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Following a few experiences both good and bad recently I was thinking about how the experience makes you feel towards the company. As I sit here, I am (yet again) waiting for British Gas to turn up. The thought process started when our hot water tank deposited its contents through the floor and the light fitting below. As a British Gas Home Care customer, we thought we had 24/7 cover as per their advert. To start with they did not have a phone number and all communication was online with a robot, an engineer was booked for 12 – 18:00 that day. An engineer eventually turned up at 23:30. We had found a phone number and again it was only communicating with an automated system where you could change or…

Yesterday (thurs 29th April) was my first day as a volunteer with Experience Community who offer many exciting outdoor adventures for people with disabilities. On a Thursday they run an adaptive cycling session at Leeds Urban Bike Park. They have a fleet of many and varied adaptive cycles for exploring the woods at Middleton on the tarmacked and unsurfaced trails. I accompanied two ladies using electric assist Mountain Trikes and had a lovely walk through the woods and enjoyed the sight and smell of the bluebells as they carpeted the woodland. Later in the afternoon I accompanied a gentleman on his hand cycle, unfortunately we got caught in a hail storm but had been out for around an hour prior to that exploring new paths and enjoying the dappled sunlight…

Positive Points: COVID Keepers Channel 4’s The Last Leg coined the phrase COVID Keepers to describe habits started during the pandemic that have become very beneficial to us. COVID Keepers are those habits that we started over the course of the pandemic and would like to continue after life returns to ‘normal’. After I heard the phrase, I decided to give it some thought: what have I started doing over the past 12 months that have served me well and that I would like to continue doing? And these are my COVID Keepers:   Yoga I have started doing more yoga, especially before breakfast. It seems to really wake my body and mind and set me up for the day. I feel more productive and focused while feeling less stressed.…

I realise that this is being published right at the end of LGBTQIA+ history month but this is a personal perspective. Firstly the acronym; L= Lesbian G= Gay T= Transgender Q=Queer I=Intersex A= Asexual or All += other identities and preferences. As someone who grew up feeling as comfortable as one can in their own identity and gender I have always wanted to understand and learn from people whose experience is different from mine. People who identify as a different gender from what they were assigned at birth, people who feel they don’t conform to what is perceived as ‘normal’ or ‘conventional’ in terms of sexuality. I had a great opportunity recently when a good friend of mine who I have always know as a lesbian or gay woman asked…

As I am still doing the locum job in the NHS; see blog from 30th Oct 2020; (https://www.positivepositioning.co.uk/blog/positive-points-locum-work) I received an email saying I was eligible to book a vaccination appointment at the new mass vaccination centre in Leeds at Elland Road. I jumped at the chance and immediately followed the link to the booking website. The process was simple, just complete the online form including personal details NHS number and book a time slot. 08:55 weds 27th Jan was my chosen time and I drove to Elland Road. I had to remember my staff ID, have the email confirmation ready to show people and of course wear my face mask. There were many signs for the parking and many marshals in day glow orange smiling and directing people to…