New Year, New Shoes

Just one more can't hurt, right? The festive season is now drawing to a close and, as I sit finally writing my blog, I'm mopping up the final chocolaty treats floating around the house and trying desperately not to think about the mountain of bikinis waiting patiently in my drawer for this year's holiday - my new year's resolution is just going to have to wait a little while longer yet....

Before I dive into my inspirational '2017 is gonna' be my year' speech (I'm not actually going to do this.... unless you want me to....?), I thought I'd take a trip back to where I left off back in October. You may or may not already know that I am a HUGE fan of all things music and could honestly spend every waking moment attending a concert/festival, and 2016 was finally the year I got to see my absolute favourite, Justin Bieber (haters can leave... now).  I'd never been to a concert at the Barclaycard Arena and so was unsure as to where exactly the accessible seating was located, but, although I couldn't exactly describe our seats as close to the stage, the atmosphere was tangible. All that mattered to me on this occasion was that I'd finally made it to see my idol - but on second thoughts, if Barclaycard Arena could do something about the hand rail that was determined to remain in my line of sight, despite my rising chair, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Having suffered, yet again, from a severe vertigo attack just one week before the concert, I wasn't sure how my fragile head was going to deal with the immense vibrations from the speakers and the piercing screams of thousands of adoring fans, but thankfully, the vertigo cleared and I was able to enjoy the moment I'd dreamt of for so long.

I currently have my Purpose Tour playlist on shuffle, decorated with the odd festive tune, and I'm counting down the days until I can relive the Bieber experience in April - and what an adventure that will be! See you in Punta Cana Justin!

In 2016, my family and I were lucky enough to have some out-of-this-world holidays, ranging from sunning ourselves in Dominican paradise to road-tripping through Southern California, so naturally, it was now the turn of our little pooch to have a special week away with us. North Wales is the perfect spot for a short getaway, and the whole experience of a holiday park just suits us perfectly. This year's experience was slightly different to those of previous years, simply because my sister was swapped for my fantastic PA, Jaz. Candice was obviously away at university still for the half-term, and so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take along someone else to give a helping hand and be my personal hairdresser, makeup artist and shopping buddy (that mostly). Despite not venturing down onto the beach all too often since the day a darling child at my high school pointed at my all-terrain chair and asked "Whose is that pram?", nothing beats those seaside vibes.

I know it's not the beach, but you get the picture

And here she is, my little baby Lexi xxxx

Going back to the beach wheelchair thing ever so quickly, when on our Caribbean holiday, I use a simple, yet supportive mannual wheelchair to access the beach bar and party. Clearly it's not the best for dragging through the sand, but it's light enough for a couple of fit guys to carry me and it across a short distance (how awful for me), and it simply means that if there's a party to be had, I and the people with me will not be the ones missing it. Accessing the beach is yet another factor contributing towards my LA university goal - those boardwalks were just made for me!

  

Beach Chair also doubles up as Airport Chair...

But this is the dream

I am, by nature, an inherently nosey person, and not knowing every single detail about my sister's new life was killing, so this Bonfire Night, my Mum and I made the trip down to Cambridge to see how she was getting on - and do her washing. Upon arrival, I quickly realised that Candice has literally stepped into her very own Hogwarts dream. Everything from the stunning architecture to the student buzz was magical and served only to inspire me all the more to achieve my version of the dream.

As much as I love and appreciate the historic, oldy-worldy style, it really wasn't designed back in 1660 with me and my four wheels in mind - shock-horror - and despite great attempts to achieve access for all, cobbles and I are never going to be best friends. This equates to yet another reason why the LA lifestyle and university set-up is where I need to be - just the right combination of tradition and modern innovation.

You may have gathered from the name of my blog, I love shoes. I also have a passion for fashion and beauty, and so The Clothes Show for me is exactly how I envisage heaven. In addition to the excitement of being in amongst such beautiful clothes and huge names in the industry, I was also a little nervous about the day as it was my first time travelling by train, just me and my PA. It sounds pathetic, I know, but the logistics of me getting onboard the train alone takes some organising, nevermind getting off at the other end without being unintentionally whisked away to London because the man on the platform couldn't/wouldn't retrieve the ramp in time. All in all, train travel is potentially a rather stressful experience, but all went well (besides a slight mishap on the return journey) and we both made it to Birmingham and back in one piece.

As well as the beauty bargains and stunning catwalks, the celeb paparazzi pen was filled throughout the day with the likes of Joey Essex and fashion blogger, Sarah Ashcroft, but the person who stood out for me was Mark Wright, and no, this wasn't solely due to his jaw-droppingly good looks. He took the time to chat with us about Caudwell Children and their annual Butterfly Ball, which he has previously been a part of, and I just found it so touching to see how he'd been touched so greatly by Caudwell Children's mission.

  

The Clothes Show, for me, now signifies the beginning of Christmas, and from that day until now, our days have been overflowing with all things festive. Helping Santa while dressed as an elf for Rudyard Sailability was a personal highlight of mine....

2016 saw many great things in my life, from making huge steps towards my university plans to beginning the process of driving a car, and I can only hope that 2017 will follow in the same way. All that's left for me to say is that I hope you all had a magical Christmas and I wish everyone a very happy New Year, filled with countless opportunities to fly beyond your dreams - that's certainly my plan anyway!

Write soon,

Tilly,xoxox

Twitter/Insta: @ItsMeTillyG

Red Carpets to Reports

Before I go into the perhaps not so glamorous details of my time as a now fully-fledged college student,  I thought I'd take you back to the beginning of September for a touch of sparkle.

The Creme de la Creme Ball, hosted by Reality TV stars Dawn and Ashley Ward (check out Real Housewives of Cheshire if you haven't already - I promise you'll thank me), takes place annually in the most glamorous marquee and plays host to a whole range of huge names, from the stars of Hollyoaks to this year's Love Islanders themselves. Dawn and Ashley are great supporters of the charity Caudwell Children, and so hold the Crème de la Crème in the grounds of their stunning Cheshire home to raise funds for a cause close to their hearts.

After deciding on an appropriate outfit for the dazzling evening and styling my hair to perfection (creds to PA Sally), we hopped into our trusty Fiat Doblo and joined the queue of Ferraris to enter the breathtaking grounds where the ball was to be held. It's such an honour to be invited to an event such as this, and that surreal feel of being surround by such stars never quite sinks in.

I'm not really down with red carpet protocol, I mean, do you look straight at the camera? Do you look casually into the distance? I just don't know. Anyway, we made it to the champagne reception and drank in the fabulousness of it all. I honestly don't know what I'd do in this kind of situation if my chair didn't rise up to standing height. Apart from not particularly enjoying being bent down to like a three-year-old, it can be quite overwhelming having hundreds of very tall people in stilettos  towering over you. Also, how would I reach the bar?

Just to add to the whole craziness of the evening, we were seated at a table with the stars of Hollyoaks! The food was exquisite, but just as I was about to tuck into my chicken (I think?) main course, I was whisked away to the stage to make my speech.

This by no means was the first speech I'd ever made, but this time felt different. For the first time, I felt I was truly speaking as the person I wanted to be with a confidence I had not experienced before. When I speak about my powered wheelchair, some may say that my words are exaggerated and that a piece of equipment can't honestly mean that much - it's no joke when I say the chair is a part of me. When it isn't just right, it comes with that same crushing feeling of leaving the hairdresser's with a dodgy haircut or leaving the salon with a wonky set of waxed brows. My chair is not only about practicality and functionality, it's about feeling exactly how I want to feel.

And here it is in action....

I'm afraid Cinderella's night of sparkle was just that - a night - and so it wasn't long before my Pumpkin carriage pulled up at the gates of my real life, The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. As I wrote in my previous blog, college is an entirely new experience for me, and my take on it is perhaps different from the person's next to me. Then again, I guess everyone has their own unique take on life.

My average college day begins at the ungodly hour of 4:45am when I begin my respiratory workout. This involves a nebuliser to clear my airways and then a Hayek Oscillator (or as I like to call it, the 'Shaker Maker') to literally shake out any secretions. I then proceed with what I assume to be a pretty typical morning routine of any sixteen-year-old - showering, choosing an outfit, makeup, hair etc., the only real difference being that I have a PA to assist me, making me an actual, real-life Disney princess (no joke).

Once I arrive at college, the rest is up to me. No longer am I escorted from lesson to lesson or even watched from a few feet away - and I love it. Although it can be pretty terrifying at times, I finally feel as though I can introduce myself as simply me as opposed to me-plus-one. Of course I've had some awkward and embarrassing moments (like accidently pressing my horn during a lesson) and of course I've found myself in some rather sticky situations (like my head dropping on exiting the lift), but surely this is just part of college life, albeit with a slight twist? I have to be given the opportunity to make mistakes and get lost along the way as, if I spend my entire educational life being protected from such things, how am I expected to cope when these inevitabilities eventually occur when I enter the real world? It's all been a gradual process, and now I'm just beginning to reach where I want to be.

Couldn't resist sharing this pic of my insta-worthy college 

things with you

Finding the confidence to ask for assistance from those around me has probably been my biggest step. I'm not asking anyone to administer intensive respiratory care or anything, but it's more the simple things like grabbing my homework out of my bag or opening my pencil case. Once people get used to my situation, I've come to realise that they honestly don't mind giving me a hand.

But if I thought I'd made a big step in going to Sixth Form College, how about my big sis heading off to Cambridge University! Last weekend, she packed up her things and made the giant leap into uni life where I'm sure she will thrive. So far she has managed to survive freshers week and is now just beginning to get her head around the beginnings of her degree in Modern and Medieval Languages (French and German).

It's a strange feeling for me as we literally do everything together, and for the next eight weeks or so, I've lost my partner in crime. She's now living her Hogwarts dream, and I honestly couldn't be happier for her - now I'm just looking forward to the epic Cambridge parties when I visit! Hearing about her student adventures so far is also making me all the more excited for when my turn comes...

That's all for now as a great mound of homework - or as they now like to call it, 'independent learning' - awaits, but I'm sure I'll be back shortly to give you the next installment from where I sit.

Write soon,

Tilly,xoxox

Twitter/Insta: @ItsMeTillyG

The Summer of All Summers

As I sit with my pink false nails tapping away on the keys and my cheeks aching from the awkward smiles I give to the strange faces that pass by, my only comfort is that I know we are all wondering the same thing - how have we landed ourselves in this bizarre and terrifying place called Sixth Form College? My mind can't help but wander back to the days of Piña Coladas in Punta Cana and the crashing waves of the Californian coast, but for the next two years, this is my new reality.

I could dwell on the fact I haven't written my blog for OVER A YEAR, but personally, I prefer to focus on the now and the tomorrow. Having said this, it's only fair that I give you a little recap of my summer, right?

And what a summer it's been! I wouldn't exactly describe beginning it with a dreaded vertigo attack as a high point, but once that was out the way, I was ready and raring to go.

If you are (were) an avid reader of my blog - which I'm sure all of you are - you may remember our previous trip to the white sands and turquoise waters of the Dominican Republic. This place is just it. Anything you could wish for on a Caribbean holiday, it has. There's a part of me that feels I should just leave this out of my blog, as I honestly don't believe the words exist to describe our experience and do it justice, so as a complete cop out, here is a photographic summary of our time in paradise....

It's the people that truly put the paradise into Punta Cana....

As the tears of longing and holiday blues continued to fall, the only feasible solution to this problem that I could come up with was to go and dry them out with a bit of Californian sunshine - sound like a plan?

I'm pretty sure I may have mentioned once or twice about the fact that I'm planning to study in the US as of 2018? Well, this dream is now yet another step closer to becoming a reality.

Our LA adventure began at Heathrow Airport, where we went through the usual escapade to get both me and my electric chair on board that plane. Having flown to and from the Dominican Republic just one month previously, we were a little more confident in what we were doing, but with my Dad (master of all things chair-related) staying home this time, my Mum, my PA Sally and I had to put on our brave faces and muddle through alone.  Thankfully, all went smoothly, and I was greeted in the LAX baggage hall by a familiar flash of silver tiger stripe (or zebra stripe - still not quite decided).

If this thing gets damaged, the entire holiday 

is OVER..... no pressure

We spent our first day on LA soil doing everything a typical tourist could ever dream of. We booked wheelchair accessible tours of Hollywood and Beverly Hills; we had a house-by-house guide around the celeb homes; then we donned our posh frocks and stopped for a bite to eat at The Beverly Hills Hotel no less! This was a great way to experience the buzz of the city and get a real feel of the LA that is known and loved.

My very own rollercoaster.... 

The legend Michael Jackson

Arriving in style!

Now, I wasn't going to say no to a photo with these guys, was I?

The following day, we simply couldn't resist - Disney was calling out to us. I am lucky enough to have travelled to both Paris and Florida in search of Mickey and Minnie,  but for Sally, this was her first encounter with the magic. I personally fell out with rollercoasters a long time ago, partly due to my vertigo and spinal rods, but also simply because I can't think of a worse way to spend my time than aboard one of those monstrous machines. I just love the atmosphere and electricity that is guaranteed at all Disney Parks - I could quite happily sit  and soak up the rays and vibes as Sally hopped from ride to ride.

Living my princess dream

And then the hard work started. From Monday to Friday, we visited a handful of different universities, stretching from Malibu to Downtown LA to Orange County. Over the course of the week, it became more and more apparent that LA itself was really where I wanted to be. From an access point of view, being at the centre of the action means great transport links and everything you need literally at your fingertips, but it was more than that. In order to get internships in my field of interest, for me this being the music industry, I really need to be where it's all happening.

Go Bruins!

From speaking to both students and the disability officer at these campuses, it was clear that this is the place for me. The facilities for accessibility are next to none, and the positive, easy-going attitude shown by all towards me is not something you come by every day.

The LA lifestyle was made for me. The climate would mean that my hand wouldn't freeze and stop me driving every time we leave the house; the significant lack of cobbles would mean that I could walk (or for those of you with a picky bone, drive) for miles at a time without having my head wobbled off; and the laid-back, yet vibrant Californian people can't help but put a smile on your face.

Excuse the following photo shoot - just couldn't resist....

Malibu moment!

Pacific Coast Highway 

Marking the rare occasion of me being ON THE BEACH

Rodeo Drive babaaayyyy

If anyone fancies sending me anything, my new postcode

is 90210.... for real

Casually bumped into Team GB whilst waiting for my 

chair in baggage reclaim!

After such an unbelievable 10 days, what better way to bump back down to Earth than to swoop straight into GCSE results day! While we were away, we received a call from my absolute genius of a sister, informing us that she had received 3 A*s in her A-Levels and was heading to Cambridge! So you can imagine, no pressure eh?! Luckily, my 9 A*s and 2 As didn't disappoint my parents too much, and so they've agreed to keep me on for a little while longer. On a serious note, these results are so important to me as they unlock the door to the next step in turning my LA university dream into a reality.

So what to do with the last weekend of summer? How about a festival to go out with a bang? Fusion Festival is alway an incredible weekend, and this year was no exception. This is another one of those situations where photos probably say it better than words for now, so here you go.....

Photo shoot continued....

Still very much a fangirl at heart

Just in case the photo doesn't make it clear, we were loving the 

VIP life

There goes that inner fangirl again....

REAL talent

Ollie never fails to make me smile

Starting college alone this week was probably one of the scariest experiences of my life, but I'm certain it was the right decision. Sat here now, despite the awkwardness and complete unknown, I can feel a vibrancy and excitement in the air, and the opportunities on offer here are sure to provide a springboard to my next chapter.

It feels great to be back writing, and hopefully, I'll now be able to more regularly update you as I navigate my way through my slightly alternative teenage years and continue to fly beyond my dreams - all the while wearing killer heels.

Write soon,

Tilly xoxox

P.S. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions at all, either on here or using my other social media accounts -

Twitter/Insta: @ItsMeTillyG

Just What I've Always Wanted

Hey! How's it going? For me, it really has been a whirlwind of a few months, and I cannot wait to write all about it. I think the most logical place to start is back in May with The Vamps...

Although VIP tickets come at a relatively large expense - okay, a huge expense - we decided as a family that VIP tickets for The Vamps would be the main Christmas present for my sister and I. Apart from the fact that the package included a meet and greet, the fact that Union J were touring with them meant that, in my opinion, it was simply a must.

We chose the Genting Arena, Birmingham on this occasion, as we've come to the conclusion that, if you happen to be a wheelchair user, the Manchester Phones 4U Arena  (formerly known as the MEN Arena) is utter pants. In my opinion, you'd probably be better off sat at home with a pair of binoculars pointed in the vague direction of the stage for all you can see, and experience, when in the accessible seating area. The Genting Arena, on the other hand, has accessible seating all the way along the side, and so at least you have a chance at being near the front. This way, even though  we had to spend over an hour queuing on a phone-line for an accessible ticket, the reward was managing to buy Seat 1 and 2 - deep joy!

My rough estimate of accessible seating area at the

Genting Arena, Birmingham

My rough estimate of accessible seating area at the

Phones 4U Arena, Manchester

The VIP experience began with a Sound check with The Vamps, Union J and The Tide (basically boyband heaven), and a crowd of only just under 100. Not a day goes by that I don't find another reason to appreciate my powerchair all the more, but this in particular was another occasion that made me even more grateful to Caudwell Children (http://www.caudwellchildren.com/) for providing me with such a magical piece of equipment. Well actually, I don't even see it as a piece of equipment or machinery anymore - it's just a crucial - yet extremely stylish - part of me that is the key to unlocking so many exciting opportunities. For the sound check, my Sister and I were in along with the rest of the small crowd, but just because there wasn't as many of them doesn't mean that they were any shorter. As I've said on numerous occasions - which in itself tells a big story - having my powered wheelchair means that I can rise up and be the same height as everyone else, if not taller! As well as being able to see over crowds at concerts and festivals, this is also great from a social point of view, as I can chat with people at face height instead of them having to bend down to me like I'm a three-year-old. Reaching the bar will also be another bonus in years to come.... Did I just say that? Surely not! Just kidding... sort of.....

After the Sound Check (which I highly recommend as an amazing experience), we went straight through to have a photo with The Vamps, and then, after a pizza and chips, took our seats for the concert.

Although my Mum has to spend the evening in the car - on her birthday! - with a good book waiting for us to come out, having a sister like Candice who's two years older means that we can go into the concert together and she can assist me with pretty much everything I might need (except toileting - she draws the line at that)!  It works well because we have mostly the same interests, and so she wants to go to these events too, making it a fun experience for both of us. I don't need a lot of assistance at these things, just the odd head-push-up or drink opening, but there is always that possibility that something slightly more major could happen, (urgent call of nature or sinister choke) and so my Mum tends to be close by just in case. Obviously, it won't be like this forever, and we're just working at the minute to set up a plan for a new way of using my statutory care hours to employ personal assistants in a different way. More to come on that soon....

After such an exciting Friday night, what better way to celebrate than to try out new foot splints that have finally arrived?! I've gone on and on about these over the past year, so I just thought I'd let you know that yes, I now have them; yes, they fit; and yes, they are a fully-functioning pair of splints! Not exactly killer heels, but hey, just what I've always wanted!

An example of my 'muscles on the outside'

I'm not sure that anything I write from now on will live up to the unbelievable excitement of the information that you just learned about my splints, but I'll try my very best. Part 2 of the German Exchange commenced in June, with our partners coming over to England for a week. It was wonderful to welcome Vanessa and Anna to Cheddleton after they gave us a fantastic time in Waldorf earlier in the year.  Again, it was an action-packed few days including trips Chester, Alton Towers, and even London.

How I spend a sunny day at Alton Towers....





 My Alton Towers German Exchange Crew 2k15

Although I've been to London on a fair few occasions now, I had never once attempted the infamous tube - until now. The plan was to travel back to Euston Station from Westminster, and as always, we had left plenty of time. I had a look on my phone to see which was the best route to take and noticed that, with a  few buses, it would take us well over an hour, however with a tube, it would take a mere 11 minutes. "Why not give it a try?" we said. Ha! After having negotiated our way through the back entrance lift of Westminster due to the main lift being out of order, we boarded the first train with no problems encountered, wondering why on earth we hadn't used this mode of transport before. That was, until we tried to disembark at our first destination. It turns out that a wheelchair user must be in a certain carriage opposite a platform ramp in order to be able to actually get off - would have been useful information don't you think?! As the announcements came that the tube was going to be delayed while they went in search of a portable ramp to 'disembark the wheelchair', people around started to get rather agitated. Seeing as though I was the only 'wheelchair' - not a person, you understand - in sight, there was nowhere to hide. Cringe.

 Tube time....

After that little mishap, we let out a huge 'phheewwww', and having to negotiate a couple of  lift and miles of corridors, we eventually found our next tube. Having picked the correct carriage on this occasion, we found ourselves next to a man who'd clearly had a few too many pints at lunchtime. He, as most people are, was fascinated by my chair, but decided to take it that one step further and grabbed my controls in an attempt to steer me forward. Thanks to a guy who politely, but firmly, told him to keep his hands off, no damage was done, however his intervention was not warmly received by our drunken friend. After a tidal wave of explicit language and violent gestures, it was finally our stop, and I don't think my chair has ever driven so fast.

If you think that was enough, just you wait.....

Having finally made it to Euston Tube station and letting out an even bigger phew than the first time, we went in search of the lift up to ground level, only to find out that such a thing didn't actually exist. After a slight panic on my part, with no alternative, we boarded yet another tube train, got off at Kings Cross, and then walked back to Euston Station. Remember that 11 minute journey I told you about? Add another hour to that and you might be getting close to how long it took us.



 We had to document the event, as I am 99.999999% certain

that I will not be taking the tube any time soon.

Never say never though!

I made it out alive!!!

This little London adventure also happened to coincide with Caudwell Children's annual Butterfly Ball taking place at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Using the train as a "wheelchair-user" is - touch wood - relatively straight forward, and so, after the compulsory caffeine and calories at Stoke Station, we can head directly to London with no issues.

A suitable way to start the day?

Seeing as though every time we go away - even for a night-stop - we look like we're moving house, the hotel right by the station is perfect for us, as it minimises the amount of suitcase hauling that has to be done. We've now managed to devise a method of packing most of my machines into the one suitcase, but this does mean that it weighs at least ten times as much, and although my chair is good, I've not yet managed to find a way of towing a suitcase!

After hours of hair curling, nail painting and chair blinging, our taxi arrived, and we headed off in style to the Butterfly Ball 2015! We tend to always use an Addison Lee taxi(http://www.addisonlee.com/) as we get a quote for the price beforehand; a text saying that they are ready for us (no trying to flag down a cab at the pavement) and, because of vertigo etc., I don't particularly like to travel sideways in a London Cab, and with Addison Lee, I can just drive straight into the back. The drivers have always been really helpful too! 

It's such a privilege to be an ambassador for Caudwell Children, to be invited to their Butterfly Ball is always a huge honour. As soon as you step/wheel into the ballroom, it's as if stepping into a whole different world of sparkle, glamour, and kind-hearted people who are all desperate to support an extremely worthy cause. To be surrounded by true legends such as Rod Stewart and Bruce Forsythe; to have the opportunity to meet some of my personal favourites such as Union J and Aston Merrgold; and to see Lionel Richie himself perform live are moments that I will honestly treasure forever.

 Purple Carpet time!

 

Aston hugs are officially the best.

 Aston Merrygold!;<3

 Mark Wright!;<3

Brucie and Winnie are just the most wonderful people ever

 The one and only Tito Jackson!

 The gorgeous (inside and out) Union J!;<3

The most exciting part of my night is being asked up on stage with John Caudwell to explain to the audience what my chair means to me and how it can make dreams come true.  I always hope that my little bit will help raise funds for other children to receive such a power-chair, and this amazing  night was no exception as we managed to inspire the guests to pledge thirty, yes thirty, wheelchairs - a total of £600,000!

The grand total of nearly £2million that was raised on the night will go a HUGE way to transforming the lives of so many whole families, and this unbelievable success was down to the generosity of so many people, and the outstanding work of the Caudwell Children Team.

I couldn't possibly publish this blog without including a photo of my gorgeous pooch, so here's Lexi picking some raspberries...

 It must be summer!

So many exciting things have happened over the past few months that I physically can't fit them all into one blog! To solve this little issue, I'll be writing again very soon to update you on all the latest gossip in my world, some of which includes a certain Robbie Williams - just what I've always wanted! Haven't you?

Write very soon,

Tilly,xoxox

Twitter/Insta: @ItsMeTillyG

RIP Angelique, my beautiful best friend -

love you forever xxx