I am also meeting with someone whose company develops assistive technology IT solutions to potentially help with the development of these products and getting them out the relevant people. Some of the products they provide are groundbreaking in terms of technology and cost so should provide people with some much-needed low-cost alternatives to many overpriced accessible IT devices.

Today I trialled an off road wheelchair, called a Boma, with 24 inch rear wheels and smaller front wheels. There is up to 8 inches suspension on the back and therefore enables the user much more freedom in terms of accessible terrain. The chair will need adaptions to fit the head control I use, elbow cushions and an appropriate backrest so it is not a small project.

The wheelchair is expensive, and in total probably cost around 9k pounds. This isn’t unreasonable for such a machine but I’m going to have to ask for help with raising the capital. If anyone is willing to help with fundraising ideas or donations, please contact me at “whizz2000 at hotmail dot com” (replace the words “at” and “dot” with the relevant symbols, this is done to avoid spam).

There are plans in the works for a possible holiday to Italy in October and maybe a skiing trip in the winter.

Best wishes to all, hope everyone in the UK is enjoying the late summer Sun.

Finally a Poem I wrote for a very special lady.

Spying toes from under the bed clothes
small faces in line with a larger leader
feet folded over as in silent prayer
resting quiet without a fear

a beauty lying prone
buried like a priceless stone
murmur dialogue from sweet dreams
breathing steady like a metronome

lips pursed in sleep
soft as Moss and the colour of ruby
parted slightly to let teeth peep
a stream carved in a mountain valley

soft rolling hills of her back
gently shift like the Earth
feet stretch and retreat inside the crack
slumber now loosend and slack

to survey like a wary otter
up an unconscious head flies
active only by instinct
with Eyes wild like butterflies

___________
Tom

Fantastic holiday, I was lucky again with the professionalism and friendliness of the PAs who accompanied me. This made for an equally memorable Paleo as last year with Vicci and Jamie. This year with Jess and Rach alongside myself, Raj and Ellen. Mehdi, a friend and resident at Michael’s house was a welcome addition this year and made an amazing feast at a friend’s house on Lake Geneva. Ellen and I were able to spend some time with the Ernsts (Tom was so pivotal in making the first Paleo a success) but not enough.

Paleo was for me focused on electronic dance music this year, the theme of the festival was South African and it seemed like the organisers had spent money on more talented B listers and not fewer famous English/American A  list  acts. There was also a focus on French-speaking artists over the weekend which is how it should be for a local festival, that’s what makes it so special. Among my favourites were “Vitalic ” & “Beast” who I had never heard of before.

Experiencing it with my girlfriend, brothers, sisters , step mum, dad and best friend makes it a holiday I’ll never forget. Josephine growing up so fast, as loving and caring as ever. Lucas a bundle of energy and sharp as a knife. Fancy dress Friday at paleo was initiated by Raj, who was dressed as Batman and received much attention. The rest of us dressed in cartoon related T-shirts

Then we were off to Bad Ragaz after a couple of days relaxing at dad’s house with Gillian, dad and the children.
The main reason for going to BR was to spend time with the Leisingers, lifelong family friends we have a mutual fondness for. These special people live in an idyllic village called Malans in a valley in the Swiss Alps. Peter and Maria are usually busy exhibiting and creating Peters artwork (search Peter leisinger on Google).

The mountains around this area of the Swiss Alps are reminiscent of those described in the book “the Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann (it was set very close). This was one of my favourite books.

We spend time exploring the area and rested in their magical garden which contains many of Peters sculptures. We  met a granddaughter of theirs for the first time and were fed like royalty. Ellen learnt some invaluable lessons about wood sculpting from Peter and created a fantastic rabbit called “Warren”.

Peter and Maria hosted a dinner party one night where the food was exceptional. We were joined by a friend of theirs from the village called Alfred and today we enjoyed an active game of “Hang man ” hosted by Josephine and Lucas. Although probably not what Albert is used to at dinner parties, we think he enjoyed it.

During our stay we also visited the Valens Klinic, a mountain rehab centre (probably one of the best in the world for people with multiple sclerosis). I received some therapy from a world-renowned therapist called Urs in their thermal bath which has water from the mountains naturally at the body temperature (36.5 degrees). All this was arranged and accommodated by the generous Dr. Jurg Kesselring, the chief neurologist at the centre. I think Jurg properly has the best office view I have ever seen, looking out onto the “Magic Mountains” of Valens.

We left with remorse the day after National Switzerland day after viewing fantastic firework displays across the whole valley including numerous fires on the surrounding mountains.

Inevitably regretful about the finite time available to spend with loved ones but joyful and refreshed to have had such a wonderful break from my computer! Thank you to everyone for making this holiday so enjoyable especially Peter and Maria and David and Gillian for being so hospitable.

Great fun, great reggae/rap/dnb (peuple de l’herb, n.e.r.d, NTM), some hard Rock with motorhead and others.
Only marred by the confiscation of Raj’s flagpole by unpleasant security heavies who were aggressive and threatening. Apparently the flagpole is a dangerous item even though the pointy end is more than 10 foot in the air. The real issue was probably people complaining about it obscuring the view, we had already acknowledged this and were not putting it up in the grand scene or anywhere where it would be obscuring the view. It seemed like security were enjoying exerting their power for little overall benefit to anyone. It just means people will get lost and we will have trouble staying together with friends and family.
rant over. Very excited about seeing the foals and laurent garnier tonight.

Michael

the 10th decade
From when a true gentleman was made
a lifetime of philosophy, mathematics and more
Time, space and a religious core

a receptive teacher
by example and grace
an effective imprint left
On occasion lacking an obvious trace

We are all bettered
from the recounting of an old fable
hidden but not forgotten
in a developed mind still able

A unique situation
opportunity born from a tragic event
cohabiting young and old
learning loving and both physically spent

Enjoys thoughtful melodies, not acoustic mess
and still
in the 10th decade
beats me at chess

some more photos on the flickr stream

Edinburgh next week for a conference, and then to Switzerland for three weeks. Festival fun.

Following is a little playlist of songs that Ellen and I really like.

”
Songs that mean a lot to us both

find these on spotifly/blip.fm or any other free music
service.
My blip.FM link: www.blip.fm/1trak (just put into your browser),
probably best play from the bottom up, some of the below
will be in there.

electronic:

gamesmaster – lost tribe (signum remix)
nyana – tiesto
saltwater – chicane
flaming June – BT
Heaven – Dj Sammy & yanou
Café Del Mar (Three N One remix) – Energy 52

mainstream:

Grace – Jeff Buckley
last kiss – Pearl Jam
Mister Jones – counting crows
Mister Brightside – killers
God is a DJ – faithless
colour and the shape – foo fighters
Nick Drake
Riders of the storm – the doors
the shins
Van Morrison-dweller on the threshold
the who-baba O’Reilly

hip-hop:

rjd2 – what’s left
witness the fitness – roots manuva (and anything on the
brand-new second-hand album)
Street dreams – nas (and anything on the illMatic album)
Black on both sides – mos def
mathematics – mos def
“

And starting to the barbecue weather so we are enjoying the garden has ever.

I’m working hard on telecom projects and learning lots of new information about innumerable telecom technologies. Mainly mobile phone technologies.

Ellen is enjoying the popularity of her elephant in Westfield shopping centre. She is working on a youth music Theatre production at the drill Hall Theatre in central London.

we celebrated my grandfathers 90th birthday, he still beats me at chess.

Best wishes to everyone

days when hope is scarce
melancholy overwhelms
the energy to struggle is gone
and resignation resumes.

love is the only keeper
it calls you back
for the remains of the Day
like a candle in the dark.

after the peace of night
yesterday seems imagined
the only trace in lovers eyes
of concern.

Under layers of ambition
melancholy is hidden
a sleeping beauty
giving peace in the eye of the inevitable storm.

and then hopefully onto France afterwards, looking for a good place with accessibility in central/NE if anyone knows of one.