My chosen place is the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. I was last there in 2022 and it is the only place I’ve managed to go on holiday for several years. It’s also one of my favourite places and I was so grateful to live close to it, meaning that it was still just about possible.
Waking up to the sunrise over the sea from bed for my winter birthday was heaven. I have some amazing photos from over the years and videos with the dawn sound of blackbirds and bells. I would share them with my closest friends who could only dream of being in such a special place and I’ll never forget lying in my wheelchair next to my partner looking up at the night sky, more stars than I’ve ever seen.
I live under an hour away by car, but it was so hard last time that I don’t think I can do it again. It was heartbreaking to drive away and come home last time knowing I may not return. As I can only be out of bed for a couple of hours and car travel can trigger so many symptoms, I cannot even pop there for a quick look.
So, you are sitting in a box just where I would like to be. I’m probably lying in bed in my own box, my bedroom, where I spend the majority of my time. If not here then I am lying on my downstairs bed.
The view from my box is pretty good and lots of different birds fly past but I’m still stuck here. I cannot go and stay in any other house and I cannot be away from my specific bed for more than a couple of hours.
I’m also trapped inside a body that is highly uncomfortable and very high maintenance. I do not get a holiday from this except sometimes in sleep. My friends are also in their boxes scattered across the world, never to meet, twinkling lights keeping each other company online or by text as best we can, and sometimes keeping each other alive in the space of physical suffering, grief for what we have lost and often hostile state and medical attitudes.
Getting a change of scene, however hard to pull off, was so very valuable for my mental health. I’m glad you are there today. I’m wondering what you’ll see. Please let me know.
