h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smudger,

I loved reading your story about the wheelchairs. I think we should form a Wheelchair Club and share some of our secrets on how we cope!!

It is interesting but I have found that I am able to do so much more WITH a wheelchair. Before my back used to ache. My feet were sore. I could not bend down. Altogether it was horrid.

Now my back pain is under control. My feet no longer hurt, and when I try and pick something off the floor, I either nearly tip over or struggle to get it up with the BBQ holders (wonderful things they are) Both of which are good for a laugh.

The one single factor which drives me dilly is when I am out with someone who insists on pushing me where she wants to go - not where I want to go!!. Then when we get to the till, or stop to look for something, passers by invariably address their questions to the pusher of the wheelchair - as if I am incapable of answering for myself.!! This is very frequent when I go to Mass. So if it happens I wheel myself away as fast as I can go.

I dread the day when I shall no longer be able to drive. I have no-where to park an electric wheelchair, so then I really shall have to rely even more on my friends in hootoo.

How about writing a book about your experiences Mr. Smudger? It should be fascinating. And your runaway!!That shounds intriguing!!.

with much affection to you both.

From the oldest wheelchair user on hootoo (at least I think I am (DOB23.05.1928)

Also Ran1

Hi there Also-Ran, Thanks for your post, we had to buy the electric scooter for Mk2 as I could not push her any more! (my back got so bad) I got it through an ex service site that I visit, at a really low price as well, so it was worth the very long round trip down south!

I know what you mean about folk only talking to the person standing behind the chair? Its annoying I know, but I think people just feel guilty talking down to some one in a chair. I remember spending a lot of time on my knees talking to patients when I was in the ambulance service. I think I wore the knees out of my uniform long before the seat!!

There are around 55 Snippets on the btm of my home page now! Almost a book (they are in drop down menue)

Ive made a few tools now for lifting various things, even made one for the garden!
As regards the runaway that was just to get away from an unhappy childhood, not to worry, I made it on the third attempt
Smudger,

So did I!

Third time lucky

And how lucky. It was the most wonderful partnership.

Also Ran1 .

Ive just noticed your birth date 23.5.28.
Mine is 24.5.51! just a day (and a few years) before mine
Smudger.

Dear Son and fellow Gemini,!!!
(We are very nice people I believe!!)

My second son was born in 1951!!

So I am a whole generation away from you. I must admit that everytime I have to give the year of my birth I actually shudder because it seem s to be aeons away.

I have no wish to be a 100. Hpwever, I do not feel ready to "kick the bucket" yet. There is sooooo much still to do.

I even feel that sleeping is "wasting" precious time. A commodity which is gets in short supply the older one is. I have always made the most of time, but now feel a certain frenzy to be up and doing things I have not yet done.

Sincerely,

Also Ran1

Dear Son and fellow Gemini,!!!
(We are very nice people I believe!!)

My second son was born in 1951!!

So I am a whole generation away from you. I must admit that everytime I have to give the year of my birth I actually shudder because it seem s to be aeons away.

I have no wish to be a 100. Hpwever, I do not feel ready to "kick the bucket" yet. There is sooooo much still to do.

I even feel that sleeping is "wasting" precious time. A commodity which is gets in short supply the older one is. I have always made the most of time, but now feel a certain frenzy to be up and doing things I have not yet done.

Sincerely,

Also Ran1

You're an example to follow Smudger, and that attitude applies to more than disability.


'Morning AR1 . That'd be why you sometimes post here at unearthly hours of the day then?

Waz

Hi LLLWaz, for your post, its good to know that others are also popping in to read these pages

Also Ran1, I know what you mean about things to do, and the time left. I cant do half the things I wanted to any more. So I just enjoy the things that I can do

I rememeber when I used to drive the A9 every week, and saw a mountain top at Dromochter Pass, I always said that one day I would stop, and walk up to the top of it?.
Never made it, never had the time?, now I have the time! but not the ability
So I just think back back to all the mountain tops I did get up to way back in my younger days!
Smudger,

"Climb every mountain"

And I vcanot remember the rest of the words
!!
That is so true.

"Never put off till tomorrow, what can be done today."

That, I am sure, is my bigggest fault. I joined the Procrastinators Club - (I believe it is the only one that I have ever joined on hootoo) and they of course never got around to telling me that I was a member

Wemembers are all professionals at the art of putting things off!!

I have just had a marvellous day and off to Mass. So must

Regards to all

Also Ran1

At Last!! AT last!!


I have found dear Waz at last!!

so many questions.

Did you have a nice time when you were without a PC?

Did you have a nice time in Spain?

Are you well?

etc. etc.

I have been sleeping in the p.m. and then wake up in the middle of night feeling as fresh as a daisuy. So u[p I get, make a tisane, and come through to my computer. Great fun!!

Off to Mass now after a really lovely day at Maidstone on the River Medway. Also looked at a very nice block of apartments which are being developed. Facing the River Medway.

Mus

Also Ran 1

About time you changed your name to Always on the Run One!

You know I've answered two other posts of yours recently but you're on the move so much I can't keep up

And here you are again dashing off!!

Waz (off to start campaign for Speed Limiters on Wheelchairs)

Oh yes, forgot. I had very good times everywhere this summer, even without the PC in Aberdeen. I think I shall stay put for a bit now. But then again if the opportunity comes up...

Going back to wheelchairs, my sister took my nephew to Paris in his wheelchair/buggy. Going out was fine but coming back the French Airport staff were completely unprepared, didn't know what to do and eventually held the plane up while they arranged for a hydraulic lift to take the chair up to the back door! All entirely unnecessary since, as my brother in law explained, in French, they could carry him on and collapse the chair to get it aboard.

I think the reason they never carried him up the steps of the plane, was, Insurance purposes

I know its weird, but we used to carry patients off from planes when I was in the ambulance service, but the air lines stopped it, after a case went against them after an accident

Must admit though, there has been great changes in access to shops & buildings over the past 5 years. Even to cross the street is alot easier now than it used to be

Even Asdas have a seating area where you can rest before heading for the car park, after youve been shopping!
A lot has been done recently, to improve life for disabled folk
Smudger,

I second your post AR1

I wish there were other sources of energy for wheelchairs that would make them lighter weight. The weight is prohibitive independance. You gain some such as choices instead of riding along with your chair pushers choices. My hubby has hearing loss and I speak softly so it is impossible to communicate while in motion. I end up feeling like I am screaming if I have to say somethingIt is more enjoyable to converse as you move like normal.
I hate that.

How about solar or nuclear?
JEllens dad invented a steam bicycle.
I keep meaning to ask her if he would consider trying a wheelchair. Solar panel seems doable or some lightweight space age metal with strength. What about forced air? Hmm gotta be another way!

One way around your communication problem Abbi would be the "motor cycle set" designed for two folk on a bike to talk to each other while travelling!
It works with ear phones and a throat mike, so its hands free Just an idea that might solve your problem
Check in the Biker Magazines Abbi

As regards to weight materials for wheel chairs, Im sure that with all these modern carbon fibre mountain bikes and the like, that a wheel chair could be made a lot lighter.
Its just the usual story of Cost?? for example an electric scooter (two wheeled) kids toy, costs around £100, but if its a four wheeled one for a disabled paerson, the it can cost up to £1300!!

Its just the usual "capital cost" against returns, that control the situation, for example, if "everyone" needed a wheel chair, the cost would come right down, due to the amount sold

We are a minority group, and treated accordingly Im sure if I had the resourses and the funding, I could come up with a lightweight affordable wheel chair
Smudger,

Thanks for the idea smudger!
I 'll get right on that, so we will have them the next time