Lara Masters - 'It' Girl on Wheels “...I’m Lara Masters, TV presenter and wheelchair-user currently working with Esther Rantzen on 'That’s Esther’ (ITV). I’m your 'it' girl on wheels but I’m less posh and wear more clothes.”

I've had a very hectic couple of weeks because I'm moving house so I've been busily boxing and organising only to be told that shockingly, the building work is not going to be finished any time soon and the place is inhabitable.

I blame "Changing Rooms" and suchlike programmes for promoting the delusion that alterations can be done quickly and efficiently. Watching them, we're seduced into believing that you leave your house for a brief period of time and return to a rapturous vision of symmetrical splendour, oftentimes with an Oriental theme to it. Never do the homeowners come back to be told that they're going to have to move into temporary accommodation for a few weeks because Handy Andy's working on five other jobs at the same time.

I thought I'd been very cunning by giving the builders a finishing date that was three weeks premature of the actual date that I'm to be kicked out of my current home. However, it transpires that it's going to take "at least" three weeks longer than the extra three weeks I'd sneakily scheduled in.

Apparently, this is partly my fault as the foreman informed me that the slate I ordered for the kitchen floor was 9 mm thick and the wood flooring I ordered for the adjoining hallway was 19 mm thick and they should have been of equal thickness. They had to "build up" the kitchen floor to make up for this discrepancy, which takes extra time (not to mention money). Had I known that the millimetric specifications were of any importance, I could have asked the suppliers and told the foreman but unfortunately my telepathic skills are not well enough honed to have pre-empted the problem. I said to the foreman; "Why didn't you just ask me?" to which he replied; "Because you should have told me."

My sister says I should be on site for an hour first thing every morning and last thing at night to avoid these metric muddles, and, if they'd managed to build the ramp which would enable me access to the house, I might just do that. Rather cynically, I imagine the ramp construction is the last thing on the "to-do" list.

Finding I was about to become homeless, a few days of panic ensued, then night sweats and visions of cardboard boxes and King's Cross. But by a stroke of good fortune, just as I was looking round for a cardboard box big enough for myself and my wheelchair, a friend of my Mum's offered the use of his flat. So, a massive "shout out" to John Sadiq without whom I might have got myself a pimp.

Even though my head has been crammed full of home improvement ideas, I have managed to fit in some socialising and even a little work. How do I do it?!

I filmed a report on adult autism for "That's Esther". An amazing woman called Anna Kennedy who has two autistic sons and recently managed to open a school for autistic children, has now opened a college for autistic adults. She's had to fight hard to raise the money and she's worked tirelessly to do it. I went to see the new college and talked to her about her motivation and vision.

When I arrived, I was warned that a particular male student might verbally assault me. As I'm no stranger to long-term relationships, I was certain he couldn't come up with anything I hadn't already heard and I was well up for some hardcore banter (you have to be working with Esther Rantzen.) So I was rather disappointed when my presence provoked nothing more than a mildly bored glance in my general direction.

The film airs on Sunday 8th July at noon and is worth watching simply to witness Anna who is a woman of true grit and determination and possesses such strength, energy and selflessness, you cannot fail to be awe inspired.

My social highlight was going to see Paco de Lucia, one of the world's greatest flamenco guitarists at The Royal Festival Hall where I had a small row with the stewards about the bad view of the stage for the disabled contingent, (surprise, surprise.)

They won't allow wheelchairs at the front of the gangway where the view is great, no, wheelchairs have to go to the back and look over people's heads because they "have to keep this bit clear." There's the same amount of space clear whether the wheelchairs are at the front or the back of the gangway but who wants irritants such as reason when there's petty bureaucratic nonsense to be wielded about and minority groups to oppress?

Paco however was a sensation and the male flamenco dancer was so seductive with his majestic posture and rhythmical heel-clicking mastery that I made a vow there and then to take up flamenco dancing! Such is the power of a man in a flouncey shirt and a pair of Cuban heels.

P.S
My friend Louise Clifford (Max Clifford's daughter) and I were interviewed for "YOU" magazine about our disabilities, our careers, having successful parents and being involved with "youreable.com". I haven't seen the article but it's out in The Mail on Sunday on July 15th if you want to check it out. (The target audience for that piece of information being mainly my Mum and Louise's Dad.)

Posted: 06.07.2001

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