Category: Reviews

Ten tips and hints

These are a list of ten things I have found make life easier when you are mobility limited:

1/ Litter picker/grab sticks. I can’t over state how useful I find these. Do look for ones that have a decent grip. They are still limited by two things, your strength, and the weight of what you can pick up. But they are great to get smaller things that are out of your reach. However much it may sound fun, it’s no fun having to keep asking people to fetch everything for you. If you can grab what is just out of reach, that is really great. I have a piece of string on the top of mine so it can hook onto another thing I have lots of, hooks.

One example, this one folds:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B083QY1LXP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2/ Hooks, I have several Velcro strapped hooks around my bed and on the wheelchair. As mentioned in the 1st point, a litter picker is on one.  There are so many available. I have only shown one.

3/ Panniers, I have several of these, all different types. Two on my bed and two on the wheelchair. They hold medicine, remotes, snacks, papers, magazines, pens etc.

4/ Sleep headphones, these are a soft headband with built in headphones. I can lie down and listen to music or watch films. Mine are wireless ones, they last a few hours per charge.

These are the ones I use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B095NRZGPB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5/ Multi USB charger unit, this is most useful in nursing homes, but also good at home. As I have a lot of technology it enables me to charge many USB and Apple devices at the same time, from one 3 pin UK plug. They have different outputs.

The one I have no longer exists. Here is one of many now available:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-IWAVION-Charging-Adapter-Samsung-White/dp/B08F7RFV39/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2AER9JZ0D9UIQ&keywords=multi+usb+charger&qid=1661403113&sprefix=multi+usb%2Caps%2C61&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzSDlERks3VzE0WklEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY5ODY0MVhFR0U0QjhVNFowViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDMxMjQ2MkNVWlE1QU9QSDA0MiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

6/ A computer tablet stand, I have a heavy based, goose necked stand and it is so useful. I can easily view or operate my tablet without having to hold it or balance it on my knee. But there are many variants. Ones that attach to the bed or that sit across your knee.

This looks the nearest to the one I have (no longer available):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08S791TMP/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pd_rd_i=&pd_rd_i=B08S791TMPp13NParams&s=computers&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

7/ Water bottle holders, I have had to try several of these to find the one that works on my wheelchair as every chair is different.

Mine is similar to this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOBETAK-Rotation-Bicycles-Mountain-Wheelchair/dp/B07F32NWZ9/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2RJE9YB8RH6ND&keywords=bottle+holder+bike&qid=1661403419&sprefix=bottle+holder%2Caps%2C61&sr=8-9

8/ A Trabasac tray. The reason being that it doubles as a bag. Plus, it has a variety of clips so that it can attach to my wheelchair. I find my lap is not level, except when my chair is reclined. So, the tray is only secure when clipped. The edges of the tray are raised so that things stay on it.

This is the Trabasac Curve. But there are a variety of sizes/types. Look at them all if you are interested:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trabasack-Curve-Wheelchair-Inclusive-Universal/dp/B00BAQXNCK/ref=d_pd_sbs_sccl_2_1/257-6152039-0943466?pd_rd_w=7jAcj&content-id=amzn1.sym.7207abe0-2196-4238-95e4-697dc8e1fcc1&pf_rd_p=7207abe0-2196-4238-95e4-697dc8e1fcc1&pf_rd_r=6R47J47PPKGJKRB87A9S&pd_rd_wg=AOUG6&pd_rd_r=38f65032-b80d-449b-947b-27c85adaab3c&pd_rd_i=B00BAQXNCK&psc=1

9/ A metal urine bottle hanger. I am in my profiling bed a lot. So I need urine bottles to hand. Having them safe and secure on a hanger is brilliant.

This is the one I use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/URINE-BOTTLE-HOLDER-Urinal-carrier/dp/B01CR5CCNI/ref=sr_1_57?crid=5WB9SSB6IMP6&keywords=urine+bottle+hanger&qid=1661403742&sprefix=urine+bottle+hanger%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-57

10/ Regarding urine bottles. When I need to go out in my wheelchair, I find urine bottles difficult to use. So, I use Conveens. See my separate blog about these: ‘Not so public convenience.’ On my site https://howcaring.home.blog/ I’m sorry there doesn’t seem to be a female equivalent.

These are Conveens. they are prescribed by your GP.
https://products.coloplast.co.uk/coloplast/continence-care/conveen/conveen-optima/conveen-optima-sheath-standard-length/

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Stranger Than Truth

We have been watching Vera, the ITV detective series, not some random lady down the road. It’s amazing how fast everything moves in a detective drama. The other night was one of my favourites for speed. Vera wanted ‘armed response’ and ‘all units’ to some remote location. Because it suited the plot, they didn’t want Vera on her own at that point. Vera was in front, driving her beat up old Land Rover, she led the convoy of marked and unmarked cars including armed response. Obviously, that’s how it would happen in reality. If you need ‘armed response’ they would take up the rear and let an unarmed, and unprotected Vera go first. They had all responded, gathered and lined up behind Vera on a country lane in time to charge off after the criminals within minutes. At least she called on her radio and next thing they were there. Perhaps they ‘beamed in.’ You can’t buy that kind of entertainment; oh, wait a minute, yes you can.

At other points, forensics comes through faster than the speed of light or so slow you think it’s been held up by a ship on The Suez Canal. All depending on the plot needs. Bits of information turn up at just the right moment. Vera has blinding flashes of inspiration. Although, I do think she should have more blinding headaches given that she seems to drink more alcohol than she has food. Which is another point. This is a current police drama, yet she seems to be allowed to drink on duty, including at work! No one seems to be above her, yet she’s only a chief inspector. She breaks rules and is never brought to book. One time she actually said she can do what she wants. I bet Morse wished that was true for him.

For all of it’s plot and character weaknesses I love the series. It feels like they have taken a police procedural series from the 1970’s, added a dash of amateur detective to it and then a whole heap of fun. They are not bothered about accuracy or time lines. It’s just a good old fashioned murder mystery romp. That seems a very strange thing to say about a series that is about murder, but it is fiction and very obviously so.

Another reason I love watching it is the locations. Being filmed around the North East I often recognise the places. They stick Hartlepool in very often and in very incongruous ways. Of course, it’s not meant to be Hartlepool. The other week they used a couple of Hartlepool General Hospital Wards in an episode set in Northumberland.

If you have never seen the series, I hope I have piqued your interest. It is worth watching, it’s light entertainment. It’s certainly stranger than truth.

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Next Day delivery

Hermes, have an interesting service available. It’s called Next Day delivery. What do you think Next Day delivery means? That the parcel will be delivered next day perhaps? That’s what I thought when I paid £12.90 for this service for an urgent parcel. After all I wanted to be sure it got there next day. Royal Mail parcels would take 3-5 days. I couldn’t wait that long.


What a fool I was. Next Day, according to the small print means they will get it there when they can. There are NO guarantees about how long that is. They say it usually takes 1-2 days.


Advertising standards must find that an interesting notion. Next Day means ‘when we feel like delivering it.’ You have been warned.


I dropped my next day parcel off 3rd Dec for Collection 4th Dec and delivery 5th. It’s now 7th Dec and their tracking site says. Delayed please allow another 24 hours.

Sorry to rant about delivery on my disability blog site. But actually home delivery is vital to me. I have most stuff delivered to my home. So sending and receiving stuff at home is very relevant to me. Most times it works fine. But I have never had any good experiences with Hermes.

One time they were delivering to me and the tracking info showed them as in the road outside for five minutes. My carer went out t find them. No delivery van was anywhere around. Then suddenly the tracker changed to card left as you were out. Yeah right, I was lying in bed at home watching the front door camera while they were supposed to be out the front. I object to delivery drivers lying like that.

I have had similar experiences from Amazon logistics. But most times they are OK. Hermes only ever goes wrong. So I am a bit biased. Why didn’t I just send my parcel by Royal Mail and save money. Apparently I will be compensated, once the parcel is delivered. I won’t be holding my breath on the speed of that then.

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