Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[ripple11]

 I'm not sure when and where wheelchair access/useage comes into play under the law....but in reality this wasn't a large exhibition in the park.....just a few tents next to the paths that crisscross Leicester Square.http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.510445,-0.130028&spn=0.001432,0.002511&t=h&z=19
 Wheelchair toilets are available nearby, so maybe the licence that was granted from the council gave them exemption from wheelchair arrangements, although one hopes that they would have had ramps,staff etc, regardless.

[gatso]

not sure any of your points are valid with regard to pitp tbh trace

- there was no grass. the whole event was on concrete or carpetted marquees
- there was no bar, no-one was carrying drinks and if you'd got one from a local pub the surface was as smooth as you could ever expect
- there were no toilets for anyone specifically provided. however it is leicester square, there are numerous public toilets with disabled access as well as numerous bars and pubs also with disabled toilets
- there was a lot more room to move around than at your average poker event
-not sure the organisers of pitp can be held responsible for the difficulty people might have getting in and out of their cars

I'm kinda interested by your first point

I haven't seen the guys complaints but as a general rule - If it's been raining and the grass is soft it's difficult to wheel about so it's always good if there is some coverings on the grass. Remember that these guys use their hands to push the wheels (there are rime inside the wheels to use) but if it's muddy then the mud from the wheels can transfer onto your sleeves/hands,clothes in general and it's not nice. Also a smooth surface is nice because you have to carry your drink. Think about it - you have to wheel your way through using both hands so how do you carry your drink once you have it? You put it between your legs to try and keep it steady. Go over some bumpy areas and you've spilt it and you've got a wet crotch - gg organisers.

do you think all events in parks, outdoor music festivals etc should be banned because people might get mud on their hands and spill their drinks?

[outragous76]

The disability dicrimination act 1995 (2004)

this would fall under the terms of a service provider

(this is my field of expertise)

To be honest it is difficult to comment professionally without having seen it - but it sounds pretty shabby of the organisers (and WestminsterCC) if this hasnt been taken care of.

if we are talking about a single step then the whole thing is being blown out of proportion - if it is many features then it is unacceptable IMO

[Dingdell]

not sure any of your points are valid with regard to pitp tbh trace

- there was no grass. the whole event was on concrete or carpetted marquees
- there was no bar, no-one was carrying drinks and if you'd got one from a local pub the surface was as smooth as you could ever expect
- there were no toilets for anyone specifically provided. however it is leicester square, there are numerous public toilets with disabled access as well as numerous bars and pubs also with disabled toilets
- there was a lot more room to move around than at your average poker event
-not sure the organisers of pitp can be held responsible for the difficulty people might have getting in and out of their cars

I'm kinda interested by your first point

I haven't seen the guys complaints but as a general rule - If it's been raining and the grass is soft it's difficult to wheel about so it's always good if there is some coverings on the grass. Remember that these guys use their hands to push the wheels (there are rime inside the wheels to use) but if it's muddy then the mud from the wheels can transfer onto your sleeves/hands,clothes in general and it's not nice. Also a smooth surface is nice because you have to carry your drink. Think about it - you have to wheel your way through using both hands so how do you carry your drink once you have it? You put it between your legs to try and keep it steady. Go over some bumpy areas and you've spilt it and you've got a wet crotch - gg organisers.

do you think all events in parks, outdoor music festivals etc should be banned because people might get mud on their hands and spill their drinks?

Nope - not intended as a criticism of the event in question. It was merely a reminder of what can cause an issue. Although hopefully the carpeted marquee floor was flat and not bumpy.

Should all events be banned? Of course not.

[titaniumbean]

not sure any of your points are valid with regard to pitp tbh trace

- there was no grass. the whole event was on concrete or carpetted marquees
- there was no bar, no-one was carrying drinks and if you'd got one from a local pub the surface was as smooth as you could ever expect
- there were no toilets for anyone specifically provided. however it is leicester square, there are numerous public toilets with disabled access as well as numerous bars and pubs also with disabled toilets
- there was a lot more room to move around than at your average poker event
-not sure the organisers of pitp can be held responsible for the difficulty people might have getting in and out of their cars

I'm kinda interested by your first point

I haven't seen the guys complaints but as a general rule - If it's been raining and the grass is soft it's difficult to wheel about so it's always good if there is some coverings on the grass. Remember that these guys use their hands to push the wheels (there are rime inside the wheels to use) but if it's muddy then the mud from the wheels can transfer onto your sleeves/hands,clothes in general and it's not nice. Also a smooth surface is nice because you have to carry your drink. Think about it - you have to wheel your way through using both hands so how do you carry your drink once you have it? You put it between your legs to try and keep it steady. Go over some bumpy areas and you've spilt it and you've got a wet crotch - gg organisers.

do you think all events in parks, outdoor music festivals etc should be banned because people might get mud on their hands and spill their drinks?

I agree with this post,  however the marquees were on the grassy parts of the square fwiw.

[gatso]

I agree with this post,  however the marquees were on the grassy parts of the square fwiw.

really? I only popped into one, the lecture place to see jackson's talk and that was carpetted, didn't check out the others. just a flying visit which is why I can't remember exactly how big the step was

my biggest complaint about pitp, wheelchair user or not, would be that it's pretty crap

[titaniumbean]

I agree with this post,  however the marquees were on the grassy parts of the square fwiw.

really? I only popped into one, the lecture place to see jackson's talk and that was carpetted, didn't check out the others. just a flying visit which is why I can't remember exactly how big the step was

my biggest complaint about pitp, wheelchair user or not, would be that it's pretty crap

Inside it was I didn't mean it wasn't there were just big gaps of grass everywhere. Empire itself is very accommodating for disabled people ofc.

[AndrewT]

He has trouble enough getting it quietly at the best of times without a proxy mouthpiece on here.

FTAO AndrewT.

He (Andrew's Bro) won it again tonight, Andrew. Proper player, him. Dresses proper, too.

Sigh - occasionally winning the odd poker tournament was the main thing I had going for me to be the apple of my mother's eye. Now I've been usurped in that.

I can see her now, introducing me to people as 'the one who used to be good at poker - I'm not sure what he's good at now'

He scooped tonight's deepstack as well - another £1000 in the bank.

[ripple11]

Poker in the "park"

[gatso]

Poker in the "park"

lolz, the step up is even smaller than I was remembering. I'm really struggling to see what the complaint is about

[tikay]

lolz, the step up is even smaller than I was remembering. I'm really struggling to see what the complaint is about

It's disappointing, & surprising, that there is not a little more understanding of this situation. So be it.

FWIW, here is the Post the Gentleman made.

Hi guys,
Sorry for my 1st post being a moan but I need to vent my frustration. As a wheelchair user, I travelled from Southampton yesterday specifically to attend Poker in the Park in Leicester Square so imagine how gutted I was that there was no flat access for wheelchairs to get into any of the marquees. It would have only needed a couple of temporary ramps to allow wheelchair users to get on to the 2 grassy areas and therefore into the marquees. The first steward I spoke to blamed Westminster City Council saying it was your responsibility to provide ramps. When I pursued the matter, I was told by another steward that he was told that the setting up team were meant to bring ramps but had forgotten them. I find this an unacceptable state of affairs in 2009 and what upset me more was the excuses and general 'pass the buck' attitude that I encountered.
Hopefully the event organisers will take this on board and they will get their act together for next year.
Not a great start to my 'live' poker experience but hey, all I can say is thank god for online poker

[tikay]

He has trouble enough getting it quietly at the best of times without a proxy mouthpiece on here.

FTAO AndrewT.

He (Andrew's Bro) won it again tonight, Andrew. Proper player, him. Dresses proper, too.

Sigh - occasionally winning the odd poker tournament was the main thing I had going for me to be the apple of my mother's eye. Now I've been usurped in that.

I can see her now, introducing me to people as 'the one who used to be good at poker - I'm not sure what he's good at now'

He scooped tonight's deepstack as well - another £1000 in the bank.

"He", for those not in the loop, is AndrewT's talented Brother, who is murdering the DeepStack Tourneys on Sky Poker night after night. Smart dresser, too.

[GreekStein]

Hi Tikay,

Random question - does the name Amar Morjaria, sometimes known as Figo ring any bells?

[tikay]

A quick "get well soon" message for Iron, who's very out of sorts right now.

In the baddest of bad beats, he has a friction burn near the top of his back, caused by his upper back rubbing against the wheelchair. Baddest of bad beats? The "burn" is on the one, & small, part of his back where he actually has feeling. Now that's a beat.

We spoke at length over the weekend, & we've come up with some Heath Robinson ideas to insulate his back from the chair, & I discussed it with Red later, who also suggested some ways in which to alleviate the problem.

Every bump, every little action in the moving whweelchair, feels like someone holding a burning match to the affected part of his back.

He's as down as I've ever known him, very low indeed, & as you know, generally, he's incredibly stoic about his health issues.

Good vibes sent to Iron, get well soon bud.

[The_nun]

Lets hope it eases up soon Iron...x