So, my friend Mel and I went for a trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show yesterday and was it an interesting experience! It wasn't the first time we'd been but it certainly was an interesting day.
The day kinda started off on the wrong foot because I got on the wrong train. Thankfully I got off at the station Mel was getting on so that we could both get on the RIGHT train this time. We met up okay in the end and we made it safely to the show.
Once we got there we had to fight lots of ignorant people to use the accessible toilets because the female toilets were being cleaned. I understand that because of this they need to use our accessible toilets. I still think that common courtesy would tell you if there is a wheelchair user waiting to use that toilet, they should let you go first regardless of where you are in the line because there is no physical way that we can use the other ones like they can. This obviously wasn't in any one's mind because we waited 15 minutes to go to the toilet. I got rather frustrated and I was ready to run over a few peoples toes haha.
We went and saw Girls Girls Girls - Extreme Trick stunt riding team. Very talented girls who must work very hard to do what they do! You can see some pics here http://www.harrisentertainment.com.au/girls-girls-girls.asp
I enjoyed the 'Australian Wool Fashion Awards' parade... was great, I got extremely excited about all the hats and pretty dresses :)
The funny highlights of the day:
- Mel and I wanted to go on the Sky View Ferris Wheel (pic above), and last year when we went they let me drive her wheelchair straight into the cabin thing from the ramp and I was able to get out and sit on the seat.
This year they wouldn't let her chair on so 2 men lifted her into the cabin. We had a nice
ride but the getting out when we finished was rather hilarious. As we coming back down
on the wheel, we were watching them trying to move our electric wheelchairs and not
having a clue how to turn it on a move it.
Then they got me out first and I thought the man was just going to help me stand and wait
for my wheelchair to be bought over by our friend but he took me by surprise by taking me
straight to my chair. He lifted me under my arms and I looked like washing hanging on the
line as he moved me to my chair LOL.
Instead of 2 men lifting Mel, only 1 did this time. Poor Mel kinda got her foot stuck on the
door as she was being carried out. She landed safely in her chair.
- Later that day before we were going to go home, we went to the showbag hall and saw a little girl probably about 4 or 5 tug on her mother's shirt, point and say "Mummy, their funny looking babies" LOL lucky for us we don't get offended... it was quiet hilarious!!! We are still laughing about it.
Then we had the drama of going home... we had arranged a wheelchair carriage for the train home. Wheelchair carriage definition: Same as a normal carriage the only difference being there is a wider door way and seats taken out and space designated for wheelchair users to sit. Only 14 of them in NSW, so when travelling the wheelchair user must request for one to be put on the trains they will be travelling on. Due to the lack wheelchair carriages, even if one is requested, they are never guaranteed.
As stated we had booked a carriage, but the man at the station was VERY VERY rude to us. We got to the platform, asked for the ramp to be organised and asked if he knew if a wheelchair carriage had been put on this train. He said he didn't know and didn't do anything to find out if there was one.
The train came and we found the wheelchair carriage but the man was being difficult and telling us all the carriages were the same even though we told him there was one. We got to the carriage which was SOOOOOOOOOO packed out that there was no point even trying to get on the carriage.
We ended up in the foyer of another carriage because we couldn't get into ours. We rang about 5 stations ahead where we thought most people would be getting off the train and asked if they would get us off and get us back on the train but this time in the wheelchair carriage. They were very nice and did exactly this :)
Overall we had a nice day, but I still have a large disliking to CityRail.
