Remember me?

It's getting hot in here...

Probably not because it has been well over a month since my last post. What have I been doing that has prevented me from blogging? Well, I have been trying to sort out my flat and get it ready to move in. There is still an issue with security and a lack of fences but once this is resolved (hopefully soon), I’ll be able to fly the nest. I also visited most car dealerships in St. Albans and the surrounding area to try and find a more suitable vehicle for the Carony Classic. Finally, I have just got back from a delightful two weeks in Cyprus and as you can imagine, writing was not on the top of my ‘to do’ list.

That being said, I did take my keyboard out there but decided against doing any work because relaxing in the sun around the pool was far more appealing than using my brain. I knew that being near the equator, Cyprus would be hot and humid but the weather was even better than I was expecting. Not a single cloud could be seen during our 14 day, which certainly made a change from our rather wet experience in Italy last year. Also, there was an occasional breeze to make sure that no one was uncomfortably hot. It goes without saying that the torrential rain and colder temperatures in the past few days have come as a massive shock to the system.

Weather aside, I’m also missing the pool enormously. I say this every year but I must go swimming regularly now I’m home. Being in the water gives my legs that freedom they so badly crave. Although I still find them difficult to control, I can move my joints and kick them; something I obviously cannot do in my wheelchair. I used to be scared rigid of the water but now I will happily go in safe in the knowledge that a couple of flotation aids will stop me from drowning. I just need to keep my mouth shut; an art I struggle with unless I’m around women.

The villa itself was great too, as there were hoists this time which made transfers a lot easier and less hassle. The basement was a fully accessible self-contained flat with a kitchen and lounge so really, my brother and I did not need to go upstairs. It also came with a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle so when we did go out for a meal in the evening, I could just be pushed in the back. However, I did miss riding shotgun in my Carony Classic. The chair is way more comfortable than my bog standard manual but I’m glad I did not take the £4, 000 chair because part of the NHS one was broken on the return flight.

Anyway, if you are looking a relaxing break in the sun and one or two of your party are disabled, I’d highly recommend Villa Carpe Diem in southern Cyprus, about half an hour from Larnaca Airport.

Don’t worry; you won’t have to wait as long as last time for my next blog post. I’ll be back on Wednesday because writing a new entry every day is pretty unrealistic and would be a promise I’d probably break. I’m going to aim to do three a week like Russell Brand (I used to find him a bit like Thrush but now I think he speaks sense and is quite funny like myself) does on The Trews.

Bye for now!

Key to the door…

Some of my regular readers may have noticed that I haven’t been posting much recently and that’s because shortly after raising the money for a Carony Classic and a FM hearing system (I really don’t know how I lived without both pieces of equipment before), I received some amazing news that I have been waiting for years to hear. The council have given me a flat, which, as you know, has been at the top of my wish list since I became an adult.  I got a taste of independent living during my brief stint at Uni and I enjoyed the freedom (albeit sharing a kitchen is not ideal). It was probably the best part of the whole University experience and was something I missed when I returned home.

I just feel like a child at home with my parents and I know it sounds cliché but I think moving out will help me spread my wings and develop as a person. I’ll be able to start doing what I want, when I want. My parents will obviously be sad see me leave (although I will only be 5 minutes away) but they understand that moving away from your parents is just part of life. When my dad was my age, he bought his first home so can appreciate the importance of having your own place.

Excited doesn’t even do how I am feeling justice but I’m also extremely anxious because nothing ever goes completely right for me (put the violins away). There is always a hitch/some sort of issue that spoils the party. I won’t be happy until I move in but when that will be; your guess is as good as mine. When I got the keys, the flat was unfurnished and although friends/family have kindly donated furniture, I’m still without essential items such as a fridge freezer and an oven. My OT also needs to order a new shower chair and wider bed so I don’t think my place will be ready for another month or so.

Anyway, that explains my absence for the most part. There is so much to sort out, from getting the best broadband deal to choosing the decorations for each room, sorting out my energy providers to getting the flat adapted to suite me (i.e. installation of a Clos-o-mat toilet and removal of lips on exterior door cills). Plus, the anticipation is proving a distraction so instead of writing, I am spending hours online browsing through different canvas art to go on my walls.

Bye for now!

Little by little...

As the 3rd anniversary of this blog is nearly upon us, I thought it was the right time to start getting reflective. Now I've assessed the impact of 'The Adventures of Wheelchair Boy' before and concluded that unfortunately, my posts don't reach as many people as a my own TV programme would  (hint, hint commissioners) so there seems to be no change. However this post has made me think about wider society and how attitudes towards the disabled have definitely improved in recent years. You can tell from my infrequent of late posts that life is not perfect and society still has a long way to go on a variety of issues but in the main, disabled people are STARTING to lose their invisibility cloaks.

The emphasis is on STARTING because (without sounding like an X Factor contestant) disabled people are on a journey to become equal and receive recognition from their peers. Sadly though, some parts of society are either too selfish and don't want to know or just plain ignorant which is no longer a valid excuse in 2015. Like I said though; things have definitely improved. Watching back Celebrity Wheelchair Challenge from 2003 makes it clear both how much attitudes have changed for the better in the last 12 years as well as highlighting that there are problems that won't go away.

The two examples that demonstrate the improvements/lack of in recent years are to do with Public Transport. The majority of buses are now completely accessible and have their own ramps.Whereas, the issue of obnoxious taxi drivers who will not pick up disabled passengers is which, I and probably all my regular readers are all too familiar with (as it's an issue I have raised a few times), still happens today. The fact I still have that problem 12 years after the show was broadcast clearly shows the treatment of disabled people is still not great and  one solitary episode cannot make  everything better..

I still feel Channel 4 or any channel for that matter who would like to tackle disability should use  the idea again but with a modern spin. It's a fascinating concept and would help to educate society about the difficulties disabled people face on a daily basis. Those inside the media bubble do not believe  factual programmes about disability work but I would strongly argue the British public are ready to be informed on the subject.

Bye for now!

This is also hear...

After getting the ‘Carony Classic’, the rest of the money that was donated/raised at the quiz night went towards a new hearing system. In actual fact, I had to use all the additional money to buy the two ‘FM receivers’ and the ‘Roger Pen’. Again, I thought I’d share a few pictures so you can see how your money has been spent (apologies that I look like a sinister wizard about to cast a spell in some of them).

I am very pleased with the acquisition as it sits in my ear perfectly and is much better than the old model I trialled at the University of Manchester. It is also very discreet and unless you come really close (one at a time ladies), you cannot notice it. Not that I’m image conscious…

The pen is good too as I can either point it in the direction of the speaker like a microphone or my carer can wear a lanyard around their neck and it will pick up their voice. I can always just lay it in the middle of the table if I go out for dinner (like tonight) and, according to the instruction booklet, it will pick up the voices of the people on my table. Fingers crossed anyway!

So, money well spent on both counts. I can now get in/out the car without standing and will be able to join in conversations when I’m in a crowded area now. Another massive thank you to everyone who contributed and has therefore improved my life significantly.

Bye for now!

It’s here…

Thanks again to all the generous pledgers who paid for my new chair!

I am pleased to announce that the ‘Carony Classic’ my friends and family (as well as some wonderful people I have never met) kindly bought me has finally arrived. As regular readers will know, simple transfers were becoming increasingly difficult because my condition is constantly deteriorating and I was even afraid to go out in the car in case I fell over. Now, I have only had this new system a few days but already fell much more confident as I know I do not have to stand at all. It means that if I want to go into town, I can without the stomach wrenching feeling that I might lose all dignity and end up on the floor like a drunk…AGAIN.

For those intrigued about how it works, I have took loads of pictures (see below). I must say it probably looks and sounds complicated but it’s not. After you get familiar with the system, it takes under a minute to get me in the car. Much quicker and safer than when I used to fall. The chair simply pumps up so that it is level with the vehicle, clicks into two rails then slides back and spins into a normal passenger seat position. It's honestly that easy once you know what you are doing.

My only regret is that I didn’t listen to mum and get the system months ago but what can I say? ‘Wheelchair Boy’ is as stubborn as Arsenal holding on to the Top 4.

Bye for now!

Go vote...

'Wheelchair Boy' has voted so seriously, what is your excuse? You will all know from my last post how I voted but whatever your persuasion, please have your say before 10PM. Obviously, those who have been to the polling station already can ignore this 'call to arms' but those who haven't should STOP reading this post and immediately GO to your local school/parish centre/community hall. It will take less than a minute to put a cross in a box and, if you're sad like me, it will give you a lovely sense of satisfaction that you have done your electoral duty for another 5 years (unless of course the new coalition collapse).

See you when we have a new government, I'll do a proper post then :)

Bye for now!

I’ve made my mind up, have you?

There’s a week left until polling day so all those who did take my advice and registered to vote now have seven days to make their minds up. Most people I speak to are completely blown away by the election coverage and do not know who to vote for. However, I do. I wasn’t going to divulge the content of my ballot paper (after all it is a secret) but the electorate seems so undecided at the moment so I thought I’d try to help. I have carefully considered all the parties and have concluded that Labour will be getting my vote come May 7th.

You’re probably all not shocked by that revelation because I’m quite left wing in my views and my family do not have much money. Most of you are probably also thinking that I am just following my dad like a moronic robot but that’s wrong because if I was, I’d be voting UKIP. I just think people should be independent and not be influenced by others opinions. As Scroobius Pip once said, “Thou shalt choose a political party based on their policies, as opposed to just going with whom your family has always supported; they are not a football team”.

If you reach the same conclusion as your parents, fair enough but you have a fully developed brain so use it. Don’t let it be shaped by another adult. You’re not a child anymore. This applies to what I am about to say. I’m not demanding that all of my UK based readers go and vote Labour next week. I just thought I would make a few points and explain why I have decided Ed Miliband is the right man to be Prime Minister in case anyone is interested.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I felt like most young people. Apathetic and unsure who to vote for (as you know, I have always believed in the importance of having your say so my visit to the polling station was never in doubt). What was certain was that I would definitely not vote for the heartless Conservatives who make out people are disabled by choice, are worthless drains on society and should be eradicated. I would also definitely not vote for the spineless Lib Dems who now claim that they limited the Tories from being nastier but in actual fact acted as their stooges throughout this government.

As the campaign has heated up, I have been warming to Ed Miliband and feel that his passion to make this country fairer and balanced again is clear to see. Everything seems to be in favour of the rich and the poor seem to suffer because of it but he wants to change this. Yes, he looks goofy and has a funny voice but so do I. Hopefully you all think I talk sense most of the time (If you don’t, why are you even reading this blog?). What I’m trying to say is like I always say, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Personally, I believe the country’s future, as a whole will be much brighter if the outcome on May 7th is a Labour majority, not a minority one where Nationalists hold the balance of power. Not because Nicola Sturgeon and co. are dangerous (although getting rid of Trident DETERRENT is extremely risky) but because these separatist movements are even more selfish than the Tories. At the end of the day, we live in a United Kingdom made up of four countries. All joined up, not independent of one another so it seems a tad selfish to look after your own part of Britain and disregard everyone else.

Like I said, that’s my view but you can vote for whoever you like.

Bye for now!