Merry Christmas and a Happy New year

I see I have been keeping this blog going for 3 years and I think it is time now to call a halt.

Although I appear to get plenty of visits, according to the record which comes up each time, I do not get much real response. I have asked that anyone interested can contact me via my own yahoo web address but not much has come from there either.

The problem now is, as some of you in our area will have heard, the train service is as good as suspended due to strikes, cancellations and gross overcrowding on what few trains are running.

This is a dispute between the various factions as to whether the train driver or the guard open the doors at the stations. I won’t go into detail – it is almost unbelievably stupid and has been going on for months with no end in sight! So I am not getting my occasional days out with my bid-watching friend, who anyway has disappeared again – maybe back to Australia to join his family there.

I will keep our website going – see earlier blogs and may adjust that from time to time.

So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Au revoir, Jane (and Chris)

reference contacts

Julius and others. Always pleased to hear from other like-minded addicts - but please contact me first on                                me_blindfolded@yahoo.co.uk           there is a  _  between me and blindfolded!
I can never get off a reply via the 'comments' section on this blog!
Jane

18-10-2016

Mid October. Sorry I have been remiss in updating this blog. I have had to abandon any genuine blindsimming now for the time being. As I have explained before, to go blindsimming, I take a train from my home town to Lewes before starting blindsimming, in order to get a far as reasonably possible away from where I might be recognised.

(see earlier on this blog or go to : meblindfolded.wix.com/blindsimming-lady.)

Even on the train I might easily meet someone who knows me.

Once in Lewes and away from the station, then I am confident I can become genuinely blind and spend a pleasant morning or so. I have described all this before, of course.

The problem now is, as some of you in our area will have heard, the train service is as good as suspended due to strikes, cancellations and gross overcrowding on what few trains are running.

This is a dispute between the various factions as to whether the train driver or the guard open the doors at the stations. I won’t go into detail – it is almost unbelievably stupid and has been going on for months with no end in sight!

Thankfully, I can still finish up blindfolded twice a week as usual, including Wednesday afternoons in Chris’s office as now, or in just a few minutes. So I will try to keep my blog going – if anyone is still interested?

.

Jane.

Mid August 2016

Only 5(!) readers last time. So holidays now until October. No blindsimming unfortunately until then. Might get some blindfolded leisure in if I’m lucky though.

Jane

My fourth blindsimming 'friend' 3-8-2016

What I meant last time was - Are there any active blind-simmers out there who smoke while they are blindsimming!?

As I do, as I’ve said from time to time. Tony, my bird-watching guide accepts that I need to pause and enjoy a cigarette occasionally. On our walk around the bird reservation we eventually come to a ‘hide’, a wooden hut where bird watchers sit inside to observe birds through windows but are not visible to the birds to frighten them off. I’ve been into them elsewhere when not blindsimming so I know what goes on. Obviously not much use to me when blindsimming, so Tony usually finds me somewhere to sit outside while he goes in to talk to people and see what’s about (birdwise!) Then I enjoy a cigarette and listen to the birds and, with luck, absorb some sunshine perhaps even for a half hour or so.

Thus it was one sunny morning a month or so ago. Tony had sat me somewhere near the water’s edge close to the ‘hide’ (he told me) and I could hear him and others talking to one side above me. Then I suddenly heard someone complaining they could smell cigarette smoke. Surely, he said, anyone would know better than smoking in the hide or even outside, for that matter? I groped for my ashtray and stubbed the offending cigarette out! Then I heard Tony apologising on my behalf, saying that his companion outside was totally blind but extremely good at recognising bird sounds.

The other man then became quite apologetic himself and said in that case not to worry about it. But I thought it best not to relight my cigarette!

A few minutes later a voice nearby asked if he could join me. I recognised it as the complaining voice from the ‘hide’ and started to apologise. He was now most friendly, sat down and chatted a bit and mentioned Tony had told him I was blind but good at bird sounds and so on. He then said he had the same trouble over smoking and would I like to walk up to a nearby seat where we both could have a cigarette! Providing he told Tony, I said, which he did. I gave him the usual few words that I’d prefer to hold his arm and walk just slightly behind (I have soon learnt that most people faced with a blind person think that they must do the holding, which is not so helpful.)

Anyway it was like the old days, when the fisherman used to sit on the bench and light my cigarettes -see some of my older blogs! My new friend said any time that Tony wasn’t around, he was here bird-watching more often and gave me his mobile phone number to ring. He wasn’t used to helpless blind people obviously but I got him to put it on my mobile which has a separate number code to use first. Thanks to Chris’s ingenuity. Chris is 1, Tony is 2, and my new friend is now 3. I might get round to trying himout?!

The fisherman doesn’t carry a mobile. It might ring and frighten the fish perhaps!

Jane

No trip today - too hot!! 20-7-2016

I've admitted in the past that I smoke, not too heavily – 10 to 15 a day- ordinary tipped tobacco cigarettes. (One never knows what other people are smoking these days!)

When outdoors, visiting friends or places, I have carried around for many years a pocket ash-tray to avoid leaving ash or cigarette-ends about the place. It is 2 inches or so in diameter, silver-plated with a hinged lid that fastens shut and a place to lay down a lit cigarette between puffs, when open.

Very handy especially these days when blind-simming. It slips into my coat pocket with my phone. I have got very skilled at smoking when blind, lighting my own cigarettes and carefully stubbing out before moving on.

 Right at the start of my recent 'bird-watching' trips, a friendly fisherman used to join me on a bench at the waterside and offer to light my cigarette when he saw me about to smoke.

This worried me at the time, as I have described in our web-site accounts, as I imagined that he would peer into my dark glasses and notice that I was, in those days, wearing patches. Anyway, I've overcome all that now and Tony, my bird-watching guide (who doesn't smoke!) is quite used to my smoking-breaks from time to time. Smoking outdoors hasn't been banned (yet!).

Why am I telling you this? Mainly because, having undertaken two years or so ago to write a blog of interest to fellow blind-simmers, I assume this might be the sort of thing to attract your interest?

Are there any active blind-simmers out there who smoke? I’d love to hear from you if so.

But Chris is waiting now, at 3 o/clock, folded scarf in his hands for his small thrill of the afternoon, so the rest will have to remain till next time.

Jane.

wednesday, 13-7-2016

(1) reply to comment from Bobbie. Thanks for your encouraging words. I tried to reply on the blog page but it doesn't seem to work for me to comment after someone else's comment. Found the same in the past. I like what you say about bad conscience as I raised the matter then and now have a fourth 'trusting' acquaintance to have a concern over. Thanks again.

I could always reply direct if you, and anyone else of course, would like to contact me at -me_blindfolded@yahoo.co.uk-

(2)You may remember that I was (bravely!) trying out some solo birdwatching trips last summer in

the absence of Tony (lost? In Australia!). After a few such trips, I was proud that I could go blind at a quarter of mile before reaching my starting bus-stop and then blind for a few hours eventually arriving at Eastbourne pier before seeing the light of day again. See my blog, 2^nd September last year (2015) – quite a long one!

The 'slight hiatus' that I referred to last time occurred on the different trip that I had been taking from time to time, getting off near the reservoir for some 'bird watching' after walking up there from the bus stop. (again see my previous blogs) As I asked the bus driver to drop me at the then usual place, he said that particular road was closed for some reason and the bus would be making a detour and wouldn't go past that place from where I had been getting off and walking up to the reservoir. I had to think quickly! I decided to go to the previous stop which was in the village and wait for a returning bus, missing out on my nice blind walk up to the reservoir for that day. That I did and managed to find the returning bus stop there and return home as usual from there. I'm not afraid to ask passers-by for help – always cheerfully supplied. Again, I was proud to remain blind the whole time from start to finish.

More next time, Jane

29th June 2016

Sorry that I'm not blogging as often as I should. I will try to blog at least once a month even though not much changes but I'm happy to say that I blind-sim as much as before – Wednesday afternoon in Chris's office, Friday morning household duties with fortnightly piano lessons still fun for both of us, and my occasional bird watching trips back to usual, despite terrible weather this year so far.

Torrential rain as the TV forecast comes up with only too often.

However, I had a little adventure last Wednesday in May which had anyway turned out to be a really nice sunny day. It resulted in me having a new (fourth) blindsimming acquaintance on my Wednesday morning trips. Up till then I had three acquaintances who all took me to be a genuine blind person – Tony, the bird watcher; the fisherman who I still chat briefly with over the hedge as I walk past (of course! I should say as I am guided past!) and the bus-driver who, more often than not, is the same very helpful man who knows where I should be getting off and stops the bus to help me. I must tell you next time of a slight hiatus over that event and I will tell you about the new fourth acquaintance then as well.

Jane

31-may-2016

but actually 1st June today, but just to get at least two blogs in May!!

I (and Chris) occasionally wonder how many of you blindsimming enthusiasts are able to make regular blindsimming outings such as I am lucky to be able to do. We get little or no feedback to our blog here and hope we are not wasting our (or your, for that matter) time. Is anyone really lucky to have a regular guiding friend who really believes that you are genuinely blind – and leaves you with a guilty conscience? Would be most interesting to hear, please!

Jane

11-5-2016 Very pleased to report

Well, I'm very pleased to report that I am back on my bird-”watching” blindsimming outings with my guide/friend, Tony. Last Wednesday was just the right lovely warm, sunny day for our first trip out after an absence of about 18 months, due to him losing both his 'phone and my number as I've described previously.

Early morning train to Lewes, where I adopt my partial blindsimming pose. As I've again explained before, for full blindsimming I wear a pair of reflective wrap-around glasses, with a little extra trimming to minimise the light creeping in around the edges and with the inside of the lenses blackened out. Most effective although not as good as being securely blindfolded.

I have a second pair, an exact replica, except the lenses are translucent (not blackened out). These are my “trans” pair which worn and with the use of my white cane give other people the impression I am blind. This is all explained on our web-site:-

meblindfolded.wix.com/blindsimming-lady.

So, as in the old days, I tapped my way to a point where I could cross the road safely towards the bus-stop that I use for the next part of the trip, to a village where I meet up with Tony. As soon as I crossed the road, I changed my glasses to the fully blacked out pair and now, blind I can through some practice over previous trips, find my way to the bus stop and with a certain amount of gratuitous help from passers-by, got on the correct bus and got off at the required stop where Tony was waiting just as he used to before.

Very pleased with the whole outing, very much as before so I won't bore you further just now. Next time perhaps.

Jane

Good news for my blindsimming outings

Surprise! You will remember my bird-watching friend, Tony, who used to take me on bird-watching trips and firmly believed and accepted me as a blind person who, however, happened to be fairly good (me that is!) at bird song and calls? He went to Australia to visit family early in 2015 and I had heard nothing from him at all since – our only contact had been via our mobile phones, we had each others number and that was all. When I heard nothing during last summer, I tried his number without luck. I thought either my calls didn't get as far as Australia or that he had simply lost his phone altogether or something much worse had happened.

Then, last week, a message from him arrived on my mobile – an unusual happening anyway – a voice message of course, I can't read texts (he believes). He had indeed lost his phone and therefore my phone number which was on it. Thinking he had simply just left it behind on his return from Australia, he enquired of the family there, but no luck. Then after Christmas this year, he had reason to get out the suitcase he had taken there and back and, to his surprise, he found the phone ( a modern slim-line, I assume,) slipped down inside the case's lining! Obviously the battery had gone very flat and the SIM card ran out, but there was my phone number stored in the phone itself. My old phone (large keys and only used my him and my brother, Chris), would never had been that clever!!

So we are back in contact and planing to resume the bird-watching trips as soon as the horrible weather we have at the moment clears up. I'm really pleased, I can tell you.

Jane

Not much on the blindsimming front at this end! 24-02-2016

background to these blogs at                 meblindfolded.wix.com/blindsimming-lady

Husband catches a train into his workplace in London every day, giving me plenty of scope for blindsimming as I've been describing in these blogs. It is the main line between the South Coast and London and the commuters are often complaining about delays. Due, I am told, to - Leaves on the Line, Wrong type of Snow, Staff oversleeping, passengers committing suicide – sadly usually on Monday mornings and so on. A few weeks ago, there was a strange one. In the middle of January for a day, the sun was too bright! Would you believe it? Hard to believe that this would bring the trains to a halt? But it apparently did.

Reportedly, the drivers of trains going northwards in to London that morning, leaning out of their driving cab windows, were unable to see the back end of their train at station platforms and therefore couldn't see if passengers were still waiting to get on and they couldn't drive off!

Why? They were blinded looking back into the low and bright sun!

(Because of financial cuts etc. etc., trains nowadays don't have 'guards' at the back end as they used to. Any staff that might happen to be aboard the train, besides the driver, are too busy trying to catch passengers without tickets!)

The same thing happened to me once recently. In my home town, getting off the bus, I turned towards the sun and was quite blinded by the sudden glare from the sun.

I had that certain 'buzz' that I get when I'm blind deliberately when blindsimming, but this time I felt quite lost not having my stick to hand, of course. I expect you have similar experiences when the sun is low, as it is this time of year? I suppose most people would say they were just 'dazzled'?

I' m just a little mad about this subject, needless to say.

Sorry I haven't anything more exciting to report in the blindsimming scene just now.

Best wishes, Jane

Belated New Year Wishes 27-01-2016

For background to our blog go to : meblindfolded.wix.com/blindsimming-lady.

Hope you had a good holiday as we did.

Unfortunately no blindsimming at all since I last blogged except:-

We have to take down our Christmas decorations before Twelth Night ( twelve nights after Christmas day) and I usually offer to do this task one day when husband has returned to work, this year therefore I did it on Tuesday, the 5^th January and as in the last few years, I did the whole task securely blindfolded. I described this task in our blog on 11^th February last year, so you can go back to there to read a detailed account. Exactly the same this year, except I didn't leave any decorations on the Christmas tree at all. I did leave however a biggish hanging decoration on the wall in the corner of the room and didn't notice it at all during the rest of the day. Husband spotted it during the evening. How on earth did you manage not to see that one, he asked! Couldn't really tell him the truth though. As you know, my blindsimming is a secret between me and my brother. Neither husband nor my brother's wife know of it and wouldn't understand it even if they did.

Best Wishes, Jane