Tag: Blind Man with a Backpack
-
Flight Free part 2: Night boat to Ajaccio
We left off last time reflecting on the trip so far as we settled into our 5 hour high-speed run down from Paris to the Mediterranean port of Toulon. So far, aside from a slight panic in Paris, things were going smoothly. The SNCF train we were on was spacious and comfortable although being on…
-
Flight Free part 1: Happy anniversary
Last year my wife of 17 years and I celebrated our anniversary by going out for dinner with the kids at Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly Circus. This isn’t our usual choice for a romantic anniversary meal but there was a special reason for being in London on a warm August evening. We were due…
-
Musings from a blind man: the power of perspective
As I sit here on a Sunday morning on the eve of my 44th birthday, I can’t help but smile. As usual, I’ve been woken up by the telly blasting through our bedroom floor as William watches some random rubbish on YouTube. We normally turn the TV down before bed, but forgot last night as…
-
Musings from a Blind Man: Turn up and Go
Original post from January 2024 I decided to do a little experiment today as Chester and I took a solo trip to visit my eldest at university in Kingston. It’s quite a straightforward trip on South Western Railway from Reading with just a single change at Twickenham. So what’s the experiment? Turn Up And Go…
-
Chester the Sunburst Saviour: 1 year qualified
There is a common misconception that a Guide Dog is simply delivered to an owner like an Amazon delivery, and the next day you are ready to step out the door and go about your life as normal. Reality couldn’t be further from the truth as it takes significant time and commitment for this highly-trained…
-
Back to class: 12 months on
This week Chester and I celebrate another huge milestone – one year since we started on class. No matter how much they prepared me, I honestly didn’t realise how much goes into training with a new guide dog. Once the initial matching process is complete and you get that life-changing phone call, there are a…
-
Loud and Proud for Disability Pride Month
Every year as Pride comes to a close on 30 June another, equally important, series of events take over the reins from 1 July – Disability Pride. Much like Pride, Disability Pride is a month-long celebration of the disabled community, some of the amazing advocates and their tireless work, and a means to continue to…
-
Musings from a Blind Man: The impact of our actions
Welcome folks to the latest musings of a blind man. This week’s edition is all about the impact of keeping up a brave face when deep inside you’re having a tough time! Last week was a mixture of highs and lows which, with this week being Mental Health Awareness Week seems appropriate to highlight to…
-
Musings from a Blind Man: A late-night taxi ride home
I’m sat dozing in the back of a taxi, heading home after a late work event. Chester is laid on the floor next to me in the back of the comfortable MPV, exhausted after such a busy day. As we head on into the night my eyes flicker open and I attempt to gather my…
-
Navigating Sight Loss – 2 years on
It honestly feels that things have always been this way and, even though I have only just passed my second anniversary of being registered Sight Impaired, so much has happened that I often forget what life was like before. I promise you this piece won’t be about what a voyage of discovery I’ve been on…
Altered View Media 