I definitely want and need to get out and about today. For the last couple of days I’ve been stuck at home. The snow was so thick and the air so cold that I didn’t want to risk going out in my powerchair. Apart from the obvious risk of slipping and skidding on ice, if I allow the controller to get damp it completely screws the controller. That, as well as the fact that I really don’t like getting cold, meant that I’ve spent the last two days entirely in my flat. I suppose it wasn’t that bad: I caught up with a lot of Netflix and Youtube, as well as beginning a piece of writing which may become a blog entry, but could develop into something longer. Yet there’s only so much you can do in an eight by twenty metre flat; and, you know me, I like to get out and about. Today, then, a trundle, albeit probably a short one, is definitely on the agenda.

I can’t help thinking about the history of disability though. After all, this was only two days stuck at home, during which time I had full access to the Internet, Youtube, streaming services etc. as well as to Facebook, through which I could contact my PAs, parents or anyone I wanted. The history of disability is replete with stories of people who were not so fortunate: of people who were locked away for years in institutions, being treated as infants, having absolutely no independence or freedom. While I got slightly bored these last couple of days, I knew full well that if I really, really wanted to, I could risk the weather and go for a walk, so it’s just a matter of keeping things in perspective.

All being well then, today I’ll almost certainly be going out. It might be bloody cold, and driving my powerchair might be interesting, but there are far worse things to deal with. In a way, I must go out because others could not. And besides, I really need some shopping.