For those who may be interested most paraplegics and quadriplegics cannot control their bladder or bowel and have to take measures to empty both at regular intervals. I think the all encompassing phrase 'I can not move or feel anything below the waist' explains this but some people don't quite grasp that and I've had a few questions here and there on various corners of the Internet.

Anyway, on Saturday I was feeling weak after such a late night Friday so didn't really feel like going anywhere but when I got into bed a friend called and persuaded me to go up hers. When I arrived her friend carried me like a princess onto the sofa and we caught up on all the gossip til I wanted to go home.

Sunday was spent in bed til my housemate wanted to be picked up from his weekend partying and he cooked us spag bol. He went to Tenby Monday morning to help his father at work and is coming back tonight as we are viewing an apartment tomorrow in a better location and then making the journey to Blackpool!

Yesterday was one hell of a random adventure! I had an appointment for my Botox at half 5 so I went to the toilet before I left and took my housemate to my appointment so he could assist me. There was nowhere to park right outside so I parked in a drive-in dry cleaners and my housemate assembled my chair and lifted me out of the car safely into it. I wheeled to the bumpy bit of road outside the clinic and he pushed me the carefully over the rough bits into the clinic where I had my Botox.

On the way home he called one of his friends who said a few of them were going clubbing and wanted him to come. I knew I wouldn't be able to go as I'd have to completely depend on my housemate and it isn't fair to affect his weekends all the time. He asked would I give him a lift up and I agreed. We had to come home first so he could shower and get dressed and then I dropped him off. I left my phone on charge in the apartment and after I'd driven a few minutes towards home I realised he'd left my wheelchair in the boot! There would be no point going back as all I would be able to do is beep outside and they may not even notice so I carried on and drove into my local supermarket and commandeered a trolley pusher to put my chair in the passenger seat.

When I got in I settled on the sofa emailing a friend and he invited me up so I did my bowel care and a catheter then drove up. I picked him up as his flat is upstairs and he looks way too weedy to carry me and we parked by some playing fields. We were chatting for some time when he just pounced on me! I didn't know what to do so I just kissed him back and tried to make a joke of it. Thankfully someone text as they needed to pick something up off me so I took him back and drove home. On the way I saw a drunk man sat on the kerb with his thumb out and being the person I am I felt sorry for him and picked him up. He confessed that he'd just caught his Mrs in bed with another man, he was devastated, I dropped him in his home town and got myself back home.

My friend arrived to pick up his stuff and I went outside to give it to him and chatted to him and his friends. The flat above saw and called for me to stay there but I went into my flat anyway and one of the boys came down and asked if I fancied a party. He tried to carry me but he was a weakling and got a friend to carry me all the way to the 3rd floor where I was placed delicately on the sofa. He also carried me to the toilet and back down to my apartment several hours later!

I took myself to the local supermarket last night, I was hungry and knew I'd need food for today so I put a little bit of make-up on just in case, put my lush leather gloves on and got myself into the car. When I arrived I parked in the disabled bay (for a change lol) and noticed they give parking tickets out and I don't have a disabled badge but I didn't worry, if I got a ticket it's obvious I'm disabled. I went straight to the clothes and saw some lovely cropped cardigans hanging out of my reach so I had to ask for assistance to get one down in my size and I placed it in my lap.

As I went around the store picking things up I decided I should get a basket so I wheeled to the front of the store to get one and continued my journey. When I was done I asked an assistant to help me take everything to the car and put my chair in the passenger seat.

When I got home I got the bags out of the car and it was really difficult trying to get them in as they were all quite full. I dropped one and had to struggle to pick it back up and I was stuck in the hallway unable to do 2 things at once so I put 2 bags down and opened the doors, picked them back up and wheeled to the kitchen where I gratefully put the bags on the counter. I put everything away but cut myself a slice of Tiramisu cheesecake and put a dollop of Creme Fraiche with it.

At about 2am I decided to go to bed but I couldn't sleep! After a few hours I did a catheter so if I did drop off I wouldn't have to wake up again to do one. I really wanted to stay in bed when I woke at 2pm but decided if I get up it'll be easier to sleep tonight!

My grandparents went away for 2 weeks and came back yesterday as I called to see if I could visit them for a bit. I decided to wear a tight purple vest with my skinny jeans and a beautiful pair of purple suede high heels. I was forcing my finger in to get my toes straight and broke a nail! I've never had long nails, I always used to bite them and had acrylic nails for a long time til I went into hospital where I cut them off and they grew off so I'm really chuffed my nails have grown and seem strong enough! I put my hair in plaits and put a purple hair band in to hold my fringe off my face and did the whole car thing and went to their home.

When I arrived my grandad came and got my chair out for me and assembled it. He also pushed me up the slight incline which I was grateful for and in the living room he moved the furniture so I could get in. After a few hours catching up I knew I'd need the bathroom and theirs is too cluttered for me to get in so I went home, grandad put my chair in the car for me. I spent the rest of the day on the sofa, only getting up to do my bowel care, catheter and eat.

I didn't get out of bed til 4pm today, I never sleep well. After having my wash and getting dressed I had a bowl of cereal and transferred onto the sofa to check all my internet places. I called my housemate to see when he'd be back from Tenby as I was hungry but he said not for a few hours yet so I ordered butter chicken and saag bhaji which I enjoyed!

One of my friends got sent home from work last night as there was nothing there to do and she invited me over. I can't get in hers without help but luckily a guy she works with was going to be there so I went to the toilet before I left and text when I arrived. Her friend gave me a piggy back into the living room and placed me on the sofa.

After a few hours it was time for me to empty my bladder and I didn't know if he could get me to the bathroom so he left the room and my friend got a jug and we got me to the edge of the sofa, legs bent, trousers down, and I inserted the catheter. Not very ladylike but if a girl's gotta go a girl's gotta go!

I finally left and got into bed at about 7am! I felt really weak when I finally decided to get out of bed but I managed to sort myself out and have breakfast!

I was rudely awakened by the buzzer to my apartment so I swung into my wheelchair, secured a towel under my arms to hide my naked body and wheeled to the window in my hall which looks out to where the main buzzer is. It was the post man, he had a parcel. I opened the window and he stupidly asked 'where you sleeping'. Well obviously, what else is an unemployed person going to be doing at half 8 in the morning? He's my usual post man too so he's been here about 20 times and knows full well no matter what time he comes I'm usually in bed! I put the box on my lap and wheeled back to the bedroom, put it on the floor and went back to bed.


When I finally decided to get out of bed I picked up 2 towels and wheeled into the bathroom. I lowered the bath chair slightly and lifted my legs into the bath before positioning my right hand on the furthest side of the bath and my left just next to me on the bath and swung onto the seat. I lowered it to the bottom and pulled myself forward so my legs crossed and bent. In this position I rarely lose balance as it's impossible to fall forward. I turned the hot and cold tap on and pressed the tap thing that turns it into a shower and waited for the temperature to regulate then soaked my hair and gave it a good wash and condition. I got back onto the bath chair so I could scrub my feet and legs while I waited for the conditioner to work its magic then thoroughly rinsed myself. I placed a towel on my chair and the other in my hair, raised the bath seat and got back into my wheelchair, brushed my teeth and transferred onto my toilet chair to do a catheter.


Back in my bedroom I covered myself in moisturiser and pulled on my tracksuit bottoms and vest before grabbing the parcel I received earlier and taking it into the living room with me. I placed it on the sofa and got on the sofa myself to eagerly rip it open! Inside was a beautiful pair of blue glittery Louboutin shoes and a purple GHD gift set. I tried the shoes on - perfect!

The catheters arrived Friday morning, I've had a good look at them and figured them out. I want a flip-flow valve though otherwise it's continuous drain which would lead to bladder shrinkage. I'll call and see if I can get some!

As I was up so early I figured I should take advantage. I bribed my housemate to come to Cardiff with me shopping and took my wheelchair gloves. There are always a few wheelers about Cardiff and I saw a rather good looking man wheel past with his gloves on. I noticed the way he wheeled, it was way better than the way I wheel, like his arms and hands were going in circles. I had to get my housemate to push me occasionally as I was getting quite fatigued but I bought a beautiful pair of purple suede high heels. I tried on a couple of pairs of shoes - I always inch forward in my seat and pull my leg straight up so my foot is a few inches above my face. It just feels more secure that way!


On Friday night my housemate and I went over my friend's house. Last time we were there he carried me to the bathroom and put me on the toilet too far on the edge and I slid between the wall and the toilet completely folded in half taking the entire seat with me. I had him check me when we got home and thankfully I wasn't cut or bruised. He was more careful this time!

After a while I wanted to go home and we heard noise coming from one of the apartments above so he went up to see if we could come up. He left me there for a good 10-15 minutes before I called him and asked what he was playing at. They were all making a journey to the local supermarket so I said see you later and got comfy on the sofa. He came back within a few minutes and asked if I was ready to go up but I decided not to, there were people asleep up there and the ones who were awake were drunk and I can't stand drunk people. I went to bed at about 6am and he returned shortly after, pretty worse for wear! He didn't bother me though, I think he just passed out somewhere in the apartment!

Someone from the doctors called me yesterday about my catheter query and told me to call the spinal rehab I was in to sort something out so I did and they were really unhelpful and just told me to call my catheter supplier and ask for one. Turned out I needed to know the exact catheter so I had to call them back and they were still useless. My supplier had to decide which one would be best and hopefully I'll have them tomorrow complete with prefilled syringe so I can put it in when need be. They said a district nurse would need to do it but I think I can do it myself!