DONT STOP ME NOW

WOW YAY

I just spoke on RADIO WALES Roy Noble show, (Mystery Voice) http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/roynoble/
My guess---Kate Thornton (X-Factor, presenter) was wrong. listen again to the show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/roynoble/
Thursday 31st (approx) 9.50 am.

Yesterday, in the mail, My PR1MO "BLUE" tyres came for "LOAMIE" my manual wheelchair. They look very trendy and "cool", cant wait to get them fitted.

Friday, went to Coleshill Social Centre.

Saturday, went to TESCO, Haverfordwest , shopping, in "LOAMIE" (active manual chair) it was very busy, like a day just before Christmas?

Sunday, went to Orllwyn Teifi Vintage show
http://www.llandysul-ponttyweli.co.uk/english/Evvintage05.htm

Were here from 10.am to 5.0pm saw alot of interesting things. Jason (nephew, 11) was with us, he had a very good time, on the "old style" attractions
Went around the stalls looking at peoples JUNK they are trying to sell. Got a BED RAISER RAIL ( to hold onto when getting out of bed) for £2.50 in new condition, in the mobility shops they go for upto £90 !!!!!!!!

The battery on "STORMIE" (my other outdoors powerchair) held up very good , full charge is 10 lights after this adventure it showed 7 lights

Monday (Bank Holiday) I went to see my partner at
the chocolate farm http://www.welshchocolatefarm.com/
where she works (about 6 miles, round trip) the road was fairly busy,because of the holiday !!!

Alot of the farmers have cut grass, for silage, and they are busy harvesting it, as the forecast is for rain tonight

Been down to the village, to buy a paper(5 miles). Then along the roads around my home, (another 4 miles)the battery is still two thirds full.

Had another idea, to look into getting a canopy for "stormie" so I can go out during the winter rain ,and NOT get wet!! all I have found (so far) are ones like a clear plastic on a frame, bit like on pushchairs!!! (not trendy(ish) enough for me)

Got the documents (in the post) for public liability insurance, for my Action Storm XS, wheelchair. £60 per/year. ( at least I am covered, if anything untoward happens, while I am out and about).

Now I have to look into purchasing a lightweight ramp to put the strom in the car (Ford, Fusion2). The ramp has to be strong (the storm weighs 100kg) wide 8 inches, and telescopic (folding small enough to go into car) and going out to 5 feet.

Been busy (practising!!) with my new "stormie", before I let loose in public spaces.

I went " miles down the road on Sunday, then went down to the vllage, http://www.llanboidy.org.uk/ (site being updated ,I see!!) last night (5 miles round trip) the hill out of the vilage is quite steep (1/2 mile) by "stormie" had NO problem. The battery level meter was only down two bars (full charge is 11) so it seems in very good health. So I have found out the chair should be OK for 10 hrs or 12 miles (of flat surface).
Planning on going to a Large vintage show
http://www.llandysul-ponttyweli.co.uk/english/Evvintage05.htm
this weekend (put "stormie" to a test)

After my Digital Story, was aired on Radio Wales , (and to be shown on TV inthe future) I thought I would , be "true to my motto".

Last night, I went to see a LIVE band "Hayseed Dixie"
http://www.hayseed-dixie.com/
at Queens Hall, Narbeth.
http://www.thequeenshall.org.uk/
It was FANTASTIC, first gig I have been to in about 15 years (last one was to see R.E.M. ,in Cardiff Arms Park)
As I took "LOAMIE", I was right at the front, with a excellent view of the band. Got some great (close up)photos of the band members. The hall was "packed" (only got (accidently) knocked twice, and only ran over a few toes !! (to my knowledge!!!)

An exciting Saturday !!!!

Went to Thacham, Newbury, To collect a (used ) electric wheelchair.

I am NOT ready for one yet (I have my "LOAMIE") but this was NOT to be missed, I will use it when I am going somewhere that will not suit a manual chair (showgrounds, feilds,gardens)
Action Storm XS
read this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbouch/F2322273?thread=3334015

I have been adjusting it to suit me.

It is very powerfull.and like NEW

Just got to get insurance (its road legal, lights etc.) with public liability (just incase someone gets IN MY WAY!!)

Look ME!!
On the Radio Wales website "Roadshow"

During the first interveiw by BBC Capture Wales Lisa Heledd

At the roadshow held at Haverfordwest showground

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/haverfordwest/pages/roadshow_gallery.shtml?16

ME!!

During, the first interview, with Lisa Heledd from BBC Capture Wales Team.

At Haverfordwest showground.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/haverfordwest/pages/roadshow_gallery.shtml?16

ME!!
Having, first interview, with Lisa Heledd (BBC Capture Wales team) at the Radio Wales Roadshow, Haverfordwest Showground

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/haverfordwest/pages/roadshow_gallery.shtml?16

Been sent this from the BBC Capture Wales team

I thought you might like to see this Alan - it was an e-mail sent to Melanie our TV/radio output person - you obviously made an impression! x


Hi Melanie
Just to say we played Alan's story out on today's programme and we were inundated with listener response. It was a very moving piece.
alan even e mailed to thank us.
Jillx

Jill Lloyd
Producer
BBC Radio Wales

WOW!!!
Been sent this from the BBC Capture Wales Team

I thought you might like to see this Alan - it was an e-mail sent to Melanie our TV/radio output person - you obviously made an impression! x


Hi Melanie
Just to say we played Alan's story out on today's programme and we were inundated with listener response. It was a very moving piece.
alan even e mailed to thank us.
Jillx

Jill Lloyd
Producer
BBC Radio Wales

My picture is on the Radio Wales website, on there "out and about in Haverfordwest" page 16 or 17
I am being interveiwed by Lisa Heledd

This Saturday, Hopefully, will be a bit quieter, just go to TESCO, Haverfordwest, food shopping. Yes, DID go, took my nephew with us) (We do use their on-line shopping service, it very easy, and the deliveries have all been a few minutes early, but I DO miss going to the store!!!!)

For a change, We went into Morrisons , for lunch (never again!!) the CAFÉ has a lot of redesigning and they haven’t thought about wheelchair users. The food wasn’t up to much either.

This is the email sent (Monday, Just great, they haven’t got any email details !!!)
On 5th August I went to the Haverfordwest Shop for lunch.

As a wheelchair user I was Appalled at the layout of the Café.
While my partner was in the queue for the hot food and pay desk, I went to get the cutlery, and serviettes.
Where I found these items where NOT easily accessible, the rail to place a tray onto prevents a wheelchair user from getting close enough to reach any items.

The writing on the MILK cartons is very small, so visually impaired persons would have difficulty identifying them.

The aisles, between the tables and chairs, is very narrow, I had to disturb other customers to allow me to pass.

The tables and chairs (which were dirty), are of a fixed design, so NO allowance has been made for a wheelchair user to dine in any sort of comfort. Plus (all) the tables allow a considerable amount of “bounce” to them when any small amount of pressure is exerted on them, ie: when cutting food.

Outside the Café was a small area where diners could sit in the sun, but the doors to this area was via fire doors, that were not to be used, therefore this area was out of bounds to people.

The operating staff seemed to be very unorganised, going from table to table asking customers what they had ordered, while any food they had was getting cold. Orders of meals where arriving at customers about 10-15 minutes after ordering, of which was very poor and greasy quality.

Alan Thomas
Tybach
Cefnbrafle
Llanboidy
Carmarthenshire
SA34 0SA

01994 448397




But there again my nephew might remember that the “ANT BULLY” is showing in the cinema (Theatre Mwldan) (He DID remember, but we went on Sunday afternoon !)

On Sunday morning, I went to a vintage show outside Cardigan, “ADRAN DYFFRYN TEIFI” at Penparc.
Very enjoyable, quite a crowd visiting.
When I was in the shower, afterwards, I realised, how much soot and dust I had collected!!!. We were there in brilliant sunshine, just as we were leaving it went cloudy and turned to rain !!. The show field was a bit rough on the wheelchair, but fields ARE NOT DESIGNED to be used by wheelchairs, they had plenty of “portaloos” for everybody ( although the “wheelie” one was situated on some very rough and sloping ground)

Went to Coleshill Social Centre, Llanelli, on Friday, my weekly bus ride !! NO computer lesson as the tutor is on Summer holiday. Next term we start a new module to CLAIT covering PowerPoint (presentations). I have done Word and Excel, and passed the exams with “flying colours”.
We are setting up a computer suite with the help of Leonard Cheshire
Via their Swansea Vale branch. Then it will be a lot easier to study the e-mail and web-design modules.

Looking at Holiday Brochures, at somewhere for next January. Last year we went to CostaTequise, Lanzarote. I think we were lucky to have such a nice resort, first time around. It takes a lot of searching the internet for reviews of hotels/resorts, mainly with- and- to make sure it going to be OK (for a Wheelie) I can manage small, single steps (if I HAVE to) but a slope is preferable. I am NOT a beach person, but somewhere hotter than the UK in winter!!

Sorry for all the day/mix up, copy and pasteing

Last Saturday evening, went theatre Mwldan, Cardigan (with my nephew (11) Jason) to see the film CARS. It was good, worth taking the kids to see (some things go over the heads of youngsters, but us “mature” lot will understand them).
It was in Mwldan 2, upstairs, they have a lift, it got seats in the middle, like a normal autitorium, then it has sets of 3 wings(rising up) on either side, this is where the wheelchair spaces are situated. I prefer Mwldan 1, on the ground floor (here you don’t seem to be looking up at the screen, as the wheelchair spaces are more central). Look at the website, http://www.mwldan.co.uk/ and you can see the seating plans, here http://www.mwldan.co.uk/seating-plan2.htm

Today (Thursday 3rd July) my Digital Story was on Radio Wales (Roy Noble show) at around 10 40am. If you missed it they have a listen again feature, here http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/roynoble/ Make sure your listening to Thursday 3rd August, go to about 10.40am(ish)

For information on Ataxia go here http://www.ataxia.org.uk

On Sunday, I went to the park (in St.Dogmaels) quite busy (school holidays !!) had a mini adventure getting to the public toilets, across the playing field, down a steep uneven slope, up a kerb, and then found the disabled cubicle, LOCKED, by a RADAR key, I had left mine in the house !! So I managed to go a few steps into the gents. In the afternoon we went to the Felin (mill) to feed the ducks.

On the BBC Ouch messageboard, http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbouch/F2322273?thread=3316941&post=38696297#p38696297 I notice that London buses are to invite wheelchair users on their routes, and then fill in questionnaires on their service. This should be brought out to cover all transport companies. Perhaps I would get a bus service, in my area, more than the twice a week that there is now!! HINT, HINT, FIRST BUSES and ARRIVA TRAINS !!!!