After a weekend full of fun and millions of visitors, I found myself with just Eliza and my two grandchildren (aged 3 and 5). All relatively calm and peaceful.
Splash came in the morning . The children popped off to the playground mid morning and had a wonderful play.
In the afternoon we had decided to go to "Flying Saucers", in Hebden Bridge, where you can paint pottery.
I rang for a taxi for them, having decided that I would go down in the green van, so that I would have full use of my wheels in HB.
The taxi firm, thinking I needed a taxi for myself, were very apologetic , saying the man with the wheelchair taxi no longer worked in HB. In this instance it didn't matter, but, in the long term it does, as any possibility of using a taxi is gone . And I must say, that after the last RAC visit ,I was about to throw in the towel and commit to using Taxis!! OK, I could get one, but it would come from Halifax, at a probable cost of £50 each journey ! So I guess I need to investigate any community transport help......
Anyway on to Flying Saucers... all great fun !
Liza got a taxi home and I went to green van to return too.
A car was parked behind me, leaving not enough room for access.. despite the sign saying Please leave 2.5 m space !!!
No matter, I thought. I sat in the sun, had a cigarette and waited. Man and children eventually came, got in car and drove off !
Now, there are those of you that would say I should have had a go at him.... well Im sorry, I couldnt ! I knew that if I tackled him, I would be the one ending up in tears !
I got in. Car wouldn't start.... after a few goes I realised that I had , in error, locked the steering! RATS!!!! So sorted it.
Went to start car.. it didnt ! Several goes !!! Then I saw sign saying depress brake.. ! AHHH ! BUT Brake was on ????? !!!!!
I then realised that if you do anything unusual, eg undo the the steering lock or even ( and this is true), open a window !!! YES.... a window !!!! The over-ride on the systems are re-set to manual!!!
In this case it was the braking system. Three buttons... one of which I found out was a horn ! (You'll have guessed how I found that out !).... anyway, eventually brakes were working, I was set to go , car started ! YEY!!!!!
Up Keighley rd, OK. Sharp bend into Billy Lane. Difficult manoeuvre when you accelerate and steer with you hands... But road joining from Billy Lane, was clear.. I swung around ... perfect... except a horse box and a Tesco van decided there would be plenty of room and coming towards this junction didnt pull up short and wait, ( as most do ), but rather moved to the corner ! RATS!!! So I had to mount the pavement.
Made it home for a cuppa !!!
PS Other issues as yet , unresolved, happened yesterday... to do with my very favourite issue of , "Not being able to get off the toilet"... When this is resolved I shall Blog the whole sad tale.........
Until then,
HUG ME, I'VE GOT MND
Showing posts with label taxi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxi. Show all posts
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Saturday, 22 September 2012
WHEEL CHAIR RIDE IN TAXI
Before I write on the main subject of this Blog, I'd like to thank the 11,500 people who have read my Blog. Keep reading!!!
SO... yesterday I had to go to Tod to take my wheelchair driving test. Its part of the health and safety rules for the loan of a wheelchair. I was to meet Pete at 1:00 by the bus station, under the arches.
Taxi booked for 12:30. It arrived promptly. I had closed all the doors to keep Meggie in in order that I could open the main doors to exit myself.
So, all well I headed out. But tried to close doors my squirming round and pulling, ( they open inwards), after much hassling and grazing of door.( oops !!!) I realised that I had to get out, turn, then back outwards pulling door. After many minutes I managed.
I was wondering why driver couldn't see my predicament and come to help, but he too had his own predicament. He was getting the ramps attached. Much to my horror, I saw it wasn't solid but two separate tracks.. no room for error! So, putting chair on high power, necessary to getup any incline, I zoomed up, just stopping in time to not exit through the opposite door!!!!.
It was then that he explained that I needed to be turned at right angles to face forwards! Much back and forward, shoving and pushing,and I was in place, but only fitted because my feet were pulled under, very very uncomfortable. The doors had been open during this 20min process and I was now very chilled. As we descended into Hebden Bridge it started to rain!!
I saw Pete, and he suggested to not use power on chair to exit, but to disconnect drive. I went back from Taxi putting all my faith in Pete, whilst driver watched. Driver said cost £18, but said pay on return.
Pete and I did a 45 min circuit of Tod. Including a kerb climb ... hairy you have to speed at it and pray that the kerb climber is set right, to leave a kerb you go backwards and have to go at right angles,or you may well tip.. any way I managed it all.. getting colder and wetter by the minute!!!The bottom line is that I passed, showing excellent awareness. Another accolade I could do without needing!!
I then had the first fun I've had for ages. I met up with several friends, bought some cream to make pommes dauphinoise AND a lovely BIG bunch of fragrant lilies from the indoor market. YEA!!! Freedom. if only for mins. This is what I want to be able to do,and, WHEN my car is drivable , I will. It will mean normality in this stressful life.
So now the taxi drive home.
The driver, and I had taken note of how to disconnect drive and pushed me into taxi. It still took ages to put on the restraints onto the wheel chair, but only about 15mins this time, Whilst we were driving back to MM, I asked if there was an extra charge for wheelchair users, as it took longer. No said the driver.
Thinking the cost was £18 I got out a £20 note. But no, the charge was £36 , but he would charge £30. I paid £30.
Got in wet and very cold, made a cuppa and went to rest on bed. Elsa popped in for a short while and I got up. She made a coffee. After this I had planned to make the potato onion and bacon bake... but too tired, I had a bacon sandwich, and even that I couldn't eat all, so so exhausted.
I slept for 12 hrs.
HUG ME, I'VE GOT MND
SO... yesterday I had to go to Tod to take my wheelchair driving test. Its part of the health and safety rules for the loan of a wheelchair. I was to meet Pete at 1:00 by the bus station, under the arches.
Taxi booked for 12:30. It arrived promptly. I had closed all the doors to keep Meggie in in order that I could open the main doors to exit myself.
So, all well I headed out. But tried to close doors my squirming round and pulling, ( they open inwards), after much hassling and grazing of door.( oops !!!) I realised that I had to get out, turn, then back outwards pulling door. After many minutes I managed.
I was wondering why driver couldn't see my predicament and come to help, but he too had his own predicament. He was getting the ramps attached. Much to my horror, I saw it wasn't solid but two separate tracks.. no room for error! So, putting chair on high power, necessary to getup any incline, I zoomed up, just stopping in time to not exit through the opposite door!!!!.
It was then that he explained that I needed to be turned at right angles to face forwards! Much back and forward, shoving and pushing,and I was in place, but only fitted because my feet were pulled under, very very uncomfortable. The doors had been open during this 20min process and I was now very chilled. As we descended into Hebden Bridge it started to rain!!
I saw Pete, and he suggested to not use power on chair to exit, but to disconnect drive. I went back from Taxi putting all my faith in Pete, whilst driver watched. Driver said cost £18, but said pay on return.
Pete and I did a 45 min circuit of Tod. Including a kerb climb ... hairy you have to speed at it and pray that the kerb climber is set right, to leave a kerb you go backwards and have to go at right angles,or you may well tip.. any way I managed it all.. getting colder and wetter by the minute!!!The bottom line is that I passed, showing excellent awareness. Another accolade I could do without needing!!
I then had the first fun I've had for ages. I met up with several friends, bought some cream to make pommes dauphinoise AND a lovely BIG bunch of fragrant lilies from the indoor market. YEA!!! Freedom. if only for mins. This is what I want to be able to do,and, WHEN my car is drivable , I will. It will mean normality in this stressful life.
So now the taxi drive home.
The driver, and I had taken note of how to disconnect drive and pushed me into taxi. It still took ages to put on the restraints onto the wheel chair, but only about 15mins this time, Whilst we were driving back to MM, I asked if there was an extra charge for wheelchair users, as it took longer. No said the driver.
Thinking the cost was £18 I got out a £20 note. But no, the charge was £36 , but he would charge £30. I paid £30.
Got in wet and very cold, made a cuppa and went to rest on bed. Elsa popped in for a short while and I got up. She made a coffee. After this I had planned to make the potato onion and bacon bake... but too tired, I had a bacon sandwich, and even that I couldn't eat all, so so exhausted.
I slept for 12 hrs.
HUG ME, I'VE GOT MND
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