From this week on we’ve got Blue Badge Style founder, Fiona Jarvis, to write a weekly diary called the Wednesday Wrap. Never someone lost for words, we think it should be fun to hear her rave about some of the places she’s been and rant about some of the poor disabled facilities she’s encountered. As you’ll see, she doesn’t let her wheelchair get in the way of doing what she wants, nor, by the looks of it, saying what she wants either.
Here’s what happened to her last week:
The strangest event and most fun I’ve had in a long time, was an invitation to open a disabled toilet in a new restaurant in Cambridge. I know I’ve joked about being the DT Police (see our campaigns) but I’m not sure I really want to be known just for that!! Anyhow it was great to see a restaurateur, Franck Parnin ( Le Gros Franck), ensuring that a disabled facility was considered essential for his new restaurant – La Maison Du Steak. This is something that even Michelin Star restaurants haven’t done. I consider that negligence to be outrageous but I’m not going to name names here (see Midsummer House and Heston’s places in Bray).
The toilet was really spacious and beautiful and the steak I tried was excellent!! Access was easy in the restaurant so we gave them 2.5 BBS Ticks.
Getting to Cambridge was a ‘mare as I couldn’t be guaranteed a wheelchair space on the train. I was told ‘get the next one’ if the space was taken – no wonder people don’t use the trains on local services!! So I got my friendly taxi driver Mick to do me a deal and worked out the same price as getting the train with a taxi either end.
Saturday I and Lieutenant No1 were supposed to visit Lymington for a “recce” on disabled friendly restaurants/bars but the weather was so miserable we stayed in London and went for a meal at Medlar in Chelsea. It was packed as they do a special on Saturday of £30 for 3 courses. It was superb food even though I felt like a Mum there. There were 3 tables with sons taking their mothers for lunch – A Chelsea thing obviously.
The Ideal Home Show was a waste of time, see our previous blog, nothing stylish and not much for people with disabilities. I wanted to do something fresh in my home – maybe a new shower chair. Nothing doing. So I bought some cushions from Heals!? I was desperate!! And I do love the one designed by Jean Paul Gaultier:
Thrill of the week was being mentioned in the Mail on Sunday alongside Lady GaGa. There’s more PR to come as the Hoxton will be putting our PAD (Pictorial Access Description) on their website denoted by our icon which we hope will become synonymous with stylish Access Information.
Well that’s all for this week! In next week’s Wednesday Wrap I’ll be reporting back on The Book of Mormon and a visit to Lima – the latest ‘cool’ place to go in London. Apparently the girls are ‘hot’ there, according to Lieutenant No1 – I’m glad someone is in this weather!!!!
