I want to hold my hands up and say “I am a terrible blogger!”
John Lennon rightly said “life is what happens when you are busy making other plans” and, for me, that couldn’t be more true. It’s not like I haven’t been busy recently, quite the opposite actually, but I always struggle to determine what to make public and what to keep private within my life.
It’s not even like I’ve had a lack of accessibility challenges since last posting, I had a lovely to London for my birthday in November made awkward and tiring by a series of train-related accessibility issues.
Me and Mum went to see Hadestown for my Birthday which was a lovely treat alongside a visit to Sticks n Sushi and the usual helping of train chaos and broken lifts! We also stayed at the Nobu Hotel which was nice apart from the 4am wake up call when the resident ghost must have pulled out accessible toilets alarm cord!
Image description: a quick room selfie ahead of most of the chaos!
I am also currently going through a crazy situation where the renewal of my PIP award has taken 8 months and is predicted to take at least another six months. This wouldn’t be a problem in itself, but my blue badge is linked to my Blue Badge (accessible parking permit). So my blue badge runs out in January but because my PIP award hasn’t been extended beyond January, I am currently unable to renew my blue badge! This could potentially leave me without a blue badge for six weeks from January, which is pretty difficult to comprehend. I am not alone in this, this is affecting individuals up and down the country. Disabled people who have stable conditions from birth are still expected to fill out PIP forms every few years to prove that theirtheir congenital, non-changing lifelong disability hasn’t miraculously disappeared. Bonkers!
In much brighter news, I received my new all-terrain wheelchair just after my birthday in November. This is a Four XDL powerchair made by Moventuras in Finland and distributed by Mybility in the UK. I have managed to do a few outings with ‘Basil’ I can honestly say that he has given me a whole new level of freedom and independence, particularly as the muddy and wet weather comes in.
Image description: A visit to one of my favourite places on Earth, Symonds Yat (Yat Rock) using Basil to reach places previously unexplored.
I was very lucky to receive partial funding from the Genie’s Wish Foundation and I self-funded the rest. Basil isn’t entirely new and has been made from a refurbished frame. A huge thank you goes out to Chris from Mybility who put Basil together for me, even designing a custom build joystick arm and a phone holder to accommodate my tiny range of motion. I’m still mastering driving him as it is a skill in itself, however, I’m enjoying every moment of learning and exploring.
Work has been very busy recently as we rapidly run out of year, I am not one to leave anything unfinished so wish to get as much done as possible - come hell or high water - as indeed my home town has experienced considerable flooding.
Anyway just a quick update about a great lot of nothing but at least it’s something eh? I’m looking forward to a few Christmassy outings and theatre trips over the coming weeks, providing I am not stranded on an island!
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