30 July 2010

I've had an odd, slightly surreal, mildly worrying, very exciting day. Yes, yes, I know I'm so easily pleased, but today really has been a day of extraordinary events.

I went for my assessment for a powered wheelchair. I had never imagined myself in any sort of wheelchair, far less a powered one. I really couldn't see myself as an escapee from the Darby and Joan Club, far less as some kind of Davros or Blofeld character, but there you are.

In the end, it was a pretty amazing experience. I seem to have passed, and all I need now is somewhere to live that is suitable.

Which brings me on to the most exciting part of the day. I have got used to finding zilch of any use on the housing list each week. I've been told not to bid for anything that's not explicitly identified as accessible, or suitable to be converted. Yesterday, there was a veritable orgy of suitable properties. Ok, not that many, but several - which counts as a orgy compared to the usual barren wasteland.

I have bid on a bungalow - yes, a bungalow, not a ground floor flat - that has a garden, a wet room and a fully adapted kitchen. It even has a ceiling hoist in the bedroom, which creates all manner of curious possibilities. And it is near to all of my family. I am presently number 2 out of 107 bidders, so I will at least have a good shout at getting it.

But here's the rub to all this. Once I have a home that is suitable for an indoor/outdoor (or outdoor/indoor) chair - there is a difference, apparently - will it result in my life becoming so much easier that I lose the need to struggle? Will I become less mobile independently simply because I am more mechanically mobile? Will my leg muscles atrophy or will the possibilities in my life expand exponentially?

Time will tell, I guess, but it's a time of great uncertainty as well as almost limitless possibilities. It has the feeling of the old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times".