When MS Is Your ‘Significant Other’

datingBefore work one day this week, me and The Builder were busy slurping our McDonald’s coffees, nattering away.

We usually talk about screws, fixings, grout and such like. As you do.

But today, he was telling me all about his neighbour and his have-to-be-seen-to-be-believed dating adventures.

Apparently this neighbour has six women chasing him and has recently been proposed to. Gah.

I have no men chasing me and am sadly lacking in the Sorrento Engagement Experience.

This got me thinking.

Quite soon after MS popped up, my partner scarpered. And I’m quite glad, in hindsight.

But now, three years down the line, where does that leave me?

I was recently contacted by a TV ย company. They were lovely; they enjoyed my book, liked what I was doing to raise awareness about MS and asked if I would like to take part in a dating show.

Well, my heart leapt. At last! I could find a croissant-eating academic with an interest in knitting. I was sold.

Until.

The email.

Thank you for expressing an interest in ‘Too Ugly For Love’.

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12 thoughts on “When MS Is Your ‘Significant Other’

  1. Sally says:

    I’ve just picked my jaw up off the floor!!!!!!! Go for it on the online dating though. I have quite a few friends who have met the love of their life (second time round, even a third) via online dating.

  2. Tricia says:

    I love knitting, it’s my life, keeps me going. Forget men, just knit lol.

  3. “Too Ugly For Love”….um doesn’t make the bachelors sound too appealing :p

    no one at uni you fancy??

  4. “Too ugly for love”, what a bloody insult!! M.S doesn’t make you ugly, a bit drunk looking but not ugly. Go for online dating, it can be very successful. Good luck and don’t for once think that you are ugly!!

    • stumbling in flats says:

      I know, weird!!
      It does seem a strange and provocative word to use about people with disabilities – I checked out the first series online.
      Must admit, I was pretty shocked.
      X

  5. stargzrblog says:

    You know, I have a different take (don’t hate me!): I think you should go for it. Hear me out…

    With the obvious dislike of the tactless title (ugh!), is everything else about this opportunity of interest to you? Then why let a matter of a few words — the goofy title — be an obstacle? Think about the MS awareness you could bring. Think about the possible doors that could be opened, by stepping through this one? I suggest seeing the title for what it is: an obvious attention-getter, to get people to tune in, and also playing a bit tongue-in-cheek, as the participants will inevitably be anything but ugly (you can bet on it!). As things sometimes go, the show might even change its title to something more tame before it starts airing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Or to use another tired idiom (this time, from the media industry!), “all publicity is good publicity”. And now another slogan: Just do it!

    • stumbling in flats says:

      I do understand where you’re coming from, and similar thoughts crossed my mind.
      However! The title really is the main problem, and if I was to represent other people with MS and all it entails, I think it could be harmful to them too.
      At the end of the day, tv programmes are not charities – programmes like this aim to sensationalise illnesses. By branding us as somehow ‘other’ sets the disability cause back years. We don’t need our own special programmes, we just need a wider awareness of disability. Disability is a fact of life.
      I’d like to move towards disability integration, not segregation ๐Ÿ™‚
      X

  6. Ian says:

    I have used a website called dating4 disabled.com

    I have met some interesting ladies for a chat and a good laugh.

    For me regular dating websites don’t work because I say I am disabled.

    Happy Christmas and make 2016 your year.

    Warm regards, Ian.

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