blindfolding time 3 o/clock, 19/08/2015

I haven't kept a personal diary since I was a young girl, and even then, I didn't write about blindfolding experiences – too afraid my parents would find it. However now I find I have started keeping a diary of sorts by way of this blog. I looked back over last year to the summer and find I didn't have much activity at all to report for August, having just finished describing my blindfolded trip around Hampton Court Maze, which took place anyway some time even before then. I wouldn't mind doing that again ….. Chris?

This summer has been a bit different and more exciting on the blindfolded scene. I haven't yet had the opportunity to try my final unaccompanied trip yet. Glad it wasn't today, much too hot outside, so I'm having my more usual temping job this afternoon in the cool of Chris's office.

Regarding my forthcoming outing by myself though. Regarding my fear of crossing the main road finally at the bus stop, Chris came up with two half-hearted suggestions.

One was that I should wear, for the whole trip, what he calls a 'Hi-vis' jacket! He has one or two in his office that he wears on his visits to building projects. Hi-vis is short fort for High Visibility, a fairly light-weight jacket in a Day-glow, almost luminous yellow colour, that you see a lot on road-menders and such these days. No thanks, I said. Just what I don't want! I try to keep a low profile on my blind-simming trips.

His second half-hearted suggestion arose from something we had both seen occasionally in town.

Old people at crossings simply hold their white stick out horizontally in front of themselves, even raised a bit and just charge out across the road, assuming any traffic will just give way. Not for me thank you, I said, unless you want to collect me from the local hospital. These people are obviously partially sighted. My trouble, being completely blacked out, would be that I might veer off in the middle of the road and begin walking down the road instead of across it!

Next time I'll tell you how I have managed – provided I do manage.

Jane

Conclusion to Dry Run 4. 12/08/2015

Continuing from last blog then.

If you remember, I am doing my usual blindsimming outing but with a difference as my 'guide' in the past, Tony, is in Australia for the summer. I am doing 'dry runs' on a slightly different route escorted by brother Chris in order to convince myself that I can next time do it alone and unaccompanied – at least until I have to cross the main road to catch my return bus. We haven't come up with a solution to that problem yet.

I got as far as the bus stop last time where, again as usual, the bus driver made sure I got off the bus alright and met up with Chris waiting there, he having parked further back in the village as there was nowhere to leave the car at this point on the busy road.

Chris then suggested that I found my own way to the gate and walk up the lane. He would keep a long way behind, he said. That all went well even though I was now completely blacked out by the eye-patches, just as I really like it. Through the gate at the other end and I heard no sound of Chris but I had heard the bull-finches – a piping call – that I knew were in a copse of trees about halfway up. I turned to my right and using my stick now on my right side passed the two seats and approached the third. There was someone there. I could hear two lady's voices and realised someone was sitting on the seat, now just on my right hand side. I asked if there was room for me to sit down and of course there was and they soon started talking to me in a general way. Chris arrived very soon after and joined in the conversation. The girls were Scottish, on a walking holiday here in Sussex and were aiming now for the Seven Sisters, the high cliffs next to the sea about 10 miles across the South Downs before going into Eastbourne, where they had overnight accommodation booked. He helped them with their map and pointed out that the most direct way was down the lane that we had just come up.

He explained to them that we were siblings and he was accompanying on my walk. Yes, he said, I was totally blind but quite able to get about with my white stick, preferably accompanied, of course. Then, to my surprise, he told them that the type of blindness that I suffered (!) from meant that I had to wear patches over both my eyes in any bright light, and suggested that I remove my dark glasses to show them, which I did! They seemed to accept this as not unusual. He further explained that he was on the way to a meeting in Eastbourne (no, they didn't want a lift!), said he had to run back to the village to collect the car and, if they didn't mind, could I walk down the lane with them as far as the main road where he would be along soon in the car to pick me up? Of course, they willing agreed.

Chris went off and after a while, they too were ready to go and off I went with them. They were most considerate but not used to walking with a blind person and between them I was virtually 'frog-marched down the lane – very slowly! I can walk at a normal pace if I am holding someone's arm – not someone holding my arm – years of practice!

So all went well after that and Chris reckoned that I had passed the final 'dry-run' test. He has since thought up how I can avoid crossing the busy road – the only hitch to our plans – and I am looking forward to my solo effort soon – not eye-patched though!

Jane.