-
Three years with my guide dog: the things nobody tells you
I’m writing this sat at home with Dezzie curled up in his bed, sorting the last minute bits for the wedding. Dezzie is my first guide dog. He’s a yellow Labrador cross retriever. We qualified as a partnership in June 2023. I’ve already written about our journey so far, so consider this the next instalment as we pass three years together. Read more: Lessons from a guide dog owner This time I want to talk about the things nobody tells you. The bits that don’t make it into the leaflets. Nobody tells you how often you’ll answer the same questions There are always questions. I get asked at least three times…
-
A slower kind of cruise: our week on the Danube
As I sit down to write this, it's been well over a month since we got back from the Danube. Wedding planning (September is creeping up alarmingly fast), work and life in general all got in the way, and this post has taken longer to land than I meant it to. But I didn't want it slipping by, because we had the best time, and it felt like a genuinely different holiday to the one I wrote about last summer. If you've read my other posts, you'll remember our ocean cruise as a whirlwind: five countries in seven days, hopping off the ship for a highlight or two before hopping…
-
Accessibility is more than a ramp
When you think of accessibility, you probably picture infrastructure. You think about lifts, ramps and accessible toilets. Those things matter. They are not optional extras, but they are only one part of the story. Accessibility is often reduced to architecture, something that’s structural, visible and measurable. Yet lived accessibility goes far beyond whether a door is wide enough or a toilet has a grab rail. It lives in the atmosphere, attitudes and whether someone can exhale once they arrive.
-
Cerebral Palsy and ageing in your late 20’s
I know what you’re thinking, your late 20’s is young! I agree with you. Yet I’m 27 years old and I’m starting to feel the premature ageing associated with cerebral palsy — and I’m not alone in that.
-
Lessons from a guide dog owner
Just over two years ago, Dezzie and I qualified as a partnership. During that time I’ve experienced independence like never before. I’ve been able to leave the house, see friends and travel with less reliance on others. But what have I learnt during this time?
-
Marella Cruises review as a disabled person
As I finish off this blog post, it’s been just over a month since we got home. Life got busy and I struggled to find the time to sit down and write. However, do not mistake that for a lack of enjoyment! We had the time of our lives and it was an incredible introduction to cruises — I have a feeling it will not be our last! Here’s my review of the Magical Mediterranean itinerary onboard the Marella Explorer as a disabled person.
-
Being disabled forces you to be confident
You’ll have to let me explain this one. Does being disabled force you to be confident? You could argue the opposite, that it’s the reason why someone is shy. My 15 year old self would have done anything to blend in and not be seen as disabled. But that’s why I’ve been forced to be confident.
-
The accessibility of museums and galleries in Liverpool
I was in Liverpool for one overnight stay and in that time I went to 2 museums and a gallery; The World of Glass, Walker Art Gallery and World Museum. I tried to gather as much accessibility information as I could, rather than focusing on the things that would benefit me.
