For many people living with MS and mobility issues, getting around can be challenging. Antoinette talks us through her recent experience travelling in and around London using her powered wheelchair.
I had a very positive trip to London recently. Thanks for all the confidence boosts from the MS Trust Facebook group.
The train staff were wonderful throughout and I now have enough practice with my wheelchair, that all the ramps were easy. Although, I still have the fear that I am not lined up properly, but they always stand behind me and that is reassuring.
As with the bus, it takes a bit of jiggery pokery to back into the wheelchair space, but unlike the bus there is plenty of room to do it.
Thinking of stories I have read about people stuck on aeroplanes for hours after everyone has got off, I panicked a bit and asked a cleaning lady walking up the platform if she could tell a staff member I was there.
After a few minutes, a man came with the ramp and it turned out that there had been another person at the other end of the train who also needed it, so now I will stay nice and relaxed if they aren't there straight away.
Since neither of my sons had managed to come with me, we changed the meeting spot to try another restaurant. It was near Leicester Square, with no accessible tube station nearby. So, I thought I would make it easy on myself and take a taxi.
All London black cabs (and in other cities, in my experience) have ramps and the drivers are always very helpful too. Also, I had no problem in the restaurant.
Well, apart from the fact that their all-day brunch had American style bacon and it was horrible! I had a bit of a chuckle as I live in the countryside, and I’m used to good back bacon.
Of course, it isn't all cobbled and there were smooth paths at the sides. Anyway, the cobbles are rather fun. It’s interesting though to see very familiar places from a totally different side, and from a child's height as well.
Thankfully I didn't bump into anyone and that was with an umbrella half the time too. Also, I wasn't as tired as on previous trips, and I think that taking the taxi was a huge factor in that.
Save energy and hassle for yourself wherever possible.
I took a taxi back to the station and the station staff contacted my home station so that they were ready with the ramp to let me off.
One comment on the day is that I’ve never noticed so many other wheelchairs, especially at St Pancras. There seemed to be lots of young people using them too.
It was like when you have a baby and suddenly, you see babies everywhere! One girl and I were in the lift together and she noticed that we had the same chair. But her one looked much cooler as it was yellow.
The day after the trip, I was really paying for it. I had a warm shower and snuggled down into my dressing gown.
