Rather than making lemonade, we decided that today Amelia would finally learn to ride her bike! Now before anyone gets upset, this is on a private driveway, and although there is a public pathway running by, we ensured we observed social distancing protocols appropriately.

Now for the fun bit! We tried this the day before yesterday, but unfortunately it didn’t quite go to plan, and we ended up writing it off as a bad job. However a new day has dawned and we have been graced with sunshine, so it was back to the pedals. Helmet donned and tantrums averted, we headed outside, and immediately forget what we had learned the other day. Oh well, let’s give it another go. Amelia actually did incredibly well considering her lack of experience and confidence, and only ate dirt once! she hopped straight back up and back into the saddle, and I have to say I was incredibly proud of her. I wasn’t sure if her knowledge of my accident would make her scared of bikes and the like, but it doesn’t look like it.

It’s becoming more and more difficult to keep Amelia (and occasionally Sarah) entertained throughout this lockdown, and I’ve really learnt to appreciate how much we have available and take for granted all the time. Local parks, beaches, lakes, farms, woodlands are all fantastic and vital to children, as they provide space and education that cannot be found in a classroom. I can’t wait for the day that we can start to head back out to the open spaces like this properly, and let her run wild once again. We are very fortunate in that where we now live has a playpark on the estate, approximately a five minute walk from where we live, and so as soon as we are allowed out again we will be frequenting that often.

In other news, I had a great phone call with a lady from my local wheelchair services, and I am pleased to say that once we are safe enough to live a little again, I am on the priority list to get assessed for a new chair. I think I know what I want, but I will be meeting reps from different companies and will have the chance to get something that suits my needs much better than my current tank.

I hope everyone is keeping well and following the rules as best you can. It is a strange and scary time we are living in, but I am very confident that we will be over it soon enough. I was reading this morning that human trials for a vaccine will begin imminently, which is very reassuring. As is custom on a Thursday, I will be on my doorstep at 8PM tonight clapping for all of our key workers, and I hope you will be too.

There are some incredible stories of how people are coping and uplifting other’s spirits floating around at the moment, so if something online makes you smile, please share it around and try to brighten someone else’s day throughout this time. I still maintain that if anyone needs a chat I am here, as are many others. The internet is absolutely our best friend at the moment, and there are some incredible resources available. We are still having almost nightly quizzes, so if anyone needs a quiz just let me know, I’ve written a few now!

On a final note, I would like to say thank you again to everyone who has helped me, not just during the current situation but right from the beginning: the list is endless. I started this blog as a way of coping and recording my story, but it has become so much more than that for me; it is my outlet, and I am extremely grateful that people take the time to read. I can only apologise for the slow pace of new content at the moment, but I simply have nothing to write about! Hopefully there are lots of adventures to come, and I can share it all with you. Take care everyone, it’s a mad world out there.