Waterproof

It took a long time to find cold and wet weather protection for J which will fit around her and her custom-moulded wheelchair seat. We've had various rain covers over the years, but they are not the right shape - don't fit around a bulky, moulded headrest, don't stay in place around her feet - so they have never been very effective. I recently ordered a set of covers, on the recommendation of a parent whose daughter uses a similar type of wheelchair, from a small company in Northumberland whose range of products were initially devised to meet the needs of their own daughter, and then of her schoolmates when their parents asked where they could find these items. We've bought a two-layer system: a snuggly fleece, in J's favourite bright pink, and a navy blue breathable waterproof. They can be used together or separately. They fit round J's neck and shoulders, the wheelchair handles fit through, and they fasten at the back, with a sort of rear cape protecting the padded seat - which is horrible to sit in if the foam gets significantly wet - and any bags on the back of the wheelchair. The front is basically a big, snuggly blanket which envelopes her wandering arms, her legs and feet and the whole of her foam carve seat, with elasticated edges fitting found footplates and a series of velcro loops allowing the edges to be attached to any convenient struts or tubes in the frame of the wheelbase. It's easy to put on, and she's very comfortable and cosy under it. So far, we'd only used the fleece layer as it has not been cold since the parcel arrived; now, with clouds gathering and J in need of some fresh air, it was time to test the waterproofs.

J is not a great enthusiast for the outdoors, and has never liked rain - partly because she hates her wheelchair seat getting wet. She agreed to a walk, not knowing that by the time I pushed her out of the driveway the light, misty drizzle would have given way to proper, steady rain. She took it quite well, and we did a short loop round the nearer end of the village, observing snowdrops, daffodils just starting to open, a squirrel running around the fine, high branches of the tall trees in the avenue, a chaffinch and a goldfinch on bird feeders in a garden. She returned home warm and dry, and I was pleased to note the waterproof qualities of the fabric, on which the rain formed myriad tiny beads which I've shared (in lieu of J) for all to admire. It's so good when, after trying to solve a problem for years, you finally find something that really works!