BLIND DAVE’S BLOG

 28-05-2007

Hi Stirrers

Well Wicksie, my guide dog, never ceases to amaze me. For anyone who doesn’t know him, he’s a little on the large side, some say like a donkey, it’s certainly fun getting him in a taxi. He’s a good looker I’m told, jet black and looks every inch the killer! With a bark like a dinosaur and nerves of steel!

Unless there’s a fly about.

It was a nice day, sometime this week anyway, doors and windows open and for some reason Wicksie was following me around, even more so than usual, like a shadow. Normally, after tea he’s flaked out in his bed, but tonight he was definitely my shadow.

Sitting at the computer, he was at my feet; making a cuppa, he was at my feet; listening to a book, he was at my feet. I knew I had fed him so it wasn’t hunger. I kept sending him to his bed and he kept coming right on back - and then we clocked it.

Every time I sent him away a fly would send him back. Yes, he was frightened of a fly. I sent Wicksie out, the fly sent him back. Debb said it was hilarious to see, a rufty tufty dog like Wicksie, was frightened of a fly. My goodness that must have been some big fly. So I did the only thing I knew, put my knife between my teeth and confronted that fly, head to head. Yes, Wicksie is happy now, safe in his bed once again, sleeping.

Friends of mine, lucky people, have just come back from the Dominican Republic and a fortnight in the sun. Standing in the club, talking with Ray who told me they had a lovely time and were as brown as berries, his wife Kay came up and said “If there’s anyone in the club I would show my little white bits to it’s you Dave”.

“Wahey”, I thought and turning over my hands to show my palms, said “And these are my eyes, I’d love a look”. Apparently Kay moved quicker than Linford Christie. In fact, she would have won gold in the Olympics. That’s the sort of look I’ve got, NONE! And I only wanted a little peep. Since then I’ve been using Nivea hand cream, they are nice and soft and the answer is still NO!

Talking of hands, mine have been working very well this week and the new project is coming on a treat, just check out the photos. It hasn’t been a smooth ride though.

The framework was up, the shiplap was going on nicely, the window and doorway openings were forming nicely, in fact things were going along great. I was whistling away, pretty pleased with the progress I was making and I knew the girls would be pleased too.

Debb came out into the garden and on her way up to the town made comment “In the part that is to be my greenhouse, shouldn’t there be a door? ”. I was stunned into silence. I sensed the smile on her face, not another word was said, I gave her a kiss good bye and stood there in stunned silence.

“What a plonker” I though (okay, stronger words came to mind, but kids read this I’m sure.) It was far too much trouble to take all the boards off and re cut them, so I began sawing with my little tennon saw.

Around an hour or so later, sweating, cursing, certainly not whistling, there was the door opening into the greenhouse part of the shed that should have been there in the first place!

I’m only sorry it took Debb so long to see my deliberate mistake! Grrrrr, I wont make that stupid mistake again, it was hard work sawing those panels, the main problem being the back of the shed is so close to the wall I couldn’t use the saw properly.

Debbs only comment along with the eldest when they came back was “Oh that’s where the door should be is it?” For once words failed me.

I’m forever going on about awareness or the lack of it. I was coming out of the Post Office the other day, fortunately Wicksie in the lead and me trailing behind, when suddenly a lady shouted “Stop!”

I halted instantly, very surprised. She said, “you nearly knocked me over.” I said, “I doubt that love, I would have gone round you”.

“No you were heading right for me, you shouldn’t walk so quick with a big dog like that, he’ll knock someone over”.

Now, I know Wicksie is a big dog and I suppose he looks a bit daunting coming towards you, especially the speed we walk, but I assured her that we would have gone round her.

She was another who made the classic comment, “ You never even saw me coming towards you”. She was right of course but she kept going on and on and in the end I had to point out the obvious.

“Love can you see what’s on the dog, it’s a harness because he’s a guide dog and I’m blind”. Talk about stunned silence. It seemed an age before she spoke again.

She was full of apologies, explaining she hadn’t noticed the harness, (had she said something about me not seeing her?) I do wonder at people. Still, after more apologies, I simply said “No harm done, have a nice day “ and went on my way.

I think she was a little embarrassed to say the least, so I got out of her way. This is why I always go on about awareness. Wicksie is a big dog, with a bright coloured harness and still people don’t see or realise what it represents. I’m truly amazed some times.

We were back at Sutton Park again this week for the National Vets (as in old) road relays, teams of eight and there were plenty of runners. There was also plenty of spectator support, considering the weather.

Because of the varied age group of our club and with a few injuries to contend with, we only just managed to put a team together.

Sutton once again was set up for some great running. It is, as I’ve mentioned in earlier blogs, very undulating. Mind, for some of the said old codgers, there were some fast times run today. Like always, fast or slow, the team gave it our all, and the banter flew as hard as ever.

I ran leg 7, the number 7 seeming a lucky omen, hopefully it will be the same next year, although we weren’t lucky enough to win. In fact we came last – well someone has to.

But it was still lucky for me as the last leg was run by Jim and around 2 minutes from the finish, the heavens opened and I mean it rained, the sort of rain that takes no prisoners. So much so that Jim resembled a sponge when he came back into the marquee, so I reckon 7 was quite lucky today - last but not wet!

Well now you know my rufty tufty dog is frightened of flies, that’s my street cred gone and when is a door not a door, as the saying goes, when it’s not in Blind Dave’s greenhouse, “Hello Kay” I’m still using the nivea! Well I’m off before it rains; so it’s Blind Dave signing off for this week, speak soon.

Blind Dave Heeley will be the first disabled athlete to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents next year. Follow his exploits in The Stirrer and make a contribution to his fund-raising efforts – just go to www.justgiving.com/777