Calvert Trust

This was going to be a long rambling post, but my diary is so packed right now I don't really have time or energy for posts, so doing this in between phone calls at work!

So, where to begin...The weekend at the Calvert Trust in the Lake District was brilliant, even better than I expected, and I did things I thought I would not be able to do!

We arrived on the friday, and after a mild panic that the bus had gone without us, picked up by one of the Trust's vans. Arriving at the centre, the bedroom was amzing, with a view looking over the lake and fields (which had sheep running all over them, so cute!)

I could go on forever about the weekend, so I will try to be as succinct as possible. The Friday evening was spent on a ramble up the hill behind the centre, looking over the lake, followed by a quick dip in the Hydrotherapy pool, which had a sauna as well, complete with floaty equipment. True to their word, dinner was a 3 course meal of proper, hearty food.

The Saturday morning was spent doing all things climbing, from abseiling backwards down a steep slope in a wheelchair, the Leap Of Faith - jumping/staggering onto a trapeze bar and swinging from a great height across the climbing hall, so my piece de resistance - the climbing wall itself. A few years ago I had attempted one had failed miserably, but with the wall at a slight incline, and with a starting boost and encouragement, I got all the way to the top! The abseil down was actually more terrifying, but yay, I did it!

As a result of this success I have gone a bit adrenaline crazy and started challenging myself in other areas (but more on that in other posts).

The rest of the day was spent Horse Riding and Archery, where a) I did not fall of the horse, and b) actually managed to hit the target!

The day ended with another huge dinner, a nice dip in the hydro pool, and spending time confusing the sheep opposite the centre.

Sunday morning I faced my enemy...water. For today was the canoeing activity. Having had some not encouraging experience with water based activities, I was cynical I would enjoy the session. However, with not one, but TWO life jackets on (one to keep me afloat, the other to stop me tipping over onto my face and causing panicked flailing of limbs), and placed on what was promised the most untippable canoe, I was ready.

And I actually enjoyed it and we rowed over to the other end of the lake for a nice cuppa.

After this most of the others started to head off home, but a few of use used the afternoon to go on a wheel/walk into Keswick and for a drink, a nice way to round off the weekend.

So, all in all, it was a brilliant weekend, and I now have mad ideas of what else I want to do! I will definately be going back, dragging with me as many people as possible. Pictures WILL be promised eventually, but I do not have access to them on my work computer. Plus I have plans for them.

Ok, this still was quite a long post, so just imagine how long it would have been if I had gone into every tiny detail. Like sitting through your Aunt's holiday photo collection in painstaking detail.

Way Overdue

It has been over a month since I last posted, where I left it hanging with me off to the Lake District. The reason for this is that no sooner than I had returned everything that could happen at once, kicked off.

1) I started an online course in Python Programming.
2) The job offer I had been waiting for rung me to say I had got the job(woo!, also argh!).
3) Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy started again. A few weeks into this and I was referred to the day rehab unit two days a week.
4) I was meant to start working on a University module assignment retake.
5) A new family arrival in the form of Lulu (Guinea Pig shaped!).

So you can see, things have been a bit hectic lately! Because there is a lot to update on, I'm going to split it up into separate blog posts for readability, so apologies for mass-postings.

Off to the Lake District!

I am so excited right now!  As I type this I am on the train heading up to the Lake District, to the Calvert Trust Centre near Keswick.I would have written about this sooner but things have been a little manic lately!

For those of you who don't know, the Calvert Trust is an adventure activity holiday centre for disabled people and their family, friends, et al.  The lovely folks there, through Zurich are funding my place for the weekend, so yay! 

Just got one more train connection and then we will arrive in Penrith, where we'll be picked up from the station.

*exciteeeed*

That old Adage

Lately it has been a case of waiting for one bus to arrive and then several arriving at once!  Where do I start...well a good place would be the baclofen pump.  Wondering what the heck was going on with my referal, I rang up the neurosurgeon's secretary to see where I was in the waiting list.  To cut a long story (and several phone calls) short, my referal got mysteriously lost in the post and the secretary had no idea who I was.

...riiiight.

More phone calls and a day later she rings me to say that I am now on the waiting list but it is unlikely I will get seen by September.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE FEBRUARY.

So today I rang my baclofen assessment unit and explained the situation to them and they thought it was pretty ridiculous.  While I was on the phone one of the baclofen therapy nurses told the person on the other end that they had something to discuss with me and could I come over as soon as a space was available?

Turns out that space is tomorrow, so here I am at my parents the night before wondering what it could possibly be about.

In addition to this I have had visits from Occupational Health, Social Services (which confirmed what I knew, my bathroom is deeply un-cripple friendly), and physiotherapy appointments, plus my wheelchair quotation finally arriving AND that I can get funding to go to the Calvert Trust...phew!

Insert Title Here

Last week I went out with friends to a pub, which turned out to be so disability unfriendly it was funny. You know when you encounter situations is so bad you end up laughing at it? This was one of those.

Having noted that the toilets were up a set of stairs, and that the platform lift was the home of high chairs, we asked the staff if they could move them off the lift so I could use it. This was the point when I found out that the reason the high chairs had overtaken it - the lift hadn't worked in years - brilliant! Apparently the head office were aware of this but hadn't done anything about it despite being told a number of times.

To the stairs! With the help of Ben and a drunk (but lovely!) customer I got up the stairs, clutching the banister and Ben lugging the chair up the stairs, and made my way to the loo.

Ah, the loo. On first glance seemingly harmless but on actual use an accident waiting to happen. As I was leaning on the drop down bar, the following happened:

Yes, that is the drop down bar on the floor, which I believe is the incorrect place for it. Luckily I was holding onto another bar as well, which DIDN'T fall out of the wall, otherwise it could have been a painful face-plant to the floor.

The almighty crash was followed by Ben's voice floating through the door:

"Sanchia? Are you all right?!"
"I'm fiiiine...I may have broken something..."

Fleeing the scene of chaos, I returned to my table whilst he went to explain that their accessible toilet may be a bit, erm, broken.

The staff themselves were lovely though and gave us the head office's number.


I didn't get a free pudding though, grrr.

Ouch! Messageboard Update

The BBC has decided to grace us with an update about the closure of the Ouch! board, and try and allay our fears:

More absolute tosh

...We did consider the impact on users before making the final decision, though these types of editorial decisions are not subject to the public sector equality duty.

Safety and privacy have proven to be big talking topics over the last couple of years in social media circles and many empowering improvements have been made as a result. If you've been scared away in the past, it might be worth taking a new look.

I highly doubt they did "consider" how it would affect us, as no one was asked as far as I'm aware! Also, the way the blog talks down to us about social networking sites not being the big bad wolf users fear is, to be blunt, a load of crap.

What they obviously have not taken into account is mental health issues - what the BBC see as not a big issue - just find a new place! - could be for some people, very destabilising. To put it figuratively, imagine the Ouch! board is a big security blanket, one that makes us feel secure and safe in the knowledge that we can post bluntly and openly about what is up with us. Using Facebook for this exposes your personal identity to anybody else using the group, or anyone who cares to find out. Additionally, you can not make accounts under a false name - at risk of being banned.

The BBC are essentially taking that security blanket, ripping it to shreds, and throwing us a manky, threadbare rag.

BBC closing Ouch! Messageboard

So, the BBC has come to the decision to close the Ouch! messageboard. For those of you who know what this is, you are probably really pissed off right now, and for those who don't know - it is the only section of the BBC where peopleof all disabilities can come together and talk about life, the universe and everything. For others it is the only communication they get with the outside world, and a place where people can talk anonymously without being judged.

Yet the BBC feel that the concept of such a messageboard is antiquated and not worth their resources:

What a load of pish

The web and BBC Online have changed a lot over the last decade and we believe it's now time to close the Ouch! messageboard. You regularly tell us that our current service doesn't always deliver the kind of interaction and relationships you want and, indeed, the BBC realises there are now many more effective ways to involve its audience. Social networking is immensely enabling and has outclassed what we can provide in terms of specialisms, privacy and personal connections for this community. Plus it brings great control: you are able to block unwanted users and manage your personal interactions more immediately and effectively.

Ian Hunter, Managing editor of BBC Online, recently wrote a blog entry about the BBC's approach to messageboards and social media explaining how we intend to move forward. Ouch! will continue to be a place where you can feedback on disability matters alongside the content on our blog, via Facebook and Twitter.

Hmmm, funny, I don't remember anyone being consulted about this. Messageboards and social networking sites are completely different things with totally different ways of communicating, lacking the anonymity that people get from a board. Plus many Ouch! users find Facebook an intimidating place and are uncomfortable with the idea of posting on such a site.

But, fear not, fellow Ouch! user, we can we have a month to adjust to this change and "pop along" to this thing called Facebook and acquaint ourselves with it, as told in possibly the most patronising part of the blog post:

The messageboard will close on Wednesday 6 July. That gives us almost a month to help you find each other again. In the final week, we will see how this process has gone and help out if need be.

We have our own Ouch! Facebook page and we encourage you to pop along there now and 'like' us; a quick and easy way of staying in touch with your online friends. When the board has closed, you can continue to comment on our blog with your messageboard login.

I don't know if this is just me, but it almost feels like we are children they are chiding along gently, like a parent persuading their kid "don't worry about moving, I'm sure you'll stay in touch!"

Pfft. This move will only break up a well established community and alienate long time users.

So, if you care about the Ouch! board, or simply want to help us stop the closure of it, please go to the petition here and sign your support.

Thank you.