Saturday 30 October 2010

So it's Halloweem weekend! My alarm went off at half 10 reminding me to pick up my friend for a Halloween Workshop. She had no idea what was entailed and wishing to be part of the Halloween spirit after my shower I wriggled into a Minnie Mouse dress complete with net tutu and thigh high socks. As the dress in empire lined I added my own saucy twist with a leather underbust corset. I eased my feet into red patent high heels with an ankle strap and bow, put my Minnie Mouse ears on and away we went.

On arrival a few people gave me approving looks, or maybe it was shock I can't tell! We got to the Workshop to find it full of children! We stayed anyway and I painted cutouts of a pumpkin and 2 bats. We went for food shortly after to an Italian and I had to get the corset off as I felt very faint and generally 'off'.

I am now in my apartment awaiting my housemate as we have pumpkins to carve!

Monday 25 October 2010

I am counting down the hours til I'm on that flight to Thailand, I've been Googling it all over and over! I'm so excited! I want to go to Egypt next!

It was sunny yet ice cold this morning when I got up for voluntary work. I made a sensible decision and chose to wear a grey knitted poncho to keep me warm over my grey jeans and t shirt. I've ordered fluffy over the knee socks for winter and a blanket with sleeves. I already have a thermal vest, 2 thermal jumpers and some thermal leggings as well as fluffy ankle boot slippers! I will not be cold this year!

Last week when I went to voluntary work I fell out of my wheelchair as the door to the building opens outwards and the ramp is steep. This time I called a lady from across the pavement and when I left asked for a member of staff to open it for me. I then went for a sandwich and sunbed, bought a few vests and a mini skirt. I love vests, they can be dressed up or down and layered. They don't get in the way of the wheelchair either.

Thursday 21 October 2010

I didn't question why I was taped to my instructor, I would've thought it was pretty obvious seeing as I can't move my legs. Anyway, the weather's been dry for a while now, wish it would stay like this! I can handle the cold I just can't stand the rain. It affects my grip severely plus how is one supposed to wheel and hold an umbrella? Hopefully I'll miss the rain when I escape to Thailand in the not too distant future.

I went for my bi-weekly sunbed today, I didn't want to get off! I didn't bother looking around town, just came straight home so I could catch up with a few things as I was in London yesterday, left at half 2 and didn't get back til gone midnight. I've been applying for full time work on the hope I get a new wheelchair!

Sunday 17 October 2010

Well should I say wheelchair users don't do a skydive? You will arrive before everyone else yet be kept til last because apparently it's 'harder work' for the whole team? This 'harder work' consisted on my feet being gaffer taped to my diver's feet. Big mission! Waking up at 5am to be there for 8am and then jumping at 1pm really took it out of me. I didn't have a good sleep as it was so I made up for it last night, I don't really feel that awake now to be honest! I'll have to improve on this post when I feel more 'with it' sorry guys!

Friday 15 October 2010

So in hopefully less than 24 hours I'll be doing my much talked about skydive! The weather is looking good (bit of an Indian Summer over here, though it's technically Autumn!) and I have thermal leggings ready! I am going to wrap up super warm, tights, socks, thermals, you name it I'll be trying to wear it!

I do have my video of my weekend away ready to go but don't wish to overload everyone. Best things come to those who wait! 3 and a half weeks til Thailand. I will be shutting my video and picture sets pages down for this period as I will not be here to send them.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

I have to see the nurse at 4pm for my jabs for Thailand, I've ordered my indwelling catheters and leg bags. It's deceivingly sunny out yet a bit chilly. I have a fluffy blanket on. I was thinking about going to Sharm El Sheikh for a Scuba diving week in May with the same charity that I went to Exmoor with but its £845 and for that could get 2 weeks, 5 star hotel all inclusive in the same place for two people! Is that near the pyramids? I would love to dive and see the pyramids!

Monday 11 October 2010

I did it ALL this weekend, how I'm still awake I don't know! I left for Devon at 11am Friday and arrived at just gone 3pm. As I parked up a people carrier with 2 wheelers and a walker pulled up and got out. One was a para, 26 years old, and the other a quad with some arm and hand movement - enough to propel a manual chair. The walker was a carer and he helped carry our cases to the conservatory of the centre and once we were allocated rooms took our bags into our rooms. I was paired with a walker, a mid 20's solicitor who was lovely. The majority of the group were male and my age but there was an older man. The only disabled women were members of staff.

On the first evening wee all got to know each other and played some games like throwing a ball and saying each other's names, we even got competitive with football style games split into teams. We all retired to our rooms by 11pm ready for Saturday and I did my Peristeen.

Half 7 Saturday morning I peeled myself out of bed and wheeled to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I got undressed in my chair then got onto the toilet for a good wash with my sponge and shower gel. I put my towel on my chair and got back onto it to get back to my bed. I put my clothes on and make up and went for breakfast and we were split into groups for the activities. I was in the group to first use the pool and prepare for kayaking on Sunday. I was a bit daunted as I know how much I hate the water but I went over, transferred onto the ledge and lowered myself into the jacuzzi while we waited for each pair (one disabled, one not) to go in the Kayak and deliberately capsize. I was bricking it. I so did not want to do it. I got hoisted out of the jacuzzi and wheeled to the pool where I transferred into a crate with a cushion on then put a cushion over the edge of the kayak and placed my feet gently in the kayak. One move and I was in. My partner for the day followed and the kayak pulled into the pool. May I add that I was strapped into a buoyancy aid! We paddled in the small area til they asked us if we wanted to try capsizing. It was just in case we capsized in the lake so it was for our own good so we did it. I soon bobbed to the surface and was happy the buoyancy aid kept me afloat!

Our next activity was archery! The one lad is in a team and competes and we all had a go and tried to get the highest scores. In the evening we played games again and went to bed by about 11pm.

Sunday I put leggings on with thigh high socks and tracksuit bottoms, a thermal jumper, vest and jacket and waterproofs and headed to the lake. In our doubles we got into our kayaks and went around the very windy lake until they decided it was too rough and we had to gingerly creep around the edge of the lake. No one fell out, I was scared though (I had my life jacket on, don't fret), and we all went to the sports hall where we climbed a rope (with a harness on). Outside we abseiled (in a wheelchair haha!) and then we did this swing thing which gets pulled to the ceiling and let go. It was quite exciting! After all that we went to the woods and had a campfire.

All the early mornings have certainly got to me, I'm tired now and it's not even 3pm. I did get some footage of my weekend and I will be piecing it together soon so watch this space!

Saturday 2 October 2010

I just called the airfield and the weather is too bad to dive tomorrow. I have rebooked for the 16th xx