HOPE FOR RP

RetroSense Therapeutics LLC, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted U.S. patent Application No. 11/036,629, entitled “Method for Augmenting Vision in Persons Suffering from Photoreceptor Cell Degeneration.” RetroSense is the exclusive licensee of this intellectual property for augmenting vision from photoreceptor cell degeneration through a license with Massachusetts General Hospital. This patent broadly covers methods for restoring or improving vision using optogenetic approaches. The allowed claims cover the use of a broad range of opsins and rhodopsins in vision restoration.

RetroSense Therapeutics is developing lead product RST-001 as a first-in-class gene therapy application of optogenetics designed to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. In March 2016, RetroSense announced that the first patient was successfully dosed in the first clinical trial to evaluate the safety of RST-001. There are currently no FDA approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions.

“This is an important milestone in the quest to develop a therapy to restore or improve vision for patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa or advanced dry age-related macular degeneration,” said Richard H. Masland, Ph.D., the first named inventor and David G. Cogan Professor of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

“The notice of allowance for this key patent complements our existing “Pan” patent portfolio which focuses on optogenetic gene therapies and complementary devices for vision restoration,” said Sean Ainsworth, CEO of RetroSense Therapeutics. “Expanding our patent portfolio is an important part of our strategy and the Masland patent improves our ability to develop and commercialize optogenetics.”

Optogenetics refers broadly to means of conferring light sensitivity to cells that were not previously, or natively light sensitive. By applying optogenetics to retinas in which rod and cone photoreceptors have degenerated, RetroSense is conferring new light sensitivity to the retina, with the expectation of improved or restored vision.

The Company's approach to using optogenetics in vision restoration is based on pioneering, proprietary research conducted by Dr. Zhuo-Hua Pan and others at Wayne State University’s Kresge Eye Institute and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Dr. Masland’s team at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. RetroSense has worldwide exclusive rights to the relevant intellectual property from both institutions.

About RetroSense Therapeutics

RetroSense Therapeutics is a privately-held biotechnology company developing life-enhancing gene therapies designed to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. There are currently no FDA approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions. The Company's approach to using optogenetics in vision restoration is based on pioneering, proprietary research conducted at Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. RetroSense has worldwide exclusive rights to the relevant intellectual property from both institutions. RetroSense is led by a team of seasoned veterans with deep experience in taking products from the discovery stage through to the clinic. For more information about RetroSense, visit http://www.retro-sense.com/.

TRUST ONLY YOURSELF

I learned something at the dinner table that shocked me. I should have been more prepared as I have been told by a few people about this lady for a while, but I like every time, chose to give her a chance and not except the fact that what people were saying about her was true. I can only say I am very disillusioned.  One good thing came out of it, I left my dinner. Mind you, I have not eaten much at all for days an yet to my horror, in two days, I have gained 4lbs in weight. It has taken me five weeks to lose ten lbs, and two to gain four.

 

Shamrock is about to come around; it will be nice to see her. It was four this morning when she left. She works long hours so will have to be up at silly hour in the morning, so I don't think she will be here as long tonight. 

 

At least today I managed to get my phone provider to recognise that I was going abroad and I will at least be able to use my phone if necessary when I go on holiday. The dog food came and I got a price on a taxi, though I was rather shocked just how much? Ten minutes from the airport and 40 Euros. About £33? Hub said to go with them, just to make it easy on me, but I think I will hunt for another few companies first before booking. Last year we paid £35 and that was for a posh mini bus with leather seats and air conditioning. It’s almost possible to travel by push bike, though if I were to get on the back of Teens wheels, we would be doing stunts as he would be up in the air.

 

I’m totally dreading leaving the dogs, I just hope to goodness that LF will be OK with his separation habits. Touch wood, he has been great he has not eaten anything for weeks apart from a Waggatail. And she mens, unlike my rug and door mat.

 

It’s dark by half eight now in the UK. August and dark so early. I have never known anything like it. Normally it’s nine in September before dark.

 

I washed the dog beds today and Teen said that they are covered in white washing powder. I tried to put them on a lower less time number. Well, obviously I put it on some kind of cycle that wasn’t wash. Just I can only put on one dog bed at a time and it has been taken an hour and a half per bed and I have three… Don’t ask. Each time I wash the beds, I put the washing machine on a rinse, or something…. Just to put hot water in it to clean it, not that there is anything that comes off the beds mind you, as I almost shave them before putting them in the washer. Smile.

 

Someone is burning something outside and it is really getting to my chest. I can hardly breathe tonight. And it’s not us, well, not tonight anyway. it  Last night, Hub burnt some boxes. Funny thing is, when we burnt boxes yesterday, the flames were so high but I wasn’t affected, but someone burns something around here and it is so awful.

 

My blog page has had almost three hundred visitors today, thank you all so much. This month has been a record viewing as we reached eleven thousand plus visitors reading this month. Normally it’s about four or five thousand. Thanks to shares and Twitter, we have a wider Blogget family.

 

I wished that I I had been able to get some sun glasses as my eyes are really hurting at the moment with the sun and I so don’t want another cataract operation. I had one on each eye for what? As I still couldn’t see, but it stopped them from stinging. Gosh that reminds me, I have an appointment at the end of September to visit an eye hospital. Gosh, not sure if I will be able to go or not. It’s a very long way from here, two taxi’s and a train each way. All to be told I’m still blind… smile.

 

OK a date with a shirt for Hub for work and then after a chat with Shamrock, an early night I think, to reflect on the news I have been given. Later with love and remember one thing, trust only yourself. X

 

 

DIARY OF ENDING BLINDNESS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 Good day Bloggets, I’m not impressed. I have been up since the crack of dawn and I was told that the man from British gas would come and service our boiler. Hmm. At eleven this morning, I received a phone call to say he wasn’t coming. Hub is not impressed as I emailed him as had to tell him something important. He said the amount of money we pay them is shocking. Apparently they have had a lot of gas emergencies today… So now they are coming in eleven days.

 

It’s now half twelve and Teen still has not come home for his break. He will be starving you know what he is like for his food? He gets lots of coffee where he works though, this isn’t a good thing, for health.

 

Every time I hear an emergency vehicle go by, my heart prays it’s not teen? Seriously.

 

One good thing is he doesn’t have to drive an hour like he did last winter to get to and from work.

 

So what is in our news today?

 

Lily Allen a great singer from the UK has shamefully been carried out of the Notting Hill carnival as she was said to be very drunk.

 

Oh my do I believe this next story?

The world’s oldest person from Indonesia, is wait for it?

145 years’ old

Mbah has official documentation to show his birth date is December 1870

 

Actor Gene Wilder died at 83. My second most favourite film he was in was See no evil, hear no evil. If you like a comedy, this is the best. A blind guy and a deaf guy. It is hilarious. Sad, but 83 is a lot better than so many, too many people I have known of late, who has died.

 

Michelin, the worlds second biggest tire manufacturers, is looking to make tires from natural materials, like sugar, straw and wood? Gosh, long gone are the cart wheels?

 

This makes me sick to the stomach. In the UK badger culling begins. I have no words that I can use on here. I just really hope that every single person that kills a badger suffers a very long painful death very soon.

 

A strong signal has come from deep within space that scientists are saying could have come from an alien civilisation.

Yep, and if something does make contact, what will we do? Put the kettle on and say welcome? No, we will kill whatever comes here, that is for sure. We can’t even keep alive beautiful creatures, so no way we will allow other forms of beings or whatever they may be to live among us.

 

E cigarettes are as dangerous as smoking Tabaco we learned today. I hope the kids all read that?

 

As well as a Mediterranean diet being healthier for us, it is said that it is a much better way to lose weight too. Even better than a low fat diet.

 

Now this is the most amazing health story I have read in, well, absolutely ages, so long I can’t remember the last time I was so excited and proud of anyone when it comes to medical issues. In Surrey, a 16, yes, you read that number correctly sixteen-year-old boy who won the Google Science fair in 2015, for creating an early test to find the disease Alzheimer’s, has been working in the lab at his school to produce a theory to reverse the most aggressive of breast cancer.

      What is this boy, a genius or what? As for his school lab, well that school should receive donations and this young man credit for even taking the time out to study such diseases.

 

Roughly 1 in every 200 people on earth are blind. Reading the link below, I’m excited. I need so badly to see. I have learned to live through eyes which don’t see, but please a cure soon? At least treatment, please?

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/09/blindness-treatment-medical-science-cures/

 

Another link?

http://www.endblindnessby2020.com/

 

 

 

 

DIARY OF THE DARK GARDEN BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. Today we have had a viewer from Côte d’Ivoire The Ivory coast, two Bloggets from Switzerland, three from India, 7 viewers from Australia, Eight from South Africa, nine from Portugal and Brazil    twenty three from Germany fifty seven from the UK and ninety eight from the US. Earlier we had Bloggets from the Isle of Man, Canada, Turkey, Spain, Italy, South Korea and Mexico. Great to have you all here!

 

 

It’s been Bank Holiday Monday in England today, so Hub off work though Teen worked. 5a.m he had to get up today bless him. He was told to turn up at work at 6 this morning. We were shocked that he had to be there on a BHM at such an hour? He called his boss yesterday to confirm and she told him that it was correct.

 

He went to work got there a few minutes before six and no one was there. He waited, then had a look around the back and nothing, not a single car in the parking isles. Half six he texts his boss, no reply. He called her. Nothing. So he came home and just waited until he received a text at half seven telling him he should be at work. When he spoke to the guy he told him he was given the wrong time by his boss and should have been in from half seven. Teen wasn’t best pleased, but took it a lot better than what I would have done.

 

Hub and I enjoyed a nice day together the weather was stunning so we decided to have a BBQ. Teen came home and cooked it all. I always half cook it in the oven first and I prepared salads and potatoes with cheese and bacon for the boys. I put some bread in the oven and served it hot I hope they enjoyed it?

 

Then Shamrock came around and after a chat, Hub and I ended up watching a new drama about Queen Victoria. So no abseiling or wing walking, but a nice day.

 

Last night we went to our local restaurant. Louise was his usual lovely self and again the place was packed. Mind you, their prices are really going up and I bet the staff wages aren’t? Waggs worked really well going and coming back in the dark she was even better. I really find it amazing that before I went blind I was absolutely terrified of the dark. Even the dusk. I could see well during the day, well, as well as well can be, smile. But come dusk? Absolutely hated it. No way I could go out in it, I will always remember when I was coming home from my college when I was about 16, the Autumn caught me and it was dark faster than I realised. I was on the long half our bus ride to my home and I will never forget looking out of the window to see the cobalt night starting to turn black. My heart sank. I was unable to watch out for the huge red building on my left that I needed to see to know it was my stop next?

 

It was before the days of mobile phones so I was unable to call my parents. The rest of the story is a bit of a nightmare, but I got home, really only God knows as I shiver still thinking of that night. It was a huge struggle and could have really ended me up in a lot of danger.

 

Now I’m blind, the dark means only one thing, it’s cooler. With my Waggatail I can go out, it’s amazing and groups I’m in with regards my eye condition, I hear the fear in people’s thoughts and words. I do feel for them, but want to tell them that if only they got a guide dog or white cane, things would be so different I also think if you have sight even if it is just during the day, you of course miss it and rely on it more that you do if you don’t have the choice the luxury of vision.

 

All Sunday during the day, Hub spent his time bless him in the garden, getting rid of huge weeds around our boarders and cutting back the nasty thorns. Some of the branches were coming through from next door two foot. He also found by feeling, a very old ivy root, so he pulled that out and tried to dig out another thorny kind of shrub, but wasn’t able to do that. As for our roses, I told him to leave those. Next time my Sister in law comes I will ask her to do those for us. Some of them I can manage, but not the really nasty ones. If we put gloves on, we can’t feel where they are and if we don’t wear any, we end up cut to bits.  Hubs poor hands were really sore by the time he finished.

 

And Saturday, you may have read about our day, when we went to our town. So Bloggets that was our weekend, simple but true. X

DIARY OF QUINCY JONES AND THE FRENCH BREAD BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. It’s pouring with rain, it’s belting down on the roof of our conservatory and guess what? The dogs are out on their walk with June. Just after I have vacuumed the floors and steamed them too. Think we may be getting filthy dogs back… Teen out for the day but I think they have gone shopping in a centre so will be dry. It was five when Shamrock went home this morning. I thought we had blooming burglars smile.

 

Whilst waiting for the dogs, we were listening to the radio and in interview was a wonderful inspirational man called Quincy jones. He was born in 1933, is an American record producer, conductor, arranger, composer, musician and more. One of the best things I have heard for a while he said was.

“Kids want to be what kids see” He was saying that his father was a gangster. He took him to a huge house where there were loads of gangsters, and in one of the rooms, there was a huge white piano. He looked at it with such desire and in the other room, was his father looking at guns. His Father called him over to look at the guns and he felt the pulling towards the piano. He knew as a child, he had two choices, go the same way as his Father or start a new in music. Thankfully he chose the right thing as we have all been gifted with his talent!

 

Then Hub put the cricket on and that was my call to leave the room and write to you all. I just don’t get cricket. I like the thought of attending a match if I could see. But for the cups of tea and the cucumber sandwiches with the tones of the cricket bat hitting the ball and the fragrances of the lush grass, whilst the heat of summers shine down on us. In our conservatory on a wet day with a coffee and a biscuit doesn’t have the same appeal.

 

We asked teen to help with the boarding passes as we had to print them off ourselves. Well sadly that wasn’t easy, so between Teen Hub and myself, we took three hours to do them. Those who are blind, unless you have sighted assistance, never ever travel with Ryanair as the process is dreadful. Even the fact when you register with them, there is a picture of a code you have to write in and it offers you no audio option. We printed the passes off, after Hub realised that we had not ticked one button last week to book seats, so we had to start all over again. Everything but our passports, they had been excepted. Then when we printed them off, what did they say? Were they really boarding passes? Bits of paper to Hub and myself. I pray they are. Then it told us on line to fold them one way so many centre metres, then fold them another way so may cms. Oh my goodness. Our hand luggage can’t be more than a certain size I think it’s 55cm and ladies are allowed a handbag which is really tiny. Just enough to hold your passports. Please God let it all be OK and we don’t get to the airport to learn we don’t have what we need? We were even told online that we had to go to the flight via the back stairs. Haha. Talking of flights, I was reading the news before and I learned that two American United airlines pilots have been arrested as they were about to fly from Scotland to America, New York I think, under the influence of alcohol. Shocking. I’m sure they will never work in such a job again. I blooming hope not.

 

My left eye today feels like it has been sat on by an elephant.  I don’t know why we are blind but have to also suffer with pains?

 I’m making baked potatoes with cheese and bacon for the boys for dinner. With some salad. So nothing too difficult. But first have the ironing to do, then going to sort out clothes for our holidays. That will be a challenge. I have no plain skirts if I had it would be easy to match, but one of my skirts is cream with orange swirls on it the other is black with red flowers on it and my other one is green with cream splodges on. So one colour that will match all of those skirts, is cream, but the cream has to be lighter than the cream in the skirt. Guess what one colour top I don’t have? Hehehe. You guessed it, cream.  A plain black will go with two out of three and I guess a plain white for the cream and orange, or a taupe. I have a red top and a green top for the skirts with those colours in, but they are a total different shade to the colours I have. I’m just a fuss pot, right?

 

I haven’t lost a single oz. for five days but that is my own fault, because I have not been on the treadmill for five days. It was interesting yesterday if you have an IPhone and you go into health, you will see how many steps you have done throughout the day. Gosh mine are shocking, even yesterday all the walking to our town and back, I only did just over 1900.

 

I think something must have gone wrong, as no way it should have been so low?

 

I have just ordered a bag for our French bread for when we go on holiday. It was just over £4 with free delivery and you can get it for a lot cheaper if you don’t want it next day. It was from good old Amazon and it is a cloth bag especially for long begets it’s about 30 inches and has a good solid string tie at the top. Because where our house is, is three quarters of a mile along the beach to get to the shops. I don’t fancy sandy bread. Even just carrying it out into the streets without a cover doesn’t make me want to look forward to eating the bread, but clean arrival to the house I can’t wait. With the delicious cheese from the markets and the huge olives, I’m going to be in heaven. With the sounds of the ocean in the near background and the pool in our garden, I really can’t wait. My one week a year without a trouble.

I hope…

 

I asked teen to possibly take us to the shops to buy some new clothes for Hub, but sadly, no chance of that happening. Never mind, he still has some tops that look OK. It’s a good job I guess. I pray one day there is a cure for blindness, then we will never need to depend on anyone. People say we do so well. As I keep saying, we have no choice, there is so much we can’t do. Browsing around shops is one thing that is impossible. To go to a shop to buy a few things is fine, we can do that but not to go to many shops and clothes shops are the worst. It has been six years since I went clothes shopping apart from two things. But I wait for that one day to come when I will shop till I drop.

 

Later with love and a pray for a breakthrough in stem cell please? For blindness and other dreadful conditions. X

DIARY OF NAUGHTY FI

 Good evening Bloggets. At last I have been able to get to my lap top. A very interesting 24 hours. Last night we went out with our friends to our localish pub. Our friends Mum kindly picked us up in her very posh car. A dark grey all singing and all dancing Jaguar.

 

The pub was packed so Hub and I thought, heck, we won’t hear a word that will be said. But thankfully a load of people left a quarter of the time there. Spoke to some of our neighbours who were also there and they knew my friend. Really a small world living here.

 

My friend always looks lovely. Those who wonder how I know this? Well my Son has told me that she is very attractive, she is tall I know that as when I take her arm and hear her voice, it’s apparent. Also she is so slim.

 

She is really bubbly I love being with her. She had a stunning top on kind of satin very floaty. She told me it was multi coloured mainly purples. I was going just to have a lemonade and that would have done me for the night. But they like their drink and I felt silly like a child ordering pop, so I decided to have a glass of white wine. Well, four glasses later, as my friend kept replenishing my glass, I kind of felt myself becoming a little jollier. I don’t drink may be one bottle of wine a year and I can’t remember the last time I had a cocktail, so I get drunk easily. I was fine, we had a great evening, the guys talked as they are both managers their brains are wired in the same way. And I can put in my pennies worth, and my friend and I have loads in common and lots where we are totally different. So a perfect partnership.

 

The pub was packed when we went in and then three quarter full but the noisiest of people left. We had a lovely evening, and then it was time to leave.

Time to stand up!

Heck!!!

 

Well let’s say that the room pulled me back, the door sucked me forward and the stone floor opened to swallow me up!

 

No don’t worry I didn’t totally embarrass myself, I stayed on my feet though felt so blooming dizzy. The back of my head was as if in a salad spinner. Haha. Now how to remain dignified? Well, forget that, I was OK then the air hit me. Oh boy. No. Why did I do this? I just smile from ear to hear. My friends Mum bless her said it looks like I have had a good night. What a sweetheart, she helped me into the car. Oh gosh. Anyway we got home, I still managed to remain upright and hold a sensible conversation. Then I got in and it was as if I could be free of behaving. So the song came out and the laughing for no reason. Good teens gf was here. So I shouted for her to come and see me. Hub said through gritted teeth, for me to behave. Hahahahahahaha. I wasn’t doing any harm. Teens Shamrock was so cute and teen hurried her off home. Smile. Hub escorted me to bed. I didn’t want to go to bed, I was hungry. He said I wasn’t going to eat I would be sick. For goodness sake, it was four small glasses of wine. I was just something other than sensible and responsible, for once.

 

Well I was put into the bedroom Hub told me to go to bed and he would be up with a drink. I told him that I had enough drink. Hehehehe. He said, no, coffee? Coffee at eleven o clock? Naha, I don’t think so. I would be awake all night.

 

As Hub brought me a coffee up, I had already text my friend and she told me she was eating four slices of toast and cheese. Heck, I needed toast and cheese. I don’t even like cheese on my toast, but hey ho! As Hub left the room, the coffee I was given, I poured down the toilet and ran back to bed like a naughty girl. Teen arrived home by this point and he went straight to bed. He was not impressed. Oh for goodness sake?

 

 Goodness knows what my texts actually said and to be honest, I know I received a few texts from my friend but only remember the first one. The others I remember reading them but as for their

contents?

 

Well during the night, Hub woke.  I hadn’t even been to sleep. It was just after four. I told him I was so thirsty. He said he would get me a drink of water, bless him. I asked for some crisps? He said no. He brought me the water, I felt so bad. My head was killing. I was adamant I wanted crisps. So what did I do? Went down stairs got myself two bags and ran up to bed, though the running seemed to take me quite a while.

 

Hub told me that I would be ill in the morning and wouldn’t be able to go to town with him.

 

I got up at half eight, and showered dressed still felt awful and off we went. Catching the nine o clock bus and in our town by half past. We found where we needed to be. Hub got his hair cut me my fringe and then I headed off with my faithful white cane and Hub headed in the other direction. He did his shopping and me mine. Oh my word. A very very veryveryvery delicious young gentleman from what country, I’m not sure came to my assistance in the shop. He was the most charming person I have ever met. Oh boy, why could I not think of anything else to buy in there? Hahahea.

 

Shame on me. Anyway, I then waited outside for Hub. It was boiling, really sunny. Then, the rain came down, oh heck, there I was in white shoes and white jeans. The rain started to hurt my eyes. Sting. Loads of people passed and the same words kept coming out of their mouths. It took me ages to click.

 

The word? (Bubbles)

Have you guessed it? Oh I was only stood outside a blooming bubble machine that was above the window behind me…. What a pleb I must have looked.

 

Well then Hub came to me and we headed home, and that was an adventure and a half. The rest of the day was spent reflecting yesterday’s memories and todays challenges.

 

Teen out now after working ten hours. Hope your weekend is going well? Laters. X

 

 

 

 

THE BEFORE HOLIDAY DIARY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 A very quick blog today as I’m now in panic mode. There is so much to do think about, plan and more. Do you ever get so overwhelmed that you feel like you are going to suffocate? Normally I’m so organised. I’m the most sensible boring person ever some would say anal when it comes to organisation. Our holiday is in days and so far, I have not been able to make contact with the taxi company we used last year. The taxi company in France isn’t responding to my email in fact I received a bounce back.

Our tickets are with Ryan air, a company I said I would never travel with and we have to down load everything our self and the website isn’t blind friendly. I have to try to think about what we need for holiday to arrive in our groceries this week and order two lots of dog food to be delivered before we go. Get that measured out and put into bags for the dogs to go on their holiday. At last we have somewhere for our LF to go. He had a place, but the couple got some very bad news and no longer can take LF. Well now he has another lady, I don’t know her so I’m panicking, would you leave your child with a stranger? Hub met her the other day and said she is lovely. She took LF on a walk and has had guide dogs before. I just wish I knew her. Hub is talking about using up his air miles and getting some winter sun this year, we are thinking about taking Teen and his GF on a holiday, as the thought of the next twelve months without going anywhere is a little tiresome. Mind you, Hubs air miles sometimes is more expensive than paying for a normal flight.

 

I have tablets to order.  That involves going to the dreaded receptionists at our Doctors. I hate it, but has to be done. We can’t phone up and get our pills ordered by phone, our practice doesn’t do that.

 

We have to sort out our currency, this means asking

g Teen to come with me as it’s a total nightmare to get to on my own, possible but added stress and I now have to debate, what is best, trying to get Waggs to find the bus door, getting off the bus is fine, and she will be great at finding where we need to be for the money exchange, it’s just the transport that we struggle with and that will never change. She just panics so because she does, I do.

 

Or do I ask teen to come with me, put up with his grumbles but it’s done in ten fifteen minutes  where as if I do the bus there and back, find where I need to be, it will be more like an hour.

 

I must remember to do the normal stuff like give the dogs flee treatment as it’s due and sort out some important mail I have to send off before I go. Then clothes, what to take? I’m not leaving that till last minute.

 

Tomorrow we are off to town and things have to be done there and tonight we are going out with our friends, hopefully we will come back to an unchewed house as not taking LF just going to a noisy pub so not fair on him and our friends Mum is picking us up.  Oh and I have to contact my phone provider to make it so I can use my phone abroad. I have a tick list somewhere and there was about seventeen things to do before we go, in fact before the end of the weekend. Then I will be on holiday and only need to think about each day at a time. And breathe the fresh air, something we don’t get here. Relax and no housework to do nothing to worry about, right?

 

Teen is looking forward to it so that should be nice. I just wish we were flying with a different company? I have heard so many horror stories about Ryan air. I hope they prove me wrong and we have nothing but positive things to say on our return.

 

Yep, I’m feeling manic today. But all will be fine, I’m just a perfectionist and like everything to go right. I had days worrying where we were going to park the car when on holiday as we are travelling to the airport by Teenmobeele. My brother told me of a great company but sadly they are fully booked. So I found another place, if not for speech on my lap top, I would not be able to do any of this. Gosh, before Jaws, the software, where were we in life? As a blind person so much would be impossible. We use our search engine so much. From looking for a holiday, to finding flights to taxi’s and phone numbers. Last year I looked up what there was to do and I have kept that file, there are a couple of new places I would like to travel to when there and Hub has a surprise for Teen.

 

As for today, oh I did feel bad for our bin man? We put our gardening bin out and it had some dreadful spikes in there. Well, I just heard the van pull up and then the almightiest yell?

“Ouch!”

Well, there was no knock on the door asking for compensation, so it’s all OK. So far. Smile.

 

It’s not raining so will venture out now and get to our doctors before the clouds, change their minds and decide to move and allow the water to come down. Teen is at the gym, then going for a haircut. Seriously, it’s only been two weeks since he last had it done?

 

Oh and guess what? I have almost sold our Henry vacuum. Someone is coming tonight to buy it. It’s a giveaway, but better than us having to get rid of it. I told the person it was for spares and he is happy with that. I bet he can fix it though? I wonder if it’s just a loose wire? Well, we can’t fix it so it’s another one that has bitten the dust. I’m a nightmare for breaking vacuums. I think I have gone through about five in seven years. Henry is only a year and a half old. Bless his smiley face. First before the guy comes, I must clean him.

 

Well I hope you have a stress free weekend? Seriously, my heart actually hurts with what has to be done. And it’s all down to me to do as Hub works and of course, my job is in the house so this kind of thing is in the house. At least I managed to sort out holiday insurance. Last year cost us £140 this year only £44.  Last year there were five of us this year not so it’s a lot less also Teen helped to do it on line so last year I did it by phone as the website for things like this just are no good for screen readers. As I said last week, we get half way then there are images to tick. Our software only reads writing, not pictures of writing. Laters with love.

And lots of deep breaths. Smile.

DIARY OF TODAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. I hope I find you well? I still haven’t heard what day my interview is on.  

 Our gardener came yesterday; he was so proud of the apple tree he transplanted. As am I. It is a fighter that tree. It’s been through the mill.

 

We had two days of red hot weather, today has been pouring with rain all day. I hope it will be fine on Saturday, as Hub and I are going to our town. Hub is off to get a haircut, and whilst he goes to our bank there is a shop I need to pop into, to buy a few goodies. Not for me, though I may change my mind, but for a friend of mine.

 

Even though it’s August, because of the high winds we have had, there has been ten people killed in the past couple of weeks in the UK at the seaside. Tragic, as it is in Italy with the earthquake. Such a perfect country, I may sound stupid but I didn’t even know that Italy had earthquakes?

 

Teen worked all day Hub been in the office and my friends Mum came around it was lovely to see her; she is so sweet. And tomorrow I’m out with Hub and two friends we are going to our local pub to have a catch up.

 

My friend Geordie popped into where Teen works today and Teen said she looked absolutely beautiful. His words. “She looks like a movie star. In fact, a millionaire!” Then I received a text from Geordie telling me that she saw the stunning Teen. Haha. I tease them both as they flirt without shame even though my friend is the same age as me. Sick or what? Hahahahah. I joked with teen and asked who Geordie was with? He said a friend. I asked was she attractive? He paused and said kind of yes, so my answer then was. “Yeah, Geordie only hangs out with good looking ladies.”” Bless him, he just stayed quiet. He is very diplomatic my Son!

 

I am sitting with a Wagga on my feet. I’m not sure why, but she is becoming very clingy with me, something she has never been before. Perhaps she has been having a word with the Little Fella? He knows his Daddy is working in the office up there, so he is laying at the bottom of the stairs, not in his bed which is nearby, but right at the bottom of the stairs. Just in case he goes to sleep, The Little Fella, not Daddy, smile, then he will wake up if Hub dares to leave the house without him. Well, that is the theory that he will wake up, otherwise there will be a very squashed LF!

 

I’m in our living room today whilst typing, I have the window open really wide. Thank goodness it’s cooling down and we are left with slight rain now, but before was shocking. Far too hot and wet through, out there. Rain cleans the air up. I can hear a little of the traffic from the other side of the house which is noisy, but in general it’s much quieter in the front. So quiet I can hear the birds, no doubt getting the worms after the rain and the doves are singing their song too. Hmm. Doves and pigeons, wouldn’t you think they would get sick saying the same thing, over an over again?

 

There are some teenage lads a couple of doors up and they are either having a great game in their wet garden, or killing each other. Haha. Seriously, the groans coming from their place is very odd, if not groans followed by laughter, I would wonder if I should call  9 9 9?

 

So in the news today? A teacher in the UK has been jailed for two years for filming his pupils in the public toilets. Absolutely shocking, two years for that and a man who is in his eighties has been given six years for killing his wife with a gun who suffered from Alzheimer’s. The couple were together forever since very young but the man said he couldn’t stand seeing his wife in such a way and he wanted to shoot himself, but couldn’t. It has been proven that he also had mental health issues. So, jail him for six years, and a pervert for two. That will be right. Our laws are crazy.

 

In Singapore, driverless taxis are going to be trialled from next Thursday. I would feel really odd about that. I like the idea that I can shout stop, and the car will stop, I imagine one day something awful to happen and bad people will I’m sure learn to hack and be able to get the car to drive where they want it to go, rather than where the customer needs to be.

 

Excess body fat has been linked to thirteen types of cancers.

 

 

So nothing as yet on a cure for blindness, I can wait another week.

 

Right off to cook dinner. Shamrock is coming around later to see Teen. Gosh we had a right laugh the other night when she came around. She is so funny. Later with love. X

FIFI'S FIELDS OF FORTUNE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 For children... And me!

FIFI’S FIELDS OF FORTUNE

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

A porky pink pig, past by my window

Going to see the cute cream cows, in the lush meadow

On the chalky wall chuckled the chicken

And the friendly farmer in the field was digging

Hoofs could be heard from the horse over the hill

And little lambs lolloped wearing fleecy coats for the chill

 Goats grabbed garbage

Fields full of cabbage

Burroughs full of rabbits

And ducks dancing on the rapids

With fish floating by

I ask myself why

Is the summer sky blue

And green grass holds morning dew?

I like living in the lovely countryside

My heavy heart is full of pride

Nothing stays the same outside

A forever friendly place to live

Full of flowers, fruits and love

Where by navy nights, the sky above

Has forever lights, from the moon and stars

And a friendly face is never far

© Fiona Cummings

DIARY OF MY DAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good morning Bloggets. Gosh another stunning day? Too hot today to sit out sadly, though may pop out a little later. Right now I’m really not feeling good. Last night I did something I have not done in forever. I went to bed at nine. In the evening that is, as if during the day, that would be normal as I only sleep in the mornings. Something that I always do though happened, and that was not be able to fall asleep. I was really ill. My heart was pounding; I was dizzy so light headed. No comments, cheeky Bloggets, and my stomach was making the most ridiculous sounds.

 

As the night turned to day, I was getting more stressed because I was unable to sleep. The birds began to sing and the horrid traffic started its daily routine. Hubs alarm went off well one of many as all night his blooming work phone was pingging dingging and beeping. Eventually he turned it off at six, well he gets up at between half six and quarter to seven, he said he had a bad night too? Haha, that is why he didn’t hear his phone I guess? He slept like a log, have you ever seen a sleeping log? Where on earth does that saying come from? Well, this has got me baffled and I can’t find the origin of this phrase. You may also have heard of sleep like a top, and sleep like a baby? Well a baby wakes up every few hours crying, but at the same time, they say a baby has no worries so if a man sleeps like a baby, he has not had stress during the curtain show. As for sleeping like a top? Goodness knows. Sorry, not much help for all those Bloggets who woke up this morning after a good night’s sleep just wanting so badly to know where the saying came from to sleep like a log? Haha.

 

Teen had a full late day yesterday, I say late because he left the house just after lunch to pick up his gf. They went to the beach. To be honest I have not seen him to talk to since. He came home at seven in the evening. He ran upstairs to shower and change then ran out the door giving me a hug saying he was going to town to eat. It was after midnight when he returned. He was pottering around in his bedroom until at least three this morning and he had to get up very early as his third shift starts at work. He has a very long shift today. Ten hours. He always starts his jobs with such delight and strive to enjoy himself, but this job on day one he hasn’t enjoyed at all. Not sure how long he will stay. It’s not stimulating enough for him.

 

Talking of boy wonder, he has just stepped through the door. Now eating his lunch, I made for him earlier. Baked potato with beans and cheese. He sounds shattered. I know the feeling. I still don’t feel right I guess lack of sleep hasn’t helped. I’m going to have to force myself to do some work.  

 

Oh our gardener is coming back today at four. Thank goodness. The weeds are desperate and our roses are out of control as well as the nasty thorns that are coming from our neighbour’s fence. One day I think sadly, I will just get everything removed and have a concrete jungle. Mind you, even then, weeds will still grow and thorns will still appear. But I get myself in such a state because I worry about what our garden looks like. House work I can do, finances booking holidays making appointments and keeping Hub right for work, but gardening? No. I can design one but not maintain it.

 

My Sister in law was going to come and do our garden bless her but it rained so hard on Monday we had to cancel.

 

Leeds festival is on again, that time of year. It’s the one that teen has gone to for the past three years. He isn’t going this year; thank goodness I have had enough stress this year without him going away again. I seriously don’t see the attraction. It’s in a filthy field with dirty toilets and you sleep in a tent. There are people getting drunk all around you and probably off their heads with drugs. No thanks. Even when I was young that would have been my idea of hell.

 

You wear wellington boots and the mud can be up to your knees. Teen used to love it, and I think he would again, but none of his friends can afford to go after their holiday abroad as well as them all going away earlier in the year to Amsterdam.

 

Seeing Geordies Mum tomorrow, she is coming around to be a witness for our wills. We went to town a few weeks ago, remember? It was not near where we know, it was such a challenge to get there and back as well as play find the doorbell on the huge modern building. Up three flights of stairs passing by corridors and lots of doors. How we managed to find where we needed to be is beyond me. Then getting back home, was simply awful. So the solicitor is coming here and we need a witness. A good excuse to see my friends Mum. I love her. She is so lovely. I miss Geordie, not seen her for weeks apart from at church for a short while. The four of us, Hub myself and her with her husband are all going for a drink in a few weeks. Everything is a few weeks though, it’s funny, but she is so busy in life.

 

I still haven’t heard when my interview will be. Good job I’m not in a hurry, smile. I remember when Hub got his current job, he waited ten whole weeks before he learned even if he had the position.

 

Oh my that was a real scary time. Hub was in the US on business with his previous job and his potential boss called asking to speak with him? Well, I wanted so badly to get him off the phone real fast in case I spoiled his chances of getting an interview. The guy was so lovely, but what if I came across as inappropriate? Haha. I know it’s hard to imagine…. But believe me, it’s possible. He seemed to be wanting to ask me lots of questions. Heck, what to answer? It was as if he was interviewing me too. He was on the phone for at least ten minutes. There were silent moments. Something I don’t do well… After the conversation, I put the phone down and tried to get through to Hub. Well, I left a message and after five long hours plus, he called me back. I told him of the chat, he was pleased that the up spoke to me in such a way, I asked him why, he replied because if he wasn’t interested in me for the job, he wouldn’t keep you on the phone. Oh my. Did I blow it for him? Well, obviously not… Two and a half years now he has been working there.

 

Hub going to Devin soon to a conference. A place he hates with a passion. He wants me to go but I think I may be washing my hair that week.

 

Today our Little Fella meets with the lady who will be taking him whilst we are on holiday. Gosh I pray she is nice? I wanted him to go to a lovely lady I know but LF may be spending time in the office. As will Waggs as she is with her Aunty who works in the office. It will be weird if the two dogs see each other, will they have a chat and say.

“Waggs, why are went going home? Where is my Daddy? Does he not want me anymore?””

Waggs will not be bothered but LF will be so unhappy, I feel awful leaving him. If it was with someone he knew then I would be happier, but I don’t know this lady. I asked Hub to ask her for her mobile. He said why?

Why?

Because our blooming dog is going there, I asked him to get her mobile, he again didn’t know why I would want it? He said she is a registered boarder for Guide Dogs and will be fine… Oh heck. Will she give him love? His little drink of milk before bed? I really ache, kind of feel so sad for him. If he was a human and we could explain that we are going on holiday and we will come back for him.

 

He wraps himself around Hubs legs if Hub has been to our gym which is our garage attached to our house. He can even hear Hub in there. Not that he groans with exertion, smile, but the machinery. So what will he be like when we return? We get back on the Saturday and won’t be able to get him back till the Monday. I just hope she doesn’t lose him. Grateful though that someone will take him.

 

Well I guess I best go and do that dog run. I did it yesterday and you would think that I had been to the work house, . And today is hotter than yesterday. Words before I go.

A dog loves you more than he loves himself. Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.  

 

Roger Cara’s writer and photographer

Charles de Gaulle Former President of the French republic

OH VERY FUNNY HUB

My Husband thought this was very funny to send me. I have always knew I am full of wind!

Forecasters  are predicting that we are going to have a stronger than normal series of Atlantic hurricane storms in 2016, upgrading their forecast to between 12 and 17 named storms of which 3 or so will be major.  They have already suggested names!

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November; the names on the 2016 lineup are Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, and Walter.

 

THE HOT CHAIR

THE HOT CHAIR

 The sun is beautiful today. It must have heard me complaining yesterday. It has been really like winter in England of late, but not today, it’s so hot. I’m sitting in our garden in one of my many seats. It’s the one that reclines though I am not reclining Bloggets. Oh no, I’m upright!

 

We have a lovely posh lounger for Hub and teen not a chance I am going to spread my already spreading body out there for the birds to see. We have a basket seat for a basket case, hahaha. Joking, it’s Hubs… … … It’s a swing.  And our space chairs. They are called that because they make you feel as if you are floating when you are laying backwards. We also have the chairs around the garden table and for someone who is obsessed with colour, matching colours, one of the space chairs is black, one blue, chairs are orange and the lounger is called rust, so I kind of hoped an orange theme? But when my friend Julie came to see us, she said. “I like your green bed.””

 

So multi coloured garden, though our pots and two tall vases are blue. The garden lights are blue as well. I have a pot hanging on the wall which is blue and white. Most of my flowers, well, what is left of them, are blue, I didn’t know at the time that they are poisonous to dogs. Blue flowers if our dogs eat them can make them very ill.

 

I used tap tap see in my garden it’s a fantastic application I have spoken about before for the IPhone or IPod. You take a picture and it reads out to you what the photograph is of. I was taking pics around my garden expecting it to read weeds but it read out some things, mainly chairs, smile, but one thing that surprised me was it recognised that we had a burner in our garden. I was quite shocked in a good way.

 

Hub and I said why can’t they put a chip in our eyes and we see by words. Well I guess in a way that is what the bionic eye as in glasses are, but not as good as Tap Tap See. Hub asked me what is the difference between being told what is in front of me and actually seeing the object/item? Gosh, another reminder that my poor love has never been able to see. It breaks my heart though we both say that in our opinion, better to have never seen than seen then get it taken away. You don’t miss so much what you have never had?

 

I said that there is a huge difference. It’s kind of monotonous trapped behind these boring eyes with a depressing view each morning I open my eyes and living in a dark world drives me from time to time crazy but there are days when it is OK and I can live with it without bothering too much.

 

Whilst teen is at the beach, I just can dream of such a place. Well, I guess not for long as very soon we are off to our beach holiday. Oh my, yesterday I tried to book a place in a car park for our car. Almost deciding to go by train it was that stressful. Also, can we bare teens music for two hours? The company we looked at after many, was called Holidayextra’s.com

They were open for phone calls up until eleven in the evening too. I must say their website is very accessible. They are all over the world and you can book all sorts from them. But if you had heard me trying to tell the lady our registration? Oh it was a hoot. I asked Hub whilst on the phone to ask teen who was watching, something, on his lap top, with his gf what was his registration?

 

The lady must have thought what a numpty? Why does Hub just not look out of the window? Anyway, Teen guessed it but he had to have a look to make sure. So he went outside to the drive, shouted it to Hub, Hub related it to me and I tried to tell the lady it whilst Teen was asking if I had it and Hub was telling him I was talking on the phone and the dogs were ringing their bells on their collars with excitement as the front door was open this meant they thought, they were going for a walk? As they made impressions of  goats, I had forgotten the blooming details. Haha. It was a mess.

 

I’m making the most of this nice weather as we have got a shock to come according to the weather forecast.

And Hub thought it was so very funny to send me some details on something I shall let you know about in my next blog. X

CRIMSON FLUIDS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

FLUIDS OF CRIMSON BY FIONA CUMMINGS

My heart bled for you

The nightmare had come true

My pulse was bursting through my skin

I was dying deep within

Acid burnt in my stomach

 I couldn’t breathe as I began to vomit

My veins were bulging

The poisonous sward was launching

This was far too daunting

I was painting everywhere with fluids of crimson

No one told me of these symptoms

Without warning

It happened to me

Spooked like the worst haunting

A tragedy

Slowly falling to the floor

But seeing the devil come through my door

There was no escape now

I wanted to scream but how?

He came for me

Then set me free

To tell my story

To give him glory

And once again

He came before me

Placed the forever chains around my limbs

Took me to the dungeon oh so grim

Now I lay here for his disposal

As I said yes to his proposal

© Fiona Cummings