With my finger function the opening of envelopes is really trying my patience. I simply can’t open the
envelopes
uninjured, undamaged or prompt. My shredder is usually not far away!!!
If you put a nail file in the
cutlery holder (see older blogpost)
it turns into an
excellent letter opener.
Let’s take it for granted that you can use the
nail file
in the cutlery holder coincidentally for
manicure
as well.
Translator BL
This winter during snow drift I have bought a
run-in hand cycle
The main reason was probably my guilty conscience after I stood with my wheelchair on a platform laundry scale. I can eat whatever I want, the wheelchair is getting more and more heavy 
The bike was auctioned for charity. The proceeds should be used to purchase a horse!
Swapping “donkey on wheels” for therapy pony!
This is really true, donations are still accepted.
The bike was allowed to have a rest in my cellar after the long journey from the north.
It was run-in so well that around 200 gram unnecessary
dead weight in screws and nuts
were thrown off in the last years and thus missing.
The driving noise
was probably planned that loud for safety reasons so that you are heard by the other traffic participants, like a fire engine on duty.
The bike chain
reminded of a hammock and was as dry as the Namib desert. (I haven’t been to the Gobi desert yet.)
The universal fastener,
with which the hand cycle is adjusted to the particular wheelchair, was locked with two high-quality steel weld seams, so that the adjustment to my wheelchair was made a little more difficult than planned.
The person who welded the fastener knew what he was doing and is probably working in the shipbuilding in a dockyard. The weld seams were bombproof…
The original handles and gear shift
have been adjusted by some friends for me so that I can use them with my buckled fingers and hands.
I could have used the original special handles only limited, they cost 230 € and I didn’t like them anyway.
The rack
was additionally mounted with two small
iron plates
of around 10 cm length to keep it up horizontally.
My mate calls such constructions usually:
Russian-style: Looking sh…, but working well.
Why the previous owner didn’t take the provided clamps from the rack and turned them around will remain his secret.
Now I can take on with any granny at the
Rollator race.
Equal opportunities at last!!!
As you can see my pot belly still didn’t get smaller, but I keep you posted!
Translator BL
Postzustellrolli E-Type
Anscheinend hat die Post neue Arbeitsplätze in der Zustellung für Rollstuhlfahrer geschaffen.
Die Zustellung von Tieren aller Art wie Hunden, Katzen, Schlangen, Meer- und Mastschweinen… wird Gerüchten zu Folge jetzt ausschließlich von den
Gelben Rollipostlern
übernommen. Die Ehemaligen
Zufußtierzusteller
versuchen immer wieder erfolglos die Rollipostler aufzuhalten.
OK, bisschen ernsthafter:
Die Idee eine ausgemusterte Postbox vor den Rolli zu montieren ist genial.
Die Box ist seitlich wegschwenkbar und ermöglicht problemlos den Transport der Einkäufe bis ca. 20 kg. Außerdem kann die Box mit einem Handgriff abgenommen werden.
Mir ist nicht bekannt, dass etwas Ähnliches wie dieser
Boxenhalter
von einem Rollstuhlhersteller angeboten wird.
Die standen alle noch nie im Supermarkt an der Kasse, wenn die Einkäufe nicht mehr in den Rucksack passten, oder der Rolli wegen Übergewicht drohte nach Hinten umzufallen.
Der Rolli bekam zusätzlich vorne und hinten eine vernünftige
LED-Beleuchtung.
Durch einen
Zweiten Akku
für den E-fix Antrieb (Motoren in den Radnaben), wurde die Reichweite von 18 km auf rund 36 km
(6 Stunden Vollgas) in der Ebene erreicht.
Das langt leider immer noch nicht, wenn der Partner Marathonläufer ist.
Es ist geplant später einmal den E-Rolli mit einer
Brennstoffzelle
der Fa. Efoy anzutreiben.
Brennstoffzellen in Rollis einzubauen, ist ein Quantensprung im punkto Reichweite, aber noch recht teuer.
Aus Gewichtsgründen lassen sich allerdings die E-fix Antriebsräder nicht mit einer Autobatterie/Akku betreiben. Da sie 24V benötigen und zwei 12 Volt Autobatterien/Akku dann viel zu schwer wären. Dieses Problem würde die Brennstoffzelle lösen. Mit einem 12Volt 12 Ah Akku (nur für Spitzenlast und Kurzstrecke) und der Brennstoffzelle wäre der Rolli wesentlich leichter als heute mit zwei 12 Volt 18Ah Akkus.
Mit einer Tankpatrone der Brennstoffzelle könnte der Fahrer verteilt über mehrere Tage mehr als 500 km mit dem E- Rolli zurücklegen. Bei einer täglichen Fahrleistung von z.B. 20 km ist der E- Rolli so einen vollen Monat lang einsatzbereit ohne jemals an die Steckdose zu müssen.
Da müsste der Partner schon Haile Gebrselassie heißen, um da noch mitzukommen.
Danke an Holger (siehe Kommentar) für seine Beschreibung dieses Spezialumbaus!
Dass ich ständig meinen Rolli „konfektioniere“, ist ja kein Geheimnis.
Was meine Kollegen so alles entwickeln, lässt sogar mich noch staunen.
Rolli 24 Karat vergoldet mit Dollarzeichen als Radspeichen!
Damit lässt sich „Moses P“ nach einem Beinbruch durch die Bronx schieben !
Wie wäre es mit diesem Panzerrolli mit Kettenantrieb!
Da haben die Fußgänger sofort Respekt, und die Menschenmassen teilen sich beim Straßenfest wie einst Moses das Meer.
Der Armeerolli für den Einsatz im mittleren Osten.
Die Bewaffnung durfte nicht gezeigt werden.
Mein persönliches Higlight, der:
Indisch Gartenrolli!
Da kann noch ein Blumenkasten mit Geranien angehängt werden.
Seht genau hin, da sind Bremshebelverlängerungen daran.
Das ist kein Fake!
As self-confessed hobbit with 1,38 m total height forehead top sitting in the wheelchair you have to confess every now and then that the upward reach is a little limited.
My well-tried
suddenly have a perceived height of 2,10 m after my accident.
If you aren’t a friend of the fishing sport then taking down the keys turns out to be a bit tedious and can be dangerous.
The usage of safety glasses and helmet is mandatory.
The
Yellow North European Furniture Elks
are offering a
magnet holder for kitchen knives,
which I have declared as
Watch out, there are two types.
One of the holders just succeeds to prevent a paper clip from falling down. 
Translator BL
In winter or rainy weather, almost all pedestrians take off their shoes in front of their door and sneak in socks over the laminate.
I absolutely appreciate that this makes sense when you have estimated 2 kg snow on the soles of your shoes
and you don’t like to go sledging in your flat.
You won’t believe how much snow or rain water can stick to a wheelchair.
Even the wiping of the wheelchair tyres with discarded towels is rather difficult if you are not a Paralympian or contortionist.
To counteract the spring tide in your flat
I have purchased a carpet as it is usually lying e.g. at the entrance of department stores and positioned it outside of my door in the staircase.
These carpets absorb up to 6 liters of water per m².
With its size of 230 cm x 120 cm my
could actually absorb more than 16 liters rain water.
Before I roll into the flat I am doing two laps on the carpet in the staircase, and the wheelchair tyres are clean and dry.
Up to now the maximum “filling capacity” was not reached yet.
Translator BL
It is always a little difficult to switch on and off electric devices sitting in a wheelchair.
There are always missing the commonly known 2 cm.
Not 1 cm, or 5 cm?
There are always 2 cm.
I have the theory that this results from mass inertia, momentum and black holes.
Here is the solution:
A remote-controlled Christmas Tree lighting is quite nice.
Radio coverage allegedly until 25 m. (Probably only at full moon on April 1st).
You can get regularly special offers for a pack of 4!
(15 €, not much more.)
If you buy the pack of 4 twice from the same manufacturer, you should change the radio frequency with the little DIP switches, (in German) also known as
.
It might happen otherwise that the toilet light is switched on together with the coffee machine.
Well, maybe not so bad after all… let’s think about it again…
It is not complicated to change the switches.
Every quadriplegic who manages it should get a piece of cake or two from his occupational therapist.
Serious safety instruction:
Please always consider the max. switching power, around 1000 watt.
Never connect an electric heater, around 2000 watt!!!
The switches get hot and might start burning.
I have experimentally connected an electric heater, the electrical socket didn’t survive!!!
Should there be any difficulties with playing the keys (setting the switches) I am at your disposal as professional ”piano tutor” .
Have fun with the piano lesson.
Translator BL
After the usual administrative chaos caused by all those who can cut a piece of paper gets currently out of hand, I feel a bit like the “Hauptmann von Köpenick” (synonym from German literature for a catch-22; without residence no work, without work no residence), and I have decided to take 3-4 valium more and turn again towards my
passion,
the technical aids for quadriplegics. What a sentence, the blue things are helping already, I am suddenly missing the fullstopslll
Knife, fork, scissors, flames, have no place in quadriplegic’s gamesl
That’s about true 
To cut paper with a scissor is not funny,
especially when you like me can’t even press a clothespin.
If
scissor-type silhouettes
aren’t going to be the new hobby I can highly recommend a
Paper Guillotine,
one-arm-usage guaranteed “fullstop”.
The blue pills are ttzzzzzzzzz
Translator BL
When you have motor functions in hands and fingers like the Berlin wall you automatically keep everything tidy, otherwise you will drown into chaos.
My wheelchair rucksack contains more or less everything what you need to survive in the wild.
For me it takes some effort to take down the rucksack from the back of my wheelchair and rummage around into it to search for something which somebody has stuffed in there.
Probably scientists never have thought about:
This question should be clarified once and for all.
I have learnt once that on a car the front is always in driving direction when you are sitting inside.
Driving backwards doesn’t count.
Can I apply this to my wheelchair rucksack as well?
The wheelchair transport drivers always have asked me in which pocket of my rucksack was the card to debit the transport charges?
I would have liked to know it myself… Each time in a different place.
This depends probably from the viewer’s perspective.
For me sitting in the wheelchair it is on the back, for some of the drivers it is on the front, or not???
A solution had to be found. At a visit of the regional broadcasting station I had bought
(translator’s note: the mouse, popular German children TV character) and fixed it on one pocket of my rucksack.
From this day it only went:
Basically the result was quite good.
But now more or less everything is stuffed into the mouse pocket, so that there is a big mess now inside.
Will I have to switch to Walt Disney now and fix a whole toy armada to my rucksack to find the remote control for my stairlift?!
Donations of small accessories with key ring to mark the other pockets will be gladly accepted.
Wheelchair rucksack cuddly toys donation account
Some time I will confuse the drivers totally and fix the “Blue Elephant” (companion of the “Maus”) on my rucksack
Translator BL
Ich hab aan
Runnergesetzte Firmewaache
den da wo ich mit de Händ faahn kann,
von nem Audoumbauer gekaaft.
Die hawwe dann des mit dem
TÜV-Krembel
, weche dene Zettel für die Umbaude
und der Ummeldung von da obbe in Hesse,
ins scheene Frankfort noch erledischt.
Ich hab des zumindestens geglaabt.
Ich fahr die Scherbel mit dene ihre Nummernschilder seit 8 Woche.
Wir waarn uns desteweche einisch.
Heut am
Fastnachtsdienstdaach
bin ich uff die Zulassung hier in Frankfort gefaahn,
damit die Kist endlich eh paar gescheide
F-Nummernschilder
kried.
Ach währ ich Dollbohrer doch anstatt da hii, nach
Klaa Paris* zum Fastnachtsumzuch
gegange/gefaahn.
Die hawwe mir erzählt,
das weche de Europa und so,
mer seit dem April 09,
aufgrund dem §21 EG-FGV
die gegehmischte TÜV-Umbautezettel,
nochema genemische muss.
Ich hab da ja nix degesche,
aber das weil die Annern des da vergesse ham,
ich jetzt mein Karren nemmer faahn derf,
find ich garnet witzisch.
Besonnerst die Herrn Umbauer hätte des wisse müsse,
was se net getaan hawwe.
Des is dene ihr Arbeit!.
Moie am Aschermittwoch sei ja alles vorbei…
Frankfort Helau!
*Spitzname eines Stadtteils von Frankfurt am Main
Due to my spinal cord injury my blood pressure hardly rises above 100.
My mate always says:
Don’t get upset, otherwise you will get a blood pressure of 120.
To increase my blood pressure there is apart from pills a much faster method,
Just try to cook a 4-course-menu with winter mittens, then you know what I mean.
The ultimate discipline are ski jackets with double zipper.
Commitment to a psychiatric institution guaranteed.
Each quadriplegic has a key ring on the zipper.
With a
I now have 2 rings at the zipper start.
You “go“ with two fingers in the ring.
Now you have to practice, practice, practice,…
Then the zipper can be closed quite well…
If the zipper is not gliding well, there is the old skiing trick with a little spray of
and then it slides considerably easier.
See what is written on the can:
“Everything“ will glide faster, easier, and more quietly!!!
Listen, you don’t hear anything
Translator BL
Here comes a for insiders quite well-known technical aid!!!
I will call it
It’s a mystery to me how you can cut something with this knife without hurting yourself.
A first aid plaster dispenser on the handle would probably make some sense.
I would have to try to grip this sharp construct with two hands, and before the sausage should be nailed down to the table.
OK, enough nagging.
Look at it, maybe it can help some of you!
One might possibly change tyres with it.
I better shouldn’t have mixed Novalgin with Vodka.
Read the blogpost
Link:
about a really good quadriplegic special knife
from the company www.mehal.de.
Translator BL
You have probably noticed already that I am a self-confessed pedant in the technical area.
I am very lucky that my family and friends again and again take their time to realize my sometimes a bit weird ideas in the area of technical aids.
It is hardly possible to do this myself with my handicap.
At this stage many, many thanks.
If I wouldn’t have this kind of help my technical aids would be a lot more basic.
Here is a great idea how you can help yourself as quadriplegic with the most simple means.
The tie wrap on the phone has amongst others the reason to hang the phone over the brake of the wheelchair.
Thank you for the tip, I need more of these!!!
Even I can write serious blogposts.
Where have my pills gone?
Translator BL
I have decided to occupy myself with
shoes
now.
Basically I don’t have anything against shoes, but I have entered the fray against the fastening laces.
Shoelaces
are getting me to the edge of reason, or it is already getting dark when I start tying them after breakfast.
I admire each quadriplegic who manages this in spite of a limited hand function.
It would be an option to switch to shoes with velcro tape.
But there is insufficient choice with my
flat splay drop feet.
An excellent option are special shoelaces which are nothing different than a
spiral round elastic band,
which is holding the shoe together.
I call them
They are available in white, black, blue and brown, but also as shoelaces fake with even a bow on it.
Source of supply Link: Reha Handel
Now it is about time to consult my psychologist!
I am showing off my feet/shoes to the world.
Let’s see when it’s the turn of the next extremities.
Translator BL
As wheeler out in the wild you are not really noticed by the pedestrians.
This is getting extreme in bigger crowds like sports events or festivals.
It is quite funny if at a street fair the girls take a seat on your lap because you have been again overlooked. But the whole thing gradually gets a little irritating when the number of “hitchhikers” increases towards evening in the dark.
My tip is a
Ideally a blinking one.
These things are simply great.
The pedestrians see the light between their legs, are totally confused, and a gap is formed as if Moses had parted the sea.
Because H4 spotlights on a wheelchair are quite rare such a head light is very recommendable for nightly excursions.
With it each pothole is seen and can now be driven around, depending on the condition of the wheeler.
Not only alcohol but also the taking of pills can reduce the fitness to drive. Opium for the people. Drive slooooowly!!
Translator BL
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