800,000 Views - WoW

Some time yesterday my blog breached 800,000 views! Thank you to all readers whether one-time or returning. I appreciate each & every one of you. Thanks so much.

https://crippledqueeranglo-europeanranter.blogspot.com/

Half-a-Million Blog-Views

I can hardly believe it: my blog has passed half-a-million (500,000) views in a little under five years, averaging out at about one-hundred-thousand (100,000) viewings per year!

 

[Image description: stats list showing views at 12.53 BST were 500,025]

A couple of Chester University chums (thanks Annette, Louise & Jon) persuaded me that I had plenty to say and that folk would want to read it. I half-heartedly said I should give it a go, without actually believing blogging was for me. As it happens, my blog has given me a place where I can vent my spleen about how disabled and chronically-sick folk are treated in the United Kingdom (UK) as well as share my dining experiences at eateries across Europe - so far these have included Austria, England, Germany, Greece, Scotland, Spain & Switzerland. I have discovered new countries with ties to Europe and that European disabled peoples are faring badly across the Continent, alas in some cases worse than here in UK.

I do not know how long I shall be able to continue the blog. My aphasia has deteriorated which means my reasoning, thinking and my ability to express myself are all pejorated. My physical stamina is also much reduced due to the myalgic encephalomyelitis. Much of this may be due to the on-going stresses I am under in relation to my thus far unresolved Personal Independence Payment (PIP; UK disability benefit) and my continuing lack of care from my local council Trafford due to the national social care crisis.

This I hope explains why there have been so few posts this year. However, I do have a blog-post ready-ish for tomorrow's International M.E. Awareness Day. It's on a taboo subject, so may or might be considered #nsfw.

To my seven loyal followers and to all readers (occasional or regular): THANK YOU. <3

Blogging Against Disablism Day 2016

Blogging Against Disablism Day 2016 (#BADD2016) is this coming Sunday, on 1st May. I shall be hosting a gallery of artworks, "And now: the Gallery", which I hope may speak to folk with disabilities &/or chronic illnesses as well as a blog-post on "Art for All".

This year Blogging Against Disablism Day has taken the exciting step of branching out on to Tumblr at bloggingagainstdisablismday.tumblr.com.

The event can also be found as usual on Facebook at facebook.com/BloggingAgainstDisablismDay.

And of course the event will be as ever live-tweeted on Twitter at twitter.com/BADDtweets.

The main archive will be hosted by Goldfish on Diary of a Goldfish. There you can also search through the archives for previous years, where there are lots of stimulating, interesting and still relevent blog-posts.

I hope you'll join in on Sunday, either as a contributer or as a reader or maybe both.

%D

 

Severe M.E. Day

More than two months without blogging. I am afraid I have been rather unwell. The result has been sleeping in excess of my typical fourteen hours per day. And, when I have been awake, I have been suffering from cognitive and neurological symptoms. Nonetheless, I have been jotting notes for items. If I ever regain my faculties, I shall have plenty of material to go at.

Every year, the eighth of August is commemorated as Severe ME Day. I was too unwell to blog that day; but I did post to Facebook:

"I swing between "moderate", "severe" and "very severe". The account below describes my life as it is for the majority of the time. When I go into "very severe" mode I am paralysed by pain and am unable to move anything, even eyeballs is excruciating. Even in an emergency, in such circumstances, I should be incapable of movement to escape.

 #‎ME‬ ‪#‎MyalgicEncephalomyelitis‬ ‪#‎SEID‬"

Apologies to those with visual impairments: I do not have the energy to re-write the above.

BlogSummit Agenda

Alarm has ensured I awoke in plnety of time to have the essential two coffees to wake me up, catch up on social media, shower and prepare to travel. I am so excited, as I learned so much from last year's BlogCamp, which I live-blogged (q.v.) during the event, and I am again hoping to do similarly.

I have been sent an agenda - but till I actually get to the venue and the session opens - who knows what might happen! Here it is, in case you have misplaced your own copy...

"The day will kick off around 10am with a welcome from our sponsors, Volvo Cars and Cow & Gate. The support of these brands is what allows us to keep BlogSummit free of charge for bloggers, and we encourage you to say hello to the brands attending on the day, if they're relevant to you! 

In the morning, we will be opening up with an inspiring session with Sarah McIntyre, who will talk about how she uses blogging to build a community, to keep creatively inspired and provide a platform for her very successful illustrated books. 

Next up, Ben Wakeling will be sharing his story of working with a charity to co-publish a book, as well as offering insights on dealing with online negativity and criticism. 

Ruth Arnold of Geek Mummy will be running a tech clinic, with tips for bloggers at all levels on blogging essentials that aren't as tricky as you might have thought! From backing up your blog to personalising your blog design, we'll have user-friendly tips to make you a fully fledged blogging ninja.  

After lunch, our sessions will kick off with a panel of expert food bloggers sharing tips on how to present food content that will get your readers' taste buds tingling. Our bloggers will be sharing tips on working with food brands, presenting recipes, getting great photos for your blog - and much more. 

Finally, we'll be looking at the ever-popular issue of working with brands, with tips from the Tots100 and Foodies100 team, followed by a brand panel featuring PR guests who will be chatting about opportunities to work with their brands and clients.  There will be plenty of time for Q&A and sharing of your own experiences in this session."

[Image description: TOTS100 logo]

Thanks to TOTS100 for inviting me! %D

By the by, the Twitter hashtag ( # ) for the event is #blogsummit.

See you all shortly - I'm the shy, disabled guy...

No Sex Please, We're... Disabled! *

(* This is a pun on an oft quoted play title, "No Sex Please, We're British".)


For Blogging Against Disablism Day 2012, I blogged on the subject of disabled sex, or more accurately the lack of it, under the title "Sexual Eunuchs?" After writing the article I girded my loins (metaphorically!) and decided to try out some dating or introduction agencies. My misadventures are chronicled in a post entitled "Disabled and Gay Internet Dating &/or Amity" - and believe me absolutely nothing of any kind of excitement occurred not even the merest frisson of stimulation!

That is, almost nothing...

[Image description: 1915 poster of four sailors in a crow's-nest;

the legend reads "THE NAVY WANTS MEN"]

Well, hello sailor!

In February this year I was suddenly contacted one evening on facebook by a chap who I had connected with on one of the sites. I say "connected" in the loosest possible sense of the word. He had decided he liked me, flagged up the fact, but never actually did anything other than send a single smile. So to suddenly receive a communication out of the blue was somewhat discombobulating.

Here's the conversation (obviously some details have been amended to hide his identity):

[22.52]

Adam

Hey, Colin, it's Adam1987 from Disability Amity. How are you? Xx

Me

I'm not bad, Adam. Nice to sort of meet at last.

Adam

Yeah, nice to meet you too, Colin. May I ask why you use a wheelchair and where are you from?

[I nodded off for a cat-nap.]

Me

Sorry, Adam, phased out a bit there; can fall asleep at the drop of a hat!

Adam

It's ok.

Me

I am bed-bound over 60% of the time; but about 90% at this time of the year. I am actually banned from exercise including swimming by my hospital consultant and must not walk more than 100 metres per day. So whilst I can potter about the house/garden on good days, I usually need the wheelchair to go further afield.

Me

You do not state on Disability Amity what your disability is. Whatever, I am quite excited that someone with a disability is employed by the forces.

Adam

I'm not disabled myself; I do like disabled men though.

Me

Well, that's not a problem. What is it you like about disabled men? That is if it is not too personal a question. %)

Adam

I just like their outlook on life. No matter how bad, they carry on through it.

Me

I think that is generally true. We do tend to be resilient and resourceful. Mind by necessity to be honest. %DDD

Adam

What is your disability?

Me

I have multiple conditions each with their own co-morbidities. The main ones are at least three types of arthritis; ME/CFS; FMS; Raynaud's Syndrome....

Adam

Ok. Never heard of any of them. Sorry.

Where you from?

Me

Oh sorry, didn't answer all your queries. I am not really from anywhere as I have moved around thirty times. However, I currently reside in the 'burbs of SW Manchester.

Adam

Cool! I'm home visiting family tonight. I could come visit you tomorrow if you like.

Me

Sorry, Adam, that would have been lovely; but I have to pre-arrange for carers to sort me out and also to let you in!

Adam

That's ok. I could come and let myself in and I could help you out with whatever you need. I don't mind helping you out.

Me

A lovely notion to be sure. But how would you get a key? The carer would have to be here to unlock the door. Gets complicated - when one becomes disabled it is nigh impossible to do much spontaneously; everything has to be carefully planned.

Adam

Awwwww ok. You got anyone going tomorrow?

Me

The carers are all scheduled. Next one is 18.30 tomorrow evening to get me up, cook a hot meal and prepare for my evening visitor for my weekly movie night.

Adam

Awwwwwwww! Who's your evening visitor?

It could be me, if you like.

Me

My very beautiful next-door-but-one-neighbour - Amélie. You can find her under my friends.

Adam

Awwwwwwww ok! Would she let me in after your movie night?

I don't want to do anything rude, just have a drink and a chat, if you like.

Me

She would if I asked her. Whilst very tempting, I would not be able to. I can only remain awake for a maximum three to four hours and then I crash; it can be sooner. Amélie knows me well and doesn't outstay if she sees I need to lie down.

Adam, another time would be most welcome, as long as I get a bit of notice to ensure I rest before your arrival.

I cannot be rude to a very good friend who does a lot to support me, as our movie nights are her break each week from her beau.

Adam

Ok, that's good with me. How would Wednesday afternoon be for an hour?

Me

Afternoons are not good for me. This Thursday morning I shall be up early for me at about nine, depending on carer arrival. I am usually downstairs from ten till two. Would that be a good time to pop by?

Adam

That's no good. I'm back to work tomorrow night. :(

Me

Oh, I'm so sorry, chuck! I cannot change my schedule as they are organised a week ahead to fit around me & my carers. May be next time you are up North...

Adam

Yeah: hope we can sort something.

Me

Carers organise plans on Fridays for the following Mondays onwards. So let me know the Friday before you intend to visit!!! Golly, that sounds complicated. %D

Adam

That's ok: I know what it's like trying to organise work as I do it too, in the navy.

Me

Are you openly gay/bi to your colleagues or do you have to hide that part of you?

Adam

No I don't have to hide it; they are ok with it.

Me

That's good news. How things change!

Alas, not much has changed for me! Adam's was my one potential offer of sex in the last twelve months. As the conversation, I hope, elucidates, even sex has to be scheduled and organised for some of us who are disabled. 

Imagine, if I could have just got in touch with the carers agency and asked for 'shag-support', by which I mean someone to come and let in my potential playmate. But then I would also need assistance in getting washed up afterwards as well as the bedding changed and laundered. Adam sounded as if he would not have minded helping me out. But what if I had had to rely on an escort. I imagine it would be hand over the cash, bang-bang and thank-you-good-bye man with no hanging around to help out.

I should love to know if there is a single social services department in the country (UK) that offers any kind of assistance to disabled folk who want to play in bed. When I had my care review as to what my needs are and how they could assist me, not one form or person even referenced sex. My G.P.'s (family doctors) have never brought up the thorny topic of sex. Nor for that matter have any of my hospital consultants (clinicians). The specialist support nurses did not mention the subject either. In some sense it is as if I have been infantalised; like a child, I shall not be engaging in inappropriate behaviours for my own good.

It might be argued, I suppose, that it is a matter of privacy. But let's face it, if one is seriously disabled one loses much of one's perceived privacy. Is the subject of sex just too private?

So twelve months on, and I still feel I am a sexual eunuch.



This article is part of "Blogging Against Disablism Day" aka BADD2013.

[Image description: BADD2013 logo depicting 20 folk in various colours;

one of which is in a wheelchair & another holds a walking-stick (cane);

the text reads, "Blogging Against Disablism"]

Crippled, Queer, Anglo-European Ranter's First Birthday

[Image description: a cake with the inscription "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"]

Well, I can hardly believe a year has gone by.

The number of views in my first blog's first year reached 24,710. This averages at over two thousand per month or about 475 per week. My best month was February when I reached the heady heights of 3,245 viewings.

I have recorded visits from all continents with the exception of Antarctica. So, if there is anyone in one of the research stations there, I should dearly love for you to pay a visit. And I most certainly would blog on it too! My most recent growth areas have been in South America and China over the past few weeks. My hope is to establish a separate Spanish language blog linked to this one... eventually!

All major countries/economies are represented in the statistics. Here are the cumulative stats for the top ten only:

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	14074
United States	4356
Germany	706
France	611
Russia	586
Sweden	229
Spain	169
Canada	164
Australia	124
Belgium	117

Truly I feel humbled.

This will be blog-post sixty-two (62). Blog article sixty-three (63) is ready to publish on 1st May as part of Blogging Against Disablism Day 2013. Here's a foretaste of what is to come: the article is actually entitled "No Sex Please, We're... Disabled!" So if that piques your curiosity, please feel free to return here next Wednesday.

The second in my series on Penis Problems is almost complete too. This time I am taking a closer look at urethras. Don't know what one is? Well, another incentive to come back for a closer inspection! Just believe me when I say it was a definite eye-opener to me, and I have had to look at photos of one-eyed monsters I should have rather preferred to completely avoid. What I do to ensure my research is as accurate as possible!

A special thank-you to my three doughty followers whom I appreciate sticking with me.

I hope my writing has improved a little over the past year. Certainly I have made mistakes. However, rather than emend, I have simply allowed such to remain in situ but struck through. This approach seems more honest to me, especially in respect to anyone who returns to an article.

Not sure how the coming year will pan out, for much of my time and energies are taken up with disability campaigning for the WOWpetition (q.v.); but I do sincerely hope I shall have some opportunities to keep sharing my rants, complaints and whinges with you.

My heartfelt thanks for reading and my very best wishes for you all.

Colin-Roy aka criquaer

%D