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Getting away….to Lanzarote
by Martyn Sibley
Apologies for being away from my blogs. I had a much needed break in Lanzarote back at easter, while following on from this I have set up new fundraising campaigns and sponsored events at Scope. On top of this I have been looking at running for local council next year. Anyway needless to say lifes been busy but here’s a blog from the holiday.
Having travelled to the Canary Islands many times before this wasn’t a difficult journey in terms of disability related. However there are a couple of things I’d like to touch on.
Firstly the reason I have been so many time to these islands (beyond more guaranteed sunshine) actually is wheelchair related. Whenever in the past I have looked for a new destination, a new adventure etc the hassle is unbelievable. For those who haven’t travelled with a wheelchair I can tell you the house to airport trip is usually fine with your general transportation method refined over the years living in the UK. Even the airport part is much better once you know your needs and can communicate them firmly and politely. This means I check in, introduce myself to the disability desk and tell them I will meet them for boarding to be carried on the plane, and they can only then have my wheelchair for the hold. It’s the transfer abroad, hotel accessibility, hoist and showerchair hire and general infrastructure on the resort where it gets complicated. Its only once you have been somewhere that you refine this aspect from experience. Hence after a while the simple tried and tested becomes the desirable, even as an adventurous exploring type person. Don’t get me wrong I have done America and Australia which all went smoothly all things considered. Now working full time I just need a holiday to relax and do not have the time to plan such trips. Maybe in a couple more years I’ll go for it again.
The second aspect is around cost. Although I know in Lanzarote I can get wheelchair accessible transfers and hire medical equipment this is not cheap. Being on an average wage and doing average things in my average week, I have to budget and save for holidays like everyone else. So when the transfer costs £150 and the hoist and showechair £100, £250 of my earning goes on things over and above accommodation, flights and important drinking funds. Its something you learn to live with and I am definitely not normally a complainer but anyone with a sense of logic can see this is somewhat unfair in trying to live a ‘normal/typical’ life.
I would like to finish with how this was a great holiday. I managed to de-stress from work, think about a few things about where I am heading post moving to London (local council being something new and exciting) and caught up with my family. We had great days on the beach, lovely meals in the evening and drinks with karaoke later on. Lanzarote will suit me fine for now until my yearning for disability skiing or diving takes a stronger hold along with a boost of crazyness…
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