A Different Perspective

The Wheelchair Saga.

This is how I arrived in Odessa headfirst what a way to arrive. It all started in the middle of the night on 17 December, Edward my son has said that he would come and take us to London Heathrow,thank you son! he duly turns up at the appointed time and we set off arriving about 4:45am. We had a very easy walk  to the check-in where the guy sorted us out very quickly and efficiently, I asked him "oh! by the way I booked wheelchair assistance from here all the way through to Odessa is that still correct", his reply "yes you are booked through until Odessa," as the chair was nowhere to be seen I asked him why it was not there for me? he said I  should have gone to the desk which is at the other end of the terminal booking hall to be checked in and I said "I can't walk all the way up there it was bad enough coming as far as this,""I will ring through and get a chair organised for you" he said.

When it arrived a very helpful man pushed it all away through to the departure gate,I had to sit for a few minutes dumped in the middle of the departure gate area but that was alright it wasn't a problem, fortunately I was first on the plane our seats already have been reserved weeks before.

Prior to arrival in Warsaw the stewardess has come to me and asked can I manage the stairs I said that I could but it is difficult, “not to worry" she said "we will organise everything when we land”. We were last off the plane of course to make life easy for everybody and sure enough the wheelchair was waiting with a young man ready to push me. It was all uphill to get into the terminal and  by the time we got there he was well out of breath.

We got to the gate and again I was dumped in the area, this was not so good as I wanted to be able to look out on the apron (see what was going on) however soon the flight was called, I was taken to another gate and down in the lift, outside it was bitterly cold having been snowing for the last three days, the snow was deep and I thought you never get a push me through this to the waiting bus, which was about 60 yards away, but no I suddenly find myself on the tailgate of a lorry Genny was gestured to get on the tailgate with us and we were lifted up into the back of the truck, something of a surprise a properly prepared vehicle with chairs that were strapped on the side with adequate belts and seats for everybody, So it was we made our way to the aircraft. We stopped and I thought know what? suddenly the whole body of this truck rose into the air the driver guy opened a door at the far end of the vehicle, there right in front of us was the aircraft its rear door open.
The truck had been positioned a few metres away, a gangway was  extended just touching the door of the plane, I was able to walk easily onto it. It was brilliant the staff were fantastic the stewardess when I boarded was very very concerned about everything making sure that we were comfortable and that I would be fine the other end,she assured me the captain was going to radio ahead to make sure that Odessa could accommodate me.

Just before we landed The stewardess came back to me and said “please wait until every body's got off the there will be some people who will be there to assist you” I said I should be okay thanks.
While we were waiting to disembarked the plane Genny started giggling looking for out of the window, “what are you laughing at?” she answered “look” and coming across the tarmac was a forklift truck with an empty  palette bouncing about on it she said “I bet that's what they are using to get you off” but of course it went to the cargo bay and loaded it with some large creates.
Eventually these two guys arrived with their high viz jackets, pushing what looked to be almost a sack barrow type arrangement, A seat on it just about wide enough to go down the aisle of the plane, I was sat on it and strapped in. blimey don't  know what I let myself in for, they looked at the door picked me up and headfirst carried  me down the steps it was terrifying, being no lightweight these two guys struggled to get down the steps I was rocked and rolled I've  never felt so out of control, what a relief once we hit the tarmac.
Still it was not over, by the time we got off the aircraft the bus had departed to the terminal and we were left standing in the freezing cold, we had to wait for the bus return, when it did I was plonked on it taken into the terminal. This was wonderful pushing right ahead and in front of everybody queueing to go through customs and immigration, a young lady look over the desk at our passports smiled stamped both of them and we were through, that never happened before. Except there was one last Gotcha, the truck would or whatever you want to call it couldn't squeeze between the cabin and a pillar where the custom person worked, preventing it from easily getting through, therefore I was wriggled and jiggled until we clear the gap.
The guys dumped me in the middle of the baggage reclaim unstrapped me and just walked off and said “that's it,” “thank you” I replied.

We staggered through to the customs department and were waved straight through, never been done before. Then out to awaiting hordes of people in the arrivals hall and our family.
What an experience and I Get to go through all again on the way home.