There’s nothing like a warm Saturday afternoon to take advantage of sitting outside (albeit wearing a thick hoodie to combat the chill) with some music in the background and a large joint of pork smoking on the grill. Slowly cooking a side of meat takes a lot of time and patience and it is the …
Close your eyes and pick up your phone then try to do something simple like open your messages and very quickly you will come a cropper as you stab aimlessly on the screen and, if you do actually find the app you want, you probably won’t know because there won’t be any audible cues. Now, …
I’m sat dozing in the back of a taxi, heading home after a late work event. Chester is laid on the floor next to me in the back of the comfortable MPV, exhausted after such a busy day. As we head on into the night my eyes flicker open and I attempt to gather my …
Continue reading Musings from a Blind Man: A late-night taxi ride home
It’s been months since I put pen to paper so sitting here in a dreary Saturday morning, it seemed a fine time to make a fresh brew and open my notebook. So, what’s been going on since I last wrote anything? I’m not going to lie, it’s been a manic second half of the year …
It honestly feels that things have always been this way and, even though I have only just passed my second anniversary of being registered Sight Impaired, so much has happened that I often forget what life was like before. I promise you this piece won’t be about what a voyage of discovery I’ve been on …
If someone had told me 6 months ago that I would be sat outside my 20+ year-old camper van at 8 o’clock on a rainy Sunday morning in early Spring looking out at the Brecon Beacons. I’d have laughed in their face. But, here I am, pen in hand, legs wrapped in a blanket and …
Continue reading Van life: Can this blind petrol head really be happy in the slow lane?
With the local elections around the corner, I wanted to find out a little bit about the stances of the potential counsellors for my local Tilehurst ward of West Berkshire Council. This email has been sent to the candidates of all the parties standing for election which are: Conservative Paul Kander Jane Langford Thomas Marino …
Continue reading An open email to the candidates for West Berkshire local elections: April 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here as I’ve been fortunate that the Vision Foundation have published my last couple of articles on audio description and abuse – You can find the links to these and more including an introduction to my latest fundraiser for Berkshire Vision in my External Links page. Accessibility …
Continue reading Blind Man With a Backpack: The newest restaurant reviewer
Last time out we looked at the concept of disability not being a medical term, but a social construct in the article Disabled in an Abled World. This time, I’d like to delve into this further, exploring what can be done to make a more accessible space for everyone and how the benefits of inclusive …
Disability comes as a result of many circumstances. For some it’s from a freak occurrence such as an accident or an acute medical condition, others are affected by it from birth and still others it happens over time like a dormant beast, slowly waking. For those of you who’ve read my other posts, you’ll know …
Blind Man with a Backpack 