The OT gave me a kitchen aid to help me with making hot drinks. I found it not very safe and thought there might be health and safety issues with it. However, she left it. she also left a bath stool and an aid to help me put my socks on -  that I cannot  use. 

My Invacare front wheel  developed a  puncture and instead of getting a call out which would cost me £55 I decided to take a taxi to Midlands Mobility and take the train back from Tile Hill.

In the end, my taxi ride was £8.50 and the inner tube plus labour set me back £25. They are located at Torrington Avenue in Tile Hill. When Andy finished fixing the wheel, I set about on the way to the station - they told me it was only half a mile-it felt much more. However, on the way I spotted the Jim Doran Hand controls centre and nipped in. Jim wasn't in - as luck would have it, he takes wednesdays off. My question is: should i start driving again? would it really give me more independence?

I think I should stay with public transport.

When I was in London on Friday, there were no trains out of Euston back to Coventry. I was at Liverpool  Street  Station  so I stayed there  to get  something to eat. there was a Japanese restaurant, sushi bar called  Moshi Moshi. I was disappointed because all their stools were too high for me which means I couldn't just pick off the bar. The tables were too narrow to get a wheelchair in - and I had to order from a menu. Was I disappointed? Yes I was.

Here is the weather report from Virgin train  today -


I am travelling to Cardiff on tuesday. i hope that the trains will be running then.

I had a look at Coventry City Council  for their Disability  Equality  scheme  (DES)

                (from Coventry council website)

I have been here in Coventry since OCt 2005, and I have now to decide whether I am staying or moving on. Why did I look at their DES? I think it is as a result of work and experience  with the social services.  To be fair, I do not think that  my experience  is  at all  uncommon, which is a sad  fact.  But  in reality, I have nothing to keep me here. I  came here for a job and now that job is finished, I have no ties here. That document has also some interesting facts and figures and future projects for the city.

I do not dislike the city however. It is a good size to wheel around. The buses are accessible and the train services are excellent. It is quite easy to go down to London or hop to Birmingham or to the airport. Its central position is great.  It is a convenient city. Are these the only positive things? The city in itself is quite accessible.

What do I miss by being here? Coventry does not boast itself as a great cultural city.
"Why is there a saying ' being sent to Coventry?" It is a chav town (I did not know the term till I arrive here)
It has the Herbert and there is the Warwick Arts Centre but I have never figured how to get there on public transport. I have tried taking the no.12 bus before which goes there but both the buses I tried were not accessible. There is the Belgrade Theatre which is being refurbished and will be open again in September - the programme looks interesting. So the culture here, in the sense of arts and museum, etc is not great.

Night life is almost non existent. The city centre is almost dead after 6pm.  There really is not much to do, places to go for entertainment.  The locals go to pubs - there is some live music..  Housing, as property to be bought,  is not expensive - considering that Coventry is not that far from London. However, I cannot say I am not impressed by the new buildings put up.

The trendy quarter here is Earlsdon, or so I was told, but then I do not know much about it. Coventry will have a massive Ikea built  here soon. I  cannot imagine what that will do except turn the horrendous ring road into a massive parkng  place when come holidays and sales time.

What else is there to say about Coventry? If i think of any more positive reasons for staying, I will add here.