I have lived in a sheltered housing complex in Elgin since July 2018. It is a beautiful place to stay, and the carers are all good, lovely people. Broadband is fantastic, and it enables me to do virtually everything online from my academic studies to writing books to ordering groceries. Being a bit of a tech-head, I use technology to make my life easier, such as voice recognition devices to keep me entertained and to switch on the lights.
I need a lot of care, and all the carers are so kind and we have a good laugh. Because I rely on them to do everything for me, we have a special relationship. I trust them empirically. Of course, I find the whole situation strange at times—having others look after me, especially since I cherished my independence so much and assumed, like most people do, that I would always be able to look after myself and live independently.
Life is unpredictable at the best of times. You never know what’s around the corner. You learn to adapt, and what might have seemed strange becomes your new normal. Over the passage of time I have found an inner tranquility and acceptance of my new reality. I understand that others must look after me instead of me looking after myself. Admitting to yourself that you need more help than would normally be the case is the first step toward living your life to the full. Life is what you make of it!
One of my greatest achievements is earning three university degrees in Science from the Open University. This photo was taken at my graduation ceremony, a day that will always stand out as a highlight of my life. I encourage you to set the bar high for yourself and dream big. You can do it!
Iain M. MacLeod
Open University
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Educator of the masses without societal barriers
All coming together in a common unity
Society’s class statuses hold no governing rule
Instead passion and enthusiasm and eagerness
Advancement and achievement and pride objectives
Giving hope to the dejected and dreams to dreamers
In a voyage of discovery to explore unforeseen worlds
The OU largest educator of disabled
Societal barriers of preconceptions
Imbecilic condescending supercilious chains are broken
My beloved OU is there in dark and joyous times
Non-judgmental of physical imperfections
Neural achievements are the only criteria
A constant when life becomes overbearing
Access with no barriers and an addicted student
True equality and not just meaningless sound bites
Opportunity of sameness is refreshing in its parity
No diminishing of educational standards
Same TMAs and EMAs exasperated expectations
Same frustrating neural stress and pleasurable thrill
Equality at its finest with no barriers
In a world of uncertainty and fakery
The OU is a shining light to show the way
Few can follow the leader though try but fail
Educator of the masses and destroyer of myths
Restoring confidence and hope to ultimate success
Iain M. MacLeod is the published author of two books and an advocate for disability access and inclusivity. Iain's books are 10 Seconds That Changed My Life and Wheels Galore!
When I lived independently in my own house in Fochabers, a lovely town in the Northeast of Scotland, my favourite spot was looking down The Spey, a source of great solace, peace and tranquility. I spent a lot of time at the Memorial Gardens gazing at The Spey flowing past. There is a bench on the grassy bank to invite people to sit and enjoy the view. I loved sitting next to it in my electric wheelchair. That bench inspired me to write the poem “The Seat” which you can find in both of my books. I wondered one day how many people sat on that bench enjoying the same view that I loved. On nice summer days, I loved to watch the kayaks and canoes meandering down the river.
Fochabers
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Driving away that Friday night heralded a new chapter
Late September weather transition merged
Friday night Fochabers, Saturday Inverness
Not realising the empathetic pull of the village
Bonds deepen over the rolling years
House crafted and tailored to suit
Doors marked are characteristics of hidden happiness
Satisfaction of ecstasy a gauge of blissful contentment
Contented dwelling is testament of pride and fulfilment
Unconscious realisation of singleton reality
Wheeled freedom represents solitude tranquility
Aimlessly chaired wandering naturally rejuvenates
Physical barriers of normal chains are briefly broken
The northeast village unaware of personal happiness
Spinning striped recognition being inner contentment
In a world of uncertainty and insecurity
Fochabers restores clarity and peaceful satisfaction
The Spey a source of great joyous pleasure
Looking down the undulating waters of restoration
Calming qualities of tranquility soothingly washes
In an act of contemplative meditation
A neural confusion to placid peacefulness
The Spey
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Majestic sounds of the water flowing past
Streaming over rocks in a fluidity of forcefulness
Salmon leaping on their migratory journey
Canoes weave their way to their destination
I sit in reflective solitude
My beloved Spey soothes and washes and cleanses
Picturesque vistas and flowing, restores neural calmness
The waters inspire as well as rejuvenate
Neural synaptic connections intertwine galvanised thought processes
My beloved Spey swirls and surges on its journey
unaware of its comforting tranquility
I was born in Stornoway in the Western Isles of Scotland and spent many happy summer holidays at my Granny's croft cottage there.
Some days, when the weather was perfect, I ventured to the old cow shed at the bottom of the croft, or to my favourite place, the water well, which was situated about halfway down the croft and had a small gray stone arch covering it. It had the best spring water I had ever tasted, or probably ever will taste.
The water was always cold all year round. On hot summer days the water was so refreshing. We would take enough well water with us to make tea when we went to Loch Grinivat, where Granny had her peat-cutting bank.
I miss my Stornoway holidays with nostalgic reflection, but I particularly miss the cold sweet water from the well.
Stornoway Gael
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Madainn mhath and Feasgar math
Gaelic phrases of my youth
In a land of ancient tradition and cleared people
Sheep over people
I lie in the sofa bed, in a Laxdale living room, watching the magenta skyline
Watching, through the four paneled windows, the sodium silhouette of Stornoway
Land of my nostalgic reminiscences and pride
Berthed Cullivan ready to return to Ullapool
Right lies Stornoway Castle standing guard over the island
Laxdale, a few miles north of Stornoway
Up the cluthan and to the right
Tar roofed white cottage with lovingly crafted peat stack
Long days cutting peats at Loch Crinabhat
Eaten alive by midges
Tea made from ice-cold well water, best ever
Crackan biscuits, hard insides and brown outer
Superbly delicious with butter and jam
An anticipated treat
Recollections of a bygone age
Brown corrugated cowshed at the bottom of the croft
Once a sanctuary of bovine activity
Now a refuse for feral kittens
Walking down the starran for adventures
Green wire-meshed gate; end of a stony dirt track
Protection from the outside world
Running down the croft
Before becoming a member of the lifelong club
Asian flu robbing a boy of his childhood and adulthood
Instead succumbing to societal vagaries
Relatives reminding of this loss
“I remember when...!” only served to frustrate
Early years of forgotten blankness
Now, on the downward spiral, a time to reflect
Long summers of distant memories
Rose tinted views of idealism and utopian perfection
Though it might not have been
The desire to go back to Stornoway does not appeal
Reminiscences are historical recollections of the past
Always will be proud of being a Gael and of my heritage