That Hoist again and again!

This new hoist of mine is turning out to be a real treasure,

I have found another use for it!

I am making one of my felt mobiles ........

it  is perfect for hanging the mobile,

to join all the pieces together.

I sit under the hoist and rest the mobile on my tray,

when I want to see how every thing is going I just press the up button.

I wonder what other uses I will find for it.

All suggestions will be accepted!!

Until next time ....... Enjoy Life!!!

Fun with Felt.

 I love working with my hands,

when I became disabled I was encouraged to "make things".

Not so easy with eyes and hands that had minds of their own.

Eventually I rediscovered felt.

When I was a child I made stuffed animals from felt, 

I remember having a stable of felt horses, 

I wish I had kept them for my girls to play with.

Felt is so easy to work with, 

the colours are bright, it doesn't fray

and it is very easy to sew with your eyes shut!!

Bella is turning 2,

I know she loves playing in the home corner at play group,

so I thought pretend food would be a good present.

 Some of the ideas came from the internet,

and some are my own.

ENJOY!

Bacon and fried eggs for breakfast.

May be a salad sandwich for lunch,

or perhaps you would like ham or a drumstick with it.

A roll up made with sorj bread or wholemeal might be nice, there are so many things to put in it.

How about pasta for tea, you could eat it with tomatoes, or even cheese strips.

fancy something sweet for morning tea,

how about a sweet biscuit or a jam tart?

or may be an iced donut with sprinkles on top.

they are always good with a cup of tea.

I had so much fun making this food, 

now I need to find some more "birthday children"

Until next time ---  enjoy a donut!!

Continuing the questions.

Tonight I have decided to finish answering Annies questions.

It has been a very interesting experience, working out the answers.

Here we go again.......

2.      How did you end up in the position you are in now?

Fl    Flu >> pneumonia >> a virus.

4.      What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

DiDifficulties are many, losing my independence, having to be dependent on other people for the basic things of washing, toileting, dressing, moving from bed to chair. Other people thinking that because I live in a power chair I have lost my intelligence, my power of speech and I am deaf. People talk to my carer about me e.g. what does she want to eat? Lack of access to most buildings – wheelchairs do not climb stairs. Lack of Job opportunities.

5.      Have you achieved anything in your years in your chair (medals, trophies e.t.c)? What are/were they?

Y Yes I have achieved many things, in sport I won the first “run” I did as a disabled athlete.

MMy main achievements have to do with advocacy, after two years I have at last persuaded City Link to allow me and any other power chair user ,who feels capable, to run in the long RCH good Friday run.This is a run through the Domain tunnel and over the Bolte Bridge,it was a hard fight, as they could not understand that I am as safe, if not safer than someone running on two feet.

 I   I am still trying to persuade the Victorian Marathon to allow power chair runners to compete in the Vic Marathon and other Marathons.

I II have persuaded local Government to put in a path for people in chairs to access the local bike paths. I  had a curb cut put in at Caulfield station so that people with a disability of many sorts can use the taxi rank without “walking” down the middle of a busy road.

MMy latest achievement is to persuade the Glen Eira Council to look at disabled parking spaces in the municipality and change the way they are made e.g. Long cuts in the foot paths for parallel parking, and a designated bus parking place in Elsternwick shopping centre. If this passes the final council approval it will be a first in Victoria.

“ To me the advocacy wins are much more important to winning at sport; these things will benefit many people, not just me”

6.      What are some of your goals for the future?

MMy goals for the future – to continue fighting for equality for people with a disability, to keep myself as active both mentally and physically as I can.

TTo train and register, the first privately trained service dog in Australia, this would give many people the chance to have a dog to help them live their lives a little easier. Overseas this happens; if there is a test that service dogs have to pass I want my beautiful, well trained dog, to be able to sit the test.

7.      If you met a Genie and they granted you 3 wishes, what would the wishes be?

 

   Not the one that many able people seem to want for me – to walk again! There are many things that I think are important. >>>>

1.              Tolerance and equality for all people, no matter their race, their colour or their religion [or lack of]. This would mean no more wars; unfortunately I am certain this will not occur in mine, or my grand children’s life times.

2.              A world that is not being destroyed by our human greed.

3.              A chance for all people with or without a disability to reach their potential, this would mean enough food, shelter, and schooling, these are basic human rights.

8.      Have you gotten better over the years?

   How?

   The simple answer to that question is no!

  I have however worked out many alternate ways to do things that I used to do before I became disabled. I am always thinking of solutions to problems. E.g. I can play with my dog by getting in my sling. [ Annie, look at my blog for further information about this, and use your own words]

9.      Tell me a bit about your disability

  I    I think I covered this in an earlier question, see above.

   How did your life change at first?

    I was devastated! I became very depressed for quite a long time. 

 Then I realised that like everything else in my life, I had two choices, 

I could give up and die, or I could fight for life.

   For me the decision was life, it is different now, but it is still an adventure that I will follow until it ends.

A         Anne. 26 / 5 / 2011

 Well that is what I wrote, it made me think, and probably if I had more time I would have writen more. Probably just as well I didn't.

           

      Until next time ---- Think of the world we are leaving

                                     for our grandchildren!!

postscript, sorry about the double letters at the beginning of paragraphs -- blame Blogger!!!!!!

An interesting day?

Remember my boy?

Two days ago he looked like this......

Hard to tell if he was a bear or a dog.

His face was overgrown and his eyes were invisible.

His legs had great hairy blobs on the ends 

that were supposed to be feet. 

There was so much hair growing between his toes that he skated on my polished floors. 

He even told me that he could not possibly do a "drop" because the floor was too dangerous for boys with long legs.

That was the last straw!

Today I sent him for a hair cut, 

and this is how he came back.........

A beautiful clean face and a pair of huge brown eyes.

His feet are now half the size they were, 

and there is no itchy hair between his toes.

He looked very handsome,

EXCEPT FOR THIS...

A purple and white bow!!!!!

He is a BOY, they do not wear bows, under any circumstances!

I took him  to Petstock 

because I knew Amanda could cut the bow off, 

I did not trust my wonky hands.

While I was waiting a lady came up to pat Middi

and said " what a beautiful poodle, what is her name"?

Next time his hair is cut, I will remember to say

NO BOWS!

An interesting training session this morning.

Chris is a very positive teacher,and is teaching me to be the same,

when Middi does something well he is rewarded 

with  praise and often a treat, 

if he is blowing me off ,Chris and I pretend to eat the treats. 

When he is really pushing the boundaries 

I tell him there will be "consequences", this usually works wonders.

Today he was being very cheeky.---

He knows that I always go in the front door first,

there are no exceptions --I am the pack leader.

This morning he decided the rule was going to change, 

so he started running in and out the door, thumbing his nose at me.

I gave him two chances and then warned him about "consequences:,

by this time my housekeeper was having problems keeping her laughter in.

I wheeled up to him, took him by the collar and told him in my best teachers voice to sit and stay!!

Then I wheeled back a few paces

and told him to sit/drop five times,

[that is push-ups for naughty pups]

when he finished I told him his last sit was beautiful and rubbed his head.

It really amazes me how  well this works, 

he behaved like an angel for the rest of the morning.

I did not loose my temper, there was no physical punishment,

just me being the leader.

Tomorrow we have a session with Chris, I am going to expect wonderful work from both him and me!

Until next time --- remember, it could be worse!!

That hoist again!

Playing on the floor is getting better and better.

My hoist is a wonderful thing for Middi and me.

He has worked out that if my wheels are in the room when I get into my sling, we are probably going out.

BUT

if there is no chair about, we are probably going to have a play on the floor.

This causes much excitement and he runs  round and round under the sling, while I am lowering it.

He has worked out approximately where I will land

and puts his head right where my head will be.

Next comes the face wash!

then he buts me gently in the stomach, 

so I will scratch the special place behind his ears.

Last night I decided to take some pictures from the floor,

here is the first one,

not great photography, but I am down, the blue "thing" is my sling.

After the cuddle we play "touch" with my stick,

usually he does not chew it!!

Next he finds a toy, last night it was his pull ropes,

we played with them for ages, now he has learned to bring them back to my hands when I let go.

After half an hour ........

we were both exhausted, but very happy.

I treasure these times when we can be so close to each other.

Until next time --- treasure the special moments!

Just a bit of fun!!

Last week I went to Costco,

it is an enormous barn of a place that sells all sorts of "stuff"

While I was there I found a box of toys

that I thought might suit that boy of mine.

He loves anything with a squeak, the louder the better!!

There were seven toys in the box and five had squeakers!!

I left the box open on the lounge room floor,

this is what I came back to half an hour later......

A MESS! -- one down and six more to go!!

Here goes the next one!!

and we are left with the indestructible, ear less, squeakless,

 fox. He has lasted an amazing two weeks.

Poodle boys have very strong jaws!

An Interesting project

Tonight I received an email from Indie's friend Annie,

she is doing an interview for a journalism award,

these are the questions she has sent me, remember she is only in grade six! 

Questions for Anne:

1.      What difficulties do you face?

2.      How did you end up in the position you are in now?

3.      How old were you when you were disabled?

4.      What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

5.      Have you achieved anything in your years in your chair(medals, trophies e.t.c)? What are/were they?

6.      What are some of your goals for the future?

7.      If you met a Genie and they granted you 3 wishes, what would the wishes be?

8.      Have you gotten better over the years? How?

9.      Tell me a bit about your disability

   How did your life change at first?

A very interesting set of questions, I have been asked to answer them in depth, perhaps my answers might be too deep for an eleven year old.

Incidentally, she had to pick someone she thought was inspirational!

Usually I hate that word because I find it embarrassing, but I think children look at things differently to adults.

What difficulties do you face;

The biggest  difficulty I face is coming to terms with loosing my independence.

Before I became disabled I was a teacher of special children and   grandmother to Indie,

now I need someone to look after me all the time.

In the old days I could go where ever I wanted, 

now I can only go out, if I can get a carer to take me,

and if the place I want to go is accessible!

How old were you, when you became disabled;

Well, Indie was not quite 3 years old,

and I have been disabled for nine years,

so I guess I was in my middle 50's!!

Sometimes it seems such a short time ago.

 What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

This is such a big question, 

I think I will leave it for tomorrow night.

Until next time ---- Think about those sleeping out tonight,

It is going to be very cold!

The "boy" as usual!

As usual I am talking about my boy!

Things are changing.

Last week Chris suggested we go to the local obedience club and see if they would be interested in helping me with his socialisation.

He loves dogs, but because I can't take him to the park and let him run free, he has no idea that some grumpy dogs do not love big silly puppies!!

with goofy faces!!!

So Chris, Helen and I went to

"Bayside Companion Dog School"on a wet, freezing, Thursday morning.

As usual I was nervous about what the boy would do, 

how he would react to three "Rottis", two German Shepards and a Ridgeback, or even more important, how they would react to him.

I need not have worried everything went well

and we were invited to join.

While we were there we tried another collar - a"Gentle Leader",

I think we might have found the right one at last,

I am not sure that Middi likes it much,

but I certainly do! Now I have control without any strain.

We are going to stay in the beginners group, 

even though we can do most of the commands,

reason -- because Midnight needs to learn how to behave around all sorts of dogs.

I need to learn not to say , "walk on big bum",[because he is skinny]

It is not a proper command !  :--)

We are off to school again this Thursday, I hope it is as good as last week.

Maybe we might get some pictures this time.

Until next time --- tell someone how much you love them!!

The Baybarker Autumn Newsletter

I think every one knows that Chris who runs Baybark, is teaching Middi and me, how to become a team and hopefully get that difficult Service Dog registration.

I an always full of worries that I am not doing the right thing and my darling boy is "blowing me off again"!

Not my words, but usually true.

Behind those serious eyes is the cheekiest brain, he can be a perfect angel and do everything I ask, 

or he can frustrate me so much with his inattention, that I am almost in tears.

Really its just like being a young mother all over again.

None of this has anything to do with what I was going to write about tonight, so back on subject!!

Chris has just published her Autumn News Letter,

and there is an article about Middi and myself.

She writes it as if Middi and I are doing all the work, this of course is not true, without her eternal patience with both of us I think I might have given up a few weeks ago.

Middi becoming a teenager has been very difficult for me, 

he is very strong physically and really wants his own way, not a good combination for a wheelie who likes to forget that she has a disability!!

ANYWAY,

this is what Chris wrote -----

A service dog in the making .......

For some months now, it has been my privilege to train a lovely standard poodle by the name of Midnight and his owner Anne. This beautiful black boy is destined to be a service dog.

Anne, lives in a power chair and had decided for various reasons that she wanted to train her own service dog, rather than have one assigned to her as is the usual process in Australia.

While there is nothing wrong with training your own dog, a service dog must be trained to a level beyond that of most ordinary dogs, the process can take up to two years, and when you are confined to a wheelchair this becomes more difficult.

Midnight is a very quick leaner, mastering walking nicely by Anne’s chair fairly early on.

His puppy training included the commands sit, drop, stand, back, and a few others.

As he progressed towards more complex training he has had to learn to feel comfortable with car rides, getting on the wheelchair lift in Anne’s transport vehicle, sitting quietly beside the chair and being confined to a crate on occasion.

While not yet a year old, Midnight must learn to ignore distractions around him when he is working and this area has been the most challenging so far.    He is now very large, very strong and still very much a puppy. He loves other dogs, but his exuberance in meeting them is often unwelcomed by the often surprised dog.

He and Anne can regularly be seen around the parks and shops of Bentleigh or McKinnon and they have become local celebrities.

 Anne adores her dog, and it shows in the dedication she has in training him.

As he matures, I believe he is destined to be everything Anne dreams he can be, giving her more independence and of course his, unconditional love.

Its a great article and of course I love the last part because he does give me his unconditional love, but it is really nice to hear someone else say it.

Read Chris' news letter, it is very interesting learning about the agility world and clever dogs and their owners.

While you are there browse her website, if you have a dog of your own I am sure you will learn something new. 

No pictures tonight, 

you will have to read the news letter for them.

Until next time --- Thanks Chris!!!!!

Oops, forgot the link !

http://www.baybark.com.au/files/Autumn%20newsletter%202011.pdf