Should I really get that excited?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Update on the things I get excited about!!!!!

Got a perching stool for the kitchen today!! And a frame round the loo to help me stand up!! And a seat in the shower!!!

WOO HOO!!!!

jetta_wales

I often find people can't stop trying to give me things whenever I'm seeing anyone from the RNIB or something like that, I keep saying no thankyou but they won't take no for an answere and thrust talking watches and tea cup alarms that beep when it's full and all sorts at me but my condition is day blindness I'm not too bad indoors.

I was also once offered a stick but being only about 14 at the time I just frawned at the woman and she said "You're going to tell me where to shove my satick aren't you?" lol she laughed and understood the whole teenage factor in the equation, got bullied enough as it was I'd rather have walked into things (which I did at times) than have a white cane.

At that age I'd probaby have said no to the blue badge too but I'm 25 now and my Mum said to get one so I did a few months ago and it was great (I read the whole booklet too) and I still don't quite get how we're allowed to park on double yellows lol.

We can't afford to renew my partners insurance this year though so we don't get to use the badge much at the moment.

You'll find that when living with a dissability you do need to take great delight in the things that you can still do and not dwell always on what you can not do but it's also really important to be able to accept help when you need it too and to realise the times that you do need it. You're very lucky to have a wife that will put her foot down when you're pushing yourself too much and I'm sure she'll do a great job of helping you keep your high spirits too despite your situation.

It's lovely to hear you're so positive, you're clearly a very strong man and that will make a huge difference to your future and your happieness.

Keep smiling.

I'm hoping we can get a car on Motability soon, that'll certainly put a huge smile on my face indeed, I've never owned a new car before. Every cloud's gotta have a silver lining somewhere.

Prinzessilein

I am applying for a blue badge. I don't drive, but it would be a great help when others take me anywhere.

One of my biggest excitements was when I got my tin-opener! I can't use a standard tin-opener because of poor coordination. Then I got one of the battery-operated types, I just place it on a tin, press a button and the tin opens! All I want is to be able to do the 'normal' things like open a can of soup for lunch.....and this gives me that freedom. Sometimes it's the little things!

TOBRUK

Hi Oscar The Grouch, ofcourse it's ok to be excited ... anything that makes your life that bit easier is great. I do hope as time goes by that you will stay positive, still get excited and keep your sense of humour.

Before I became disabled and became ill, I do think that I took things for granted (as everyone does I believe) and it's the little everyday things that you used to do ... automatically ... I suppose it's hard to put in words to explain. I think it's my sense of humour that has stopped me getting really depressed although I have had my moments!

When I was adapting to my disability I moved home to live with my parents but although I knew they meant well, they used to go and do things for me. I used to get frustrated but I had to try and do as much as I possibly could for myself even though it may be difficult and would take forever. Sometimes I had to tell them that I wanted to try and do things for myself ... it's hard.

Keep smiling.;)

jetta_wales

Oh I had big key stickers once they came free with some computer software for enlarging things on screen. I already had a black keyboard and these were little key sized stickers with each letter in white on black but filling the whole key and they were much bolder and clearer. I used them in work as I used to be a programmer (but it bored me senseless) but a couple of the lads in my department used to have great fun peeling them off and swapping them around when I wasn't at my desk hahaha.

Realising that I can get into the cinema at a discount and my partner can get in free was awesome too. The same goes for any place that charges admision such as theme parks or swimming or museums. I know you can't do all of those things but I don't know how much you may recover. We do go to the cinema a lot and my boyfriend always whispers in my ear anythings e knows I won't have seen clearly so he does earn his free ticket really.

We don't pay the Severn Bridger toll now either that was quite satisfying the first time we crossed and just gave them the badge insterad £5.50.

And the first time i found out that on pedestrian crossings that are silent there's a little spinning ridged cone underneath that will only start to spin when the lights are green. I was so chuffed as I used to be totaly screwed at silent crossings. Now I just stand by it with my finger touching the cone which nobody notices I'm doing and then I know exactly when it's safe to cross without any risk of having to dodge a car bonnet as that's never fun and the drivers tend to beep at me a lot too.

Oscar_The_Grouch

BUS PASS!!!!

My new bus pass arrived today.

jetta_wales

Yay congrats Oscar!

If you don't mind me asking is there a reason that prevents your wife from driving?

I'm just thinking a brand new car would certainly give you another bright happy day and probably a great deal of them in the future.

Oscar_The_Grouch

DW just never got round to passing her test, so it's something for the future perhaps....