Loose change…

It’s not just large scale problems I like to have a good moan about. Coins are quite small in size and for that reason alone, give me the biggest headache. Not literally of course but they’re just a pain I could easily live without. When I pay with a note, I hate getting coins back and fiddling about with my wallet to put them away. It’s better at a restaurant or the like because I tell them to keep the change (I’m generous like that) but I wouldn’t do that in a shop eventhough it would be easier sometimes. For example, the 1p you get back from a CD (I still buy them) that costs £9.99 is just pointless and annoying.

You’re probably wondering why I don’t just use a debit card to avoid coins. Most of the time I do but that form of payment has its difficulties too. It depends on the position of the PIN machine because if it is fixed to the till, it can be very awkward for me to reach and enter my number. Also, depending on how tired I am, my hand can become unsteady and more likely to press the wrong key. I could ask a friend to put my PIN in but that sort of defeats the object of chip & PIN being about privacy. I want to be independent with many things and I could be if all shops had machines that aren’t attached to the desk.

A couple of months ago, I told HSBC that entering my PIN can be difficult at times and they told me about the contactless card which would mean I simply had to put the card near machines to pay. The perfect invention for me but there are two problems. Only a sprinkling of companies (namely McDonald’s) have the facilities to accept contactless cards for one. Secondly, it can only be used for small purchases under £20.  I ordered one to see if it would be easier and although I’ve only used it once (forgot to look out for the signs), the card does make life simpler. The definition of pay and go. It’s like an Oyster card (I realise only people who have been to London will understand that reference).

Bye for now!

Online dating…

As you all may remember, back in February (not long after Valentine’s Day) I decided to try my hand at finding love online. I hadn’t been lucky in real life so anything was worth a try. I signed up to Match.com for a 6-month subscription but reflecting back on it, I should’ve just thrown my money straight down the drain. After a week, I knew it was a waste of time because of the countless messages I’d sent with no replies. However, I kept convincing myself to remain patient and my match would appear soon. It didn’t. Half a year has passed, I’m still single and I haven’t renewed my membership.

The whole online dating experience wasn’t completely regrettable. It did result in my first ever date which felt like a personal milestone for me. Now, I won’t go into details in case she reads this post but it’s safe to say that she wasn’t the one. Nothing may have come of it but I’m glad I met up with her because it gave me a confidence boost and means I’m prepared for more dates in the future. I’ll just have to go back to the drawing board when it comes to finding single girls.

People have told me about a recent Panorama documentary explaining how the companies who run these dating websites set up fake profiles and the like to make the user seem popular. I just thought I’d say that since cancelling my subscription last week, I’ve had loads of ‘interest’. So, I’ve gone from getting no messages to being inundated with women. Either it’s a ploy to get me signed up again or ‘Wheelchair Boy’ has suddenly become hot in the past week.  I wish it was the latter reason but we all know the first one is more likely.

Once again, here is a post with predictions for the Premier League matches that take place this weekend: http://fansviewpoint.com/premierpredictions3/

Bye for now!

Telephonophobia…

Literally translates into ‘fear of telephone’, which is pretty obvious just by breaking down the word. Anyway, it is something that I suffer from. It’s so bad that although I’m always crying on about how I’m an adult and should have independence, I always ask other people to make phone calls on my behalf. For example, this morning I got my sister to ring Alton Towers and book some tickets (I’m going in two weeks). I’ve been meaning to call for days but I’ve been putting it off because of being scared. Ridiculous I know.

So, what am I afraid of? Well, I’ve said before that confidence is sometimes an issue in my life. However, I’m getting better with that in face-to-face conversation. The problem I have when using a phone is the fact that we cannot see each other. Most people (who have common sense) will hear my slurred speech, see that I’m in a wheelchair and realise I’m disabled. My concern is that the person at the end of the line will think I’m drunk or doing a prank call. It may sound silly but my voice sounds odd if you’re not aware that I have a condition.

This is quite embarrassing but I get butterflies the night before I have to call someone, even if it’s a simply to book an appointment (I realise I’ve said this before but that’s how much it affects me). Even when my mobile rings, I panic and get nervous (unless it’s a good friend or family member). That’s why I prefer to text/speak on the computer. It may seem unsociable but I think you get the real me and not Mr. Shy guy. I joined online dating because being a bundle of nerves when approaching a girl is not a good look and getting acquainted first might help to avoid an awkward first meet but 6 months later, that plan didn’t work.

Right, I’m off to make a few phone calls. First up is Arsène Wenger. I’m going to tell him to (pardon my French) passer un peu FUCKING de fric. Oops…

Bye for now!

Steve Evans…

Tonight’s blog will be brief because my cousin and her family were visiting (she wanted a mention) so I’ve been busy being sociable. Normally, I lock myself away in my room when people come around the house but I thought I’d practice the ancient art of conversation that I am so desperate to master. As a result, I haven’t had time to write a profound post. I’m also exhausted so I don’t want to stay up writing all night, especially as my first Arsenal away day is a trip down to Craven Cottage (Fulham) tomorrow lunchtime.

I’d like to hand over to Steve Evans, an inspirational man who I have mentioned before in this blog. Being in a wheelchair isn’t great but at least I have a clear future. In that way, I’m very lucky I only have Friedreich’s Ataxia (well, at the moment anyway). If you do have a spare 40 minutes, I urge all my readers to view this touching talk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Fyui8TAS8). Some parts are funny and some parts are heart wrenching but the crucial fact is that it’s an incredible true-life story more people should discover.

Hopefully, it will make people realise that no one is invincible (apart from the 2003/04 Arsenal team) and a depressing fact of life is that any body could be struck down with illness at any time. In the modern age, where money seemingly makes the word go round, there are some who forget to cherish what they have and forget that it won’t last forever. What angers me the most though is seeing ‘Celebrities’ such as Charlotte from Geordie Shore (sorry for picking on the girl) enter the Big Brother house. Steve is not famous at all compared to the reality star who has done nothing significant in her life yet is well known apparently. Surely, this legend from Wolverhampton has done more (such as battling cancer) to warrant being a celebrity figure.

That post was a little longer than expected and even had a message about the current fame obsessed culture for you to ponder on. Make sure you click the link and watch the video (you must have a bit of spare time over this long Bank Holiday weekend).

Here is my second attempt at guessing the outcomes of Premier League fixtures: http://fansviewpoint.com/premier-predictions-2/ (let’s hope I do better than the measly score I accumulated last weekend).

Bye for now!

Keep on running…

Right, I’m back to the stage where I’m struggling to think of anything interesting to write about because lately, I haven’t been out much so nothing has really bothered me or been a huge problem. So, I thought I’d give a quick update on how my marathon training is going. All I can say is I’m glad I gave myself two years preparation time back in April (I plan to enter the 2015 London Marathon) because although I have got stronger over the past five months, it is a gradual process. Going from always using an electric wheelchair to pushing myself 26 miles will take time but it is possible.

My muscles are not gigantic by any means but the visible change in my upper body is noticeable if you compare me to the boy I was a few months. I certainly look like a man in that respect (although I haven’t got rid of the belly and man boobs yet). As well as bulking up, I feel a lot stronger and able to do more for myself. This has been particularly noticeable transferring into the car as I am able to support my body weight and move across with relative ease.

My schedule is basically going to the gym three or four times per week, which is more than enough at the moment. If you’re interested, I use the chest press, overhead press, lat pull, seated row and hand cycle. They’re enough to make me sweat and leave my body aching, which means the machines are having their desired affect. I will go more nearer the time but like I said, still a year and a half until I need to be ready. I still need to sort out a wheelchair but that’s a whole different story.

Going off the track slightly (an exercise related joke in case no one got it) but I’ve been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster this week thanks to Arsenal. From the humiliating defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday to the euphoria I felt last night when we played Fenerbache off the park and ran out 3-0 victors.  The contrasting results have left me perplexed to say the least but I have collected my thoughts and written a post about how I feel at the moment. Please click the link and read if you like football. If not, please share the blog with any fans that are interested in the beautiful game: http://fansviewpoint.com/tick-tock/

Bye for now!