We are the World Blogfest # 55 – Someone who doesn't want their eyesight back …

I find it extraordinary how people who lose one of their senses, or are injured, seem to manage to cope by learning a new skill, which also requires many new sub-skills to be learnt.

Chris at work

Here Chris Fisher, who was an auto technician, woke up one day with blurry eyesight, then within weeks was blind. Very frightening.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, which, it is estimated, has infected half of the world's population – and is caught from animal faeces or infected meat … but in adults usually causes no obvious symptoms – sadly Chris was not one of them.

Chris with a piece of his art

He really needed help to adjust and took bereavement counselling with the Royal Institute of Blind People – who have a very supportive network of volunteers helping those who suffer sight impairment.

He, understandably was very distressed, as he wasn't able to see his loved ones, he couldn't work anymore, nor pursue his hobbies – motor-cycling, learning to fly, while had a huge love of horror films – thus had a good imagination and creative mind.

Chris with one of his autistic students

This originality led him to woodturning where he is now the only totally blind, fully professional, accredited wood turner …

He creates art from sourced wood as a coping mechanism for his anxiety, yet while at the lathe he has to live in the moment … he cannot be complacent for one second …

Incredibly he taught himself by listening to YouTube for over 600 hours (about 25 days worth!) …

Wood Turning in Indonesia

It's a gift to be able to help others … He loves sharing his story and inspiring others … now he is working with a special needs charity helping children with autism … helping them and giving them confidence in the world they habit …

How appropriate our #WATWB tag lines are for Chris and fellow sufferers ...

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Here's the BBC video where I picked this inspiring story from ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest # 49 Blindness does not stop us cooking …

 

People always amaze me at the accomplishments they achieve … but even more so when they are blind, or become blind …

 

I’ll be writing about one British man … but the BBC World Service programme ‘The Food Chain’ I heard was about three cooks … and I link across to them.

 

Simon Mahoney has written this wonderful book titled ‘First Catch your Rabbit’ – or Cooking without Fear … with a sub-title …

When You

Have To …

You Do

What You

Have To …

  

As the back blurb states: ‘Losing your sight is dreadful.  Losing it entirely is devastating.  Losing your wife and best friend (just before Covid struck) so there are no eyes in your home is pushing the bounds of endurance.  Losing your favourite dog is just careless.  In such a situation you either laugh or you cry.’ 

 

Here he describes how he mastered the kitchen, entirely alone, blind, dodging three dogs and a cat called ‘Spitfire’ is anybody’s guess … 

… but honestly who could not be drawn in.

 

As he says – please note … ‘no rabbit was harmed, alarmed or even caught whilst writing this book’. 

Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit

He acknowledges the help he’s received … family, friends, The Blind Veterans UK, and being able to draw on the Officer Training Wing, Infantry Training Centre, Royal Marines – for providing an excruciating character-forming experience which has been instrumental in overcoming the challenges of my sight loss.

 

It’s not a cook book … more a survival manual … for those whose eyes deteriorate until they cannot read, but who might be interested in his kitchen techniques for coping … 

 

He has exercises called ‘Getting your Hands Back’ … this is proprioception – also referred to as ‘kinesthesia’ - and is the sense of self-movement and body position … we all need it … and is one sense that we need to get working effectively again … it is sometimes described as the “sixth sense” …

 

 

Simulation of real life in the 
mid-15th century ... preparing 
a rabbit for a meal

Here is proof that we can all achieve, even in the most challenging of situations … his explanations are so down to earth … so understandable – and perhaps exercises we can get into the habit of using, even before any wear and tear sets in.

 

 

So catch your rabbit – be grateful for your sight … while having this book up your sleeve to help others and perhaps in due course yourself.

  

 

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, be Light

 

Winging It Blind … life can’t be stopped … it is ours, wherever we find ourselves …

  

BBC world Service – The Food Chain

Payal Kapoor’s YouTube Channel ‘Rasoi ke Rahasya’ … Cooking without Looking … this NewZealand site tells the story of India’s Payal Kapoor …

 

The Blind Goat is a modern Vietnamese gastropub inHouston, Texas … run by Christine Hà … Gordon Ramsay mentions her extraordinary palate of incredible finesse.

 

Winging it Blind – Simon Mahoney’s website … with links to his first book ‘A Descent into Darkness’ and his blog, videos etc and this book … First Catch Your Rabbit!

 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories