I never thought this would happen.

Frank the tank

Don't laugh, I said don't laugh, but I was reduced to tears the other night watching of all things DIY SOS the big build!

It was about a single parent who lived in a dilapidated old prefab house which was barely fit for human habitation. Her son is autistic and she had had a tough time trying to get the sort of support he's entitled to whilst trying to keep it all together on the home front.

Anyway Nick Knowles and the team come in and (more or less) totally re-build the house in nine days. The thing that resonated with me was, my eldest is autistic and I could really relate to the struggle the young woman has on her hands, The slayer was the reaction of her boy when he entered the re-vamped house, so many of his mannerisms and bodily actions just so reminded me of my own son. It took me right back I couldn't help but cry.

Ben6899

You know, they do some really good stuff for very deserving families on that show. I don't particularly make a point of watching it, but when I have seen it I have thought: "Wow. What a positive impact on their lives. Nice."

Nice post, Frank.

Yossie

The bird that does the interior decor is a bit fit as well.

Anyone got any pictuires of her knockers?

derbygrimpeur

Frank/Ben > You should try watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Think DIY SOS but big budget American style. Very impressive stuff.

lifeform

The American version, with Ty Pennington (IIRC) is vastly more impressive - mainly because in the US it appears you can demolish and rebuild your pre-fab house more or less at will.

Same format - pack off unsuspecting family on holiday and get to work. Except, being the US, they go completely overboard. Completely flatten the house, rebuild it, fill it full of the latest/greatest things, and get local businesses to sponsor things like new cars and so on.

The life stories of the people involved are unbelievable too.

He's recently started a UK version called Homes for Heroes UK - same format, but done for injured British servicemen/women.

If I can tear myself away from the oddly compelling American Pickers, I'll sometimes watch a bit of it.

Redhog14

Yossie wrote:

The bird that does the interior decor is a bit fit as well.

Anyone got any pictuires of her knockers?

a great suggestion on a very deserving post..

Seriously, yes I don't generally watch these kind of shows but that is one that is at least worth it.

jim453

Don't worry guys.

Not long till 'Noels Christmas presents'.

Nick Knowles????

Actually we might be able to catch the end of Pebble Mill if we log off here now.

Kenney9226

lifeform wrote:

... Except, being the US, they go completely overboard. Completely flatten the house, rebuild it, fill it full of the latest/greatest things, and get local businesses to sponsor things like new cars and so on.

The life stories of the people involved are unbelievable too.

He's recently started a UK version called Homes for Heroes UK - same format, but done for injured British servicemen/women.

If I can tear myself away from the oddly compelling American Pickers, I'll sometimes watch a bit of it.

As an American, please let it be known that that show has ruined a few "lucky peoples" lives, as they sometimes can't keep up with the new mortgage and/or utility payments and get foreclosed upon. A few families have sold the houses for profits. A couple families turned out to have lied on their "heartwarming stories," and one couple kicked out their 5 foster children soon after the dream house was built!

As a result, Ty and his friends are trying to better research the families, and are making less extreme makeovers to reduce these embarrassing reports.

Apparently the guy from American Pickers was/is a cyclist. Please see this link to the American but woefully inferior version of bikeradar (http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured- ... old-school)

Apologies for hijacking the thread. As you know, that's how we roll over here...

random man

Frank the tank wrote:

Don't laugh, I said don't laugh, but I was reduced to tears the other night watching of all things DIY SOS the big build!

It was about a single parent who lived in a dilapidated old prefab house which was barely fit for human habitation. Her son is autistic and she had had a tough time trying to get the sort of support he's entitled to whilst trying to keep it all together on the home front.

Anyway Nick Knowles and the team come in and (more or less) totally re-build the house in nine days. The thing that resonated with me was, my eldest is autistic and I could really relate to the struggle the young woman has on her hands, The slayer was the reaction of her boy when he entered the re-vamped house, so many of his mannerisms and bodily actions just so reminded me of my own son. It took me right back I couldn't help but cry.

I was thinking of your Frankie when I was watching it, and yes, I had a tear in my eye too

lifeform

Kenney9226 wrote:

lifeform wrote:

... Except, being the US, they go completely overboard. Completely flatten the house, rebuild it, fill it full of the latest/greatest things, and get local businesses to sponsor things like new cars and so on.

The life stories of the people involved are unbelievable too.

He's recently started a UK version called Homes for Heroes UK - same format, but done for injured British servicemen/women.

If I can tear myself away from the oddly compelling American Pickers, I'll sometimes watch a bit of it.

As an American, please let it be known that that show has ruined a few "lucky peoples" lives, as they sometimes can't keep up with the new mortgage and/or utility payments and get foreclosed upon. A few families have sold the houses for profits. A couple families turned out to have lied on their "heartwarming stories," and one couple kicked out their 5 foster children soon after the dream house was built!

As a result, Ty and his friends are trying to better research the families, and are making less extreme makeovers to reduce these embarrassing reports.

Apparently the guy from American Pickers was/is a cyclist. Please see this link to the American but woefully inferior version of bikeradar (http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured- ... old-school)

Apologies for hijacking the thread. As you know, that's how we roll over here...

Yeah, I'd figured that - and, well, it is television. There was a rash of poor publicity from other make-over programmes that used to air in the UK. Poor workmanship falling apart/down/over, and more than a couple of the families had to resort to the courts to recoup the cost of putting all the cowboy workmanship right.

A friend of my Sister-in-Law appeared one of those silly weight-loss programmes hosted by a certain renowned Scottish nutrio-fraud. Not that she was the biggest hippo in the river, but nonetheless they accepted her. The 'before' weekly diet they laid out included numerous Maccy Ds - even though she can't stomach the stuff, and about 20 litres of Coke which again she doesn't drink. Two days before the weigh-in, they made her take laxatives to get her weight down for the scales. Utter nonsense.

I do like American Pickers though.

Yossie

lifeform wrote:

Kenney9226 wrote:

lifeform wrote:

... Except, being the US, they go completely overboard. Completely flatten the house, rebuild it, fill it full of the latest/greatest things, and get local businesses to sponsor things like new cars and so on.

The life stories of the people involved are unbelievable too.

He's recently started a UK version called Homes for Heroes UK - same format, but done for injured British servicemen/women.

If I can tear myself away from the oddly compelling American Pickers, I'll sometimes watch a bit of it.

As an American, please let it be known that that show has ruined a few "lucky peoples" lives, as they sometimes can't keep up with the new mortgage and/or utility payments and get foreclosed upon. A few families have sold the houses for profits. A couple families turned out to have lied on their "heartwarming stories," and one couple kicked out their 5 foster children soon after the dream house was built!

As a result, Ty and his friends are trying to better research the families, and are making less extreme makeovers to reduce these embarrassing reports.

Apparently the guy from American Pickers was/is a cyclist. Please see this link to the American but woefully inferior version of bikeradar (http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured- ... old-school)

Apologies for hijacking the thread. As you know, that's how we roll over here...

Yeah, I'd figured that - and, well, it is television. There was a rash of poor publicity from other make-over programmes that used to air in the UK. Poor workmanship falling apart/down/over, and more than a couple of the families had to resort to the courts to recoup the cost of putting all the cowboy workmanship right.

A friend of my Sister-in-Law appeared one of those silly weight-loss programmes hosted by a certain renowned Scottish nutrio-fraud. Not that she was the biggest hippo in the river, but nonetheless they accepted her. The 'before' weekly diet they laid out included numerous Maccy Ds - even though she can't stomach the stuff, and about 20 litres of Coke which again she doesn't drink. Two days before the weigh-in, they made her take laxatives to get her weight down for the scales. Utter nonsense.

I do like American Pickers though.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yada, yada, yada (to quote Jerry and the lucious, wonderful, kind and gentle Elaine)

Whatever .....

Anyone got any pictures of that burd's knockers?

random man

There's plenty of cleavage and bouncing about on here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHZ7Ee-vhJU

batch78

@Frank, I feel it, nobodys laughing at tears for that episode. Hope all's well with you.

Frank the tank

batch78 wrote:

@Frank, I feel it, nobodys laughing at tears for that episode. Hope all's well with you.

Everything is fine mate, thanks, My son is now 25 and is making his way very well in the world, all things considered.

It was just seeing the reaction of the youngster in the programme and his mannerisms, it just reminded me so much of my son. The don't laugh bit was that on the the face of it, to someone who's never lived with autism my tears would have appeared to be a strange reaction. The clapping and flapping of the boy would have been viewed possibly as strange or just not really noticed.

As for why I posted about my reaction on here, I don't really know, just felt it was one of those things I felt like sharing with my "cyber friends".

I suppose it may also redress the balance in the eyes of those who sometimes feel roadies are unfeeling and selfish.

cornerblock

Frank the tank wrote:

batch78 wrote:

@Frank, I feel it, nobodys laughing at tears for that episode. Hope all's well with you.

Everything is fine mate, thanks, My son is now 25 and is making his way very well in the world, all things considered.

It was just seeing the reaction of the youngster in the programme and his mannerisms, it just reminded me so much of my son. The don't laugh bit was that on the the face of it, to someone who's never lived with autism my tears would have appeared to be a strange reaction. The clapping and flapping of the boy would have been viewed possibly as strange or just not really noticed.

As for why I posted about my reaction on here, I don't really know, just felt it was one of those things I felt like sharing with my "cyber friends".

I suppose it may also redress the balance in the eyes of those who sometimes feel roadies are unfeeling and selfish.

I shed a tear too watching that episode, the reaction of the boy was such a beautiful and joyous moment, especially the bit at the end when both him and his Mum thanked all the people who had transformed their home from a bad fridge to a lovely house. Nice post Frank.

Ben6899

Frank the tank wrote:

I suppose it may also redress the balance in the eyes of those who sometimes feel roadies are unfeeling and selfish.

We're just human beings, Frank. Fragile.

Nice thread.

andrewjoseph

I don't know you Frank, but I can empathise. My daughter was born profoundly deaf, life can be more than a struggle when coping with a disability.

markos1963

I enjoyed watching the programe as well, both the ups and the downs. Can't help feeling though that instead of wasting taxpayers money on pointless wars and such it would be better spent on stopping deserving people having to live in knackered 60yo pre fabs.
There you go the old socialist in me rising to the surface.

Frank the tank

andrewjoseph wrote:

I don't know you Frank, but I can empathise. My daughter was born profoundly deaf, life can be more than a struggle when coping with a disability.

Take it from me, as a loving, caring parent all the effort you put in will be returned tenfold and the joy that brings is immeasureable. When there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel stick at it and never stop. All the best.

Dalton

I also watched the program the OP mentioned and shed a tear! Glad I am not the only one.

Really like watching programs like this, where the local community pulls together to help a deserving cause. Was particularly poignant in this program when one of the 'helpers' was discussing his motivation being his autistic son.

Good Stuff!

graham.

Just watched it on "catch up telly" . My resonse seems to be the same as everyone else here. Great episode.
I did think early in the programme " He's going to get a visit from the council", asking about his collection of roadworks signs and trafic cones!
Graham.

andrewjoseph

Frank the tank wrote:

andrewjoseph wrote:

I don't know you Frank, but I can empathise. My daughter was born profoundly deaf, life can be more than a struggle when coping with a disability.

Take it from me, as a loving, caring parent all the effort you put in will be returned tenfold and the joy that brings is immeasureable. When there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel stick at it and never stop. All the best.

Thanks Frank,

though I should have said that my daughter is 30, happily married and holding down a steady job.

Still causes me headaches though!