Hello again,

A thing which I would like to discuss is how safe do you feel as a blind or visually impaired person when going out in bad weather like we’re currently experiencing?

Or any disabled person fo that matter. I have read a few stories about wheelchair users not feeling safe.

I am not a fan of the wind and rain or snow. It makes it more difficult to see and my cane becomes unusable. I cannot leave the house alone. Is anyone else in the same situation?

I try hard to do as much stuff as everyone else, yet sometimes I have to be realistic. I have to ask myself the question, do I feel safe?

The other day the answer was no. I chose not to leave the house.
I made the right decision. My trains were cancelled later in the day and I would have been stuck.

When looking on Twitter I have found that other disabled people were thinking the same as myself. I was glad to not be alone in my decision. However, it also re enforces how stressful independence can be for us as disabled people. Especially when things do not go to plan.

Be kind to yourself, know your limits and know it is OK to say ‘I am putting my safety first’. I have rearranged my week so I can now do what I was going to do on the Sunday, but now do it on the Thursday. Everything has worked out fine and I am happy.

Think that’s it for this week.

Twitter: @PhilippaB                                                                                                                       Instagram: @VisuallyImpairedPip

Hello again.

How are you?

This week I’m writing about to do lists. Big and small.

Mondays are my regular days off, so any hospital appointments, any sport massages, writing blogs, cleaning etc all the normal to do list stuff happens on Mondays.

Todays to do list consisted of wiping my room over, I have laminate floor down with two rugs. So while vacuuming works I still have to wipe the floor over with flash wipes.
The next thing was my bathroom. Thats all tidy. Then to tackle that sock pile which needs putting away.

Getting through your to do list can be quite boring, so I tend to tell myself ‘If we do this, we can have a cup of tea’. That way you have your cup of tea and you sit down and feel accomplished because the house is tidier, the bins are empty and every thing smells like apples because that’s the scent the wipes have.

I am at work Tuesday, Wednesday and on Thursday I’m off to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Very excited. I have seen it about 8 times. Then on Friday I am meeting up with a friend. Which I am also looking forward too.

One thing I need to do more of is socialising. I am not a big fan of socialising in large groups. I much prefer smaller groups of people. It’s easier to hear what people are saying. So that is on my list of to dos.

The thing I need to remember is, everyone is different. Some people have a lot of energy to do different things. Like at work at lot people go out and socialise in larger groups, or they’ll play sports. I am not too competitive like they are at work so I tend not to do that sort of stuff.

But there are people at work who enjoy similar things to me so I can socialise with them. I like being able to go out, it’s just exhausting for me. Which is where I need to remember to be kind to myself. But also remember that I do need to socialise because that’s another area where you can get happiness from.

I am tying to change up my routine in the coming weeks, just by socialising a little more with people who enjoy similar things to me.
I like the people I work with, we share a lot of similar passions, I just wish I had more energy.

So that’s my blog for this week. Mondays is also my chill out and have a nice bath day. So I’m off to run one.

Speak soon 🙂

Twitter: @PhilippaB

Instagram: @VisuallyImpairedPip

Hello again,

Before we begin I am starting with a polite reminder to you all to not push a disabled person to try get on the train before them.

Earlier this week I was getting on my train and a man was pushing from behind, he tried to get round the side of me. I could tell he was there. So I put my cane at the side of me, to stop him and give myself some room.

I stepped onto the train and again could feel him trying to push in front of me to get to the seats before me. Once again I took my time and put my cane out in front of me.
This is where it gets really ableist. He had the audacity to step over my cane, causing us both to be stood in the middle of the carriage. I said quite loudly ‘oh sorry’ I went to move my cane, and move for the priority seat.
He then pushed past my cane, and sat in the priority seat. I sat in the table seat the other side. I turned to him and once again said ‘Oh sorry’. Clearly sarcasm was lost on this man.
I smiled at the man in front and had my cane next to me. He just looked at me.

When we got off I made sure to stand up before the man who pushed his way to the priority seat. A lady got off before me and asked if I needed a hand. I said I was fine, but thank you for asking. In a loud enough and cheery manner that the ableist man behind would hear. Not that he would care.

The lady who was next to me on the train helped me onto the escalator and another woman stopped people getting on. She then asked if I needed a hand out the station. I replied no thank you. But to have a nice day and thank you for asking.

Some of you might be wondering why I’m so bothered by this as I got a seat.

Well, someone pushed passed me for a start whilst trying to get on the train, it’s dangerous, they then stepped over my cane, which he must have seen. He would have seen it because he had to step around me to step over it. To then just reply ‘it’s OK’ is extremely obnoxious. I use a guide cane, so it’s not like it’s easily missable.

Also the new trains which Northern are running have more table seats than they did previously. Which is frustrating as it is hard to navigate a table seat when you have a cane. I can’t easily fold it because I have shoulder pain which makes it harder to pull the cane to be able to fold it.

As obnoxiously rude as this man was, I tried not to let it ruin my day. You see even though he was one person ruining my day, I had three other people who were kind to me.

You can’t win them all.

My point for this blog is this, don’t push past people to get to a seat which is a priority one. If you see someone who is in a similar position to myself offer them your seat in a loud enough manner to be helpful and to shame the person who took the priority seat. Yes, shame. Ableism is a big thing. If you think you’re entitled to a priority seat and you are not disabled, you are ableist.

But what about people with hidden disabilities you may ask?
I agree, we do need to accommodate those people. But in situations such as the one I found myself in, this was not the case. He knew what was doing, he was trying to push past me, on a train where the aisles are only wide enough for one. He then had to step over my cane. This was ableism. No ifs or buts, ableism.

Your help to any human being goes along way. Even if they don’t say thank you. You did it to help another person.

My life is already harder because of my disabilities. Please don’t make it worse for the sake of seat.

Twitter: @PhilippaB

Instagram: @VisuallyImpiaredPip

Hello again,

I have been wondering what to write about and have ideas, but I’m quite tired and thinking about these various ideas gets me quite stressed and wound up.

One of the ideas for a blog post I have been meaning to write about for quite a while. However, it’s making the time to sit down, write it out then edit it… and it’s about making the time to do this.
I am not lazy. I just really struggle with breaking things down and making tasks seem less cumbersome and scarily huge. I have friends who run their own business, create apps, do photography, write, on top of doing another job. I find this incredible. I then have friends who go to uni and have a job and other additional things going on.

I often find myself asking ‘when do you sleep?’ they then laugh and ask what’s sleep? One of them schedules in time to relax. Now she’s smart.

I struggle with time, it is a concept I find infuriating, it gets me angry when I can’t do all the things other people do. Because, where’s the time?

But then I am reminded by these same people that I do a lot. I work within the confines of what I am able, that is smart. I just need to recognise this more. I need to be kinder to myself. Remember that the difficulties I face are different to others. That I can pursue my passions, providing I don’t overdo it.

One thing I am doing now is setting myself an alarm labelled ‘shoes’. It is set for 10 minutes before I need to leave the house for work. 10 minutes to put shoes on you say? yes. I need 10 minutes because I wear Dr Martens and they are an effort to lace. Remember I am visually impaired, I have very little co ordination due to my Dyspraxia and on top of this my curved spine makes it very uncomfortable when leaning over to tie laces.

Talking of overdoing it. Today I got up at 8:30, made a cup of tea and couldn’t decide if going back to bed was a good idea. I sat and watched Frasier. I then changed my sim contract and got a cracking deal. Then I put a wash on, put some clothes away and wondered what’s next? The time 11:30? I decided to finish watching a video online and make a phone call. No one answered. So I decided to get on with writing this. The time? 2pm. I am sitting down because my back hurts. Yet I feel like I should be vacuuming or doing the washing up.

Yesterday I went for a sport massage. My back hurts today, but it feels so much better. Over the next few days my muscles will calm down and they will ease off. I need to book in for another appointment in 4 weeks time.

A lot of my tiredness comes from a variety of areas.

Visually Impaired: using what vision I have is exhausting, it’s to just the looking, but the processing of information.

Nystagmus: feeling like you’re on a round about can be draining. Then there’s the neck pain because you have to hold your head at an angle which puts pressure on your neck muscles.

Scoliosis: Leaning to one side and having your muscles scrunch up over a period of time meaning movement becomes limited and painful. Which also causes mental stress as well.

Dyspraxia: Co ordination is a massive thing for me. Just thinking about pouring the kettle is hard. Tying shoes, walking, going up and down stairs… basically any form of movement is hard.

Dyscalculia: Numbers are not my friend. Ask me to give you £4.45 change from a £10 note and I will take my time. Counting backwards on a clock? Reading a bus time table? We’re meeting at what time? I’m terrible. Not because I’m lazy, but because I cannot cope with numbers.

I suppose my whole purpose were is to tell you about why I find people doing so many things in life amazing. I genuinely cannot fathom how people do it. I find socialising to be exhausting. How people do all this adult living is incredible to me.

I wish I could.

That’s where using alarms labelled ‘shoes’ comes in. Or organising a batch of lunches a few days in advance, rather than going out for lunch at work. Setting reminders on my phone to write my blog, to remember to ask when Rachel is free for a coffee, my only current reminder is to purchase AirPods Pro after pay day. Time will always be something I struggle with.

Thank you again for reading, please email me with any questions you have. I’ll try get back to you as soon as I can, however, given this email, I’ll need to set a reminder.

Twitter: @PhilippaB
Instagram: @VisuallyImapiredPip
email: randommusings@gmail.com

If you’re interested check out @lifewithanaïs. She’s published. While her page is not focusing on disability, she is writing about, speaking about, important issues. She is educating people and using her voice to enact change. I am so glad I have her as a friend.

Hello again,

I would like to start by saying I have read Sandi Toksvig’s book!!! First book of the year, done. For my next book I’m thinking Kevin Hart? However, why are books more expensive on Audible than on Apple Books? I’m confused by this.

Anyway, this weeks post I’ll be writing about Scoliosis. Yes, my back pain is back. To be fare it never really went away. I am more or less always in some form of pain. Be it back pain, knee pain, neck ache. Anything really. For well over a month it has been something I’ve been putting up with.

The problem is I’m constantly taking painkillers, but just the normal stuff you can get off the shelf. I have to be careful with what I take due to other health problems. Yesterday I went and bought Ibuprofen even though I shouldn’t take it. I’m OK to have it in small doses just not all the time. I have kidney disease as well as congenital heart disease. So when being prescribed anything doctors take a bit of time thinking.

I go to the physio and have a sports massage. I have been doing this once a month for the past few months. The guy is great, he understands how my back pain affects me. He gives me exercises and we agree that if I need pain killers, then I should take them. I need to be able to get to work. I’d much rather be up and about than laying in bed, staying in bed all day does nothing for your back. Even if you manage to shuffle around, or sit on the side of your bed, or even propped up with pillows. Your back needs support and pillows are a great answer. I own many pillows.

Besides a sport massage and physio I would say getting the right pillow is essential. You need to support your head. Mine is a feather pillow and I like how soft they are. But I also own a memory foam one and one of those polyester filled ones. I don’t know what’s in them, I just know I went to Dunelm and spent a lot of money renewing my pillows. I have a triangle one as well, I think they’re called pregnancy pillows.

If you have never been for a physio appointment before, here’s what they tend to do:
They ask you about what you do for a living, what that involves.
They’ll ask you if you do any exercise.
How many hours sleep do you get on average?
Where does it hurt?
How often does it hurt?
Can you describe the pain?
On a scale of 1-10 how much does it hurt, on a good day and bad day?
To give you an idea, a good day for me is a 7 out of 10.

They tend to use a little picture of a person to mark where your pain tends to be.

I think it’s important to be as open as possible. The word sometimes is used frequently when you have chronic pain. The reason being is that we don’t like to think it controls every area of our lives, but it does. Think realistically. Don’t try be positive. This is not a negative attitude, this is realistic. If you’re in pain, tell it like it is. Otherwise you might be missing out on some options they have for you.

I went a month ago and said all my back was hurting, my spine is in an S shape, so when you look at me from behind I tilt to one side. He went down the whole of my back and used his elbows. I didn’t even feel him doing that. I just know that when he’d done, I felt 10 times better. He said my back was full of knots and tension and that it was a good thing I told him all my back was hurting. I can’t wait til Monday. Again I will ask him to do all my back. I will feel so much better.

Back pain, or any form of chronic pain, should not be taken lightly. As well as dealing with the physical aspects of the pain, consider the effect it has on your mental health. Your well-being is all of you, not just the physical you.

You know your own body, if you don’t feel well, have a chat with someone. It’s OK to feel sad about the pain you are in. Often when you talk to someone who has the same sort of pain as you, you find your self feeling more accepting to the problem. You know you’re not alone. I have a friend I talk to about my pain and she makes me laugh because we know how each other feels and we know we can be open and honest and support one another.

Chronic pain, such as scoliosis is real. Do not think otherwise. If the pain you’re feeling matters to you, that’s it end of story. It matters. It’s real, you don’t need to justify yourself.

Remember- go you 🙂 you’re awesome 🙂

When I’m in pain I often think of Joey off Friends holding his pizza box going “I’m curvy and I like it”. It makes me laugh, which then hurts.

See you on the next blog.

I’m on the Twitter @PhilippaB
I’m on the Instagram @VisuallyImpairedPip
I’m contactable on the E-mail? is that right? randommusings@gmail.com

Hello,

New Year, new post. I’m not one for setting extraordinary long term goals. I find I get bored if I don’t see any success within a short space of time. Ridiculous I know. So last year I kept it nice and simple- read more books.

I purchased a Kindle, it didn’t help as my nystagmus just doesn’t agree with us reading. So I settled on audio books. Last year I read about 9 books. However I also listened to a number of podcasts. I’ll maybe tell you about those later.

Nine books isn’t great, it’s about one a month. So I aim to read more this year, with the help of Audible subscription from my brother. I’m currently listening to Sandi Toksvig, Between The Stops. I cannot get enough of it. I used a credit on the 3rd of January, now on the 7th, I have 3 hours and 12 minutes remaining. I love it.

This year with Audible I should be able to read 12 books, at least.

I think when I set myself goals I need to be able to measure them. Books are a good way of doing that.

Last year, I think I also wanted to get more into Mindfulness. Again this is measurable as it is something you can do at anytime, for me on an evening before bed. It makes a difference to the way you go about your day. I used to think it quite strange. Now I quite enjoy it. I think I’ll continue.

For this years new goal I would like to think I can post you more blogs. Although with other things going on I can appreciate it may not be weekly. But that’s ok. I’ll do my best to write when I can. As part of my blogs I’ll try keep the page with my photos on more up to date too.

Which leads us nicely onto another, not a goal, but focus. Photography. I own an iPhone 11 and a Lumix FZ270 bridge camera. A few days ago I went to the top of town to the Camera Exchange. We met a man called John who inherited the business from his dad. We chatted about what I was looking for in a camera and decided the mirrorless was my best option. Preferably an Olympus.

I would like to do more with my photography, it’s a great way of telling a story. In one image you can capture a moment in time which is locked there for ever.

I have had back pain for over a month now, more painful than normal, so I have booked in again to see a physio for a sport massage. It’s a great price and the guy who I see is excellent. A commitment for this year is to keep up with those sport massages. They help a lot. My back will not improve without major surgery and I am not wanting to do it, if sport massages, physio and gentle exercise will keep the pain away and my back muscles strong, I will do this.

There we have it, read more, blog more, keep up with the mindfulness, do more photography, get sport massages.

I feel these are acceptable focuses for 2020. I have other focuses too, but for now, these are the ones being written down.

Goals don’t have to be big, they just have to be personal to you. Then you know you feel like they are achievable.

Have a happy 2020 and enjoy the decade ahead.

I’m on Twitter @PhilippaB

Instagram @VisuallyImpairedPip

Hello,

The other week I went out to meet my friend Kayleigh for dinner and a wander. I suggested The Alchemist in Leeds as they have a nice atmosphere.

We met up and walked to the Alchemist. When were shown to our table someone came over and asked me if I would like to use the Braille and large font menu. I was pleasantly surprised and said I would like to use that menu. They came back and placed it on the table in front of me and asked if we needed any water.

(The 1st image on the left is of the menu cover, with a cool design in black and grey, and on right, the 2nd image, is of one of the pages of the menu, in large font)

The menu had their logo on the cover and a cool design which you would get on their ‘normal’ menus. I opened it up and the had a section inside which introduces you to The Alchemist and then it goes on to go through their menu. The font was nice an big, I’d say size 24-30. It looked nicely doubled spaced as well. Towards the back they had the Braille section, which the introduction which was a lovely touch.

It was nice that they offered the menu. What I thought was nicer was the fact that the menu still had the introduction to the restaurant. Visually Impaired and Blind people appreciate these nice touches, haha, Braille…you get it?… *silence* anyway…

It was nice that the menu had a design on the front too. It shows they want the menu to keep in with their branding. Meaning people like myself don’t feel like an after thought. Making me feel included.

We had a lovely lunch, I had the full Alchemist. I think Kayleigh had the scrambled eggs on toast with a sausage.

I enjoy going to the alchemist. The service is always nice and the food tastes great. I will deffinatley recommend their full breakfast or the breakfast wrap. They serve breakfast until 2pm!!!! What’s not to like? And you can have a breakfast cocktail. If you are in their after 2, well, no breakfast for you. But I would then suggest the Chicken in a basket, I’m sure they still have that.
The restaurant itself is quite spacious. At the moment wen you walk in there is a lovely Christmas tree by the front door. It is decorated in copper and gold coloured decorations. The bar is running along your right hand side with a long table against the glass looking out onto Bore Lane. Up past the bar you have the restaurant seating area. The kitchen is open so you can smell all the food while they’re preparing it for you. They’re is an outside part to the restaurant which gives you a view up Bore Lane towards the Corn Exchange. However, even with the heat lamps I am always cold so never sit outside.

Thank you to the Alchemist for a lovely lunch, we will be back.

Twitter @PhilippaB

Instagram VisuallyImpairedPip

Or if you’d like you can email me randomlyanxious@gmail.com

Hello,

I realise this post isn’t actually written or posted on IDPD, however that is because yesterday I was taking a self care day. I was very tired and quite fed up so I thought I’d spend the day relaxing. Now today I am spending the day doing stuff. For example I have organised my inbox from the past 10 years. That’s not to say I have neglected my inbox for 10 years, but you know how you get those emails you just leave sitting in your main inbox, festering away, clogging everything up. Well no more! I have a clean inbox. It is empty!

Anyway, that was a tangent. Back to it.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a day to raise awareness of people with disabilities, the challenges we face, the abuse faced by disabled people, the injustices, all of the negatives. It is also an opportunity for us to tell the world, we are here, we have rights, needs and wants. We want to be apart of society and we have a right to be a part of society.

A big thing for myself as someone with a lot of hidden disabilities is the lack of patience. People expect things done, now now now. However disabled people need a bit more time to complete tasks. Which can be quite frustrating for us if we are dealing with people who want to live in the fast lane and refuse to accept that disabled people can do things, just maybe a little slower.

A good example of this would be when I am getting on the train. If you catch public transport you will be aware of the rush that comes with it. As soon as the train arrives people are jostling to get to the train doors first. For someone with a visual impairment and very little peripheral vision this is horrible.

This week I have had to stick my elbow out at the side of me to stop people pushing in front of me while getting on the train- might I add I use a guide cane, which makes no difference to people what so ever. At one point I put my guide cane up onto the step of the train and I still felt someone place their foot on the step trying to push past me. I said quite sarcastically ‘Thank you’ as I stepped onto the train. You might think they would get the message, but no. Often people will turn their bodies side ways to try get past me as I’m making my way down the carriage. This is unsafe, as when I’m getting on the train I need to be able to step safely from the platform to the step, without patience I could miss the gap and then fall. Causing delays, which is going to get people more frustrated.

So for your own best interests, not mine, please let me get on first.

You might think this only happens to those of us with guide canes because ‘Oh I didn’t see you’. But no. It happens to wheelchair users too. When the station staff come to put the ramp down, passengers will not, in cases, allow the ramp to be put down, they will again turn side ways and step onto the train when the ramp is partially in place. It gets better. Passengers may then not notice the person in the wheelchair and all begin to use the ramp. Pushing onto the train to find a space. Where is that space? the space reserved for wheelchairs. Which then means the person using the wheelchair, (who has booked passenger assistance otherwise they won’t be able to get on, specifically for that train) cannot get on the train. Meaning, that they have to wait for the next train they have not booked assistance for.

But the station staff will sort them out? Well, what about when someone is there to meet them at the other end? They won’t be on train to get the assistance to get off. Before you say anything, no it is not an easy fix. If you miss your train and you are using assisted travel, there is a knock on effect. Possibly meaning you lose your assistance when you reach your destination, meaning you cannot get off the train, or you can’t get assistance to the barriers to get out.

It is beyond frustrating.

Another instance when I wish people had more patience was the other day when someone stepped over my guide cane while I was queuing to get through the barriers. What made this worse was the fact that this person looked right at me as they did so. Probably checking I was really visually impaired. I was so wound up from a rubbish day anyway I couldn’t react. When I could have done one of two things: ‘Would you like to get past?’ or just swiped my can across the floor causing them to fall. I wouldn’t, that would be cruel.

The world is becoming more and more intolerant, and that is not just of disabled people. It is ridiculous that people are so wrapped up in their own worlds they cannot think beyond themselves. They only care about what is best for them.

Patience is one thing I would ask for, the other is kindness. You may have seen Blind Dads post the the other day when he was trying to cross a road where the signal box was covered up due to work being done. A workman noticed him and came over to ask if he needed any help. He said yes and they got across the road safely as he guided him correctly by asking for permission and letting Amit take his arm. Once safely across the road he let him know they were on the pavement and where about’s they were. This act of kindness was great, it was one human looking out for another.

Above all, on reflections from International Day of Disabled Persons I would ask for respect. We are people too. We have needs and wants just like everyone else. We have rights.

Please be respectful of us. Don’t tell us what we need, listen to what we say we need. Engage with us rather than ignoring us and having meetings about inclusion without us. Just because you know a Blind person does not mean you can speak for them. Just because you know a Deaf person does not mean you can speak for them. Just because you know an Autistic person does not mean you can speak for them. Listen to them, then ask them how they want to be helped, ask how you can help, never assume. You may offer what you think, but if we say ‘no’ then respect that.

Another person you may have seen on Twitter is Blonde Historian. Her campaign is ‘Just ask Don’t grab’. Can you guess what is meant by this? All Amy is asking is to ‘ask permission’ before you touch someone. Especially for people like myself and Amy, who don’t see very well, it can be quite daunting when someone reaches out and touches us. Ask first, we are glad you want to help because, for myself anyway, I am quite tired and can’t form a sentence when all my energy is going into navigating that train step.

Please be respectful, we are people too. I will leave it at that.

Thank you for reading my Random Musings.

I’m on the Twitter @PhilippaB

I’m on the Instagram @VisuallyImpairedPip

Hello again,

On Saturday we went shopping to the White Rose. We haven’t been in a while but needed to try get some shopping done. When we arrived they had closed the car park at the entrance to Debenhams. So we went through another one.

We went to Lush to see what soaps, bath bombs and hair bars they had in. I quite like Lush as I they are a great option if you are wanting to try reduce your plastic consumption. Which if you’ve read any of my blogs you will know I am truing to do.

When we went in someone asked us if we were OK, I asked where the shampoo bars were and they took us to them. They instantly recognised I was overwhelmed by the noise, the lights, the smells and all the array of colours that were to see in the shop. Mentioning that it was quite loud they said they’d get the music turned down. They hurried back and asked if it was OK, I said that was a lot better. Thank you very much. This instantly made my experience better.

For me sensory overload is a real issue. I prefer shopping online. However, I miss a lot of the experience in this way. Especially when you’re buying soaps, you want to feel them and smell them. It’s quite personal when you’re shopping for bath products. You want to know that what you’re buying is something you’ll enjoy.

After asking us what kind of hair products we would like they introduced us to some brilliant options. As my hair can be quite curly I need something which won’t suck all the moisture out. We were given some options and one of the bars I picked was ‘Jason and the Argan Oil’. The bar is a circular shape which is perfect because when I’m reaching for the soap in the shower I can feel the difference in shapes. Circular for hair shampoo bars and oblong for soap. (I put my shampoo and conditioner on one side of the bath and my soap on the other so I don’t get mixed up and ruin my hair). The shampoo bar is also a hot pink colour as it has rose in it. Making it look lovely.

Once we had picked our shampoo bars I asked where the bath bombs were which make your bath bubbly. We ended up looking at a variety of bubble bars. The person helping us left us to shop as we said were were OK browsing for now.

One of the bubble bars I bought is called ‘Candy Cane’, so naturally it is shaped like a cane and is red and white. It is Christmas after all…. well soon it will be. With this one I will just have to run the cane under the hot water and when I’m happy with the bubblyness of my bath, take it and leave it on the side to dry.

Today’s shopping at Lush was great because there’s no pressure, just people wanting to help. I found it excellent that they recognised straight away that I was stressed and overwhelmed by the shop and instantly made a change. This is such a massive thing to do to ensure a person is able to shop in a way that suits them. The time taken to help me out picking the right soap bars was excellent. I wasn’t over-faced and bombarded with options. I said what I needed and was given plenty of time.

In today’s society I genuinely believe patience is lacking. I think if we all just slowed down a little bit, our over all mindset would be much calmer. Making society happier. We don’t have to rush rush rush. If you give yourself enough time you’re doing yourself a favour.

Thank you again to Lush in White Rose Leeds. I will be shopping again at Lush. Anywhere that gives you a great shopping experience should be returned too. Even if it is their online stores.

Also on our way out I found out why they had closed Debenhams car park. It is also the entrance to Cineworld, and what has come out today? FROZEN 2!!! I’m excited. But closing a whole car park? wow.

I have all the soaps out on my bed and they smell amazing. I’m off to try out that Candy Cane bar. Hopefully relax a little before work tomorrow.

Twitter: @PhilippaB
Insta: @VisuallyImpairedPip

That time of the year…

Hello,

So while I have some energy I will try to write this blog post. I have spent the last few days just taking it easy before I am back into work tomorrow.

As it is getting closer and closer to December, I have started my shopping. I have a few things already and I am no where near done. Every year I keep myself a list of people I am buying for and then add to it as I go along. Yesterday I added a load of stuff to a note which I share with my brother. We know what has been bought and he can see what I’ve spent. He likes to say we have a budget…. one year I said we were all on track…we really weren’t.

I had added the prices up next to the list and then thought it was all correct. I’d gone way over budget. Now, in my deffence I’d sent him a list of the presents in a nice spreadsheet. Which I had not added up properly. Also in my deffence, I have Dyscalculia. Like Dylsexia but for numbers. He wasn’t impressed. I was confused.

Now the moral of this story is, keep a note of all your presents as you go along. So the budget you set yourself can be tracked as you add up your spending. It’s nice to buy people gifts, but you shouldn’t spend beyond your means. Otherwise you’re creating future stress for yourself. Which you do not need come January.

Try to leave yourself plenty of time to wrap your gifts and then you won’t be stressing on the last week before Christmas. I love wrapping gifts. But need to ensure I have the energy, otherwise all of the fun is taken out of it.

One of the big topics at the moment is climate change. So this year, I have decided that any additional wrapping paper I buy to top up last years stash will be recyclable, or recycled paper. The ribbon and the twine I use to decorate my presents will also be of the same kind. I found some great options on Paperchase’s website. They had some with white trees on, polarbear’s and penguins with igloos.

When it comes to gifts I am trying to buy stuff I know wont come is excess plastic. Such as bath bombs. Try Lush, or Yorkshire Soap Company. If you are in the North of England there is a shop in Whitby called Honeyz. Trying to buy from independent shops makes a real difference. Even if it is just a few gifts. When we went to Durham there was a market where I bought some great bath salts and some lovely soap from a company called Durham Soap Company the bath salts came in a little glass jar which I can now reuse.

For another gift I have been back to Atlantic Shore. I have bought two pairs of woollen slippers. You can get them in a variety of colours. They were a great price too.

I am getting tired so I’m going to go. But please don’t leave your shopping too late.
Set yourself a budget, stick to it.
Try reduce your plastic use when buying gifts.
Consider putting a donation in a charity box.

I will be back soon. Sorry there isn’t a weekly post. I’m just very tired at the moment.

Thank you for reading my musings.

Twitter @PhilippaB
Insta @VisuallyImpairedPip