Morning all,
Let’s get real about away match days!
Yesterday was a 5.30pm kick off down on the south coast, let me take you on a day with me .. it’ll be quite a ride, so hold on and let’s go!
I woke up at 6am as I’m not sleeping well right now with pain in my joints in particular my left hip, I can’t lay on it for more than 15 mins and I can’t settle on my right side due to my shoulder, it’s tough! I listen to radio x when I can’t sleep it’s really comforting hearing familiar voices when pain bad!
At around 7.30am I get out of bed into my wheelchair, my dads already walked my dog & sorted the cats out. Next stop bens teeth chew and normal chew, that boy likes his morning routine!
I have my orange juice early on match day and my fortisip! My dad leaves around 9am so I have about an hour on my own. I listen to music and just relax. This morning I write my first blog post about it being my grandads birthday to!
About 10ish my brother arrives, he first brushes my hair and puts it up so I can get my anti inflammatory gel on which helps me, sadly I need it on my knees, hip, shoulders, arms & elbows! That needs an hour to dry so he goes to dad and then gets my petrol on the way back, he forgets my card so I have to transfer the money to him, doh and my Morrison’s miles card!
When he gets back, I look at what I’ll wear and then around 11am it’s time to get ready! First up check my gel has dried fully it’s a bit tacky so I give it a few mins in the fresh air! Then before I know it I’m dressed and in my match day chair, that’s called Ben!
Now my bag has to be packed, purse, battery back up that’s been charging! Then I have to pack my tickets a bottle of water! I then have my painkillers add them then my blue inhaler! Now my scarf and I’m a bit OCD about it so my brother makes sure they are even lengths on both sides, haha!
My dads arrived now and took Ben for another walk. Next stop car! Dad drives back to his house about 3 miles away! I tell dad I’ll be back around 10.30-11pm I arrive at 12.55 .. dads goes in the house with his paper, Jamie is running late, he’s always late! Eventually arrives at 1.20pm! I’m a bit stressed and tearful I’m not sure why I think it’s just my anxiety winding me up!
Jamie puts his sons wheelchair in the car behind me, I stay in my chair for the journey! Then everyone gets in, today we have Jamie, shay and Jamie’s dad. We use our phones as Sat navs Android v Apple .. neither are ever right but it’s between the two, I’m sure it’s the fact we both put different locations in the phone!
We decided to take the M5 route down so travelled via the costwalls it’s a beautiful part of the country! In the car there’s chat about the current situation at Man Utd, the new disabled area at old Trafford being built and if we’d like to sit there.
We took a bit of a strange detour into the countryside, nothing knew there, it’s an Apple special! But overall the journey down wasn’t bad! Going in I was pointing places around Southampton out, all those useful things ha! I text my mate Neil as if we text we’ve never lost .. forget and we loose!
We was driving around a bit looking for parking, partly because I’m tight as hell and don’t like paying for parking lol and the fact I didn’t carry any cash on me, I personally just feel safer with my cards!
Thankfully Jamie’s dad kindly has some cash as it was going to be a pay kind of day! We parked up quickly then and Jamie set up his sons chair and I was quite happy in the warm car, although to be fair it wasn’t that cold once I got out the car and got my hat on and coat round me!
We then went to the stadium where I directed us around to the away end. We got in really quickly, the steward took the tickets and scanned them next stop the concourse!
I don’t mind sitting on the concourse for a bit so toilet was used, program brought! Then beer, coke and food was had, funny enough Jamie brought a sausage roll for his son who refused it, so Jamie had to eat it, but chocolate was most appreciated, who doesn’t love chocolate at the football! Although when Jamie accidentally touched his dads beer glass and it nearly went over I had to laugh, well Jamie did to!
I then decided I wanted Togo my seat as the reds start coming in it gets a bit rowdy and I start getting anxious due to bullying that’s occurred. Plus I don’t fancy getting beer all over me!
So out to my seat, now I won’t go into much details but I became really anxious due to the close proximity of the bully and friends it was not pleasant for me, I loose the ability to speak, it’s stupid because I know if they said anything Jamie would tell them to do one but it still gets me!
As fans went passed I noticed a flat tyre on a wheelchair! We had an older guy stood next to us, don’t think he could be assed Togo up to his seat! He kept telling us he was going on the pitch lol then when Jamie popped the toilet while there was an injury stoppage he kept asking if I was ok so that was nice but then touching my hand was not, I ain’t a pet, I’m sure he meant it in a reassuring way! Although when the steward asked him Togo his seat his response was well I had to laugh, I won’t repeat though as it’s a few swear words!
The game it’s self was awful in truth but we did draw 2-2 haha I say it like that’s a good thing it’s not we should be beating a struggling Southampton and some of the players play was on the line of funny, who injures themselves ask yourself that!
Another funny comment from behind to a female steward about tinder had me creased with laugher! There was a few other moments of hilarity from the fans and stewards!
The end of the match came and we left and back to the car within minutes! We then got back in the car after removing my coat and popping my head band back on! Of course popping my back up battery in my phone, so I could ring home when close!
As we left Southampton with lots of traffic around I gave my tour of shops, docs surgeries and the like, all the things you need to know!
We stopped on the way back! Toilet break and food, Jamie’s son got Mac Donald’s and it smelt so good! I was surprised I didn’t fall asleep! I went online and caught up with a few friends and replied to texts! We, well Apple decided we would go beck via the m40!
We hit lots of rain but soon enough we made it back to my dads at 10.44pm! I said my goodbyes and dad and I went back home! Ben was happy to see me! I spent a bit of time having my painkillers and having a drink before it was time to get on to my bed after saying bye to dad.
The cats are always cuddly but my hips were hurting so I sat ok the edge of the bed chatting on social media & then texting. Before I knew it Is was gone passed 1am and I was tired. I listened to radio x as I fell asleep! But I was up at 2.30 and 4am in pain .. I was up and in my chair again at 7.30am this morning!
“Bullies are no longer bullies when they no longer have the power to make you scared”
Until tomorrow
Vicky xx
P.s Birmingham city won on grandads birthday he’d be so pleased!
