tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64149228124444443132024-03-08T21:16:03.620+00:00The Adventures of Wheelchair BoyLooking at the world from an acute angle...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.comBlogger399125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-27530186070948549942017-06-07T14:59:00.000+01:002017-06-07T14:59:05.718+01:00One final plea...
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear my beloved readers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Those of you who regularly visit my blog will know that I suffer from Friedreich’s
Ataxia. For anyone new,it is basically a genetic condition that attacks the nervous system and will continue
to get progressively worse until I die (the Tories want that to happen sooner
rather than later as it seems that I am a massive drain on the economy). I just wanted to drop by and remind you all that tomorrow is polling day. Peoples lives are at stake in this General Election so please go out and vote in a new Labour government with fresh, exciting ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I can tell
you that life in austerity Britain is not good for me. Benefit reductions,
being refused vital equipment due to budget restraints and wasting my life in
hospitals waiting for treatment are just a few examples of what I have had to
endure since 2010. It is not just disabled people who are hit; the cuts also affect
the NHS, Education, Transport, Public Services and Security. The Tories are not
finished there because if re-elected, they are planning on attacking old people
next with cuts to Pensions, a Dementia Tax and scrapping winter fuel payments.
No one is safe! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
contrary to popular belief (the media help to shape this view), there is an
alternative way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money does not have to
be prioritised over human lives. Society does not have to cater for the wealthy
and bend over backwards to satisfy the big corporations. There is now a clear
choice. We can continue in a country that does not care about 95% of the
population and is only interested in making their rich friends more money or we
can elect a Labour government who will invest in Britain and redistribute the
money so that it is not stuck with the top 5%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you
have a conscience and sense of morality, please do not vote in another
Conservative government (voting Lib Dems will do that just like it did in
2010). I, along with millions of others, cannot cope with 5 more years of
heartless cuts and being made to feel like a worthless piece of dirt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Please <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Vote Labour</u></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bye for now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSVVgZyUBs"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSVVgZyUBs</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-38286898261329574502017-06-01T18:08:00.002+01:002017-06-02T12:43:42.718+01:00Vote Labour and 'Wheelchair Boy' will return...I realise that people do not respond well to threats and that the headline might backfire as some would not vote Labour just so they do not have to read another boring, self-indulgent 'Wheelchair Boy' post so that partly was a joke. I will be returning to writing regardless of the election result but I probably will not have time to do so until at least after polling day on June 8th.<br />
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I also am aware that many people are completely turned off by politics and say whoever you vote for, nothing changes! Although I have always believed failing to vote means you cannot moan about pretty much anything in life (I still hold that opinion), those who are disillusioned had a point up until this General Election. The same posh, rich, out of touch robots with right wing ideologies have been running this country and the only noticeable distinction has been the colour of their ties; from Thatcher to Blair to May. Westminster has been working for the few for 38 years too long and the people need to take back control!<br />
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Jeremy Corbyn is very different to those who have gone before. He is the reason that I joined the Labour Party and have been very active in the lead up to this election. JC is the man who, upon being elected as Prime Minister, would place the power firmly back in ordinary people's hands... Don't believe me? Then please read the fully costed (unlike the Tories) Labour manifesto here<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/manifesto2017">http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/manifesto2017</a></span> which contains policies FOR THE MANY such as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Maintaining the Triple Lock on state pensions which means pensions will increase in line with wages and inflation.</li>
<li>Bringing back public ownership of the railways, Royal Mail and energy industries.</li>
<li>Introducing a National Living Wage of £10 an hour.</li>
<li>Providing FREE tuition fees for all those attending University.</li>
<li>Scrapping zero-hour contracts which is one of the ways workers rights would be bolstered. </li>
<li>Giving 30 hours a week of free childcare for all children aged between 2 and 4 so parents can go back to work without worrying about additional costs.</li>
<li>Creating a National Investment Bank so that money is spent on infrastructure in run down areas throughout the country. </li>
<li>Putting 10,000 extra police officers on our streets.</li>
<li>Increasing the Carers Allowance so that the most forgotten people in Britain are no longer disregarded.</li>
<li>Committing £6 Billion to the NHS so that 1 million people are taken off waiting lists and access to treatment will be guaranteed within 18 weeks. Additional to this access to A&E treatment will be guaranteed within 4 hours.</li>
</ul>
That is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pledges. The thing that most people will want to know is how are these promises paid for? The answer to that is clearly given in the Manifesto which is fully costed (unlike the Tories). At the moment, society favors the rich and corporate elites. A Labour government would overturn this by installing a fair and just taxation system which will share the wealth instead of it being kept with those at the top. <br />
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At the moment, Theresa May cuts the taxes for her wealthy friends who own large businesses and even turns a blind eye to corporations avoiding tax offshore. Jeremy Corbyn on the other hand has said that he will raise corporation tax to 26% instead of lowering it to 17% as the Tories want. He has also said that his government would clamp down on tax avoidance, using the example of an American coffee company (I refuse to give them advertisement) who will no longer be able to channel their profits through small countries such as Luxembourg and must pay tax on products sold in the UK.<br />
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I personally cannot see why people have an issue with taking some money off those who can afford it in order to pay for vital services such as the NHS, Education and Security. That is why I feel this is the most critical General Election ever . For once, there is a very clear choice that the British public have to make. You can either continue putting money and the interest of the most wealthy above lives or you can choose a brighter future where people are put first and no-one is left behind.<br />
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On June 8th, I beg you to stop these barbaric Tory cuts and save our country from 5 more years of misery and pain. The only way you can do this is by voting in a majority Labour government who cares FOR THE MANY, not the few.<br />
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Bye for now!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-86847411856904491272016-09-30T13:21:00.002+01:002016-09-30T13:21:19.829+01:00Wheelchair or scooter?<style>
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<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Apologies for not posting in months. I have been quite busy but truth be told, I have fallen out of love with writing and no longer enjoy it. Hopefully my passion will return soon but at the moment, I feel I need this extended break to try and refresh myself (otherwise I would just write a lot of rubbish). So I just thought I would check in and say that I am doing well in case anyone is concerned about the lack of posts. Also I wanted to share this post about wheelchairs and mobility scooters as I thought it might interest some of my readers:</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Do I need a wheelchair or a mobility scooter?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Are you ready to join the ranks
of the wheeled wanderers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Mobility difficulties, whether
temporary or permanent, will affect us all at some stage. Many people discover
that walking sticks aren’t enough, frames aren’t right and the best option is,
actually, to get a wheelchair or a scooter.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mobilitysmart.cc/wheelchairs-c-42/power-chairs-c-44.html"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Electric wheelchairs are a popular choice</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">. Manual wheelchairs aren’t always as useful or convenient, though as a
benefit they at least don’t need to be regularly charged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternatively, you might think about getting
a mobility scooter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">But is one better than another?
Which do you need and why? Here are things to consider when you’re comparing
and deciding which to buy?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">How well do your arms work?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Mobility scooters work in a
similar way to bikes. You’ll need to have strength to turn the handle, in order
to go around a corner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Electric wheelchairs often have
their controls within easy reach, usually with a joystick or buttons for
direction adjustment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">If you lack arm or hand strength,
electric wheelchairs are going to be the most suitable for you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">If you struggle to walk but have
full upper body strength then a mobility scooter may be more suitable.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">How much space do you have in your car?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">An electric wheelchair will fold
down to a very convenient size. This makes it easy to transport in the back of
most family cars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">It is possible to get a </span><a href="http://www.mobilitysmart.cc/mobility-scooters-c-54/mini-mobility-scooters.html"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">folding mobility scooter</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">, but do bear in
mind that most scooters don’t fold down. They’ll be a lot more difficult to
take on your annual family camping trip.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">How far do you want to travel?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Electric wheelchairs can handle
some rough terrain, but they aren’t particularly quick. They’re also only
suitable for indoor use and pavements – you cannot take your wheelchair on the
road!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">If you’re planning to travel long
distances, and might need to go on the road, then you can find road-legal
mobility scooters that you can use as you travel through your town.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">How much do you need to customise your sitting position?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">If your legs tend to ache when
they’re kept in one place, then a mobility scooter may not be suitable. On a
scooter, your legs will always need to be flat against the floor of the
scooter’s body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">On electric wheelchairs there are
footrests that can be easily adjusted. You can put the footrests in the
position that is most comfortable for you, then easily change that position
when you need to.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Where will you use your mobility aid?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Electric wheelchairs may not be
the fastest, but they’re incredibly good at tight corners. The handling is
smooth on most wheelchairs, meaning that you can easily turn around in small
spaces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Mobility scooters, on the other
hand, are often big and bulky. They reverse at a slow pace and need to be
turned much like a car, rather than spinning almost on the spot. Mobility
scooters can have a wide turning circle, which may cause difficulty if you plan
to use yours indoors or for supermarket shopping.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Which is right for you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Answering the questions above
will help you to build a better picture of the type of mobility aid that you’ll
need. For short-term outdoor use, or travel on the roads, you’ll want a
mobility scooter. If you’re more dependent on your mobility aid, indoors and
outdoors, then an electric wheelchair may be the better choice.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mobilitysmart.cc/l"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;">Mobility Smart</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 107%;"> is an online
retailer stocking a wide variety of mobility aids, and other products. Electric
wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and a varied selection of mobility scooters can
be ordered online through their website.</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-69384830045874589812016-06-20T00:00:00.000+01:002016-06-20T09:54:06.390+01:00Stay connected...So remember back in April when I gave a brief summary of both sides of the EU referendum to try and explain what people who were undecided had to choose between on the 23rd June. I mentioned how I did not think this blog was the right place to air my views on the contentious subject and try to persuade my loyal readers to vote the same way as me. However I have changed my mind because I do not want the people of this great country to mis-place patriotism and do something they will probably regret in the future (I say probably because to be honest no one definitively knows what it will mean if we leave but it is highly unlikely it will be good news).<br />
<br />
Yes, we are Great Britain and coped before we joined the EU (in 1973) but times have changed. No longer can a small island (please look at a map) such as ourselves prosper from going it alone. We cannot take back our colonies and reform the British empire as slogans such as 'We want OUR country back!' suggest. Thankfully, the world has moved on. Globalization now means although countries have not moved nearer to each other, they are a lot closer and better connected with the advent of the internet and air travel being the two main reasons why planet earth seems smaller.<br />
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Therefore it would be foolish and naive to turn your back on what is essentially a large network of friends/allies. It would most likely have a detrimental effect on the economy because we would lose trade links (or have to pay greater tariffs on imports) and also have a negative impact on international relations because if the UK votes to leave, we would basically be sticking two fingers up to the rest of Europe. Not a good idea in my opinion because we live in a world where terrorism is a daily threat so we all need to stand together as one and do as Jo Cox's husband said following her murder; "unite to fight against the
hatred that killed her."<br />
<br />
I have to admit that although I was always going to vote remain because I believe if it is not broken, there is no need to change (it definitely needs improving but I do not think it is completely busted) I was not passionate and did not really mind if people voted the other way. However, I have recently thought what about the referendum in a new light. Speaking as someone who suffers from a rare disease and reads up regularly to see if there is any promising research, I have realised that staying in the EU is better from a scientific research point of view because having multiple brains from around Europe looking into conditions is better than just having research done in Britain. I am not saying that British scientists can not find cures for illnesses (I am not just talking about Friedreich's Ataxia) but isolating them is going to make it far more difficult and also will cost more because at the moment they can use pool funding from across Europe in order to pay for research. Additionally if a new drug is developed by a scientist in Europe, it will probably cost double or triple the price that other EU member states will pay.<br />
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Remaining is also better for creating and maintaining rights for various groups such as workers, women and the disabled. Since I published my post on <i>Uber, </i>a few of my family members have, as expected, had a go at me and have argued vehemently that <i>Uber </i>is not a good company at all because they are degrading workers rights and exploiting their drivers in order to make profit. This is probably right but these same London taxi drivers who are so concerned with workers rights are the ones (not all but most) who will vote to leave the EU on Thursday. The same EU who have introduced numerous laws to give workers rights and are still the last bastion who are preventing Tories such as Boris Johnson from ripping rights up and letting big business trample on the workers. As for what voting out would mean for disabled people, I urge you to read this article:<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/07/go-it-alone-britain-turn-clock-back-for-disabled-people">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/07/go-it-alone-britain-turn-clock-back-for-disabled-people<span id="goog_1104275894"></span><span id="goog_1104275895"></span></a>. Also please read this article about the relationship of women's rights and the EU: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/caroline-lucas/eu-referendum-international-womens-day_b_9399810.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/caroline-lucas/eu-referendum-international-womens-day_b_9399810.html</a> and then tell me that leaving Europe is not a massive step backwards.<br />
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Some of these next arguments to stay in the EU may seem trivial on the surface but they mean quite a lot unless you are planning on never going on holiday in Europe again. Firstly, there's the issue of freedom of movement. This does not just mean that immigrants are able to cross our borders, it also means that we can go on holiday or even simply pop over to France to buy some cheap alcohol without any issues. If we did leave, that would mean we would have to get visas every-time we wanted to travel overseas which is just a pain. Secondly, a Brexit would probably mean that the price of an average
flight would go up again because we would no longer be able to freely
move between countries so therefore certain ones might charge you an
extra tax to enter their airspace.<br />
<br />
Regular visitors to Europe who use mobile phones will be aware that the prices to use your handset in Europe are at an all time low and are set to fall again in the next few months. Again, if we were no longer in the EU we would not get these cheaper rates so I dread to think what our bills would look like when returning from holiday. Less important but still worth a mention is that the other day I heard that you will soon be able to use Netflix in the EU which could be quite handy if the weather is not as good as planned! Also the current exchange rate for the Euro is abysmal and it is no coincidence that it has been free-falling ever since a poll said more people wanted to leave than remain. It just leaves you wondering what the exchange rate will be like if we did actually leave.<br />
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The media mis-inform everyone on a daily basis when it comes to the EU (see the chart pictured below) so I thought I would do my own research and find statistics that are quite difficult to argue with. When I searched for 'how many EU migrants have entered the UK in the last years', I found quite a few results. The numbers varied greatly so I have gone for a figure that is slap bang in the middle. 333, 333 is not me taking a conservative estimate of the amount of EU migrants who entered Britain last year nor is it stretching the truth. The figure on its own along with posters such as the one below the next paragraph make a lot of people angry and I cannot blame anyone for feeling that way what with the media's hold over most of the public . However if you take the population of the United Kingdom (which is currently 65 Million) and do the maths, you will discover that only 0.52% of the population migrated over here last year. A laughable percentage when you consider that certain newspapers make out that millions upon millions are crossing the border.<br />
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I completely agree that the rate of immigration can not continue like this but I feel people should stop using immigrants as a scapegoat and instead focus your blame on the government. They are the People who are to blame for our housing shortage, they are the people to blame for problems in the NHS and they are the people who let big corporations avoid paying tax so that there is a shortage of money in the pot. They are also the ones who can put a cap on immigration so that it doesn't get out of hand (some would already argue that boat has sailed). All the rhetoric from Nigel Farage et al is synonomous of the way Jewish people were blamed for all the problems in Nazi Germany. I am just scared because more and more people are agreeing with a man who seems to be a watered down version of Adolf Hitler!<br />
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Contrary to popular belief, leaving the EU would not stop immigration, it would just push those migrants to go 'underground' and either illegally enter the country or overstay on visas. The obvious problem with this is then we would not be able to monitor the amount so then the government would have an excuse not to do anything about it. This referendum is not some magic wand that will stop migrants at Calais. If anything it is going to make the widely perceived problem even worse because immigrants would probably no longer come in through the usual routes. As I said earlier, no one really knows because obviously the UK have
never left the EU before but the odds of an exit working in our favor
are stacked against us and I am not willing to make a huge gamble with
the future of this country just so it will make it a little bit more
difficult for migrants to come over.<br />
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Now I am going to France today to watch a few Euro 2016 matches so I have already voted by post but most of you (well I hope so anyway) will be heading to your local Polling Station on Thursday to put that all-important cross on the ballot paper. All I hope is that the British public use their common sense and realise that our country is STRONGER IN the European Union. I do not want this to be the last time I can hop across the Channel without having to apply for a Visa.<br />
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Bye for now!<br />
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P.S. If Britain does come out of the European Union, I would like to be the first to suggest that we go the full hog in reclaiming our proud history and instead of deporting any foreigners (because that costs too much money) we should just keep them as our slaves! That way we will have our country back under our control and we would also get slavery back. So who is winning then rest of Europe?<br />
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DISCLAIMER: I was being 100% sarcastic with that last paragraph in case you had not realised.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-32185335909662360532016-06-08T15:56:00.001+01:002016-06-08T15:56:55.121+01:00What's the big deal?I went to see the highly controversial adaptation of the JoJo Moyes novel <i>Me Before You</i> last night and came away feeling quite confused as to why the film has received so much criticism. I get that euthanasia is a very thorny subject and brings out a lot of emotion but I personally thought both sides of the argument were presented well. I will not give any spoilers away but some of the people respect Will's (the leading man who happens to be a quadriplegic) decision and say that it is his choice. Whereas others believe it is plain wrong and selfish because of the hurt suicide leaves behind. I have mentioned before how I feel the government would happily kill off disabled people if they could avoid mass outrage but I strongly disagree that the message of this particular movie is if you are disabled, it is best to die as quickly as possible.<br />
<br />
I am not afraid to stand up (not literally obviously) and say that as a disabled person, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I connected with the character's so much and saw myself in Will (minus the good looks) that I even found myself welling up at one part. Yes, certain parts were unrealistic to say the least such as when it cuts to him in her house. Are we supposed to believe an electric wheelchair can fit through the front door of an old, terraced house? However, I can overlook those lapses in realism because I feel the film does what I set out to do on a regular basis. Show people that underneath it all, disabled people are normal (actually I would say we are funnier, smarter and more self-assured than most).<br />
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Seriously though, I think the fact that the main protagonist is disabled is not important. Although the whole euthanasia question comes up a fair bit, <i>Me Before You </i>is predominantly a love story and that is what I enjoyed. I was not thinking about how disabled people are portrayed in the media, because yes that is a massive issue that needs addressing but it goes much further than onne movie. Nor was I sat in the cinema pondering the pro's and con's of assisted suicide. I simply fell in love... with the feeling of falling in love. I know that sounds cringe and I am not saying that I have not fallen for people before but to have that emotion reciprocated just seems perfect.<br />
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So I would recommenced you go and see the film so that you can decide whether I am right or wrong. Like I said, <i>Me Before You </i>is a book but who has time to read anything nowadays (oh the irony)? Also, in the screen version, you get to see the<i> </i>captivating Emilia Clarke who is just beautiful and I could not take my eyes off.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-37544358613372056062016-05-19T15:18:00.000+01:002016-05-19T17:53:17.807+01:00Team Uber...As most of you will know, my dad (as well as his brothers) is a London taxi driver. In fact, most Shorey men of a certain age are. You could say that black cabs are in the blood! So I am certainly running the risk of getting disowned by my family if they read this post... <br />
<br />
Famously, taxi drivers across the world (not just in London) have been in uproar since the emergence of an online app, which allows people to type in the route they want and then locate a car in the local area who is able to do it; all via a smartphone. The company only started in America four years ago but global expansion has meant that you can download <i>Uber </i>everywhere now. I have always towed the family line and urged other people to only use black cabs but my view changed last week for two reasons.<br />
<br />
Firstly, <i>Uber </i>have recently launched their first ever Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)
option, which disabled people in London will be able to request at the push of a button! I have spoke numerous times on this very blog about the fact London black cabs are poorly designed and do not cater well for the needs of wheelchair bound passengers. They're failure to adapt and improve accessibility has forced me to switch allegiance. Taxis are so out of date and have not really changed since the advent of automobiles. It's obvious how I will be traveling next time I need quick, accessible travel across our nation's capital.<br />
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The second reason I changed my mind and became a snake is all to do with prices. I have heard many stories from people I know about how they have made trips that normally cost £15 but it only cost under £10 with <i>Uber</i>. On average, they are 30% cheaper than a black
cab and I think that is the winning argument right there. Let's face it, no one in their right mind is going to pick the more expensive option when you are basically getting the same product; a journey from A to B.<br />
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So if you have read this post and would like to join the <i>Uber </i>revolution with me, I have secured all my loyal readers a free first ride up to £15. Just download the app and sign up using the code 'GLEN12'. Details below:<br />
Bye for now! <img height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1463657408740_31505" src="https://us-mg42.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f21057%5fAIAJDNkAABOmVzS09wgSaBe%2f%2bNA&m=YaDownload&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=yahoomail" width="300" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-53359163746712933082016-04-18T18:09:00.000+01:002016-06-16T20:55:19.060+01:00EU referendum...I have spoke about voting numerous times on here before and have shared why I think it's important to exercise your right. One of the points I made is that you do not really have a leg to stand on (no pun intended) if you abstain from the democratic process then do not like the way Britain is being run. This particular argument is even more valid when discussing the European question because if you do not go to the polls on June 23rd, you cannot complain whatever the outcome is. I mean there is no excuse not to vote in this important referendum. I am even making sure I have my say even though I will be out of the country on the day (I have sent in the application form so that I can vote by post).<br />
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With regards to the 'hokey cokey' that is Britain's membership of the EU, it is all very confusing if you are not sure how to vote. All the articles I have read on the subject are heavily laced in bias. They appear to be balanced as they give both sides of the debate but are pushing the reader to take one argument as fact and the other as pure lunacy. I know what way I will be voting in June but I would like this post to help any undecided voters without me imposing my views on them. I will happily tell people my opinion and relish a good-old debate but I do not think this is the best place.<br />
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Basically, the question is going to be a wordy version of 'Should the UK stay in the EU?'. Those who want us to stay (Yes) mainly argue that Britain's trade links would be compromised as a result of cutting ties with Europe. Remaining would be better for our wallets. Whereas the main argument for leaving the EU is that immigration is out of control because of 'freedom of movement'. Leaving would put an end to this. There are of course other arguments and counter claims for both sides but they are the main two. Both points seem very different but both are very important in the British public's minds. Immigration or money: you decide!<br />
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While I am on the subject of voting, please remember to register either if you have not bothered to vote before or if you have changed address in the last year (just like I did when I moved into my flat). The deadline to register for the referendum is June 7th so there is still a month and a half left to submit your details. However, the deadline so that you can vote in the upcoming local elections being held on May 5th is today so if you believe you need to, I urge you to stop what your doing and click the link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote">https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote</a>. It only takes 5 minutes to register and by voting, you could stop the Tory dominance that is UK politics. No wonder 'Dodgy Dave' gets away with so much...<br />
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Bye for now <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-15907716772019812292016-04-06T14:25:00.000+01:002016-04-06T14:25:29.430+01:00Overrated...I am guessing you have all been eagerly awaiting my review of Barcelona following my short trip to Catalonia a few weeks ago? Not really. Hopefully you all have better things to be doing with your life than waiting for 'Wheelchair Boy' to pull his finger out and write a new post. I say that because if you have been sitting in anticipation to read my verdict of the grand old city, you will be bitterly disappointed to learn that I can sum up the place in two words. Not <i>historic </i>and <i>beautiful </i>as you might expect but instead that it is <i>nothing special</i>. That may sound harsh and people who have visited may strongly disagree with me but I was not overly impressed. I found Barcelona did not live up to the hype.<br />
<br />
As you all know, I did not visit for the culture as I only live under an hour from the greatest city I have ever been to; London. The main purpose of my visit was to see the mighty Arsenal play against FC UEFA in the largest professional football stadium in the world, outside of North Korea. Again though, just like everything else on the trip, the <i>Camp Nou </i>was a big let down. From the outside, it did not have the 'WOW' factor and is just a boring, grey lump of concrete. This is in stark contrast to the <i>Allianz Arena</i> in Munich; the ground looks like a giant red balloon and is visible for miles. Inside was not much better. Visiting wheelchair supporters were positioned at the very back of the lower tier with the home fans, but you could not always tell. It was no Dortmund that is for sure.<br />
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Those who follow football (even Tottenham fans because they are obsessed with how Arsenal get on) will know that we lost 3-1 out there so will probably accuse me of sour grapes but that simply is not true. Like I said, I really liked Bayern Munich's stadium even though we were thrashed 5-1 so it's not bitterness behind the fact that I feel Reading have a nicer ground than Barcelona. I expected us to lose, given that they arguably have the best player ever in Lionel Messi and, as always, have an extra player in the shape of the referee. However, we put up a strong fight until the end and I came away feeling quite positive about my team. <br />
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I realise this post has been quite downbeat on my mini-break but I have to admit it was not all bad. It took us ages to find but the Cathedral was pretty impressive; certainly more breathtaking than the <i>Camp Nou</i>. Also, the Wheelchair Accessible Van we hired was mostly positive. In fact, I must give a shout out to the owner of <i>Brec Auto</i>, Miquel, who was very helpful even though his English was fairly limited. I urge all my readers to please like his Facebook page as it will make his day: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/llogueradaptatbrecauto/?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/llogueradaptatbrecauto/?fref=ts\</a><br />
I recommend this company if you are looking to hire a WAV in Barcelona but only if you're shorter <br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-73623062161872637162016-03-11T13:14:00.002+00:002016-03-11T13:14:49.271+00:00Crash for cash...The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that in a <a href="http://theadventuresofwheelchairboy.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/theres-only-one-kia-venga.html">post</a> from October 2015, I mentioned that I was involved in a minor car crash a couple of months earlier. As soon as Motability heard about the accident, they grew deeply suspicious and suspected that I had been targeted for some sort of insurance scam. Now, I was never going to go into the nuts and bolts of what happened but a few things have made me want to share my story. Not least that I am very angry a) with myself for being royally mugged off and b) that these low-life criminals exist. I would like to get my grievances off my chest.<br />
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I shall begin by explaining exactly what took place on that Thursday afternoon in August. My carer and I were driving to a garage in Watford to look at a potential new car when the accident happened (quite ironic really when you think about it). For those familiar with the area, we had just left the M1 and were about to go on the dual carriage way heading towards the town centre when the collision took place. The car two in front seemed to suddenly change it's mind and dart off to the right, causing the driver in front of us to perform an emergency stop. You can imagine the rest...<br />
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Immediately after the accident, the car in front of us pulled to the side and put on it's hazard lights. Three men then proceeded to get out of the vehicle. My carer and I were obviously quite shook up from the crash and felt scared if honest. This next part was extremely naive of us as they could have been anyone (turns out they were crooks but luckily for us, not kidnappers). My carer got out of my car and went over to exchange details. She then returned drenched (it was pouring with rain by the way) and said they knew a car park nearby that we should follow them to so that we could safely speak away from traffic.<br />
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In hindsight, the fact that they knew about a small car park down the road is very suspect and suggests that they have staged other accidents in the area before. They cannot even claim they live local and are aware of the surroundings because the address they gave was Luton. There were other blatant giveaways that the whole thing was an insurance scam but we again only realised this later. For example when the driver discovered my Kia was a Motability car, he kept asking my carer if she was insured to drive the vehicle: obviously if she was not, it would have mucked up the scam.<br />
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The final clue that the crash was planned by these scammers came a few months after the accident. A letter (at least 50 pages long) was sent to me by a solicitor outlining everything that the other party claimed happened and that they were going to take me to court regarding the allegations. Obviously, they sent the document to my home address instead of my insurance company to try and intimidate me but it failed to have the desired effect. I was not scared of their blatant lies as history has taught me that the truth always prevails. Hopefully the CPS have seen through this transparent scam and have thrown the case out of court because I have not heard anything about it in months.<br />
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Please read this article if you would like to learn more on what to look for:<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/ztqt39q">http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/ztqt39q</a><br />
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Also, if you get a spare half hour then watch this: <br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06yjshw">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06yjshw</a><br />
There is a very similar story to mine. <br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-67551346571244323222016-02-17T19:56:00.000+00:002016-02-17T19:56:06.918+00:00Seeing the whole game...Back on December 3rd last year, I went to the Emirates Stadium for an event to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I decided to accept the invitation because I thought it would give me something interesting to write about but look how that turned out (it has took me over two months to post). One of the reasons I have not mentioned the day until now is because, quite frankly, it was all a bit Tottenham*. That is probably harsh of me because I am sure a lot of hard-work went into organizing the event but for the first hour or so, I thought to myself "why am I here wasting valuable blogging time?". I especially thought that when someone tried to play catch with me. Needless to say, my hand-eye co-ordination is awful so that was a disaster.<br />
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The day did improve though as Arsenal & England's Jordan Nobbs made an appearance (I should not have to say this in 2016 but she plays football at the top level and is better than quite a lot of men) which, being an Arsenal Ladies season ticket holder, I was particularly pleased with. There was then a <i>Kick It Out</i> workshop fronted by the first British Asian to captain a professional football team in England Anwar Uddin. Although I am not a Chelsea fan and do not need to be told that racism is wrong, I found the talk very interesting as Uddin's story was pretty unique. It is certainly more inspiring than any of this Jamie Vardy nonsense.<br />
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I have spoke before about how my sight (long distance) has deteriorated in recent years and that glasses do not seem to help the situation. It is not really an issue in day-to-day life but at football matches, the problem does become noticeable. Normally, in the first half, Arsenal shoot away from the North Bank where I sit and I struggle to see where the ball is. I only know if we have scored because of the crowd reaction. However, I had accepted that I would always miss about 50% of the matches and would have to keep getting my brother to talk me through the goals.<br />
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That was until the third session of the day run by Arsenal's Disability Liaison Officer Alun Francis and veteran broadcaster Clive Tyldesley who had managed to shake off Andy Townsend for the day. They spoke about audio description and how it is a very important service for supporters who cannot see as it means they can still enjoy the match. Although I am not fully blind, I still have a Visual Impairment that affects my enjoyment of the whole game. So, at the next home match, I was given a radio set and I have been using it ever since. It's a shame they do not have them at away grounds I visit although I think I would get annoyed by the bias. <br />
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*just to clarify for any of my readers who are not Arsenal fans that I have substituted a word that rhymes with 'hit' for 'Tottenham'.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-8984446019045981002016-02-10T16:25:00.002+00:002016-02-10T16:25:23.986+00:00Lift ettiquette... I went to see <i>Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled </i>being recorded last Thursday and came away feeling quite disappointed. Not because the show was bad or the guests were poor (it was my third time in the audience and I would definitely go again) It was completely the opposite actually. We were lucky enough to have the National Treasure that is Stephen Fry on our episode so he only added to the entertainment with interesting and witty anecdotes. Sandi Toksvig, Sara Pascoe and this is really awkward but I cannot remember the other comedians name were all very funny but no one can captivate and dominate a room quite like Stephen does.<br />
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Anyway, enough of the Fry love in. Back to my disappointment. It stems from the fact I quite like both Alan Davies and Sara Pascoe. Apart from being hilarious, they have always come across as decent well-mannered people. So, I felt slightly let down when they used the lift instead of unselfishly taking the stairs like most people do when there is a queue of disabled people waiting. It was almost as if their egos were telling them they were too important to walk upstairs. I am not saying able bodied people should never use elevators but it is only right that those who cannot walk are given priority.<br />
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They would probably say in their best Arséne Wenger impression "I did not see them" but I do not think that is acceptable. Fair enough, they might not have seen 'Wheelchair Boy' because the queue stretched out the door and I was at the back but the other people clearly had walking difficulties (indicated by sticks and frames). Yet Sara and Alan ignored this and got in the lift regardless. I just think no wonder there is so much ignorance and selfishness in the world if that is the example those in the public eye are setting... Also we were only in <i>The Hospital Club</i>, not <i>The Shard</i>!<br />
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It is commonly said that "You should never meet your heroes" because it will probably end in disappointment but I would like to change the phrase to "You should never see the lift protocol of your heroes".<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-34821867848346059032016-01-28T19:49:00.002+00:002016-01-28T19:49:48.172+00:00Planning ahead...My last post was about how 2016 could be a very exciting year for disabled people in general with the media (just <i>Channel 4 </i>at the moment) stepping up coverage. Since Monday, it has emerged that <i>LEGO </i>are launching a figurine of a 'Wheelchair Boy' (<a href="http://bricksfans.com/2016/01/27/lego-releases-first-disabled-minifigure/">http://bricksfans.com/2016/01/27/lego-releases-first-disabled-minifigure/</a>) which again is extremely positive news because young kids are the main target audience and, as I have mentioned before, the only way society can change is if children are taught from an early age that disabled people are just like them. All this talk of what a promising year it could be has reminded me that I have quite a busy one lined up... although after researching flights to Barcelona, I probably will not be able to tick everything off my list.<br />
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First up on my 2016 itinerary is a couple of nights in Barcelona. Unlike most intellectual beings, my main reason for visiting Catalonia is not to soak up the culture. Some of you have probably guessed why I am looking to go there and it's for the Arsenal of course. Why else would I go away for a few days in March? I would probably enjoy looking around the Gothic architecture and other tourist attractions but it is the Nou Camp that excites me the most. We have got a Cathedral in St. Albans but not Europe's largest football stadium. <br />
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Before any bitter Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United fans chirp up (by the way, they are not even in this prestigious tournament so it is just jealousy), I am 99% sure we will be sent home with our tails between our legs but the home of FC Barcelona is at the very top of my 'stadiums I want to visit before I die' list and I want to see first-hand what it is like. Also, anything is possible in football. Even if the inevitable does happen and we do lose, just like in Münich, I will not regret making the journey as it will no doubt be a once in a lifetime experience.<br />
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I was just looking through a list of the largest football stadia in Europe and as of writing, I have been to four of the top 10 (Signal Iduna Park, Allianz Arena, Old Trafford and Wembley). As I said earlier in the post, hopefully that number will rise to five in March. Then, all being well, I will be going to three other stadiums in France for the 2016 European Championships in the summer. I have had the tickets for almost a year but only discovered in December that the first match I will be attending in Paris is going to be the World Champions versus Northern Ireland. I was over the moon when I heard that draw because I desperately wanted a home nation and the fact it is against Germany makes the game an even more exciting prospect.<br />
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You are probably wondering why I have bought tickets for the Euros, especially when I have explicitly said that I do not enjoy International football as much compared to the club game. The truth is because France is not that far away and it is a better way to spend my life than sitting around, waiting for Arsenal to return. Also, ferries are cheap and we will definitely need the car during this trip. The other two matches are a few days later in Lille and Lens respectively (only twenty minutes between each other) so after watching the match in Paris, we can stay in the Capital for a couple of days before driving Northwest to the Lille area for the two remaining fixtures.The teams who will be playing are not clear as it depends on how the final group table looks.<br />
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Last on the list is a return to Cyprus for a family holiday (obviously it depends on how much I spend on the other two). We had such a brilliant vacation last year but hopefully my older brother and his girlfriend will be able to join us this time. I still want to go to California but I guess that will have wait for another year. I am not made of money and after those two football excursions, I will most definitely want a relaxing break; chilling by the pool and soaking up the sun. I envisage visiting the West Coast of the USA to be more of a sightseeing trip.<br />
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Bye for now!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-6680485070317431352016-01-25T21:40:00.000+00:002016-01-25T21:40:30.389+00:00Changing perceptions... 2016 could be the year!!!<br />
<br />I realise I sound like a desperate Tottenham Hotspur fan who thinks that this season their team can achieve the impossible and finish above Arsenal but I am actually talking about 'Wheelchair Boy' reaching a larger audience. Well, not me personally but the message of my blog will be. I have always maintained that the public will soon become less ignorant when it comes to disabled people if the media were to constantly put disability in the spotlight. It's a step in the right direction to have shows such as <i>The Last Leg </i>(I have spoke highly of the programme on here before; you probably think that I work for the PR team) but it's only on for about 4/5 months a year so it's not enough coverage in my book.<br />
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Thankfully though <i>Channel 4</i> have heard my 'call to arms' and have made a dedicated year of disability, which is a massive stride forward in the fight for equality and rights for disabled people. Read this article if you would like further information on their plans:<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/18/channel-4-year-of-disability-rio-paralympics?CMP=share_btn_tw"> http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/18/channel-4-year-of-disability-rio-paralympics?CMP=share_btn_tw </a><br />
The two announcements that excited me the most are that there is going to be a disabled character in <i>Hollyoaks</i> (not that I watch it but I would if they explored some of the real issues disabled people face in life) and someone with a disability is going to be on<i> Gogglebox</i> (hopefully the person will be hilarious yet modest like me).<br />
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<i>C4 </i>is all about innovation so I hope that focusing on disability becomes a trend and other broadcasters soon follow suit. Attitudes will only change if more disabled people are given access to enter the mainstream media bubble.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-10896239003383639552016-01-19T14:57:00.002+00:002016-01-19T14:57:34.316+00:00The call of nature...Toileting is not the most elegant subject to discuss but after all, it's only natural and even 'Wheelchair Boy' has to go. You probably are thinking "what happens in the WC, stays in the WC" and you would normally be right. I quite like my privacy. However, I cannot think of anything better to write about. Not just that but I know some of my readers are interested by the modifications I have in place to help me out in ordinary life situations. Hopefully you read this post and think "I did not know that!" Others will no doubt think "Did I really just waste five minutes of my life reading that?"<br />
<br />
Going for a wee is a simple act for able bodied people and requires little thought. However, it has always been that extra bit difficult for 'Wheelchair Boy'. There was no problem when I could stand because I would use the bars in the disabled toilet (they are not just there for decorative purposes) to get to my feet, my carer would lower my trousers and then I would be able to do the rest using a bottle. As you all know, because it is the reason I had to get the <i>Carony Classic </i>system fitted in my car. I cannot stand anymore unless I have the standing hoist to support me. This is OK for toileting at home but I would be stuffed whenever I am out and get caught short.<br />
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Luckily I was looking at my jeans one day when this standing malarkey was starting to become an issue and suddenly a light bulb went off in my brain. I thought of a way that I could still go in a bottle without standing. Cut a hole in the crotch and sew on Velcro strips so that it is easy to re-seal. Thanks to a family friend, most of my trousers are adapted but they just look normal. You can only notice they are different if you have a proper look (which would be weird; let us get to know each other first!) or if I point it out in a blog post...<br />
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I do not think any of you are that grossed out by what I have written up to this point so I am going to discuss the second call of nature. I have some decorum so I am not even going to mention the actual pooing (oops, I just did) but instead I would like to focus on the cleaning up after oneself. Obviously I cannot wipe after I have finished so when someone else has to, I feel so pathetic and useless. At home, I have a Clos-o-Mat wash and dry toilet so I can do it all myself at a touch of a button. I just wish they were more common in places I visit, particularly hotels.<br />
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Hopefully this post has been quite insightful and not just weird.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-68713542681979939272016-01-06T15:53:00.001+00:002016-01-06T15:56:38.319+00:00Fashion IZ Freedom...<span style="font-size: small;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw_-KnnNeMK2Dzuc7YNWD8sX0NhjJ8-2rc2RsP2XIu9mxXjbp0SF1wfEDeXlpDCTaZj4g25RsvBreWC11MOGsM-C9Hhbce3X2_kxyuAMVpn20O7UAAqEOWqsaM5E1hBPR2NyCDrVycSjF/s1600/DSC_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw_-KnnNeMK2Dzuc7YNWD8sX0NhjJ8-2rc2RsP2XIu9mxXjbp0SF1wfEDeXlpDCTaZj4g25RsvBreWC11MOGsM-C9Hhbce3X2_kxyuAMVpn20O7UAAqEOWqsaM5E1hBPR2NyCDrVycSjF/s320/DSC_0469.JPG" width="180" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason I appear stoned is because I am high...ON LIFE!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before you all start reciting Justin Bieber lyrics at me ("What do you mean?"), let me explain what the title of this blog is going on about and why I have decided to upload a picture of 'Wheelchair Boy' wearing a t-shirt with the statement on. Basically, a Canadian designer called <span style="color: black;">Izzy Camilleri has decided to launch a new campaign to raise funds and awareness
for accessibility called '</span><a href="http://izcollection.com/pages/access10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Access10</b></a><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74732" style="color: black;">'. As the </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74732" style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">founder
of <i>IZ</i>, a provider of sophisticated and functional clothing for people using
wheelchairs, she</span> will give 10% of total gross sales
towards building ramps in communities across North America. </span>One example is <a href="http://stopgap.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">StopGap</a>, a charity who organize teams to build
brightly coloured ramps.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">As for why I have took a 'seated selfie', it is because I really wanted to be part of this campaign. In previous posts, I have mentioned issues with accessibility at various places and that the only way for change to happen is to raise awareness. I hope that by wearing the </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">‘</span><a href="http://izcollection.com/pages/fashion-iz-freedom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Fashion IZ Freedom</b></a><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74858" style="color: black;">’
t-shirt, 'Wheelchair Boy' will be able to help spread the message of what, I think you will agree, is a great initiative</span>. It is really commendable that unlike most people in business, Camileri is giving back. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Buying clothes when you are in a </span>wheelchair is extremely difficult, especially when you are a bit on the chunky side. Whether it is trying to buy shirts that are big enough at the back but not too baggy everywhere else or jackets that are easy to put on and take off, normal high street retailers do not consider disabled customers when designing a new clothing line. <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74817" lang="EN-US">Dr. Alex Palmer, from the Royal Ontario Museum, agrees with my point; “For centuries and across the globe, fashion has
been designed to hang off a standing figure. IZ has revolutionized
this history by making fashions that are designed for sitting. This is a
truly innovative line that transforms lives and the history of pattern
making.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74817" lang="EN-US">Obviously, </span><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://izcollection.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">izcollection.com</a></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74832"> is not the first adaptive clothing website but what makes it stand out in my mind is that the designs are stylish. Normally, clothes specifically made for disabled people look like they have come from a wardrobe in a retirement home. At the grand old age of 22, I do not want to dress like a pensioner (no offence if you are over 65).</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74852"> According to Izzy Camileri,“IZ was created to give people with disabilities
access to beautiful fashion" and I think rightly so because being wheelchair bound does not mean you should not look your best.The e</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74847">ditor-in-Chief of Zoomer magazine, </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74847">Suzanne Boyd echoed my thoughts by admitting that</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0cm;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74847">“Fashion isn't the most inclusive world, but
everyone should have the ability to look and therefore feel their best.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74830" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0cm;">This final part may come as a shock but the woman behind the collection and subsequent campaign is not actually disabled (which makes the work she is doing to help disabled people even more impressive). Izzy Camilleri, </span>is one of Canada’s most celebrated fashion designers,<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74830" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0cm;"> and
has dressed A-list stars like Angelina Jolie, David Bowie, Jennifer
Lopez, and Meryl Streep. In 2004, a well-known journalist
and wheelchair user contacted Izzy and asked her to design functional clothing
that was also fashionable – something that certainly did not exist at the time. <i>IZ </i>started from there and now, 12 years on, she is still producing</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74837" style="color: black;"> style-savvy adaptable clothing created purposefully for a seated frame</span>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This has got me thinking. Who is up for 'Wheelchair Boy' tees? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452002753162_74832" style="font-size: small;">Bye for now! </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-82709133141862657942016-01-04T21:02:00.000+00:002016-01-04T21:02:12.397+00:00Slowly does it...I know I am a little bit late with the 'reflecting on the year that was 2015' post but it is OK as I am not looking back on the year that has passed. Although it was personally a very good one for me; moving into my flat was a particular highlight. Instead, I will be looking back between now and when I first started using a wheelchair part time (2004) to see if life is better in 2016 for disabled people.<br />
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Without question, there have been a lot of positive changes in recent history to improve the lives of disabled people including improved access to public transport and other daily activities that able-bodied people take for granted.<br />
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However, I decided to make the title of this blog post 'slowly does it' because any changes in the way disabled people are treated within society is gradual. I might go into one restaurant (via a ramp), take a lift upstairs to eat and use the disabled toilet before leaving. Then I might go into a shop next door (where my carer has to bump my wheelchair up a step), struggle to get around the tight layout just to be told that the men's section is upstairs and there's no lift. That is a true story and is just one example of how victory in the fight for equal access seems imminent yet is actually so far away.<br />
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The greatest challenge for the disabled is changing people's attitudes towards them. There has been a noticeable improvement over the past few years in my opinion. Whether that is because the media are beginning to use disabled talent (nowhere near enough but comedians like Alex Brooker are better than nothing) or young people are simply more educated and less ignorant as a result, I do not know. It just seems that there is now a 50/50 split between those who understand we are normal like them and those that see the disabled as scum of the earth whereas before, large swathes of society thought that way. <br />
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Last month, 14 people were killed in California following an attack on a disability centre (<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/california-shooting-what-know-thursday-6944525">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/california-shooting-what-know-thursday-6944525</a>). Massacres are not uncommon in America but this was the first one that seems targeted on a specific group of people. Perhaps it is just me being paranoid that the world is out to get disabled people or maybe it is a metaphor (quite a strong one) to symbolise the disabled shall never be equal as there will always be people out there who want society to be cleansed of these imperfections.<br />
<br />
On that somber and rather depressing note, I would like to wish a belated Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers. I plan to have a more productive 2016 when it comes to writing but how many times have I said that?<br />
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A: Just the once because it has never been 2016 before...<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-30488607516265134082015-12-09T16:52:00.000+00:002015-12-09T16:52:13.672+00:00Let off lightly...I was actually going to post about a different subject today but I received an e-mail this morning and now I have a few points I would like to get off my chest. The message was regarding the Arsenal tickets I was fraudulently sold back in September 2013. The case has gone on for a long while (over two years) but finally the court sentenced the despicable human being yesterday. In case you are new, I stupidly purchased three Swansea away tickets online from a complete stranger and convinced myself that the whole transaction was above board. I lost £120 but turns out there were at least 18 other victims so I dread to think how much was extorted from football fans in total.<br />
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The good news is that the court found the piece of scum guilty and 'punished' him for his wrong doings. However, although the man skipped court and a warrant for his arrest had to be issued, the judge was extremely lenient in his verdict because the defendant pleaded guilty. I think the fact he was only <span class="lozengfy hcard " data-action="contact-card-menu" data-address="goonerglen1@yahoo.co.uk" data-name="'glen shorey'" role="button" tabindex="0" title="goonerglen1@yahoo.co.uk"></span> <span class="loader" role="presentation"></span>given an 8 month custodial prison sentence (suspended for two
years) and ordered to work 120 hours unpaid work in the next 12
months sums up everything that is wrong with the UK justice system. </div>
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Sorry (not sorry) but when it comes it to punishment, this country is an absolute joke. I am not just talking about this case. Every day, absurdly soft sentences are being handed out by the courts. I will use the Becky Watts murder case (<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11993648/Becky-Watts-murderer-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-with-a-minimum-of-33-years.html)">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11993648/Becky-Watts-murderer-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-with-a-minimum-of-33-years.html)</a>) as an example. 33 years for horrifically murdering your step-sister? Does not seem enough to me. He will get out of prison when he is 51 so will probably have a fair bit of his life left (because normally it is good people who die prematurely). He should never enjoy freedom again and I feel should even be killed but the death penalty is a whole separate debate. All I am saying is no wonder young people do not fear authority or breaking the law. Existing 'punishments' are not good enough.</div>
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Every cloud has a silver lining though as I will be getting 50% of what he took back as the court ordered him to pay
back £1 for every £2 stolen within the next 12 months. I do not understand why the judge did not make it full compensation but I suppose £60 is better than nothing. I thought I would get nothing and had just wrote it off as one of my expensive learning curves. The message is clear though. Committing fraud and stealing is a crime but if you get caught, you can keep half of it IF you do the unthinkable and work in a charity shop (perish the thought).</div>
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Are you taking notes Michael Gove (Justice Secretary)?</div>
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Bye for now!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-12985923104912092362015-11-18T17:49:00.001+00:002015-11-18T17:49:41.962+00:00Thinking about death...It has been nearly a whole month since I last posted on here but I am not going to make excuses about how busy I have been of late with trips to Sheffield, Swansea and even Germany to watch the Arsenal. Instead, I am going to say that a few months ago (as some of my hardcore followers may have noticed) I made the decision to only write when I felt like it instead of forcing out a post for the sake of regularity. Sorry if that disappoints some of my loyal readers but it means that you can take more enjoyment on the odd occasions 'Wheelchair Boy' does choose to grace you with his presence.<br />
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So, the subject of my first blog post back following a brief hiatus is a bit taboo and of course upsetting to most people (except psychopaths which, believe it or not, IS NOT me). What I am about to say may come across as a bit harsh or close to the bone, especially after what happened in Paris last week, but it is true and I just wish everyone would accept reality.<br />
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The fact is that we are all going to die (#BreakingNews). 'Wheelchair Boy' could do a Stephen Hawking and live longer than what the experts predict but the probability is I won't make it past 40. Obviously I could pass away at any point in life, whether it is the Friedreich's Ataxia finally getting the better of me or something like a car crash being the cause. I just think so be it; there's nothing I, nor anyone for that matter, can do.<br />
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That's why I am not comfortable with the whole scaremongering by the British media following the attacks in Paris on Friday. Yes, acts of terrorism are horrific but they do not mean life should stop. I have tickets for the European Championships in France next year and it did cross my mind that I should perhaps return the tickets. Then I thought you simply cannot live life if you are scared of death. I know people who have died in accidents. Should I not go out just to be on the safe side? I also have read about people choking to death. Should I just avoid food and remove my tongue? Saying that, if I do not eat I will die so I am screwed either way. There is simply not a way anyone can avoid death.<br />
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I doubt I will be quoted in years to come but my philosophy is "embrace death before death embraces you". Death is a terrible thing and is unfortunately part of life so accept
that it is going to happen at some point because that way, you can live
without fear. It goes without saying people want to put it off for as long as possible but do not let it become the main focus in your life. My attitude is continuously questioned but I am willing to bet that at least one of those 126 victims in France was unbelievably health conscious; did not drink, did not smoke, always ate healthy food, exercised regularly yet still died which proves that death can strike anyone at anytime.<br />
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Worrying about death really is a waste of time.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-49011984002513337282015-10-19T16:55:00.000+01:002015-10-19T16:55:25.413+01:00There's only one Kia Venga...I do not want to wish anyone's life away but I find that time now flies by and before you know it, it will be 2016. Another year will have passed, another Xmas celebrated and another birthday reached. This one will be my 22nd which is just ridiculous but I guess that is how life works; every 12 months you add another tally to your name. Take how long I have been in this flat as an example of on one of them "Where has the time gone?" moments. I am approaching my one month anniversary already. That is insane but at the same time, it does feel like I have been living here for years. The reason I am saying this is because time has got the better of me this month and other commitments have meant this is the first post of October.<br />
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Anyway, the current lease of my car runs out next May so I have been looking at loads of different makes and models to see if there is one more suitable for my needs than the Venga. I wanted to get a vehicle with a larger boot (as I now need a travel hoist when we go away) and taller doors (so we do not have to recline the chair back to fit it in the car) but there were none available on the Motability scheme with a nil-advanced payment. I have just got a roof rack and will stick with the Kia unless any new cars are brought out in the remaining seven or so months. It has served me well over the past two and a half years; presenting no issues to me apart from the couple I have previously mentioned.<br />
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I have had some pleasant journeys in it such as the trips to Dortmund and Brussels. Let's hope Arsenal make it a perfect hat-trick of European away days for me when I visit Münich in a couple of weeks. I have also had some awful times in that car including long, depressing trips home from Liverpool and Manchester respectively. 4 hours in a car after a defeat is painful. The worst outing though happened back in August when I had my first road traffic accident. Luckily, it was not serious but it shook me up and was annoying; especially as it has emerged that the crash was probably staged by other people as part of an insurance scam.<br />
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Looks like Venga will be sticking around for the foreseeable future!<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-59043397284171919572015-09-28T15:09:00.001+01:002015-09-28T15:09:16.651+01:00Settling in my nest...I cannot believe I have only been in this flat for a week and a half because already it feels like home. I have surprised myself how quickly I have settled in. Almost like I have been living here for years. I admit it feels surreal to be away from my parents but I am enjoying being a grown up and my new found freedom. It is nice to do simple things such as go to bed when I want (at home, carers would put me to bed at 10). Not only was the move positive for me on a personal level but
it has helped to strengthen relationships with loved ones. Absence makes
the heart grow fonder and all that jazz. Of course I was extremely apprehensive two Thursday's ago when I spent the first night here but them fears have now completely gone and I am now relaxed in my new surroundings.<br />
<br />
My mum was (and still is) very anxious about me flying the nest but the thing is, I now talk to and spend quality time with my family more now I am out than I did when I was back at home. I have not just forgot my parents and visit quite regularly; not just to watch football or rugby matches, honestly. I have roast dinners as well. Seriously though, it's nice to see them properly because before I used to spend a lot of time in my room on the computer or PlayStation. At the same time, it's nice to retreat to my flat, which is calm and peaceful. Basically I have got the best of both worlds. <br />
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It felt like an eternity between the date I signed for the keys and when I was finally able to move in but it was certainly worth the wait in the end.<br />
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'Wheelchair Boy' is very happy in his new habitat!<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-91117379429287734772015-09-10T14:25:00.000+01:002015-09-10T14:25:57.443+01:00At last...Nearly 4 months after I was given the keys, I am over the moon to finally say I will be flying the nest and moving into my new flat next Thursday. You all should be aware by now (if not, may I suggest you read some older posts) of the arguments my family and I have had with the council regarding the lack of fencing around the property. After months of not listening to our points, they have thankfully come to their senses and have agreed to put fences up as they can see the potential security issues of having an exposed garden. Although their change of heart probably came about because they have had enough of 'Wheelchair Boy' and just wanted to put the situation to bed. Either way, I am more than happy.<br />
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This move will be a giant milestone for me as hopefully the flat will be my home for the foreseeable future but it all feels very surreal. Probably because I've waited for so long but now a date has been confirmed for my bed and hoist to be transported over, I can begin to get properly excited. One positive to come from the 'fence saga' was everything is done such as decorating, adaptations, furniture is in and all the white goods are ready. My current bedroom is looking kind of bare, which is making me even more desperate to move out and start a new chapter in the book they call life. However, it's only a week so not long to wait.<br />
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I realise that I probably sound too eager to get out of my parents house and I apologize if it appears I am being ungrateful. It's just I want to stand on my own two feet (ironic because I physically cannot). My mum and dad have done a marvelous job for 21 years but I would like to be as independent as possible for someone with Friedreich's Ataxia. I already have a team of carers so I am partly independent at the moment but having my own place will be the cherry on that 'freedom' (best to say that in a Scottish accent) cake. I will be able to do what I want (within law), whenever I please (apart from play music loudly after 10PM).<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-17363004306420896512015-09-03T16:30:00.001+01:002015-09-03T16:30:31.191+01:00Struggling with hotels…My regular readers will be aware that, during the football season (August-May), I travel over land and sea to follow the Arsenal. We normally drive there and back in one day but if it’s a long distance away, we have to book into a hotel for the night. The furthest ground from St. Albans in the <i>Premier League</i> is Newcastle but luckily we got that fixture out of the way last weekend. However for the first time, I realised I probably won’t be able to stay in hotels anymore.<br />
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In the past, I have managed to quickly stand and twist to get in bed but now I cannot even manage that. The message is not getting from my brain to my legs, which is incredibly frustrating. I just end up shouting at my legs ordering them to work like a crazy person (reminiscent of a certain scene from the ‘Warwick’ episode of <i>The Inbetweeners</i>). So it’s probably best if I avoid hotels from now on unless my OT can provide some sort of portable hoist.<br />
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While I am on the subject of hotels, I would like to wholeheartedly recommend the new <i>Premier Inn</i> on St. Peters Street if you are reading this and would like to visit the home City of ‘Wheelchair Boy’. I have not stayed in it but on Monday, I went on a ‘familiarization’ tour to check out the facilities for disabled guests on behalf of the St. Albans District Access Group (really, I just wanted to have a nose around).<br />
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I am pleased to say that it was easily the best Universal Access bedroom I have seen in a hotel. The room itself is huge, everything is at the correct level for wheelchair users and the bathroom is full to the brim with handrails (a very useful thing for those who can just about still transfer). Even the bed was height adjustable. There were only two things missing which would have made it perfect for me. A standing hoist and a clos-o-mat toilet but I doubt either them are going to become standard features in an accessible room any time soon.<br />
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My only suggestion is that <i>Premier Inn </i>adopt the same policy as <i>Holiday Inn</i>; they provide a carer's room free of charge. <br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-47716098435784713782015-08-26T17:09:00.002+01:002015-08-26T17:09:58.471+01:00Writing partner WANTED...I was going to simply put 'Partner WANTED...' but I realised that would suggest this post was about my (non-existent) love life when in actual fact it's about getting all my ideas down on paper. Basically, I have a bunch of cool ideas for potential TV shows but struggle to turn the initial thoughts into scripts. Take this comedy I have been working on intermittently for two years. I have all the plot lines mapped out in my head but when it comes to sitting down at the computer and opening the document, something comes over me. I thought it was just me being stupid but then I thought of great comedies I love such as <i>The Inbetweeners</i> and <i>Extras</i>; both had two writers and it makes perfect sense. You can bounce ideas off a co-writer and run things past them so that you don't end up going insane or with a script that no one else likes.<br />
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So if you fancy doing some writing with me, please get in touch. We could be the next Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. You'll need to wear glasses and be tall as I'm obviously the slightly chubby one in this analogy. But seriously, I am looking for someone with a similar writing style to me (surely I can't be that unique) otherwise we will want to take the script off in completely different directions. Like I said, I think my ideas are genius but I struggle to convert what is in my head into a decent screenplay. I've not just got this sitcom in mind, I also have thought about doing a few dramas. On my 'to do' list, I have a few potential programme names but I really do not think I will ever get around to ticking them off on my own.<br />
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I know this post has been like some weird lonely hearts advert where instead of looking for romance, I have put the feelers out for an intelligent person who is interested in writing and has a GSOH. However, I haven't really done much lately apart from the football because the weather has been horrible and I do not like going out in the courtesy car (as I mentioned in last week's post). Hopefully though, my Venga will be back tomorrow.<br />
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Please pass this post on to anyone who might be interested in winning a BAFTA ;)<br />
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Bye for now! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-82664554223584138062015-08-24T12:45:00.000+01:002015-08-24T12:51:14.839+01:00Platform lifts...The majority of people do not realise that nowadays putting in a lift is not difficult. Gone are the days where a shop could argue a building is too old for an elevator to be installed. I understood that companies used to not be able to install a standard lift in listed buildings because the law means that you cannot change the structure of those particular places.<br />
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However, platform lifts are readily available nowadays from sites such as <a href="https://www.tkencasa.co.uk/">https://www.tkencasa.co.uk/</a>. They are not complicated and can be fitted anywhere (even in a basement nightclub in Benedorm) so the argument that it will involve a lot of building work no longer stacks up. The <i>Jones Bootmaker</i> store in St. Albans is a great example to illustrate this very point. <i>Next</i> used to say the building is listed and a lift can’t be put in. Shortly after the premises changed hands, a lift suddenly appeared. Thus making the ‘listed’ argument defunct and one 'Wheelchair Boy' no longer accepts.<br />
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There are countless shops I have been in where the men's section is only up or down a few steps; not completely on a different level. I have taken my custom elsewhere but it would be simply overcome by a platform lift. It's not an unreasonable request because they can be installed on existing stairs and do not require a building to completely change. These 'mini elevators' are similar to portable ramps in that they are simple add-ons but improve accessibility tenfold.<br />
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So if you do own or manage a shop/pub/restaurant, I hope that I have encouraged you to buy a platform lift (<a href="https://www.tkencasa.co.uk/platform-lifts/">https://www.tkencasa.co.uk/platform-lifts/</a>). Not only is it the right thing to do but it totally makes sense from a business point of view. The purple pound (name given to the spending power of disabled people) is estimated to be worth £212 Billion but is often overlooked by businesses. A small investment in making your premises' accesible to customers in wheelchairs will be so worth it in the end.<br />
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At the same time, if you know of any buildings that could do with improving their access, please get them to read this post (as well as the rest of my blog of course).<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414922812444444313.post-89444207673108835542015-08-20T15:29:00.000+01:002015-08-20T15:29:01.867+01:00Added stress..The ongoing fight for a fence to be erected outside my flat has been causing me a fair deal of stress of late (hence why I have posted about it a few times because writing seems to be a release) so I forgot to mention that I was involved in a collision last week. Thankfully, my carer and I were not hurt but it did shake me up as it was my first accident. The same cannot be said for my Kia Venga, which is currently off for repair. I just hope it is returned soon because the courtesy car I have is awful. To be fair, it didn't appear that bad. Just a new bonnet and light but saying that, I'm not a mechanic so there might be hidden problems that I could not see on the outside.<br />
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Obviously courtesy cars are not fitted with the <i>Carony Classic </i>so when my mum explained that I cannot transfer, Motability agreed that they would give me £50 a week for taxis. However, what with my busy schedule following The Arsenal, that would soon run out. I then agreed that, although I hated them with a passion, I would get a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle for the short period my Venga was being fixed. On Saturday, a Peugeot Partner Tepee arrived from Scotland. Since then, I have only been out in it on a needs must basis because it has done something that I never thought was possible. I now dislike WAV's even more than I did before.<br />
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The ride is so uncomfortable in the back. Even-though I am strapped in securely with clamps, I still end up feeling every little bump in the road. As I've mentioned before, another problem with WAV's in general is that because the wheelchair position is at the rear, you feel out of the loop like a child and unable to join in with conversations. Particularly with my hearing and speech problems, I end up thinking that I may as well not be in the car. Then there are design faults with this Peugeot such as the seat belt, which is difficult to get on and once it is, it doesn't go across my shoulder properly like a standard one. Also when the vehicle reverses, it makes a ridiculously loud noise (luckily I do not have epilepsy).<br />
<br />They are just a few reasons why I was right to get the <i>Carony Classic</i> over a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.<br />
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I cannot wait to get my Kia back (preferably before our trip up to Newcastle next Friday) so that I can re-take my rightful place riding shotgun in the front passenger seat next to the driver and more importantly, be back in control of the radio.<br />
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Bye for now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536147930920376346noreply@blogger.com0