48 Steps
Last Sunday I dislocated my knee whilst playing guitar at a small festival in Surrey. From the above, can you tell which knee it was?
Unfortunately it happened in the middle of the set so I had to play the rest of the songs sitting on a chair in absolute agony.
From the second the gig finished, various people came to speak to me and I started to notice some trends in behavior.
The ‘blokey’ blokes joked about me supposedly ‘putting it on’ or that ‘it didn’t really hurt’.
The ‘girly’ girls over-compensated with compassion and asked me every 10 seconds if they could get me anything for the pain.
Then – once I arrived at hospital, the triage asked me what had happened and upon finding out, seemed to warm to me because he also played guitar in a band. Immediately, I was given a wheelchair and was treated incredibly well. I feel less peeved about paying so much tax.
Upon writing my experience onto various social media, the reactions came thick and fast. Again, the guys tend to go towards the piss-take and the girls tend to show more caring. However, my (male) cousin commented that he too, had dislocated his knee, and that he tried too hard to get off crutches, ending up by dislocating it again 2 days after..
Yesterday, I went to Farnborough Station to get the train to London. The doctors said to take some time off work but there was no way I could blow out this particular client.
When I got there, I first had to stand in a queue.
This was a nightmare. I couldn’t put any weight on my leg so I essentially had to balance and move, balance and move, balance and move for about 10 minutes.
Then, when I had to pay, I realised I couldn’t actually get my wallet out without letting a crutch leave the floor, meaning that I would fall over.
Getting through the ticket barrier was a disaster….dont even ask.
But then, after all that, there was 48 steps up and down, to get to the correct platform.
48 steps.
No alternative.
If you cannot go up and down steps – tough luck mate. No travel for you.
It seems I am not alone in my bemusement – here is an article from a year ago, speaking of the same station.
I made a decision, there and then. I could either give up – or learn (immediately) to go up and downstairs on one leg, two crutches and a laptop bag. Despite the fact it had taken my ages to get over the door ledge at home earlier that day.
Decision made, I headed for the stairs.
Several minutes later, I arrived at the other platform. The same process usually takes me 30 seconds.
To be fair, a few people asked if they could help – but I was determined to do this on my own.
The train doors opened and then I realised, the train is also higher than the platform so just one more step had to happen.
Collapsing on the train seat, I couldn’t even move – but 40 minutes later, I arrived in Waterloo.
The step down off the train was pretty hard but the 8-carriage-walk to the ticket barrier was tough.
Throughout the day, from getting in a taxi – to going to the toilet – I realised that being disabled is a totally different world where objects and supporting structures are of paramount importance.
I also realised that there are few objects and supporting structures, except from in disabled toilets and taxis. Most other rooms and buildings are absolutely not catered for people who have limited agility.
By the time I arrived back to Farnborough I was exhausted.
However, I did it. One full day in London – but not something I will repeat in the immediate future. The main thing was delivering to my client and conquering the 48 steps. Both objectives complete, I await to heal and tackle whatever challenge comes next.
