I’ve got back to using the buses, after Frazers illness i suffered a loss of confidence, but we are both back to normal…whatever that is. So last night i met Isabelle from school…or rather got on the bus that i hoped she was on, thankfully she was upstairs… after our first attempt at buses when i had to crawl on in front of all the High school children she has always maintained that we do not know each other, at least until we’ve reached our destination. Thankfully the buses are all fitted with ramps now so its unlikely that that would happen and i am now better at manoeuvring on so less likely to get stuck, but still i kindly explain to Frazer each time that we don’t know her and he tries not to look excitedly in her direction…actually we both try not to look at her, I just sit there frantically texting until i realise shes upstairs. We had a fantastic evening in Chester mooching around M and S and listening to all of the buskers…Chester wouldn’t be Chester without all of the musical talent its amazing! in fact my eldest son spent many a evening busking just for the fun of it. before he moved away to Glasgow, he still loves Chester, and whenever he comes home he always has an evening out there with his brothers. We didn’t go back on the bus, we went by train instead… im free so thats the appeal of the bus and thats probably where it ends, although i do love listening to the banter and the community spirit with all of the older people and non drivers…but unfortunately the train wins, travelling backwards makes me feel so sick and hung over it takes at least an hour to feel better and by then i don’t want to go through it all again. Frazer agrees he loves the train best of all, and all of the Guards in Chester make such a fuss of us both. We usually try to have some fun every Tuesday evening because Molly my autistic daughter is sleeping over at school and it just gives me Frazer and Isabelle some precious time together. Mollys good fun too but thats a different story in fact Me Molly and Frazer is a whole different adventure …but just as much fun.
I’m exhausted today but feel happy.
Michelle and Frazer xx
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Hi Michelle
Sounds like you all had a ball, well done you for finding that confidence back, and I so admire you for travelling on the bus, I can’t travel backwards, so it’s out the question for me.
We went to Chester many moons ago, it was lovely, and if my memory serves me right, that was where they had 2 level shops, one on top of the other.
I chuckle to myself when I see your daughter saying don’t acknowledge her in front of her friends, I remember being told the same…parents are so embarrassing to teenagers lol.
Glad you all enjoyed some special time, rest now to recover.
Pam x
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Good for you and Frazer!
I love Chester…been there a few times and found it easy to get around…despite a few uneven pavements.
Good times, eh?
pollx
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Hello, Michelle.
I still love Chester after living there for three years as a student. I used to like the lunch time recitals at the town hall. I’ve played their Steinway several times. It’s a beautiful piano. I also like the evensong at the cathedral. It’s good to see you out and about again on the bus enjoying your new-found celebrity status.
Best wishes woof woof, Steve x
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Speaking of shopping in Chester I certainly had an experience before Christmas.
My wife and I went Christmas shopping to the Grosvenor shopping centre, finishing by closing time in Debenhams. The staff were polite and efficient right up to closing time when a gentleman, (whom I’m assuming was security) informed us that the doors to the store back into the precinct were locked and ushered us out of the door overlooking Eastgate Street, immediately locking the door behind him.
We were the last people out of the store and the only ones taking that exit.
We were now out on ‘The Rows’ overlooking Eastgate Street - all very nice except for the fact that other than both of us being in our 60s, I am also in a wheelchair! There was positively no disabled access from this side of the precinct and the place was absolutely now deserted and everywhere locked up!.
We were left high and dry with more than a dozen steep steps to negotiate down to ground level! Fortunately my wife eventualy found a willing group of young men ( on rapidly deserting streets) who managed to unceremoniously carry me in the wheelchair down the flight of steps - laden with shopping bags too!
In no way am I complaining about Debenhams per se but surely some member of staff seeing that I was in the wheelchair could have said “you can’t get out that way…”. Alternatively there should be a sign on the door suggesting it was an unsuitable exit for the disabled.(Or on the website)
If this security guard was a member of Grosvenor’s staff however his lack of forethought leaves a lot to be desired!
What should have been a ten minute saunter from the precinct to a Cathedral concert ended up taking forty minutes with a dash through Chester’s cobbled streets to try and arrive in time. Not good for the old coccyx!
Stephen
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Flipping kids Stephen, that was not a good experience.
I hope you managed to get to the concert in time. What were you going to hear?
Once I heard the Academy of St Martin in the Field play Mozart and Haydn at Chester. It was glorious. I know what you mean about the cobbles. I’ve been round Cambridge and my friend keeps threatening to take me to Canterbury.
Best wishes, Steve.
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