This weeks main topic also covers my M.E section  for reasons that will become clear.  So, what do you see when you look at me?.... apart from the nose like a ski slope ?....Yeah okay, or the double chin?  Geeez you know how to make a girl feel good on a Friday morning.  I’m usually described as the lady with the Pink hair,  oo -er  did someone just call me a lady? Thing is, I would never be described as “The disabled lady” because quite simply  you can’t see it…….

                           Watford Observer:

As Ian Duncan Smith prepares to attack the sick and disabled yet again in June by  making things as uncomfortable as possible, slashing benefits and forcing people  back into work despite figures showing that many have died after being found “fit to work”  his draconian attitude  will only fuel  the prejudice that many disabled people already  face.

I have M.E, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis , scoliosis & Kyphosis , there are days  I can walk short distances, and days where I can walk none, coupled with all the other complex symptoms that read like a medical journal  it can often make day to day living a bit of a nightmare to say the least.  However to the naked eye I look fine & choose to still embrace life albeit frustratingly limited. 

On more than one occasion I’ve had people question my disabilities because “You look happy and I often see you laughing?”……..yes, believe it not, no matter what life serves you up,  being happy and laughing are still a choice…unlike disability.  The other one I often get is “You still make music?” …er,  yes because that’s what I do, only now due to illness it  takes a zillion times longer to get anything  done. Disabled people still have to live, to carve out some kind of life within their limitations.

              Watford Observer:

I was guilty like many of thinking you had to be in a wheelchair or have a missing limb or have two heads at the very least. In fact I didn’t even know I was disabled until a very nice lady from citizens advice bureau referred to me as being so one day,  it almost felt like an insult and I shook my head “I’m not disabled”

“Oh but  you are” she replied with a little exasperated smile as if she came across this ignorance all the time.

Later, my step mother being a college tutor, educated me on the meaning of Disability and I began to understand that not seeing something doesn’t mean it’s not there………..Oxygen anyone?

Being disabled can present many challenges & one family keen to change the face of disability  for children in particular are the Whites from Fareham . Talking of his 9yr old daughter Emily, Dan said “She stormed into the world with Spina Bifida and an insatiable appetite for life!! However looking around for relevant heroes for her and our new circle of friends…I found none! I also noticed a lack of positive media coverage of disability and the strong, independent kids involved…Ok then! Get creating  big  fella!

             Watford Observer:

& thus  the Marvel style comic hero book was born “The department of ability”  with each character using their disability as their power. Through pure determination and  battling on after each knock back Dan is now starting to see the fruits of all his efforts, it’s  even been mentioned stateside  by Channing  Barker  on Fox24 news. Mum Aimee has been learning about setting up websites and Emily has been busy writing blogs making this a real family crusade. You can check out the characters Pawsy, Billy, Claypole, Azazzatz, & Emily and follow the families efforts by going to  http://www.departmentofability.com/   Dans happy to hear from people  so you can get in touch via the webpage, & also  Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Department-of-Ability/1463121457321060?fref=ts

 &  twitter https://twitter.com/DeptOfAbility

                             Watford Observer:

Onto gadget/gizmo/gift of the week and I was slightly torn because  at £3500.00 I knew you’d all be fighting to get your hands on this rather blingy Apple Iphone 6 from Firebox available in 24K gold, rose gold or platinum….ah why not get one of each?

                        Watford Observer:

But in the end I opted for this 14.5” paintball lava lamp slightly  more affordable at £24.99  yep even after 40yrs lava lamps are still all the rage and while retaining the original shape, manufacturers are always looking at ways to change things up a little and this  would certainly liven up any room. Available from MenKind   http://www.menkind.co.uk/paintball-tricolour-lava-lamp

                Watford Observer:

Onto local news and after four years of  blood sweat & tears of  frustration I’m finally releasing My Rap Hip-hop EP  aptly called “Runnin On Empty”  it has 10 tracks in all,  6 clean ones and then 4 explicit versions and all for  £3.99  it’s available via Bandcamp, https://mamachill.bandcamp.com/album/runnin-on-empty-ep and if you can’t wait til Sundays release you can Pre Order it right now and  get to download the track  “Jus Human” straight away. If that’s not enough there’s also an added bonus track which features a collab with the awesomely talented folkstress Minnie Birch on a somewhat different version of John Miles Music.  Hope you enjoy it? 

                           Watford Observer:

                                 Til Next Week, Stay Blessed

                                        Back Before Elvis X

https://www.facebook.com/RunninOnEmptee1

https://twitter.com/RunninOnEmptee

http://ldifme.org/ 

http://www.investinme.org 

http://ldifme.org/