Room without a view.

I’ve moved from my 2nd floor room down to the ground floor into a studio. It’s a slightly bigger room with the added bonus of a kitchen which includes a fridge. Now I have ice for my whisky and space to keep some beer. Oh, and yes, there’s a bit of space for other essentials…
I also get a small garden which I don’t have to maintain so all I have to do is watch the grass grow. Then there’s the all important fence that one meets a neighbour at for a beer at the end of the day. It just so happens that Tim, the maintenance manager, is my neighbour. The staff here just give a shake of the head, a South African and an American who buck the system and prefer to do things our way.
The down side to moving is losing my window with a view but dangling bare feet on the grass makes up for it as does having a door to the outside.

Weathering the challenge.

The weather lately has been a challenge. Every time I’ve wanted a run outside, Mother Nature has looked on with a glint in her eye and a touch of naughtiness in her hand. I’d be just about ready to go down stairs and there’d be a smattering of rain against the window or I’d just get outside and I’d feel the down draught that precedes the rain or even get a few drops before the downpour. It’s one thing already being out and about and getting caught in the rain and that’s happened on a number of occasions but there’s no way I start out in the rain.
Yesterday was blue skies and it wasn’t too hot and not long after lunch I hit the road and I made my way to a local motorcycle meeting place. Normally on a Saturday, 20 or so bikers meet up for coffee and fun and I get to see some great bikes. Not so yesterday, there were only a couple of bikes and I didn’t even slow down and took the road to San Prex for a lakeside stroll.





An hour or so along the lake was good for the soul but I, accidently-on-purpose, forgot to stay in the shade and I paid for that later. All too soon it was time to head back and as my battery was way below half I didn’t want to leave too late.
An hour later and I was almost back home when Natalie called, “Let’s meet in San Prex for coffee” she said.
‘Too late, you snooze you loose” I said.
But we decided to meet and go for a drink locally. Went up my favourite shortcut but stayed on all 4 wheels, yeah I know, boring. Have to behave sometimes.
Then I checked my battery. On one bar out of ten….
Daring the edge again.

Surreal summer

This is so not funny. The last few weeks have not been pleasant with temperatures in the high 20s. I’ve become a limp noodle with various parts not working and my motivation at a low point. Last Saturday was particularly hot and I watched the clouds building over the Alps in the early evening. At about 8, the storm hit and within a couple of lightening strikes we had a power failure. My first power outage in Switzerland and I’ve been here a little more than a year. I think back to 2007 and Eskom in SA and all the planned power cuts countrywide. Of course I’m prepared here, I have lights with me permanently and it’s a flick of the switch on my armrest.
Sunday dawned and I’d had enough of being inside and hot and limp when I could just as easily be hot and limp outside. I called up Natalie and we arranged to meet at 3.
2.30 arrived and I escaped the confines of the house and drove straight into a brick wall of heat. I very nearly turned round. There was no shade until I turned into Natalie’s road and by then my arms and legs were already burning so trees and bushes along the road were very welcome.
I met up with Natalie and we took off to find some ice-cream. As soon as we turned out of her road the shade became patchy and I started weaving from one side of the road to the other chasing the shade. Then we were in the forest and there was instant coolness.
From down by the lake a tantalizing aroma wafted through the trees, you can’t beat the smell of meat cooking on hot coals. I was tempted to find a way down and go introduce myself but been there, and done that, to no avail and so had to make do with a cup of soft serve from MacDonald’s.

Dare the edge.

I learnt the true meaning of that saying today. There wasn’t much happening and there was no one around or available for a walk or a bike ride so I was ambling around with no particular direction or destination. Went looking for a cold beer but the restaurant was closed and then I spotted a dirt track that looked inviting.
Straight away I encountered a problem and if I’d listened to that nagging killjoy in the back of my mind I would have turned around gone to Buchillon. But no, I’m a big brave cowboy who doesn’t act like a wuss, especially in front of his horse…
There was a fairly large kerb to get over from the road to the track and I attacked it head on. I’d been over a larger kerb and some of the bumps in the forest were way bigger. I committed myself and then found that my perception of depth definitely was not working. As I went over the kerb I found a serious drop and I gritted my teeth as my chair lurched into the void and then came down with a jolt. Then, the back wheels followed suit and I found myself on a bucking bronco and then the front wheels dug in…
We all know the following statement from science class. ‘For each and every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.’
Need I say more?
I found myself half out of my chair draped over the right armrest with my face up close and personal with the track. My head is lower than my feet and I’m now very stuck with little core muscle to bring me back upright. I try every which way to get back up hoping that no one will see me and then 5 mins later I’m hoping that someone will come past as I’m well and truly stuck. I couldn’t even get to my cell phone…would have been an interesting call for help.
Fortunately a cyclist came past eventually and I called out for some help and was soon back in the drivers seat.
I should have turned round there and then.
Yeah right! I shake the cobwebs away and set off along the track which starts to descend at a steep rate and about a third of the way down was another kerb. I slacken off the power and start to slide sideways.
There was no way I was going to turn around until I reached the bottom and I resigned myself to the fact that I’d either make it down or I’d part company with my chair and have a severely bruised ego amongst other things. Three kerbs later and sliding with little steering control I finished up on a level piece of ground with the track meandering through some trees. So, being of inquisitive nature I followed the track and eventually came out next to a river. I followed the river for a bit and came to a clearing where I could sit and ponder on life’s many mysteries including how the heck I was going to get back up the hill without mishap.
All too soon it was time to make tracks and I began to doodle my way along the track to the start of the incline. Now I have to start playing with my centre of gravity and put more weight on the front but not too much as to loose traction on the rear wheels. Had to play around as I found myself going backwards a couple of times with wheels spinning. Not such a nice feeling. The three kerbs were not fun, I had this feeling of toppling over backwards and I had the urge to stop the bus and get off. But I resisted the urge and kept the chair moving, bucking and throwing up stones right to the top. At the top, I negotiated the first kerb with more finesse and went on my merry way without a care in the world.
Dare the edge. Easy huh?

On the road again.

Sat 22 May
After more than two weeks of inclement weather, blue skies are welcome back with open arms. I arranged to meet up with Deb in the afternoon so that we could go for a walk.
It is strange how the simplest things in life can give a great amount of pleasure. I’m normally out and about on my own or with Miriam or Natalie on their bicycles and chatting as we go isn’t really an option, riding abreast is not ideal.
Deb arrived with puppy in tow and we set off for our walk and pretty soon we were off the beaten track. Deb was walking next to me chatting as we went, her hand resting on the arm of my chair. Just that conversation whilst walking made my day and we walked like that for a couple of kilometres.
Eventually we arrived at a newly refurbished restaurant on the edge of the forest. The sound of a bottle of beer opening was calling… And then I tried to enter. Swiss efficiency seemed to have slipped up somewhat. The complete interior had been refurbished and made wheelchair friendly. The only problem was that I couldn’t get into the restaurant because of a set of steps. Someone had a blonde moment here.
It wasn’t a problem as a chair was brought outside for Deb and I always have my own chair with me. In a few moments we were enjoying an ice cold beer in the sun whilst the owner and a couple of patrons were discussing ramps and a wheelchair entrance. I’ll give it a week and then go back and see if I can get in.

Sun 23 May
Another fantastic day, bright blue skies and clear air. I met up with Natalie after lunch and we decided to go somewhere different.
So, it was off to Rolle a few kilometres away and of course, with Natalie around, a main road is something I have to put up with. Hey! I even went through my first police road block… I remember I used to be in those too in a past life.
We didn’t get to Rolle, it was too hot and the sun was burning and so we stopped at a place called Perroy and found a waterside café with a bit of shade. A long cool glass of lemonade was perfect.
All too soon it was time to head back and being late afternoon the road was even busier. Time to dare the edge.
An hour later I was back in Buchillon seeing Natalie to her door. Another 15 mins I was back at home and then the 2 days caught up with me. Fatigue washed over me and I had to take things very slowly. Also, after 2 days in the sun I had my first tan in years.
Overdosing on Vitamin D!!

Natalie, always ready for a bike ride.


Mon 24 May.
There is nothing like a sucker for punishment. Great day again. Had a good night’s sleep and I was raring to go. After lunch I took a slow ride to nowhere, went through the shady forest and took a few pictures.
Was back home for supper and then took off again and went to McDonald’s for a Sprite. Kinda wandered back home after 9 with the sun in my eyes. Note to self…take sun glasses with in the evening….

Ferraris, football and footloose...

Saturday midday, I was sitting contemplating what to do and where to go and did I really want to do it on my own? Seems that I’ve been in a rut these last few weeks and most days have been routine and a little mundane with little spontaneity on my behalf.
Then, Deb called and asked if I could meet her in Etoy village proper at the football field. My reply was noncommittal, if Deb saw me then great, if not she shouldn’t worry. I put the phone down and decided there and then to seize the opportunity and go somewhere different on my own and without full knowledge of where I was going. Within a few minutes I was ready to go, I grabbed my mobile and hit the road.
Saturdays are really busy days and the road was full of traffic and I was ambling along minding my own business when I heard the growl of a powerful motor behind me. I pulled to the right and then the growl was in my ear and from the corner of my eye I caught sight of a red monster, and then I was left with 4 rather large exhaust pipes disappearing down the road. Hey, same colour as my chair and the real deal to boot. The driver must have picked up on the colour of my chair because he pulled over a bit further on and revved the motor a few times. Serious music to my ears and as I went passed him I made my own growl. Not half as good as the real thing but not bad for a chair. I got a smile and the shake of the head and my chair has been acknowledged.
After a 15 minute drive through some pretty busy roads I arrived just on the outskirts of the village of Etoy but still didn’t know where the football field was. I called Deb to see how lost I was and then spotted a sign with a football on it.
Kind of figured where to go.


Sunday, and Nathalie called to say she was going for a ride on her bicycle and would I like to go along. No hesitation on my part, I need to run my chair in and iron out the wrinkles and I was out of the house in a flash.
I met Nathalie in the centre of Buchillon and we took the road to St-Prex. 3 kms later we entered the village. It was fairly quiet and there wasn’t much traffic around, there were more bicycles and pedestrians than cars. We went another two or so kilometres and then right there in front of me was the way to the lake. Of course I had left my camera behind but there was a short pathway along the shore, a small yacht mole and a pavement café. There were 5 or 6 scuba divers at the water’s edge and a couple of boats further out.
Nathalie decided that she wanted to go further on and I was cool with that. Just turning into another road changed all that. It went from quiet and slow, to noisy and fast, in an instant and I found myself on a main road with traffic zooming by at 70kmph and there was no bicycle lane. So now I really am going where I probably shouldn’t although technically I’m classed as a bicycle and where a bike goes, so can I.
I’m not a nervous driver but I am aware of the fact that motorbikes are often not seen by drivers and I’m on something smaller than a motorbike and a bit less manoeuvrable in the bigger picture.
I lasted about 2kms and then chickened out. Enough playing Capt Kirk and the quest for new worlds, a cup of hot chocolate was calling. Did a 180 and got out of there back to a more sane and comfortable village road.
Found a coffee shop owned and run by a chocolatier and had a large mug of home made hot chocolate.
Awesome!

Do pigs fly?

Okay, so the time has come for me to use my voice recognition program full-time. My hands and fingers are now, almost useless to type with. I find that I can manage one or two sentences, and then I start missing keys. That's one of the reasons why I haven't written in the last few weeks, another reason is that I can’t keep writing about the same trip that I do, either to the coffee shop or through the forest. I need to look further afield.
I did the forest thing with Deb a couple of weekends ago, I did the ‘where power chairs shouldn't venture’ stunt and drove through the middle of the forest. I only got stuck once, and having Deb on hand it was a breeze. Of course, having a puppy along for the walk and Deb’s mom, Penny, tested my concentration. Wouldn't do to drive over the puppy…... Just goes to show that males can do more than two things at once.

And so my new power chair arrived this week. It arrived on Tuesday all new and shiny Ferrari red. Totally awesome!! With headlights, indicators and hazard lights and seriously comfortable seat I am now going for coffee in style and comfort.
Whole new learning curve again, the controls are so responsive and I have to lighten my touch, the seat is higher and getting on and off takes a bit of getting used to and I have to remember to lower the seat before sitting at the table. Already started to bruise my knees and send things tumbling…
Took it for a spin but behaved myself, stuck to the road and stayed as slow as I could.
Yeah, right, and pigs can fly….