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…….
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.
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!
& 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
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?
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
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?
Til Next Week, Stay Blessed
Back Before Elvis X
https://www.facebook.com/RunninOnEmptee1
https://twitter.com/RunninOnEmptee
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