latest purchase

[deird1]

Isn't it nice when you find something you really want and ALSO NEED so you can justify buying it?

I just got myself a SwitchStick:


(Mine is a different colour and style, but still the same sort of thing.)


There are three reasons I wanted this.

1) It's adjustable.

This is wonderful. I have been using a walking stick that's two inches longer than it should be - which ends up really hurting my wrist after a while. Now I have one that's the right height!


2) It's foldable.

A definite plus. You see, the problem with needing a walking stick occasionally and catching the train daily is that there are all these people who know that I don't normally need a stick - and might decide that I'm only carrying one so I can nab a disabled seat on the train when it's crowded.

If I'm seen carrying a stick when I don't need it, they're even more likely to decide this, even on those occasions when I really do need it and also desperately need a disabled seat.

Funnily enough, I will often need a stick for my morning, and not need it by the afternoon. But I still have to carry it home.

...which leads to the ludicrous situation in which I walk around the train station pretending I need the stick more than I do, so that people won't think I'm just pretending. Because I might not need it now - but I will need it later, and it's imperative that the passengers give me that disabled seat on the day that I really need it.
(Please note: no, I am not getting given the disabled seat when I'm just pretending. I'm not that selfishly dishonest.)

The good thing about this foldable stick is that I can just unpack it when I actually need it, and hide it on the journey home when I don't.


3) It's pretty and sparkly!

Woo!

Comments

[verity]

I have one of these (but not so pretty) and it's AMAZING. YAY!

Also, I hear you on the pretending thing. People don't understand how not everyone who uses a cane is (maybe not even most people are) a full-time cane user. Sigh!

[curiouswombat]

They are really useful - mu Mum has a couple in different flower prints.

And I can totally understand your thought processes about worrying that people might think you are cheating.

[klme.livejournal.com]

2/ Having been the owner of a disabled parking sticker before, I fully get the "pretending" thing. Whenever I'd park in the disabled space I was very conscious of people watching this seemingly able bodied person stand up and walk from the car into the shops. I really wanted to turn around and say "yes, I know it looks suspicious, but my disability is a hidden one, and I won't actually look like there's anything wrong til I've walked around for a bit and then can't walk BACK to the car. Please don't key my car!!". Never did this, but I did put on a massive limp several times as I walked inside so that it looked obvious that I deserved my parking space...
Never could bring myself to ask for a train seat too...

[(Anonymous)]

I had no idea you were even an occasional cane user. Is this a recent thing? I've used it in the past

[deird1]

I've used it more since leaving uni - not because I've needed it more, but because now I actually own one. (Or two, now...)

I have silly knee issues.

[mauvedragon.livejournal.com]

Oops that anonymous comment was me.

[redsixwing]

How neat! :D
It seems like an adjustable stick would be a really good idea.

[louise39]

It's a good idea to be prepared and it's pretty, too.

[iosef.livejournal.com]

A stick of the right height is essential. Addjustable helps, but now you have the right length get out the measure and take it down. Most sellers of nice sticks of various varieties advertise the length and/or will cut to length. It is also why the couple of times I looked at a new stick and found it was easy to not notice I bought it.