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Friday 31 July 2015

MY COOKING DELIGHTS. NOT


Right, so normally I am a good wife and Mum and make sure my little chicks have protein vitamins and so on in their varied diet. Hmm. Until today. I really didn’t have a clue what to cook for dinner. I was so tired on these new tablets. The thought of going into the freezer even bothered me as its miles away. Okay, it’s in the garage next to our house, but you know what I mean?…. Also that dam hob of ours? It’s a flat sheet of glass without buttons. It’s a sighted hob yep, my cooker can see hehehe. Well it’s for sighted people for sure.

 

I battle with it each day but today, no. I would hunt for food in my freezer. I knew I had no potatoes. An English person’s main diet. I should have gone to the shop. But my legs can’t move properly. Last day of tablets. No more. I can’t do it. So rice? Really? No, don’t fancy that. OK what did I find in the freezer? Really grown up chicken nuggets. Haha haha. Can’t do beans with them as teen had baked beans in tomato sauce for lunch with cheese in a chili wrap in the oven. Beans twice in one day? No. So, Pasta? No, that won’t go, so Hub came in from work, well normally he walks in to the fragrance of my cooking. Not today. The smell of lemon air freshener. He asked what was for dinner? I said chicken nuggets. He said through a smile, oh, lovely, a proper Friday dinner. I asked him what would he like with it? He couldn’t think, so guess what he had?  coleslaw. Well, at least he got some veg? Hehehehehe. Poor man a hard day at work and sitting to a child’s dinner with rabbit food.

 

He did eat eighteen of them….. Oh my cooking skills, can they get any better?

 

 

FI'S FRIDAY DIARY


 I feel sick.

I have a phone call to make and I really really don’t want to do it. Sometimes I’m so brave and other times I really just want to hide. Today is a hiding day.

 

This call is totally out of my comfort zone. It’s the big boy’s world. I am good at organising things big things events and so on, but when it comes to me? To personal things? Gosh I’m rubbish. So I will take my strength from you right now and pause this blog. Come back in a moment and continue writing. I will let you know if I made the dreaded call.

 

Okay, here I am. I’m on hold having been for ten minutes at least. Listening to this screeching music. I wouldn’t mind so much if there was an ending to the tune? It’s the same tune over and over again, here we go, the forth time in a row.

 

OK not too bad fourteen minutes waiting. The call a total waste of time. Thick people or person on the other end. Firstly I wish they would employ people who can speak clearly enough to understand. If they are not with heavy foreign accent, they have a really broad accent from a part of the UK. Whatever happened to clear words? My Son today showed me a video of a girl he knows who is a singer. I swear  she said the words in her head to the song, but what came out of her mouth? Nothing. Just jjjjuuuu’uuuujaaaaadddddbbbbb’bbbbjjjjjjjjuuuuu

Well that is what it sounded like.

 

 At our school the choir was quite strict and we had to be Chrystal clear with our words and we learned how to carry our voices across the hall church or wherever we sang. That isn’t taught now.

 

It’s like people when they are out with you. It’s loud. So many voices. The quietly spoken person who during a quiet place you struggle to hear decides to talk to you and he/she uses the same voice same tone same volume. Don’t people realise that when it’s noisy, you have to talk above that sound to be heard? Grrrrrrrrrr

 

So this stupid woman.

I said I received a print version of this important letter. I don’t read print. She said

“Can’t you get someone to read it for you and fill it in?” Well, at least I think that is what she said?

 

I said no, my Husband is also blind and she replied

“Well, a neighbour? Me, would you get a neighbour to fill in personal details about yourself? Her well, don’t worry we will send you a Braille version of the letter. Well, I then asked her to read the letter over the phone. She replied

“No, sorry, it’s very long. I then told her I didn’t read Braille either. She replied. “Oh, no. Now what do we do?”

Me. Read it over the phone. Her.

“Can’t do that. Takes too long. Anyway, you will get a Braille version. It’s on your file to get Braille as you are blind.

Me. Well, firstly every blind person sadly doesn’t read Braille. I don’t as I all ready told you.

 Her.

“Will you get another blind person to read it for you?”

 Well, I can get my Husband but if there is a form to fill in, how do we do this and if it’s on my folder to receive Braille, why has this letter come in print? She answered

“Der knows.

Me, “Sorry?

Her

“Der knows.” Me. was that “I don’t know?

Her “yeah

How difficult is it to say doesn’t and yes?

 

So now? What will happen? I really don’t know. It’s an important letter too. An important form. I’m so cross.

 

I really should go to the shop today. I just can’t. Once I get back into life I will be able to do it again but I’m totally exhausted still. It’s like we have been drugged. My Husband and I are the same. He is a sleep by ten each night. Not at all like him. I’m so lethargic. My Son is awake. He is out and about. Now out with a friend and last night the same but different friends. Not spending a lot of money as he doesn’t have it. He’s working hard too.

 

This morning wasn’t a good start. Teen accidently burned me with his pan and I burned my toast. Haha. My brain hasn’t activated since holiday. I’m taking some funny pills too that I really shouldn’t be but there is a reason for them. They are not prescribed and they have huge side effects oh boy I’m having those sides.

 

Tomorrow our Bro in Law is coming. What time? Not sure knowing him before the birds eat their breakfast.

 

Apart from that nothing planned this weekend. I hope to get myself right for next week. As next week I have a lot of work to do and a meeting. Also two poems one for a wedding one for a party for someone starting University. Or was that a party to celebrate their exam results from school? Really, I need to get a grip. Not sure how long I can stay on these pills.

 

Before you all think I’m taking something illegal I’m not. My Hub recommended them and he doesn’t have an insurance out for me haha haha.

 

Dinner tonight? Oh I really really don’t know. And, right now I really really don’t care.  The guilt will kick in when both my men are home later though, so I guess I should get my thinking cap on? Oh how good it would be not to care? To say each for their own? I never have been like that though. My ex always had his meals cooked for him too. God knows what he is eating now? I bet he never has vegetables? I hope he does.

 

Trying to get my Son to eat fruit these days is awful. Really, he used to eat at least five bits of fruit per day. Since he has started to eat meat, he really has gone downhill with his diet.

 

Oh we got some great news last night. Our girls are coming to stay in a few weeks. We can’t wait to see them.

 

OK I will go for now but have a great weekend won’t you? I hope to just chill. Let’s see.

TILL DEATH DO US PART BY FIONA CUMMINGS


TILL DEATH DO US PART

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I saw her across the room

She was like a rose in full bloom

The crowd around us disappeared

My heart danced and cheered

No one else made a sound

My feet leaped from the ground

My stomach said hello to my mouth

And my words spoke but don’t ask what about

I am sure I began to shout

Though no sound came out

What was happening to me?

Who was this beauty before me

She was all that I could see

Her stare kept looking through me

She shot an arrow through my heart

This was the start

I knew I had to meet with her

This wasn’t coincidence

It was meant to occur

It wasn’t by chance

This was a true romance

The clouds in the azure sky

Kissed the sun as they floated by

It rained all around us

But we remained dry

How to get to her?

We were divided by so many people

Seconds earlier the noise was unbearable

Now so peaceful

In her silk of purple

She looked so regal

With hair of gold

Her heart had been sold

I would pay a fortune

To dance to her tune

To sit with her under full moon

I was high on that mountain

My spirits were touching as far as possible

To get to her seemed impossible

My head was asking my legs to walk

My brain was also telling my lips to talk

One step forward and two backwards

Why did people, get in my way?

For my feelings, they had no regards

To put my body through this without rewards?

  She stole my soul

I had only one goal

And that was to hear her voice

It was her I wanted to hold

If I could be so bold?

Her cerulean eyes hypnotised me

 So it was only her I could see

Her smile was warm

She was the calm after a storm

I had been reborn

Into her world

Of diamonds and pearls

She was so pretty

Her long hair of golden curls

The most beautiful girl in the whole world

We got closer

I wanted to hold her

To protect her for life

Make her my wife

I knew the first second I saw her that day

It was her I wanted until my dying day

To make her happy like no other

To tell her every morning I love her

To kiss her each evening and make her feel safe

To make our home a happy place

To look at her stunning face

To dress her in fine lace

To feed her fruits fresh from the trees

To have her on my arm would please

She would want for nothing at all

To need anything she would just call

I would catch her if she were to start to fall

Adore her forever and a day

As we were drawn closer together

I knew we would be as one forever

And we were until today

When the angels took her away

Silver tears fall

As I hear her call

But I can’t get to her at all

Fly free my dear

Don’t feel such fear

For I’m not far away

You can see me every day

 I feel so empty

Totally alone

No one at the other end of the phone

At our table I set one place

I stare at the wall

 Rather than her face

No one will ever take her place

My beauty

To meet again is my duty

I light this candle

Upon our mantle

And say these words

As I look to the birds

 “We had to part

But not for long

Listen to that morning song

I’m not far from you my love

Fly free dearest dove

It is only you I will ever love

So until we meet above

Don’t threat

My pet

I’m close by

Don’t cry

Look for the sun in the sky

Feel the warmth and ask yourself why?

Why were you taken from me today?

Why didn’t God answer when my hands were together?

 And I did pray?

When you have the answer my darling

Please tell me for I am so lost

Its summer an yet I feel frost

Your clothes still hang in the robe

In the bathroom is your soap

Your slippers warm on the hearth

I still hear your laugh

You’re always in my heart

You were the one so very smart

Oh how you have broken my heart

But I know we will meet again soon

For that day in the room

Was not just by chance

Before you I didn’t dance

Nor sing

I have your ring

But will keep it until we meet again

And once more over

I make this wish with the four leaf clover

We will renew our vows

Choirs of angels

Sing with them too

Enjoy the view

As you welcome others into heaven

I will be there in the queue

Because I love you

You are the only person to have melted my heart

And fifty years ago we made a new start

Today we did part

But not for long my sweetheart

My first and forever love

Find peace way above

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings 2015

Thursday 30 July 2015

YESTERDAYS DIARY


Myanmar (Burma) and Bolivia are our new Bloggets this week. Hey there, how are you doing? And all of my dear regular Bloggets I have missed you all when I was away.  So much so, I can’t stop writing, but I will have to as gosh I’m behind in my work. House work and work work. Haha.

 

Today on the gender, Ironing, dusting floors and cooking. Oh back to normal there is a dog run with my name on it but not going to be good as it’s never stopped raining since we got back. Also I have loads of research to do. All before five today. Its lunch time already. I slept in till ten this morning then I had to go into the office for a short while. Back now. Had brunch and let the graft commence.

 

Hub has been so tired this week. I think after being out of six thirty starts for some days and just being allowed to chill, has sent his body into shock.

 

Teen been given loads of shifts at work. He has had a small amount of play time too though, but in traditional teen style, normally starts at eleven at night.

 

As for our Dogs? Well, the creaky one, our old Long chops, she is exhausted. The lovely man she stayed with walked her on average four miles per day that would be Okay, but one day eight? A little far for an old girl. I know how she feels. Hehehe. The little one, Waggatail, well, I’m not sure she has forgiven me yet for bringing her back from her Aunties house. I think she was rather comfortable there. So much for me thinking they would pine! I must say that is the first time I have left my girls and felt comfortable in a very long time. I totally trusted one and a half of the people they went to.

 

I’m cooking for the boys later but me; I’m going to have a healthy salad. Last night’s dinner was bloating and believe me, I’m bloated enough.

 

We are seeing my brother in law this weekend. That will be lovely I haven’t seen him for months. In fact Christmas was the last time. He said he had half an hour spared. Kind of him? Haha.

 

Going out with my neighbour tomorrow for a coffee. Her extension is all done but she still has only half a kitchen. Almost five months now, I expect she is rather fed up. It was her birthday yesterday last year we went out to celebrate her 50th normally I would say where has the year gone, but this past year has been one of such enormous change for me. So seams a lot longer for me personally.

 

Oh how I would love to be able to call a cleaner right now and sort my life out? Really, I don’t know where to start. Thank goodness before I went away, I did the house from top to bottom, so it is really still clean, it’s the thought of doing it all again. Once I start I will be OK I would just rather talk to you all.

 

So the news? When we were away, we didn’t listen to it. This is what makes a break from normality. You don’t live in the nasty world we normally do when on holiday when the news isn’t getting pushed into your face every hour. I came back to some awful stories I was going to write about but just realised that then I would be pushing them onto you. And why? You would only get upset. So I won’t write about that. Let’s just say, I hope all people who are cruel to animals suffer the worst death and then the devil will meet with them.

 

Next week for Hub is a busy one. He is away for two days overnight. Then he is away another two days but home at nights. I’m just so pleased his team are so good. They really are like a little family. But there are so many challenges for him and them. I guess it keeps his brain active.

 

Our eldest daughter in September is leaving her home. She has a scholarship with her local Cathedral. This gives her a wage and house to live in. She will share with a young lad. He too has a scholarship. This will last a year then she will go to University. The year after that the little one will also go to University. As for my Son? He wants to some days then not the others. TO be honest, he has the intelligence to do this, but not the commitment to study on his own. He would rather sleep, exercise and party. He is a good worker though and never ever misses a shift at his job. He is dedicated for sure but it’s not what he wants to do for life. What does he want to do? He doesn’t know this is fine at his age; there was talk of the Navy. I hope this is a phase. I hate anything to do with guns fighting or conflict.

 

I loved it when we were away just watching him with our eldest girl. He was as interested in photography as is she as she studied it for a short while. If she lived closer she could be a good influence on him.  He needs inspiration. Sadly my Husband isn’t forceful enough and I am his Mum. I’m uncool.

How lucky kids are who have great grandparents. And other family members who will watch out for the kids.

 

OK. We are half way through this week. So, how about a smile? If your week has been tough, kick off your shoes, unless your feet stink and you are in a small office of course, sit back and grin from ear to ear, now come on practice? Can’t see you yet, turn that frown upside down.

 

B & Q a hard ware shop in the UK who also sell plants are to hire wait for it? “Plant whisperers” 

A spokesperson reported to have said that each plant species has its own personality, so different phrases and songs work better for different plants. Hahahahahaha. And why not?

 

People in Asia are wearing clothes with offensive words on them and they don’t have a clue what they are wearing as they don’t speak or read English. Shame on us.

 

A man has made a 65ft sculpture of a sausage dog made from balloons. “That’s a lot of blowing.

 

In a part of the UK cows are to be fitted with lights and high Vis jackets so motorists can see them on the common.

 

What do you get when you come across a lemon and a cat?

A sourpuss.

 

Finally a quick recipe.

Chicken stir fry

Calories 500

Serves 4

Protein

42g

Carbs 76g

Cooking time

35 minutes

So what you need

4 skinless boneless chicken fillets

1 egg white

1 tbsp. cornflour and 1 tsp extra

350g Thai flavoured rice

Thumb size root ginger

1 red pepper

1 shallot

1 garlic clove

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1tbsp Soy sauce

100ml chicken stock

1 lime

Handful basil leaves

Method

Slice chicken into bite size pieces. Beat the egg white and 1 tbsp. cornflour in a bowl.

Tip in the chicken and coat with the mix marinate for 25 minutes. Don’t place in fridge or will go hard. Now rinse rice under cold water. Until water runs clear. If you can’t see, guess. Haha.

Making perfect rice, pour into pan of boiling water with salt. Cook with lid on then cook rice uncovered for ten minutes until the water has all gone.

Put oil in frying pan. Cook chicken for a few moments then add shallots garlic pepper and ginger. And if you have anything else you want to throw in, do it. Then add Soy sauce and stock Cook for another five minutes.

Squeeze lime and add leaves.

Okay, okay, enough already. Laters with love. X

 

  

Wednesday 29 July 2015

MY SHARED SECRET BY FIONA CUMMINGS


MY SHARED SECRET

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 Closed minds have took to their slumber

Now time for me to live this wonder

Lights appear

Though I have no fear

Hush now silent breaths

Allow the joy to start whilst others rest

This is truly the very best

Dancing dots

Lilac spots

Orange balls

I hear their calls

Silver waterfalls

Of trickling droplets

From pure white rockets

Fall delicious chocolates

I put them in my pocket

Then remove a key from my locket

Open the door to a secret craft

I told my best friend of this

But she just laughed

So this is my secret

Please will you keep it?

These words are so true

There is such a view

Tiny round windows

Fragrance of a sweet rose

Happy feelings all around

As this rocket leaves the ground

Flying over the moon of cheese

Delightful silver stars do please

As I look down

To the greedy ground

I feel the generosity

From creatures so round

With chubby like hands

A bit like pans

Though fingers of pegs

And stubby little legs

One night it did get me

That was curiosity

I opened a door

Inside there was no floor

The creature asked me to stand in

That was the only time I felt afraid within

But somehow I felt such trust

To walk in there was a must

I floated through the navy night

I really enjoyed my flight

The cloud was like a carpet

As we flew into orbit

Then there was a kind of circuit

And we came to a stop

I was asked to hold onto a giant lolly pop

Then once again we departed

Lights flashed before me

In such darkness I couldn’t see

But the wires on the machine were guiding me

Through winds so gentle

To a platform of metal

Where I was reunited with my friends of turquoise

They giggled like little naughty boys

And brought me back to the open door

I so badly wanted to explore

Through it I went

It was like a tent

But made from thin tin

I had a kind of medicine

Like honey from a spoon

Then I visited their home

In the centre of the moon

It was there I felt such importance

For I knew this was the rule

This vast light controlled my earth

Many generations before me

The moon gave birth

To a world we know

And now what do we have to show?

My friends are so sad

We were given this gift

Now treat  so bad

If only we respected what we had

And welcomed who we call aliens to our land

Reach out your hand

They can save us

But if they were spotted

Oh such a fuss

They would be shot at

And that would be that

For they control the moon

And the moon talks to our ocean

 There is no mystery

No magic potion

It just requires an open mind

Look into your soul

See what you will find

Live out of the box

Examine the rocks

Ask yourself why

Do we have a sky?

Time to go back now

But how?

I trust my friends so round

To take me back to the ground

I wish I could tell my family

What the lights mean to me

But I know they will think of me as crazy

I’m not

My mind isn’t lazy

I feel sorry for our makers

They created us like bread in bakers

They want to see us grow

And look good

Just like a plate of food

A garden of flowers

April showers

New born horses

But they are driven away

By our armed forces

I wish one day

You would open your heart

Make a new start

Know what is right

Have your second sight

See the dancing dots like me

Fly over the salted sea

Float in the bubble of a cloud

Make friends with those so turquoise and round

They make me feel so glad that they are around

So proud

They trusted me

I can’t wait until closed minds fall a sleep

Let them count sheep

Whilst I learn from our Lord

We live for today

And what we can afford

But love is free

The moon belongs to you and me

Fly with me so high

Into our gift of the big blue sky

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings 2015

Tuesday 28 July 2015

VISION TURNING THE PAGES


Bolivia has joined us this week. Hello to you and a very warm welcome. China Germany Australia Canada US UK Sweden India and Israel are just some of the countries here today. Really great to see you here in my house of madness an yet sometimes complete sanity but not oftern. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my journey to France? I’m still on a high with it. I can’t concentrate I know I should be working but can’t. How on earth my Husband can do his work is beyond me. My heart and head is still in the south of France. I still taste the French breads, pastries olives and cheeses not to mention the wine? Well, something had to wash down that delightful food? And the wine by far was cheaper than the juice.

 

Oh how much I wish we could return there with those wonderful children of ours. It was so sad to say goodbye to the girls. I really had to stop myself from bursting out crying on the train. My poor Husband had a very heavy heart as he described. But we can do that again. I just don’t and wont’ ever understand how those I love are always away from me. It stems from boarding school. I would love to see more of the girls. But sadly life won’t allow that. They are so busy. And this is good for them. I was lucky; my Son came home with us. The girls left for their Mothers house. The day my Husband left his girls was the worst day of his life and yet he reflects the happiest as he and I began to live together. Our new life had started. I didn’t know how to take care of him during the suffering he went through after leaving the girls. Obviously I had never been through that myself. But our souls were made as one when we were born and ripped apart when we were twelve. Thank our maker we were reunited again many years later. We were magnets and my Husband said if we had not has met, he doesn’t know where he would be right now, as for me? Well, for sure not where I was way back. For the first time in our lives, we were selfish. I cared for my ex and still there is a bit of me that does, just he has made it impossible for me to show him this. But through our Son, there is a part that will love him thanks to Teen.

 

As for our girls, and I do see them as our girls. Though of course they are the birth daughters of their Mum who has brought them up from the age of ten and twelve. And they are super young ladies now, their Mum should be proud. But how much love can kids have? Not ever enough. So our love for them will continue. The best thing about that holiday was the closeness that we all shared. My Son really thinks of his little step sister as his Sister and he said he should be there to look after her. Well, thank God he’s not, as he would be so strict. He would drive the little one crazy at the same time; it’s so lovely to see that connection. He is very close to the eldest girl too but in time I’m sure she will be his sister as for now, she is like a best friend. For me? Oh I love her. I for the first time can see her and I being really close as we both grow older. She is the daughter I never had.

 

I just wish we could see more of them. I really do. When it’s time for my Son to leave the nest my heart will die. Unless he moves in with a girl I can love and respect. Then I will be so happy but my Son tends to go for very odd girls. There was no more of an odd girl than the last. I just hope the salted waters of France have washed her right out of his hair. Though I am sure that she will keep at him, to date him again. I know she will not let him go as she batted well above her net with teen. No way will she get better. And she will learn of this soon. They will meet up next month as they are going to a festival not together but she will make sure she meets with him as she can’t leave him alone. As regards to our eldest daughter? I hope she will find someone who loves her for what she is. She doesn’t know her value. Our little one, well, she is feisty. No one will walk over her for sure.

 Kids, this is not a good age. I don’t like parenting children in their late teens. Our daughter had her 16th birthday when we were on holiday. Sweet sixteen. So now all old enough to marry. Scary. I can tell you this and it shocked my eldest daughter, I for the first time in my life agree with arranged marriages’ want to bite my fingers for even thinking this, but after what I have seen over the past few years?

 

My heart melted when Hub and I were kids. He stole my heart and placed butterflies in my stomach. So if someone had told us we were not allowed to marry? Oh I would have been finished. The funny thing is Hubs Mum told my Mum when we were about eleven. We would marry. My Mum smiled and asked me if this were true? My head was screaming yes. My shy exterior walked away from such a personal question.

 

He was my dream. His Mum knew something that no one else but us two knew. So what if she had been allowed to arrange our marriage? Well God love her and may the angels be looking after her now, as in a way, when Hub and I got together, she helped so much with our final plans. Hub and I or I should say me, but with Hubs money, as he was abroad working, I planned everything but our Mum did all of our flowers cake and fine details. My dress and Hubs suit was bought our choice and it was so liberating to be able to do this on our own without anyone telling us what should be done. It was difficult don’t get me wrong; to organise the event the colours the food the entertainment and honeymoon, but we did it. I truly don’t know of any other blind couple who get by with no help from sighted people. I just want to tell you it is possible. And when you do it for the first time? How free you will feel it’s a great feeling. You take that steering wheel and drive that car letting no one take over.

 

So today? Teen working again as he did yesterday. Yesterday, and the day before. As for yesterday? It was Olga from Russia birthday. A year has passed since she was in England and how much changed that year. I thought of her all day. With deep sadness as I wanted things to be the way they used to be but no, not possible. I just pray she is happy and hope she will find her own identity? Whatever that may be. It’s been almost a year since I last heard from her. After our friendship of over twenty years but sadly I was to learn my friendship to her meant something totally different to her than what it meant to me. I do miss her Son though. D was the sweetest little lad when young. I never thought I would see a day when we didn’t communicate but a lot of water has gone under that bridge.

 

Times move on and life can start anew. What a new life I have. Slowly that wheel of fortunes not in monetary talk, but in values and style of life is turning for me.

 

I feel like a book. Someone is reading me turning the pages ever so slowly. Now I awaite for vision. Vision. Yes please let me have some of that?

ON OUR WAY ALL PARTS


Well hello my Dearest Bloggets. I’m back after a much needed break. Wait until I tell you all about it. Some would say we were crazy as both of us can’t see at all but what we did made me feel so good and it was what the two of us needed in fact all five of us, were as one.

 

For two months I searched for the perfect holiday for my Husband myself and our three children. Well, they will always be our children no matter how old they are. But to let you know they are or, were, more on that later, fifteen, seventeen and eighteen.

 

It was a celebration my Son finished with great results from college and got rid of the hateful one in his life. That alone is a celebration for us all. Then our next daughter has finished her A, levels with I’m sure wonderful results but we won’t know until August. And our youngest, has finished her GCSE’s again she will do really well as is as bright as a button.  So all the stress of exams for them. A new life for teen and new beginning for all of us. Then My darling Husband and I have been married for a special amount of years and he has worked so hard for a year without a break we haven’t been out anywhere apart from shops for the past year either, so we gathered as many pennies as we could and together with our children we went on an adventure!

 

I booked a house from a private agency. So there was no real guarantee that the house would even exist. I was terrified. If it went wrong it would be my fault. I couldn’t see any of the pictures on line just the description in words. I drove my Husband crazy as I was on the computer over ten hours per day, not only looking for a holiday, as I had lots of work to do as well, but I had to do my work during office hours so the holiday would be at nights when he was home. Well, as you know my computer talks in a kind of man’s voice each key I press. So this robotic voice dug into my Husbands skull. Oh how he did complain. And I must say, there were times when I was ready to give up too! But I thought to myself, I’m not just doing this for myself, in fact it was for all of us. And once I start something, I can’t let it go, so I was on a mission.

 

I don’t do things by half either. It had to be perfect. Well, as perfect as we could afford. Every time over the past year we have thought about going out, we have put the money a side to pay for what we owe and for this break.

 

When I told my Husband that I booked a holiday that wasn’t protected, he wasn’t a happy bunny. In fact in our little bunny burrow, it was almost rabbit pie on the menu.

 

So, where did I book to go to? Well, somewhere I have never been but always wanted to go to. When I first booked it, I was told on the website that it was only seven hours from London. Hmm. Right, not quite. The journey as we unfolded was actually a nightmare we never anticipated.

 

As I had already booked the holiday, we had to arrange travel ourselves separately and believe me that wasn’t easy either.

 

Seven hours? Em, no, Try fourteen going and coming back, almost twelve. And when I learned of the actual way we would have to do this? As blind people I really thought I had done a huge error. My sighted friends said that no way they would have done this, but hey ho! For me who some years ago was terrified to step out of my front door on my own, to doing this? Well, I know we would have our children with us, but more reason to be careful. For those who think blind people shouldn’t have children and believe me, my Husband has come across people like that including family members, middle finger up to them a journey and a half we were about to take part in and a holiday for our little darlings we were going to have.

Oh, that’s if the house we were to stay in even existed!

 

Our dogs went on a holiday separately. I was so sad to see them leave. As they were not going to be together as well. I did worry about them. I just wished that I could have told them it was not for long and we would have them back. I wanted them to understand this. I knew mine would be OK as I knew who she was going to. And this lady loves dogs she is so sweet with them and my little Waggatail already knew the lady. She was to stay with Hermione, but as for LC, she didn’t know the man. And she is a Shepard so she is so loyal to my Husband and could pine for him. Oh it was not good. I did have a lump in my throat.

 

Through kind text I learned that my Wagga was happy and it was obvious that the lady who had her loved her. That put my mind at rest. I’m sitting here in my living room writing to you waiting for both dogs to return tonight with Hub as he will collect them at work. The house is so quiet without them. It’s odd to write without guilt as normally I feel bad about not paying attention to them. As for our canary, would he be OK on his own? Well, he sits in his big cage on the wide windowsill, so he can watch the world passing him by. I bought him a huge water bottle as well as the small one he had already and we filled his bath up too so he would have lots of water. As for food, well, Teen filled up his dish and we put some fresh veg just a tiny bit for him. Some sweet corn and broccoli. But I was in fear that we would come back to a bird that was ill or worse. We have never left him on his own so long. Two days was the most he has been left without someone coming in to see him.

 

Cases packed. I washed ironed and took the least clothes we could get away with as we only wanted to take a case between Hub and myself. Teen had his own and packed his own. I have taught him to do that since he was about fifteen as it’s a great lesson for a child. I had to pack my own case from the age of six. At boarding school we had to do this. It teaches responsibility I think and is a good memory test. My Son does it so well.

 

Oh believe me; getting all of the tickets passports and other documents together was scary. So, passports, hell, I have a bank book that looks exactly like a passport. Imagine if I took that instead of the passport? Insurance documents, to us bits of paper. We between us, typed out the directions we needed to follow in print for the kids and Hub did Braille for himself. Well, as for me? I’m as my Husband tells me illiterate. I don’t read Braille and can’t see print. So I’m kind of stuffed.

 

Now, was the printer working? Was there any ink on the paper? Who knows? Not us for sure. But the machine made that sound as though it was doing something worthwhile.

We kept everything in a folder. We already had been for foreign currency with our Son who kindly took Hub to collect it. Organisation is the main key and Hub is so used to this with his last job of traveling all over the world, I left that stress to him, though to hand over everything to do with paperwork and have no knowledge of this at all was to trust for sure.

 

I wore a rucksack. Oh how I hated that but I have to admit, it was so useful. It meant that I had my hands free. I linked onto one of the children, cane in other hand. If I were not to take the white cane, people wouldn’t know we were blind or I was blind and they most of them anyway, make a wider birth if they see me coming with my stick. I don’t use it as I should it’s just a sign. “Watch out big blind Mama heading your way.”

 

Well, we had to take a taxi at four in the morning. This was fine for me as normally I would not be a sleep by this time. Teen hadn’t even got to sleep. Hub had just over four hours.  It was a long taxi drive to the station as our local station wouldn’t get us to London in time.

 

Streight on the train. I was excited an yet apprehensive of what would be at the other end of today.

 

Our girls got on after a couple of hours. Hub was so happy to see them. He misses them so much but they stay with their Mum who made sure that they had everything for their journey.  

 

We got off the train in London and headed for the Euro tunnel. It would be my first time on that. It was a ten minute walk. So many people. So much noise. Hub had his case and a huge heavy rucksack on his back me with my sack looking rather butch. I don’t like that look. Teen had his case. The girls had their bags and Teen kindly took one of the suitcases like a real gent.

 

We had arrived at the Euro tunnel and time to show passports.

 

That moment when you go through the tunnel thing that checks if you are wearing any underwear?

 Oh no. I mean to see if you are carrying anything dodgy. You normally can’t go through with anyone so walk in a streight line? I haven’t been drinking sir, honestly.

Well, we passed with flying colours. All excited. Children were buzzing. Our youngest was so happy and it was great to see. Our eldest also laughing with the girls. We were all so happy. My eldest girl guided me the little one Hub and teen was the weight lifter with cases.

 

 Sounds so foreign and up and down steps and moving escalators. Rushing to catch our train to Paris. Well, our second of many trains to come.

 

It was different to get onto in comparison to our trains in the UK. Oh but the seats were so good. Best thing was the French transport. Oh I want to go back as I write this. I could jump with happiness. Anyway, we drank and ate and laughed. The only down side was the pain in my knees. My Husband is convinced that I have water retention. I was in agony. But two and a half hours later we were in gay Paree!

 

Off the train with our luggage. All children in counting. Oh that was so good and wait to see what was about to happen? Well on to the ticket office. We did research before we left; well I did to see where the ticket office or machine would be. We found one. It wasn’t working, so to the next one. Got our tickets for the dreaded French Metro.

 

A long walk how we found it where we needed to be? Well, with our brains and the kids’ eyes and knowledge as specially the little one, we did it. Oh it was hilarious. My big girl, not that she is, she is like a delicate flower, and I walked through passing by a person wanting our money. Haha. Hub and the little one passed, and then we looked back, oh who is entertaining the person? Our Son. Our girls shouted on their brother to tell him not to sign anything. Too late. Hheheheahah.

 Really, bless him. Well we saved him from being conned and on our way. Oh the tube in Paris is disgusting. My girl told me that there was urine everywhere. The smell was gross. People were unwashed too. Body odour was all around. And in the heat?

 

There were soldiers with guns. I was in fear for the safety of our kids but we all kept together. Well, until it came to getting on the awful smelly tube.

 

Teen and my flower got on with me. The little one we call fairy went on with her Daddy.

 

Or did she?

 

I knew it was two stops. Thank God I knew. We got off. You have to go up and down steps on the tube onto the platform. We got off. Where was Hub and Fairy?

 

Not on our tube. Oh my word? Where were they? Well as I went into panic mode, getting out my phone, our girl told me I wouldn’t get reception. We were underground. OK, I’m a country bumpkin, alright? Hehe.

 

Well, what to do? We waited and the next tube came. Was Hub and the Fairy on? The doors opened. Our daughter said they were there, well there is Hub who is the traveller and he missed the tube. Of course we had to cause maximum embarrassment by cheering and clapping as they got off the tube.

 

OK. Onto our next step. A train to catch for the longest time yet. A four and a half hour journey to the South of France. We managed to find the correct train. Always a scary thing to do. Hoping that it is the right one. Oh that was amazing. It was a double decker train. So our seats of course were up stairs. So onto the train, down steps along and up a curly staircase. The challenges of travelling blind. Which way would it curl? Follow the rail and then to find our seats. It was so luxurious. Everyone was so well behaved. So quiet. Not like our disrespectable travellers in the UK.

 

What was out of the window? Who knows? I know that my Son told me that we were passing country side bales of hay on mass farm land. How I wished we could have seen out of the windows. Not to see expressions on other passengers faces. But sight wasn’t needed to feel the joy in my heart. But the question was, would the house exist?

 

By now we were all a little tired but running on adrenalin. We guessed that it was our turn to get off. Nothing was in English. We went by the time we were due to arrive. Off the train we got and all our cases Teen got for everyone. Along the long platform down and up more steps I was shattered. I had done more exercise in that one day than I would at home in four months.

 

How unhealthy I was. A mess to be honest. But didn’t let it get to me. No one would know how unhealthy I was feeling at that point. My weight was a huge issue but only I would know about that. Though our girl asked if I was OK on more than one occasion. So perhaps I wasn’t such a good actress after all.

 

We waited for our taxi. I had found one before I left the UK. That took some finding too. Oh my word. Because there were five of us, we couldn’t risk just getting one off the rank, in fact, would there be a taxi rank? There was, but we didn’t know this until we arrived. So a mini bus pulled up. A man asked if we were for him we said yes and in the air conditioned taxi we all climbed into. The seats were leather and the bus was so clean. A really lovely guy driving couldn’t speak English, but between us all and I had emailed the owner Ann, and given her the address, so on our way, good news was that the driver didn’t ask us “What address?” In other words, it did exist. Now, would it be a warehouse? Or a holiday home and if the latter, would there be anyone in our house?

 

Well fifteen minutes later, we arrived. Teen said it didn’t have a gate. Well the house we booked had a gate. So we found one with a gate but not a code like the one we were told. Up the drive we went. One of the girls told us there was a car in the drive.

 Oh my God. No!

 

So the driver waited for us. We found another gate. This one had a code. We put the numbers in that we were told. It opened. Oh few. Said thank you to the lovely driver for waiting. The drive was long, with its stones we went. Teen put the code in the box next to the door, retrieved the key and our door opened. In we all went. What would the house look like? Well the agency we booked through, kindly arranged a plan of the house in word too. Even telling us how many steps to the front door. Five in total. There were mini trees at each side of the door. The entrance hall was huge. All the floors were tiled. The kids had a bedroom each but that didn’t make a difference as they all ended up sharing anyway. That was cute they all got on so well. Hub and I were delighted about that. It was the most natural thing. My Son really looked out for his little step sisters too and they loved him. It was a dream. A wonderful dream for hub and myself. To have all of our kids under one roof. To hear them laughing and to just be able to relax. The kitchen was great, the cooker was impossible for us to switch on as it was a touch one like we have at home, but the one at home you can feel a tiny mark where the buttons on the glass are, but on this one, nothing at all. We went down the two steps into the living room. Thankfully we were pre told of these. Or it could have been nasty. The living room was basic but clean and had comfortable sofas and UK TV. The kitchen had everything in and all such good quality. We wanted for nothing. Our bedroom was lovely, again nothing fancy, but so clean. This is the main thing for me. The house was a cottage for fishermen and it is cream with blue wooden French shutters on the outside of the windows.  Our eldest daughter had her own bathroom as did we. The children were so excited. Oh we went into the garden, the trees were lit up. The garden furniture was beautiful. There was a shed with everything in to entertain the kids. There was a full size table tennis under a shelter. The shed had bags or sacks of giant Jenga. There was a BBQ too. And then for the cream. A swimming pool. Oh wow. Our very own pool. There is nothing worse when you can’t see and you are in a public pool you are so afraid to bump into anyone. The water was cool but lovely. There was even an outdoor shower. It was rather private too the garden that is, not the shower…

 

The little fairy was squealing with joy. My heart jumped with joy and the air was full of joy. Yes. The hard work was worth it. Now, what to do on   holiday?

 

Well, we went along where our house was; now time to see if the agency we booked through told us the truth about the location? Was it a seven minute walk to everything in the little fishing village? Out of our gate we went. Along the little road by the side of the canal. Oh the weather was beautiful. Really, we have not had a summer in England this year. And the odd few nice days when we have not needed our heating on, to sit in our garden isn’t pleasant.

 

This air was fresh. The smells were stunning. The little cafes and other eateries along the way were so welcoming. But we found our treasure. A restaurant we went down some wooden steps onto a platform with the ocean beneath our table and enjoyed a delightful meal. Well the other four did. Me? Vegetarian? France don’t do vegetarian meals. But a Pizza was good enough, as especially with the olives and delicious French bread. With the wonderful musicians playing in the background and the waves lapping and the little birds and crickets singing and dancing in the night air. This was the start of our holiday.

 

The next day we took the kids horse riding. We used the same taxi company to go there. It was so inexpensive to go horse riding. I didn’t put the poor horse through such pain nor did Hub. We waited in the reception. Got eaten by horse flies and listened to English music on the radio. We were put at ease when we learned that our kids had riding hats on and the girls even wore protective jackets because they were under eighteen. Funny, so if you are eighteen or over, doesn’t matter if you break your bones? ….

 

I must say I have never been to such a clean riding school. As soon as there was a dreadful smell, it was cleaned up. There wasn’t even a horse smell and in that heat?  It could have been awful.

 

The children were taken through the forest for an hour. I wasn’t too worried as I knew they were all together. They got back happy and my Son couldn’t walk. It was rather funny.

 

We went back to our little village and enjoyed the pool. Then we went on a boat ride. It was OK. It was a sailing boat. That was for Hub. I must say I normally love boats, but this one had to be the most uncomfortable boat I have ever been on.  

 

Oh it was at first annoying then I had to just chill. There was an elderly lady who just kept coming up to me and taking my hands and moving me. What’s all that about? Okay, in my limited French, I understood that she was keeping me out of the sun as I’m so fair. But the ridiculous thing was, she was actually putting me in the sun more?  Then the boatman asked me if I needed any of his sun tan cream? I told him I had put lots on before I came on board. Well, funny thing my Son who is also blonde and fair didn’t get bothered. I was moved about six times and I did get cross as though they thought they were meaning well, would you go up to a sighted person take them by the hands and walk them to another seat? No. You wouldn’t.  Anyway I was polite. Our eldest daughter kept coming to see if we were OK bless her. The kids were at the back. Like all naughty children. Haha.

 

We got off the boat and on land thank God. I didn’t like it as too long too hard as in seats and the old lady drove me mad. I think bless her she was a sandwich short of a picnic. I really do, or a sausage short of a BBQ!

 

Then it was time for an ice cream. There was a choice of one hundred flavours. Teen and I went across the little lane opposite the shop and down onto some decking there were such comfortable sofas. They were made from cane and had thick cushions on them. There were little glass coffee tables with cane legs. It was so peaceful. The ice cream was delicious. I had banana and violet. Yummy. Hub had a coffee. I had a taste of it and it was gorgeous.

 

We heard all the boats going by the air was so pure and I was so happy.

 

Next morning, an early rise off to the bakery to buy French pastries for breakfast. Hub and our flower went to the early morning market. They brought back fresh fruits, French cheese vegetables and fish.

 

We took a taxi to an old part of France. The streets were of cobbled bricks and narrow alleys led us to the most horrendous shop I have ever been in I swear it belonged to a witch. I’m not kidding. Let me explain?

 

Out from the sun into the shop of fear. It went cold. There was an atmosphere. I passed a person at first I didn’t know if it was a man or woman. I’m still not totally convinced. It was meant to be an antique shop. Teen picked up a long poker like thing. He showed me it. As I felt the point at the end, I said to my Son, what on earth is this? The voice from the person replied in a very deep smoky slow voice.

“A goat dagger”

I could have been sick. I wanted to get out of there right then. My Son said there were some very unusual items in the shop. My Husband told me to come to him. I did, he showed me something.

“Fi, give me your hand. Feel this?”

Oh my word. It was awful. Rough like sand paper.

“What on earth is it?” I asked. Hub to my horror replied

“A snake skin” Oh No’o’o

 

There was a stags head too. Why? Why why?

I wanted out of there. The smell was dreadful. My Son and I left and Hub came out. He said that there was a cave down in the cellar.

 Say, wha’at?

 Teen and the girls went for a better look. We waited outside. Hub teased me as they had been away for some minutes. He told me it could be like the children’s story there may be an oven down there she might be cooking the kids. Oh where were they? What had they found?

 

Thank Goodness they came out but they stunk of the shop. They said there was a skeleton down there and loads more awful things. There was a window pane and an old door. Why? Just a door standing there against the wall. Weapons of torture too. Well I was just pleased to see them out of there. The kids told me that the witch was ancient about ninety, but it was her voice and the way she slowly said her words. Oh it still sends a shiver up my spine.

 

We went into another so called antique shop. Well that was crazy. The floor was dug up. I’m not joking. It was as though the builders had been in and not finished their work. Among the old china and so on were holes in the floor and smashed concrete flooring!  Got out of there fast and suddenly had respect for our antique shops in the UK.

 

We then went into a pottery shop. It was lovely. What a sweet guy. He showed Hub and the girls his work shop and told us he could make anything. We didn’t buy sadly. Then to an artist’s shop. The quietly spoken elderly gent painted our eldest daughter. Hub had tears in his eyes. The guitar from a street entertainer was playing beautiful music in the background as our pretty one was being painted on a book she purchased.

 

Then to a pancake café. We ate lunch took coffee and juice that you can only buy in France. It was delightful. The church bells rang and the buildings were apparently beautiful. Green and white with ornate balconies.

 

There was a little water feature and everyone was so peaceful. The girls and I went into a French perfume shop. Oh the smells were amazing. Sweet efflorescent wonders were all around us just what we needed after the witches cave.

 

And time to catch our bus back.

 

We did a BBQ our Flower cooked for us. Teen and the little fairy did the BBQ fresh fish was put on there and we had delicious Mediterranean

  Vegetables!

 

Night time was a game around the table of cards. And a good sleep was in order.

 

Market the next day again for evening dinner. I went to see the lovely goods that could be bought. So much choice. Olives with herbs. Oh the best garlic you could ever buy anywhere. French onions and so much more. Then we went to see what was around the street where we were living for those few days. We came across an old man selling wine Jams and honey. His yard was kitted out to look like a shed. His till was in the middle and wine cases were all around with pots of jam and honey. The flavours of jam were like nothing I have seen before. They were quite expensive whereas the wine was so cheap. And so good. I loved the bucolic backstreets full of offerings. Fragrant flowers formed pathways leading to the unknown. The little paths were so easy for blind people no undulating nonsense going on!

 

This night we went onto the harbour to soak up the atmosphere our Flower lay on the rocks to take photos of the stars. She loves photography. She has a great camera. She can do all sorts with it. She took a spooky picture of people passing the lighthouse but made it look as though they were transparent. How? Not sure special affects I guess. She lay on the ground to capitulate the silver stars and cloud formation. Wow. Just wow. Our Son showed huge interest in photography too. He has a skill     

  

We went back for a midnight swim under nature’s finest blanket of navy nights.

 

Last night walk along the sandy shore sad to be leaving this heavenly place Hub and I fell in love with. Our eldest daughter did us proud with her French. All three kids just made this a special time together. A part of our heart that can never be removed. Packing to go home. All of us packed our own things. Nothing was left so we all did OK Hub and I just keep everything as close together as possible not to lose anything. The long sad journey home, sad because back to work and normal life of not going out but, happy that our children have the love for each other and I was so proud to see them all get on so well. They have a future they are our future and my love and I have some sun in our souls.

 

So, Au revoir to France and Hello to England.