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MEAL TIME WITH THE NHS

We had a request from the NHS to update their promotion video to show how they could work with people who have got muscle spasms and behavioural problems. A filming session by another production company was set up in Basingstoke: Jamie Stewart had to shout in my ear, we had a meal on the table; I took a sausage roll off his plate and he was angry. We have got this on video and Anna Vere knocked a cup of water over. The carer put a cup of water down for Anna and she knocked it over on the table; and one other carer got hold of Anna to get her hand off the other carer's head ... !!! This all happened last Friday. Freewheelers were paid a fee.

23/2/2010

UNDER WAY AGAIN

We are doing well at the rehearsals for our production of 'Your call is important to us' everyone is now getting to know their parts and stage positions, myself I cannot wait for the actual performance in October to come. Our Tuesday Drama Workshops have been popular and we now have people waiting to come to future Workshops, this is great for the company and I hope ths carries on, the Media Group is also doing well with people waiting for places.

21/9/2009

OUR EPSOM COLLEGE SHOW

On 16th July we had a night of video and dance to show everyone what we have been up to. It was a great night but it was - I know what I want to say - tiring. I was knackered. We came to The Bridge in Leatherhead in the morning and at 4pm we travelled to Epsom and had a dress rehearsal. We had gone through everything at The Bridge and then put it together. About 6pm we finished the rehearsal; then we had to throw some food down; then get ready for the start of the night. My head didn't know whether it was going or coming. When I came out from the back I knew Jamie had to say a couple of words before the show kicked off and I thought to myself 'Come on, Jamie, be quick'. I felt OK when the show began. I had in my pocket in case anyone needed Serco mobile number in case wheelchairs break down, to call them out in the middle of the show. No-one needed them. There is better service after 5pm ... it went well and we made a very useful profit to help us keep going..

9/9/2008

EPSOM REPORT

Last night 15th July at Epsom College it was a good evening of film and dance, I think the audience enjoyed the performance of dance and film. I think this year generally our work has been better and more professional. I have also had a sneak look at the Thursday morning workshop which is going well, all those that did Play in a Week at the Nomads Theatre which followed straight on will now need a rest. We can now all build up our strength for the Autumn.

16/7/2009

YCIITU rehearsal

Yesterday we moved the whole thing from The Bridge to the actual stage where we are performing on 22nd October. I found it no problem; actually moving it over, it was much better on the stage. My bit I was on the wrong side for, but I realised whe we got to the bit and I had to tear round the back to get there on the right side for getting on the stage. I found it easier on the stage than rehearsing at The Bridge because I know in my mind we have to move it at some time. Next for us is the three days at The Thorndike Theatre from Tuesday 20 October to our performance on Thursday 22nd October.

22/9/2009

Waterloo, Steering Committee

The workshop is going well, it seems everyone knows what they are doing and we also welcomed two new people this week. The signing class has also resumed and I actually did well to remember how to sign my name that was Tuesday; on Thursday Anthony Ogle went up to Waterloo to film his part of 'Your call is important to us'; also on Thursday I went to my first Steering Committee Meeting representing 'Freewheelers' at Kingston University. I was a bit frustrated in my mind, I knew that they didn't understand me ... because I've got some speech difficulties. I had Alex from 'Dorincourt' sitting next to me at this first meeting, which was good for us both. But Christine at Kingston Uni did not want me to rely on Alex who was there for the Development Centre. I am in a bit of difficulty asking my friend Sue to come with me, as interpreter, though I do need her.

6/10/2009

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME

Last Saturday I took over the dance floor at the 40th anniversary of Epsom Riding For The Disabled Association. We held a big ball to celebrate. One of my guardians, Sarah, led mo onto the floor, threw my sticks away and we danced. It was amazing, I felt a new man. At one moment I felt her brother was too close to me and I had not got my weight over my feet and I fell right back onto Jill, my mother. It was a good catch ! I danced from 9.30 TO midnight ... with Sarah and without sticks. Seb let me dance with her all night !
Riding is not exercise, it is a good social life for me. People kept taking me off to have my photograph taken ...

20/10/2009

WONDERFUL SHOW - WITH WHEELS

YCIITU went perfectly on the night because I got my wheels back. My chair had been playing up on last Tuesday when I was at The Bridge. I went home and I got on the phone to the people to get a man out. They said the earliest would be Wednesday. Wednesday morning came, I thought 'Oh no, I've got to walk all day' because they didn't give me a time when they will come to mend it. When I was in the foyer at the Theatre on Wednesday, waiting for Brandon to get the stage ready, my phone rang. It was Phil from Hemmet House. He'd got the guy with him who took my chair up the road and back again, to see the wheel lock, but it didn't lock for him. My face was a bit annoyed: Phil passed the phone over to the guy, the guy said he couldn't find anything wrong ! I was still walking around ... we were at the Theatre from 10 to 5. I was absolutely knackered. But, come Thursday I had my wheels.

27/10/2009

WE SPLASHED OUT

On Friday 6th November we all went out for Anthony Ogle's birthday in the pouring rain. When we came back to Hemmet House my wheelchair was dead as a dodo. Last Tuesday I had people out to have a look at the wheelchair. The guy put his computer on that was supposed to tell him where the fault is ... but it didn't pick it up, they don't make it any more ! They've got to try to find the pieces for it. In seven weeks I get a new wheelchair. At the moment I feel shattered, going about with my sticks. I find it hard walking.

17/11/2009

GRUMPY BALLOON SELLER

In the drama workshop we have been working on a balloon themed piece which portrays a grumpy balloon seller, a married couple, a young boy, a flower lady and others. This has been a test piece for some of our newer members to see how they get on with drama and if they want to stay with, it has taken nearly a year to work on it but we are getting there. This should be ready for the new year 2010.

13/12/2009

DRAMA WORKSHOP GROUP FLY HIGH The Balloon production is going well and we are getting more people every week. We are getting more professional all the time. People are getting in the right places more ... We are taking it out on tour round Surrey in three weeks time.
	9/2/2010

EPSOM ROTARY

Leatherhead Rotary invited us to perform at their Valentine Ball on 13th February over at Epsom Racecourse in the Queen Stand. We showed two new dance pieces and our film "Bertie Bears All".
We had a good build up by the President of Rotary, Bob Frisby. He was talking about the charities he supports, we are one of them. We did Blazing Squads and Trust for the entertainment and at the end of the night one of the people came up to Brandon, our artistic director, with his cheque book and he wrote out a cheque for a generous donation. It was a great night and we were able to bring forward our performance slot from a quarter to midnight by a couple of hours and I met Jan Mason again, the Epsom & Ewell Mayor.

16/2/2009

UPDATE ON THE WORKSHOPS

The Drama workshops are going well and everyone is getting to know their own scripts. It is a great laugh. I had not a good start to this term, I had the old people - meaning the regular Freewheler members - joining in with my workshop but not many new people. Every week it grew more and more. We could still take some more people however and then I could give Chris back his media group. Today Brandon is sunning himself in Cyprus ... so Sue and myself are running the class. Thank you Brandon, that's fine.

25/11/2008

VOTE VOTE VOTE

Yesterday (all my troubles seemed so far away) afternoon, everyone had a vote for who wanted to take over from Vinny. Viv said to people it was level pegging. Wendy Andrew and Jamie are the three candidates. I hope one of them gets in. I think Wendy would be a good candidate, like the other two.
I have just done an interview with a Kingston University student of Social Work. I am waiting for the second one ...

9/12/2008

BRAKE BACK Last week I brought in the reply from Tom Brake and I thought the reply was a load of .... *!?! Yesterday we were working on a bit for the Leatherhead Festival. We are performing at the Festival on 14th May after a technical run-through. I will shattered. I may need a darkened room and a bottle of beer,
	12/2/2008

LIFE'S A HEADBANGER

The saga is still going on with the dreaded Dial-A-Ride. I am just fed up with them now. I feel like hitting my head against a wall and scrubbing them out of my life. Every time I rely on London cabs they are giving better service. Most of the cost Sutton pay for, I pay a little bit of the cost. I've still got problems with my wheelchair because it is not charging. I am with Fish Insurance. My National Health wheelchair costs �25 a year to insure. I am covered with Fire and Third Party and my private one is the same policy but with one more extra - a get-me-home service. That costs �45 a year. Since I joined I've not put in an accident claim, that's eight years on NHS chair and four years on mine.

19/2/2008

I'M A TEACHER

Since Vinnie has retired from doing the Drama Workshop, I got the opportunity to take over. When I first started we only had a group from Dorincourt now we have many more and those now attending the Workshops are giving me a lot of ideas to work with. So that means I have a lot of papers every week for typing up and then give the ideas to Brandon and then Rachel so it ties up with her Dance Workshop. I must say it keeps me busy but I am enjoying it, let's hope the end results work out well.

12/5/2008

FIRST SESSION FINISHED

I have now finished my first session of the drama workshops and it is a bit weird because when I frst started I had a lot of people and through the weeks the people disapppeared. They had transport difficulties and I had to call in my old friends. I asked Chris if I could borrow his people from the media group. We are preparing for the Dance & Film event in two weeks and the work is exhausting. I am on stage for all except one piece.

1/7/2008

THE EARTH ROSE - twice last week

My first entrance on Tuesday evening was to drive into a Wheelie bin outside the theatre on the big slope, fortunately that was not an omen for the night. Tuesday was an exciting evening, seeing the films at the back weas a new way of looking at things seeing them backwards, also it was hard work with only one entrance stage left and so many people using that side but I still enjoyed the performance. Working with the children from St Peter's was good fun and I hope we manage to do that again. For me I did keep thinking of my dad during the evening as he would have always been there supporting us especially at Leatherhead.

On Friday when we did it all again at the Nomads Theatre in front of the Surrey Users which was to let them know what we are doing and perhaps they will encourage other people to get involved with us. I think we really filled up the Nomads stage when everyone, performers and audience all got together on the stage for Brandon's informal workshop about what we do, let's hope we get results from this. Myself I was dizzy from spinning my wheelchair as the astronaut who never made it, hope we do it it again in the future.

27/10/2008

STEERING GROUP/DANCERS

Yesterday (all my troubles seemed so far away) I had a steering group meeting and something came up. We might be doing "Dreamstalk" ... we are supposed to be doing it once a month in schools. We are looking at performing in the Dorking Halls. It's a lot of work to put it up for a small audience - about 200. Last week I started my choreography - I went OK for my first time. This week I got everyone working. I don't want next week to come ...

15/1/2008

	THE SHERRIFF CAME TO TOWN Last Monday we had a visit from Sally Varah who is the High Sheriff of Surrey and she awarded us a grant of �920 towards the Freewheelers working with Therfield School in Leatherhead. She was very complimentary to us on her visit and also joined in when we had our warm up, als Jamie and I had our photograph taken with her, fame at last.
	16/2/2009

APRIL UPDATE

I missed a few meetings of the 'Freewheelers' this March as I was lucky enough to go to the Canary Islands and spend some time on a Tall Ship the Tenacious by name, the weather was great I even got my hands sunburnt when I was on early watch at 4am until 8am. It was at this time in the morning that we were putting up the sails as the wind had got up so we stopped using the motor, they even let me steer and also put me in a wheelchair to be hoisted up to the Crows nest, easy peasy a piece of cake!
Saying cake, the food was all home made bread and all, full English breakfast, cooked lunch, cooked evening meal and afteroon tea and cakes, a way to a man's heart.

Back to business the workshops for 'Freewheelers' are successful, a lot of work has been put in and I look forward to every Tuesday, I shall miss them when we break up for Easter, the production has a scarecrow and sheep but no Easter Bunnies or eggs back to food again.

3/4/2009

Earth Rise and after - drama workshops It is shame that there are not more people at the drama course it is livelier when there are more, I hope that may be we get a few more after the Leatherhead Show to keep it going. I am enjoying Anna 'C's signing course although I am not dextrous enough to do the signing.
	14/10/2008

A HOT MEAL !

it was an interesting day on Monday when the TV company Lightning Pictures came to the Bridge, their leading lady who happened to be disabled took part in the mime with us, with Brandon leading. They filmed all of this and I think they hope to sell this worldwide for publicity showing what can be achieved, there was a lot of hanging around when they were filming I suppose this is what it's like in TV or a film studio, also a lot of equipment. I was a bit envious as when we had our sandwiches they had ordered a hot meal in.

14/4/2009

EPSOM COLLEGE REHEARSALS Today we went through the dance for Epsom and it went "sort of OK" but not 100%. With Sonas missing and Kirsty missing and it is only three weeks to go after this week, at the moment it is not a show - in my eyes.
	23/6/2009

ONE WEEK TO GO

There was more fire in the rehearsal with a week to go. I feel more confident and I think we have got a show at the end of it. Jill Messer is helping Kay Vere with the box office for the show and I feel proud with my mum, getting involved with Freewheelers. It's a demanding show and I might be in another bit of dance as well. Someone might be going on holiday ! The fool I am ... I might rescue the night.

7/7/2009

HUNKY DORY

The Epsom Dance & Film Night went hunky dory and I spoke to Jan Mason who is Epsom & Ewell Mayor. She said she had a good night and Alan, her husband, had to point me out to her. I think it was the best night we've had at Epsom College. The 'Thursday' people, they were a dance group, we brought them in to the Night with us: I found them amazing. I had never seen them before, had heard about them but I had not actually seen them. We ran a Masterclass before the event - I hope we get some more classes to run.

8/9/2009

WORKSHOPS GOING WELL

After Christmas we had a new intake for the Workshop and this has increased week by week. We have had a new idea creating some fun using photos to start with and then having a guessing game as to what the photo would show, we did have some strange answers. I feel this Workshop is really going well a shame the weather interrupted the work we were doing, the trouble is they say more S N O W to come. One thing about being at home I take over my mum's computer, she does complain at times, even though it has been quiet on the e-mail front this week. I hope all goes well next week and we get started on the new play

6/2/2009

STRICTLY COME DANCING WITH WHEELS

On 18th December at our Showcase we showed a piece of dance - Susan and I had rehearsed it at lunchtimes. We got a standing ovation. I was in a shirt and tie and waistcoat. One move we did Susan climbs on my wheelchair and stands up, and I then go round in a circle with Sue standing on my seat. We are in competition with two other Freewheelers, Anthony and Anna, whose duet "Upliffted" has been very popular. We both think they were at the top too long and we think it is our turn ! Susan and I are working on another piece now - a ballroom number. With our health and safety adviser Rachel ... I have got my mind working overtime.

8/1/2008

FWs 2 TOUR

When we came back after Easter we started a new piece of work which fortunately we had funding for, it is also a far bigger group we usually are working with 12-14 people but this time it is 20. We are going to show it first at The Bridge and then go on tour with it in a local area, this will be a new experience for all the people who have started with us and come from Day Centres. The old hands have done this type of thing before including me.

11/5/2009

EXPANDING MY LIFE

Yesterday Rachel mentioned she had to give up one thing in her life: it is being a mentor at Kingston University. She got me in her mind and Brandon got me in his mind to take it on. I said yes, I would take it on and I am more busy now when the year gets on. My name is going forward to Kingston people and I am going to wait and see.
The Dance performance is going well and I enjoy the show and I have got a move when Sue gets on my wheelchair ... I feel proud, it's showed me Sue's got trust in me.
The Company is doing really well. I am proud how much the company can do in a year. We are showing what people can do despite disability.

9/6/2009

TOM BRAKE MP

Yesterday I had a visitor. It was Tom Brake, my local MP from my area, Wallington. I told him my difficulty getting Dial-A-Ride to take me to Epsom. It has a gone on for a year. He was very interested because he has got a researcher who uses a wheelchair. We asked him to come to give me some support and be filmed. He took away my email address and phone number.
His visit has given our film a purpose. Before yesterday I thought 'what are we doing a film for ?'

11/12/2007

H4D

Hallo Readers !
I am back from a week in Hemby in Norfolk. I had a good break from Freewheelers and a lot of late nights boogying the night away. Me and Sue opened up people's eyes, we showed them how to dance with people in wheelchairs. When they saw me moving with Sue, they copied my movements. This was at the H4D campsite, indoors. Holidays for the disabled. There was a bar but people there were not having a good time till Sue and I lightened things up.

23/9/2008

AMAZING Saturday morning I was sitting down at the table having a cup of coffee. I looked out of the window and a cab turned up. Josey went out to tell the driver she'd been on the phone to the Dial-A-Ride office. The office told her that I'd be back on their schedule on 1st April next year. The office have still got me down for every Saturday.
	20/11/2007

POINTS SYSTEM

Since May last year I receive my taxi card to get me to my horse riding every Saturday. I had 94 points when I received the card because I got started in the middle of a year. They do two swipes, one from the house in Wallington and the other one from the border of Epsom, every week. Last Saturday I got to my destination and they did the second swipe with my taxi card; it got a picture of a thumb after they put my card through.

13/11/2007

MORE FIREWORKS Today is dance and media. I am looking forward to both...but media a bit more!
	6/11/2007

EXXONMOBIL

Yesterday we had a local business firm working with us all day and we did shadow work with our hands. We had a great day. The people fed us with a good spread and looking round the room everyone had a smile on their faces. The ExxonMobil people seemed like they were enjoying themselves. At the end of the day I made a speech - I said thank you for coming and the big thank you for our new videocamera, a Sony HD A1.

30/10/2007

OXON CONF

I went to a conference in Oxford yesterday, for marketing Freewheelers and to see if any other drama people have got any other ideas to share with us.
I am in the middle of putting a dance together for the others to do and to see if Ican put what I learnt over the years in practice.
Dreamstalk - the production was good and I got back into it after 5 years and seemed like we didn't have a break!
The choir was wonderful to work with and it was good to relaunch our new logo!

24/10/2007

SUMMER REFLECTION

In 2005 we were working on 'Apollo' with Chris Haydon and since then we have grown and become busier and more daring with Chris helping us. Since we moved into 'The Bridge' in September 2006 we have started to go into filming and make up short stories for that purpose, everyone involved has enjoyed this new venture. The latest effort has involved our members acting out drunken revellers and they have done this with great gusto. We hope to carry on with more filmwork in the future.

20/8/2007

PIAW I went to nomad to flim the play in a week" it was a new experience for me to be on filming. Yesterday a guy came to talk to the directors about how he can work with us and he talked with us about it. It was a lot of info to take in. I am helping Sue out on her dance and I had to walk Monday before last, it was a tiny bit hard to walk all day but I did it.
	24/7/2007

	SURREY AD & ME 7.7 Yesterday I had an interview with the Surrey Advertiser to tell them how the Freewheelers are doing and Sam joined me in the interview. I took the directors side in the interview and sam took the actors side. I found it easy to talk to them, and I am ready for the next paper interview or the TV or perhaps 'Hello' magazine.
	3/7/2007

TRANSPORT CONF & HUNT At the Conference on Transport which was in Woking, I met a lot of people including the Shadow Minister for the Disabled Jeremy Hunt, and also made contacts with other organisations including an MS organisation.
	18/6/2007

4 JUNE 07

I went to a Transport Conference and found it interesting and a bit long ! I thought it would be arranged differently but the display board we took was in a separate room. We gave out leaflets, with the dates and history of the Company. I met a lot of people and I did networking. I spoke to Cassandra about Dial-a-ride: I've tried for six months get on a Dial-a-ride without any luck. Now I have got a taxi card with Sutton who pay some of my fare and I pay the rest.

4/6/2007

HEALTH CHECK Today I had an organisational health check interview with a consultant called Anastasia Mihailidou, of Surrey Community Action. I was pleased to do it, it was interesting. She is going to see us again at our next Board Meeting. Tomorrow I am going to a transport conference in Woking.
	21/5/2007

14.5

Freewheelers have brought me out of myself and use my technical mind. I feel like the words I can't get out I can say through mime and dance.
Since I have been a director of the Company I am working more on the things I want to work on. I keep people up-to-date on information and Company matters that come to me.
The Company is going great since we have gone on our own. We have bought a lot more equipment like the computer we are using. It feels like we are buying more equipment every week.

14/5/2007