Damian Plant’s Weblog

I just want to introduce you to my lovely niece Ellie.

An incredibly bright and funny bundle of fun.

Any minute now she is going to have a little brother arriving, so good luck Faye! We’re all thinking of you.

As part of an on going piece I have been writing about the Police and Disabled Issues, I was invited to join two members of Llandudno Constabulary on a walk around Craig-y-Don, so on Monday the 9^th of June I joined PC Lowri Jones and PCSO Gail Starr to “Walk the Beat”.

It was a bright sunny morning in Llandudno, so we walked down Mostyn Avenue to the junction with Clarence Road. Here I pointed out the difficulty wheelchair users have with many of the kerbs around town, especially in the older parts. There was no drop kerb and the pavement was damaged, making it unsafe to negotiate without the utmost care. We came across many other examples as we walked into the housing estate off Clarence Road and took a number of photographs to document how awkward they can be.

During our walk we came across a discarded jacket left on a bench in Craig-y-Don Park. It occurred to me at this point that we take for granted the job done by our Police Officers. The seemingly simple task of checking a forgotten jacket on a park bench, is complicated by the danger posed by the possibility of drug taking equipment in the pockets, and the resulting risk posed to the health of the officers. Health and safety procedures had to be followed, including the use of protective gloves, as the jacket was taken to the Lost Property Office.

After our circuit of Craig-y-Don, we walked along Mostyn Broadway and down to the Police Station. Here we finished off the morning with introductions to colleagues, a nice cup of tea and some friendly chat. Both Lowri and Gail told me they felt as though their eyes had been opened to issues they had not really thought about before.

I would like to express my thanks for the time given by the Two Officers and the interest they showed in my views and opinions.

One of the most important services which operates out of Llandudno, are it’s two lifeboats. Without this invaluable service, many lives would have been lost.

Llandudno has had a lifeboat since 1861 and is still on active service 24 hours a day right throughout the year.

So, lets all take time to consider the effort and commitment given freely by these brave men and women who serve on RNLI Lifeboats.

We should all give them thanks and a big pat on the back.

The Llandudno Lifeboat Station operates two lifeboats, an all weather boat called “RNLB Andy Pearce” and an inshore craft called “RNLB William Robert Saunderson”

Am I the only one that feels depressed? I sometimes feel that way, that it’s just me. That the rest of the world carries on around me and leaves me feeling on my own.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a wheelchair 24/7, that it effects me this way. The worst thing is not being able to get out of the chair and knowing that it’s not going to be any different, or wanting to be independent but having to rely on others all the time. But you don’t have to be in a wheelchair to feel low, it happens to us all at one time or another.

I would be interested to know what anyone out there thinks on this subject? Do you have any thoughts or experiences? Let me know what gets you down.

You can write to the contact link on the right side of the page, I won’t need to use names or addresses.

It has been a lovely sunny day today, so I thought I would take a bus ride out towards Denbigh. It’s a relaxing one and a half hour trip from Rhyl to Denbigh and back.

The only trouble is that the buses Arriva put on this run are a bit tricky for a wheelchair. I had to sit with my feet up again and it is not the most comfortable way to travel. Maybe they could look at putting a better bus on one of the three trips made each hour? The Corwen run would be the most suitable, as I have seen more prams and buggies trying to use this one. It can be very awkward for a mother with little children if they have to struggle on the bus.

Otherwise, I had a good day and a relaxing ride.

Last night I went with my twin sister, Faye, to Venue Cymru to see Duffy in concert.

It was a brilliant night, it’s just a shame for those that did not get to see it that it was a one night only show.

She sang songs off her album, Rockferry, and it was like listening to the CD! That say’s how much quality she has in her voice.

From my vantage point, level with and near the corner of the stage, I could see how much the packed audience were enjoying the show. From the first song to when Duffy was encouraged, by an ecstatic crowd, to come back for an encore she was amazing!

There were some minor access issues, but certainly nothing to make a meal of. My congratulations go out to Venue Cymru for staging a great show.

I want to put a shout out for Pauline and the Girls at the Alliance Pharmacy in Craig-y-Don!

We, who have lived in Craig-y-Don for some time, remember it as Neville’s Chemist, but it has recently been taken over.

The good news is that we still have the same smiling faces when we go there. You are always guaranteed a warm welcome from courteous and professional staff, who will go the extra mile for the customer.

So, if you’re looking for a quality Pharmacy with a warm touch, you could do no better than to visit Alliance Pharmacy,17 Queens Road, Craig y Don 01492 877029

The National Eisteddfod is in Penrhyn Bay over the coming weekend.

It is a televised celebration of all things Welsh, most importantly the Welsh language, with poets and musicians from all over the country.

It will be on from the 26^th to the 31^st of May.

Just follow the signs to Gloddaeth Isa Farm, just off the A470.

I hope, if you go, you enjoy it.

The interview I did with representatives of North Wales Police went very well. There is more happening on that front, so the story is ongoing at the moment.

I was in the garden this morning, with my Mum, getting it straight for the coming summer. I like to have family barbeques when the weather is nice. I have neglected the garden somewhat so far this year, so I’m going to take a bit of a break from chasing stories and concentrate on that for a while. I’ll still be writing in the Blog, in fact I’ll probably have more time to do the diary side of it, so keep reading and writing in to me with stories, news and anything you want really!

On Wednesday the 21^st, I will be interviewing representatives from North Wales Police as part of a piece I am writing about disabled people in the legal system.

It will focus on how disabled people are dealt with if they are, for what ever reason, detained by the police. Not just obvious physical disabilities like being in a wheelchair, but also those which may not be as apparent, such as Autism or Learning Difficulties.

If anyone has anything to say on the matter or recollect any stories which are relevant to this piece, please write in to me. We won’t need to use names or addresses. The contact link is on the right hand side of the page.