It is five o’clock now. That means I have been sitting here for the past ten hours fussing over the specification for the TiLite ZRA Series 2. Having decided on the measurements, now I am juggling the parts list to get the best bang for the buck. There are expensive performance parts that are esoteric and lighter and there are cheaper standard parts.

Should I opt for the Spinergy Light Extreme (US$589) over the Spinergy Spox Everyday (US$485)? Should I go for 5 X 1″ or 5 X 1.5″ front casters? If 5 X 1″, I have to decide whether I want the standard plastic wheel with poly tire at no charge or should I pay US$148 for the Performance 5 Spoke 2-Piece Billet Aluminium Wheel with Softroll Tire? If 5 x 1.5″, should I go for the Frog Legs Epic Aluminium Softroll (US$83) or the Lexan Softroll (US$38.99)?

I am trying to put together a ride that is within my budget and at the same time lightest possible. A light chair is easier on the hands, arms and shoulders when pushing. A good-fitting one improves sitting posture and prevent backaches. It also reduces the risk of repetitive stress injury which I am already suffering from for overworking my weak fingers on the mouse buttons.

I guess I will be still be here configuring the parts for the next few days, switching one for another, until I am absolutely satisfied that the final specifications fulfill my needs. I have never realised that buying a wheelchair can be such a complicated affair and that one can be built to exact specifications according to the user’s requirements. In this area, I have a lot more to learn.

I spent a good part of today going through the measurements of the wheelchair I am about to order after receiving feedback from specialists well-versed in customising wheelchairs in the CareCure forum. The specifications are close to being finalized. A big thank you to SCI_OTR and everyone who has given me valuable advice.

There are many factors to be considered to make a wheelchair good fitting and work like it should. The critical areas are seat depth, front and rear seat to floor heights, seat dump, seat back angle and centre of gravity. Each has to be right for me to be comfortably seated for the entire day, and for the chair to be well balanced and easy to push.

Most importantly, I need to get it right because it is going to cost me about US$3,000. The good thing about the TiLite ZRA Series 2 is that it is very adjustable. Minor mistakes in the measurements can be easily rectified. Still, I want it to be done properly in the factory to reduce the hassle of having to do adjustments it when it arrives.

Apart from the wheelchair, I am also ordering the Supracor Stimulite Classic cushion, an extra pair of wheels, spare spokes and inner tubes. The cushion is crucial for preventing pressure sores to the buttocks. The extra set of wheels is cheaper to buy separately than upgrading from the standard wheels provided with the chair.

I hope the TiLite ZRA Series 2 will last longer than the Max Pleasure Synergy that I have been using for the past three years. It will cost JPY25,000 to have the broken cross brace replaced, excluding shipping and other charges. This is equivalent to about RM970. I will just have the fractured tubed welded back later and use it as a spare chair.

Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary. How did we spend it? We went to Mid Valley Megamall and had a less than memorable lunch at C-Jade Express. Frankly, we are getting disinterested with food in shopping malls. Those are the places that we hang out most on weekends. We have been eating the same food for years and years.

We then went to the Jusco J Card Member’s Day Sale. The size of the crowd was smaller than I had anticipated. I guess the novelty of going for a sale has worn off for many. After all, the various Jusco stores have been running one sale or another throughout the year. The only attraction about this sale is that there is a rebate of RM10 in vouchers for every RM100 spent.

Next stop after shopping was at Institut Sosial Malaysia (ISM) where I conducted the second series of the Introduction to Independent Living seminar for welfare officers from various states in Malaysia. We had a lively discussion on how Independent Living can be implemented in Malaysia and the issues faced by disabled people after the seminar.

Would you believe that Wuan and I went back to Mid Valley Megamall right after that? Yes, that was exactly what we did since it was just a 10 minute drive away from where we were. We had dinner, of all places, at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at The Gardens. That dinner was less than memorable too.

We did a little more shopping at Jusco. The stainless steel drinking bottle that I wanted was not on discount. Instead, we got some energy saving light bulbs that were going for 30% off. That, basically, was how we spent our third wedding anniversary. We definitely need to do something more memorable next year.