Today is one filled with mixed emotions, concerns and thoughts. Today, 18th January 2015 is the last working day for my guide dog Vicky. We have been working together as a qualified team since 18th November 2009, and it has been an amazing 5
03
Sep 2016
So….. Today, this happened !!
It’s almost 11.00 o’clock, 12 hours after this crazy day started. The climbing arena was nothing like I had ever seen before and no matter how much I had researched and looked at photo after photo I was not prepared for the quarry that I
02
Sep 2016
Maybe I Should have said something before…..
Well, this is something new……. I am sat in the passenger seat of my friends car doing 70+ MPH on the M6 Motorway travelling on my way to Edinburgh; while typing this blog. My iPad is tethered to my phone for 4G and my voiceover
19
Jun 2018
Faith
While with a group of friends today we were talking about faith. Discussing it and questioning what our understanding of it is. One comment made about one way to look at faith was If you’re sat on a chair, you hold faith that THAT chair
22
Apr 2013
St George’s Day sewing marathon
So, tomorrow is St George’s Day and at 2.40 this afternoon my daughters school sent out a text message to say that any Beavers, Rainbows, Brownies etc are free to wear their uniforms instead of school uniform… With full badges! This created 2 panics…. 1)
22
Apr 2016
Madness of Muse
19.30 ….. The time has come, the big event of my year is just one sleep away.
Tomorrow sees me return to the London O2 in North Greenwich, this time to see a very different performance in the act Muse.
I am currently laid on the bed in my hotel room, with a view (via the zoom view on my camera) of the O2 just across the river. And the excitement is building….. Especially as when the traffic noise dies down; I can hear the sound check!
This is set to be a very ‘visual’ gig. So I have my faithful friend and PA Simon with me to support me. Unlike my trip to see Adele, this time I have bought my guiding girl Fizz with me, as I am away for a few days I wanted to be able to feel confident and comfortable while we are out tomorrow before the gig.
So, I have arranged with the accessibility team at the O2 to ensure that she will be well looked after. This is the bit I am nervous about, how do they ‘look after’ her?
But for now off to sleep so we can enjoy a full day out tomorrow.
07.00….. Awake a breakfast eaten, I am thinking I am maybe just a little bit excited !!!
First, we are off to Stratford for the day, last night we grabbed the tube and went for a walk around the Olympic Park, but Sam hoping to go back today to ‘see’ it in daylight. Simon was very fortunate to be one of the volunteers involved with the opening ceremony for the Olympics I’m 2012…. So, who better to be my guide?
The weather was interesting…. Bright blue sky, that thick black clouds. Here is the photo of what things looked like when we arrived it Stratford, we then went into the shopping centre and when we came out again, the sun was shining, yet the ground was soaked.
I had chosen the hotel for the ease of travelling to the O2, it was just one tube journey away. After our day out, we got ready and left early to get to there with plenty of time. As the tube got closer, more and more people joined the train and the buzz was so calm and yet exciting. Fizz was calm and happy with the added attention she was getting each time someone got on or off.
I have previously visited the O2 (for dinner) with Fizz in the past, so she knew the route and remembered it well. She was a star, the crowds were large, however she took it all in her stride and expertly Weaved her way through, I think even Simon was amazed by her work. She was amazing and her skills were being put to good use, making it a much calmer experience for me. And most of all, she was also enjoying the challenge.
The O2 isn’t just s concert venue, it’s a centre of entertainment, there are masses of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, a bowling alley and even a multi-screen cinema! So, on entering we went for a drink, it was very busy, but not manic and we had kind of expected it. Once the doors opened to the arena. I had been advised that I needed to take Mizz Fizz to the customer service desk, where we would find assistance. This was when we found our ‘ANGEL’ literally, it was a friendly member of the O2 staff, who had huge beautiful white wings made of feathers on her back. She showed us which entrance that we were needing to go in to get to our seats, before taking us to the customer team, she introduced me to the senior member of staff, who had been expecting Fizz. She took my contact details and introduced me to the male member of staff who would be Fizz’s guardian while we enjoyed the concert. He would be taking her to a carpeted sound proofed room above the arena, she would be offered water and he would take her out for a short walk to enable her to go to the toilet. I had bought w toy and treats with us, so that she would enjoy her experience.
Then information the staff gave me was a complete surprise and not something that I had thought of, but clearly it was a point that the staff were aware of, it wasn’t anything bad or of a concern, it was actually a great benefit.
Towards the end of the gig, a member of staff would walk Fizz to the entrance to the arena that we would be leaving by, this was so that we would be able to leave straight away, without having to battle amongst the crowds.
So, with fizz taken care of, Simon guided me to our seats and we were ready for the show!
i could easily fill this post with photos of the show, I could bore you all with the enjoyment of the show….. I won’t, I will just say that I was amazed at how visual and precise the lighting was I was able to enjoy myself, the sound quality was spot on, I could clearly hear each word, for everything else I was able to use my phone to view, photograph and film. For my own enjoyment later, not for sharing around. So I have just end added one.
It all ended too quickly, it felt like we had been in there only an hour, rather than nearer three.
Muse had left the stage, the lights went on and all of a sudden I was aware of the sniff of Fizz behind me…. She had dragged her handler in through the doors as soon as they were open. She, never being there before, came straight to us. This was brilliant, as I had her harness with me, we were ready to leave.
…… Filled with memories that will never leave, even if my sight does.
Theresa Osborne-Bell |
No comments | Tags: accessibility, Drones 2016, Fizz, GD, independence, London, Memory, Muse, O2 Arena, Olympic Park
23
Mar 2016
What can I say?
So…. Following on from This gal is off to a Gig, I am sure you have all been waiting with great antisipation to hear my update of The O2. I honestly don’t know what I can say, I was absolutely blown away.
We weren’t in any ‘special’ seating, we were in ZZ and oh my, that may sound terrible, but it was actually brilliant.
We walked in to the arena and our seats were on that very level on the left, no stairs, no panic over how the hell I was going to walk down amongst crowds of people. All we had to do was shuffle along in front of people who had already taken their seats and we were there.
I was far too nervous to need the loo! Even with the Vente Starbucks and the best part of 2 bottles of rosé…. I just wanted to watch it. (I know I mostly listened, but the term ‘watching’ is part of my vocabulary. Just like ‘I’ll see you later’ even though it will be a very long time if ever that I actually SEE them!)
….. I hate those people who go to a gig and then watch it through the tiny screen on their phones, but tonight that was me! Not for the whole gig, but definitely for the beginning, for the ‘pre show’ sitting down bit.
I wasn’t recording it, I was able to take the odd snap and look at it, the set up was amazing though.
As my photos show, we were high up, but with the big screen (and the use of my iPhone) where we sat was irrelevant.
Going to the gig was more about the atmosphere, the unexpected and the ‘live-ness’ of it all.
Adele probably has one of the most powerful voices of this age, she knows how to sing… She also knows how to talk to the crowd, in a way that makes you feel that you are at an intimate location, not sat in the O2 with 20,000 plus other people. I guess being from London herself, she felt more relaxed in her surroundings. She didn’t just sing though, she performed to the crowd. Those sat close enough got involved, including two little girls who were 7 and 8.
There were two parts to her ‘stage’ She initially came up out of a box on the centre of the arena before moving to the large stage. She then moved back to be centre stage, to me a small dot of lights was all that enable me to see this, until she was encased in a curtain…. That was when I got to see her, properly see her.
As the photo shows, she is projected up onto each of the four sides, she joked that she shouldn’t spin around, before doing just that…. Because it would make the audience dizzy and feel sick!
The whole event was amazing, the atmosphere was brilliant and when I began to get nervous about leaving, the staff were quickly on hand to help (while also checking out that my cane wasn’t some sort of weapon!)
I am even more excited now about returning next month to see Muse! This time with Mizz Fizz who will be escorted out of the arena after I have been seated to spend her evening with the management team….. In an ‘almost’ sound proof office!
Theresa Osborne-Bell |
No comments | Tags: accessibility, Adele, cane, Feelings, independence, iPhone, London, o2
21
Mar 2016
This Gal is off to a Gig
Today is a day for firsts.
Today I am going to the O2 in London to watch Adele in concert. I have never seen her before and I have never been to a gig at the O2 before either. This is the first of two gigs that I am going to this year…. In April, I shall be returning to the O2 to see Muse, I’m well aware that they are polar opposites, but then my music tastes, like my film and theatre tastes are eclectic.
I am going with a great friend and her sister. She is driving, so Mizz Fizz shall be staying home and I shall be taking my faithful cane. My friend has been several times before and we are going early to have a leisurely meal before the gig starts. So I am not concerned about the ‘getting there’ bit.
However, the closer it gets, the more anxious I feel myself getting…. It is a completely unreasonable emotion, I am with a friend who I can be myself with, who will happily help if I need her to, I am not having to tackle any form of public transport, I have a designated seat, unlike some of the gigs I went to while at Uni, seeing some amazing bands at Rock City and The Southampton Guildhall. Yet, here I am feeling my stomach tense and twist.
I have been to the O2 before, I went for dinner several months ago after having a flight on The Emirates Cable Car from Royal Docks to North Greenwich. I know the space and how vast it is. I never visited when it was The millennium dome, something, now with all its restaurants, cafes I am sure would have be amazing. I haven’t seen the arena, the bit where the gigs are, not that doesn’t matters. Each is set up differently dependant on the entertainer. So, I ask again;
Why am I feeling like this?
The ‘little girl’ in me is irrationally concerned about silly things, like…..
What if I need the toilet?
I am able to go myself, I have no issues there…. Well, maybe just one;
How do I find it? Is the arena going to be like the auditorium in a theatre? Will there be lights on? Will I have to navigate stairs?
I shall go to the loo before it starts, I am sure I will be absolutely fine…. But this is how my blind mind thinks. It’s how I find myself in the state I am in right now, it is how I find myself writing this. Somehow, putting it down in print makes me realise just how silly I am being.
I was tempted to hit the delete button, to erase the whole thing, to hide from you all. But, actually that wouldn’t achieve anything. My blog is as much for me as it is for you the reader.
Plus, this post is just crying out for a follow-up tomorrow!
01
Mar 2016
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is Touring …… Who’s coming?
Was the Facebook post of a friend in October. Having only been talking with a friend about the very same show a few weeks back, there was only one answer;
Me, Me, Me !!!
So, never having seen the film, let alone the theatre production I set to work on my costume. I grew up doing ‘The Timewarp’ I knew the background behind the story, so wasn’t going to be shocked by the performance. But thanks to an ‘ex’ I had been put off watching it before!
He had never seen the show, just the movie….. Which he continually raved on about, being in Am-Dram himself, his not seeing the theatre show is what had stopped me watching even the film.
As you may have realised (if your a regular reader) I am independant, some would even go as far to say stubborn. I like to make up my own mind. And I guess him insisting I must watch it had the opposite affect.
But now, many, many MANY years after our relationship ended I was ready to make up my own mind.
I wasn’t going to ‘spoil’ the show by watching the film first… I simply googled images from the show to see the charactors, then based upon the female cast (not the men dressing as women) I looked up quotes, from which I got;
I ask for nothing, Master.
Appealed to me, along with the maids outfit and crazy hair, there had to be hidden wonders to this gal…. And I wasn’t disappointed !! So, Magenta was my character of choice.
I faught back the temptation to watch the film, to read the reviews, I was going to see this show ‘blind’ (Yes, pun intended!)
I hadn’t planned on the ‘blind panic’ I found myself in earlier in the day. All bought about by me going out with a ‘different’ group of friends, friends who I had enjoyed drinks with at the pub, friends I had been with at family fun days, but they weren’t friends that had ever had to support me with a long cane, in an unfamiliar environment.
This bought me to come incredibly close to cancelling the whole idea, I wasn’t strong enough to do this, I didn’t want to ruin their evening, I didn’t want to be in the way.
Then my babysitter arrived and verbal ‘kicked my ass!’
so, wig on, costume fitted I awaited my lift. Thankfully no public transport needed, she picked me up before heading to pick up a few others. My calmness washed over me as we sat in the car, the others who got in complimented me on my outfit.
I felt good!
I felt even better when my ‘disability’ was able to secure us a parking spot directly outside the theatre….. Given my lack of clothes, along with the lovely gentleman who was with us dressed in very little and the cold wind that was blowing… I was thankful to have my blue badges with me!
The closer we got to the theatre, the more people in costumes we saw (when I say we, not me but those I was with) it was a fabulous atmosphere from the second we pulled up. Others in our party were already there, they too had made an effort and gone all glam!
Our seats were in the stalls, at the bottom of the staircase, without even having to ask, one friend linked arms with me and helped guide me without making anything of it or causing me to feel as if I was any different to anyone else out for the night with their girlfriends.
The show amazed me, the lights, the sounds and the music…. But what made it for me more was the audience participation. The narrator had some wonderful lines with just the right pauses and even he broke character and joined in with the banter, commenting on how we were the earlier show so ‘supposedly’ better behaved.
We joined in, we sang, we danced, we laughed so hard our ribs hurt.
The show was very unique to me, I mean in the way I saw it. With the little sight I have left, anything further than my nose is a blur. So the lights of the show and the colours of the stage were very unique to me.
If you haven’t seen either the show or the film, even if the theme may seem out of your comfort zone. I would suggest you go see it. And for me, not having a good view or being able to see the actors didn’t detract from it, not at all.
19
Feb 2016
How to confuse a blindie ….
Lately I have had to relinquish some of my freedom, as I have damaged my left knee in some way, this means that instead of heading for the stairs, I have had to rely on my guiding girl to find me the lift.
So, as is with most Guide Dogs, Fizz is target trained to follow commands, just like “find the lift.” A job that she does very well.
She will then help me with finding the buttons, with a similar command.
Upon walking in the lift, she would then turn me around so that I am facing the door ready to exit.
There are time when we go into a lift and it has a rear door also. Sometimes these are just to get to the store room, sometimes these are the exit to the floor I require.
Yesterday when shopping with a friend, I went into the local Next Store. I went upstairs to look at the homeware, Fizz found me the lift, then the buttons and finally as the doors opened, she walked me inside.
She then started to turn around (to face the door again) but when she got half way, she stopped and stood. We had in theory turned right, not around.
In the shiny silver lift I thought she was trying to cheekily get to something on the floor, so I took her lead and got her to continue the turn. By which time the lift door was opening,
The lift door that was opening was not infront of us, or behind. It was now on our left.
The very same place that Fizz had stopped me when we walked in.
I have never EVER been in a lift that opens like this.
Like I said ………….. Way to confuse a blindie !!!
08
Feb 2016
Way back when I wrote for Guide Dogs….
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.
04
Feb 2016
Perfect vision …. If only in hindsight.
Isn’t it crazy how even to someone with poor eye sight, hindsight has perfect vision?
Theresa Osborne-Bell |
No comments | Tags: Depression, Disability, doing it, Feelings, Fizz, Guide dog, independence, Perception, Tunnel vision, VIP
27
Jan 2016
Feeling lazy as I can’t cross the road.
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.
Theresa Osborne-Bell |
No comments | Tags: crossing roads, doing it, Guide dog, independance, safety
27
Jan 2016
Funny ….. Most Definately NOT !!
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.
