Danger - Learner Rollator-Driver About

Right. Here’s where I’m coming from. To all intents and purposes beyond repair. That's official. Never used walking aids because hands, shoulders, elbows and feet can’t manage them. Nevertheless have always walked as much as possible but being inside on laminate for most of the last 15 months hasn’t helped. As I realised when I began to hang the washing out again. Laminate is too easy peasy flat. On grass and gravel I’m now dangerously wobbly.

Might there, I wondered, be a rollator out there which could accommodate my sticky out feet (Now in the 2.55pm position) and anarchic fingers. I dragged Mr SW to our local disability shop where he couldn’t take his eyes off the Rolls Royce of electric wheelchairs (big wheelchair from the back: Harley Davidson from the front). I told him I wanted to walk.

The lovely guy in the shop showed me an expensive rollator which had the wheels outside the frame so I’d be less likely to put a stray foot on one and trip myself up – a feat I manage all the time with supermarket trollies – and ergonomic handles. Frankly, my hands are more gnomic than ergonomic but I could place them on top after a fashion, enough to keep the thing steady anyway. I could even work the brakes. Always a plus. So, after a pootle round the shop, I dragged him away from the Harley (For crying out loud, he’s just back on the golf course with two new hips!) and got him to get his wallet out. To be fair to my lovely man he took no persuading. So, I walked it all six steps or so to the car.

Day 1 – I walked down our very short, narrow street (we’re in the panhandle) to the pull-in at the end and back. Tiny kerb. OK to get down but monster for my hands to lift rollator up. Did it though. Breathing heavily when I got back. Crikey! I’m seriously unfit but this will be good for me in more ways than one. Oddly, ancient TKR perfectly happy. It likes upright.

Day 2 – This time to the far end of the pull-in. Not breathing quite so heavily on return.

Day 3 – Right to the end. Turned outwards into T-junction. Getting easier all round.

(Later – why are my right shoulder and hand playing up? Ah yes. Hadn’t thought I was leaning at all on the rollator, just using it for balance, but obviously must have been.

Day 4 – Day off to recover.

Day 5 – Found smallish kerb I could get up which meant I could go into next street. (Ours has virtually no traffic so on the road so far.) Quick discovery. I can’t do cambers. My escort (bless him) stopped me shooting off into road. Won’t try that again.

Day 6 – Other direction. Through schoolyard. (Schools have broken up here) out the other side, through car park (Note that slopey bit and how to avoid it next time!) and down quiet road to first bench.

Day 7 – Not 100% Head stuffy with pollen so just same again. No extras.

Today I shall head past the bench to the picnic table.

By Christmas I might even make the local hostelry. Alas, might have to stay a few days before being able to set off back, though😊