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Scope trustee Rosemary Bolinger and son Rick are about to set out on a Time to Get Equal Week odyssey, travelling from Eastbourne to Bangor to test the accessibility of public transport for wheelchair users...
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Trains
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 14.07.2008 | 09:20
I am on a hat-trick for train alarms when travelling to London. And yes they were pre-booked journeys. It is one-all between London Bridge and Victoria. Next Monday will see if London Bridge will be able to pull ahead. I have to say the drivers that have appeared to rescue me have been...
Almost a week on...
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 20.06.2008 | 12:44
What did Rick and I prove? Well, apart from the fact that we can survive travelling together for a week without an argument. We found that it is almost impossible to wake up one morning and just hit the road for a few days if you are a wheelchair user, dependent on public transport and don't...
Time to reflect and get angry
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 16.06.2008 | 09:01
The final train saw me left high and dry on the train at Euston, no obvious staff on the platform. Rick did a sprint up the slope to find some assistance, luckily he was successful. But it is embarrassing sitting in a doorway pretending you meant to stay there. There were number of staff falling...
The long journey home
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 16.06.2008 | 08:57
The joy of engineering works has meant that we are sat in a black cab, hurtling along the motorway between Birmingham international and Northampton courtesy of Virgin trains. Considering the offputting nature of some of our train experiences this week this one has (thus far) been pain-free....
Rosemary on Saturday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 14.06.2008 | 10:28
It feels strange to be heading for home this morning. The week has gone really quickly. Lots learnt, lots to think about. Now to plan how to use the information and experiences gathered. But first, today is not going to be an easy journey. We are travelling from Bangor to London Euston by...
We made it!
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 14.06.2008 | 10:26
It's late... again... We made it... Hooray... We were on BBC Wales tonight after doing interviews and being followed by a camera man onto the bus from Rhyll to Llandidno (appologies for the spelling). They even used my footage from the video diary... my first televised work (hehe) Mum...
On the number 11 bus from Chester to Rhyll
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 13.06.2008 | 13:36
Modern technology is a thing that constantly perplexes and bemuses me. However, it has enabled this enabler to sit on the number 11 bus from Chester to Rhyll and update you on our day so far. Once again I awoke to the sound of mum being interviewed by local radio. Alas this time it was not a matter...
Rosemary on Friday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 13.06.2008 | 09:38
Chester is where I am writing from today. I am awake bright and early having just completed another radio interview this time for BBC Wales. A better night's sleep. But not the lie-in I had promised myself, although Rick is still gentle snoring from across the room. I am looking forward to...
Ch ch ch ch ch chester (turn and face north wales)
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 13.06.2008 | 09:36
We made it to Chester. Tomorrow night, this time, We'll be in Bangor. Weird. it seems like a long time ago we set off, but it seems like only yesterday. At this point, I realise my nostalgia for yesterday needs checking as Birmingham and I are going to need some serious couples therapy if...
Rosemary on Thursday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 12.06.2008 | 09:37
It's 6.40 am, Rick's still asleep having got to bed very, very late. My body has reacted to the stress of yesterday and trying to find accommodation "on the hoof". My feet and lower legs have been trying to go into spasm luckily I have been able to react to the warning signs, although Rick was...
Weds night... Rick again
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 12.06.2008 | 09:34
What a day. If I have ever said I am tired before... I take it back. NOW I'm tired!!! But I shall start at the beginning. I awoke today with the dulcit tones of my dearest mother emanating from the radio beside my bed. It was one of those surreal moments when nothing quite makes sense through...
Wednesday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 11.06.2008 | 10:13
Wednesday finds us in Stratford-upon-Avon, the weather is dull but dry. We have been lucky with the weather so far, dry and at times very hot. Very pleasant evening, good meal at the Red Lion sitting by the water. And then a gentle walk along the Avon. Mind this was a typical Bolinger...
It's Tuesday so it must be Stratford...
Created by Blog Administrator | 11.06.2008 | 10:09
It's the evening of Tuesday 10 June and we arrive in Stratford Upon Avon. Though not in the fashion we planned. We made it as far as Jack Howarth House, a Scope accommodation facility in Oxford. We met staff and service users there. They were of the standard we have come to expect now we've met...
Rosemary on Tuesday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 10.06.2008 | 10:58
We are up! Today we are off to Jack Howarth House, Oxford and ultmately should arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon this evening. We have booked beds at a guest house in the town centre. I think Rick is planning on showing me the sights; I was last there in 1970(ish). I am getting a real buzz from...
Rick's thoughts on Monday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 10.06.2008 | 10:46
It is late. It has been a long day. Both good and bad have struck, but we're now in a nice, clean, comfy hotel and well fed. Amazing how these little things make "life on the road" seem more managable. Mum's gone to bed so you get Rick writing tonight's blog. Up early we went and met some...
Monday morning
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 09.06.2008 | 08:41
We both slept reasonable well. This morning we will be visiting Everest Community College with some residents form Roman House. More about that later. We were pleasantlly surprised to find that the local buses in Basingstoke were wheelchair accessible(ish) and that the fact that my bus pass...
On the 747 National Express from Brighton to Heathrow
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 09.06.2008 | 08:31
It is 14.51 on Sunday - It's Rick writing. We are currently somewhere between Gatwick and Heathrow airports on the 747 National Express from Brighton to Heathrow. Our driver Brian is a lovely man. He helped us sort the wheelchair into the hold and ensured mum got the front seat she arranged...
Rick's thoughts on opening day
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 09.06.2008 | 08:27
OK, so it's the opening day. It's not raining and it's warm, a good sign, I hope. Today we're going from Eastbourne to Basingstoke via Brighton. Sunday evening in Basingstoke... hooray? I'm not really aware of Basingstoke, for good or bad, in any other way than the name is familiar... I guess we...
Blahday and Saturday
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 09.06.2008 | 08:19
Friday was a blah day. Tried to keep busy not doing much! Thank goodness for computer games. Today, Saturday, I got the bus into town with Dale. We met up with Rick at the station and toddled off to the pub to find his older sister, Emma. After a quick catch-up we were off to find somewhere a...
will be glad when it is Sunday morning.
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 06.06.2008 | 10:47
I have always hated the wait before a trip. Rick still has to work today and so is not thinking about the trip so much yet. The plan is to leave the Eastbourne Pier bus stop at 11.20am on a Brighton & Hove bus (at least I know that this bus will be wheelchair accessible!) And then on into the...
One week to go
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 30.05.2008 | 17:10
So we're a little more than a week away from the begining of our adventure, yet it still seems pretty remote. Living in Canterbury, a little universe unto itself, with work, my new flat, friends and the glorious rain; June 8th could be a month away. I'm sure that feeling will change once the...
Three and a bit weeks to go
Created by Rosemary Bolinger | 14.05.2008 | 17:10
Three and a bit weeks to go until we set out on our Eastbourne to Bangor adventure. There's still a lot to be decided, like where we'll be stopping along the way, the buses we'll take. These are mere logistics but, whilst inevitably important, they aren't the aspects of the trip I'm relishing....
