Friday was the Chair Installation Day, and Cody and his sidekick arrived and set to work.
How it works is pretty easy. You hold onto a switch thing indicating which direction, up or down, and it starts up slowly then gets up to speed, slightly faster than an athletic snail, and you ride sideways.
At the top you push one of those paddles under the seat to turn the chair so you're facing the landing, and you get off, remembering your purse and carryon.
There are two remotes, so you can send it up or down, carrying stuff without a person. I could have used this the other day when I lugged up a big wandering dude, indoors for the winter. One remote stays downstairs, the other upstairs. The tech showed me how to use the seatbelt to secure big items! He knew.
I've been thinking about this for years and I'm glad it's finally done and seems to be working fine. They are located about 40 minutes away, pretty good if service is required.
That was one of the things that knocked some makers out of contention. One, based in Massachusetts, couldn't service where I live. Good to check because you don't want anyone other than techs trained on your brand tinkering with it. After I'd learned a bit and watched many videos, that service question was the first one I asked.
So I'm all set to come down like Mrs Soprano and terrify people. Or, more likely, come down waving and screaming and eating cotton candy. You gotta take your fun where you can.
Interestingly, I priced these chairs many years ago when it still seemed possible for Handsome Partner to use one. They were almost as expensive then as this one now. Maybe they were rarer then, but the various makes were comparable in price.
And while the installation took place I went off for a nice hike to the pond, maybe to prove I can. And to look for ducks.
I think this might have been a puffball.
It was a beautiful day, great for walking and tossing stray golfballs back onto the course. These players are wild hitters but very strong.
And there were ducks, one male and three female friends.
The "beef" plant stuff makes good burgers, mixed with egg to bind them, no spice needed, they're well seasoned. Just broiled and served with three bean salad, or, today, lovely roast diced potatoes and malt vinegar.
Since I'm weaving again, I ordered two more loom clamps from the Woolery, nice artisanal people to deal with. This is how they acknowledge an order
This enthusiasm reminds me of Ivy! All joy all the time, that's Happy Whisk.
Happy day everyone, there's usually some reason to scream and wave and eat cotton candy.














Glad it worked out.
ReplyDeleteHalloween is just around the corner, you could have a lot of fun with the lift.
Can't wait to see your next thingy hobbit. Hobbit.BOBBIT!
THIS IS the fun autocomplete is having at my expense.
A,witch coming down cackling! That could be scary!
DeleteP.s. I have a healthy veggie burger recipe if you're interested. Not very tasty but healthy. (Shredded carrots and tofu)
ReplyDeleteAlways interested in a recipe!
DeleteI eyeball the measurements
Delete-minced cilantro/green onion + shredded carrots
-silken tofu+ 1 egg+breadcrumbs
-curry +sesame seeds+salt
-oil, mix and bake
Easy peasy
Thank you, that sounds promising.
DeleteCongrats on your new device. Isn't it great to have things to make life better? I like the singing and waving, but would skip the cotton candy. Now if it were caramel corn...
ReplyDeleteI could run to caramel corn if it's essential.
DeleteFor some reason, I thought that you had one of those lifts for HP. Sorry that didn't work out then.
ReplyDeleteIf I'd had one I'd have kept it. But this is fine now
DeleteThe stair chair is slick. So much more compact and streamlined than way back when. Thanks for permission to scream and wave and eat cotton candy. I want to see video of you doing that.
ReplyDeleteThat video may yet happen! Were they different way back? This one fits me, and I wonder if they selected the chair itself based on my size. I don't see a larger person able to sit in it. Anyway, suits me.
DeleteMy friend’s grandmother had one in the 70s, maybe even the 60s. Of course, much less streamlined. I remember it being heavy looking.
DeleteTadaaaaa! And a nice day for a duck walk, to boot! Entirely successful!
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
It feels very good not to worry about stairs. Even while able bodied, there are times when you don't feel up to climbing up. Flu, that kind of thing.
DeleteThe ducks suddenly appeared from the grasses and started zooming about. I don't think they saw me back in the trees and I was able to get a couple of videos without their flying away.
I think you should come down wearing a sparkly tiara and giving The Royal Wave!
ReplyDeleteI can wave the cotton candy to my people.
DeleteRoyal wave for sure! Very glad to hear it's installed with a minimum of fuss and bother and now you will feel much safer, to say nothing about the ability to tote things up and down.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely brought the house up a lot in accessibility. Surprising how much easier it feels. And they were able to preserve the handrails on both sides, a big point.
DeleteFrom deciding to job done was very quick. The chair looks so much more modern than my friend had installed, but then that would have been over twenty years ago. I think she paid well over AU$10,000 but there were two stair corners as her shop/house had very tall ceilings and the unit had to be made in England.
ReplyDeleteSpecial design increases the cost a lot, getting around corners. It's custom work.
DeleteThat looks really nice and it looks like installation went pretty quickly. Glad you like it and hope you have fun with it, too!
ReplyDeleteI like it and I really should have a ribbon cutting ceremony.
DeleteWhat a neat chair climbing device. I wonder if they go past landings? We have two steps landing then perpendicular turn and 13 steps.
ReplyDeleteYou can get the rail the chair runs on designed to suit. It's custom work and costs quite a bit more, but it can be done. You could always inquire how they would advise, maybe one continual curving rail. They can design a rail that turns corners.
DeleteI sound like a sales person here! Not so, just interested in the configuration.
I am so happy for you, the stair lift already installed and operational. I hadn't thought about the service for such things, but I'll keep it in mind in case I ever have need of one.
ReplyDeleteService is really important once this equipment becomes vital. You don't want an untrained person stepping in.
Delete“ athletic snail” had me laughing 😆.
ReplyDeleteIt looks comfy so even if the ride is a tad long are least it will be pleasant
The chair is comfortable, and it's not a long ride!
DeleteWhat a great post -- and interesting and informative, too! I'm so glad your chair is finally installed. It's nice to know that you don't HAVE to use it but you can. And yes, great for hauling heavy things up the steps. (My strategy -- put the item two or three steps ahead of me and keep moving them up as I go one at a time. Your way is better!). Your walk looked lovely too!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing that step by step thing, too, but some things are too big for the stairs, so they'll ride nicely. And it's good to know the house is accessible as long as I can do one step.
DeleteIt struck me as funny to be striding about outside while my mobility aid was being installed.
Excellent home improvement! Quality of life issue for sure, especially when it comes to getting the heavy stuff up and down and while you are not the heavy stuff yourself, you may enjoy the glide-ride.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see over the stairs downstairs from a different angle. Riding sideways reminds me of being on public transportation.
DeleteI am sure you will feel more confident going up and down those stairs now, Boud. Another upside is you could load up the chair and have it deliver items to the top!
ReplyDeleteI'm fine on the stairs at this point. I got the chair installed in case things change. At this point, using it as a delivery system is the main value! I'll keep on doing stairs as long as possible, good for strength and walking. I think it's a mistake to move to a one floor situation unless you compensate with stairs elsewhere. You quickly lose the ability to climb if you stop.
DeleteI'm sure it's nice to know the chair is there should you need it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the house feels different now. Stairs are such an issue for many people, not just older people. Now it feels like living in an extended apartment.
DeleteFather-in-law had one of those lifts - his great-grandchildren would spend entire visits riding it up and down. Easily entertained.
ReplyDeleteI suspect my late cats would have figured out how to run it and had a nice time riding.
DeleteThe waving and screaming and eating cotton candy was a wonderful visual. I suggest a video doing just that. That last picture was dear.
ReplyDeleteAren't those mice great? They're real mice in the backyard of a YouTuber who sets up tiny mouse houses and dioramas and treats and they choose to appear or not. They're wild, free to leave. But they love the treats, such as mouse sized strawberries.
DeleteThere's plenty of potential fun to be had from chair glides.
How cool that the chair can be sent down without a person. That's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe remotes make it much more useful. I've started putting items for upstairs on the chair already.
DeleteThat's so cool!
DeleteMrs. Soprano. Mark said when he watched "that's your mother!". This is a fantastic addition to your life.
ReplyDeleteIt's a Good Thing tm. Definitely worth doing.
DeleteOh, the chair setup is splendid! Congratulations to you! Many, many happy uses of that tool! Carrying things up can be accomplished by that stair-step method, but I've not found a good alternative for carrying things down the stairs. Well, sometimes throwing things down is an option, but then I have to figure out how to pick things up from the floor (and I'm not always able to do that). I've been doing well lately though, plus I still know how to be strategic -- leaving things at the top or bottom of the stairs and yelling for a family member to carry it down/up the moment I hear their feet hit a step. Hahaha, it works! Well, anyway, I'm thrilled for you to have that mighty chair.
ReplyDeleteThe hitch with throwing things down is finding where they ended up.
Deletehaha, true!
Delete