Why do I end up being the person that tries to help everyone? I went to Gear Blast again this year and ran into Mitch. Now Mitch is a lovely guy, but at that point in his life where he does not know what the hell he is doing.

Unfortunately he lost his job as a result of being somewhat immature and not "playing the game". Again we have another kid here who does not realise he is on the spectrum (and sweat baby Jesus is he on the spectrum). As a result of this he decided to make a few duff decisions...

1. He decided to just take unpaid leave and go on a kink fest weekend - after being told this was not permitted and had been denied...
2. He was "encouraged" to the higher maths course as part of his HND, and subsequently failed because he did not get any support, but then also did not push for it...

Now to me he lost his job technically as a result of failing his HND therefore they terminated his employment as this was an apprenticeship but I suspect that point 1 had more to do with it!

So I had spent a few days prior on the phone to him and had said we would catch up at GB and talk through career options.... well that did not happen as he spent the entire time watching his new BF like a hawk. So I ended up being billy no mates, though did try and have conversations with people...

Then I ran into Alex - now go back about 10 years to when I lived in London and I met Alex through friends Pete and Mike Barnwell. Issue I had though is me and Alex did not get on well, as I recall he came to the Lake District event where I ended up splitting the group in two as they wanted to go swimming in the blue algae which had a heath warning on... so I decided instead to go buy a shirt and drink coffee - and took have the group with me! Anyhow.... Alex and me chatted for a bit and then he got super upset with himself.... now the gist of this.... (sit back....)

Alex loves Jay.... (I kinda knew this from years back, as Jay and Alex were spending a lot of time together at various events). Now Jay is with Chris, and I remember having a conversation with Jay a few years ago about not being a dick and not leading Alex on... and was re-assured he loved Chris to bits and Alex was just fun... I had learnt Alex and Rob had broken up, but I discovered this evening that they had broken up because Alex loves Jay, and decided as a result that he no longer wanted to be with Rob.... But Jay was firmly with Chris.... Needless to say... this was causing Alex a load of issues.... to the extent Alex broke down got a bit upset. Turns out he was in the same hotel as me on the same corridor. I took him back to the hotel and asked him if he was ok... he wasn't.... he stayed with me... I spent the night cuddling the poor kid as he was shaking he was so upset.

I ended up spending most of the weekend with him, keeping my eye on him. I don't know why I care so much but I can't see people getting hurt. I was pissed off with Jay as he had clearly caused this. The rules about no attachments are there for a reason, to stop this shit from happening.

I suggested Alex speak with Dr Nick.. and even offered to pay for a session for him... he is not into seeing shrinks but it does help... lets be blunt without support of my family and a good shrink I would probably have chucked myself in front of a train before now.

Alex is not my problem and I have enough of my own, but I will keep an eye out and keep checking in on him...