In this post I'll just list a few things that I think helped me to get home again without a major relapse. Perhaps these ideas will be useful for others:
1. We took the overnight ferry (Belfast to Liverpool), rather than a shorter crossing with more driving. I also used one of the on-board wheelchairs to get between the cabin and the car deck lifts.
2. Declaring that I was disabled to the ferry company, meant that they boarded us early and also parked us close to the lifts on the car deck. This made things much easier.
3. I used my "wee scooter" in the hotel, as hotel corridors are surprisingly long. Tim also brought my breakfast back up to our room for me in the mornings.
4. I used a full size scooter with arm rests inside Crufts. I also brought a travel pillow so that I could lean forward and rest draped over the scooter handles occasionally! (& Yes that is dog bedding I'm sitting on - very comfy!)
4. I wore my hat indoors too. I have never been good with glare, and the artificial lights inside are no easier to tolerate than bright sun. So the hat stayed on!
5. I brought ear plugs and wore them for a large part of the time inside the halls. (Long hair is useful for hiding this...)
6. I took one whole day where I rested in the hotel room. I just hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign up and chilled, slept and checked a couple of things on FB! I was really ready for this, and so not at all sad to see the others heading out without me.
7. My actual trips into Crufts were half days, and I didn't race round shopping like mad. I did buy a few things though, and even managed to meet a few friends. (More on the actual trip here and here.)
One final thing that helped - understanding companions, and family; who made everything easy for me. xx
