Blind Tip of the Week

Sometimes when friends or acquaintances say hi or hello to blind or partially sighted people, especially when you use our names, we might not recognise you, even if we know you very well.

There may be a number of reasons for this. It might be that the place is out of context to where we normally see you, it might be there is a lot of background noise, for example in a pub or club, it might be that machinery is working or traffic is passing nearby or, a reason very common to North Norfolk, military aircraft might be operating in the vicinity.

Please, therefore, when you greet us, and especially if you use our name, say something like, “Hello Robert or Rob. It is Charlie, we usually see each other at the pub or at yoga or whatever.” Even if you do see me at the pub it would be most useful if you would identify yourself, it simply stops that jigging around on the spot for a minute waiting for me to engage the mush that passes as a brain inside my head.

Whilst I think I have an extensive store of sounds, I still struggle to recognise everyone by voice, even some I have known for years. If you don’t announce your name don’t be offended if I ask you who you are. I do not have the luxury of seeing your beautiful or handsome faces. The good thing, though, about my world is that you are all good looking, there is no racial distinction nor is there any bias towards people with tattoos! I form my first impressions of people by the way they talk. I won’t share my conclusions with you, though.

Even if you don’t know us and want to acknowledge us just say hi or hello. That is the same to us as you offering up a wave or nod to a sighted person. If you don’t use my name I probably, realistically, don’t have a need to use yours either.

Singapore – Love The Last March

34 years. Why? It felt so good. Why on earth have we not returned here since 1989?

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I am not sure in our over three decades of absence whether my heart has grown fonder or not. In truth, I am not sure I thought about the attractions of this incredible city, lying only a degree or so north of the Equator, over the intervening three decades. The last time we were here we watched the incredible scenes from Berlin as the ordinary folk took chunks out of the wall; that is how long ago 34 years is.

Given it was, by the time we had checked-in to the hotel, about eleven in the morning, three in the morning GMT, we both felt surprisingly alive. Neither of us had slept properly during the flights. Exposing our lilywhite arms to a sudden dose of vitamin D was an immediate revitalising tonic to bodies and souls mired in a British winter.

We were staying at the Paradox Merchant Court at Clarke Quay. This area has been renovated since our last visit and as city landscapes go it is beautiful. I could feel the sun on my skin, I could smell the scents of summer blooms, I could hear the everyday hubbub of a city and I could feel the incredible openness that surrounded me. In short, it seemed to be a city that was totally at ease with itself. Go back 80 years and, my word, what a different story.

I think I speak for the both of us when I say our knowledge of the Second World War in Asia is woeful. We were to increase our understanding about the Japanese invasion over the next few weeks. Their occupation did not stop at the Singaporean border with Malaya but spread out into that country and beyond. The Japanese influence would stay with us until we left the beautiful Thai island of Koh Tao over three weeks later.

During that first afternoon we explored the award-winning Gardens by the Bay extensively. A beautifully serene green space, collected into three gardens, on the edge of a thoroughly modern city. There were a couple of attractions that we earmarked for visits over the next few days, The Flower Dome and The Cloud Forest. The Gardens boast many other attractions as well. It has the impressive OCBC Skyway, the equally incredible Super Tree Observatory and Floral Fantasy. Honestly, you could easily entertain yourself for two days around these Gardens. The super trees are solar powered and light up at night-time, having re-energised themselves during the day. I didn’t feel brave enough to make the journey back there in darkness. I regret this now as many have said it is spectacular.

To me the most thought-provoking exhibition was the Love the Last March installation. It is a series of 45 endangered wild animals in a line of march and, in my mind, taking on their most arduous journey yet: the march for survival. It extends to 192 metres long, taking your breath away as you realise the significance of the meaning. It is the creation of British and Australian artists, Gillie and Marc, inspired by the David Attenborough Witness Statement. It is only on show for one calendar year and you will need to be quick as it only runs until 18th May this year. Even now, as I write this, some seven weeks after our visit, I can’t help thinking about the message.

Please note: I am afraid to say you have now missed this display. Sorry! Not getting these newsletters out there quick enough.

I will include further information and white cane ratings at the halfway point of our stay in Singapore.