(PRWEB) December 5, 2006

The city centre, with its large pedestrian areas, mix of quirky, independent shops, open-air market and spacious modern shopping malls make Norwich a unique shopping destination and it has recently been voted as one of Britain’s top 5 places to shop. Away from the city, market towns and villages provide the ideal opportunity to browse the range of individual shops in a relaxed, but vibrant atmosphere.

The many market towns around the city offer a wealth of shops with individual character and style. Diss, Wymondham, Harleston and Aylsham are among the towns that still have a weekly market day, as well as occasional antiques and collectors fairs, farmers markets and auctions. Meanwhile, head out to Wroxham on the Broads and discover Roys, the world’s largest village store.

Norwich also boasts the country’s largest open-air market. Recently refurbished, the colourful stalls offer a vast selection of goods. The market is a great place to grab a snack while you browse around soaking up the atmosphere, you can also snap up a bargain.

The medieval alleys and winding back streets in the heart of the city form the Norwich Lanes. Lined with a fascinating range of specialist shops, The Lanes are a must for those looking for an original gift or that something extra special. Designer clothing, books, antiques and even teddy bears are among the many found here. Nearby, The Royal Arcade is home to delightful small shops, including the famous Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum.

High street names and large department stores are well represented in the central area and the city’s two major shopping centres, the award-winning Castle Mall and the Chapelfield shopping centre. John Lewis, House of Fraser, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams are among the well-known major outlets, as well as many fashion brands. Family-owned, Jarrold was recently named UK Independent Department Store of the Year.

Whether you’re after a bargain or searching for an original gift, you are sure to find ideas in abundance in Norwich.

What’s more a brand new shopping guide has been specially designed for anyone who loves to shop until they drop. The ShopNorwich map has been produced by VisitNorwich to promote Norwich’s wide range of retail experiences from department stores to independent boutiques.

It features 20 different retail areas across Norwich, each of which are cross-referenced on a map of the city, and also provides information on transport links, shopmobility, park and ride, and visitor information contacts. The ShopNorwich map has been designed to help visitors get the most out of their shopping trip to the city and promote its outstanding retail offer to the wider marketplace regionally and nationally.

Clare Packer, Marketing Manager for VisitNorwich, said: “Norwich is fantastic for its range of shopping and at last this new map will help visitors and shoppers uncover the different delights of the city especially the independent stores and the smaller specialist shops within the cobbled streets and alleyways of the Norwich Lanes. It showcases the breadth and quality of the Norwich shopping experience and we hope it will encourage visitors and shoppers to come to the area time and again.”

At the same time as launching the new ShopNorwich map, VisitNorwich has collaborated with VisitBritain and Now magazine in a national competition. The prize, for one winner and 3 friends, is a £5000 luxury shopping weekend in Norwich. Melanie Cook, Marketing and Web Sales Executive for VisitNorwich, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Norwich retail at its best we are delighted to be participating in this national competition. We have 22 superb sponsors from across the city providing prizes which include, luxury boutique accommodation, shopping vouchers, makeovers, hair styling, meals, drinks and beautiful gifts. The prizewinners will have an amazing time they will be totally spoilt and won’t want to go home!” To enter the competition which closes 8th December, visit http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk    

To find out more about shopping in the Norwich area and to request your free copy of the ShopNorwich map or to download it free from our website please visit http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk

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Best answer:

Answer by ashley
if by adjustable beds you mean like sleep number beds or something like that i would recommend one of those memory foam beds. they are really comfortable. if price is a concern you should try a memory foam pad which will cost about $ 40. a flipable mattress is a good option too. one side is firm and the other is more cushioned. this way you can trade sides every so often and it will help you relax better; having a varied sleeping area.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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1.  Make Lemons Out of Lemonade – If your wheelchair is a lemon, does not conform to the terms of the written warranty, or the dealer or manufacturer is unable to repair it in the first year, you should check your states wheelchair lemon law.  You may qualify for a replacement chair.

2.  Rain or Shine – It is not necessary to stay home on a rainy day if you take precautions to protect your powerchair.   Cover the hand control with a plastic bag, but exercise caution when using a joystick with a covering on it.  Protect the drive motor by avoiding puddles that might splash or submerge the motor.  Common sense is the rule, sitting in a powerchair in the pouring rain waiting for a bus is not a good idea, however, rain should not stop you from attending to life’s daily activities such as going to work or a doctor appointment.

3.  Get in Your Comfort Zone – It would be nice if wheelchair seats were like our favorite overstuffed chair, but sadly enough they are basically not that comfortable. So, here are some tips on getting close to comfortable.   Width of the seat should be as narrow as possible without hips touching the sides.  A chair too wide causes bad posture, and affects chair performance.  Proper seat depth is tricky.  Too deep and you slouch, too shallow and you don’t have enough support and less stability.  A sling backrest with adjustable tension will allow you to sit further back in the seat, while a fixed backrest allows you to sit further forward.  Seat angle, commonly called “squeeze” is when the seat  seat has a permanent slope.  Seat angle helps keep your weight in place, and prevents you from sliding forward.  It is important to get the right amount of angle because too much can cause problems with discs in the back, curvature of the spine and pressure sores.  Most manual and powerchairs have a built in adjustment which will allow you to customize the seat angle. Seat cushions provide comfort, positioning, and prevent pressure sores.  The type of cushion you chose will depend on your criteria.  Someone who spends all day in a chair will obviously have a different need from someone who may just use a wheelchair to go shopping.

4.  All Work and No Play – For housework and cleaning, my advice would be to get your friends and family to do it, but that just is not realistic.  Learning to live with a little clutter and coming to grips with the fact that your house may never be as clean as it once was might help with some of the frustration.  Make sure that you have accessible outlets!!!  Try plugging the vacuum cleaner in when the outlet is behind the couch and you will see why this is so important.  Better yet, get a cordless vacuum!  If you need to mop, always start in the corner first!!   Cleaning the shower is easy with the new sprays that are on the market.  Pick up clutter all through the week, it lessens what you have to do during the actual cleaning.  Keep a reacher handy to get those socks that are hiding under the bed or items that may have fallen behind furniture.

5.  No Need for a Spare Tire – “Flat Free” tires no longer means made of solid rubber!  Technology has evolved to include a range from foam filling, to a poly urethane tread to a rubber insert.  So, the question is:  Which material meets your needs? Poly Urethane tires are used most commonly on manual wheelchairs.  They are highly resilient and fairly light.  The life span is 3 to 4 times of the traditional rubber tire.  Semi-pneumatic tires and inserts feature molded-in air pockets, much like the air pockets in the soles of athletic shoes, providing a slightly cushioned ride.  Found in forms ranging from poly urethane tires to inserts, semi-pneumatic tires never need air maintenance, nor will they become flat when punctured, making them truly flat-free. On today’s powerchairs, foam-filled tires, especially on the drive wheels, are the most popular flat-free solution.  The foam may vary in density depending on the required weight capacity.  Co-molded tires are most commonly found via powerchair casters and low-end manual wheelchair wheels.  Co-molded tires are especially useful as anti-tip wheels, where durability is more important than ride characteristics. Co-molded tires have an exceptional lifespan, but the entire wheel assembly requires replacement when worn.  

6.  Ball in Your Court – Being in a wheelchair should not stop you from getting out there and participating in sports.  Wheelchair users are now competing on a professional level.  There are numerous wheelchair sports associations. Wheelchair basketball was started over 40 years ago by the Veterans Administration as a rehab program.  It has grown by leaps and bounds and is now a sport.  There are over 180 teams across the U.S.  Quad Rugby is another wheelchair sport designed for quadriplegics who are unable to play basketball.  It is a mixture of basketball, ice hockey, rugby, and handball.  Power soccer is yet another great sport for those in an electric wheelchair.  There are many wheelchair sports accessories available including belts, harnesses, drink holders and special back supports.

7.  On the Road Again – For travel, first and foremost make sure that your chair is in good working order.  Take it in for a service check.  Be sure that your name and address are clearly printed on all removable parts.  Use sticky labels, and cover them with a piece of clear tape.  If you will be flying, be sure to notify the airline that you are traveling with a wheelchair. Airlines are required by law to stow your chair in the cabin, but don’t count on it if there are multiple travelers with wheelchairs.  An alternative is to gate check your chair, this will allow you to wheel onto the jetway where they will tag your chair and stow it in the belly of the plane.  Remove leg supports and seat cushion and carry them on board with you.  If you are unable to walk onto the plane, be sure to request an aisle chair.  Always check your wheelchair for  damage on arrival.   Be sure to do your homework ahead of time.  Check on hotels for handicapped accessible rooms, if you are going to be sightseeing, make sure that there are no barriers, arrive early at bus and train stations.  Wheelchair travel can be both challenging and and rewarding, and with a little planning, it will certainly be a adventure that you won’t forget.

8.  Stumbling Block – Nobody ever said it was going to be easy being disabled. Learning to cope with the mountain of little obstacles that are so frustrating is a major step in the right direction.  If you have diminished hand strength and function, use a wall mounted dispenser with refillable chambers and push button dispensing for the shower. This will eliminate the need for opening and closing bottles with wet hands.  If grasping a utensil is difficult slide a piece of 12mm hose over the handle. Outsource your toenails and get a simple trim at the nail salon on a regular basis.  Use a reacher to get at those socks from under the bed or behind the couch.  Don’t chase your food all over the plate, use a bowl instead.  Be sure to carry straws with you if you are unable to pick up a cup or glass. A 3 ft dowel with a rubber cap on both ends works great for turning light switches on and off, ringing doorbells, pushing buttons on tv or as a pushing or pulling tool. Put a thin cord through the hole on your zippers, tie to make a loop.  Be sure to join a disabled support group, as they are an amazing wealth of information.

9.  Play it Safe – Make sure that your wheelchair is in good condition at all times.  The top priority when considering safety are the brakes.  Be sure to check them regularly, loose brakes can compromise the wheelchair users safety.  Another thing to consider is stability and balance. Some guidelines to follow are:   Never lean forward any further than the length of the armrests.  If you do lean forward, be sure the front casters are facing forward.  Do not try to pick things up from the floor by reaching down in between your knees.  Do not shift your weight in the direction you are reaching as the wheelchair may tip over.  For ultimate safety, it is important that you be fully contained within the wheelchair.  A weakened arm or leg that occasionally drops to the side cannot be considered the ultimate in safety. Arm supports, as well as foot and leg huggers, help you keep it all together.

10. Live and Learn – Become a self advocate.   Being a self advocate very simply means that  you understand your own disability….you know your weaknesses and strengths, and you are able to convey this to others.  So, how do you get started?   Write it all down; your weaknesses, strengths, identify your disability, and what you need to do to participate in the things you enjoy, or need.  Find out your rights, The American Disabilities Act will spell them out for you.  Now comes the hard part for some…….Assert yourself, ask for what you need. What do you have to lose?  And finally, follow up, and make the change happen.

Living with a disability and being in a wheelchair means that you have had to make changes and adjustments to your lifestyle, but you can still stay active and enjoy your life.  With the above wheelchair tips, and a positive attitude, you can learn to thrive with your disability instead of letting it manage you!

• 4-gauge crossbraces add strength and durability, Durable, low-maintenance, triple chrome-plated, carbon steel frame is long-lasting,Urethane rear tires, mounted on “no flex” wheels, offer superior performance
• Dual axle positions allow variation of seat- to-floor heights, Seat Width: 20″,Seat Depth: 16″
• Light Weight at 36 lbs w/o Footrest, Permanent arms, 250-lb.weight limit
• Swingaway Footrest, Limited lifetime warranty on side frames and crossbraces
• Assembled WheelChair, Wheelchair and Footrest comes in 2 separate shipments

The Invacare IVC Tracer EX2 wheelchair sets the new standard in manual wheelchairs. The Tracer EX2 combines the design and technology of the Invacare 9000 series and incorporates it into the Invacare Tracer series. A true dual axle position allows for repositioning the 24″ rear wheels and 8″ casters for adult and hemi seat-to-floor heights. Hemi spaced footrest and a full range of accessories and a lifetime warranty. The new design also makes it possible to interchange components with the 9000 s

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