Six Nations

The Six Nations starts on Friday.  Rugby is one of the few sports I have an interest in.  I don’t follow it religiously.  But I do enjoy the major events such as the World Cup and Six Nations etc.  I’m going to miss the first game this year as I’m going out for a friend’s birthday.  But last year was a very different story.

I’d been working my way through rehab for a few weeks and had been having some ups and downs.  I’d been given a few motorised chairs to try out and had decided on one that I preferred.  This worked out ok for the trust as this was the chair they were hoping I’d like as they already had one in stock, but that’s another story. 

When you use a motorised chair you have to pass a test to show that you’re capable of using it.  Until then you’re not allowed to leave the hospital.  The problem here was that I’d been stuck in bed for months.  I wanted, needed out and with the Six Nations about to be screened I was desperate to get out to the bar to watch the game.  I’d pleaded with the OTs to let me go.  They told me they thought I was safe enough with my chair usage but to be careful etc. 

Now I only had to convince the doctor.  The week before the game was to happen the skin broke around my wound area and I was stuck back in bed.  When I was allowed out again it was only for a few hours at a time and the doc was very specific about this.  As the week progressed I’d stretch the time to ensure there was enough time to get out to see the game and get back.

Finally on the Friday she gave the go ahead for me to go.  I was ecstatic.  The bar screening the game wasn’t very far away and I could make it on my chair so agreed to meet my father and brother there.  The game wasn’t very good.  But that didn’t matter.  In the end it was nothing to do with the game.  In fact, I missed most of the rest of the tournament.  I can’t even remember who won in the end; it was all about just getting out and feeling that sense of freedom again.