Personally, I think “I AM” is the most powerful command statement there is. For what you put after it, you become. It frees you to be who you desire to become because it is the power of God being spoken into you.It can be used to either empower you or limit you. So be careful […]
I AM 2
I am in the process of getting a PA (Personal Assistant) via Direct Payments for the first time, and this means……
I should gain time, energy, and freedom. It will also enable me to have a more varied and flexible social life.
Quite a few of my friends and family don’t live locally, nor are their homes wheelchair accessible, so the logistics of seeing them, let alone staying overnight somewhere are pretty complicated – virtually impossible.
Having a P.A. will hopefully mean this is something that can be overcome as I’d be able to travel by car and not via public transport, immediately reducing travel times. This means for some the visit could be done in a day – a few hours travel each way would be well worth it.
I’ll be able to attend events that aren’t on public transport routes, or at school times where taxis are impossible to get.
Getting bits done indoors will be achieved much more quickly as I can ask for help straightaway, and not have lots of half finished tasks whilst waiting for help with a part of a task. Leading to less frustration.
Simple things like sweeping up the rubbish pile will no longer be a problem, or filling the printer, or putting on goodness knows how many layers of outdoor clothes to walk the dog. Grabbing stuff out of the top of the fridge will be easy, and not impossible.
When you’re a wheelchair user, you learn patience pretty quickly, as well as how to think outside of the box.
Yesterday I went to Portcullis House in London to take part in the official launch of the Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry. This aims to make walking & wheeling more inclusive for us all, and to give disabled people a voice in the process.
I don’t want to, but feel I need to talk rubbish!
During the main Covid19 lockdowns in the UK I couldn’t help but notice something. People were suddenly so far more appreciative and caring of the countryside.
Far more people were out and about walking, running, cycling and wheeling around the local countryside roads than I’ve ever seen, before or since.
That was natural, everyone was bored of looking at the same 4 walls each day. So outdoors was the only option, places were closed and social distancing was the order of the time.
I noticed that despite the massive increase in people, and their dogs. The verges were so much cleaner and tidier, people were taking their rubbish home, or dropping it in a bin on their way. They were also going out litter picking cleaning up after others who didn’t quite get the fact that looking after nature is our collective responsibility.
Sadly I am now noticing that the levels of rubbish, empty bottles, wrappers etc … are being dropped and left again. We really haven’t learnt have we.
We are hearing so much on the subject of fixing the NHS at the moment, but it’s not all down to the NHS. So many other areas impact on the heavy load they deal with.
We as a country could lessen that load by getting other areas right. For example, the state of the roads and pavements around the UK is appalling. Potholes can contribute to vehicle accidents meaning the NHS is needed.
Dodgy pavements and potholes can also cause falls, and damage mobility equipment. Both these issues cost the NHS money.
Unsuitable and unfit housing conditions can cause ill health such as lung problems, mental health crises, skin issues. Housing that’s not fit for the person’s needs can add to the risk of falling, dropping hot stuff causing burns/scalding.
Lack of carers, or the appropriate level of care and the necessary numbers of hours means that people aren’t being supported to live a safe and dignified way of life, being as independent as possible.
It’s not just about getting up, toileting, food, medication. These visits allow carers to notice changes in a person’s well being, help to make Dr’s appointments if necessary, and help them attend the appointment.
If you don’t know when you will next get a chance to go to the loo, you’ll limit your liquid intake which can cause kidney problems, or you may struggle to manage the loo even though it’s not safe to do so, and end up falling and require hospital treatment as a result.
Selling of school playgrounds limits the ability of schools to provide a selection of different sports and activities whole enable students to learn to experience and enjoy taking various types of exercise, and also reduces the space in which they can create a school/class vegetable garden and grow fresh food for students to enjoy and learn about where food comes from, and healthy eating in a practical way.
All these things have an impact on themselves, but they also impact the load on the National Health Service.
This was just a small simple post, so there’s probably masses I haven’t mentioned.
Jack Frost, you sneak in silently under the cover of darkness. Just like a spy, except you leave evidence of your visit.
We awaken to find the world around us glistening in delight, as you decorated it to remind us to celebrate nature in all its glory.
Some might say you sparkle like diamonds, but I say its better than that. You sparkle like the eyes of lovers, or that of a child discovering with wonder that Father Christmas has visited.
As the sun comes out, you quietly without even a whisper creep away slowly and gently, but leave us with the feeling of magic within us, and the promise of warmer days to come.
One day, who knows when, I know you will return to remind us again.
Do you want to live forever?
Would I want to live forever? Forever is a very long time, longer than I could even imagine.
I think my answer would have to be, no, not unless my body stayed the same physical health and condition it is now (or better) and all those that I love, lived forever too.
It would be a long sad and lonely eternity if I was off bad health and had no friends and family in an ever moving and evolving world.
Just think how much has changed in yours, and your parents or even your grandparents lifetimes. All that new technology they’ve needed to learn and keep up with.
Forever is a lot longer than the number of years you and they’ve lived – gosh how many incredible yet confusing changes would you have to learn, understand and master.
Do you trust your instincts?
We all get it wrong sometimes, but yes I do trust my instincts, especially about people. It has caused disagreements in the past when I have warned others that I have a bad feeling about someone but cannot explain why, but I have in the end been proved correct. So even if people don’t always understand or agree with what I have said, I know I have done my best to warn them.
I hide it well but am a worrier as to whether I am doing the right thing at times. My instincts about people, is one thing I do trust though.
Everyone has a dream, I bet you have one. I know I do!!
Keep working slowly but surely towards your dream, keep that belief that it will come true one day. I have a dream, it seems so far away at the moment, but I hold on to it in the hope it will happen one day.
My dream is simple, yet one so many others out there also share (I wonder if you have this same dream) it is to have a place of my own, set up just how I need and want it to be.
My dream place would be a bungalow on the edge of a town , so within a reasonable walking/wheeling distance of the shops and other amenities, also near a bus stop. The bungalow itself would be adapted for my needs so – wheelchair accessible, height adjustable kitchen, a wet room, a garden as I love planting stuff and watching it grow, and for my dog to have space outside to play. If I was extra lucky it would have a study/craft room for my hobbies, and a conservatory to relax in.
I think I need to win the lottery to make this dream come true! But, I keep hoping.
Access, Inclusion, & Other Stuff. 