Inspirational diary: OSLO DIARY IN FULL BY FIONA CUMMMINGS

Hurdal syn- og mestringssenter.

Good day to you my Bloggets. I hope you are all well? I’m back from Oslo!

Our journey began very early on Friday morning. We took a taxi to the train station and met with my friend the artist. She was to come with us, and whilst my Hub was in his meetings, we were to spend time together, rather than me staying in the room. To be honest, I really didn’t mind doing that, though the heat in the room was so hot, I would have possibly died? Ha, joking.

The train was empty. Arty and I did what we do well, and talked for England. We arrived in the capital, London, went for a tube to the airport. Again, the tube was empty. I joked and said; people must have heard we are out and about, so stayed in for safety.

The flight was packed. My heart in my mouth. Leaving teen, three dogs and a canary. Irish of course.

I hoped my teen would be OK? Well, not going into detail, he was more than OK.

We arrived in the airport, the people were so friendly. It was immaculately clean. The air was fresh. It was such an easy process to get through the airport.

The funny thing though, getting back out? Well, that wasn’t so easy.

We were to meet with a colleagues of Hubs. Hub told me he thinks his colleague, is partially sighted, but has good sight. Well, I said to Hub.

“Oh if he is waiting for us, how will he see us? Hub replied saying that his sight is very good.

Well, Alan waited and recognised us, also Arty, walked with us, to a man on his own, so the connection was made.

Anyway, we took a taxi. What a beautiful car. So posh and Arty said she could see her face in the shine of the outer part of the car.

Alan told us how beautiful everything was. He talked of the huge lake and the golden cows. I’m thinking, God, his sight is good?

Arty described the hills, the fluffy skies, the signs telling of Moose on the roads, so to be careful?

The driver spoke wonderful English.

As soon as you enter another country, you hear how educated people, like taxi drivers are. Bus drivers, waiters. You come into our country, You are lucky if your drivers speeks English? Ha. If you find an English speaking driver or waiter, they never speak anything other than English. For sure the tidy clean towns and countryside can not be found over here.

We drove about 45 minutes from Oslo. To a place called Hurdal.

Oh my word. I did not know what to expect, as we were to be staying in a rehabilitation centre, for the blind.

I had all sorts running through my head. I won’t write here what they were, but shall let your imagination run wild, and please, let it run very wild?

I wasn’t really bothered, as I just wanted to be with Hub as much as possible, as we arrived home last night at half ten and tomorrow, he is away again for a week to America.

Home a few days then off again to the states again. So just to be with him was good for me, no matter what the accommodation was like.

We drove into the drive of this place of residence. As Hub paid for the taxi, which was the equivalent of £100 by the way, the car stopped. The car door opened and we had arrived. What to expect? Oh, and what we received?

As we got out of the car, the first thing that I realised was just how very quiet our surroundings was. I could hear the smooth, surreal stress free, sound of silence.

I almost didn’t want to breathe, in case I was dreaming. If I woke up, I again would be with, People and modern life’s clashing crowds, cars and everydays crushing, pounding noises.

I was, dreaming, in a real life dream.

Then a bird sang. The highest sounds, he tweeted in a teasing way. In such a moment of me requiring more from our feathered friend. No, only two tiny tweets he allowed me.

So different to our birds in our garden back home.

I could not hear a car, a motor bike, voices, hammering from a nearby neighbour in his house, a grass cutter in their garden, with their dreadful petrol sounding engine from their lawn mower.

No ball games, dogs were not barking. Were we on our own?

Just silence.

I didn’t want to move, in fear of spoiling that moment.

“Where were all the people for the conference?

Then Alan and Arty spoke and guided us in.

We walked through the door. I really didn’t even expect a hotel like reception, but there was one. Oh my word? This place was huge? There was no smell of foisty carpets, no smell of yesterday’s books. Not a smell from steaming fish from the rehabilitation kitchen? Just nothing. We received our card from reception and off to our room. Arty was sent to the basement, as we had not walked up any steps, and yet, she was told her room was downstairs.

Oh God, what was she going to be staying in?

Well, we went to our room. 222. Easy to remember I thought?

We opened the door. Normally I love to explore with Hub, and we are like children searching our hotel rooms looking for what there was, and where, but this was a rehabilitation centre for the blind, so I think he felt like me, we were both a little afraid to look.

Well, only for one moment, then, we were like hamsters on a wheel.

We had half an hour before dinner, half an hour before we were to meet with Hubs colleagues. OMG?

As my heart pounded with excitement and nerves with a small measure of curiosity, and you know what that did to the cat?

You don’t?

Well, we in the UK, have a saying

“Curiosity killed the cat.

The bed was a double, this was a bonus. I was expecting two singles, like back at boarding school.

Lovely chairs and a coffee table. The lights in the room were all adapted for people with poor sight. Everything was in Braille, and the pictures on the wall, were all tactile too. Can you imagine? Wonderful.

The furniture was typical Scandinavian. Oh you know when you have been travelling all day, and you are like me, and don’t do public toilets, unless you really have to?

Well,

We had no ensuit.

No toilet. Oh, we would share a bathroom on the landing?

Then we found a door which was not the wardrobe and found a lovely large shower room. Oh fantastic. Then we looked for towels, found them, so check, and then there was hand wash, check, loo rolls, check. Heated tiled floors in the bathroom.

Oh the lights in the bathroom were so amazing, after I almost called the emergency button; I found a large selection of switches for lights, with Braille on. They were lights adapted for partially sighted people, with dimmer switches.

We had three huge windows in our room and a fridge.

I can describe it as a large private hospital room. Very clean though. I dressed for dinner, in a soft suede skirt and top. Then we met with Arty.

I was almost too afraid to ask her what her room was like, but she volunteered.

Though it was downstairs, it must have been built on a hill, as she had two big windows.

She said they overlooked the enormous lake.

As we walked along the corridors to the meeting place for dinner, there were different tactile floorings. We sat at our table as I was introduced to some of Hubs colleagues. They were really nice people. Very friendly.

The food was amazing. So many salads and breads. Cheeses, fish and meats. Then it was hot foods. I ate starters only. There was tea or coffee and juices.

Desserts too.

Hub had steak and said it was wonderful.

I just could not believe this place, but, it was to get so much better and the very most unsuspected things occurred.

So over dinner, the atmosphere, was rather relaxed, but had a bit of an edge too. I met with the lady, Unn, who was the designer/operator of the project of the amazing building. She is from Norway. The staff were really wonderful. As they asked you a question, i.e.

“Would you like coffee?”

To let you know they were talking to you, they very gently, placed a hand on your shoulder, whilst they asked.

This is so helpful, as when you are blind, you don’t know when someone is talking to you, so if you don’t know their name to address the person you have a message for, you could do this and it would save a lot of red faces.

When I was in the US, I found it at first annoying, but then rather funny, how the waitresses, would ask our friends, if we would like cream, or potatoes for example.

My Yam and I did laugh in the end though, you have to or you would end up punching someone.

And that is not very lady like, and you all know what a lady I am?

You don’t?

Cheeky!!!

After my weekend of being with blind and partially sighted people, I have really decided I would love to live in a world of only those kinds of people.

This is a world I really never wanted to belong, but after some of the things I have witnessed over the past few days, we blindies, rock.

Not all of course, some blind and partially sighted people are like some sighted people and are dreadful, but most of the people at the conference, were lovely, amazing, strong and ever so brilliantly clever.

Talented and extremely gifted. A person walked in from Russia, my Hub was dying for me to talk with him, as not many people bother with him and his interpreter…

Well, on that particular night, that was not to happen. That was for the next evening. OMG?

Arty, Hub and I went for an evening after dinner walk in the grounds. We were told by Unn, the night never went dark, so the birds, would sing all through the night.

And they did.

The building is two years old; it was all refurnished from an old building.

It is in vast grounds. A forest of fragrance and friends.

The lake is huge. You can do all water sports on there.

There are six kinds of fish and fishing is permitted. I learned that hunting is a priority in Norway, as Moose was on the menu the next day and a huge bear skin was across the fireplace wall.

We went into the deep part of the forest. Because of the bad winter, the cable of the sound system was broken. Sadly. Otherwise, one could hear the sounds of a majestic forest and other creatures, through speakers in the trees.

Alice in Wonderland was sitting at a table with jewels on and all the characters from her book, were around the table too.

Everything was made from stone. It all lit up too. The trees were huge and there were Goblins and elves. Perhaps the chocolate elves I write about?

There was an enormous Moose, with a small princess on its back, with a crown.

All from stone.

Oh and the best thing, was my darling Hub and as Alan caught up with us, he shared in with the joke. It was a small man, a bit like a little Buddha, hands on his big round belly. I said it was a mini Hub. He looked like he had a good meal and was full, rubbing his tummy.

Alan was taking pics of everything, reading things out to us. It was written in Braille, but in Norwegian Braille. English print though, so Alan read it, this guy could see very well, as Hub said, if he was partially sighted, he had good sight.

Arty took loads of pictures so I will print them for you, if I can or publish them, see, I’m rubbish, but will try to put them on here by the end of my blog week.

There was a Pegasus too and so many other wonderful statues. A footballer and a giant rabbit, taller than me.

There were loads of art works all lit up and told you about the art. It was amazing. In the woods, there was an assault course too. Through the trees and a beautiful wooden house made from logs that was hand made using only a screwdriver. The wood to touch was warm and soft. It had no windows just a chimney. Inside was a sauna.

The lake was stunning. The gentle ripples were so calming. We went onto the jetty and just sat on a bench and heard the hypnotising healthy notes of peace.

Alan told us of what was across the lake. He guided us up hills and pathways. I was amazed how he was managing to see.

Arty explained to us about the silver lake meeting with the orange line in the sky and the distant pink clouds and white fluffy clouds falling to the waters edge.

The greens of the hills and the dots of sheep walking around in the far view.

The village of Herdal could be seen as the cars looked like ants so far away.

We had left the real world and were staying in a place of peaceful perfection.

We walked back to the venue and finished off the evening in the bar. Sat and enjoyed the fantastic company of Wolfgang Angerman. I’m sure I have spelt that name wrong, but that is how you pronounce it and it is his real name.

He is the President of the group.

He said there was a music room and he went to get with his P.A, a guitar.

He brought it back to our table. There were about sixty people in the room and he began to sing Eric Clapton and many other fantastic guitarists’ works.

Hub joined in with the singing too. It was great. A real campfire moment. A moment which reminded me of many years ago, when Hub and I went with the choir to Germany and we sang in the park in our group. Then another group there from another choir sang in their language, then another group in their native tongue and before we knew it, we all joined in with the Carol, Silent night.

Oh that was like a dream. Hub and I were twelve and it was days before we said goodbye for 28 years.

Well, I hope it won’t be that long again, before Hub and I see each other, or I see his beautiful colleagues?

The bar was warm, had that summer smell. We were in another world. A happy place an yet, a place where I found myself really thinking about life. About people. Some things were said this weekend, that have really changed my mind on life. My heart has been moved.

I tried to call teen, to see how he was. Hmm. That is all I’m saying at this stage.

We slept so well the first night must have been a combination of the travel, fresh air and nerves.

The heat in the room though was so stuffy. We could only open the windows an inch. The bed was lovely and comfortable and I couldn’t wait for the next day, to walk through the woods again and there was a really important dinner in the evening, where there was an award for a very special Lord, and friend of my Hubs.

The next morning, we woke early. Jumped in the shower and got dressed for the day. I wore my new long purple skirt, which went to my feet and my tighter than I would have liked white t/shirt. Tight because of the style, not because it was too small, so I think I proved I was for sure a female….

Hub looked beautiful in his suit. He is so handsome. Off we went to breakfast. Poor Arty had some bad news. Her Uncle, who had been ill for a couple of weeks, remember I told you about him? How they didn’t operate because of his age, and how they would not think about the age with someone like Prince Philip?

Well, sadly, he died, but Arty, was just relieved he was out of pain, though of course she was sad about his death. I really felt for her, wanting her to have a nice time, I’m sure she did, she said she had and at least it took her mind away from her loss a bit.

Well, we walked along the tactile walkways to the place of our breakfast. Sat with Alan and the three Maria’s from Spain. That was really funny. We joked that all Spanish ladies, were called Maria.

Breakfast was really delicious. Oh the food was so lovely. I have put on 5lbs in the two days I was there. I am surprised as I walked a bit and ate quite healthy. Much better than I do at home. So many salads too. I had two tiny slices of the bread. Oh it was wonderful, so healthy tasting. As though it was made from nuts. I loved it.

There was a feeling of happiness in the room. It was as though being back at boarding school, not the cruel house staff, or being away from those we loved, just the knowledge that I was with people like me.

I have never ever been institutionalised in fact always fought against that, but for the first time this weekend, my views have changed. I loved being around blind people. Does that sound weird? Sad? Or mad?

Most meetings Hub goes to, he is the only blind person, but this was a members meeting so fifty percent of people there were blind or partially sighted.

Because they were from all countries in Europe, they were good kind people. Educated too and just at one with the environment.

I always thought of myself as a blind person of difference. I didn’t like being around blind people because they reminded me of my future when I was young, I knew there was a possibility of me going blind in my life, and didn’t want to look at myself in others. Some groups I tried to join when I was younger were of people with more than blindness, they also had some learning difficulties, but these people, this weekend, were all clever. More than clever, brilliant. I had huge respect for them and they didn’t do things like make cane chairs, knit, play dominos, Braille cards or stick shapes onto things to make houses, like I was asked to do at one group I used to attend. They talked as a sighted person would. They laughed as a sighted person would. They worked as sighted people do and wanted what sighted people want. They were sighted people, without the closed minds of some, sighted people. They were sighted people trapped in a blind body and world, but who lived in that blind world with positive vibes.

Now then, you do get the super blind people and they were not them. They were normal, who had huge challenges in life and were not afraid to express how hard life was. So they were not like the person I used to be friends with, remember my x friend who stayed at ours last year, the one who smoked in our house, and went out into my front garden in his short short dressing gown? And worse, bent over and picked his guide dog mess up showing all to our neighbours? Ha. He was dreadful, he was rude when sighted people tried to ask if he needed help and he obviously did, but he would refuse help, as he could do it?

But in the meanwhile, he would make so many mistakes, he looked silly. He would try to be as so called normal in the sighted world as possible, and end up looking as abnormal as he could.

No one there was like that. These people were all strong people with hearts. Who admitted they made mistakes and learned how to live as best as they could in such circumstances?

These people were interesting and alive.

I made good friends with a man from Turkey, who told me of such stories about the latest awful goings on over there. Oh it was amazing to hear all about it from the people’s perspective. He told me about things that never got or will get publicised in the media.

How people were carrying lemons and vinegar, with gas masks. They would rub the lemons and vinegar in their eyes and nose to stop the pepper bombs from affecting them. He said how 12 people have lost sight in one of their eyes because of the obscenities going on there.

He said how he went to protest and was told by the government workers there

“Why are you here, what can you, do?? You are blind.

He said yes, I’m a person like everyone else. They were heavy handed with him. He told me of his life story and it was amazing to hear. We spent a long time talking and what a wonderful powerful man he is. What a fighter in a calm way an yet will never back down on anything, until he has result.

He has had an awful life too, but one of a super hero. We spoke of history and politics, but we joked to and laughed. I just looked to him with great admiration. I can’t tell of all we spoke of I can’t tell of what was said between me and a few people, but what I can say, is I heard some tails this weekend that made me think. I am still in a very odd situation.

To tell you the truth, I feel like a puzzle that has lost all of the bits from the box, but need to make a picture from the shapes of wood. I found myself in a place this weekend crossing with heaven, perfection, hell, deep sadness, death and excitement with admiration. So many feelings all in one box. A place so different and far from my normal life, an yet a place I will never forget or want to let go of. A place which has changed my mind but in what way? I’m not sure. I just know that something in my life has to change. Something in the world has to change, but what I also learned is, corruption lives on.

Arty and I went for a walk after leaving Hub at the meeting. The weather was red hot. The air was so fresh. It reminded me of when I lived in Northumberland. We went to look for Moose as a lovely lady told us of when she came face to face with a huge Moose. It just stood looking at her, she was not at all afraid. She had her guide dog with her too and the two animals just stayed calm, but, that is one thing I have noticed about the Norwegian guide dogs, they are so calm, their fur is so beautiful, like silk. A lady we were talking to the one who saw the Moose, told me she never bathes the dog, she gets a towel, soaks it in hot water and rubs the dog with it. I tell you, her dog’s fir, was stunning. Her Husband has a black poodle too, who is a guide dog. He too was beautiful. The dog, that is, not sure about the Husband? But, I’m sure he is beautiful as well? Ha. I might try doing that with our stinkers.

Sitting on a wooden bench, with the cool water rippling by as though to skim over the surface of the glass water, was so refreshing. The birds had the sweetest sound. Arty said that the birds were long and had silver bellies. They were the ones that made the sound of clicking as they flew.

The other ones with the high tweets were so small she couldn’t see them.

I in the tranquillity of the woods, spoke to a passer by, she talked of how she was having trouble with Muslim taxi drivers. In the winter, she tried as a blind person to walk the short distance to work. Leaving your environment of your home, that you know so well, heading off to a route you do every day, and then suddenly it hits you, the snow is so thick, your dog is struggling. Its sense is all over the place with the snow, you as a blind person, can not feel your footsteps. You can’t differentiate the difference between the path and the road as well as the grass verge, so you get totally disorientated. She did that. Called for a taxi. It came and he told her to go away. She didn’t understand what she had done, so went closer to the car to talk with him. He shouted abuse to her and said some dreadful words to her about her dog. She was almost crying. What had she done? She said she had to get to work, she was lost on the road and he got out of his car and came to her to hit her, she said he swore and was really aggressive.

She stepped back and shouted to him, she hopes he has a dreadful day. She said, one day she hopes he or a member of his family finds themselves blind and really needing help and she hoped that she would pass them by. Just getting to work for her was a nightmare. You never know you are going to be in trouble, until it is too late and you are in trouble.

You always think that you are stronger than you are.

I spoke to people who said that they had been spat on because they had guide dogs, can you imagine?

The stories I was told this weekend, were just so painful, an yet, showed such strength. The things that one guy told me about his life, made me realise even more, that people with sight, are so lucky. If only they knew, what blind people go through and have gone through in their lives, just to exist.

One story I was told, I won’t go into, but my heart sank. Hit the ground and scraped along my insides. I thought, we live in hell. But then there was this stunning countryside. Nature. What man was meant to live like, love and respect? Because of man, this world has become hell, but for this weekend, I found myself in an open prison of freedom.

Behind the gates of nature. How life was intended.

I met whilst out with Arty, an adorable man. Tall and very calmly spoken. A real gentleman. He was so incredibly intelligent. His wife was at the meeting, he could see perfectly, as by the way I found out Alan could? Ha, no wonder he took photographs so well and described things as we passed in the car and was able to read things to us? Well it was when he talked of driving through France; I almost choked and had to ask how much he could see? When he said perfectly, I told him, we thought he was partially sighted. He has such empathy with blind people; he is fantastic at guiding and amazing in such a relaxed way in guiding and describing.

He does it in a natural way, rather than a speech to a crowd.

This guy with the wife spoke for a while. He was from Slavonia. His wife is called Barbara. What a really really lovely couple. She can see a bit, her two daughters have been born with the same eye condition as her.

One is an artist and one plays piano and is a teacher.

A lady told me that she is losing her sight. She will be blind by three months. There is nothing can be done for her. She gets very depressed, cries, but has to take herself away from her family, in her words.

“My problems are not theirs. Why make them sad and down?

How selfless? Oh God I could have cried for her, I wanted to hug her. Give her a shoulder to cry on. Everyone needs to have someone. I had no one for 25 years and even now, really find it hard to talk about problems, but, understood her meanings. My teen says to me, he doesn’t want a blind child as they will grow up unhappy like me? I thought I was very good at keeping my troubles to myself, always had a painted on smile? Obviously my Teen, saw through my laughter, and read the pain. I made a promise, never to show my teen or talk about my sight again, not that I do anyway, but sometimes when he would not walk with us when we moved here, to show us the route, I got very upset. But now because of a fantastic few friends, I do get out and because of Hubs guide dog, we do get to a couple of places on our own, though also get lost.

These people were so strong, but showed and were not afraid to show their true side. Some people plod on and never say or admit they have problems and this makes people like me, feel so small.

This is how I gained my strength this weekend. Oh God, really emotional.

If you have sight and health, you are so lucky. May be you don’t feel lucky, but trust me, you really really are. Go and look at something beautiful. Perhaps a flower in your garden, a view of hills, the colour combination of the clouds, the stars, the glassy lake your child, your daughters face as she walks down the aisle. Just look and take a moment, to know and feel how incredibly fortunate you are to see such beauty.

We can never see that but, what I saw this weekend, may not be pretty to the eye, but brought such warmth to my heart.

We saw no Moose, but watched life, framed with a leafy edging of bracken and bluebells.

So my final part of this Diary. After finishing our walk through the beautiful hilly forest, passing the moss covered large stones and tall trees, there were trees turned upside down, showing the roots off I think for an exhibit? Looked odd though, the beautiful garden in the place we were staying was so wonderful, it was a sensory garden. Oh the smells, of lavender and mint were gorgeous. There were sounds of Moose and geese telling us where the doors into the building were. The pathways were of different textures, slate, stone and wood. This was to help people know where they were. We picked Hub up from his meeting and were told to meet for before dinner drinks at half past six. A quick shower, hair straighteners and make up. That was just Hub? Hahahahahaha. Joking, he didn’t have a shower…….

I wore some pretty black leggings, with diamonds down the side of the leg. Real of course…..

With a beautiful designer top I bought myself, for a treat before I left the UK. It is long at one side and has the most beautiful silky feel. It is turquoise, orange, black, navy, purple and gold’s. Hub stayed in his suit. We met our friends from Turkey and Woolfgang from Germany. We had champagne and it was rather lovely.

Then for the dinner. Arty wrote out the menu for the evening in English, so we knew what the meat eaters were having…. Poor Moose…

It was a four course meal, Again I ate healthy until dessert. We had typical Norwegian cake with almonds and creamy ice cream with delicious strawberries.

The wonderful Lord received his medal, for all the hard work he has put into life for the blind. He came to speak with us, what a really really nice genuine man. An elderly man from days when England had gents. He was so gracious for his award and this man will have everything, but of course, his sight. He was every bit as wonderful as Hub has always told me. Hub has huge respect for this man, as have I now.

It was a beautiful dinner, then off into the playground.

Oh that was the best. There is an assault course and Hub and another gentleman, I won’t tell who, to spare his blushes, but they went on the equipment, the swinging tires, roundabout and poll. Oh my word? We laughed so much, my insides were killing. It was great to see Hub so chilled and as for the others? They are so human. So good though and incredibly funny. We were like a group of school kids.

Then the next day, we did breakfast, Hub went into another meeting, Arty and I packed her in her room me in mine, we chilled on the veranda and picked Hub up for lunch, so ate ate ate. Said sad goodbyes to some lovely people. Special people. Intelligent, wise with words and actions, kind caring, brave and strong. Thank God for them and thank God for my weekend in a place I will treasure forever. Thank you Oslo and the world.