It's World Toilet Day!!

Toilet, loo, washroom, bathroom restroom, there are lots of names for toilets. Seriously, #WorldToiletDay is a real thing, raising awareness about the good 'ol loo around the world. A large part of the population of the world doesn't have access to proper loos, which is a huge public health issue. Few things can so significantly increase as a community's overall health as having access to a toilet.

Everyone has stories about loos, both good and bad. While there are many hilarious stories of Westerners navigating squat toilets in parts of Asia, there are also thought provoking ones about people coming to Europe or North America from other parts of the world and being perplexed at the idea of going to the loo inside your home, never mind horrified at the thought of using perfectly clean water to wash it away.

 Anyone who has camped has stories about loos, or the lack thereof as the case may be. My personal jury is still out on which was worse; using the woods with nothing but a trowel or the infamous pit toilet 'lats' at Girl Guide camp. The former is bad for lack or privacy, poison ivy and trying to balance, the latter is worse for the smell. Both are made worse when you have your period.

Anyone who goes to gigs has stories about loos. Toronto's Lee's Palace still holds the title of the worst gig venue loos in the city; so bad that they were immortalised in Scott Pilgrim vs The World. It was also were I saw the best ever loo graffiti. It was 1993, condom machines were still a new fangled idea and written down the side of the one in the ladies toilet were the words 'This is the worst chewing gum I've ever tasted!'

 As for worst venue loos in the UK? That crown safely remains with the infamous music festival loos. The worst of Guide camp lats on a grand scale. Ewww.

For a fun history of loos, English Heritage has put out a fun list http://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/top-10-toilets-through-time/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Property%20%26%20Brand&utm_content=WorldToiletDaySo why am I wittering about this? Because those of us with IBD are on intimate terms with loos. We spend a lot of time in them.  I can tell you where every public toilet in my city centre is, and I'm every other person with IBD in this city can too. Picking up on this, Crohn's and Colitis UK have made us IBDers this handy map, which is a rather nifty idea - http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/whats-new/the-great-british-toilet-map-is-launched

 So next time you're in the loo, spare a thought for those who don't have access to one. And spare another for someone who has IBD who doesn't have access to one. Because that, for lack of a better word, us truly shit.