BEFORE you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. In effect, it is a reminder to practice empathy.

While long credited as a Native American aphorism, replacing the word shoes with moccasins, the saying almost certainly is derived from a Mary T. Lathrap poem published in 1895.

Try using a wheelchair or mobility scooter, double buggies, crutches, sticks and walking at a snail’s pace which is as fast as you can. The world around you becomes a very different place.

Both my knees need replacing. So, after some serious deliberation and based on the fact that prior to Brexit, the UK sent patients there, parts of Ireland still do, we settled on a clinic in Lithuania.

The cost for a top of the range, fitted to size knee implant, two nights in hospital then 12 days in a medical spa having four treatments including physio and massage a day, all food, nurses and doctors on call etc and flights, cost half the cost of the same op in England, where they still discharge you after a couple of days with no proper rehab included.

Before I left we bought a second-hand mobility scooter.

We live along Millers Lane in Carisbrooke, and I wanted one that went on and off road to that I could go for dog walks with my husband, I’ve missed them so much, plus tootle up to the village to see friends, go to shop and hairdresser.

To have the independence to pop out on my own. Except I couldn’t go anywhere without being extremely nervous.

The most disappointing was the walkway over the ford from Millers Lane, into Castle Street which led to the village. There was absolutely no way.

There are bars there to deter cyclists, which don’t work anyway. What they do deter anyone wanting access in a mobility scooter. It’s not as though you can drive through the ford, You’ll blow your electrics…

The only way I could do it was by going up the single steep Castle Lane, turn left and go across the ford in Spring Lane opposite the medical centre. This is the only ford that has a wide enough access for mobility vehicles.

Then cross a very busy main road, as I couldn’t get to pelican crossing without going on the main road.

I chickened out at that point and turned back from whence I came, praying that I didn’t meet a car on Castle Lane.

A quick thanks to the dealer who sold it to us and then, when three days later we realised it was not for us, bought it back at £150 less than we paid for it.

Froglands Ford is too narrow. Clatterford Ford is okay, until the Clatterford-facing end, where you have to go up a slope at a hairy tilt.

I felt hemmed in. And my issues are mechanical, they can be dealt with. It’s hopefully temporary. But for many people it’s not.

I can’t change the whole world. But I am going to campaign got those blasted bike barriers to be taken away and access given to some of the most beautiful places on our Island. I’ll even angle-grind and smooth them off myself.

Anyone interested in joining me?