A Whole New Experience

Last night I checked something off my bucket list, I took a beautiful female on a date. 

Now this was a friend-zone kind of date, but it was still kind of a big deal for me as she (the beautiful lady, not dropping any names a Gentleman like me never kisses and tells) was my first ever female, I have taken out.

But I know she reads my blog so she is probably going to kick my ass for this. (oh well)

Now getting to last night was a bit of a bumpy road, because the beautiful lady I chose (who I have known for years, and is a very good friend) in the eyes of some, she has a bit of bad reputation you may say.  For like the last week I’ve been getting it in the neck, by my family (mainly my mum) to why I wanted to take her out. (at the end of the day, i am an adult i can do what i like, this is a whole new Justin people)

So I told her this last night, here’s why 

1.       Because I have never been on a date before, and if I want to jump in the dating pool I’m going to need some practice, so that was what last night was about for me.

2.       Because she has been a really good friend to me lately, so it was my way of saying thank you for being there.

3.       Even though in the eyes of some people, she has a bad reputation, (it was my choice, and I am glad I got to take her out) I am my own person and have my own mind and I chose to see past it, to me she is nice and beautiful and beauty to me isn’t just looks, though she is stunning too. To me beauty is kind, caring, warm, funny, smart it’s everything all wrapped up in to one, and yes she is this, and she has 2 of the most amazing eyes I have ever seen, and like me she has a very big heart full of love, (when you have a big heart, you can just see it in others too) and yes I do love her, but we are just friends. (number 3 I did not tell her)

Now as I said we have known each other for years, and we always talk and stuff but last night was the only time we have really spent alone together.  It was different and good.  New experiences, now some may read this and think I’m writing a love letter of something to her, which I’m not she knows how I feel and she means a lot to me she always will, other people may read this and thing what a dick and so what  this is my blog and I will say what I like. 

Last night was good me and I think I proved it to a lot of people (still not dropping names) that I am still very capable of doing things, and the one positive thing I am going to take from this... apart from saying I took a beautiful female on a date, is that it felt really Normal. 

Now I dislike using that word, but let face and it’s no secret, it’s something that we, as disabled people (and yes even me) are always chasing and that’s to be Normal. To be accepted,to fit in and last night i felt like i was all 3. :-)

I’d like to take this time to say thank you to her for allowing me and officially being the first ever female I have taken out,  it was a great new experience for me and that’s what I wanted and what I got.

Like the Poison song, Ain't looking for nothin' but a good time, and a good time is what I got.

That’s how I am looking at life at the moment, doing and trying new things it’s so true what they say life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

I guess you can I’m a bit of a late bloomer, and that I’m making up for lost time. 

It's a whole new world, out there and it’s about time that I and my wheelchair explore it. 

We went for a meal together at Chiquito, it was busy as hell in there had about 25minute wit before we got a table and then I think they forgot about our food, because by time our food came we had about 10mins before the film so was kind of a rushed but it was still nice.

 We also saw X-Men: Days of Future Past

 Best X-Men movie Yet! Believe It

It really is that good, now with its huge casts of star talent, and how much it crosses from future to past, it could have quite possibly been a flop, but IMO I think they nailed it.

Fans of the original trilogy and First Class will definitely enjoy this one thanks its perfect and well balanced mix between the original characters and the new ones (with just a few ones who maybe deserved more credit, but is not at all a problem for the movie) and this film delivers a top notch entertaining with a potent story and some good twists that help to live up expectations mixed with terrific special effects and cinematography. Now we saw it in 3-D and I didn’t think much of the 3-D parts to be honest, but hey ho you can’t have it all.  Just go see This Film. 

And in other news 

Yesterday my Download tickets got dropped of by the lovely post lady we have. 

So yeah i was really happy anyway before i went on my date, and now after a great night I am still very happy. I'm going to Download 11days today baby I'm coming Home. \m/

Festival of Learning

Yesterday I received an email, inviting me to help out/get involved in the Festival of Learning 2014 Bournemouth University.

 http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/festival-of-learning/

Here’s what I got in the email

It’s aimed at service users/carers and people from organisations mainly as the purpose is to get more people involved.

It’s on Tuesday 10^th June 6.30pm-8.30pm at the EBC Executive business Centre.

I’ve included a (draft) outline of the event. You’ll see that after the break we will have the exhibition with the stands and also a room where people who are interested in hearing more (and maybe signing up) can talk to members of the group – that’s where you come in!

a)     Would you be free on that day at that time and b) Would you be happy to be in that room, chatting to people; answering any questions they have and perhaps talking a bit about what you do with us (and why you love doing it!!)

Of course I said Yes! It’s something I can do to help out, and let’s face it, I kind of got a bug for this talking stuff now and Yes! I do love doing it. 

It’s also a few days before I go away to Rock N Roll for the weekend to Download, so what better way to get pumped up then to help out with something that’s cool and in the long run going to help many people, and then I can go and Rock my Socks off and have fun and Download. \m/ 

Here's a link to the 
Festival of Learning

http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/festival-of-learning/ 

So yeah please check it out, and if you are free on them dates come on down to the Festival of Learning. :-)

Bad Start that turned into an Amazing Day

To think this day started off in the worst possible way, I fell out of bed and crushed my leg under my fat ass. 

And now we rewind 

A few weeks back I and my friend (Dave) got talking about festivals, and we both decided on Download, however I checked online and the weekend disabled camping tickets had SOLD OUT.  I put myself on the cancellation list, and every night I was saying a pray to the Rock Gods up stairs.

Yesterday that pray got answered as a ticket became available, and today I paid for that ticket.

I very much so feel like Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I have a golden ticket. (I know he won it and I paid for it, but still I’m Excited)

I have not been to Download since 2010, that’s 4 years (Because of other things, and the 2 ops I had done) But this year I am making my way back, I'm on the way to the promised land.

Here’s the Line Up 

Now I know some of it isn’t great, but it does have some bands that I am dying to see. Like Rob Zombie, Black Label Society, Twisted Sister, Volbeat and Steel Panther again and a few more. \m/

Also 

I did a blog interview with Clare Nonhebel

Clare Nonhebel is a author has also worked as a freelance journalist, with articles and features published in national magazines and newspapers, and was previously a social worker and a PR executive.

Following publication of the books, she has been on TV and radio, and has given school, college, bookshop and group talks.

Clare Nonhebel is a Christian who writes for believers and non-believers alike, tackling serious topics with a lightness of touch.

Clare is a fantastic lady and even though I have not met her, one day (I hope soon) I will.

Here is the link to the peace Clare has done on me.
http://cnon2014.wordpress.com/

Please go and view that J also here is the link to Clare’s website
 http://clarenonhebel.com/

Then this got sent to me to make this day even more Amazing

I received the feedback from my Tuesday talk

Take a look 

What did you find useful about the session? ·         Finding out about this rare condition and how it affects him and his family and what it entails. ·         Patient insight into the condition ·         Justin and his mother were very honest and open and gave a lot of information ·         Great to hear first-hand views and experiences ·         I found it amazing to hear about  living with a condition first-hand ·         I loved that there was no PowerPoint presentation and that Justin truly spoke from the heart ·         This session was absolutely invaluable! It was amazing to hear from a young person living with the condition rather than just a PowerPoint ·         Loved hearing about someone’s own experiences first-hand. Very useful to find out from patients’ perspectives on their own treatment and how it can be improved ·         To understand how not to give diagnosis to patients and families about conditions. To find out a bit more about Friedrich’s Ataxia and how the family coped with the diagnosis ·         Very interesting; complete eye opener ·         Real life situation, feelings, raw emotion ·         Interactive Q&A session ·         The session was very interesting as it enabled us to see another point of view and gain insight to the experiences of a parent and child. Also this is a condition which we might not have come across so interesting to gain understanding of this ·         Emotions felt by patient with FA; how he deals with his daily life ·         Learning about FA and how it affects the family’s daily life (2) ·         Steps through his diagnosis ·         Carer’s point of view from his mum ·         Sharing their life experience; being personal ·         Hearing about a condition from a person who currently knows what it is like, living with the condition, rather than just being taught about it. It helped to realise and understand the condition from that person’s perspective ·         Getting a ‘reality’ view from the person/carer perspective of living with a life long/complex condition ·         Learning about positives/negatives/difficulties experienced ·         Gaining a more in-depth understanding ·         Receiving information directly from Justin and his mother; very informative and interesting ·         Loved learning about the condition from Justin himself, rather than a PowerPoint; hearing from him and his mum was very interesting ·         Hearing the journey of a real life patient; their feelings and challenges ·         Great, honest insight; good to have first-hand account (2); raised awareness of FA

What could have been done differently? ·         Nothing; it was lovely to hear from someone with the condition rather than PowerPoint from someone who doesn’t know much ·         Set out the room differently; felt too formal; maybe a circular set up ·         Carpet was hard for Justin in his wheelchair ·         More explanation on how nurses could have improved the hospital experience ·         More detail about care in hospital and from nurses; also improvements for nurses and professionals to make ·         Nothing (2) ·         Left blank (11)

Any other comments ·         Very good session ·         This was brilliant and inspiring; makes me think about how to treat young people in the future ·         You are both doing an excellent job; keep smiling Justin! ·         Very interesting session :) (2) ·         Interesting to learn about how the doctors and health staff dealt with the family and diagnosis ·         Recommend for other years (2) ·         Extremely beneficial; recommend for other years ·         We need more sessions like this!!! ·         We would definitely benefit from more sessions like this! ·         It was brilliant and very valuable; both personally and relative to the course ·         Brilliant session; very useful and thank you for coming to talk to us! ·         Thank you for this opportunity (3) ·         Very interesting, I will look at Justin’s blog ·         Left blank (4)