Creature Discomforts

http://www.creaturediscomforts.org/

Finally a light hearted look at disability that might actually make people stop and think about the serious stuff..........

Cote Bistro

We both took a days holiday today so we could go and buy Mel a funky wheelchair but being new to this disabled lark we did not realise that we would have to book an appointment in advance. The next available slot is in 3 weeks!

We could therefore spend the day doing whatever we fancied , eating and drinking came to mind. We tried to get a table at Chez Bruce but mid-day seemed more brunch than lunch so we plumped for this new restaurant that had recently opened up in Wimbledon Village that had received some decent reviews. Cote Bistro is the brainchild of Andy Bassadone, formerly MD of Caprice Holdings (The Ivy, Le Caprice and J Sheekey), and Chris Benians, one of his chefs. In 1999 they cleverly created Strada, a chic, mid priced Italian restaurant specialising in wood-fired pizza and pasta. The company ended up with 26 outlets before being sold in 2004 to businessman Richard Caring for £56 million. They have now launched their first bistro, which upon visiting , is something poor old Cafe Rouge should have become when the local pub went all gastro.

The place was absolutely rammed and we were incredibly lucky to get the last table , however once seated it dawned on us how old the clientele was, still this was Wimbledon Village. There were good points and bad points , sadly our experience aired on bad, the old duffers next to us had a ball! Service was extremely slow and mildly confusing with the starters arriving before the wine , 20 minutes seemed a long time wait,we stuck it out but sadly during this time 2 couples vacated their tables food less. Had Mel been a little quicker with the old pins we may well have joined them.

The food to be honest was not bad. Mel's starter of Hock terrine with a yummy chutney was lovely, but my Rilettes was disappointing. It was a reverse of fortune for the mains, I had confit of duck on a bed of butter beans with some poncy jus that was to die for, being the pig I am , I also had a side of unnecessary frites. Mel had Moules that unfortunately seemed to come in a bowl of flavourless cream.

The restaurant was very nice and had the potential for an incredibly strong brand identity. They have done it with Italian food and trust me they will make it happen with French food. Within 24 months there will be a Cote Bistro on a high street near you!!!

Sadly, we would also like to point out that the Disabled access in this newly refurbished restaurant was appalling. Whilst it is appreciated the building is old it has been completely refurbished and no effort had been made to make the restaurant wheelchair accessible. No hand rails are provided on the high step to the restaurant from the pavement, and there was no sign of a ramp or a wheelchair call button. For those that are mobile enough to access via the one step into the building there are no ground floor toilets - these are in the basement accessed only via a steep stair case with a hand rail on only one side.

We are undecided as to whether we will go back.........

The clocks have chenged and winter is now officially here. Its cold, its wet and its really, really dark. On the plus this means it is now ok to stay in every night with red wine and a fire...........

Every cloud has a silver lining.......

After 13 weeks and six days we have finally got our little mitts on a Blue Badge. We spent this weekend cruising the streets of south London trying out the mutha and boy can I see why they are worth so much on the black market. The blurb informed us that it is " not a licence to park anywhere " but seeing as it is illegal to either clamp or tow a disabled persons car it got me wondering.........

Holiday

Oh my god,we have just booked a holiday for next year. July actually. Whats going on with the sudden organisation? We went round the world with only 4 weeks planning, our bills have to be on DD or we would never pay anyone, we can't plan a weekly shop......
Still lovely to have something to look forward to. Maybe we will yet categorise our CD collection alphabetically...

This is the second weekend in a row that I have actually been out - and actually feel I have enjoyed close to a normal weekend. Sure, I'm still tired but hopefully this is a turn of the tides. It is also a sign that 8 months down the line I am finally beginning to learn that things have to be done differently. Going into the office less conserves a lot of energy, I really am having to accept that I cant do it all. I'm also realising its not my fault I cant do things, I have been my own harshest critic and taken things very personally. Nobody else cares I have to get a cab from one end of Upper Street to the other because its too far for me to walk - my work mates pointed this out to me on Friday night when we did just that. In fact those of us that squeezed into the cab arrived at The Sampler a good 10 minutes before those that walked. Didn't miss out much there then did I!

Which brings me to The Sampler. An amazing wine shop that has 10 machines that are racked up with bottles that serve "sampling" measures. Its brilliant - you charge up a card with some cash and then off you go. Samples start at 30p and go right the way through the range - currently the most expensive sample is £15.17 for a taste of 1990 Chateau Ausone.The £20 on my card seemed to go a long way and I tried a huge range. The range of wines in the machines are apparently changed regularly. We then went to Le Mercury - still the cheapest place in N1 to eat. We ended up on the third floor - slightly challenging on the stairs for me. Still couldn't really complain seeing as it was me who booked it and forgot to mention that I would like a ground floor table!

Tonight we are going to the Cinema. Ratatouille! Love a good cartoon.

Been really quiet again on our blog...I would like to say there was a glam reason for this, been on holiday, been out every night at Champagne launch parties every night etc. etc....However that would be a big fat lie - we have been here all along but just too tired at the end of the day to contemplate much more than collapsing onto the sofa.......

We did go to Bestival - and had a great time. It was for me however also a very stark reality check. I could not walk on the hills nor in the crowds. I needed a wheelchair to get around and there was also a realisation that its always going to be that way, I have done a great job getting back on my feet but sometimes I am just to stubborn - I will try to walk to somewhere that I can be wheeled to in 5 minutes, walking takes me 40 and I arrive exhausted!!

This realisation has led to some changes this week as well. I have been going into work everyday now on the dreaded Northern Line. I enjoy the Independence this gives me and being in the office. It is however tiring, the accessibility of London's Victorian underground system for those with mobility issues is appalling. I arrive at my desk feeling like I have run a marathon, work all day and then run another to get home. Unsurprisingly I have begun to feel this week that I couldn't cope. But giving up is not really an option either. Finally yesterday I struck a deal to work from home 2 days a week. This should hopefully stop me being so tired all the time, and leave me a bit more time for the truly important things in life - like this blog!!!