View from the Chair

October 2010

Hello and welcome to my latest blog.

Just after my last blog I flew out to Egypt with wife Pam, mum and dad (Mavis and Neville), and a day later we were joined by my sister Jayne and brother in law (and scuba diving buddy) Graham. Our plans were to enjoy some late summer sun and for Graham and I to attempt the next level of our scuba diving qualifications, PADI Advanced Open Water.

The Holiday Company from Hell

As we arrived at Manchester Airport we should have read the signs that this wasn't going to be a straight forward holiday. In fact one could say that there were parts that resemble clips from the TV show Holidays in Hell. The nightmares started at check-in when it was confirmed that information about my additional support needs hadn't been passed on to the airline. We were told that we would need to sit in row 17. After I explained that that wouldn't be possible due to my medical condition, we were met by one of the most patronising people I have every met in twenty one years of being a disabled person. The supervisor didn't listen to a word we said, "We have offered you a seat, and we will get you into it".

We were left with the impression that I would be physically manhandled and dumped into the seat! But that was easy for him to say, as I am six foot seven and over sixteen stone he wasn't thinking about the poor guys who would have to do the lifting... He ignored my protests about the physical effort of staff manually getting me into the seat, the lack of leg room that would set off spasms in my legs and the sheer embarrassment would also be emotionally draining. But as we were left with seemingly no option other than go with it or cancel the holiday with no compensation, we made our way through to departures where we were met by the original check in desk assistant. She was apologetic about her colleague's attitude, and she explained that she had been able to rearrange the seating so I could sit in the accessible seats we originally booked. What ever happened to customer services?

All seemed fine until we arrived at the hotel. As we checked in we were informed that the booking was for one room for four adults, "no", its two twin rooms. After two hours of further embarrassment, frustration and stress, especially when told by the tour rep that he has met families like us before, "you book one room for four adults because it's cheaper then when you arrive at the resort you demand two rooms"! Well he ate his words when Mum found the original booking form that clearly showed two twin rooms.

Unfortunately this didn't change the fact the hotel had no spare rooms, and as it would mean two of us sleeping on what can only be described as camp beds, and that would cause great embarrassment for everyone due to my toilet routine, the only thing left was that mum and dad had to move to another hotel until later that week.

I have left out the detail about the endless phone calls to our tour operators back in Warrington, and the calls to Jayne and Graham that resulted in them sitting in the travel agents being told lies to pacify them, and the endless lies told to mum and dad, as well as Pam and I by the reps at our hotel. Needless to say this company will certainly not be our "First Choice" next year.

Deeper diving

By the Friday we were all together and could celebrate the start of our holiday. Early the following morning Graham and I set off early for our check dive, and returned late afternoon to pre-book the further dives required for the course. During the next day I started to feel quite poorly, hot and cold, giddy, sickness, by that evening we needed to visit the pharmacy for some local medication. The night seemed an endless stream of hallucinations brought on by the tablets and rising temperature and during the next five days I ate and drank very little and when it came time to take the first dives of the course I had to pull out, but Graham refused to go until I was better.

As the end of the holiday drew nearer it looked unlikely that I would get much better, but after a lot of mutual support from Graham, I called it buddy bullying, we headed off to the harbour. When we arrived it was a surprise to see that we would be travelling on the dive boat Macca, the same boat and crew that I had travelled with in September last year and with Graham in May this year. It was great to see everyone again, including Ramey, our instructor who we had worked with for our first qualifications back in May. As I was feeling very weak after several days with no food Ramey reassured me that if I didn't feel up to it, I was to give the signal and we could abort the dive. Interestingly as soon as we entered the water the idea of giving up never entered my mind again.

During the next two days we undertook six dives that included navigation using compass and general underwater features. We did a wreck dive that was awesome, the torn metal of the ship provided an insight into the sheer power of the sea. The fish identification training made one really focus on fish of all sizes, shapes and colours, and we did several drift dives which involved some very strong currents, one minute one was gliding along with the current behind you, the next with a strong current in your face it was like hitting a wall of treacle. But the most amazing was the deep dive. During the pre-dive briefing Ramey explained that we would encounter strong cross currents, which could be hitting us from different directions at the same time and the aim was to get down below twenty five metres where it would be calmer. Graham and I would like to see the dive book that Ramey has been reading where it defines "calm"! It was exciting, exhilarating, close to scary at times, but never calm. One of the bonuses was the very warm water, 29c at thirty metres, amazing; it was like diving in a bath. The highlight for us both, was seeing a turtle close up, and of course getting Ramey's signature on our dive logs and the pass certification. Interestingly, I never thought too much about feeling sick, but after six dives in two days, I was absolutely shattered. Hey, aren't the sun beds back at the hotel for sleeping on, sorry Pam I wasn't much company?

As we arrived back at Aquarius Dive Centre it was hand shakes and hugs from Anwar (aka Henry) and dive master and great guy Musty (this guy is so eager to please and he has a great smile). Together with their English born wives Musty and Ramey are planning to visit the UK early next year, Graham and I have offered to take them diving at Capernwray Dive Centre in Lancashire, they were both very keen until we told them about the temperature! Welcome to England guys. Back home life at WDP was as hectic as ever. Our team based at the Warrington Market were busy organising the celebrations for World Mental Health Day which involved various partners from voluntary sector support groups, and health and social care teams.

On the first Sunday back from holiday Pam and I were joined by Barry and Sandra from WDP for what has become the ritual trip to Manchester to purchase stock for WDP's Christmas activities that include a giant tombola, raffle and Santa. When I saw the decorations my memory took me back to last year, pixies and elves a plenty, and that was my fellow Trustees! I won't name them because of fear of recrimination, but if you want to know who they are, give me a call…….oh, and I might have a picture or two to add to their embarrassment.

An awarding evening

The WIRE FM Awards run by our local radio station provides an opportunity to recognise local heroes. Over the past five years we have had some great success with our nominations, and this year was no exception, but it was extra special as two of our team were honoured for their work. Brun Corbishley, one of our assistant managers received a lifetime achievement award in recognition for over twenty years of service to WDP, Disability Awareness Day and support to disabled people that includes professional roles with the Warrington Collegiate and Dallam Day Centre. Everyone who knows Brun will add their support for this award.

Our second success on the night was to a newcomer to WDP, Rachel Johnson. Working as a Young Ambassador, Rachel is using her experience of living with an eating disorder that nearly cost her, her life. Rachel's very powerful messages draws upon her experience as a teenager treated on an adult mental health ward. Her heart of gold award was well deserved. The award also recognises her work with my team at 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in raising awareness of the needs of young people and supporting the challenging stigma campaign.

Money comes in ...money goes out

Our second weekend home from holiday was spent at WDP's caravans in North Wales. Together with Jayne and Graham we scrubbed and cleaned in preparation for the winter closure. But as we were investigating a wet patch at the back of the kitchen sink we were shocked to find that a long standing dripping tap had allowed water to get under the vinyl floor covering leaving some very serious damage to the plywood floor of the caravan. The rotten wood and vinyl covering will need to be replaced before the start of next years holiday season. This will probably wipe out the funds raised at Octobers Quiz Night which was our best of the 2010 calendar.

More work at the Centre

Before I finish this month's blog I'll give you an update on progress at the Centre for Independent Living. The showroom is looking great; JD Kitchens have installed a fantastic kitchen which includes some interesting accessible features. Independent Lifestyles in partnership with AKW have built a brilliant bathroom and bathing display that features three areas including a bath, toilet and showers. The most noticeable addition to the Centre is the conservatory that has been sponsored and built by David Jones's team at Fairview Windows. The space is fantastic and will become usable in early November when we take delivery of the new tables and chairs that have been funded by Warrington Borough Councils West Area Board.

As you can see we are ticking off the jobs one at a time. But we still need to raise approximately £75,000 to complete the work prior to our official opening currently planned for March next year. I will be doing my bit towards fundraising when I will launch the "going the extra mile campaign" with a sixty six length (one mile) scuba dive in a local swimming baths in February next year. Are you interested in joining me, "going the extra mile"? It doesn't have to be scuba diving, why not try a sponsored walk, cycle ride, swim, you can do it alone or get a team to complete the mile. Or if you have other ideas we would like to hear from you.

Until next time, thank you for your interest.