Discussing Disability Access on BBC Radio Scotland

Well, what an exciting start to the week! Throughout my time blogging I've highlighted numerous issues with disability access particularly at gigs and live events. My recent article was a rant in frustration about the lift at the O2 ABC in Glasgow being broken meaning that disabled customers cannot attend events within the venue. I decided to contact BBC Radio Scotland about these issues as I was extremely fed up as nothing ever seemed to change or improve.

The BBC Radio Scotland team were kind enough to invite me to visit the studios for an interview on The Kaye Adams Programme to discuss these issues. This for me was a great opportunity to highlight  a subject which I've tirelessly discussed here on my blog and feel passionate about.

On arrival at the BBC Studios, I was taken aback about just how big the building was! Woah! Imagine working in a place like that!? A dream job in my opinion! The Christmas tree had just arrived in the building and was due to go up. My goodness did it look big!

We received our passes from the main reception desk and hung around for a few minutes in the lobby area. After a short while we were escorted upstairs with two other ladies who'd also been invited to discuss various topics on Kaye's show. I was taken aback with just how big the BBC building was; the floors just seemed to keep going! I couldn't help but wonder what wonders lay upon each floor of such an magnificent building!

My visitor's pass

We were ushered through numerous doors, through offices space filled with hundreds of desks of people typing aways and answering telephones. For me, it was interesting to get a small a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes. I mean this is a dream place to work after all! I'd love to be a BBC radio DJ! How cool would that be!?

We were soon taken into what could only be described as a hallway with some seats and what I think was another office space at the opposite end. The hallway was lit by daylight singing through the large glass windows looking out onto the river Clyde. Directly across the river was one of my favourite places in Glasgow; the SSE Hydro. Some of my best memories live inside of that building!

In front of us in the hallway were the radio studios which had two glass windows; on looked into another small hallway leading to the studio and the other; directly inside the studio. Above the grey door was the 'On Air' sign something that in my opinion makes every radio studio all the more exciting!

The first of the ladies was called in for her chat with Kaye about vegan food as we all waited outside. Before long I too was invited into the studio-exciting! I sat down in front of the mic as Kaye was talking with someone via the phone line live on air. It's kind of strange sitting in front of someone you're used to watching on TV. I remember being in Primary school and sometimes being off school ill and often Loose Women being on TV so you can understand why! 

The view from the studio windows

Kaye started with an introduction about what I was there to talk about and just like that; the interview began. Did I feel nervous? Surprisingly not! I got straight into it and hopefully managed to answer questions with confidence and as much information as possible. I finally had the opportunity to talk about a subject that I feel strongly about and want to help change things so really there was nothing to worry about. I know my subject inside out and was there to give my experiences. 

And just like that it was over and I went back outside to wait as I'd been ask to stay on and take part in the call-in at the end of the show. As we waited I was introduced to a lady from Disability Agenda Scotland who'd also be asked to come and discuss the subject. Towards the show we were invited back into the studio and the discussion began. Unfortunately, time was running short so the discussion was brief but worthwhile. 

No sooner than a flash of light, it was over and I'd made my first radio appearance on the other side of the mic and I'm here to tell the tale! I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience so much! It was such a great experience and I would love to do something like that again, strangely there's such a buzz about doing these sort of things! 

A huge thank-you to Kaye and BBC Radio Scotland for having me on the show and allowing me this wonderful opportunity to discuss this subject on such a vast platform. Every piece of media attention makes such a difference!

If you'd like to listen to the interview be sure to click here. My interview with Kaye is around the 1 hour, 50 minutes mark. I'd really appreciate if you could also spare an extra minute to give it a share and help get the word out in the open!

Until next time,

The Hat Hippie xx

Song Of The Month November 2016

So I haven't managed to post a song of the month for the past couple of months (shame on me!) so it's about time I get round to eh?! Well, it's the end of November and December is just around the corner-can you actually believe it!?

Yesterday, marked 15 years since a certain gentleman belonging to a band whom I adore so much sadly passed. I was just a small child at the time and have no recollection of the day however I grew up to learn about this legend and his music as a member of two different bands and also a solo artist became an important of my life. It's sad to think that I'll never have the chance to see him perform live.

So that brings us to the Song of The Month: November 2016. 'What is it'? 'Who is it'? might you ask. Well, it's a true pleasure to tell you that the latest song of the month is (drum roll).................

'Here Comes The Moon' by George Harrison

You may not have heard this track before by former member of The Beatles and The Travelling Wilbury's. Considering George's musical catalogue across the years I had an endless choice of songs to choose from to share with you guys. But I decided to choose this more unusual track. Why?

I came across this track some time ago after discovering that George wrote this song with alongside the incredible Stevie Nicks. I suppose you could say it's a sequel to the Beatles track 'Here Comes The Sun' and refers to Stevie's love of the moon. It's a beautiful acoustic number that has both George and Stevie's names written all over it. 

So if you haven't heard this stunning piece of music make sure to click onto the YouTube video linked above and if you have why not have a listen once again and be sure to let me know what you think of it! 

Anyway sit back, relax and enjoy and I'll speak to you all next month. I can't quite believe it'll be the end of the year-what a scary thought! 

Have a good few weeks everyone!

Being Discriminated Against Once Again!!!

Guess what?! I can't go to another gig because I'm disabled and use a wheelchair!

Recently, my younger sister and her friend wished to attend two different concerts at the O2 ABC in Glasgow. Due to events having specific age limits both girls were deemed as too young to attend unless accompanied by someone over the age of 18. I'm 18 now which means by rights I can take on the big sister role and attend gigs such as these ones with my younger sister. Sadly, this would be the case if I were abled-bodied and didn't use a wheelchair.

On hearing of the gigs I visited the O2 ABC's website to gather the necessary information regarding purchasing wheelchair access tickets for the events. Most venues have specific policies for people like me who have specific access needs regarding ticket purchases and I completely support the policies considering previous experiences with other venues who openly sold disabled access tickets online to everybody and anybody that could find them. As I scrolled through the website I came across a statement that stated the following message 'We're sorry to inform you that our lift is temporarily out of order. Operating over four floors, our custom-built lift currently has a mechanical fault at ground level and requires a full replacement'. The statement also asked that any customers with access requirements please contact them in advance prior to purchasing tickets. So I did and asked them if it would be likely that the lift would be back in full working order by February (the date of the first gig that I wish to attend). I later received a response stating 'unfortunately we have no definitive date on when the new lift will be made & installed. All I could say for now is buy a standard tickets for the event and if the lift is still broken you would be issued with a full refund.' I can't say I was particularly chuffed to hear that the venue did not know whether their lift would be back in working order three months later! Surely you'd have a rough idea.

I was later made aware that the lift by other wheelchair users that the lift has in fact been out order since July at least! That''s four, almost five months it's been out of order and they still can't guarantee that it'll be fixed by February (7 months later!). Yes, I could easily go purchase a ticket on the off chance that they might get their act together and have the lift up and running but may I also add that I wanted to attend the event as a guardian for my sister and her friend so why would I let them get their hopes up and have to disappoint them on the day of the show and tell them they can't go because I can't physically get inside the building!? People often forget that people like me not always attend an event for themselves we might go because a loved one wishes to attend, we are normal people after all!

I've ranted on a number of occasions in past and this for me is the final straw! I am seriously fed up of just having to accept the fact that I can't do something because my legs don't work properly. In the past 12 months I've had issues with at least six different venues in Glasgow alone due to my disability  and it's disgusting in this day in age. I've been researching a number of people whom I can contact that may be able to help me in anyway that they possibly can and am pleased to say I've had a positive response to my first email (more details to follow I hope!). However, during my research I came across an old article which you can check out by clicking here from last year about a gig held in the O2 Academy specifically for people with disabilities and it was in support of the making a change regarding the very issues I've faced. Notice, that it was held in the O2 Academy? Yes, a sister venue of the O2 ABC; the venue that don't know when their lift will be fixed meaning that disabled customers haven't and will continue to be unable to access events within the building! Can you actually believe that?!  

Anyway, I must thank you for taking the time to read yet another article filled with frustration. I seriously feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall-when will the message get through to people?! I really appreciate your support and would be ever so grateful if you could once again give this article a share and please get in contact with me (details in the contact page above) if you can help in any shape or form or know someone who will. In the meantime I'll be sure to keep you all posted with everything that happens!

The Hat Hippie Turns 2!

Wow! I can't quite believe it! My blog turns two years old today! Two years ago today I clicked publish on my first ever post! The time has flown by and in that time so much has happened!

I just wanted to take the time to write a short post to thank you all for following me on my blogging journey over the past two years and showing me as much love and support as you have. It honestly does mean the absolute world to me to log into my blog and receive such lovely comments and messages from you my wonderful readers!

It's amazing to look at my blog stats and see just how many views my blog has received and see just how vast the audience is. I've had views from all around the world which is crazy to me. It's so cool and very exciting to know that there's actually people in other countries sitting down at their computer or on their phones reading the words that i have written. That's the power of the internet for you!

Throughout the time I've been blogging I've met and spoken to so many wonderful people and done some pretty awesome things! Not many 18 year olds can say that they've had the opportunities that I've been fortunate enough to have had. I'll never take them for granted either, I'm one lucky girl to have done what I've done. Yeah, perhaps I have my struggles with health and pain but without those struggles I wouldn't have the enthusiasm nor the confidence to go out there and achieve my dreams. Instead I'd still be sitting in a boring classroom bombarded with constant tests and pressure as I've noticed with many others of my age and younger. Although I'm still in education, I don't have to face that each and every day. I don't have to be pushed into the box of if you don't get an A and strive to go to university, you're a failure. I'd hate that and I hate seeing that being pushed upon many other young people at the present day. In fact I'd happily tell any teacher that because I for once have proof thanks to my own circumstances that there are other options and many paths to get to the final destination. 

So I want to say a huge thank-you to you all for continuing to read each of my blog posts, sharing them and of course you constant support and enthusiasm. To reach the two year milestone in my blog is simply wonderful and I'm proud of such achievements. I look forward to continuing with my journey and to see what adventures are still to come. So until next year; my third year in the world of blogging I wish you all the best and sincerely hope you'll continue to enjoy reading what I share with the world! 

Thank-you so much and a huge Happy Birthday to The Hat Hippie!!!

Love & Peace to each and every one of you! xxx

Deacon Blue Live at HMV!

If like me, you're an avid radio listener particularly of BCC Radio 2 you'll be more than aware that Deacon Blue have just realised a brand new album titled 'Believers'. Tracks from the new album have received airtime across the station as well as appearance from the band-their performance of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show was fab might I add!

They're heading out on tour next month in support of the albums and I was gutted that I was unable to get tickets-the cons of needing accessible seating eh? But we'll not go there today. However, I did manage to get one better and thanks to HMV I had the chance to see them perform live in the Argyle Street store in Glasgow as well as meet them afterwards at the CD signing. You might remember me mentioning that I'd spotted Ricky and Lorraine at Bruce Springsteen's gig back in June whilst in The E Street Lounge but it wasn't the time or place to go say hello as like me, they were there to enjoy the gig. They weren't there as Deacon Blue and I respect that. So I was rather chuffed to actually have the opportunity to attend this event.

Firstly, I want to give a big thumbs up to HMV! The staff couldn't have been more helpful and thorough regarding the wheelchair access and as result everything went so smoothly. This is a very rare occurrence at these sort of events unfortunately. However, they made sure we were escorted to the basement floor where the gig took place before the rest of the public and were able to watch the gig right up close to the stage, with no one in front of us; just the stage!

There was only one other lady in a wheelchair who I enjoyed chatting to as we waited. It's become a bit of a habit for me to find someone to blether to at gigs-it happens every time without fail now! I never used to be as sociable haha! But I do love meeting other people at events who share the same interests as me.

We didn't have a very long wait as the band were soon escorted through from the mysterious world behind some random door in the shop and got into place and immediately started to perform. Now, this was my first time hearing them perform live however my Mum, who'd seen them on a number of other occasions said that they sounded just as amazing as they did back in the day; if not even better. So there you go folks! To me, their sound was so strong and pure! I only have the records to go by but in my opinion, singing live, they still that crystal clear sound. Perfection!

It was an acoustic gig-my favourite type of gigs! They performed a set list consisting of songs, old and new. Most of the songs performed were from their newly released album which by the way is amazing! If you loved the classic 'Deacon Blue' sound, then you're bound to love their latest addition to the music world! But like I said, they performed a couple of the much loved classics such as 'Dignity' and 'Real Gone Kid' with an acoustic arrangement which I for one completely fell in love with! There are without a doubt stunning musical compositions!

Afterwards the band were escorted to the table for the signing to take place. Everyone began to queue up to have their copies of 'Believers' signed and myself and the lady who I'd been chatting to were taken by HMV staff to the front of the queue which was really good of them to do so. From experience, queues in a wheelchair are not a pleasant experience so it's greatly appreciated when staff at these sort of events go the extra mile!

It was so lovely to chat with the band as they signed my copy of the album for me, they all were extremely friendly and genuinely interested in everything that their fans had to say. I love having the chance to speak with musicians who I admire as I find them so interesting and am extremely fascinated with their craft. Definitely a highlight of 2016 for me!

If you haven't heard Deacon Blue's new album, be sure to pay a visit to your local music store to purchase a copy! If you already have a copy, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what your favourite track is from the album!

Celebrating My 18th Birthday!

Thursday the 15th September 2016, I turned 18 years old! Isn't that a scary thought!? It's probably even more frightening for everyone that's known me since I was born all those years ago. I always have the pleasure of being able to say I was born in the 90s! For some reason, I find that pretty cool haha! Anyway better late than never; here's my well overdue account of my 18th Birthday!

I woke up that morning to my family submerging me in balloons with '18' written on them and streamers. I can't say that this was the most pleasant way to wake up particularly when your not a morning person-I could easily have slept for a few more hours had you let me awake with it! But Hey-Ho! My family had other ideas.

Mum had prepared a lovely birthday breakfast for me (Thanks Mum!), she's a fab cook by the way! And my Dad took it upon himself to play Stevie Wonders 'Happy Birthday' alongside 'Lisa It's Your Birthday' from the Simpsons. A quick fun fact for you all; Michael Jackson actually wrote it. Every time I hear that song I like to bring that random fact into the accompanying conversation to which my Sister rolls her eyes and says 'you told me that a million times
before'.

Following breakfast I was allowed to open my prezzies which were positioned on the living room sofa waiting to see the light of day. It became quite a joke about my birthday as my Mum spent the weeks prior constantly asking me what I'd like and she'd receive one of the following answers; 'I don't know', 'I'm not sure' or 'I'll think about it'-useful or what? I mean she was still asking me like two days before the day itself and to be honest I didn't really have anything in mind. I think from experience I've realised that I really don't care too much about possessions. For me, the best things in life are being happy and the memories/experiences-not trying to sound soppy or anything but it's true!

My lovely prezzies-thanks everyone!

Eventually, I did decided on some money to help me towards buying a MacBook which I've been saving long and hard for me. Everyone I've ever spoken to says it's an investment and I feel that I want a laptop that's reliable particularly when I use it for the various things such as my Blog, YouTube channel as well as various other things I'm involved in.

My parents did however, surprise me with some smaller bits and bobs including my favourite Yankee candle 'Witches Brew' (a patchouli scented candle that they bring out for Halloween every year), a gorgeous handmade bead from Soul Silver on Etsy, I'd been eyeing up her beads for years but never got round to buying one so it was a lovely 18th birthday gift. I also received the miniature Zoella perfume set from her new Christmas range as well as few other lovely gifts. My sister Laurel bought me a gorgeous silver necklace with a dream catcher pendant and my Grandparents, Aunt and Uncles all gave me some money which I'm also going to use towards the MacBook. I could easily go on forever but I also want to say a huge thank-you to Heather, Susan, my tutors Julianne and Martin, my Aunt Irene and Kaitlin, Donna, Jean and my Grans neighbours; Margaret, Jim, Gillian, Callum and Kieran for all the lovely presents!

Afterwards I began getting organised for the day ahead when I noticed Mum doing a mad rush around the house; hoovering and making sure that everything was generally tidy. This led me to become rather suspicious, I just knew something wasn't quite right.

As I was sitting in my room applying some makeup, Mum appeared to tell me that there was a visitor here to see me. Confused, I followed her to the door just as my old tutor Winnie was arriving! It was such a lovely surprise to see her and I completely didn't expect it! Winnie tutored me for a while during the early days of secondary school before she moved away however she pops in when she's in the area for a coffee and had contacted my Mum to ask if she could come surprise me on my birthday and my goodness she certainly did!

Following this we headed out to pick up the Birthday cake my Mum's friend had made for me. She created me the most amazing Beatles inspired cake complete with the famous Abbey Road crossing and a yellow submarine! It was so colourful and quirky and just right up my street-I was so delighted with it! The pictures that I've attached don't do it the justice it deserves but take my word for it, it was absolutely incredible! And tasted even better! So Suzanne, Thank-you so much! I loved it!

We pretty much spent the entire journey home holding our breath in hope that we wouldn't hit any major bumps in the road in fear of the cake being damaged. Fortunately we made it home with the cake intact-phew! Mum nipped into the house with it whilst Laurel and I waited in the car before heading out to get a late lunch.

Beatles birthday cake!!!

We decided to try 'Costley's' in Prestwick town as we'd only ever visited the ice shop and had heard the cafe/restaurant next door was equally just as nice. I've recently taken a bit of a notion for egg mayonnaise sandwiches for whatever reason so that's what I decided to order and it was absolutely delicious! At this very second, I cannot remember what Mum and Laurel ordered but they both said theirs was equally as good! So if you're ever in the town of Prestwick be sure to pop into 'Costley's' for a spot of lunch or perhaps even one of their scrumptious cakes-mmmm!

Back home we began to get organised because as soon as Dad got home from work were going to head out to the cinema. Why might you ask? Well, as you all know I'm a bit of a Beatles geek and the new Beatles film titled 'Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years' was due to be released exclusively for one evening only in the UK on my Birthday so of course I wasn't going to miss out?! In fact, I couldn't think of a better way to spend my Birthday!

The film included the red carpet footage live from Leicester Square in London which reminded me of the antics of the evening we went to see The Rolling Stones 'Crossfire Hurricane' premiere back in 2012-that however is a story for a later date! I love how much technology has moved on even since 2012 when I'd never heard of a cinema showing a live streaming of an event such as this whereas in the past year I've seen a Take That concert streamed live in the cinema and now watched the premiere of a Beatles filmed live-it's so weird when you think about it! Anyway, the premiere saw a whole host of well known names arrive including Madonna, Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, Liam Gallagher and Sir Bob Geldof. However, the highlight is undoubtably the arrival of Sir Paul McCartney and Mr Ringo Starr!

This was of course followed by the main attraction; the film itself and at the very end the moviegoers were treated to around 30 minutes of unseen Shea Stadium concert footage of The Beatles back in the 60s. I must say I was slightly taken aback by many of the other people in the cinema who I'm afraid to say can only be described as a bunch of bores-no offence! Some left before the concert footage even began, some talked through it and others sat in silence as if it was a serious matter. Not I! Don't play Beatles gig footage and expect me to sit without the song lyrics to escape my lips as well as the odd cheer and clap! Needless to say my Sister shot me the odd death glare which of course was ignored. She hadn't seen anything yet; she never went to see Paul McCartney with me last year! I left with no voice, death ears but my philosophy was that 'I'd never seen any of these people again'. Haha! How wrong was I? As soon as we got back to the hotel and queued up for the lift, the two ladies in front of us turned out and started laughing as they'd been seated along from us at the gig and had enjoyed watching me throughout the show! I'll still never learn my lesson though!

Unattractive photo of me blowing out my Birthday cake!

Anyway, back home we lit my Birthday cake and enjoyed a slice each which was just amazing! Such a good cake-I'm hungry just thinking about it!

The following day we went out for a family dinner to my favourite restaurant which of course was great! My family even surprised me with two large 18th Balloons on the table. So that was good!

Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit so I better bring this post to a close. I just want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who took the time to send me a birthday message-I received so many and really enjoyed reading them all! Also a huge thank-you to everyone for the lovely presents and cards, it really does mean a lot! I had a lovely 18th birthday and can't quite get over the fact I'm already that age. It's the start of a new chapter which I hope will be a continuation of all the mad things I've got up to over the years! Who knows what it might bring?

Love & Peace,

The Hat Hippie xx

Introducing Beccs: Debut EP 'Unfound Beauty'

Photo Credit: Jena Cumbo

I was recently contacted and asked if I'd be interested in writing about an EP due to be released by a new up and coming artist known as Beccs. As you all know I'm currently putting a major emphasis on supporting the music industry and introducing you to new artists so when I received this email, of course I had to say 'yes!' I must add that I'm still learning a lot about reviewing however I'm just going to go purely by my own opinion and hope for the best!

Before I go any further I must say that Beccs' debut EP 'Unfound Beauty' is a force to be reckoned with and Beccs is certainly an artist to keep a close eye on. I know for a fact that she's going to go far! Her debut EP which was released just days ago on the 21st September comes after the success of the release of 'Therapy' accompanied by her first ever music video which I'll embed below for you to check out as well as 'Scared Of Me' the award winning debut single.

Beccs is an artist currently based in Brooklyn (originating from Boston) with an incredibly powerful voice. Various articles have compared her to the likes of legendary British artist Amy Winehouse as well as Fiona Apple and after listening to the EP myself, I completely agree! Adding to the list, her voice and musical style also reminds me of singers such as Adele and even Paloma Faith; unique and extremely powerful!

'Unfound Beauty' kicks off with the EP's second single 'Therapy' which explores the challenges of living with an eating disorder. A haunting yet entrancing opening number which instantly grabbed my attention. During 'Therapy' the listener instantly becomes aware of a powerful voice; the voice of a woman with a story to tell. Therapy's accompanying music video was released just a few weeks ago and illustrates the darkness of the haunting tale before our very eyes. If you enjoyed Sia's music videos then, you're bound to love this! 

'Therapy' is immediately followed by the already successful 'Scared Of Me' which was released as Beccs' debut single and ultimately the world's first peek at the future EP release. At this early stage of listening to the EP, I am already won over by Beccs' distinctive voice and the stunning musical arrangements which accompany it. From the beginning of the track I can't help but notice the pungent bass hook which appears periodically throughout the track creating an atmospheric ambience.

This is followed by 'Waiting' a beautiful piano ballad with a slight eeriness. I love the simplicity of the track which allows the natural beauty of Beccs' voice to shine through. 'Waiting' could easily appear in the soundtrack to one of the Chronicles of Narnia films sharing a similar vibe to the numerous tracks featured within the film trilogy had they been made in the present day.

Next is a song titled 'It's For You', a very powerful and dramatic piano based track. I can't help love this song; it's quirky and unique-everything that I'm attracted to in music! There's a certain theatrical element within the music that somehow makes me think of the classic Lewis Carrol tale of 'Alice In Wonderland'. Be sure to pay attention to the final few moments of the track where Beccs' brings the song to a spectacular finish with a breath-taking high note.

Photo Credit: Tira Khan

And last but certainly not least is the EP's title track 'Unfound Beauty' which can only be described as an absolutely stunning piece of art. An acoustic guitar based number with a slight Spanish influence; Beccs' voice is pure and calming and will instantly have you fixated in a deep trance. There are moments within the song that remind me of Amy Winehouse numbers such as 'Valerie' and 'Half Time' which I'm personally a huge fan of so inevitably I fell absolutely head over heels for this song. I could easily lie down and close my eyes with a big smile upon my face as thinking about the beauty of warm Summer days as I listen. What a tranquil thought! But sadly all the good things must come to an end as did this track and ultimately the EP.

As I reach the end of 'Unfound Beauty' what are my thoughts? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the EP and am extremely excited to hear all of Beccs' future releases and see where the music takes her. I can honestly say that there isn't a single track in the EP that I don't love! Beccs' has the most wonderful and enchanting voice and unfortunately talent like hers is a rare occurrence in the music today. But when a rare gem does show up in artists such as Beccs, we should hold on to it and support their music in every way possible. So on that note, I urge you to take a few minutes out of your day to purchase a copy of 'Unfound Beauty' and support a career which is bound to go far!

To find out more about Beccs and keep up to date with all of her news and future music, click on one of the links below:

Website: www.beccsmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beccsmusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/beccsmusic
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/beccsmusic
Bandcamp: www.beccsmusic.bandcamp.com

Chronic Pain Awareness

Hi Guys!

Wow! I can't quite believe this is my 100th post; a very short one at that but I just wanted to stop by to share this video. I'm so sorry for being so quiet of late, my pain has been playing up big time. As a result I haven't been feeling very inspired to blog. I will however, hopefully have some new posts coming up in the not so distant future so please bear with me.
In the meantime I want to share with you all my most recent YouTube video where I talk about what it's like to live with Chronic Pain. My aim is to raise as much awareness as possible so I'd be extremely grateful if you could help me out and give this video a share and ask others to do the same. The more people that see it, the more chance there is that it'll reach someone out there in a similar situation.

Anyway, on that note I shall love you and leave you to watch the video. If you have any questions please feel free to get in contact.

Thank-you all so much for your love and support!

Love & Peace,

The Hat Hippie xx

Discrimantion Against Disabeld People at Gigs & Live Events

It's been a while since I've discussed disabled access related issues here on my blog however I feel the need to write a little more on this subject today. You all know I enjoy the odd live event and love a good old concert. However, in relation to one of my favourite pastimes I've unfortunately had many troublesome experiences due to my disability. I've written about it before so you all know how it goes but sadly these issues continually arise and it's frustrating to say the least.

Last year, I faced a couple of issues when purchasing tickets for gigs due to the disabled access requirements. Somehow, I eventually managed to resolve them which was great. Later in the year, just like any normal big Sister, I wanted to take my younger Sister to see two of her favourite YouTubers at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of their live tour. Needless to say things didn't go smoothly. We attended both live shows in Glasgow and on both days experienced disabled access issues. And to be quite honest with you, the venue staff took full advantage of the fact that we were both young and there without a parent. Sitting in the disabled area, we could only see half of the stage due to staging; had I been able-bodied and able to sit in a normal seat, I would of had a great view. But yet again disabled people are treated differently!

On the second evening, the venue overbooked the disabled area and sold tickets to able-bodied people who helped themselves to the companion's seat and moved them into the disabled bay meaning that wheelchairs were not able to sit in the designated area. This also meant that there was no seat for my Sister so we spoke to the steward about this issues and let's face it; they really couldn't care less. The stewards reaction was 'well I'll have to wait until the show begins to see if there any spare seats to move those people but if not you'll just have to stand'. My Sister and I had noticed rows of chairs outside in the lobby and asked if my Sister could have one to sit in the carer's row behind the wheelchairs and again, was met by a hostile answer of 'no' and that she'd just have to stand. Eventually, the show began and the steward decided she'd move the other people to another seat.

Most venue's policies are that you must call the box office to book accessible tickets however disabled tickets at the concert hall can be booked online without any identification requirement. So basically, just as we discovered anybody can purchase these tickets making it all the more difficult for people like me to get them in the first place. I mean, eight disabled spaces for an entire venue isn't exactly very generous is it? We later contacted the venue about these issues alongside a few others and were met by an unsatisfactory response. Almost an entire year later, nothing has changed and disabled tickets are still available online.

Since then there has been various events at the same venue which I was keen to attend and soon discovered that they were selling disabled tickets at the same price patrons would pay for seats in the stalls. Yet, the accessible seats are on the second level with a limited view and other patrons sitting on the same level are paying a lot less-there's something very wrong there!

Moving on to a new angle, there has been two events this year in Glasgow that I've thought about attending and after researching the venues, discovered that they're not accessible. This is against the law might I add! One of the venues in question has a restaurant/bar which has a lift for wheelchair users however the gig venue itself can only be accessed via a flight of steps. The venue are however more than happy for people with mobility issues to attempt their own methods of accessing the venue. That in my opinion is a big no, no due to the safety of people like myself.

The other event I was keen to attend was an artist from a VERY famous rock band whom I am a very big fan of. I am desperate to see a member of one of the bands that I love so much live however I began looking into the venue access and guess what?! There's a huge flight of steps! Again, they get round this by saying that wheelchair users can be lifted in their chair up the flight of stairs which A) isn't particularly safe and B) isn't particularly discrete either. But again, that's just my opinion.

I decided to write a follow up on this subject after reading a post by someone in a similar situation on a Facebook group for an artist whom I'm a huge fan of. The gentleman who wrote the status recently tried to purchase VIP tickets for a gig in the US; the VIP seats were situated in the first few rows yet he was told that people with disabilities can only be seated in the designated accessible area on the second tier! Disgustingly, someone had the audacity to reply with the response 'you should be thankful you can even afford tickets'. That's all very well but why should someone just sit back and say nothing?! It's makes me angry that people who have disabilities are not allowed to experience what able-bodied people take for granted. Surely, it's possible to create a VIP seating area for people with mobility issues near the stage? Surely, it should be standard procedure in this day and age?

Sadly, due to health we can't be spontaneous, we have to plan every detail and sometimes have to accept second best. I've said this before and I'll say it again but no one knows what the future holds and any one of you could be in this situation one day and have to put up with crap when ideally these events and experiences should be pleasurable and stress-free. For a while last year there seemed to be a push for disabled people at concerts and live events however, things seemed to have settles once again and have been forgotten about. It should be standard practice and people with disabilities should be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve just like every other person and until that day comes I will not rest!

Liverpool Adventures July 2016: Heading Out On A Fab Four Taxi Tour Part 2

So during the first part of my 'Fab Tour Taxi Tour' post I reminisced about my trip to Liverpool visiting Dingle, where Ringo Starr was born and grew up, Penny Lane, John Lennon's house from birth until he was five and the house where George Harrison celebrated his 21st Birthday. Ian, our driver stopped at a little café in Woolton which I believe is called 'Let's Eat' to get a quick refreshment and use the bathroom. It was great to have a short break and get a nice, cold drink! The staff in the café were really friendly and were interested to hear about our trip.

St Peter's Church

After our quick pit stop, we took a very short drive to St Peter's Church which is by far my very favourite location of the entire tour. The first time we visited, I fell completely in love with the village of Woolton, there's such a homely feel there! And not so coincidentally, I asked Mum if we could take the tour on the 6th July due to the significant event that took place on that date at St Peter's back in 1957. This was the 49th anniversary of the day that John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the very first time at the church's Summer fete. Being such a huge Beatles fan I wanted to visit the location that started it all on the anniversary of the day it took place.

The church yard

In the church yard we saw Eleanor Rigby's gravestone which allegedly inspired Paul McCartney to write the song however Paul has always denied this for understandable reasons. All of the facts surrounding the song do however add up to this particular gravestone being the source of inspiration considering that John and Paul used to hang around the graveyard as teens. There is also another grave stone with the name 'McKenzie' engraved on it which relates to the 'Father McKenzie' in the lyrics of the famous song.
Also, inside the church yard is the grave of John Lennon's Uncle George the husband of Aunt Mimi. Just beyond the church yard is what used to be a field where the Summer fete took place back in 1957 where Paul McCartney first noticed John Lennon performing with The Quarrymen. We were able to venture as far as the end of the church yard (pictured above) which was once apart of that very field. The remainder of the field has now been replaced with a school playground hence why there's no further pictures.

The church hall where John Lennon & Paul McCartney met

Standing outside the church hall pointing to plaque commemorating the historical meeting

Across the road is the church hall where John Lennon was waiting to perform later that day with The Quarrymen when Ivan Vaughn (a mutual friend of both Beatles) introduced him to Paul McCartney and the rest was history! Funnily enough this was where the stage I spoke about in a previous post was once situated-it's kinda surreal to say I've touched it (such a geek I know!). If you'd like to read more about it and see the pictures be sure to click here. When we visited last year, the hall was actually open due to something taking place inside which meant we could pop in for a look round. Unfortunately, it wasn't open on this occasion but it was still great to see the hall from the outside.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Next, we visited one of my Mum's favourite locations 'Strawberry Fields' which inspired the famous song by John Lennon. There's something so peaceful about Strawberry Fields and actually reminds me of an area in Alloway, the village where Robert Burns was born back home in Scotland. Strawberry Fields today, is pretty much an area of overgrown greenery and trees with a large red gate covered in Beatles fans' graffiti. However quite the contrary to its appearance today, it was once a Salvation Army home many moons ago. John Lennon as child was fascinated by the home and enjoyed sneaking in to play with the children and was often caught in the process I believe. Strangely enough, when you compare photographs of the Salvation Army home and the Dakota Building where John lived years later; the resemblance between both buildings is strikingly similar.

Recreating a photo of John Lennon outside Aunt Mimi's

After this we paid a visit to Mendips, John Lennon's Aunt Mimi's house in Woolton, just a short distance from Strawberry Fields. Today, it is owned by The National Trust and has been restored to look just as it did when John lived there. Fans can take a tour with the National Trust to see inside both John and Paul's former homes; something on my to-do list. When you hear John's childhood story particularly standing in front of his home where it all unfolded, it suddenly seems all the more real and extremely heart-breaking. He really didn't have an easy life!

It was John's mother Julia who tragically died in this very street after being hit by car when John was just 14 years old, that encouraged his love of rock n' roll music. She taught him how to play banjo and bought John first guitar although his Aunt Mimi, his official guardian didn't approve of music, telling him 'the guitar's all very well, John, but you'll never make a living out of it'. As a youth, the only place he was actually allowed to practice guitar was in the front porch pictured below.

The porch where John Lennon practiced guitar

The house where John Lennon's mother lived until she sadly passed away

Leaving Mendips, Ian, our driver decided to take a detour to show us the house where Julia Lennon and her second husband whom she had two daughters with once lived. It was here where John was on the day his mother tragically died and where the devastating news was broken to him. For years John didn't know where Julia lived and as a child was told he couldn't visit her because she lived far away. He apparently presumed that his mother lived in Scotland because whenever he visited his relatives in Scotland his Mum was always there. It's tragic to think he believed that his Mum lived so far away yet as I saw for myself, in reality she lived just minutes away.

Next, we visited the home of my favourite Beatle-take a wild guess who that is?! Yep, you guessed it's Sir Paul McCartney. Paul, lived with his mother, father and brother Mike in numerous houses over the years but 20 Forthlin Road was where he spent his years as a teen until The Beatles rose to fame in the 60s. Sadly, like John, Paul experienced the tragic loss of his mother at a young age when she sadly passed away from breast cancer which presumably was one of the reasons why both Beatles had such a strong bond.

Outside Paul McCartney's house

I love visiting 20 Forthlin Road being such a huge Macca fan. It pretty cool seeing where one my all-time favourite singers lived when he was the same age as me and hearing some of the fascinating stories about his life. Ian even showed us some photographs that I'd never seen before taken of The Beatles in the back garden by Mike McCartney (Paul's brother). There was also a photo from the 90s when Paul revisited the street; a few residents spotted him and came flooding out to greet him. How cool must that have been?!

LIPA

Following this, we headed further into the city following the same route Paul and George would take on the bus to get to school every morning. Both George and Paul attended 'The Liverpool Institute For Boys' and ironically directly next door was 'The Liverpool College of Art', the very art school that both John Lennon, his future wife Cynthia and Stuart Sutcliffe once attended. Both schools are now owned by Paul McCartney who after seeing his former school getting into a state of disrepair decided to purchase it and founded 'LIPA' (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts). In recent years, he also purchased John's old art school in order to expand LIPA and I believe the new expansion is due to open within the next few weeks. Outside both schools on Hope Street is a sculpture entitled 'A Case History' created by a gentleman named John King. Basically, it's a pile of suitcases and luggage, many of which are labelled with famous names related to Liverpool's history. It's actually a very inspiring piece of artwork in a very fitting location.

'A Case History'

A closer look

Moving on, Ian pointed out 'The Honeymoon Suite' as it's often referred to which was basically an apartment owned by Brian Epstein (The Beatles' manager) where Cynthia Lennon stayed on the evening of her wedding to John, ALONE. The wedding had to be low-key because of the image the band had to keep up and obviously one of the members being married wasn't the image that would sell their music. Following the wedding Brian whisked the boys away on business and gave Cynthia the keys to his apartment where she stayed for a numbers of months by herself whilst the band were on tour. No one can be certain that this is definitely the correct building as no official documents seem to exist, the only indication that this is in fact the correct building was in Cynthia's biography.

Brian Epstein's apartment where Cynthia stayed on the evening of her and John's wedding ALONE

The registry office where John and Cynthia got married

Just a short dive away we saw Mount Pleasant Registry Office where John and Cynthia married in 1962 with Brian Esptein as best man. Also in attendance was Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Cynthia's half brother accompanied by his wife. Ringo wasn't in attendance as he joined the band just days before and they wanted to keep the wedding a private affair (at that point Ringo in their eyes couldn't be trusted to keep the wedding a secret-poor Ringo!).

Sadly, this brought us to the end of tour and we said our goodbyes to Ian back at Albert Dock where he dropped us off. Yet again, we had a brilliant tour with The Fab Four Taxi Tours! It's the most amazing experience exploring Liverpool and seeing some of the sites that helped shaped one of the world's most legendary bands 'The Beatles'. If you want to find out more details about The Fab Four Taxi Tour click here! This is a MUST for any Beatles fan-I'd completely recommend taking this tour!

Song Of The Month August 2016

Well it's the final day of the month and I've only just managed to get round to writing a new post with August's Song of the Month. I'd been hoping to share some more unusual songs with you guys however I've not had a lot of time to brainstorm and do some looking into indie bands etc so it left me in a quandary about what exactly to pick. So just a short while ago, the idea came to me. So without further ado I'm pleased to announce that the 'Song of the Month' August 2016 is (drum roll).......

'Man In The Mirror' by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was probably one of the first artists I was ever majorly into, he was my favourite singer of all-time when I was younger and I listened to his music nonstop. Although, I perhaps don't listen to his just as much as I used, I'm still a huge fan and am greatly inspired by him and his music.

This month saw what would have been Michael's 58th Birthday so it only felt right to celebrate his Birthday here on my blog by picking one his songs as the Song of the Month. The question was 'what song?' Then it came to me! I heard 'Man In The Mirror' on the radio the other day and the message behind the song is so inspiring and the world would be a much better place if everyone took note of the lyrics and actually put them into action. It felt like forever since I'd last heard this song but I still remember the lyrics word for word.

So why not click on the embedded link to YouTube and spare a few minutes out of your day to listen to this masterpiece! Enjoy everyone!

Until next month!

Love & Peace,

The Hat Hippie xx

The Final First Day

Schools back and tutoring begins for me once again. I can't believe the Summer holidays are behind us now, where on earth did the seven weeks go? It feels like just yesterday that I was counting down the days until the Summer holidays. BOOM! And they're gone!  

It's weird saying that this is my final first day of term. One day down how many more to go? I can't quite believe that I'm in sixth year; my final year of school! It feels just like yesterday that I waved goodbye to primary school and started secondary school exactly five years ago today. I spent three days in my new school before heading down to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for the knee op that changed my life. I was off school for months and finally returned for a period of a couple of months before I realising that I really couldn't cope with school. I was under a lot of medication and the more active I became the more my pain increased meaning that my doctors had to increase the medication dosages and I didn't particularly like the side effects but I'll leave that for a future post. With this in mind I made the decision to return to home tuition which I've been receiving ever since.

I can't say that home tuition has always been easy nor has my education/schooling in general. We've had a lot of tutors come and go over the years as unfortunately, not everyone quite understood what was wrong with me and in turn didn't understand that I couldn't cope some days. Eventually, we did find the right tutors for me and words cannot describe how much of an impact they've made in my life. I'm a completely different person since I first met them; they're always willing to adapt and make every task something that I CAN achieve! And as result look what I've achieved!? I actually passed my art and design qualification and things are looking hopeful to attempt some further qualifications this year. So without a doubt I'll miss my tutors next year when I leave school however I have a lot of plans and aspirations for the future and can't wait to take them forward!

I turn eighteen in less than a month and I feel like there's so much ahead of me in my next chapter. On reflection I can't quite believe what I've done with my life and I'm only seventeen so who knows what the future holds!

My ambitions for this coming school year are pretty high; there's ALOT of things I want to do and put into action and my intentions are to get the ball rolling. At the moment it looks like that my tutoring will consist of a four day which means I'll have an extra day to myself meaning that I can use the extra time wisely by working towards my goals. I want to make this final year of school/tutoring count so I've got a lot to do or at least make a start on. So be sure to keep up to date with my blog, YouTube and social media accounts to hear all of my latest news, updates and follow each step of the journey!

Let's see what I mad things I can cram into the agenda between now and the day I leave school next June! I'll never say never about anything anymore that's for sure!

Love & Peace,

The Hat Hippie xx

Liverpool Adventures July 2016: Heading Out On A Fab Four Taxi Tour Part 1

During our fourth and final day in Liverpool, Mum and I took the Fab Four Taxi Tour which as some of you may remember was on the agenda during our trip last year. As we had enjoyed it so much during our previous trip we decided to opt for a longer tour this time; the three hour 'Lennon' tour. We both had a brilliant day touring the sites in Liverpool that helped shape The Beatles and became the inspiration for some of their most famous songs. So sit back with a cup o' tea and relax whilst I take you on a magical mystery tour as I write about all of the places we visited during the Fab Four Taxi Tour.

Around half past ten we arrived at the designated pick up point 'The Pumphouse' at Albert Dock where we met our tour guide, a gentleman named Ian. Each driver's cab is named after a Beatles song, Ian's was called 'Dear Prudence'-such a cool idea!

Due to my health and mobility accessing taxis minus a ramp is near impossible nowadays however we noticed on the company's website that some of the cabs have a swivel chair which allows people with mobility issues access the taxi from street level without any difficulty. And what a difference this made for me and Ian couldn't have been more helpful assisting me.

The house where Ringo was born

The first stop in the tour was a part of Liverpool named Dingle where Ringo Starr (then known as Richard Starkey) group up. No.9 Madryn Street pictured above is the house that Ringo Starr was born and lived there until the age of 5. Further down the Madryn Street at No.59 was also the home of Ringo's Grandparents. Every house on the street as far as I can remember had a sheet of lyrics from some of Ringo's songs attached to the window which was a special touch. Sadly, the street is currently inhabited besides one house as the residents who live there refuse to leave and to be honest I don't really blame them. I believe there has been doubts regarding the street's future however during our visit repair work was in progress right before our very eyes which is a positive sign.

A pic of The Empress Pub featured on Ringo's album 'Sentimental Journal' taken from inside of the taxi

Around the corner was 'The Empress Pub' pictured on Ringo's first solo album 'Sentimental Journey' where his family and friends spent a lot of time socialising when he was a young boy. Ringo recorded 'Sentimental Journey' for his Mother which was filled with covers of Ringo's Mother's favourite songs-another little fact for you all!

Ringo's home in Admiral Grove

Recreating a famous photo of Ringo

Ringo and his Mother moved to No.9 Admiral Grove (pictured above), a street almost directly adjacent to Madryn Street. The house in Admiral Grove is currently empty as the elderly lady who once lived there sadly passed away last year. We were able to have a peek through the window to get a glimpse of the interior as the rooms, fittings etc haven't changed since Ringo lived there all those years ago. Also pictured above is me recreating a photograph of Ringo leaving Admiral Grove for a Beatles gig in Liverpool on the very spot he once stood in (such a geek I am!).

The park where Julia Stanley met Alfred Lennon

Following this we visited Sefton Park where John Lennon's Mum Julia Stanley met his Dad Alfred Lennon at the boating lake (pictured above). The same park I believe was named in a song called 'In Liverpool' released by Ringo years later. Directly across the road was what is now a hotel named Blenheim Lakeside Hotel which was once home to Stuart Sutcliffe, a former member and the original bassist of The Beatles who like me was Scottish and sadly passed away in 1962. Stuart alongside his family once lived in apartment 1B situated on the right of the hotels front door. As you can see in the image below there's a plaque commemorating him outside of the hotel.

The apartment where original member of The Beatles Stuart Sutcliffe lived

Mum & I at the Penny Lane street sign

Through the speaker system inside the taxi one of my all-time favourite Beatles songs 'Penny Lane' began to play as we began to drive down the very street itself. First, we stopped off at the Penny Lane street sign where a photo was of course in order. As you can see the sign has been painted on the wall in place of the original street sign which like many other famous landmarks in Liverpool has unfortunately been obstructed or stolen by Beatles fan. Further along the road there is however an actual sign where most other Beatles tours take visitors to the city however the one we're photographed beside was in fact where the original sign had once been situated. That in my opinion is much more authentic in comparison to the new sign.

The famous Penny Lane barber shop

Listening to thefamous song once again, we headed further along the road to see a number of the very locations named in the song before our very eyes. This includes 'the shelter in the middle of the roundabout' where John and Paul used to meet to catch the bus, the bank, 'the barbershop showing photographs' formerly known as 'Bioletti's Barber Shop', now named 'Tony Slavin' as well as the fire station. For me, this one of my favourite parts of the tour; there's such a buzz listening to the lyrics of the song and actually seeing the exact locations that Paul McCartney visited which inspired him to write a song about it. Ian also pointed out various Beatles related locations within the proximity that's connections are rarely highlighted-being such a huge fan I loved seeing these unknown places.

The bus shelter in the middle of the roundabout

Barnardo's charity shop originally the photo studio owned by the gentleman who took The Beatles first professional photos

Pictured above, directly across from the famous bus shelter is what is now a 'Barnardo's' charity shop however what people don't know is that it once was a tiny photo studio owned by a gentleman who Brian Epstein asked to do The Beatles' first ever professional photoshoot in 1961. The shoot took place in 1961 and at the time Pete Best was the band's drummer. I believe the shoot consisted of thirty photos however only just sixteen survived as the rest were discarded due to certain bands members mucking around during the session. Just a few doors along the path is the location of what used to be the Woolworths store where John Lennon's first wife Cynthia once worked for a period of time back in the day.

The house John Lennon lived in from birth until 1945

Following this Ian showed us 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree which was the first house John Lennon lived in from birth until 1945. In recent years the house was purchased by an American Beatles fan at an auction which took place in The Cavern Club in Mathew Street. You might not be able to see so well in the pictures but outside the front door; engraved into the steps are the words 'Imagine', 'Peace' and 'Wisdom' in tribute to John which is a fitting tribute.

Brian Epstein's childhood home

We also saw Brian Epstein's childhood family home located at 127 Queen's Drive in the area of Childwall as well as the house at 137 Gateacre Park Drive that John Lennon purchased for his Aunt and Uncle who took care of John's sisters after their mother Julia sadly passed away. This was the very house that John, Yoko and family visited amidst the recording of the 'Abbey Road' album in 1969 whilst on route for a tour of the Scottish Highlands where John spent many holidays visiting family as a child. It was during the same trip they got into a car accident in the narrow highland roads cutting their trip short.

137 Gateacre Park Drive where John, Yoko & children visited family on route for a tour of the Scottish highlands in 1969

George Harrison's family home from 1962-65 where he celebrated his 21st Birthday

We also visited the family home of George Harrison at 174 Markets Lane where he lived from 1962 until the year 1965 when George bought his parent a new house located in Warrington. This was also the home where he celebrated his 21st birthday at which Ian, our guide showed us some photographs of the local postmen delivering crates to the house filled with cards and letters to George from hundreds of fans wishing him a 'Happy Birthday'. In the image above you can see me sitting on the wall outside George's old house probably on the very spot where many Beatles fans would find themselves hoping to catch a glimpse of George back in 60s. Sadly, I'm just a few decades too late to meet George!
Well, as suspected this post is turning out to be a long one so I've decided to write about my trip round Liverpool exploring all of the Beatles related sites in two parts. There's so much to write about, I could easily go on forever! I hope you enjoyed Part 1 and be sure to keep an eye out for Part 2! If you want to find out more about The Fab Four Taxi Tours be sure to visit their website on the following link: http://fab4tours.co.uk/. I can't recommend this tour enough, it's totally worth it!