Tag: travel

Why are there so many potholes.

Potholes in Heol y graig, Cwmgwrach by Jaggery is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Have you noticed the deteriorating condition of our roads and pavements? The state of our roads seems to be at an all-time low. Is this a widespread issue, or is it just local? What could be the cause of this decline? Is it due to poor quality materials or something else entirely? It’s concerning to see the same areas being patched up repeatedly, with no lasting improvement. I’m curious to know if this is a problem in your area as well. Let’s discuss.

How to report a pothole and claim for damage. https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/road-safety/report-a-pothole/

Man so fed up with potholes he’s started to fill them with Pot Noodles
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Sat on a bus

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I’m sat on a bus winding its way through town and country, whilst I can hear the excitement of chatter and laughter coming from the school children on board. There are roadworks everywhere, but still the driver navigates the route and diversions with confidence and ease. It won’t be long now till I reach my destination. Thankyou driver.

https://mixedupmilly.uk/2023/03/30/why-are-there-so-many-potholes/

Cross-country Travel.

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

Well being a wheelchair user, I can immediately eliminate two of those options. I can’t ride a bike, and the logistics of travelling by bus would be impractical and far too time consuming for me.

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That leaves airplane, train or car. Airplanes require a LOT of organising, and worry over the chair being in one piece at the other end, so wouldn’t be my choice just for a trip across country, though I have taken my powerchair abroad.

I love train travel, and would probably choose this as you can relax and enjoy the scenery, and get a drink or snack easily, and most importantly you don’t have to break up the drive to hunt for a toilet as there will be one on the train, and at most train stations as well.

If I was intending to stay over somewhere for a few days (or more), I’d probably abandon the train idea purely for the practical reason that I’d have more luggage, and this would be easier to travel with by car, and not need lugging around on the journey there and back.

The other thing that would dictate whether it was car or train, would be the transport network availability at my longed for destination, if it was in/near a big town or city the train would be more likely, but if it was somewhere rural then the car would make more practical sense for me personally.

unfolded maps spread out and overlapping. Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com

Norwich, Disabled Citizens Inquiry.

I thought you might like to see a bit more of what the Disabled Citizens Inquiry is all about, and how information was gathered.

Here’s a video from the Norwich workshop.

Youtube video calling for change, people talking about walking and wheeling.

P.A. Benefits!!

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.

Important Day for inclusion.

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.

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/all-themes/all/disabled-citizens-inquiry/?fbclid=IwAR1eWAS6BR4AD0nDmIMzMps7Ra0WqLFTXpmdx27PYJNOW1v8ps5Jggo1E-g

London Ahead.

Well I am off to London on Wednesday, the first time I’ve been on a train since before Covid19 took over our lives. So slightly nervous about the journey, but have done all the pre-journey preparation that I can.

I’ve booked assistance for a ramp to board, and disembark the train each way, tickets are booked, checked the access details for the stations, and booked a wheelchair space and a seat for the person travelling with me.

London Overground train with remembrance poppy by Christopher Hilton is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Have checked my destination is accessible, and also made sure I have a radar key should it be needed to access disabled loos. Will look online on the journey to make sure lifts required are working, and if all else fails get a bus or taxi instead of the underground.

As a wheelchair user you always have to have a back up plan!!

Changing Places, Norwich.

I had to go to Norwich (UK) yesterday, and by chance discovered that Chantry Place shopping centre has a changing places loo. It’s on the dining terrace level, and requires a radar key to access it.

It was later in the day, and the centre was quiet so I decided to pop and take some photos so people might be aware of it, and the facilities provided in there.

There’s a bench for changing, or if you need time out of a chair to stretch for a short time etc…. a hoist, bars by the loo, a height adjustable sink with controller to the taps/plug/light for mirror above the sink, there’s also two hand dryers one’s lower down with a fun themed picture on it. Also there is a screen which is movable if required.

Room to transfer from either side of the loo, though you may need to move that yellow bin, I’m not certain about that. The red cord was hanging down to almost floor length, and hadn’t been tied up like so many are.

Lottery winner.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

What I’d do would depend on how much I won, but here’s what I would do if I won big money.

Firstly I’d be looking on rightmove and booking some viewings for bungalows that caught my eye. Nothing ridiculously fancy or stupid expensive. Ideally a 3 bed so I could have friends to stay, and a good sized garden, and a craft room.

I’d share with family, and invest some money too, also I would give a decent donation to a few charities close to my heart.

Have full time P.A rota set up and be able to give them a good wage. Travel more (just around the UK), and be able to do so pretty much spontaneously.

I don’t desire an extravagant lifestyle, just a comfortable life being able to afford what I need without any money worries.

I would splash out on one thing I’d really love though, and that’s an all terrain powerchair. But the top of my list would be the bungalow.

Dogs are love.

Dogs are incredible, they are so utterly completely genuine and selfless.

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They love with all their being and heart, they will sit and listen, or just quietly rest a head on your lap. Equally they’ll go miles with you without question or complaint.

I tried to sit and count all the commands and words my dog understands, and it was an impressive amount, I’m sure I didn’t count them all either.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Like us, they all have their likes and dislikes and funny quirks, but that’s what makes them who they are. My dog loves eggs, bit they have to be cooked, he won’t touch a raw egg.

He loves swimming in natural spaces, but will walk around a puddle. Is as gentle as anything taking anything from you, but will happily drop a grotty sopping wet toy on your lap – yuk!!!

He loves walks, and a good sniff n nosey around, but finds waiting while you take a photo boring.

He loves car drives, and even enjoys going on the bus, but doesn’t particularly like busy traffic filled places.