...Hello, it's good to be back...

I started today by listening to 'What's the Story, Morning Glory?', very loud, through my IPod. I cannot believe it is almost 20 years old! Gulp! I was pleased, to listen and hear the 'magic cough', in between 'Roll Witn It' and 'Wonderwall', still exists on my mp3! This post's title is a reference (fans of Oasis will understand). 

Hmmm, another historical note. 

365posts...

I was looking at a few statistics of this blog, and I have found that I have made 365posts in total. It shows me again, how important I find this blog. Whilst actually socialising minimally, maybe feeling trapped by my wheelchair-life (I don't know, I have to be careful what to say). In writing this blog, I have the wonderful ability of 'talking', and being 'heard', around the globe.

'Why dat man need dat?'

Hmmm. A very young child's response to their parent, after seeing me. Hmmm, different, I am 'different'. However, I am so used to twisting things to suit me, so... The young child was actually spot on, correct. She cited me and the wheelchair as two different things. 'Dat man' obviously needed 'dat' wheelchair, but the key issue was 'why'? 

We should all be pleased that age can be just a number. Perhaps the greatest songwriter of them all, Leonard Cohen, turned 80 recently, and I was shown a sample of a superb video for one of his latest songs. The maestro continues to write and produce quality music. Legend.

Leonard Cohen - 80!

It's almost like the blues

www.leonardcohen.com

Below are two notes that I have made earlier in the week. Hmmm, I judge both so poorly, they will not be discussed. They don't deserve such stature. I will only cause offence.  :(

U2 ...

Apple Headphones 

Hmmm. Tuesday, I received an invitation to the meeting stated below. As writer of the KAT blog (http://kingstonactionontransport.blogspot.co.uk/), and a member of Kingston Centre for Independent Living, I felt my duty to attend.

Accessibility was the problematic factor. I feared this, checked on Tuesday, was corrected, saw problems, however I was corrected. Thursday, day of the talk, I turn up, however, I am let down. No go. 

I don't talk as I don't want to offend anyone involved. I have proved my 'need of thorough preparation' to be true. People may disregard my 'manic preparation', but wheelchair users MUST PREPARE.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT LIAISON GROUP

PUBLIC TRANSPORT LIAISON MEETING

Hehehe, ok. Thus, it turned out, I had the day free. I was in Kingston, but felt the need to escape.  As I have done so before, I took the train into Central London (Kingston - Waterloo). I met a friend, going for lunch on the Southbank. Once he had parted, I knew exactly what I wanted to do (still frustrated by the meeting issue above). I moved past Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road, Moor Street, Old Compton Street, Frith Street, Bar Italia.

:)

An espresso and muffin brought a smile to my face, completely forgetting about the 'accessibility issue' of the morning.

Masochistically, I was going to test my wheelchair's battery, as I planned my next venture. Oh, the joy of having a map on your IPhone!

Frifth St

Charing Cross Rd

Newport St

Long Acre

Drury lane

Aldwych

Strand/Fleet St 

I made the trip successfully between the two best cafés in London.

 'Bar Italia', Soho to 'The Fleet Street Press Office'.

:)

;p

My wheelchair battery survived, just!!

Coffee is IMPORTANT

a split second...

I try to post on this blog every Friday, covering notes made in the previous week. Therefore, a 'week' can start on a weekend!

I attempt to bore you here, confusing you, as I start this week by admitting...
:( so... A Tripolo chocolate cake and RPA
I was feeling bad/lonely/useless/down. I realised this, and felt assured of picking myself up with coffee, and music.
As you all know, I am experienced, so not just a mild 'single shot'. I usually opt for a 'double', but wanted a lift, so a 'tripolo' was to accompany a dark chocolate cake. Music-wise, hmmm, something I knew all the words to, feel good, positive....?Straight-away, I knew. Music is personal to everyone, everyone is different. I felt that I needed to investigate the latest Richard Ashcroft album...

(i did not watch the video!) :s

Born Again - live

Sunday looked like rain all day, but thankfully the clouds were kind to the Tour of Britain, on its final stage in the capital.
I stood, endlessly taking photos, as ever. Below is one of my photos of Sir Bradley Wiggins following team domestique Bernhard Eisel. Below that, a friend's photo of the same rider, but showing 'yours truly' across the road, in an orange, Basque, Euskadi top. 
A photo, a split second after a photo 

'Are you ok? Have you dropped something?' 
Hmmm, the response from a man as I was spotted bending, leaning forward, out of my wheelchair. I was fine. I obviously looked strange, as I was leaning to trying and get a suitable photo for the graphic-design work I do. Although added to my mini-library of pics, the shot that I talk did not 'make the grade'. Instead a photo, similar to below, is to be used.
Phone boxes (side view)

My next note gets no explanation. I begun making the note on Wednesday evening, then added to it last night. Today is Friday!

Wednesday was a 'fortunate' day :)
Maybe...
Thursday as well...
Maybe...
Friday?...

I am 30. I admit
I listened to Radiohead on 'shuffle'! I feel soooo guilty.
I admit, it was as I listened to 'Pyramid Song', I expected the weird sounds of'Pull/Pulk Revolving Doors' to follow, but instead it was an acoustic guitar strum intro to 'True Love Waits'! So wrong. :(
Shuffled music is a lazy, cheat's choice!

idler's dream

/oasis_sad_song/

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wg9u_noel-gallagher-idler-s-dream_music

Ok ok ok, I lied. I type again, outside, by the river. Sunny weather, but cold. In England, you expect nothing, but you learn to cope with anything (almost)!

It has been eight years since my accident, long enough to be ready when experiencing people's reactions. So I thought.
Alarmed, I was when I was very kindly checked upon by a very old lady, walking (just) with a stick.
'Are you ok?'
I smiled, and nodded an affirmative response. I thought that I would be rude, if I were to ask back, the same, so held my breath. I was left shocked and confused. I felt bad in being so unsure. I am used to being asked such, by everyone, I thought. However, to be asked by such, hurt. I was then cross with myself. Oh, confused.

The best Oasis songs?...
Sad Song
Idler’s Dream

I must accept my own rules!
Try to just live life for the 'now'. Fate just happens.
I am slowly, infuriatingly proving myself correct. I am however, a designer, always thinking of the next stage. We cannot live a life that doesn't exist yet. It is good to dream, but we all live in reality. Hmm...

Wednesday, I had a hospital appointment. Oh man! My heart goes out to those who work in such. I was told to wait for 15minutes. I felt down, as I had nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs. I suddenly realised that 15 minutes is actually nothing. But...
Hospital time is not real time
I have definitely returned to the 'real world', by feeling like this. Ok, I used to live in a hospital, but this is not real life.

Stoned without glasses 
On the same day, I forgot, and left my glasses at home. Hmmm... I expected to notice the difference at the beginning, however I was still noticing the difference into the afternoon. It felt weird. I began to feel like I had smoked weed. I don't, incase you're wondering!

I have to wake up. I am 30! I cannot live a dream and should not expect to be 'swept off my feet by an angel'

the best penalty ever!
http://instagram.com/p/s2VLycHLJL/

Drug appreciation

Truthfully, I begin to type this post, outside in the sunlight, before a dentist's appointment, drinking my coffee! I don't EVER destroy a coffee by including sugar, so I think it should be ok...

A 'good'coffee depends on:
The blend of coffee beans
&
How it is made, where, who, when?

Hehe, forgive me. If you don't want to know about coffee, then go elsewhere (I suggest that you give Starbucks a try?)
There are two elements to consider, if you praise a 'good coffee'. Obviously, the ingredients, blend of beans. Personally, I think that Latin beans are tastiest (everybody is different). The second element to consider is where, who, and when. Methods will vary, obviously. Combine all of these variable results, to give you YOUR answer.

Ok, I stop boring you all to tears, about coffee! The success of this blog...
The month of August 2014, proved popular. The second highest amount of page views in a month.
940
Over thirty page views per day shows me that there is a point to all of this! Thank you.

It was as I went about town, earlier in the week, I made another note.
I am so glad my drive for independence was successful 
I witness others who have had their independent mobility taken away from them.  There are plenty of wheelchair users out there,some independent, some less fortunate. I think back, and I was terrified by the fear of needing a wheelchair and 'carer'. I was young and was terrified of losing the independence which I had spent my entire life striving for. When I am 80, maybe, but 22? No way. I know that this fear was what gave me the drive to move forward.

Accessible transport is not 'a bit of fun'. It should not be considered lightly. Accessible transport is essential. Transport For London deserve much respect, for their attitude towards wheelchair accessibility is much appreciated. There are problems, but there will always be issues. Perfection cannot exist. Wheelchair accessibility is an issue that I obviously find very important. Ok, there may be ways of travelling a journey, but currently so much energy is spent on planning a trip. It would just be so good to
'Turn up and go'
...and this is exactly what the new TFL project is called, aiming to tackle this problem. Thank you TFL.

I was watching the international football, earlier in the week. For the first time, ever, I found that the...
Entire England team, younger than me!
Leighton Baines is not 30 until December!

My music choice this week, was, yet again, found thanks to Marc Riley on 6music. I listened to Marissa Nadler, amazed and extremely grateful for how 'deep' her music goes. Critics will dismiss as 'depressing', but I am above such shallow behaviour! Beautiful music. Powerful.

http://www.marissanadler.com

'wedding'

Ok, job done. I have been to the dentist and all is ok. My appointment was 2.15. Talked, had teeth and gums checked, all ok. I accepted the offer of my dentist to clean my teeth. She was halfway through, when i suddenly remembered. I stopped her, and checked my watch. 2.35.
"Oh, no, I've missed it"
"Is all ok? Do you need to go?" She answered.
"No, no. It's just I missed it. Two thirty, I should be seeing a Japanese dentist. Tooth hurty!?!"
"Heeheeheehee teeheehee!"

Fortunately, a good response! She then admitted to having told a similar joke to a previous patient but wasn't as good! :)