THE GOLD STAR LIST: people and things that enable us

[sanguine_emma]

I've been meaning to start this for some time. This is the natural antidote to the Black List, and it's for all the things and the people around us that enable us to function like your average human being. For example:

Shopmobility - gotta love the scooter life.
The Red Cross - who give you a wheelchair just because you ask for it, and don't look at you like you are some kind of fraudster.
My electric tin opener - cans hold no fear for me.
My ring splint - push button? Bring it on!
My blue badge - hurray for a world of parking options!
My husband - he's just great and is useful in all situations from turning me over in bed to cooking dinner to hoiking me out of the bath.

[l00pyp0u]

An Unusal one on here

MY GP Surgery for the followong reasons:
my excellent GP,
The really helpful receptionists,
And the practice manager, who is also the head partner GP, for telling me I can move house and where ever I live they will still see us, even if we are out of their area, and they have done a lot of reading up behind my back.

I went to see another GP yesterday, who IS the practice manager, and he actually asked me who I had got the hypermobility from, which I have never discussed with them. I was also told that no matter what the problem, it wasn't too big or too small for them to deal with for me.

His eyes did boggle a bit when I showed him my hand at 90 degrees to my wrist sideways though

Is there an official HMSA award, coz I would definately recommend that they recieve one!

Lou

[shen]

My OH

The last 10 weeks with him have been amazing, he is so kind and sweet. He never complained when i couldn't do something. We wanted to go on the ski lift to the top of a high mountain, but when we arrived we discovered that it was one of those jump on, jump off ones. at a few feet off the floor there was no chance i could do it without getting hurt. I was very frustrated and near to tears, i really wanted to go up there. OH didn't bat an eyelid and took me somewhere else instead. He happily holds the hairdryer for me when i need, or carries the shopping. When i fall or trip because of my ankle he half carries me to the nearest place to sit down and rest.

So yes, goldstar to my OH.

[Flora]

The lovely lady who volonteered to push my trolly to the taxi point at tescos, then realising I was going to call a taxi, gave me a lift home. She not only loaded all my bags into the car, refusing to let me carry one, but then unloaded at the other end, getting all the bags to the front door (up a ridiculously long path)
Flora

[shen]

Lush shampoo bars!!! no more dislocating my thumbs trying to squeeze those god forsaken shampoo bottles, or getting mouthfuls of shampoo becuase i have to open the bottle with my teeth! They are so cool, just work them like a normal bar of soap and rub in your hair, it lathers like liquid shampoo too! the best thing, it lasts around 4 months a bar, for £4:50!!

[BendyBoff]

My best friend, who even though she has depression looks after me and cheers me up and brings me starbucks goodies when I can't manage to meet her there but also knows when I just want to be left alone. She also makes me smile because she is the only person I know who decides that her Phd is done by measuring how thick it is with a ruler and comparing it to other theses in the library!

My husband is also a star because he does pretty much all the housework because I can't do it!

xxxxx

[Chloe♥]

I'm going to resurrect this thread.

ALICKS.
My best friend since forever, has helped me through a lot of stuff, and I've been there for him.
He was happy to spend NYE watching Black Books with me because I couldn't handle going out, and then when I hurt myself tying my shoes (it's a bit perverse that I'm proud of that, isn't it?) firstly did his concerned thing, then asked if I was going to be sick (I didn't realise I looked that ill) and then let me use him as a big boy-shaped mobility aid.
If I'd had to walk home alone I don't think I would have made it. So I am very very grateful to him. He's a starrr.

[Flora]

Tesco.com!! I am loving being able to shop for food without leaving the sofa. I am now wondering why I waited untill I had been flattened by a bus before I tried it.
Flora

[loosebones]

Retro! for fixing the forum! Well done Lindsey

[Stone]

I'll second that, nobody should have to spend their Sunday fixing it so we can create more modwork

Stone

[Flora]

Retro for fixing this sanity saving website
The man on the end of the phone at welcome mobility. I ordered an inflatable bath lift from them, but it hadn't turned up. This lovely man spent 45 minutes phoning suppliers and tracking one down for me so I can have it tomorrow! The other suppliers were saying more than a week, so next day is great. He really went out of his way to fix it for me
Flora

[BendyBoff]

My boss for being so understanding! I couldn't get to work today as I tried to iron last night so I have been allowed to work from home. Not sure that there is anything I can do except check my emails (none so far!) but at least I don't have to take a day off sick!
xxxx

[Tabi]

My husband, for understanding me, and accepting me, and not getting cross, and coming with me to hospital

[loon]

My team leader at work (see eeyore thread) xxx

And of course RETRO i'd be absolutely lost without this site

[Blaadyblah]

One gold star for my super boyfriend, who came in last night shattered, in pain from an aching back and legs, made me a cup of tea, went for a nap and still got up to make sure I had everything I needed before he went to bed proper. He is pretty marvelous and gives the best massages ever.