Fair weather

A year ago, Mary was in Sheffield, I was in Popham Court Nursing home on respite. The weather was scorching hot and a previous carer and family took me around the Wellington Street fair.

Today as I lie in bed looking out at the rain, dressed and ready to transfer to my wheelchair, I don’t feel as keen. Rain is running down the windows and dripping from the overhangs. I can hear it hitting the conservatory roof whenever Mary opens the kitchen door. She is busy getting ready for us to go out. I’ve mentioned before, going out when you are disabled is no simple matter.

“Oh, the poor Wellington Majorettes, I can hear them outside. They must be getting soaked.”  Says Mary when she opens the front door to put something out. Our alley opens onto the High Street and sounds from the Street Fair reverberate up it.

I also feel sorry for them, but I’m considering how wet I will get. I have a very good set of waterproofs for my wheelchair, but some rain normally gets in. There is also a restriction in being cocooned in polyester sheeting. Everyone I meet normally says how cosy I look, or comments on how I have the right idea, being so wrapped up. Maybe they should try it.  At least it’s warm today, so I can wear less layer’s underneath. One time I tried out a waterproof covering for a mobility scooter, it had a see-through front section. I pointed out to my carers that if I used that I would have to be careful what I wore underneath. You see when I am wrapped up in my normal non see-through waterproofs, I could be in my swimming trunks underneath. Some days in Britain that might be a good idea. That’ll get you wondering if you see me on a wet day.

We were planning to set off in time to join the Baptist Church for their outside Gospel Choir singing, I wonder if it will move inside, I hope so. Our original plan was a leisurely trip on route there looking at the stalls, I think it will be a lot quicker now.

Hoist into the wheelchair and wrapped like a cocoon ready to venture out. I take my normal tortuous route from lounge to kitchen, do a little twirl in the kitchen. Not because I like dancing, but because that’s the only way to get out of the next door. Through the kitchen door into what was once our dining room and is now just a utility room and out of the front door. Mary puts the bag onto the back of the wheelchair. Which can’t be left on in the house, it gets in the way.

Hey presto! The rain has blown away and the sun is struggling to make a showing, in between the odd shower. We make it to the Baptist Church in time for the start, but obviously the earlier rain has delayed preparations. They are outside.

“One, two, one two, testing.” Comes from the speakers at varying volumes. Assuming that isn’t the Gospel choir we get a free coffee and for Mary, a cake. Some time later the choir start and are well worth the wait. The only problem being that my body needs food at regular intervals. By the time the music starts it’s getting well past my lunchtime. We stay for a short time but must return home so that I can eat. It’s back through the whole process of wheelchair manoeuvres and hoisting to get back into bed, that way I can rest after eating, for today has another activity in store.

There is a double treat, not only Wellington Street fair, but the first day of open-air music at Wellington Park. Something that happens every Sunday afternoon June, July and August 2:30 till 4:30pm. They have refreshments that are probably the cheapest I have ever found at such an event. Tea, coffee, mini cheddars and ice creams. Oh yes, the music is great too.

After lunch and a rest, it’s back into the wheelchair and through the circuitous route out of our house. As we leave the house, we follow the strong drumbeat of a street performance. It’s a clever job Mary makes of weaving through the crowd to view the drummers and dancers. Or should I say ‘proper job’ as we are in Somerset. I can feel the drumbeat moving not only my body but my whole wheelchair. Quite some beat to move 250kg. Most of that being the chair of course, I think that must weigh at least 200 of the kg’s.

After having our innards shaken for a while in the High Street, we weave our way to the park. Because of the suspect weather, it keeps raining on and off, there are more shelters than usual, and we find a covered area for Mary to sit next to me. The band is excellent, one of the best I have heard at the park, the Taunton Concert Band. I am listening to them as I write this. Hang on, let me just applause that last piece from ‘Dances with wolves.’ Tea break now.

The rain has just re started heavily. It must have taken pity on the conductor who was the only member of the band not covered and kept off till the break. I do love Wellington Park, especially in summer during these performances. There is a banner being held up for a ‘tree walk’ they do this in the intermission. It’s a guided walk around the park telling its history and about the horticulture. Mary has gone to get us a drink, or did she say she was looking at the book stall. We will soon see. Oo, Mary has bought some books, now she is off back again to the stall. Ah! She’s bought me a pack of mini cheddars and a cup coffee.

The rain is increasing I think I had better move more under cover. I have my feet up so that my head, which was covered by the trees is stuck out of the tent. As the rain picked up, the odd raindrop found its way through the branches. But I will put my feet down and move further in. I can see the pond from where I am sitting, I do love rain hitting a pond.

The Taunton Concert Band don’t have amplification, they don’t need it. But that does mean whenever the conductor wants to announce the next section he must come around to each section of the audience. The way everything is laid out is in a square with the bandstand in the middle, main seating opposite, tea, coffee & book stall to the left as you look at bandstand, and another covered area on right. They call that last area disabled seating and its where we are. But really anyone sits there. There is another covered tent at a distance for smokers and a small information and first aid tent.

Everything is so well organised by Friends of Wellington Park. They work very hard, setting up, running and breaking down all these events. Whenever we go, there is a lady, Pauline who spots us and makes sure we can find a place to be under cover with a seat for Mary.

As the very last strains of the final piece of music rang out, the sun finally burst through the clouds, it was as if a heavenly lighting booth had coordinated with the band. The sunshine made for a pleasant end to a great day and a much more enjoyable walk home. I’m able to dispense with waterproof coverings. One last chicane to negotiate once home in order to get the wheelchair back into the lounge and me into bed. It’s been fair weather after all.

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