Going nowhere slowly.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve stayed inside, I haven’t been able to get out, the weather has been a tad inclement with snow falling, rain dropping or wind blowing.
At first chance I was out of the house and into the car park waiting for Miriam to get organised with her bike. There was a fair amount of snow on the ground and naturally I tried a few donuts. Couldn’t get that right, hoped nobody was watching my pathetic spinning and re-adjusted my halo…
We took the long route along the forest road. The peace and quiet in the forest was unreal, you have to hear it to understand it. It’s like you’re wrapped in a thick blanket of silence, echo’s are smothered and voices are muted. I battled to hear a car come up behind me and I had to be extra vigilant.
All the pathways through the forest are highlighted in white and look very inviting and tempting and I had to resist the urge to make tracks where no power chair’s been before.
Before long, my favourite path up the bank was in front of me, white and unsullied. Tally ho, don’t spare the horses…and I slid to a halt half way up. Say no more. I might as well of stayed at home and cracked an egg on my head.
With a good deal of pushing and shoving from Miriam I finally reached the top and it was straight to Migros for a hot chocolate.
A couple of days later I managed to get stuck again and this time it was on the flat in a patch of thick glutinous grey mud. Again Miriam had to push me out.
It was only when I got home that I found I was carrying an extra kilo of weight and I was leaving a clear indication of where I’d been.
The closest thing to a carwash was a chairwash in my shower……

A new year brings new expectations, new places to go to and new experiences. Yesterday, the 2nd of Jan, Miriam picked me up and took me to Montreux (The head office of Nestlé is situated here). Montreux is crowded by mountains on one side and the lake on the other. There’s a nice pathway along the lakeshore and even though it was really cold there were a lot of people walking about. I saw one family, mum, dad and children, scoot past all on push scooters. Talk about ‘with it’ parents… There weren’t many dogs taking their owners for walkies.
We didn’t stay outside for long and wound up at Sinatra’s bar where a huge mug of hot chocolate was welcome.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Getting out and about

Last Friday I was out and about with Miriam and took the road to Buchillon. It was a bit nippy and my gloves weren’t exactly doing their job and my fingers got cold quickly. The colder they get, the more claw like they become and eventually flexing my fingers is impossible. I’ve already figured out how to hook my thumb around the control stick so that it doesn’t matter too much if my hand gets too cold.
As we came into Buchillon we found that Christmas decorations were being erected and Miriam decided that a photo opportunity was present. Miriam had me going from one side of the street to the other and turning this way and that. Then it was off down the steep hill to the lake to where I’m within an arms length of the water but with a set of steps in the way. That’s when I felt the cold and it wasn’t long before we were on our way to get some coffee.


08 12 2009
Took to the road after lunch today and having a bit of blue sky around meant it was warmer. Took the road through the forest, quiet, peaceful, tranquil, still. Words don’t do justice to the feeling as I ride through. I came out on the main road through Buchillon and instead of turning off to go to Migros for coffee, decided to see where the road led.
A short while later I could hear a tinkling in the distance, too soft to be a church and there was no actual tune, it was more, a whole lot of different peeling without any synchronisation.
I turned the next corner and there on the hill in front of me was a herd of cows. Each one had a cowbell hanging round its neck and as they walked and ate the grass, they played their own tune. First time in my life that I’ve seen and heard cowbells. Of course as luck would have it, I’d left my camera at home. Typical, Murphy’s law strikes again.


09 12 2009
Miriam loaded me up in her car and took me to Morges and I didn’t know where we were going until she stopped in a car park next to the lake.
Travelling along the lakeside is really great as I always get to see something different. There are bicycles galore, people running, dogs being taken for walks or people just taking a stroll. I have to say, some of the dogs are really nice, they bring their owners out in miniskirts and knee length boots.
As the sun was setting, an opportunity for more photos presented itself. We were at the right place at the right time…

To infinity and beyond

So, I’m taking this chair where it’s never been before. “To infinity and beyond”, as a certain space ranger would say.
I had a visit from social service the other day. It was a check on the power chair and what extras I needed and if I was happy and they needed to justify the cost. Apparently the cost was higher than they anticipated and they wanted to present alternative options. A different chair was presented and after a good look at it, it actually seemed a far better option for me and it was a good deal cheaper. Now all I have to do is wait for the demo model. I’ve been told that it isn’t as easy to pop a wheelie on this model… Watch this space. There’s also a Fifty at stake with Miriam and I’m not about to loose.
The last few days have been dull and grey but I’ve still managed to get out, even went passed the forest and found a track that looked inviting but Miriam chickened out. She said it looked a bit wet.
We did find a car park with what looked like a path down to the lake. There were a few signs proclaiming a public park with various times of opening and closing and a path with a gateway that was open.
I was through the gate in a flash and discovered that the pathway became a rock strewn track that descended at an alarming angle. I was past the point of no return, changed to low speed, tilted the chair back, so that I felt like an astronaut going in the wrong direction, and went for it.
At the bottom was another pathway leading off towards the lake but it was covered in wet leaves and was even steeper. I decided that it wasn’t worth the risk and spring/summer would be a better option when one could see the path clearly.
Going back up had it’s moments, slow speed is useless as there’s a distinct lack of power and with rocks and loose gravel the front wheels dig in and force you to stop. So, up the power, and suddenly there’s a bucking bronco hopping it’s way to the top, line up for the gate, and I’m back in the car park.
Still haven’t reached the lake though.

The crowing cockerel

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a two lunch dates with a difference. A while back Mme Gafner, one of the residents here, asked for an audience with me. Yup, not often that you here that term but when you actually sit and talk to Mme Gafner you realise that she is old school. I have no idea what her first name is and wouldn’t dream of using it if I did and that’s likewise for her with my first name. after listening to her, I have worked out that she is about double my age as she was at school in Italy before the first world war. Her children are way older than me… and I’ll leave the age thing right there.
The audience came about because for a few weeks we were table companions in the dining room until I moved to another dining area more suitable for my wheelchair. During that time I really enjoyed listening to her stories, her late husband was a member of the International Olympic Committee and she was able to meet many members of the various royal families and there were many funny tales. Mme Gafner was interested in my stories of life in South Africa and what I’d done in life and, when I changed dining areas the stories stopped.
So, at the audience we picked up where we left off and decided that we would have lunch every so often for a change of conversation.
At our first lunch Mme Gafner got to see my power chair and she was like a little girl with all the questions and she was clapping her hands and was so happy for me that I could get out and about. I even had to show her how fast I could go and I had to weave in and out of the tables and chairs.
A little while later we were chatting about the strange noises that one hears around the home, we have two concert pianists that have pianos in their rooms and we often have opposing music. Just down the passage from my room someone has a chiming clock that we all hear at 3 in the morning. I seriously want to find it and throw a brick at it; Miriam said she wanted to see me do that as she doesn't believe I have the necessary movement to actually throw a brick. Spoil sport, and so the clock is safe.
Then Mme Gafner told me about her new alarm clock. She said that she had received it as a gift and still has no idea how it works other than she had to put batteries in it to make it work. She's used to the Big Ben style wind up clocks. Batteries in, she set it up and left it on her night stand, then went to bed. At 3am she woke to the sound of a cockerel crowing. The night nurse came in to see if she had a bird in her room and together they looked but they couldn't find one. Then at 4am it happened again and again they were trying to find a bird in her room.
It was only at 5am did she realise that it was her new clock and by this time I was doubled over and ready to fall out of my chair, I was crying with laughter.
The clock has been turned off and the old one put back into service.
Life here's not always boring.

Rain, rain, rain.

So, not funny, someone or something over the last few days has nicked the sun and left us with mist and rain. My view of the mountains is non existent apart from the odd glimpse between tendrils of clouds towards the end of the day.
It’s one thing getting caught in the rain but for me to actually go out when it’s raining before I’m out the door is just not going to happen.

25 11 09
Blue skies were peering through the clouds this morning and then at about 9 the clouds drifted off. Sun shine danced near and far and the mountains came into sharp focus, the air was crisp and clear.
I was keen to get out and about but Miriam came up to me and reminded me that today was physio day. Hey! Have to pay for fun in this day and age.
So the morning was taken up with my routine on the Power-plate and passive manipulation of my arms and legs. Stretching the Hamstrings is the worst and can be quite painful.
After that, time was short as it was close to lunch time and so, I had to curb my enthusiastic escape plans yet again.
Mid afternoon came and I took flight out the front door and headed for the forest that I encountered on my first jaunt. I stuck to the tar road; I thought it might be prudent as with all the recent rain, I might just get stuck. Hey! I’ve a name to maintain in the home, playing in the mud, yes but being stuck in the mud, no way.

27 11 09
Gray skies are back and the roads are wet again. It’s a case of, put the feet up and dream and think of where I’m going to go next. There’s a new train that’s just been commissioned on the line that passes through Etoy and it’s wheelchair friendly. My area of wandering has just expanded, now to find someone to come with me for a ride.

If you go down to the woods...

16 11 09
If you go down to the woods today, you'll be in for a surprise.... You might just find a power chair that thinks it's a scrambler. Another awesome ride, totally off the beaten track. Miriam brought her bicycle today so I didn't have to hold back the horses. There’s a road that my room looks out onto that neither of us have been down. It’s not a busy road but there is a question mark hanging over it, where does it go?
So, I followed Miriam’s lead and took off after her and this time I could genuinely feel the wind in my hair. Then, we reached the end of the road. There was a private road on the left and forest everywhere else. We took the private road and soon found ourselves in an enclave of houses, the road was hemmed with neatly cropped hedge which lent itself to a cozy atmosphere. Again, we reached the end of the road and there was just a small path leading into the forest.
Miriam pedaled off into the forest and I, without any hesitation followed. I turned the speed down a bit as I couldn’t see the path for all the autumn leaves and I knew that I’d get caught out by something hidden.
A little while later I came across some hidden tree roots. I felt them before I saw them. It was only a 10m patch and half way across it I came to stop. Couldn’t go forwards and couldn’t go backwards. I had managed to balance the motor on top of a root and my wheels had no purchase on the path. Thankfully Miriam was with me and with a push and a shove I made it over the worst.
Then it was on through the forest. There were quite a few people out having a walk and not one of them seemed to think it strange to see a power chair where they normally wouldn’t see one.
All of a sudden I burst out into the middle of Buchillon and back onto a smooth road. Well, at least smoother than a dirt path. Being back in Buchillon meant trying to find a way to the lake again. Yet again I get to within arms reach and a whiff.