Get out there.

With Spring on the horizon, at least we all hope so, its been a long winter, I thought I would share with you all the knowledge that just because you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter it does not mean you cannot get out and about and enjoy a country walk. Well technically I suppose the word is ride but you know what I mean! In our village we are fortunate to have several paths going through woods and alongside lakes which are just fine if you happen to be sitting on a mobility scooter or in a wheelchair and you can enjoy the fresh air, wildlife and countryside around. I have been wrapping up warm as often as I could for the past few months, even wearing two pairs of gloves, and enjoying getting out and about. I often arrive home frozen with numb fingers and very red ears but its worth it to blow away the cobwebs! Those "boot scooters", so called because they fold down and fit into the car boot, are very useful to take out and about and as well as nipping round the shops you can use them in the park, along the canal and in gardens open to the public. The National Trust, of which we are members, has some lovely gardens to visit, some parts accessible to scooter and wheelchair users, and at some stately homes you can actually hire mobility scooters which is a great incentive to go there, and very useful for getting around into the bargain! If you want to visit the houses, but your mobility is limited, they are normally very accommodating if you find walking difficult and will offer a chair to sit on for a rest in most rooms so that you can join in and get around the house with everybody else. You will need to tell somebody that you may need assistance, though if you are like me and what little walking you can do is leaning on a stick they will ofcourse notice for themselves and usually offer to help before they are asked. Enjoy :-)