Spaw ... your Tristan sounds like many of the children I taught during my 28 years of Special Needs Teaching. They brought a special kind of joy to each new day and simplified the complications of life in such a way that you started to look at life a new way as well.

Of course, there were situations that made no sense to anyone else except the child but even that was refreshing in its own way.

Like the boy who, in order to buy a new cage for his budgie, actually sold the bird.

Another, in an arm wrestling competion with a friend, looked him straight in the eye and asked which way he was going.

Looking after children like this is not always easy but unbelievably rewarding. You and Karen have my admiration, although I believe that a sense of humour such as yours is an essential requisite.

Please keep posting your updates and let us know how the family are progressing.