My whole reason for writing this blog is to raise awareness, share some of the crazy hiccups that occur along the way on my journey in a world of sight loss.
I enjoy campaigning about issues that I found myself affected by. So, way back in September I supported Guide Dogs on a campaign day collecting signatures for a petition to ‘The Big 5.’ For which I wrote a one off blog for guidedog.org.uk, which is linked below.
I am not a car driver (for obvious reasons) nor have I ever been a driver, so please bere with me here.
I have recently found myself taking a bus for a short route I was happy to walk in the past. Literally for just 2 stops.
Why? I hear you ask.
Simply because of ‘Kind’ drivers.
I attend a meeting every Thursday at a church hall, the road by the church is quite a major route, but a relitively easy road to cross, or rather it was until recently.
The place I cross is a good distance from the junction, the reason for this is so that I can hear the traffic on my road clearer without confusion from the road beside it.
Mizz Fizz takes me to the same spot on the curb and sits awaiting my instruction to go on.
When she sits, I take a step back with my right foot, which not only makes it easier for me to step forward when it is clear to do so, but also to enable road users to see Fizz.
As the traffic starts to slow for the junction I find that many drivers will stop early to allow me to cross.
I can hear that they have stopped.
I can’t see them waving at me, nor can I see it if they flash their headlights.
I stay put.
Without being on a designated crossing Fizz will not cross and nor will I allow her to.
The car engine sitting so close can be of real danger, it can distract from a car coming in the opposite direction, from a cyclist coming up the inside of the car. And even, as I have heard of, a car from overtaking those who were kind enough to stop.
If my hands are free I will wave my hand to move the car on, giving a thumbs up as they move. If not I will jerk my head to indicate they should move on. And mouth ‘Thank You’ as they go on their way.
Thank you to all the cars that stop, for all the acts of kindness, but please do not feel I or any other person with a guide dog or a long cane are being rude. We simply need to ensure we stay safe.
When I cross the road, it is for me to tell Fizz when it is safe to go, not for her to tell me.
So, why get the bus?
Because by getting the bus I can save myself over 15 minutes on average. The bus saves me from having to cross the road, as not only is it one car stopping, but several.
And each time a car stops it slows the traffic flow, meaning that in turn there are less ‘natural breaks’ in the traffic that are safe enough for us to cross safely.
So, next time you see someone waiting to cross the road, don’t feel you are being rude by continuing to drive. You are helping to keep both them and you safe.
Me and Mizz Fizz have some amazing journeys together, she is my independance, she is my world, just as Vicky was before her. And I will do all I can to protect her, as she protects me.
Several weeks ago on one of our walks we ‘only just’ missed the green man to cross the road. Not an issue though, it just meant we both knew we were in for a bit of a long wait. As the lights in question run in a sequence for the traffic as well as for pedestrians.
So, to save my arm and to help Fizz feel more comfortable I let her handled drop (not literally, a term to explain it sitting against her back). Several people came and stood awaiting the lights to change. A small group of college girls were amongst them. They politely asked if they could stoke the dog, I said they could, until I took hold of the harness.
They only quickly stroked her and then crossed the road, they crossed when there was a gap in the traffic, rather than waiting for the green man.
As they crossed they were laughing with each other. I thought nothing of it and less than a moment later, the lights changed and it was time for us to cross.
I picked up the harness and gave Fizz the command to go…… That’s when it happened.
Fizz took a step forward and I followed, but on the next step I lost the tension on the harness and found myself infront of Fizz while crossing the road.
I felt panicked, why wasn’t she walking? I focused down and that was when I found out.
We had been the subject of the girls joke. While stroking her, it appears that one of them had Unclipped her harness.
Which when I walked forward had moved off her.
Thankfully her lead was still attached and I still had control of her. I quickly moved us off of the road.
Once on the safety of the path, I checked her harness, no break, no damage. I clipped it back together and checked, it wasn’t loose, it didn’t even wiggle when I moved it. It was clear that it had been Unclipped.
Mizz Fizz and myself were safe, Fizz was no worse for her ordeal, but I was still quite shaken.
I couldn’t believe that someone would think of doing something like that, let alone ACTUALLY do it as a joke.
Thankfully they didn’t undo her lead too. I really don’t know or want to think about what could have happened.
Fizz has a lock button on her collar to stop it being Unclipped, since this incident I have made sure that not only is this locked, but that the catch on her collar sits on her neck underneath her mouth (so that it is harder to reach)
I find myself feeling nervous When groups are near us at crossings and will not allow anyone to stroke Fizz now.
Rule 1 of working with a guide dog: TRUST. So, when your faithful guide tries to turn you around because there is something blocking your path, you go with her, right? ……… WRONG!
In this instance a MoP explained that the cycle path had a puddle covering it, it wasn’t deep, (she had just walked through it) but to Mizz Fizz, this is an obstacle, so when she turned me around, I turned her back I wouldn’t allow her to turn me around again, she sat down and refused to move!
Arguing with your guide dog gets you no where (apparently) and they don’t understand sarcasm. (which is utter rubbish)
So, handle down and I took the lead, yes the ‘blind one’ was guiding the guide dog through the puddle …. I say guiding, is was more of a drag, resulting in her getting much wetter than if she had just walked though. With several laughs from passing cyclist who had stopped to watch the performance! Madam was clearly showing me her Stubborn Retriever side today.
The ridiculous thing is, had she not been in her work uniform (lead and harness). She would have had no issues running through said puddle. Probably even laying down to roll around and splash about.
(MoP is an abbrievieation for Member of the Public)
It’s early January, the weather has beensuprisingly warm and wet, so having a cold is not something of a shock to me. Its that time of year, it would be more suprising not to get one.
But this is different, this time this is making it a real struggle to get on…… I have plenty of tissues, Vick’s, hot blackcurrant and black tea to keep me going.
This time, the difference isn’t actually the cold, it is how it has affected my hearing, which in turn has made my world incrediby difficult to navigate within.
And if I am being totally honest, it is scaring the …. out of me. My hearing is my indeoendance, my hearing is my way of ‘seeing’ the world. My hearing is my escapism over a coffee, I am not currently able to pick up the conversations of strangers, I am struggling enough to pick up the conversation of anyone I am with!
I am feeling pretty lost.
However, she has recently take it upon herself to serve an additional role: As my chaperone.
Late last month I was out with an old friend for lunch, he and Fizz had met before and she was her usual bouncy friendly self.
After a bit of shopping we went for lunch in a lovely pub, known as The Customs House, so named for the position it originally held on the Naval Base HMS Vernon, before the area was redeveloped into outlet shopping and luxury apartments.
We were sat chatting while Fizz gently snoozed at my feet, my friend (whom I won’t embarrass by naming) put his arm around me.
Within seconds, my trusted guide dog was on her feet and nudging his other hand away that was sat lightly on my leg. Once he moved his hand and arm from around me, she settled down again. Only to spring back up when after a few momenfs he did it again!
I was more than happy with the affection he was showing me, I wasn’t worried or alarmed, but Fizz clearly had other ideas!
This time when she nudged I asked him not to move, so when her nudging didn’t work, she went on to lick his hand (she isn’t a Licky dog), turned herself around, sat down and pushed herself back towards the sofa so that she was sitting between us !!
I made a big fuss of her and softly reassured her that I was ok, he too made a fuss and she had a happy wagging tail. She settled down again and didn’t stir one bit when he then leaned in and gently kissed me.
I have never experienced anything like it before (I mean the dog reaction, not the kiss! It’s not THAT type of blog)
When we left the pub and walked hand in hand she was more than happy, while we stood awaiting our ferry, she happily sat against him and wagged her tail as he stroked her.
And when he kisses me again as we parted, Fizz stood calmly by my side not making any fuss.
So we took that to mean that he had her approval, his intentions were honourable and we shall most likely be seeing each other again …
