Hi, in response to the latest survey that's doing the rounds - here are my answers. Enjoy!

Was your last meal a mistake? No, my meals are never a mistake.
Do you like someone? In the friendship way, I like plenty of people.
Have you ever been depressed? Luckily no.
Have a best friend? A few, not just 1.
What is your relationship status? Single and enjoying it
What did you last eat? A very dry cheeseburger with salad and chips, courtesy of the NHS
Tom from MySpace is about to go to jail, what’s your first thought? Never heard of him and don’t have Myspace, so it doesn’t affect me.
Do you have an attitude? I don’t think so, although everyone has some sort of attitude.
Ever been in love? No
What is your real name? Neana Janine Lawson
Like reading? Yes, but rarely have time.
Are you gonna get high later? No, not that you should be asking that anyway really.
Do you hate anyone at the moment? Certainly not!
Do you miss someone? Yes, a couple of people who died many years ago.
Ever ate food in a car while someone or yourself is driving? Absolutely, but not while I was driving as I can’t flippin’ well do it!
Have you ever started a rumor? No, and never would.
Do you regret anything from your past? Surely everyone does.
What are your political views? Although I’m not hugely into politics, I make a point of voting, but which party I vote for depends on their policies etc. at the time of the election.
Do you want to have kids? No thanks!
Do you type fast? Yep, sure do.
Do you have piercings? None whatsoever.
Did you have a good day? Reasonably.
Can you spell well? Surely it’s w e l l isn’t it? lol
Do you miss your past? Not particularly.
What are you craving right now? For my throat to stop hurting!
What should you be doing? Going to bed right now I think.
What is your favorite color? Red, or possibly blue.

Current Location: Armchair
Current Mood: Semi-sleepy
Current Music: Magic

Hi again all, this weather seems to be producing some updates from me, so make the most of it! Before I get down to the nitty gritty, let's start with a quiz - everyone's posting their results so I thought I would too, so what's my energy level? Take a guess!

Decided what you think my energy level is?

Ready...

OK, here it is:

Your energy level is MODERATE

For you, life is all about balance. You keep active, but you rest a lot too.
You have enough vigor to get everything done... with a little left over for some fun.

You find that you have plenty of energy, as long as you give yourself time to recharge.
But if you don't take care of yourself, you notice that your energy levels really plummet.

Did you get it right then?

OK, now let's get to the slippery point. Obviously it's been a snowy old week this week, starting on Sunday and Monday with a moderate amount that gave a nice covering. I managed to get out on Tuesday although it was a little bit icy, and go to my advice session. Came back and had to virtually mountain climb my way up the little hilly bit to get to my gate. My knees really didn't appreciate, but if I hadn't done it that way, pulling up on a twig, I'd have slid back and never got up there.

Decided not to go to the National Federation of the Blind's Nottingham Branch meeting otherwise I'd have to repeat the same performance.

So on comes Wednesday. It became even more icy. I walked to just outside our gate and one foot took a slide and hit the barriers at the top of our cobbled mountain. Imagine what could have happened if that wasn't there!! I'm thankful I wrote to the Council and got those erected. Anyway, returning to the point, I ended up phoning in and saying I couldn't make it to my advice session at the Volunteer Centre. I stayed in for the first of3 days so far.

Bear in mind at this point that:
A. OUr road is a little side road.
B. Council's don't usually grit side roads.
C. Both of us have trouble with ice, and not just from a visual perspective.

OK, so on Thursday we start seeing if we can get someone to shift the snow/ice or grit the pavement so we're not trapped like prisoners in our own homes. We phone the City Council, who say they don't grit pavements and it's not their responsibility. We try to phone Places for People, but the office is closed so we get no answer. We're stuck - day 2 - and I was supposed to be doing a PC Security audit of some PCs for a local voluntary organization I'm on the Committee of.

Now it's Friday, glorious friday. The Disability Equality Scheme meeting I was supposed to attend got cancelled because of the weather, a blessing to me. The path had slushy bits where people had walked, and those were very slippery - even my snow shoes, with great grips, still slid! Luckily I had a hand on the gate, but that test meant we were stuck again - day 3! The search for a way out continued. Someone had mentioned that Age Concern had a handyman scheme and they MIGHT be willing to help, as they do some work with people with disabilities. They took a referral, sent someone out, but then said they couldn't do it as it was the public pathway and not my path between door and gate - someone could slip, they'd be sued and they weren't insured. He put our bins out for collection tomorrow and left.

Later, Emma - tenancy support worker - came for her visit and we discussed the situation. She tried the Council again (got the same responses as we had) and also Places for People, who also said if this was a specialist residence they could have done something, but it's not, so they couldn't. She also tried NRSB to see if a volunteer could come over and visit a grit bin, collect some grit and grit the pavement - no. It wasn't in her remit to do it herself, so that was all options exhausted. Unless we feel adventurous, we're stuck until it melts. And when will that be, I wonder? Goodness knows, except that as it's likely to freeze every night for the next however many, it won't be soon.

So if anyone feels like being adventurous and bringing a load of salt and stuff over, shoving it all over our pavement and trampling it in so it takes hold of the ice and helps it melt away, please feel free!

Right, rant over. Think it's time to read some emails, tweets and whatever else. All I will say is that the Council haven't heard the end of this - there may be a long letter dropping onto the reception desk, and there will be an any other business item at their next Disability Equality Scheme meeting.

Enjoy tomorrow, it's the best you're gonna get, with forecasters saying there may be more from Sunday to Tuesday - don't know how much or where.

Take care, stay safe, stay warm and don't go sliding unless it's intentional!

TTFN!

Current Location: Armchair in my home/prison
Current Mood: Gritting my teeth
Current Music: BBC Radio Nottingham and Jaws reading

Hi all, just thought I’d put a quick post in. I’ve been up to all sorts this last couple of weeks.

I’ve been in Hereford this past weekend with Erica, Tash and Alex (some readers may only recognise 1 out of the 3 of those names, sorry!) It was great, even though we didn’t go out much. We originally intended to go and visit some friends at the RNC College, but new rules meant that because we hadn’t let staff there know a week in advance that we were visiting, we couldn’t visit. Silly rules!!! Anyway, we managed to get some people to come visit us in the Travellodge so that was OK.

We got there on Friday afternoon after an eventful trip through Birmingham New Street, where the assistants didn’t know we needed a ramp even though it had been requested in the booking. Then when they got us to our departure platform for the Hereford train they said there was no ramp there, so we had to jump the gap and leap the step and hope we landed feet first on a train. Lol. Maybe it wasn’t quite that bad, but it might as well have been.

Arriving just about in one piece in Hereford station we were met by 2 fantastic station people, who took us across the tracks rather than over the foot bridge and out to the taxi and it was off to the Travellodge. We had a Chinese takeaway on the Friday night which was rather nice – man, I love spare ribs!

The Saturday started with the good intentions of going out for a breakfast at about 10 ish, but of course that didn’t happen. In the end we went to Morrisons at nearly 1 o’clock and had the big breakfast. Ryan came over for the afternoon after we’d bought some supplies, and then we went out to the Grandstand (Hungry Horse) in the evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Sunday was weird – it took a long time to get going coz we really could not be bothered! We stayed in for the morning and ate mince pies (yes I know it’s not Christmas but we had some to spare) and Pringles, then went to the Rose and Crown pub for a lovely lunch. Ryan came over again for the afternoon, and yet another Chinese takeaway was consumed in the evening.

Today Erica and I had to depart. After a slightly slow start, we eventually got packed up, checked the hotel room and headed out for breakfast at a little local café called West 17, which did really nice (if a tad small) breakfasts. Then it was off to the station and back to sunny Nottingham. No funny business at New Street this time – our assistant got the ramp without a quibble, and got us off without a hitch, only to tell us that our next train wasn’t for half an hour. Oh lovely, a wait in the cold. But no! Just in front of the train we’d just jumped off was another train, bound for Nottingham. We were early, and there were 5 minutes before it was due to depart, so we clambered aboard for an early return home, and were still met by the cheerful assistants at Nottingham station. For once it appears the Birmingham new Street team had actually informed Nottingham that their 2 passengers would be returning earlier than originally advertised.

So now we’re back and shortly off to bed after a great weekend away. If I had to pick a high point, it would probably be being able to lie in bed, talking about absolutely all sorts of stuff. The only low point for me, apart from Tash breaking her perfume bottle in the pub on Saturday night, would be having a cold from the morning after we arrived, which is still with me now although gradually dying.

My other bit of news is that on the 26th of January, at 1pm, I will be at the offices of the RNIB in Birmingham for an interview for the job of temporary trainee employment officer on the Trainee Grade Scheme. I applied back in November, recruitment was put on hold, and then today I got invited to interview!! I have to do a 5 to 10 minute presentation on what I want to achieve in the role and how I think the role fits into the wider West Midlands team. Should be interesting! The 2 weeks countdown starts… wait for it… NOW!!!

Right, I’m off to bed now, I need to recharge before a mightily busy week which looks something like this:

Tuesday: NRSB Service User Group 10 til 12, scoring of advocacy interviews 1 til 4, Work Directions appointment 4 til 5, Committee meeting 6 til 8.
Wednesday: Retail focus group with the RNIB in the morning, nothing much in the afternoon
Thursday: Endocrinology appointment in the morning, partnership working training if there’s still a space in the afternoon 1 til 4.
Friday: Full day of hospital stuff 9 til 5 and then off to an NRSB panto at 7.

I’ll be glad of another weekend!

Right, now I’m really off to bed, so good night to all and enjoy your week, whatever it may bring.

Before I go, here’s a few questions posted in Kay’s journal – feel free to post up your own responses.

8 years ago (2000)

1) How old were you? 16
2) Where did you go to school?
Tapton Comprehensive School in Sheffield (unfortunately)
3) Where did you work?
Nowhere
4) Where did you live?
With parents in Sheffield
5) Where did you hang out?
Mainly with family – didn’t have many friends back then.
6) Did you wear contacts?
No, never have and probably never will.
7) Who was your best friend?
Back in those days, and having few friends, I’d say my best friends were two students called Zara and Ellie.
8) How many tattoos did you have? None – my pain tolerance is too low for those!
9) How many piercings did you have?
None – same reason as above!
10) What car did you drive?
I didn’t
11) How many kids?
None
12) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorced?
Single

4 YEARS AGO (2004)

1) How old were you?
20
2) Where did you go to school?
Nottingham Trent University
3) Where did you work?
I volunteered for Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind during those longer holidays but didn’t have any paid work.
4) Where did you live?
For the first half I was at RNIB New College Worcester and staying in the Sixth Form Hostel, then from September a crabby hall of residence at the University (I’d love to see that place burn to the ground!)
5) Where did you hang out?
College with friends for first half, September onwards mainly Uni café with fellow accountancy students.
6) Did you wear glasses?
Certainly not
7) Who were your best friends?
I had plenty for the first half, and they have continued to be my best friendies ever since.
8) How many tattoos did you have?
None whatsoever
9) How many piercings
A big fat zero
10) What kind of car did you have?
No car
11) Had your heart broken?
No, not me!
12) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorced?
Still single
13) How many kids?
Zilcho

TODAY (2009)

1) How old are you?
I'm 24
2) Where do you work?
I’m not, but I’m sure trying hard to get there!
3) Where do you live?
Sunny Nottingham
4) Do you wear glasses?
No, I don’t – they wouldn’t help.
5) Who is/are your closest friends?
An absolute list of them – it’s great to have too many to list!
6) Do you talk to your old friends?
Not as much as perhaps I should.
7) How many piercings do you have?
None, and not particularly interested in acquiring any either
8) How many tattoos?
Still none.
9) What kind of car do you drive?
Still don't drive but it would be nice!
10) Has your heart been broken?
No
11) Single/taken/married/divorced/Engaged?
Single
12) How many kids?
None and quite willing to keep it that way thanks!

TTFN!

Current Location: My office chair
Current Mood: Sleep-ready
Current Music: Adverts on Living after Most Haunted Live

Hi all, just making a quick entry here, the last of 2008!

Hope everyone's doing OK, and got lots of plans for New Year's Eve parties and all that. I'm looking forward to a great New Year's party from 6 or 7 ish til around midnight, before migrating outside into the bitterly cold night to watch some spectacular fireworks being shot off from Nottinham CAstle.

It's been an interesting year. Lots of trips to different places to see friends, go to events and all that. Ezzie moved in in May, and it's been good to have the company and to be able to share expenses etc. My mum's not been so happy about it, but let's face it - whose place is this? I know she does a lot of cleaning here, and helps with shopping sometimes, helps organise stuff in the flat and whatever, which may be a little more work when there's 2 of us, but still...

Anyway, let's get off that subject! There's been progress on the job front, I've been doing a hell of a lot of volunteering and am now on Work Directions' Pathways to Work programme and they are being really supportive.

Then later in about November/december time, a job came up at the NRSB which I knew someone would be interested in but required very good specialist knowledge. I obtained the job details and passed them onto Kristian - I knew the job would suit him and he would be in a great place to get the job! With a little bit of advising on interview preparation, provision of some documents and not a great deal else, he got the job! My first bit of minor interview coaching, I was impressed!!!

Anyway, since then I've put in a few job applications, looked at dozens of others, and look forward to doing a few more if I have to in 2009.

Rigt, that's my year in review mode - all that is left to say is:

1. May 2009 be a happy, successful and fun-filled one for everyone and their families
2. Whatever you do, enjoy it, and don't let minor negative incidents get you down.
3. First and foremost, happy new year - enjoy your New Year's celebrations, feel free to get completely pised as long as you don't have anyting to do tomorrow!

So until 2009, which is not so far away now (at time of writing just 6 hours and 50 minutes!) I bid you farewell.

TTFN,

Neana

Current Location: New Year's party hall, my place
Current Mood: Happy New Year!!!
Current Music: Kings of Leon concert, Absolute Radio

HI all, it's been so, so long since I did an update here, so I thought I'd better pop one in. I've tried to keep it to some interesting topics, but I'm sure there's plenty more that could be said and if I think of anything I'll add it in.

As usual, there's been lots of stuff going on in my life since the last instalment of the adventure. I've signed up voluntary with the Pathways to Work programme which is run in Nottingham by Work Directions. My advisor is really good and has helped me a lot already. We've sent out speculative letters with copies of my CV and been looking in the papers and on websites for some jobs to apply for. I've applied for one with the RNIB in Birmingham and 2 with Derby City Council. The search will continue after Christmas so we'll see what happens!

In about October I started volunteering at the Nottingham Volunteer Centre as a volunteer advisor. I talk to people about what they want to do and help them find opportunities on the database that might interest them. They usually then take away printouts or emailed opportunity information and decide what to apply for at home, making contact themselves. For some people we do make the initial call to request application forms or put clients in touch to arrange informal chats about the opportunity with the relevant volunteer co-ordinator.

I’m considering looking at some other volunteering in a relevant advice based field so that I can do 2 or 3 days a week of relevant stuff. Various options to consider, all underway but so much going on!!!

My NVQ in advice and guidance stalled slightly because I couldn’t seem to get in contact with my assessor. Then I asked my supervisor at the Volunteer Centre and she made enquiries and found out that my training had been suspended because I was “not in a relevant paid or voluntary role”. I finally caught my assessor and have regained contact and updated her on my current situation – she’s asked me to let her know my regular hours after the New Year. Hopefully my NVQ will soon be underway again! Yay!

I’ve continued with my Open Uni degree and finally got the results of the first module I did, which was an introduction to the social sciences – understanding social change. I passed!!! I knew I would because of some of the results I got. My average was 59%, so that’s great! Unfortunately, my second module (first at level 2) did not start so well. I had to get an extension for the first assignment because I hadn’t received the assignment booklet. I received it and negotiated a week’s extension. Unfortunately the week came and went and my immensely hectic lifestyle kept sticking two fingers up at me and saying “when are you going to have time for that???” and as it turned out, I didn’t. I contacted my tutor a couple of days ago to explain the situation but have not got a response yet – I think I’ll have to substitute for the first assignment unfortunately – it just isn’t gonna happen. Naff, but I hope it’s not too late – I don’t want a bit fat 0!

Life has been made even more hectic by Committee business. One committee in particular has been very busy – shortlisting, recruitment, project groups, conflict within the walls of the committee, trying to resolve various problems, resignations and shit knows what else. Let’s just say I’m rapidly losing track of things there and I’m supposed to be submitting the minutes of our last meeting! What hope?

Despite some of this, life in general is good. There have been some big ups like passing my first OU module, starting some new volunteering and some positive job search, some downs like turning up for a Christmas party that had been relocated without letting me know and another one which I couldn’t get into (both on the same day!) but there have been plenty of in betweens too.

For anyone who’s interested I’m in the process of switching my diet. I’ve been doing a fairly low fat diet before now, but evidence suggests that people who are overweight and diabetic (both of which I am) actually find a low carbohydrate, high protein diet more effective. It’s all to do with the biology of it, which I’m not explaining here, but if you look it up you’ll understand it after the first read-through. It really does make biological sense eventually. Anyway, it’s got to be a gradual transition or your body reacts at first and it’s not pleasant, so I’m doing it slowly and carefully, with a full transfer hopefully after Christmas.

I was supposed to be going to some exercise classes since about October or sometime but never did because of how hectic things became. I’ve started jigging around a bit when I put music on at home and trying to build some in here and there. It’s not fabulous but it’s a start.

As you might have gathered from above, I’m now officially type 2 diabetic. I’ve had some interesting low sugar moments that caused me to go wobbly, but with the help of my new eating plan, it’s more controlled now.

Anyway, the last bit o news is about the leg infection I had. It’s still around unfortunately and has been found to be antibiotic resistant. What that means is no swimming, nothing else where the same water might be used by me and someone else, being very careful to use the same towel, flannel and sponge all the time and make sure nobody else accidentally uses mine – it takes some careful management but I’m getting used to that.

That’s probably about it for now, although I’m sure at some point, plenty of other stuff might come up and if it does it might end up noted here. So I’ll close by saying that I hope everyone has a really good, happy, merry (or whatever) Christmas and an even better, successful and prosperous 2009. Let’s make it a good one!

TTFN and take care everyone!

Neana

Current Location: My lovely but faded armchair
Current Music: Law and Order (well, adverts really)

Hi all, and welcome to a mini update.

Well, on Tuesday I went to the Nottingham Team for Visual Impairment's Low Vision Services day. Various organizations come together to provide information on what they do to people who are visually impaired, as well as other organizations and service providers. Some equipment exhibitors were there, as well as the city and County teams for visual impairment, the National Federation of the Blind and the Notts Royal Socety for the Blind amongst others. I was there helping the NRSB with their stand, which was busy with people looking at equipment, picking up nformation and asking all sorts of questions. We got at least 3 new members for our mailing list, which was great. Me and Amanda, the NRSB's Volunteer Co-ordinator, were talking to someone who has had a lot of problems with her bungalow, including several muggings, burglaries and various intrusive forms of anti-social behaviour. The council wouldn't do anything, so we sent her over to Places for People who also had a stand that day. They re a housing association in their own right but aso provide tenancy uspport even if you're not in one of their properties. Hopefully she'll now be getting the help she desperately needs on an emergency basis and I hope she will soon be out of that hell hole.

On Wednesday I went to NRSB to volunteer for the day and stuck lots of labels on lots of envelopes, which were then stuffed with lots of letters. I also borrowed some magnifying TV glasses to test. Apparently these had been donated so they were freely available. I tested the with a computer monitor and found it a heck of a lot easier to read,without magnification, and checked my emails quite easily. I brought them home for a test drive and have been using them for computer work and atchig TV ever since. They are fantastic inventions! The first major revalation for me was when I could read a phone number at the bottom of a TV advert tat was not read ou. I read the number out befoe it vanished, ndwas wel impressed! I've since been enjoying adverts again!!!

Today I've had a bit of a weird day. I got up early, which erhaps I shouldn't have done. Later I had nasty stomach ache ad the runs (sorry, that's probably too much information isn't it?) and one minute I was frezing cold, the next really warm. Unless I stayed covered up I was really cold most of the time. My eyes were flickering around, my left knee kept giving out and I had a horrid headache that alspo affecte the eyes. Thank god for sunglasses that remove the light! Anyway, I'm back up and running again now, much better than I was this morning. It's just a shame it had to happen and prevent me gong swimming, which I was preparing to do for the first time in years now I've got a tankini. The only problem with my new tankini is that the top doesn't pull down very much! I'll be exposing a large portion of chest/stomach area. Not sure if that's too good but I suppose at least its not a private area!

OK, that's it for this week. Have a good weekend all and get plenty of sleep. YOu'll be needing that for the week to come.

TTFN until next time!

Tags: envelopes, eyes, headache, letters, sleep, tankini, tv
Current Location: My nice big leather chair
Current Mood: Half way here
Current Music: CSI

 Hi all, I just thought I'd do a real quick update on a weird situation.

 

Anyone who's visited my place any time recently will probably recall that outside the front door there was a big metal garden chair, a wheelchair and a small wheelie computer chair.  Somewhere on the gravel down by the gate was a ful size office chair, in iffy shape, but usable  by someone if they cleaned it up and got it tightened up.

 

Anyways, I left the flat this morning, and immediately noticed that both the little computer chair and the bigger office chair had vanished.  Was it stolen?  Did somoene report it to the Council and have it taken away?  I don't know, but I wish I did, those were damned good chairs!

 

Oh well, off to think about packing for my holiday to Derbyshire on Saturday.  See y'all later.

 

Neana

Tags: chairs
Current Location: My nice big leather chair
Current Mood: Weirdidge
Current Music: Crime Scene USA

OK, here's part 2 of my milky moments entry from a week or so ago.

We got a Sainsbury's delivery to my place yesterday afternoon.  When it arrived and we were unpacking, we realised that instead of the 1 4 pint semi-skimmed cravendale milk we had actually ordered, we received 2 4 pint semi-skimmed and 1 4 pint skimmed milk.  Only the 1 I had ordered was on the receipt, so we had not been charged for all 3.  I called Sainsbury's, and was told that as they had now been delivered, they were now mine.  They could not come and collect them.  We therefore had the problem of where to store 12 pints of milk.  We've now got one in the fridge door, one in the salad box, and one on a shelf somewhere! 

In a way, I'm glad they gave us some free cow juice - now I can drink it without it running out within 3 days!  Now you know why this entry is titled the way it is.  

I'm off to drink some cow juice now!  Moooooooooooo!

Tags: cow, milk, moments, sainsbury's
Current Location: The PC chair, right by the fridge...
Current Mood: Creamy
Current Music: Some crime programme or other

Hi guys!  A real quick entry, with a fuller one hopefully to follow in the next few days if I can put my mind to work on one.  

I just ordered a mini market delivery off fillmybelly.com coz we needed bread - our 2 loaves had all gone moldy within days of each other.  I decided to get us some milk as I knew I'd drink what we had fairly quick (I always do), and we added a few other bits to make it up to the £10 minimum order level.

The order arrived a little bit late but nonetheless in an OK ish amount of time, and on opening it I discovered that instead of the 4 pit semi-skimmed milk I had ordered, we had actually been sent a cute 1 pint carton!  Having packed the stuff away, I promptly drank the little cutey!  I then realised we should have had more and checed the order confirmation, which confirmed we shoud have received a 4 pint semi-skimmed milk, so I caled the mini market guys.  The guy who answered asked if I'd already opened it, which of course I had (and completely emptied it too!) so he is now sending another 3 - his mistake apparently! 
I was half expecting him to say, "give us that one back when the driver comes and we'll give you a 4 pint carton instead", to which I would have had to reply, "i would if I hadn't drunk it!"

Current Location: PC chair, sitting sideways
Current Mood: Laughing my head off
Current Music: Unsolved Murders, Discovery Channel

Morning all!  It’s nearly half past five in the morning, and here I am writing an update!  Isn’t that dedication?

 

Anyway, I think I left off last time just before the trip to Sight Village and things.  That was great!  Went down to the exhibition with NRSB on the Tuesday, and then Erica and I stayed on for the remaining 2 days and caught up with some friends.  We stayed in a hotel within 5 minutes walk of the Clarendon Suites where the exhibition was being held, and had the fortune of encountering very helpful staff members.  The hotel receptionist arranged for someone to escort us over to the exhibition, and then one of the organisers walked us back over to the hotel, so that was great!  I spent most of the first day doing the walk-about like most other people, then spent about half of Wednesday and most of Thursday in a series of very informative seminars on anything from the Dolphin Easy Converter software (used to transcribe text into various alternative formats) through to Jaws and Magic working together hand-in-hand – a great system which I’m now making use of.  Basically if you install Jaws screen reader and Magic magnification package, you’ll get a green outline around the text that Jaws is reading out, bringing to an end the age-old problem of sighted people not knowing which bit of text the screen reader is focussed on.  Great system!

 

Anyways, having stayed the whole 3 days we returned to Nottingham pretty much knackered but very weighed down with a suitcase full of information of various types, in multiple formats and on a multitude of different products and services etc. 

 

The NRSB are aiming to put on a pantomime this Christmas as part of their Christmas Party.  I’m not going to reveal anything here, apart from that if anyone in the Nottingham area is interested in getting involved in any way, there are plenty of roles to be taken and all the behind the scenes roles to fill too.  The group originally set up to plan for the performance and band ideas around has had 3 meetings now and will have its 4^th this Saturday, so we should soon be getting moving on this one.  Many said it was not possible to put on a pantomime with this short a timescale, so we said “just watch this then” and got on with it.  At the moment we need to prepare 4 Braille copies of 4 different documents, so I think we’ll have our work cut out doing that, but we’ll be doing our level best to get up-to-date this afternoon.

 

I seem to have recruited another member for the National Federation of the Blind Nottingham Branch, doing the work of the Recruitment Committee all by myself.  I don’t know how I do it, apart from that I mention the group’s existence, raise people’s awareness of it and describe some of the issues we campaign on, and that seems to grab people’s interest and get them involved.  My 3^rd or 4^th new recruit will hopefully be coming to the next meeting on Tuesday 5^th August.

 

My DLA back-pay FINALLY came in on Tuesday – yayyyyyyy!  After wisely paying off the finance on my PC, the invoice for EMC advisory services getting some unfair bank charges back for me, my RNIB membership and magazine subscription renewals and a couple of other bits and pieces, I’ve treated myself to a few things.  A new laptop is on its way as mine is having some problems that are likely to be expensive to fix, a wireless keyboard, a new fan to replace the current weak blower, and hopefully soon some new wireless headphones similar to the one I bought for Jack’s birthday present.  I will by then have used up most of my back-pay, but at least I will have paid off my debts and invested the money wisely in things I actually needed. 

 

Today we’re going clothes shopping, to the doctors, and then to Argos to get a mini fridge to donate to the support Centre at NRSB so we can have our own supply of milk and cold soft drinks cans, and a nice big fan that rotates and has various speeds to keep us cool when the temperatures go up again.  I must remember to call and arrange some mobility lessons and an appointment with my NVQ assessor – maybe now I’ve written that in here I might remember, but if I know my memory that’s probably not going to happen. 

 

Right, that’s about it for now I think.  I’ll leave you with a comment someone made about the Discovery Channels – they said “it’s interesting without being boring” – lol – didn’t they think about what they said before they actually blurted it out?  Obviously not!

 

Until the next time,

 

Byeeeeeee!

Current Location: The lounge
Current Mood: Awake - surprisingly!
Current Music: BBC News 24