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MsSeahorse

Listed below are comments made by MsSeahorse between Friday, 6th June 2008 and Friday, 10th April 2009.

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Community growth 11:50pm on 10 Apr 2009 sp I think that this is early days judging from the grofun.org.uk website. Which doesn't mean to say that things can't happen. And yes I think there is scope for disabled gardeners to get involved. A kind of skills swap. I'm definitely keen, though you have to remember that people without disabilities could view this as a means to getting free labour. Of course it's much more than that. People with disabilities are often shut out of communities and this is one way of ensuring that we become involved again. As long as there's an exchange of labour going on I can't see why it shouldn't be possible. And the film did say they welcome people with office-based skills, which was maybe a hint at disabled viewers.
Community growth 7:38pm on 10 Apr 2009 How brilliant! I've struggled for two years to get my garden off the ground because my disability means I can't do any heavy work at all. But the process of watching GW and learning all about plants when I was too ill to do much else has meant I've become quite good at design, and people say the design in my own garden is quite something, which makes me proud. So if we had a local Grofun in Birmingham I'd definitely be able to give back in terms of the drawing board if not in muscle. Is it only in Bristol? I love the spirit of cooperation and togetherness you describe.
Are you incandescent with rage over lightbulbs? 6:04pm on 10 Jan 2009 I'll definitely be affected, and so will many others, but like wartyferret I am able to compromise and use low energy bulbs in certain parts of the house. I wrote about this only the other day over at mine...can't do a link but www.beautyoffensive.blogspot.com is where it's at, with links to other areas of the debate.
Three...two...one... BLASTOFF! 12:38pm on 30 Aug 2008 Journalism is a rewarding job especially when you get to do stuff you are passionate about! All the very best and make sure you keep us updated.
Three...two...one... BLASTOFF! 2:55pm on 28 Aug 2008 Jemma that's brilliant and you sound very excited. What are you studying?
Does disabled have to always mean old? 9:14pm on 26 Aug 2008 Much identification with this one. Using a mobility scooter blurs the disabled/elderly boundaries somewhat and causes much confusion. Indeed there is a flicker of 'how do I react to this not old person on this scooter?' in many of the faces on my high street. I would seriously prefer a power chair, and I think my medical condition would too, but I can't get an NHS one because I'm not old. Sometimes I sense that people may be wondering if I'm only temporarily incapacitated, like the journalist you write about, because well it's just wrong seeing a 35 year-old on a maroon scooter isn't it? It really clashes with my hair that's for sure.
Then there was the recent bus ticket nonsense. I paid for my son's child ticket. Then I showed my disabled pass and the machine gave me an OAP ticket. Yes, it annoyed me although I too have nothing against older people.
But I too am not old. Yet. Social services are working on it though. They are causing me to age quite quickly.
So, as my final observation, how come the only gardening services I've found locally are for the elderly, and not in my area? I enquired further and someone suggested ringing Age Concern, as I think they felt bad that us disabled types aren't catered for. So I did, and there is a grant available. My OT even got as far as filling out the form, as all concerned agreed it was wrong to discriminate against those with disabilities where gardening (or indeed fuel payments...but that's another story) is concerned. The result? I got turned down of course because I'm too young. And perhaps they think I'm only like this temporarily. I'm young you see. Plenty of time to bounce back. Yeah, right.
Big Brother: Mario, stop patronising Mikey! 11:00pm on 18 Jun 2008 What's been troubling me is the whole BB arena. 'Unleash the freaks' as the placard read if I recall rightly. It's all very well for us 'freaks' to rise above it and either watch with interest or choose not to watch at all. But I just can't see this in a positive way. I've tried, but it makes me sick to know that prejudice is being reinforced. Am I wrong in thinking the combined powers of the editing suite, the hyped and at times warped atmosphere inside the pressure cooker that is the BB house and the views of both the housemates and the viewers just make for a bad combination all round? If I'm wrong, tell me why. I set out to watch this series. I couldn't bear it after the first week.
PWD's: SHUT UP! You're not inspirational enough! 11:19pm on 16 Jun 2008 "Nor do I wish them to think of my days, or the destruction of my brain as an 'inspirational' coda between being an able bodied member of society and my return to it. I live; I live in a day, the same number of seconds as those in the able bodied world."

This rings very true, both on a personal level and because I read a truly sick-making magazine article recently. Now, I don't tend to buy newspapers or magazines because of such encounters but this one was in (wait for it) my therapist's waiting room. And there was an article about a girl who had been 'struck down' and 'confined to a wheelchair' by a devastating virus. And it was devastating, but it's interesting to note that I can't recall its name or the details of the condition as the article concentrated entirely on her brave battle back to health, back to the happy realm of the able-bodied. From 'me' back to 'we' as you say. Which was comforting no doubt for all the readers. Because if you find yourself disabled, you will get better won't you? Won't you?
Questions that Sir John Lyon might like to ask Caroline Spelman on Monday 6:31pm on 09 Jun 2008 Oh dear, oh dear. Storm. Teacup. And I'm no Tory believe me. But come on Newsnight, is this really in the public interest? If the public aren't interested, then perhaps there's your answer.
A very VI Big Brother 6:45pm on 06 Jun 2008 Me too, though there have been some shocking comments over at the BB boards. Remarks like 'How blind is he really?' and 'Oh no not another one' are typical of the welcome Michael in particular is getting. It wasn't a huge surprise to find that sort of reaction, which made me sad, but having done so I think we should send in a crack team from the Ouch boards to sort them out. Unless the BB mods have got there first, which I sincerely hope they have. It was very ugly over there last night.

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MsSeahorse