Guide Dog Access Denials

I don’t have a guide dog, because I can see well enough not to need one. But I have many friends who do use them, and I would certainly consider applying for one if my sight ever deteriorated to a level where it might be useful. They are the most beautiful and amazing animals, and I have a lot of respect and admiration for them, and for those who train and use them. They aren’t just pets, they’re a real lifeline to their owners, enabling so much freedom and independence.

And yet, sadly, there are still people out there who don’t understand or respect guide dogs or the blind people who need them – something which has, yet again, become clear in the past few days.

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Living With Nystagmus

Following on from my previous post about Aniridia, I want to use this post to talk about another condition I have – Nystagmus (specifically Congenital Nystagmus, meaning I’ve had it since birth, as I have with Aniridia).

As mentioned in my Aniridia post, I’ve had my visual impairments all my life, so I’m used to them and have adapted to them. They certainly haven’t stopped me living a happy and successful life – and others deal with it very well too, including TV’s Richard Osman. So these posts aren’t intended to be negative. I just want to describe the main effects they have on me.

I’ve also made a video about living with the condition, which may help to explain things further.

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Living With Aniridia

There are 2 conditions I’ve had since birth – Aniridia and Nystagmus – and I’ve written a post about each one. They can be frustrating and awkward sometimes, but because I’ve had them all my life, I’m used to them and have adapted to them as best I can. And they haven’t stopped me living a happy and successful life. These posts aren’t intended to be negative. I just want to describe the main effects they have on me.

So in this post, I’m going to discuss Aniridia. I’ve also made a video about it which you may find of interest.

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Journal – September 2015 (Guernsey Best Man)

This month has seen a big event that I’ve been looking forward to for a while – my best mate’s wedding in Guernsey, where I was one of two best men with his cousin. It was a wonderful occasion in a beautiful location, and it’s the first time I’ve given a public speech as well. So this post is mainly about that, but I also met another friend the week before, I’ve posted my first ever vlog on Youtube, and there have been one or two things to mention from home too.

So I hope you enjoy going through everything here, including some of the photos and video footage that I was able to capture on my new iPhone 6, and a few other photos that people took of me.

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Journal – July-August 2015 (Guernsey Stag Do)

Time for another epic set of journal entries. June was quiet, so I haven’t written anything for that month – but July made up for it, as I had another visit to Guernsey for my best mate’s stag do and wedding suit fittings. So there’s a lot to share about that here, as well as my first iPhone for my birthday, a computer repair, lots of nice food, and other bits and pieces. So I hope you enjoy!

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Journal – October-December 2013

And so we come to the end of another year. There wasn’t anything of interest to mention in September or November, so it’s just the other two months that I’m covering here, where I talk about a new computer, our moving plans, more socialising and Christmas, amongst other things. I hope you enjoy!

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Journal – March 2013

Welcome to the next instalment from my journal. There wasn’t anything to report in February, as things were much quieter after all the travelling of previous months. But this month I’m able to give an update on my Nan’s house and inheritance, as well as telling you new DVDs and Blu-rays I’ve bought. Plus there have been big scandals in the news about Oscar Pistorius and horse meat, and I was sent some jokes about the latter. So I hope you enjoy looking through it all.

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Journal – November-December 2010

This is a difficult set of journal entries to share, with Dad going back into hospital, as things haven’t ended well in that regard. I could just stop sharing these posts and resume when things improve again, but as this is life-changing and will clearly have a huge impact on my future, it’s important to include and acknowledge it.

I do mention various other things in these entries as well, including DVDs, TV shows, music, Christmas food, news stories, etc. But most of it is about my father, with some of the details edited out of course. So if it’s the sort of thing you’d rather not read about, then by all means skip this, and come back at a later date when things improve again. But if you do read on, I hope you find it of interest.

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Journal – September-October 2010

Welcome to another set of journal entries. There’s a fair amount to mention, including socialising, a baptism, building work, and an amusing email from a friend, although there is also less cheerful news with Dad going into hospital. So I hope you find plenty of interest in here as usual.

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Journal – August-September 2009

Here we go with the next couple of journal entries, talking about my birthday and more time spent with my friends in Exeter, plus DVD purchases and news stories that I wanted to mention. I hope you enjoy!

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