Wheelchairs again, bottles, mugs etc.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Those of you that has met me at the conferences, know that I am a bit

crazy about those cool insulated tumblers you can get at Starbuck's

and such places... I have stocked up on such ones every time I have

been there... I am a real sucker for such neat and practical

things... LOL

These cups are so great for wheelchair users! I normally carry my tea

and other drinks between my knees, something you sure can't do with

ordinary mugs...

Most of the time it has been OK, but sometimes I have had trouble. I

like huge mugs. But some of these do not fit in my bottle/cup holder

which I have on all my wheelchairs. For those interested in that, I

just buy ordinary bicycle cup holders and attach them to the

wheelchair by using plastic strips, you know the kind you tighten and

it locks and you can't open it again. Works great!!! During 5-6

years, I have had to replace one of these only once, so they are

pretty durable. It is also nice not having to screw into the w/c

frame or attach metal parts. When you fasten it this way, you can

also easily swing it in when needed, e.g to protect the holder while

it is being transported. The last couple of times I have also cut a

little piece of fleece fabric and put that around the frame,

underneath the strips. That way it glides even easier when you swing

it in and out, and the painting on the wheelchair won't get any

scratches.

The last time I was in the US, I got two insulated mugs rather than

the ordinary straight up tumblers they have at Starbucks. These are

in transparent plastic, with a nice, big handle, really comfy to

hold. After arriving home I discovered one problem with them though,

the hole for the straw is a bit big. So when I have got myself a cup

of tea, and do a wheelie to go over something, I have burned my thigh

a few times... That is not good!!! Also, wet stains in the crotch

area, does not look good, he-he...

When I was in Winston-Salem, I saw a Tupperware booth at a big

shopping centre there. I saw that they had insulated tumblers with a

straw, but did not get it, thought that Tupperware I can sure buy at

home. Not so, for some reason I can't get that tumbler here...

I went on eBay and finally found two. One I even got for $7.50. They

normally cost $14. They are huge, 24 oz. (0.7 liter).

What is really great about it is that the lid is completely tight and

they have a special seal around the straw. So it is really wonderful,

you can easily hold it between your knees without having to worry at

all about spilling!!! That is so great!!!

It is called " Insulated Tumbler with Drip-Less Straw Seal " . The text

says " Double-wall design keeps beverages cold even when on the go.

Drip-Less Straw Seal prevents spills " . I reacted when I first

read the text, because it did not say anything about keeping liquids

hot, so I mailed the seller and asked about it. She said that it

should not be a problem, after all it has the Tupperware life time

warranty, and all those items should resist heat. In the Tupperware

Holiday 2003 catalogue it is on page 20 f, the item number is 544. In

that catalogue it is ocean blue. The one I found on eBay is probably

an older model, it is bright red. I ordered a bright blue one too,

from the other eBay Tupperware seller (she sells from a web site

too). I haven't got that one yet though, she had to order it for me.

Neither of them really sells internationally, but were so nice and

said yes to do it when I asked. So now I am happy, I'll have one at

work and one for when I am on the go.

It sure won't fit in any cup holders though. I will just sew a

little bag for it which I can hook onto the wheelchair. That'll do

the trick, I'm sure.

I have already made a smaller such bag, for Peanut's water bottle. I

got a really tiny plastic soda bottle in the US. Got it to get the

bottle... I keep a water bottle cap on it and has it in a double

fleece bag (quickly hand sewn, using some left over fleece and berber

fleece), so it keeps Peanut's water cold when we are on the go.

Either I open the cap partly so it just drips, so she can drink

directly from it, or I pour into my hand which acts like a bowl. I

have one of those foldable bowls for her, but never use it anymore.

Attached to the drawstring at the top of the bag, I have a cord

stopper and a leash " hook " , so I easily can attach it to my

wheelchair.

Aase Marit