Lyn and I had a great day yesterday. As I noted two days ago, it was the annual Liberty festival – a day-long festival for disabled people in Trafalgar square. For starters, I was pleased with myself for using the tube on my own for the first time. Lyn was in two minds about going, so we agreed that I’d set off on my own, and she would catch up with me later if she wanted. So, I caught the bus to the dome, then the tube to Westminster.

Or, rather, that was the plan. The tube was shut from waterloo onwards. I kept my head, though, and asked for assistance. Pretty soon I was on another overland train to charring cross, and then it was a simple zoom down to Trafalgar square. Nothing very complex, but it boosted my confidence.

When I got there, the festival was in full swing. I bumped in ,my old friend Katie, whom I know from Onevoice. We saw some wheelchair dancers, which were rather kitsch and quite amusing. I then milled about a bit, at one point going over to see the guys from BBC Ouch – getting to talk to them, after reading their website for all these years, was rather cool. It seems to me that ouch is one of the ‘hubs’ of the disability community, although I might need to investigate that in greater detail.

An hour or so later, Lyn and Kasia arrived. We had a bit of trouble finding each other in the crowd, but it sure is handy being able to text now. I think L and K had had the same problems with the tube I did. In fact I was very glad to see them, as I was worried about how to get home.

Anyway, we spent the rest of the afternoon talking and observing. Lyn bumped into a few friends of hers, and I got talking to a guy from Dan. They were handing out leaflets concerning the coalitions benefit cuts. I am now seriously considering going to the protest at the forthcoming Tory party conference: the damage CaMoron and his party will do to disabled people is huge. DLA will be cut by 25%, and disabled people will be placed under pressure to come off benefit – the target is one in five.

By then, it was getting dark. We decided to go up a street to find somewhere to have dinner, then we went home. This turned out to be much easier than coming, as the 53 bus runs from Whitehall to plumstead, passing the end of our road. On the bus, I had chance to ponder what a great day it had been, and how beautiful London looks at dusk.