When my nephew was born 16 years ago, I almost bought him a silver engraved pocket watch. It was going to say ‘To Joe, shine on you crazy diamond. Love uncle James.’ I didn’t know it then, but Joe is autistic. He can do the most basic of tasks like use a bus and wash himself. He can’t have an intelligent conversation or do much else to look after himself. I guess it was for the best I didn’t get him that watch, he wouldn’t have cared. The gesture would have been totally wasted on him.
