It’s time for my annual autumn leaves column. Regular readers will know that this time of year is the switch from summer freedom to the gradual slide into winter and all the associated weather woes. This all starts with the wet leaves dilemma.

Normally I whinge about how the leaves get stuck in my wheels, obscure drop kerbs and puddles, bunch under my footplate and generally make my journeys a bit more messy and fraught. However, the leaves are not always trouble.

How so? Well every cloud has a silver lining. The lining this time is to do with my endeavours into BBC wildlife and my dream to become the wheelchair wildlife man. I have been invited back to make a short film for Autumnwatch.

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The theme this year is #myautumn. In other words what does autumn mean to you? Check it out via Facebook and Twitter.

Well despite the leaves being an irritant more importantly to me they are really beautiful.

My friends will tell you that I am always out and about with my camera. In fact one of the benefits of being a wheelchair user is having a backpack that can store my camera so I am never without it.

To me my autumn is watching the leaves change and be constantly amazed by the variety in colour, shape, the various times at which they change and the science geek in me likes the process behind it.

So I will be out and about making a short film about photographing the autumn colours then heading up the motorway to go and see my buddies at Autumnwatch.

It’s these odd moments where I face a conflict between the day to day things that have changed since my injury.

Often people tell me that my attitude towards what has happened to me is remarkable.

I get a bit embarrassed, but I guess I can see what they are saying. It would be easy for me to resent the leaves when I get stuck or come out of my chair because they are hiding the potholes and puddles.

I have always taken the attitude that my accident should open doors not close them. I like to think that the positive attitude could be helpful to those who are recently injured or who have to realign their lives just like I have had to.

It’s been nearly six years since my injury and I never ever thought that I would be making content for BBC wildlife.

I know that it’s a combination of my ‘get on with it’ attitude, good luck and not giving up that has made these opportunities arise.

The real silver lining is this: I get to do fun things which hopefully are inspiring to others and give a positive message about how acquiring a disability can be the start of good things not the end.

So keep your eyes peeled for me tomorrow evening on Autumnwatch Unsprung on BBC2 8pm. Self promotion – me? Never.

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