Guest guest Posted January 26, 2002 Report Share Posted January 26, 2002 I had rather a nasty time on a cross channel ferry from Dover to Calais. When we booked we said I was a wheelchair user and asked if they could provide a wheelchair for me on the crossing. Not a problem until we arrived. Checked in was given my disabled sticker and put on the right part of the boat - then we waited. Finally Dave went to find a steward who just so happened to be pushing a wheelchair. Assuming it was for me he lead the guy to my car. I was just about to get into it when a voice boomed across from the car two in front of me insisting it was her wheelchair. The steward then asked my name and said it wasn't for me. He went to this woman who happened to be elderly who by this time had got out of her car and was walking towards mine without a walking stick, frame or anything else. The steward asked her name and then offered the chair to me. Dave stepped in and asked where was mine. They told him they didn't have another chair. To which the woman sitting in the chair smiled rather smuggly said 'she's only young she doesn't need a wheelchair. I have arthritis.' Her husband who was standing near by and made some comment to his wife which I didn't hear but she yelled back at him. 'I have arthritis and need a chair.' Dave by this time lost his temper and went up to her. ;My wife may only be young but she is quite seriously ill and can't walk.; The woman replied 'tough' and the steward asked if we had our own wheelchair - which we did but it was under all the luggage in the back that the reason we'd booked one for the crossing was to save having to use mine and to utilise the space available in the boot. The woman was adamant she wasn't going to give up the chair although it was quite clear to everyone she didn't need it. So we unloaded our boot and got mine out, fixed it up and finally got up on deck. We were sitting in the restaurant when the woman walked past us, her chair was parked up against a table and she didn't use it at all for the voyage. That really upset me the way she abused the facilities on board. In fact I sat there waiting for us to hit a big wave and for her to fall - but life ain't like that - the Channel was like a mill pond all the way over. Love Sue The important thing is never to stop questioning. Website www.horder-mason.freeserve.co.uk Freelance Writer and CMTer " I Thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God. " - Helen Keller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2002 Report Share Posted January 26, 2002 Hi Sue, Owen here, Some day that women will get her just reward! Happy Trails, Owen Sue Horder-Mason wrote: > I had rather a nasty time on a cross channel ferry from Dover to Calais. When we booked we said I was a wheelchair user and asked if they could provide a wheelchair for me on the crossing. Not a problem until we arrived. Checked in was given my disabled sticker and put on the right part of the boat - then we waited. > Finally Dave went to find a steward who just so happened to be pushing a wheelchair. Assuming it was for me he lead the guy to my car. I was just about to get into it when a voice boomed across from the car two in front of me insisting it was her wheelchair. The steward then asked my name and said it wasn't for me. He went to this woman who happened to be elderly who by this time had got out of her car and was walking towards mine without a walking stick, frame or anything else. The steward asked her name and then offered the chair to me. Dave stepped in and asked where was mine. They told him they didn't have another chair. To which the woman sitting in the chair smiled rather smuggly said 'she's only young she doesn't need a wheelchair. I have arthritis.' > Her husband who was standing near by and made some comment to his wife which I didn't hear but she yelled back at him. 'I have arthritis and need a chair.' > Dave by this time lost his temper and went up to her. ;My wife may only be young but she is quite seriously ill and can't walk.; > The woman replied 'tough' and the steward asked if we had our own wheelchair - which we did but it was under all the luggage in the back that the reason we'd booked one for the crossing was to save having to use mine and to utilise the space available in the boot. > The woman was adamant she wasn't going to give up the chair although it was quite clear to everyone she didn't need it. So we unloaded our boot and got mine out, fixed it up and finally got up on deck. > We were sitting in the restaurant when the woman walked past us, her chair was parked up against a table and she didn't use it at all for the voyage. > That really upset me the way she abused the facilities on board. In fact I sat there waiting for us to hit a big wave and for her to fall - but life ain't like that - the Channel was like a mill pond all the way over. > Love > Sue > The important thing is never to stop questioning. > Website www.horder-mason.freeserve.co.uk > Freelance Writer and CMTer > > " I Thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God. " - Helen Keller > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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