I was both overjoyed and terrified to be invited on to the BBC Radio Wales breakfast programme on Monday.
It would be a wonderful opportunity to speak about the short-fare taxi case I’d been involved in and the discrimination disabled people face, but it would also mean I would be speaking live to an awful lot of people.
A taxi collected me first thing; we passed a pleasant journey until he asked my why I was going to be on the radio. ‘Erm, it’s about a taxi driver. Bit awkward.’
At the BBC, I was issued a pass and told to wait. I spent the time admiring the huge Christmas tree and spotting semi-famous names rushing past me. I was then collected and taken to a holding area, overlooking the reception.
I struck up a conversation with Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, who had held her own alongside Nicola Sturgeon in the Brexit debates over the summer. She was waiting to appear on the ‘Victoria Derbyshire’ programme. She is quite possibly the most down to earth, friendly politician I have ever met, surpassing even the amazing Jens Stoltenberg, alongside whom I had marched with in Oslo in 1994 when Norway voted about whether to join the EU or not.
I was finally collected (the taxi was early) and taken to the radio studio and shown the host through a window. I was talked through what would happen. ‘Are you ready?’ they asked.
Erm, no? I was ushered into the main studio where the host chatted about me being on next. And this was it. I was live.
What happened next is a blur, but I listened back later in the day. I think I covered the main points and also mentioned the tricky issue of employment and MS, a real passion of mine. However, I was thrown a curveball when I was asked if I thought Brexit had made a difference to the level of discrimination disabled people face and whether it was acceptable for parents and children to park in disabled spaces.
After it was over, I had some thumbs-up from the staff, said goodbye and jumped in to a taxi back home. He asked me why I was there, and I replied, ‘oh, I was on the radio.’
‘What about?’
Hmm.
Well done, you! So nerve-wracking to think you’re going out live to the nation but I’m sure you handled it brilliantly.
As for Leanne Wood – I could listen to her talk about any topic for hours on end as she has the most delicious Welsh accent. No idea about her politics but loved listening to her throughout the Brexit debates.
Thank you!
Isn’t she amazing – I totally love the accent too :-). It was a really incredible unexpected bonus to a fab day and I could have spoken with her for ages!
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Really well done and hope there are more. You’ve inspired me to do a talk at work that my manager wants me to do on MS. Can I have your autograph… or sign my book 🙂
Nearest I got to fame was phoning an MTV request show!
Thank you so much, and I’m so pleased you’ll be doing a talk! It’ll be great to spread some more awareness 🙂
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