My name is Peter, I am 65 years old. I moved to Bury with MacIntyre in late 2022.
A while back I had lived independently on the other side of Greater Manchester in my little flat. There I used to ride my bike a lot, sometimes all day and even most evening and night. I used to clean and cook by myself in my flat and life was good. However I got detained and put in a mid-secure hospital in Whalley.
I spent 11 years of my life in Whalley with so many restrictions. It meant I could not go bike riding when I wanted; I could not cook every day. Instead I batch cooked every fortnight and froze my food. All I ever made and lived on for the 11 years was hotpot. I lost physical contact with my family for the 11 years. At some point I thought my life was over and I would never leave hospital ever again.
In the hospital I spent most of my time in my bedroom, I rarely came out to sit in the shared areas or interact with other patients. The only time I went out was every two weeks to do my food shopping. The little time I rode my bike was around the hospital grounds when staff could spare a few minutes for me. My life was miserable and hopeless - until MacIntyre came along.
I moved from the hospital into my new bungalow in the last quarter of 2022; I have been loving it ever since. I can now go bike riding to different areas with staff, I have freedom to cook and bake whenever I want including cooking and baking my own choice of meals and cakes. I have loads of space to do gardening and have started getting ready for summer. I enjoy tidying up inside and around my bungalow. My bungalow is in a very nice and quiet area which is central to Bolton, Radcliffe and Bury. I love showing visitors inside and outside my bungalow I always take them on a tour of the property, which is from the kitchen through the sitting room, out the back door, around the garden and back through the kitchen then the inside rooms my bedroom, bathroom, exercise room and the staff room.
I have re-established contact with my family and my sister has been to visit me for the first time in 11 years. I made lunch for her and her husband. She has reassured me she will be coming down more often. I’m so happy I’ve got my life back again; I can go shopping to different places and different markets.
It is so amazing how so much has changed and I’m so glad I’m out and living the community with the support of MacIntyre.
