I have got myself some wheels. No not a car, not even a cycle, I have had a mobility scooter. I fought against it for ages, having had one previously I was never keen going out on it to be honest, I bought it on the spur of the moment, second hand, and it was not really my choice so I never felt it was right for me, never felt it was big enough really, and when I got stuck crossing the road when it suddenly stopped I went off the idea altogether. I felt I could not trust it, and worried that it would let me down so I would be left unable to get home again. Basically I did not feel safe riding it. I thought long and hard about having another one, I hummed and harred about which kind to have, whether I wanted one at all, pondered, did my research, changed my mind, realised I do need to get my independence back, and decided to go for it. I tried every mobility place I could find in a 20 mile radius, I sat on many scooters, even rode a few, whipping round an industrial estate at a heady 8mph. I found that there are a few people out there who are prepared to rip you off, one mobility place not to far distance from my home, wanted to charge £995 for a second hand scooter. You can buy a new one for less than that!
Eventually I found a place on an industrial estate selling both new and second hand scooters run by a very nice man who serviced the scooters for a nearby large shopping centre. We spent 25 minutes riding round looking for the unit and almost gave up, only to find it at the last minute as we were ready to drive away. It was only a small unit, tucked in a corner, with a small A board on the pavement, indicating its existence. The prices were much more accessible to me, the man in charge knew what he was talking about and talked me through the different kinds of scooters and recommended the makes he thought to be more reliable. I was looking at a TGA red model sitting in the corner but the price was beyond me, apparently they are the Rolls Royce of mobility scooters! I had done some research and found out that they did seem to be a good make. I was able to sit on it and found it comfortable then I was told he had a second hand one just in, the man who had owned it could not longer use it and so he had traded it in for a wheelchair. It was only sold in the Spring, had not been used much, and it was at that moment, in his workshop being checked over and would be ready in a few days. He named a price, I could afford it and it seemed reasonable to me, for what he was offering. I said I would look at it when it was available to view and was given a date a few days hence.
In the meantime we looked round for a shed in which to store my new vehicle. I did not want a very big one, we already had a shed in the garden, but it was not in the best place to get a scooter in and out with ease being up a step and across the lawn. I wanted a small shed on the patio so that I could ride the scooter out and go straight out of the side alley into the street. We ordered the shed and it arrived, and was erected, the day after my new scooter came, for I decided, upon a test drive, to purchase the second hand TGA Dave had for sale. I rode it around the industrial estate and decided it was comfortable and that I could manage it. He very kindly delivered it for me, arriving on a Wednesday morning in a small white van, pulling a ramp down from the back of the van Dave pushed the scooter down the ramp and pushed it round to the back garden for me. I had already purchased a waterproof cover to protect it, until my shed arrived, and knowing the cover would be useful for if I visited anybody and wanted to make sure my transport did not get wet.
I am having a small ramp made for my shed as we speak, for when the scooter arrived I realised that the threshold to the shed was a little higher than I could ride over and I need a ramp to be able to get it in and out comfortably. At the moment hubby has to get it in and out, leaving it wrapped in its navy blue waterproof cape, held down by a house brick so that it will not blow away. I have been out on my new mobility scooter a few times, weather permitting, and I realise that it is a facility I need. I cannot walk far, and certainly cannot get to the local shops or library so I was utterly reliant on somebody taking me in a car before, the loss of my independence was making me depressed and my life was becoming insular, something I had to change, after all we only have one life and you should live it to the full. I have ehlers danlos hypermobility syndrome and very bad arthritis, I am getting no better, infact I am getting worse. I need to live my own life, I need to get out and about, go to places I want to visit, see friends I want to see, I want to be independant. I have to embrace my new mobility scooter and enjoy using it, getting out and about I am sure will make all the difference to my well being and my mental attitude. I am looking forward to having the ramp fitted so I can get the scooter in and out when I want to. At present we are watching the weather each day, will it be okay to go out or will it be pouring with rain, not the best sort of day to be sitting getting wet! Unless you have been stuck at home day after day, unable to get out to the shops or do something as simple as get round to visit a friend, you will not know how difficult it can be, believe me its not great! I did not want one, in my heart I still do not want one, but I know I need one, and that is the difference. The choice is mine, but really I have no choice.
I wonder how I could customise my new transport!
