Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, or to all non Welsh speakers among us, Happy New Year.
For me, 2025 went by in flash , with lots of lovely little sparkles left behind.
This time last year, I was getting reacquainted with my trusty long white cane after Munchs retirement the previous month. Sweeping and bumping my way through corridors in work and getting my rollerball caught in places I never knew existed, became the norm, as I waited for my new four-legged friend. Unbeknown to me, the universe was working it’s magic rmto deliver Stevie to me by express delivery
On 27th January, we will have been together a whole year and what a year it has been. As Munch has enjoyed putting his paws up a little more over the last year, Stevie has been busy making friends in his new role and joining me on adventures. He is now a familiar sight in the schools we work in, has made his Television Debut representing Guide Dogs and been joint guest of honour with Munch in my daughter’s wedding as he successfully stole many hearts.
Stevie has officially become Munch’s personal trainer by making him run like a pup again as he tries to escape his golden marshmallow brother. Many local dog walkers know that if they see a streak of golden magic pass by in a nano second , that it is just Stevie having his daily free run and that their dogs that follow him will have a nice snooze afterwards. He has fitted into the dog walking community really well whilst Munch looks on pretending not to know his tornado of a brother.
For me, 2026 has delivered me a new role in my job, which I am very excited about. I also have a lot of plans for the year ahead, which will hopefully keep both me and Stevie out of mischief for a while (well, that is the plan anyway)
We really hope that 2026 will be a kind year for you, giving you what you need and want in equal proportions. Blwyddyn Newydd Dda I chi gyd (Happy New Year to you all).
“Watching ” a football match when you are blind is a little funny, frustrating, and faffy all at the same time. Snatching at auditory jigsaw pieces being thrown around by spectators and teams to make up a full picture in my head of what is going on in front of me can make some interesting mental images. Football is really not for me. Give me rugby any day, as its dynamic pace and verbal clues help me follow the game . Hearing the grunt from the impact of a tackle let’s me know I am at the game with the right shaped ball.
Playing football as a child was a little better, or so my rusty memory tells me. My poor older brothers and their friends tolerated me, gatecrashing their kick around on the football pitch behind our home. Hearing the football get caught by the net and the mix of “yes’s” and swear words meant a goal had been scored. The kick of the hollow, high-pitched ping of the ball combined with the skimming of the grass let me know which way the ball was heading . The different paced shoes on the grass with differing objects rattling in players’ pockets meant I knew who was heading for me and alerted me if I needed to tackle or assist. The worst moments were, however, when a ball was kicked high in the air and only finding out last minute when it came whooshing towards me that it was going to slam me in my face.
So when my 9 year old granddaughter started playing football a few months ago, I was so pleased for her but did secretly feel like I am probably not the best spectator to go and “see” her play. Nevertheless, here we are a few months later standing at the side of a football pitch in typical Welsh wet weather, trying to figure out what is apparently going on in front of me. As she plays for under 9’s, they play 3 teams lasting 20 minutes each. Listening to different games being played consecutively around me takes a lot of focus but gives so much information from the power of eavesdropping. This is a brief rundown of what I have learned from just today’s football matches.
There are four different girls called the same name around me. Two play on the same team, one on another and one as a spectator who I think has wellies on as they sound like thick rubber souls running behind me as her mother chases after her calling her name. I think the mother has trainers on which she probably needs to keep up with her little athlete.
One of the coach’s whistle needs a little clean, I think as it sounds a little clogged and not as sharp as another coach’s whistle at the end of the field.
One player has hurt her foot and come off to get it looked at , but it’s fine as she can move it in every direction and weight bare so is told to run it off. Lucky, it’s not the foot she hurt last year.
Accordijg to a parent to my left, a local pub’s food has gone downhill and the gravy has been lukewarm the last two times they have been there. All should be good in the future, though, as there are new owners taking over after Christma (according to another parent).
The ball hitting the plastic sounding net is a regular occurance on my granddaughters team (I have been told to listen to my right to hear her team). Luckily , her team is the one scoring the goals.
The girls on one of the teams in front of me have been told to spread out on the field six times that I have heard already in the match. The coach has a twang in his accent that sounds like an actor that I am still trying to place
People have a different tone to their “oooh’s” when I think a goal is nearly scored. The tone depends on if it is an excited “oooh” when their team nearly scores or a “please no” “oooh” if the other team score
“One parent has just finished making a penguin costume for the child’s Christmas play but has forgotten to sew a tail on.
The end of the game must be soon as I hear fresh new togs hitting the ground around me with excited children chattering away, and coaches wheeling their huge kit bags with them.
A chorus of “brrrrr’s” come from many children as their soaked bodies get reunited with their dry robed, umbrella covered parents declaring they cannot feel their hands of feet. This is the cue to leave and to it all again next week.
It’s surprising how much of an in-depth picture I can gain from those auditory jigsaw pieces flying around. It may not be the right picture the sighted community see , but it is a picture that never fails to amuse me and makes me feel included. Here’s wishing that the gravy gets warmer, the tailless penguin gets gifted a tail, and that poor girls foot will be okay. Joys of football eh?
An early childhood memory of mine from the 1980’s, was my mother highlighting yet another “No dogs, except for Guide Dogs” sticker that decorated shop doors we were opening whilst out shopping. My poor mother must have been so tired of me asking if there was another one on each door that we opened, but she always answered in the same cheery tone. I never thought to tell her I couldn’t see the stickers we were searching for, I just thought she had magical powers to see the unseen. I was fascinated by the concept of a Guide Dog as a child and was blissfully unaware that I would be privileged enough to be a Guide Dog partner in the future. My sight loss was only discovered at 4 through a school eye test , which later led to the multiple appointments drenched diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome, but it was initially thought that glasses would be enough to “fix” it. The very nature of bilateral lens subluxation in the eye of a Marfan’s patient meant that vision constantly changed, so no amount of glasses would ever fix the problem as the prescription could change so frequently. As a child, however, I never really knew I couldn’t see as my vision loss was all I ever knew, so had nothing to compare it too.
Today, you would think most people are aware of the “No Dogs Except for Assistance Dogs” rule in public places. 40 Years on from my Guide Dog door sticker search, sighted business owners and staff can sometimes be oblivious to the law that they have advertised on their premises, which really baffles me. Access refusals are an ongoing problem for guide dog owners despite publicity and education around the subject, which has increased in intensity over the last few years. Unfortunately, over the last nearly 9 years of having a guide dog, I have found myself having to stand up for the right to access public places that sighted people can access without being questioned. From Taxi refusals (which I got in anyway), shop refusals (which we entered after dropping the “legal ” word), to GP and hospital resistance (who you would think would to be a little more educated), I will not accept anyone’s ignorance to stop me being where I have a right to be.
The most recent incident was when I went out to meet a friend in a local cafe for lunch. Not thinking twice about my clearly highlighted harnessed guide dog Stevie being allowed into the restaurant area, we were greeted by a waitress to take is to a table. She informed us that “because of the dog” we were only allowed in the bar area and not the restaurant area. After a polite reminder that he is “clearly a Guide dog and is allowed in the restaurant area” , I hoped that would be enough to jog her memory of the training that she had hopefully been given. She responded with “sorry no dogs at all allowed in the restaurant area, so you will stay in the bar”. One thing I am not is shy is standing up for equal rights for myself and others , so my Aries energy came alive and calmly shot back ” Well as I don’t want you to have a £1,000 fine for not allowing me and my Guide Dog access , we will be eating in the restaurant area so could you show us to our table please”. With stony silence, huffing and puffing, she checked table availability and showed us to a table. The service to me was a little frosty throughout our visit , but the way I see it is that her uneducated ignorance is not my problem.
Handling access refusals is a skill I have learnt to handle over the years. I have been lucky to be backed up by my beautiful daughters, who have sometimes helped educate others where needed, which I will be eternally grateful for. Many guide dog owners feel less able to stand their ground in such situations, so it is important to know what our rights are and how to habdle refusals in a calm, polite manner and still get your rights met. Here is a quick look at what are our rights and ways to handle access refusals
Guide dog access rights
Guide dogs have the right to access most businesses and public areas under the Equality Act 2010.
If a taxi driver refuses access, they must be carrying a medical exemption certificate . Where possible , they should provide an alternative driver.
Businesses and public places must make reasonable adjustments to their no dog policy
Contact Guide Dogs for help and advice
Use an app such as the “Open Doors ” app to report illegal refusals.
It is possible to take legal action through courts due to unlawful access refusals.
Handling refusals correctly.
Never be rude, shout or swear
Remain calm in the knowledge that you have the backing of the law with you, not against you.
The business owner, public representative, may not know the law and is probably not making it a personal thing. This is why it is important to advocate for our rights calmly and in an informative way.
When possibly, carry your guide dog partnership ID card or written guidance to show the person you are dealing with.
Try not to feel alone, you are not the first person and unfortunately won’t be the last person that this is happening too.
Talk it through after the event with a friend, family or appropriate organisation such as Guide Dogs, especially if you did not receive the service.
Not allowing a blind person into a public space is never okay. Refusing us service just because we have sight loss , screams abelism at its finest. Our dogs have been trained for nearly 2 years of their lives to be able to accompany us out in public and are well-behaved working dogs , that allow us to into society that is not innately designed for us. Hopefully, one day, we humans will be as highly trained as our pawesome friends
When an old friend met Stevie for the first time, she was concerned that Munch was no longer with us. Relieved that this was not the case and that Munch was happily out for a walk with my son and enjoying his retirement, she greeted Stevie eagerly. As Stevie was in harness, he gave a swift tail wag when she called his name but remained professional and stood still and did not get distracted. She questioned why he wagged his tail if he was working as if he were meant to be like a robot with no reaction? Explaining that at the end of the day, he is a dog that loves interaction like most dogs do but does well to remain focused seemed to confuse her. This interaction mirrored so many others that I have had over the years when answering questions that the public always wants to know. Whether in fundraising events, day to day interactions or at Guide Dog speaking events, it’s always great to be able to spread awareness of how amazing these life changers are.
Here are just a few myths that I have helped people dispel over the last nearly 9 years as a Guide Dog partner.
1. Guide Dogs are always working
False. If we were to add up all the in harness work they do per day, it would still only be a small percentage of the day even if you have a busy life. I work in schools 5 days a week, go out with family, go to the gym, go shopping and go for lots of walks. We usually get between 8,000-10,000 steps in per day , but well, over half of those are Stevie led steps where I take him for 3 walks a day (2 of which are his free runs). Sometimes, when you see a Guide Dog in harness, those walks will be part of their daily exercise needs
2. Guide Dogs do the leading whilst their partners just follow
False. I am the first to admit that they are some of the most clever intuitively driven souls around that have amazing memories. What they are not, however, are mind readers. It is up to us to tell them where to go, so we must learn the routes first with the Guide Dog staff during our training, or with the help of sighted guides. They do not read or magically know landmarks they have never seen , so they can not know where they are going without instruction.
3. A pet dog can become a Guide Dog
False. Each Guide Dog is born into the potential to be a Guide Dog. The breeding team do so much careful work into knowing the parents of each litter and know the temperament and essentials of what is needed for a successful Guide Dog. Puppy raisers will become part of a potential Guide Dogs life at just 8 weeks. This differs greatly to other assistance dogs that do not have such robust testing, guidelines, and policies to follow
4. When Partnered with a Guide Dog, the “owner” owns the dog
False. During our whole partnership, Guide Dogs remain the owners of the dogs. This helps to ensure smooth running of our time together and allows careful monitoring that the welfare of the dog and his/her partner remains priority
5. Guide Dogs are only allowed in authorised places
False. Guide Dogs are allowed in nearly all public places that the public is allowed. This includes shops, food places, gyms, theatres, hospitals, children’s play areas,transport and places of work. Over the years, we have had to educate some food places and medical staff about the legal requirements to allow us in, which is still baffling in 2025 , when surely people should be educated around this
6. Guide dogs have the same rights as all dogs
False. Guide Dogs have more access and legal rights than pet dogs. If a Guide dog is attacked by another dog, the owner can be prosecuted, a fine, or time in prison. Attacking a Guide Dog can result in them being withdrawn from service due to the lasting impact on physical and emotional well-being on the dog and partner.
7. Guide Dogs all have the same personality that is trained into them
False. All dogs are different, just like every living being. There is no ideal “Guide Dog” personality. Each Guide Dog will, however, have a loving, even temperament, be sociable, focused, and have a hypnotic effect to make everyone fall in love with them. They will also be matched to suit the personality of the person they get matched with. It’s a mysterious phenomenon that they will guarantee to represent the animal version of their partner.
8. Guide dogs can have various types of diets
False. All Guide Dogs will be put on a strict diet to meet their needs by the talented Guide Dog staff who know each dogs personal needs. They will remain on these diets whilst being monitored throughout their Guide Dog career
9. Guide Dogs only socialise with their partner
False. Munch and Stevie probably have more dog and human friends than the average person does. They have made friends on their free runs, through meeting other Guide Dogs at events, through my work, and as part of the general community. Guide Dogs really do become part of the greater community as they are pretty hard to miss if you are sighted.
10. Guide Dogs have to work , even when they don’t feel like it.
False. Guide Dogs only work when they want. If they are ill, have had a negative experience, or just don’t feel like working that day, there is nothing we can do to make them move. During covid times, some Guide Dogs stopped working because when the world stopped, they stopped working. This made it so difficult for them to return to their old ways when they hadn’t done it in so long. Rehearsal and reinforcement is key to help the dogs confidently stride through their day with pride
Getting asked questions about life with a Guide Dog is always refreshing to know, to help us feel included in society. No question is a silly question, just a gap in knowledge that needs to be answered. I think it’s fair to say that Stevie will always be a tail wagger even when on harness. His happiness is my happiness so a wag is always welcome.
With the combination of foot braille (curiously working out what I had just kicked), with a quick right-handed reach whilst my Guide Dog lead and harness lay in my left, my guesswork was correct, Yippee. A massive pack of industrial toilet paper was the new occupant of the ever decreasing floor space. Nestled in between a total of 3 plastic buckets, a hoover (I could not see to confirm or deny if it was a Henry or a competitor), multiple what I think were brushes and mops (I didn’t really fancy feeling to find out), a folded wheelchair and multiple other things I chose to leave as mysterious objects, this new arrival completed a cleaning companies dream stock.
Now, I am not one to shy away from ending up behind a wrong door (a default setting of being blind and not being able to read door signs), but for a change this was the correct door that Stevie has skillfully learnt to find over the last few months. Not a cleaning cupboard, I promise, but the disabled toilet. Call it an accessible toilet if you want, but whatever you want to call it, it is a legal requirement in public spaces and workplaces in the UK under the Equality Act 2010. However, over the last nearly 9 years of being a Guide Dog owner, we have bumped our way into far more than a toilet, sink, and hand dryer in accessible toilets in our work places. Where some oblivious able bodied souls may get excited over extra storage spaces that these toilets provide, for disabled people, it is yet another sign that we are sometimes just an afterthought.
When I was partnered with my first Guide Dog Munch (a practically Shetland pony sized Labradoodle), I was stubborn enough to think we wouldn’t need an accessible toilet, and would just cartry on using a normal cubicle. This soon changed when I first attempted to get Munch into the cubicle with me, and my foot ended up jammed down the toilet as I attempted to step over him to shut the door that had no room to shut. As I squelched away that day, I had to swallow the bitter pill of acceptance that we just couldn’t use a normal cubicle. Add this to the fact that the designers of toilets love to colour coordinate the soap dispensers and hand dryers the same colour as the walls so nobody with sight loss can locate them without resembling spiderman as they feel the way around the room for said items, sometimes change needs to happen. For us that day, change meant that as we physically could not fit into a typical cubicle, we would need to use accessible toilets. With the arrival of my new Guide Dog Stevie, this need has been amplified as trying to get a 1.6m dog from nose to tip into a much smaller cubicle, just doesn’t work.
I am blessed to have really good mobility when using a Guide Dog , so despite being perplexed about the logic of such uneducated storage decisions in cluttered accessible toilets, we can find our way around it. What angers me is that anyone who uses a wheelchair or walking aid, for example, would really struggle in such areas. Multiple safety hazards and obstructed manoeuvring space are common sense issues that should stop people from misusing the space, yet here we are in a common sense free zone. My grandson, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair and walking frame, would not be able to use such toilets through no fault of his own. Inclusitivity is something that needs everyone to be proactive in , not just policy makers who never get to see the everyday results.
After experiencing many unusually decorated accessible toilets over the years, I am left wondering if they operate on a “What came first, the chicken or the egg “basis. Are they really cleaning/storage/everything cupboards that they just plonk a toilet in for disabled people to tick the box they need to for equality, or are they actually toilets? The mind boggles to which it is. Maybe my mind boggles more after hitting in on a shelf, full of cleaning products (there are 3 shelves in total I found out after using my Spiderman disovery powers). I mean, why wouldn’t you put shelves on a disabled toilet wall where a blind person could walk into? I hope the disinfectant didn’t get too shaken up bless.
I won’t bore you all with the rant of able bodied people using accessible toilets, absence of sanitary bins, the lack of toilet paper, or soap which is a common occurance or such things I promise. In return, however, if you ever hear about or see an accessible toilet become accessible only to inanimate objects as opposed to humans, please do something about it. I can guarantee that the mop and bucket will not only survive but also thrive outside of the accessible toilet, and we can all live happily ever after.
Escaping into the sighted world where details exist and abilities radiate from the sighted superheroes sounds like a magical Disney production to me. Enchanted by the idea of perfect vision, I have always wondered if sighted people know how fascinating they are to those of us living in the sight loss world. For me, listening to a sighted person casually describe the most tiny details of something, or noticing that someone had “that look about them” gives me the loudest internal “wow” ever . These seem like superpowers that they innately posses, which I love to hear as they help me learn about the world we share but not on an equal level.
Admitting that, I have no idea what freckles would look like on a face that I can not make out that belongs to a body that floats by unseen in an environment that all my senses pick up apart from my sight, may sound like a loss in experience, but it is just a coexistence that is omnipresent. Silently sneaking around the sighted world trying to blend in without drawing attention to our difference, it can make us the best undercover detectives ever. We learn to hear sequences that will help us predict what comes next, decipher societal unwritten rules by the reactions of the sighted around us, and learn to take a different route if we fall or bump into something that the sighted would gave known to avoid.
Finding common ground between the sighted and sighted loss world can sometimes be a little rocky, but it is never impassable. Whether wearing a superhero sighted cape or a trench coat as a detective, we each have a role to play in each other’s world. We follow the sighted who may know the safest way through life, but never underestimate what the sight loss community can guide you to knowing as in all likelihood you are relying far too much on your sight to experience the world that you don’t yet know that exists.
Using touch as your Sat nav through life can help bring you back to the present instead of the immediate future. Closing your eyes and using hearing alone to connect the voice to the location in your memory bank can help put a voice to a name and leave the face hidden just for today. Keeping mind maps open to help you plan a journey in advance instead of just using eyes to find landmarks will keep your neurons happy and your brain thankful as you age. To those with sight loss, this is how we travel through life in our own personalised ways. Learning this new skillbase can help you see the world differently and give you tools to fall back on if you ever need them in the future.
Learning from each other is what keeps us social creatures alive and connected. So whether a cape or trenchcoat wearer, wear them with pride and respect the power that the other mysteriously holds.
When a sighted person asks “What, you can look after your Grandson alone?” In the most incredulous tone, there are very limited polite answers to give them. A blind person being able to do things the sighted can do in an adapted way? Hell yes, and not to be pedantic, but sometimes we can do things better.
Over the last few days, I have had my adorable two year old tornado of a grandson stay with us as my daughter and son -in -law are on their honeymoon. Having two two year old energy balls in the house (Stevie and my grandson) has meant that even though spare time is a distant memory, I have been blessed with non-stop fun and laughter. With the spirit of a wise old man trapped in a toddlers body, our conversations have yet to be dull. Our play mainly requires imagination over sight, and no day has an agenda, just freedom to be led freely into the world of learning through play. His appetite is equal to Munch’s (bottomless), so his love of food keeps us permanent fixtures in the kitchen , and his chuckles reach every corner of the house as he shines his beautiful nature in every waking moment. Looking after him has been the best quality soul food any grandmother could wish for.
Looking after children when you are blind just means that we have to do things a little differently. Things such as keeping a conversation alive to be able to hear where the child is or listening to them playing toys to figure out their exact location keeps panic away. Listening for their footsteps or rustling of the material of their clothing you remember putting on them in the morning keeps your mind alert and the child safe. Keeping items in predicable places and using your feet as scanners and hands as detectives means you know your surroundings well enough to keep everyone safe. Teaching children to stay close from a young age can help with safe practice and encouraging them to run freely where safe let’s them figure out the benefits of boundaries. Whether sighted or blind, caring for children effectively needs fluidity, adaptability, and the dedication to be what the child needs you to be.
Being blind and having four children in six years meant life has never been stagnant. Most people around me never knew I couldn’t see as when you are born with limited vision, you just get on with life as an undercover agent and find sneaky ways of hiding it to fit in with the sighted world. Going to the same shops with the same layout allows you to blend in with sighted shoppers as you smell your way around the supermarket to get your childs lunchbox snacks. Combining secretly setting alarms on your phone whilst memorising how many hills and bends you have felt on the bus, should hopefully allow you to get off at the right stop at your child’s school. Dressing your children in different material clothes, with some wearing rubber soled trainers whilst others wear boots with zips, means that you can casually listen out for their unique footsteps as they zoom past you in the playground. You find your own way of blending into a society that is not your natural habitat but thrive in all the same.
So when I was asked if I could look after my grandson alone, I just smiled sweetly and answered “Yes of course. I brought up four children of my own”. When this puzzled older lady told me that she had lost her own children on numerous occasions when they were growing up whilst stating “and I can see”, I stiffled the swear words and answered “oh, you should have asked a blind parent how to do it properly”. I am unsure if her silence was to allow the penny to drop, or if she was trying her “if looks could kill” on me (which i couldn’t see anyway), but hopefully assumptions won’t always be her go to when she is talking to someone.
Honouring the ability in disability, is a lost art in the lives of many. Learning from others who live differently helps us to expand our often narrow sighted lives and can give us perspectives we have, which we never had the privilege of experiencing. A little more blind faith is something we could all benefit from in life.
We have reached our six month mark of being a two Guide Dog household. With two very different dogs on very different ends of every scale imaginable, I will forever be thankful that opposites attract.
As Stevie experiences his first six week summer break from school, Munch has been coaching him in the art of nothingness , which Stevie is slightly struggling with. A loveable lordly labradoodle lay about has been a regular sight in this house over the last eight years when we are off school, but it’s a new skill for Stevie to learn. Stevie finds difficulty in operating in an ‘ under 100 miles per hour’ manner throughout the day, every day. Our speedy Stevie outpaces all of the local dogs whilst out free running and has yet to lose a race in the Olympics he always believes he is competing in. The essence of a Golden Retriever needs to be bottled and made into energy supplements so that everyone can experience the oxytocin rush coursing through their veins daily.
Here are just a few highlights and lessons that I have l learnt from Stevie over the last 6 months .
A new friend a day keeps the blues away – Stevies mass of admirers are growing by the day. Who can resist Stevie’s golden retriever cheesy smile, which he loves to share with anything with or without a heartbeat. Munch has taken great pride in introducing him to the local two and four-legged friends he himself has made along the way.
Your job needs you as much as you need your job – Stevies purposes in life are varied. From Guide Dog, fun ignitor, secret pet therapy provider right through to proud weekend volunteer, Stevie is needed in many places. On harness, he has already been my constant freedom enabler, represented Guide Dogs on TV, attended speaking and fundraising events. Pretty impressive for six months of work, all taken into his long stride. If Stevie had become a pet instead of a Guide Dog, I don’t think he would have experienced so much tail wagging experiences that he has had to keep his welcomed social battery as full as it is.
Looks can be deceiving – Stevies puppy dog eyes will lead you to believe that he never puts a paw wrong. Let me leave you into a little secret. Over the last couple of months, Mobster Munch has recruited Stevie into a covert ball stealing operation during free runs. Many innocent pooches have had their round best friends snatched away by these ball thieves who have absolutely no remorse. All property is returned to the rightful owners after our well rehearsed interventions are carried out. Sweet and innocent ones like Stevie are the ones you have to watch!
Love is all you need – As Golden Retrievers are known for their increased love hormone Oxytocin, Steve shows off this trait with pride. His usual greeting to new people and dogs alike involves a body wag propelled by his helicopter tail, a drop to the ground and a rill onto his back ready for belly rubs. Subtlety not being the strongest of attributes in his life, Stevie is the guy to love you as you are. One of the blessings of having such love transmitting from him all the time is that i am always surrounded by love.
Silence is golden- Silent Stevie is just that. Silent. He has only barked twice since we have had him. Apart from the occasional quiet noise from him when he is chasing squirrels in his sleep, I never hear him. He is the opposite of our little real life, Chewbacca, who exists within Munch. Munch gives me a row if I stop and talk too long and barks at a particle passing the house, so having a dog that is quiet is a little different. He reminds me to be still in the moment and that sometimes less is more.
Playing is really undercover work- Mischief seeking in play may create grey hair for observers, but the participants are learning all about boundaries and new skills. Since being with us, Stevie currently has the social life of a butterfly. Each place he visits, he knows how to pick up “leave me alone” cues from other dogs right through to “let’s not get stuck in the same bush three times in a row” lessons that he is picking up on.
Mistakes are the foundations of chances – Harness work with Stevie has bern a work in progress kind of thing. On our matching walk when we first met, Stevie’s energy was palpable through the harness and lead , but as the time has gone on, he is becoming calmer and more focused. When hiccups in harness happen (he is only just gone 2), we work as a team on how to figure it out. He absorbed information like a sponge when he feels supported and loved when challenges arise.
Being of service enriches us deeply – The world is not about us alone. We are just one person in a world of billions. We need each other, and adventures are better with matched energy. Stevie’s heart grows bigger each and every day as he gets what he gives out on the world.
Time and growth are always the answers to any question – Life is not given to us for us to remain static and close ourselves off to opportunities. Without Stevie, I would not be able to continue through life reaching goals independently. As time ticks by, and Stevie slowly becomes a clone of Munch, I cherish each moment that these two path finders have dedicated to me selflessly.
Always leave your sparkle in the hearts and minds of others – Stevie’s spark for life and adventure is the first thing you see when you meet him. Along with his brother, they continue to be unapologetically them with each burst off sparkle they leave behind.
Some souls are put on this Earth to blend in subtly to their surroundings and remain humble whenever they go. Camouflaging into the crowd, they seek no special treatment, and allow people respectful personal space. Not one to cause a social stir, their idea of a nightmare would to be the centre of attention. These innate introverts often bump into their polar opposite reflections on their steady saunter through life. If you are looking for calmness, subtly, and introversion , a golden retriever will not be the place to find it. You may seek, but find you will not.
Stevie has now been in my life for nearly six months, but feels much more. Having pole vaulting from life with an entitled regal labradoodle, to life with an eager to please, over friendly golden retriever, blending in is still a distant dream. I recall my decade younger version of myself, naively believing that I would only apply for a guide dog if they would subtly blend in with my life without anyone noticing too much. The universe, however, had other ideas when it matched me with the two biggest attention grabbers that have existed, Wheras Munch is a little more reserved expecting people to perform to earn his attention, Stevie is led by his oxytocin filled love centre of a body to become best friends with anything with a heart beat. Two very different dogs at different parts of the subtle scale
When visiting my father a few times in hospital over the last couple of weeks, Stevie strutted into the hospital, fully aware that this was a place for him to shine. Fanning his glamorous tail like a peacock, our walk from car park to bedside attracted his desired attention. Wafting through the surround sound of “ooh’s and aah’s’ along the way motivated this little showman to trot along like the celebrity that he thinks he is. The Stevie show increased in intensity when we arrived on the ward at visiting time but had to wait a few minutes to see my father as he had a staff member with him. To Stevie’s delight, a number of staff came over to meet him and stroke his ego along with his silky golden fur, which made him one happy boy.
We had the double bonus of having my sweet 2 year old grandson with me who everyone fell in love with too, so slipping into the ward quietly was never going to happen. As if by magical, some biscuits appeared for my grandson and a bowl of cold water for Stevie. Stevie’s telepathic abilities were on top form that night too, when he manifested an offer of beef from a kind member of staff who wanted to share her lunch with him. With two full bellies , we were finally able to reach our destination of seeing my father. Going somewhere unnoticed is impossible in a place full of dog lovers, with dogs who love to be loved.
Hearing the joy of seeing Stevie and my grandson in the voices in the people around me makes the desire to blend in fade away. When stuck in hospital bored and alone, there is nothing better than seeing a dog practically gallop into the ward to spread their love for all to share. I was told that there were a lot of smiles from patients and staff around us when they saw my grandson and Stevie bringing the love from the outside world into those isolated inside and that is such a beautiful thing to know.
As time goes by, many Munch like qualities are beginning to appear in Stevie. I have a sneaky feeling Munch is secretly coaching Stevie into becoming my owner just like he has become over the last 8 years.
Deja vu seems to be my new constant with these two special souls, and I am loving every moment of it
Looking at this adorable pair of Guide Dogs, many would have a surprise knowing that they will have needed an average of £110,000 to fund their working lives. From breeding, training, and supporting the dogs, the Guide Dog Charity estimates that each dog costs £55,000. We, as Guide Dog partners, are forever grateful that we are paired with these dogs at no cost to ourselves.
At a recent fundraising event, where the local Fire Station held a car wash to raise funds for Guide Dogs and the Firefighters Charity, we raised £257 for each charity This was enough for Guide Dogs to fund 9 Guide Dog harnesses for future Guide Dog partnerships. Without the kindness of the public donating at events like this, future Munch and Stevies simply wouldn’t have the financial backing to become members of the four pawed life changing posse known as Guide Dogs.
Showing up to support fundraising events like this is, for me, a bare minimum of what I should be doing to give back to the charity that emlnables my current life. For me, volunteering and raising money for charity has been a big part of my life since I was young. My first time in helping to raise money for charity was back in the 1980s when I was 9, and I wanted to set up a bring and buy sale for the Blue Peter appeal. In all honesty, it was my poor parents that did most of the organising, from putting an advert in the local.paper, booking a place organising coffee/tea/cake stalls and all that was needed, but I remember happily drawing and colouring posters to put around the village (despite not being able to see to colour or draw tidly) . On the day, I remember having that buzz in the local village hall , knowing that all the people there were there to raise money for a good cause.
From then to today, I have done a lot of different things in between. Providing support in a mental health centre, volunteering with children and families, and organising many events has enriched my life in so many ways. Being of service to others and expecting nothing in return, is something that we need more of in this world.
Research tells us that there are many benefits to volunteering your time and energy into something that you feel passionately about. From improved mental and physical health, building a new skill base, and gaining a sense of hope and achievement, volunteering can enrich your life as much as it does for the cause. Building a whole new social network with the people you meet can bring about lifelong friends and take you along unexplored paths.
I have worked in a variety of mental health services for 30 years with people from a wide range of ages, cultures, and backgrounds. One omnipresent factor I have noticed in my time in mental health is that volunteers make up only a small percentage of people accessing services. Volunteering can vastly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression and enhance self-esteem and confidence in individuals. Finding a new purpose in life can help individuals put their own problems on pause and help shift their focus outside of themselves and into the world.
If we choose to remain in our “me” bubble where we focus all of the attention on our thoughts,feelings, needs, and wants 100% of the time, then becoming overwhelmed is a given. Choosing to step into the “we” bubble in the world when we realise our thoughts, feelings, needs, and wants are not unique to us, but a shared experience by millions of others, we begin to live a different way.
Our own seemingly unique story, is a story that has been lived by many before us and will be lived by many after us. Developing a world view that shapes a framework for life is far healthier than believing that you are the only person to have ever experienced what you have gone through. Finding comfort and companionship in people fighting for the same cause and change as us can help encourage us to help shape the change we want in the world. We turn from powerless to powerful in the blink of an eye.
Volunteering with Guide Dogs has allowed me to meet many four-legged friends (who doesn’t love a bit of dog therapy), new friends for life with other volunteers and members of the public who I would never have started conversation with.
If you ever feel stuck in a rut with the monotony of life, give volunteering a go. The “we” bubble of life is awaiting your arrival.
thesecretblind 