Tea Rooms and Orthotics
I don’t know about you, but I get the feeling that my last perhaps two or three blog/newsletters have tended to be on the negative side. At least in part. I think that’s okay because I promised to relay my experiences living with Parkinson’s and none of that should be sugar coated. Here we go again! ;)
Last week was not easy. Lynne and I had a holiday planned for Harrogate, Yorkshire, just for 2 nights, in particular visiting The Harrogate Flower Show – something I never thought I would be going to see. In actual fact it was quite interesting and not only flowers for display, exhibition, competition and sale, but lots of interesting other stuff including bonsai trees of which I have one only but retain a keen interest and have nurtured that one – called Billy, by the way – for some three years or so. I think originally Billy was a Christmas present from son Luke.
When we arrived in Harrogate, around two hours fairly easy drive from North Manchester, we felt it only manners to visit the famous Betty’s tea room. We parked up at our hotel (The Harrogate Inn, recommended) then Betty's is a long walk up a long hill until what felt like an ice age later eventually we took our place in the queue along with the many other geriatrics – I think it’s a long time since I last felt the youngest adult around by some margin. I had some kind of rosti livened up with wonderful Swiss cheese, Lynne had smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. All excellent and over-priced.
After lunch Lynne broke the news to me that as usual she had forgotten to pack a hairbrush - as usual! So we had to go in search of Boots to buy a new one. Well, not to put too fine a point on it, after tackling everest to get to Betty's, followed by some retail hopping, my ankle was almost totally f*cked. We had the flower show to do next day, the art gallery, pump room museum, Ripley Castle and grounds, and more in our plans - not going to make it as I eventually got back to the hotel from Boots, and I'm done! Dinner in the hotel, a couple of vodkas each and an early night to rest up as much as possible to give the best chance of getting around at the flower show.
We made it to the flower show, it was interesting, for me personally a lot better than anticipated but for the ankle/achilles a total disaster. I really was close to the point of not being able to walk at all - hobbling. After a much too long walk to the public loo, which only aggravated the leg, we spotted a stall headed up Orthotics -
a definition for the uninitiated...
"a medical speciality that focuses on the design and application of orthoses, sometimes known as braces, calipers, or splints. Designed to influence the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromusclar and skeletal systems. Orthitists are medical professionals who specialize in designing orthotic devices" - you may know about this, I didn't. To cut a long story short they put me through hi-tech scans of a variety of positions, platforms etc and ultimately they will be sending me a bespoke insole/support for my broken/abused feet. It was expensive but I won't say how much just yet until I can say it in the light of success or failure in a future blog/newsletter. A bit of tension/drama eh?
Very nearly didn't make it back to the car - thanks to the big man upstairs for the blue card for disabled parking! Now waiting patiently for my 'Orthotic Works' package to arrive in the next 7-10 days.
Failed to manage to do anything much for the rest of the trip - just dinner again at the hotel (excellent), vodka and an early night. Felt cheated and especially for Lynne who had chosen this trip. Sorry m'darling x
It's harmless, benign and totally genuine Parky's. Are you on my mailing list yet?