Our first blog

So where do we begin?

Like so many, over the past year and a bit we have had time to take stock and think about life in general. Not only about the things that we take for granted like popping to the shops, meeting family and friends and going to work but also having a sense of something far bigger being in control of our lives and I don't mean Boris. As a family like so many we have experienced loss, a birth, anxiety, depression and separation from loved ones during this time. Now we are emerging from the restrictions and the world (at least England) is opening up we are all experiencing a new normal.

Personally speaking I have the excited butterfly tummy feeling, waking up in the mornings with the expectation of a new day what with our son going out to college, us leaving the house for a purpose and a routine which comes with being a parent, new grandparent and what we feel is a new exciting business to launch. Cornwall Assist has been a bubbling thought in my little mind, in many guises for well over 5 years. Life experiences has shown me the barriers which some people can encounter on a daily basis, it may be a passing phase in their life or a longer term situation that can have a negative impact on the person.

My Dad, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago and now has very limited mobility relying on a wheelchair to get around, lives in a local nursing home and until the beginning of May was isolated from his family. Thanks to easing of lockdown we have been able to start to get dad out and about for the first time at his pace and when he feels able.

With some trepidation initially, my family started to put plans together to help start a new chapter in Dads life. For far to long he has had barriers getting in the way to be able to make the most out of his life. I now want to find solutions -this is the time to make memories for us all to treasure.

Having committed to Cornwall Assist becoming a reality, we first invested in a wheelchair accessible vehicle which will carry most sizes of wheelchairs (as I have experience that not all adapted vehicles are able to carry all types or sizes of chairs).

In May we celebrated dads Birthday. My sister and myself did the compulsory Covid test to be able to celebrate with Dad and a trip out to Penzance where my brother (also having done a test) was waiting as a surprise as he had not been able to visit since November last year.

We started with a rather bracing walk along the newly renovated promenade which as my Dad is a salty sea dog at heart, he loved feeling the wind and rain on his face once again. Being well wrapped up against the elements he was fine it was us landlubbers which were the ones who were feeling the cold. By the time we got back to the car the sun was out and we were all nicely steaming dry!

A quick trip up to my sisters garden where we sat and chatted freely shared a meal and as is tradition a birthday cake. Eighty six candles would have been quite a sight to see, let alone asking dad to blow them all out in one go, so we settled for a number eight and six candle. The day went so well that just a couple of days later he wanted to pop to the garden centre to get a pot for a plant he was given for his birthday and guess what ….. we were able just to pop to the garden centre - found a pot and had a cuppa and a piece of cake to boot.

Thanks to the team at dads home he has been kept safe and well all this time and we have been able to do regular video calls, safe pod visits and now can meet with him inside.

Now we are all looking forward to our next trip out, Dad has made quite a list of the places he wants to go, maritime museum, Newlyn and Tate art galleries to mention just a few.

When we visit now we don't just ask how was your day, what did you have for lunch as we have rekindled his love of art, sailing and his love for life.

The question now is "Where will we go next? ". Where there is a will there’s a way!

Claire