It's just brilliant seeing Ellie Simmonds popping up on the TV - I've spotted her on Sports Personality of the Year [where she spoke with huge confidence], A Question of Sport [where she got a lot of the answers right and was on the winning team] and this week on The Great Comic Relief Bake Off [where she was made Star Baker].
Her inclusion in these programmes is just so natural, and it's simply great to see a young disabled person [she's just 18 years old] with so much confidence, life and charm.
I hope she realises what an inspiration she is. I know a lot of disabled people hate the 'i' word but take my son who is also short statured - the only other short statured person he sees is me, so it's just fabulous for him to see someone else who is short not only on TV but right up there with other sportspeople and celebrities.
Let's hope the inclusion of more disabled people like Ellie on TV continues as the norm and doesn't disappear as the memories and intentions following London 2012 fades, what a great legacy that would be.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Never too late? My quest for gait analysis.
Well it's another New Year and top of my list is to go to the doctors to see if they will refer me for 'gait analysis'.
Gait analysis involves someone looking at the way you walk. They use their observations to establish whether there's anything that should be done to improve the way you walk and your balance eg adjustments to shoes, wearing of insoles, recommending wearing [or not wearing] particular types of shoes etc.
Last year I saw a podiatrist - they diagnose problems with the foot, ankle, lower extremities [that's legs to you and me] - she couldn't believe I had never been referred to a podiatrist and said that if I had seen one in my childhood it could have been very beneficial potentially improving my walking, balance, maintaining joint mobility/flexibility and even reducing the curvature of my spine....
In a way hearing that was a bit of a bitter blow to me because what is done is done but I've always felt that more could have been done to improve my mobility/flexibility or at the very least help me maintain it.
But having to leave those thoughts aside I'm now determined to look after myself. Particularly because as I get older I can feel my joints moaning every now and then and my flexiblity is probably slowly decreasing.
Even though the podiatrist I saw prescribed insoles which I now wear in my shoes all the time, the wear on the soles of my shoes is still not even. I'm also getting some 'locking' in my hips if I bend over which is hugely painful and means I can't walk until I've 'unlocked' the hip.
So today I've, at last, booked the doctors appointment to make the gait analysis request. At the very least I'd like to maintain the mobility and balance that I have, if they could be improved that would be a huge bonus but I'm not expecting miracles this far down the line.
Watch this space.
Gait analysis involves someone looking at the way you walk. They use their observations to establish whether there's anything that should be done to improve the way you walk and your balance eg adjustments to shoes, wearing of insoles, recommending wearing [or not wearing] particular types of shoes etc.
Last year I saw a podiatrist - they diagnose problems with the foot, ankle, lower extremities [that's legs to you and me] - she couldn't believe I had never been referred to a podiatrist and said that if I had seen one in my childhood it could have been very beneficial potentially improving my walking, balance, maintaining joint mobility/flexibility and even reducing the curvature of my spine....
In a way hearing that was a bit of a bitter blow to me because what is done is done but I've always felt that more could have been done to improve my mobility/flexibility or at the very least help me maintain it.
But having to leave those thoughts aside I'm now determined to look after myself. Particularly because as I get older I can feel my joints moaning every now and then and my flexiblity is probably slowly decreasing.
Even though the podiatrist I saw prescribed insoles which I now wear in my shoes all the time, the wear on the soles of my shoes is still not even. I'm also getting some 'locking' in my hips if I bend over which is hugely painful and means I can't walk until I've 'unlocked' the hip.
So today I've, at last, booked the doctors appointment to make the gait analysis request. At the very least I'd like to maintain the mobility and balance that I have, if they could be improved that would be a huge bonus but I'm not expecting miracles this far down the line.
Watch this space.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Christmasy guest blog on Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
Check out my latest guest blog 'London Calling at Christmas' on the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain:
http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/daysoutblog/#
Complete with very festive photo of me, Archie and Ben as well as some top tips on visiting London, including don't forget to register your car for exemption from paying the congestion charge if you are a Blue Badge holder, it would surely knock out your Christmas stuffing if you were fined instead...
http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/daysoutblog/#
Complete with very festive photo of me, Archie and Ben as well as some top tips on visiting London, including don't forget to register your car for exemption from paying the congestion charge if you are a Blue Badge holder, it would surely knock out your Christmas stuffing if you were fined instead...
Monday, November 19, 2012
CEA cinema card / VHPs - Very Helpful People
Every now and then I come across a VHP - Very Helpful Person.
Take this weekend when I went to to cinema with a friend. I casually asked the nice young man behind the desk if there was any sort of discount for disabled people and he asked whether I had a CEA card?
I'd never heard of it but it basically entitles a disabled person in receipt of DLA or AA, or a blind person, to a free ticket for the person accompanying them to the cinema.
In spite of not having the card he gave me the discount anyway, how about that for customer service.
Now back at home I've printed off my application form for the card which is valid in all of the cinemas I've used in my local area. See here for details:
http://www.ceacard.co.uk/
What I like about this story is not only that I will soon have a very useful card but also how helpful the man was, there are some damn good people out there.
Take this weekend when I went to to cinema with a friend. I casually asked the nice young man behind the desk if there was any sort of discount for disabled people and he asked whether I had a CEA card?
I'd never heard of it but it basically entitles a disabled person in receipt of DLA or AA, or a blind person, to a free ticket for the person accompanying them to the cinema.
In spite of not having the card he gave me the discount anyway, how about that for customer service.
Now back at home I've printed off my application form for the card which is valid in all of the cinemas I've used in my local area. See here for details:
http://www.ceacard.co.uk/
What I like about this story is not only that I will soon have a very useful card but also how helpful the man was, there are some damn good people out there.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
"I do" - making 2012 a year to remember
There's no doubt that the Olympics and Paralympics left me on a feel good high and I managed to prevent any sort of 'October will be the month I come back down to earth with a bump' feeling by deciding that 2012 should also be the year that Mike and I get married.
Then I spotted that 20th October was a Saturday and all of a sudden it just felt like THE date to get married - as we met in October 20 years ago. The timing was tight - we gave notice to marry with one day spare and the whole thing was organised in 3 1/2 weeks!
A friend recommended the hotel - the perfect Hotel Endsleigh, I already had a nice dress from Monsoon which I hadn't worn yet, the boys had bizarrely pointed out some suits in Next that they really wanted [but at the time we had no Big Event for them to wear them at!], Mike bought his own suit, I booked hair appointments, charged cameras, got the car cleaned and the dog groomed in preparation. By sheer luck Mike and I had a weekend in London late September which gave us the opportunity to go to Hatton Garden in London to choose my wedding necklace [as I don't wear rings]. Sorted.
At the last minute we invited 2 friends to be witnesses and another friend to come along too, a total of 5 adults and 5 children.
The day was faultless. The sun shone as we drove across Dartmoor to the hotel and it just continued all day. The ceremony was simple and perfect, the boys read The Owl and The Pussy Cat and it was a real highlight for me as they pulled out all the stops to read it brilliantly. I didn't cry because I was just so happy and a friend commented after how happy Mike looked in the photos and he did too.
After, we sipped champagne in the sun, ate a fabulous lunch, had surprise wedding cup cakes organised by our witnesses, the meal was rounded off with impromtu speeches before having a wander in the grounds followed by an evening in front of the fire, more food and drinks. Everyone pitched in taking photos which are a wonderful reminder of a wonderful day.
It doesn't feel very different being married but if I'm honest I do feel very happy about the fact we have done it and an increased sense of security which means I feel more relaxed and calm. The boys are also delighted because as they put it I am now 'one of the family', not sure what I was before but heh I like being one of the family too.
Then I spotted that 20th October was a Saturday and all of a sudden it just felt like THE date to get married - as we met in October 20 years ago. The timing was tight - we gave notice to marry with one day spare and the whole thing was organised in 3 1/2 weeks!
A friend recommended the hotel - the perfect Hotel Endsleigh, I already had a nice dress from Monsoon which I hadn't worn yet, the boys had bizarrely pointed out some suits in Next that they really wanted [but at the time we had no Big Event for them to wear them at!], Mike bought his own suit, I booked hair appointments, charged cameras, got the car cleaned and the dog groomed in preparation. By sheer luck Mike and I had a weekend in London late September which gave us the opportunity to go to Hatton Garden in London to choose my wedding necklace [as I don't wear rings]. Sorted.
At the last minute we invited 2 friends to be witnesses and another friend to come along too, a total of 5 adults and 5 children.
The day was faultless. The sun shone as we drove across Dartmoor to the hotel and it just continued all day. The ceremony was simple and perfect, the boys read The Owl and The Pussy Cat and it was a real highlight for me as they pulled out all the stops to read it brilliantly. I didn't cry because I was just so happy and a friend commented after how happy Mike looked in the photos and he did too.
After, we sipped champagne in the sun, ate a fabulous lunch, had surprise wedding cup cakes organised by our witnesses, the meal was rounded off with impromtu speeches before having a wander in the grounds followed by an evening in front of the fire, more food and drinks. Everyone pitched in taking photos which are a wonderful reminder of a wonderful day.
It doesn't feel very different being married but if I'm honest I do feel very happy about the fact we have done it and an increased sense of security which means I feel more relaxed and calm. The boys are also delighted because as they put it I am now 'one of the family', not sure what I was before but heh I like being one of the family too.
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