trips to London as teenager
Although I didn't have diabetes as a teenager, I can still remember my first solo trip to London, when aged 16 years. I was at home, revising for O levels (shows it was a while ago!) when my Dad phoned from work - he was a lawyer working for a public authority and needed an important document to get to the Land Ragistry in London that day, and none of his staff were able to go, so he asked me to come to his workplace on the bus, bringing a map of London (I knew which bus went in the right direction), then handed me the document and drove me to rialway station, where he paid for ticket and gave me some money for taxi at other end. Once I got to Euston, I realised that I'd feel much happier trusting the Tube than a taxi alone, so planned the route (only one or two changes of lines, but I'd been planning Tube journeys when visiting with parent(s) for as long I could remember, certainly since about 5 years old, so was pretty familiar with maps) and travelled successfully, delivered documents, headed back and phoned Dad when I got to railway station (from phone box, as this was long before mobile phones). A year or so later, I headed to London for several interviews, and later spent 3.25 years nurse training.
A very good example of good parenting, I think - parents who taught us as we grew up and expected us to learn and look after ourselves.
Just last week, my sister's eldest daughter, just turned 14 years, phoned me to ask if there was any way she could visit Olympic Park for her Scout Expedition Challenge badge, as she knew about my Games Maker duty, but sadly there is no public access now, so I could only suggest other venues that are open to public. Anyway, will look forward to seeing her groups report in the next few months.
