Well, so much has happened since I left my job - then again maybe not. I have somehow found myself co-erced in to 'working' a shift at our local MS centre and charity shop as well as setting up a Facebook page for the Branch. The shop is extremely busy and I admit I am at times overwhelmed by people's generosity, but also by the amount of stock that I seem to be expected to price up and put out on the shelves during a voluntary shift. Some of the more experienced staff seem oblivious to the fact that my MS makes me emotionally instable and that if I feel I can't cope I involuntarily burst in to tears. This doesn't look good in the middle of a shop full of people but I am learning to try to do things at my own pace and leave what I can't cope with. I just think being unable to see the counter through piles of stock looks terrible to customers and would certainly put me off if I was to walk in somewhere like that - maybe it's just me!
Hubby does some 'work' there too in his capacity as a PAT tester - assessing electrical equipment as safe both for the shop and the goods to sell. He also now drives the minibus to take people with MS who wish to go to social events in their wheelchairs or who have no other means of transport once every two weeks. I sometimes go to the friday club which is held at the Ponda Rosa twice a month if he is driving. If you are reading this and live on the island with MS and want more details about this or the MS Society Branch let me know.
I am still unable to drive as my feet have unfortunately not regained normal sensation and I can't feel the pedals in my manual car. This is becoming increasingly irritating to hubby who needs to drive me anywhere I want to go, and me for having to ask him to do so. Fortunately, after spending 3 weeks completing the paperwork though I have now been awarded higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance - and because my walking is now so badly affected - a blue badge.
We also decided that as walking is such a problem I should get a mobility scooter. So seeing one on Gumtree for £600 (normal new price nearer £1000), we arranged a ferry and took a trip to the North island to have a look. It was perfect; strong enough to take my amazonian frame and being capable of up to 8mph, legal on the road (taxed and insured) would be fully capable of getting me out to the local shops and to the MS centre for my shift once a week when hubby isn't there. Obviously in bad weather we would still take the car if my poncho isn't up to the job. I do get some odd looks sometimes but if I need it, I need it and most people are very understanding but if you are one of those who don't like it TOUGH! Actually though I do still try to walk around the supermarket using a trolley to hold on to - I have been on the receiving end of some very poor manoevreing by people using those machines in shops myself and don't want to be responsible for knocking displays or other people over! But as I say - Life is too short and MS unpredictable. One day I might not be able to get out on a mobility scooter so while I can I will!
Tomorrow is likely to be a very important day for me - it is the day I attend the mobility centre in Southampton for my driving assessment. No, I didn't get that wrong, it is not a driving test but rather an assessment to establish if, given a suitable vehicle with adaptations such as hand controls, I could once again get safely behind the wheel and through the motability scheme then 'lease' a car that I can get my scooter (or buggy as I prefer to call it) in the back of, ideally by myself. This will mean I can take myself out on photographic jaunts to the zoo or other places without an often disgruntled hubby tagging along.
Talking of photography I had my first attempt at night photography last night - we went to Robin Hill to see the illuminations at their 'Electric Woods'. I had to read up on long exposures and take my tripod with me and it took a bit of trial and error (plus it was flippin' freezing so my fingers were number than normal trying to operate the buttons) but see what you think. I have put a couple below.
Thanks for reading as ever, hopefully I will have some positive news after tomorrow - and Pootle and I can venture further fairly soon.
Jenny
xxxx
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