It’s a cold Wednesday evening and this time yesterday I was heading for Swansea for football so here’s how my day went!
I’d made arrangements to meet my friend Andy at my house for between 3-3.30 but I still had things todo! So I got up around 7.30am I then checked my social media, read a chapter of my book and did my morning meditation, meanwhile Ben got walked and I got my build up drink!
I then sat listening to music! My brother arrived around 11am at this point I got my orange juice and second build up drink of the day! Then out to Morrison’s to get cat litter (which they didn’t have!) then got my orange squash. So back in my car who for the record I call daisy! Then to Asda who had cat litter phew!
I got home and straight to bed for 1.5 hours where I had my medication on to allow me to sit in the car & wheelchair on a cold evening! Once up I had my broccoli cheese that’s puréed as I can not eat solid food but I’m trying with that!
My brother then helped me pack my bag, it’s true I have a “football bag” I’d love to be one that didn’t take a bag but I need medical bits so no choice! First up tickets, purse, painkillers (after I’d taken one!), radar key (a girl can not get in a little cubical with my wheelchair !), inhaler (after take a puff!), tissues, build up drinks and my portable charger .. then I went through it again!
It’s 2:45 by this point so I get dressed into my football stuff and then I remember I haven’t got my hat and scarf! So now I’m ready and had toilet again. Then I get Pete that’s my bother to make me up a squash in my bottle, very useful with straw attached!
Next stop my gel on my knees and shoulder so I’m not in horrific pain then I’m ready, oh wait I need my blanket to!
Then at 3:36 Andy text he’s at Warwick services and so running late due to work so I just chill and get my hair brushed! Then toilet again and then Andy arrives! So transfer from my indoor electric chair to my manual chair and peter grabs my blanket and coat and blu badge! Andy picks me up and puts me in his car as he’s not been trained to use daisy yet!
So we are in the car, wheelchair, blanket, coat, bag and my phone! Off to get some petrol then we are off to Swansea, we encounter rain on the way and lots of chat about Andys new job, Friday, Holidays with Carolyn and possible New York trip!
An hour Togo the team comes up, we notice the young lads and generally pleased with who’s playing, laugh at what Andys pal will sigh over one inclusion! We still aren’t at the ground but we are like it’ll be ok!
We arrived at Swansea, Liberty Stadium and park where we always do across the road on an industrial estate it’s alright! Andy pops my blue badge up and then gets ready and then gets me out the car!
Hat on, scarf on, blanket over my legs and coat round my shoulders, you know coats are well hard to get on/ off with deformed body parts! Andy tied my sleeves together to hold it on!
Then the push to the away end. At this point I’d like to say how welcoming the disability staff at Swansea are, greeted with a smile and a chat, we was 15 mins til kick off!
After scanning out tickets they let us in, said a quick hi to Sam and then inside, the united fans were of form singing loud & proud!
Andy pressed the lift button and said it’s taking its time, a steward then said you need to hold it down mate LOL! Once up stairs so to speak we was showed to our seat and then it was kick off!
The united fans were singing loudly for 90 mins and two goals from Jessie made it a great trip and we are into the next round of the cup! Oh and Antony Corolla was sat behind me, I didn’t get a picture though, let him enjoy the game!
After the match we went back to the car and I had my bed Time build up drink! Now we got stuck in traffic getting away nothing unusual then we got stuck on the m4 with a 4 car pile up, hope everyone was good, then a diversion around Newport and finally on a straight run. I took my bed time meds’ and had my drink to wash them down!
Got home about 1am, andy made a cup of coffee helped me transfer, then he left to get back to Kent (at 4:30am!) I then got ready for bed and had my bed time inhaler, unpacked my bag then bed. Dad transferred me to bed.
I however still felt like I was on the motorway so sat up watched full time devils fan cams brief chat with Ian, lee and Ann Marie and finally fell asleep at 2:30am
Thanks to Andy, Swansea, the United fans and finally the team for winning!
See you at Tottenham at Old Trafford Saturday!
Vicky xx
