was one match as excitable schoolboys we were looking forward to.
First to score was United's Stuart Pearson in the second half passing Ray Clemence.
Liverpool equalized with a goal from Jimmy Case which Alex Stepney was unable to stop and the final goal was by Lou Macari which ricocheted off Jimmy Greenhoff's chest looping straight into the net with Liverpool's Clemence and Phil Neal on the line.

They'd won 2-1 breaking a possible three successive wins for Liverpool! 
Lou Macari on third right in the picture later on went to manage Stoke City and is still active in the district. Gordon Hill is second right, while Tommy is in the grey suit and tie.
It remains a highlight of a memorable soccer season from childhood.

The Tween Regressor

This week I'm writing about age regression, specifically Tween age regression where once I was asked to write something for both boy and girl regressors but for a variety of reasons the project never went forward. 
Here it is as originally written.

Introduction
In the history of regression, we tended to hear more of the ‘Adult Baby’ or the ‘Little’  that went to around seven or eight years of age but their are an increasing number of Tweens (nine through thirteen) in the Agere Regressed world who are very much looking for a Caregiver type figure in their lives. Neither ‘littles’ although sometime we may do more ‘little’ things nor with the sophesticated personal lives of the Teen, we inhabit would that some might say is the ideal mixture of increasing understanding of the world but the ability to just enjoy fun for its own sake free from more grown up concerns using our greater freedom for adventures. We enjoy dramatized productions that are about our world on tv or at the theatre, or watching a movie but we love warm close relationships and the opportunity to share our concerns and worries to that caregiver. The greatest gift you can offer a tween regressor is unconditional  love.

Structure
Being a Tween is a world between that of of the Little Girl or Boy and that of sophesticated teens,a place  where we learn more of the world around us such as how we relate to each other, our responsibilities to ourselves and others in addition to our rights about our country and the world. We increasingly use our aquired skills and knowledge but we still have vulnerabilities and so need child-like protection.
Because of their disabilities, some Tween regressors may need help with remembering  things such as appointments, lectures, ‘chores’ and so on that a good caregiver will help  them with by using diaries, post-it’s or electronic notes and calendars.
For us then a caregiver is someone who doesn’t just love and cherish us, he or she uses their influence responsilbly to guide us which may involve setting rules, protocols and consequences. Some of us may have issues around boundaries that require very real handling (it’s not a game) or self esteem.
They not only work on our self confidence, but also in developing self respect, respect for others, authority and trustworthiness.
Because each Tween regressor is different it is very important they communicate what they feel able to consent to with their caregiver and that he or she respects them within that relationship. 

Attire
The individual tween will most likely have a keen sense of what they like wearing and what they don’t although for play and some outdoor activities practicalies come into play and so plain dresses or shorts may be more suited especially indoors and in the winter months outdoors layers may be needed. Dressing up for parties is something many of us enjoy.
One function for age regressors of clothing is to cast off their regular ‘adult’ look so they more resemble on the outside the Tween they feel so would wear disney, hello kitty or dinosaur T shirts and dress in a similar way. This helps the Caregiver too as they see their ‘tween’ as they feel aiding a naturally more child-like relating style. Some disabled Tweens may need help with dressing when it comes to fastening, buttons lifting over arms while others may be able to do it but do need reminding to.


Arts and Crafts
For the Tween Regressor,  there is a great delight in making things for yourself and in learning new skills that aids in building self esteem and confidence which for disabled tweens inparticular may be something they struggle with.
Many suppliers now offer kits either to make one specific item or materials such as felt, buttons, card structures such as picture frames while on the arts side, painting by numbers, freehand painting with child-safe paints on card or paper or scrape boarding are possible as is drawing. Just don’t forget to cover surfaces, supply aprons and have wipes ready afterward. 
Colouring is very much on the up as an activity even by adults who wouldn’t see it as regression and this has lead to a good number more advanced colouring books requiring finer hand-eye co-ordination to that of traditional colouring books aimed for younger children such as animals or disney princess so an older tween need not feel they’re doing something ‘babyish’.
Colouring is very relaxing and for disabled regressors can help develop and maintain fine motor skills that those of us with them need.

Play

Play is a magical time that’s not just about the actual activity we undertake but plays an important part in our socializing that as Tween Regressors we may struggle with which is why good play is so good for us disabled or not.

We learn things such as taking turns, resolving conflicting needs, the importance of keeping our spaces clear afterward and how to be a good friend, so it’s a good idea to play with others or if that isn’t possible for the caregiver to be in on it, perhaps taking a advisory role so the Tween Regressor is the on mainly playing but they’re interacting with him or her.

The nature of play is quite wide so where possible outdoor season play may be preferred such as building snowmen or snowball fights during the winter or ballgames and skipping in the spring and summer which nor only mixes fresh air with physical exercise but brings in work on building up attention spans and co-ordination. There are an increasing number of public ‘adult’ playgrounds that with discretion may be used for Tween Age regression.

There are times where indoor play may be more suited so things such as the building the ever popular Lego Kits either individually in a group setting before engaging in imaginative play with the now assembled kits can be hugly enjoyable.

Imaginative play with plushies or dolls still plays a part in the life of the teen regressor and as in the case of American Girl dolls can tie into looking into the past.

Despite the popularity of electronic gaming such as that on Games Consoles and “SmartPhones” or smaller computers, traditional board games such as Mousetrap, Snakes and Ladders  in addition to Monopoly still play an important part being really enjoyable to play together plus games such as  Trivial Persuit can help with learning facts and taking turns too.

If you have a group of Tween Regressors, setting up a table for ‘junior’ jigsaws with people in teams can be a good ice breaker not just being fun to complete but also getting people to work together and establishing a more co-operative feel.

Learning

Things a caregiver can help with is setting a nice distraction free environment for studying which may be routed in work set at college as part of regular studying where the Caregiver supports  through set work which ordinarily they may struggle to make good progress on.

For some it may be that a Caregiver may set some work similar to to that they did in school using study guides and workbooks in say everyday Math and English if they have a history of struggling with it to improve knowledge so boosting confidence. Also for some just having to spend a period focusing on one subject can help with building improved attentiveness finding structured activity of benefit.