Today, for the first time in over 3 and a half years, I caught the Tube.

My God, it’s changed a lot in that time.

It was pretty surreal being on it.  It was a little other – World’y. It was all very familiar yet unknown.

Being sat down and low, it all looks different. And the trains on the District Line are all new?!

There’s no gap to mind anymore – if there was I wouldn’t be able to bridge it easily.

There is a stretch on each platform that is raised too, so that I can go straight onto the train, with no step up.

I had no idea it would be so easy. I did have help ( thanks Kim ) and was attached to my powered wheel gizmo, but if I’d been alone I think I’d be fine, after a few goes.

I went from Hammersmith to Blackfriars, and then 0.4 miles to see my solicitor.  It absolutely pissed with rain, but hey, I was always in a kayak so rain is nothing to me.

The other cool thing is that I’d stood in an election for a position in the British College of Optometrists.  Every college member in the London region was allowed to vote and there were 4 candidates – and evidently I got the most votes.

Good Lord, Trump will get elected as the President of America next……

I can tell that having a chair that now goes pretty fast has brought my reckless side back.

Still not sure of where exactly I stand legally, I’m pushing the boundaries a little.

A. 3 am ride back after Pia’s brilliant party, with my friend Julie on my lap was, let’s say, amusing.

There’s very little traffic on the roads at that time, certainly far less than there was today on the ride into Kensington ( also in the pouring rain ). Big thanks to Marky P for his outrider biking skills alongside me tonight.

But Mark… where were you at 3am on Saturday night?!  I thought Julie was going to die laughing during the 6 mile ride home… and we didn’t get out of top gear..

My stand up chair is certainly better at parties, until people move about- and that’s what they do, obviously – at which point they may as well have disappeared… as I can’t then turn around .

Post RGS, I now know a lot more about space and satellites than I did this morning. The whole satellite thing is very cool, and has changed human lives for ever, hugely.

The speaker, from a space company called Catapult, showed a mock up video of how the world might be in 2030 ( not long from now )  – and lots of stuff had changed! And it all seemed very feasible.  E.g. Jumping in the driverless car, which just picks you up and takes you to your destination, and collects you, and whilst in it you are totally connected to everyone and everything that you choose to be.

Was it exciting to see those advances?

No, not really, but..

Earthlings…… get ready for it!

Having my wheel has made me far more confident about going out, and being independent.

Where possible, I’d rather go under my own steam ( electric) than take vehicular conveyance. Obviously it’s cheaper than taxis, and it avoids the difficulty actually getting into and out of a bus. The thing is that whilst it’s easy ( ish ) to get up the ramp that comes out of the side of the bus, once I’m in and the bus is underway, it’s pretty impossible to turn around so that I can drive out forwards, and therefore reliant on someone else to ‘ take me from behind ‘… down the ramp.

And I’m not altogether comfortable thinking about that, never mind actually doing it.

Great to see half of the Toulon 12 last night in the Gay Pub of Chiswick

Toby, Pete, Sam, Neil and Jeremy  all came out to help me…..

I’d earlier spoken to my surgeon and had the ( good ) news that no metalwork has shifted/ come apart/ broken. He and I both know that it’s essential not to try to bend any further than the metalwork allows, it it will break and screws and rods will burst through my skin  – like a wheelchair version of Hellraiser.

I have another appointment on Friday to discuss what’s next.

Cool to spend time with Nick Sparey too, and Pia also, as always.

Something is up today- when I move my head fast the world spins.

I hope I don’t have a middle ear issue/ infection. I had one of those ten years ago, and it was pretty unpleasant. And if I can’t even move my head, then there’s not much else I can do!

From the Manageress, at the Care Agency…

My buddy, Rob Colliver was talking to me about the merits of a mirror attached to your cycle helmet.

I was fairly sold on the idea until he sent me this picture – because he definitely didn’t send it in jest!

Having had a flat stomach for 2 days in a row, it’s something that I could definitely get used to..

Im now increasingly of the opinion that my spasms are in the main gut/ intestine and bladder related.

Having mostly stopped all my anti spasm medications over the last few weeks , really on account of the awful potential and real side effects on memory and psyche that they come with, my spasms have definitely not been worse. At the same time, my waste mechanisms seem to be in a far better place.

Result – less spasms – at least so it seems.

And having been acquainted with  the IQ that I wanted in my life, I’m not intending to give that up easily.

Someone is born in London, and lives over 40 years in London, but hasn’t had the free time to walk the best bits – the walk along the river from Chiswick to Wandsworth – wtf?!

Glad to be a ‘tour guide’  to Karen , and for a laugh along the way.

How can a Valleys Boy in a wheelchair be doing this for a dyed in the wool Tottenham girl??

Thanks to Angela and Mags for this evening. Not sure what Mags was doing to herself ( for her to have not noticed a 5.7 level shake ) whilst the latest tremor in Nepal passed through, whilst she was there …. something equally earth shuddering I hope .

Thanks to Angela for joining the list of rubber glove donning helpers that have come to my aid when I am in need.

xx

Roger Moore?! More like Harry Secombe. There’s definitely a similarity. ?

Roger Moore……..

Neil Kinnock more like !!!!
????

( jealousy is a terrible thing)

I have a new carer – they do keep changing – she’s a laugh. From the West Indies, a bit younger than me, and with grown up kids,  and even grandchildren.

We get on really well.

She said I sound very cultured.

That was a slight surprise, given I’m from Pontypool, and instinctively ( rightly or wrongly ) I’d rather not come across as ‘ posh ‘.

Anyway, she did then undo the ‘compliment ‘ a bit, by saying I sounded like Simon Cowell.

I asked if she could possibly think of someone else instead that I sounded like, not being a big Cowell fan really.

She thought a bit and said ‘ yes… yes… Roger Moore ‘

I’ll go with the one time James Bond actor, rather than the manicured, high trouser wearer of dubious sexuality,  and I’m going to practice the Roger eyebrow thing, forthwith.

I must be posh, I just wrote ‘ forthwith ‘…

And I’ve got a mate called Rupert.

And one called Quentin, as well.