PAWS FOR THOUGHT

Holiday preparations

2012-01-20T17:25:00.005Z

In my first post of 2012, I think I briefly mentioned that I'm going on holiday with my family in February. We're all going to Thailand to meet my brother and his girlfriend, and to celebrate his 30th birthday since he won't be home for it. It was all very unexpected and unplanned. To cut a long story short, its a chance to spend quality family time together, which we don't often get to do, and lifes too short not to. We just happen to be going somewhere amazing and warm to do it!

Dog owners will understand when I say its not always straightforward to go on holiday and leave the dog. Putting a guide dog in kennels is an option for some people but not for me. Apart from at the vet, when he was probably too sick to care, O J hasn't been in kennels since I began training with him in Cork almost four and a half years ago. He has a passport but I'd never even consider bringing him to Thailand as its too long of a flight, it would be too hot for him and I don't want him getting any Asian animal diseases! Anyway, I'll have three nephews to keep me busy!
I've never found a suitable place to leave O J when I'm on holiday. The place I used to leave him was fine. He was kept with Dougal inside and walked regularly, but he was fed too regularly too, which really annoyed me. The people were so good to him and felt that he should be spoilled when I was away, not really realising how that could affect his work when I got home.
The guide dog organisation in the UK has boarders who volunteer to look after guide dogs. They know what to do and what not, and its a fantastic idea if you ask me. I would love to be a dog boarder if they ever did something like that here.
No such thing exists here, and all the dog lovers I know already have dogs of their own and couldn't watch O J, even though they'd love to.
I found a good solution that I'm very happy with. My aunt has agreed to watch O J in her house, and walk him the days she isn't working. My cousin is using my house to study and she will keep O J company there when my aunt is working. That way he gets the best of both worlds, walked and company every day, but he gets to spend a bit of time in our house as well. Hopefully the fact that I'm not there every time he goes home won't confuse him too much. He knows my aunt and she knows how we work together. My cousin is willing to learn. At least I'll be able to text them if I want to know how he is behaving himself.

So one dog's sorted, what about the other?
Dougal will have to go to kennels, but he's very independent and not really bothered about people so I think it suits him fine. I've looked at a few and while they all had pros and cons, I'm going with one I visited today that the dog groomer recommended. The family are respected animal people, and the kennel owners are successful show dog participants. They run a small kennel in a quiet area, and although the actual main kennel building didn't smell the nicest, the kennels themselves were spotless. She feeds her dogs what I feed Dougal so I don't have to bring food, making them the best value kennels that I've found.

So as you can see, I'm very fussy about my dogs! Hopefully they will enjoy their holiday as much as I will enjoy mine, providing the waves stay small of course :D

Guest Post: Guide Dog Awareness

2012-01-12T23:16:00.002Z

Hopefully you'll be glad to know that the monthly guest posts are still happening in 2012. The first one of the year comes from Allison, who is raising her fifth guide dog puppy. Check out her post and find out more by visiting
her blog.

Thank you so much to Jenny, for letting us be a guest blogger!Most of you guys have seen (or heard of) a guide/service dog. Some of you may have family
members or friends that use a guide/service dog. But do any of you know the extensive training that goes into those wonderful animals?
I do because I help raise & train them.I open my home up to a cute little 9 week old pup (from
Southeastern Guide Dogs
), and for the following year, I will raise & train the dog, having him/her with me 24/7. Making sure to keep in the back of my mind, that once the time
is up... the dog will head back for "further" training, and then hopefully be placed as a guide/service dog. Which means, this dog was never mine in the
first place - I'm just someone in it's life, that will put an imprint on his/her heart and help it get on the long road, to hopefully becoming a guide
dog. Our blog (okay...
Brandon's blog
) is about the life of a guide dog in training. If you decide to follow his blog, not only will you be following "a guide dog puppy's adventure" you will
be following a blog that explains and shows the extensive training put into these wonderful dogs and the amazing outcome once they go back. Though Brandon
is still quite young, training does start early, so Brandon already has most of the basic commands "under his belt" (sit/down/stand/stay/come/etc) he
will soon start using & learning the basic guide dog commands (find the door/switch/heel/forward) and much more. To mix things up a little, I have also
started teaching Brandon "ASL commands". Brandon adores learning sign language, and he soon will be doing ASL just as well as a regular command! Brandon
does go everywhere with me (shopping/church/meetings/college/etc) and he really enjoys working. We also attend monthly guide dog meetings, where other
dogs in the group are also in training to be guide dogs.Brandon is a 4 month old male yellow lab. His favorite chew toys are nylabones... and boy does
he like to listen to the sound of them being dropped on hard surfaces! Brandon really enjoys going on walks, and is already doing a great job at maintaining
a "loose leash". Brandon is the 5th guide dog puppy I've raised for
Southeastern Guide Dogs
, and though it's a roller coaster ride, I truly enjoy every second with these puppies! Questions are always welcome over at our blog, some people may ask
training questions - others wonder about certain "guide dog rules" we follow, either way, we really enjoy answering them all!If you are interested in the
training that goes into these pups, feel free to stop by
Brandon's blog
, we always enjoy new visitors!

2011 was great, bring on 2012!

2012-01-03T13:00:00.001Z

Christmas and new year was so good and so busy that I didn't have time to even think about writing here. Instead of reflecting on 2011, I thought I'd post this instead. Some questions have been thrown in to make it all more relevant to me.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Moved to my own house and borrowed my first ever bank loan.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, and no.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My granny. I miss her every day.

5. What countries did you visit?
England.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More new music. Everything else can keep going the way it is.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
26th October, the day i moved house.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving house, though there were other important ones too.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing my external hard-drive with lots of music and things that I really wanted to keep. Epic fail!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thankfully.

11. What was the most spontaneous thing you bought?
A Paul Simon ticket. Something I'll never buy again but totally worth it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Nicky's for winning Glor Tire 2011.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Everybody in the Irish government.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On house things.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Showing people my house when it was finished.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Probably 'pumped up kicks' by Foster the People. Not my favourite song of the year but it will remind me of it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? thinner or fatter? richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner, poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Went to more gigs, but i always wish that!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried about stuff that wasn't that important really.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In my sisters. Was woken at 5 by my nephews, had pancake breakfast with family and aunts, opened lots of presents and had a lovely dinner.

21. How did you spend new year's eve?
With family and boyfriend (now there's a word you don't see written around here much!) at a party in my aunt's house. Had an amazing night, and an amazing weeke in general.

22. What made you very proud?
Watching my mum coming home to a surprise party that she had absolutely no idea about.

23. What was your favourite gig?
The Mic Christopher tribute gig in Vicar Street.

24. Musical disappointment?
REM splitting up.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Decemberists, even though they aren't a new band, I'm a bit slow!

26. What did you want and get?
My house.

27. What did you want and not get?
Funding for my job and for a radio project.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
None stand out.

29. Greatest guide dog related moment?
OJ's quick recovery from an operation in September.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Walked to my new house for the first time with OJ the guide dog. Had dinner with my sister and cousin. I was 25.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing really. Lots of unexpected but great things happened.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Cheap but stylish clothes from Penneys!

33. What kept you sane?
Music, family, brilliant friends.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The London riots. Sickening.

36. Who did you miss?
My brother in Afghanistan, and my granny.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Didn't really meet any new people, but in a way it feels like i did.

38. What one event in 2012 are you looking forward to?
Being in thailand with my whole family.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011?
Talk about stuff instead of worrying about it. You might be surprised what a difference it can make.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
As Jamie Lawson would say,
"I wasn't expecting that"

Happy new year from me and OJ. I hope 2012 is a great one!

A happy Christmas indeed!

2011-12-23T00:43:00.005Z

One more sleep to go until the big man with the beard comes down the chimney. Oh know, he won't get down my chimney, what am I going to do? :)

I got my holidays from work on Wednesday and they got off to a great start when the boss randomly let me go home 3 hours early. The evening was made even better when
Nicky
won Glor Tire 2011! I watched it with my very excited mum, sister and a family friend, and it was great fun. I'm not just saying it because I know him, but he was definitely the deserving winner. Hopefully lots of good things will come out of this for him, and he deserves them all. The first good thing is that at least we know we've one good singer among us for my aunt's new year's eve party!

I spent yesterday wrapping presents and tidying my house. I went to my Granny's grave with my mum, which is still a difficult thing to do. We will miss her so much this Christmas, but I know she will want us all to enjoy it, and will be happy to know that our family have great things to look forward to in the new year. She was somebody who always encouraged us to make the most of life and do whatever made us happy. That's something I try to do anyway, but will do it even more now, with her in mind of course.

My parents, cousins and a friend came to visit last night and for a couple of hours the house was busy. Someone left the door to the spare room opened, and when we were all distracted OJ crept in. I found him with his head stuck in the bag of his new dog food! Obviously the food change is going well and he likes it.
My house presents are all becoming very festive now. The place is looking very Christmasy. Its still sometimes hard to believe that I actually live here. I'm looking forward to showing some people the house for the first time over the holidays.

I'll be spending today and tomorrow with family and friends, doing last minute present and food shopping, and hopefully walking both dogs on the beach because its been so long since I've done that.

I want to wish everybody who reads here a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thanks for all your comments and help with random questions I've asked during the year. You've all made keeping a blog still feel like a worthwhile thing to do. So from me and OJ, have the best Christmas ever!

Operation Christmas is underway!

2011-12-11T17:26:00.006Z

I love Christmas, but this year I've been getting excited about it much earlier than usual. The excitement all started on 1st Dec, when I got a phone call to tell me that I had a Bruce Springsteen ticket for one of his gigs next July. I quickly found the Christmas CD with 'santa clause is comin to town' and played it down the phone, to the amusement of the lovely person on the other end who sorted out the ticket :D
I haven't listened to much Christmas music since, but hearing it on the radio this early isn't bothering me like it usually would.

I have about half of my shopping done, thanks to Amazon and my sister's help. I'm a bit stuck with the rest because I don't know what to get. Actually, does anybody have any good ideas for funny novelty gifts for secret santa in work? All suggestions appreciated.

We had a work party last Thrursday which went well. OJ got lots of attention, and even insisted on coming when I was dragged out to dance near the end of the night. The Americans at our table weren't leaving the hotel until they got photos of him! We have a staff night out on Friday but he'll be staying with my parents. This one will be a lot more fun but there will be a lot of madness involved!

I went to watch Arthur Christmas in the cinema with my nephews yesterday. Nothing like a festive film to get you in the mood. On our way home, the brother in law did the food shopping while my sister and I hunted for a tree in Sainsburys. I got one half price, 6ft with lights already on it for 25 quid. Not bad! The boys came down to decorate it this morning and it looks good, or so I'm told. Harry, who is just eighteen months has started cursing. Every time he dropped a decoration, the F word was said. The family get more annoyed at me than him because I laugh every time, but I can't help it!

O.J is getting an early Christmas surprise. Now that he's five, (closer to six actually), his dog food should be changed from adult Royal Canin to "mature." I know, its rediculous. This dog's brain hasn't matured much at all, which is maybe why I forgot to change his food when he turned five in March. I'm mixing it gradually into his own food, adding more and more every couple of days so that in about a weeks time he should be eating the new food. The kibble is smaller and more oily, but smells similar, just encase you were interested! The only change I have to worry about is what comes out after, but so far so good. I've never had to change his food since I got him, so its something I wasn't looking forward too. Hopefully things stay like they are now and I'll have a happy dog, who will have a happy owner, and we'll both have a happy Christmas!

Guest Post: Bisket Baskets

2011-12-05T15:47:00.002Z

A few weeks ago I got an email from Helen from
Biscuit Baskets,
who found my blog and offered to write a guest post. She suggested a number of topics, and I thought since its December, and most of my blog readers are probably freezing, the following post would be topical. Thanks Helen!

Warming Up With Winter Dog Care Tips

Hi there – this is Helen from
BisketBaskets.com,
and we’re so excited to be guest posting here today! We’re lucky enough to be celebrating 13 years in business, and we got our start actually creating pet gift baskets for dogs and cats, and branched out to meal gift baskets for their owners, too. We’re based in Parker, Colorado, and have several dogs of our own, as well as having rescued dogs in our local area. The summertime is beautiful here, but the winter is quite cold and chilly, especially for our canine family members! We’re here to share our own winter dog care tips with you and your dog to make the wintertime a happy one.

• Don’t leave your dog in the car – even in the winter. We all should know by now that leaving your dog in a hot car in the summertime is an n-o, but the same goes for the winter. Your dog could inhale dangerous fumes if the car is left running, or unknowingly lick up chemicals that spilled on your car’s floor. Plus, it’s chilly out there – your dog gets cold, too!

• Take care when walking near frozen lakes and ponds. Ice can be deceptive – that lake may look frozen and perfect for your dog to play on, but the ice may be thin or have cracks in it. If you do feel the ice is safe enough to venture out on, put your dog on a leash and walk with your dog. Otherwise, save the rivers and ponds for the springtime!

• Dry your dog after a bath or playing in the snow. Use a towel or blow dryer to dry your dog’s coat after he or she gets a bath or comes in soaking wet from playing outside. Just be sure to keep the blow dryer several inches away from your dog’s coat so you don’t accidentally burn him or her.

• Keep an eye on your dog when he or she is outside. Frostbite isn’t just for humans! Limit your dog’s outside time, as snow can build up inside your dog’s paws, with frostbite potentially occurring on your dog’s ears, tail, and feet.

• Holiday decorations and dogs just don’t mix. Holiday-themed plants, like holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia, can actually be dangerous to your dog. Keep them out of your dog’s reach. Same with Christmas decorations (like tinsel), holiday chocolate and candies, electrical cords, and small holiday gifts.

• Grooming isn’t just for the summertime. A groomed dog is a well-insulated dog. Snow can build-up within fur inside your dog’s toes and foot pads, so keep your dog’s fur trimmed to minimize this painful feeling for your dog, and to make snow removal easier for you!

• Use pet-friendly rock salt. It gets icy out there, and many of us sprinkle rock salt on our steps and sidewalks during the winter time. Regular rock salt can upset your dog’s stomach, so choose the pet-friendly kind. Many manufacturers denote on the bag whether it’s pet-friendly or not.

Feel free to share your own winter dog care tips by leaving a comment on this post! Our dogs are part of our family here at BisketBaskets.com, and we do all we can to ensure they live long, healthy and happy lives. We hope you and Fido have a wonderful winter season!

Mic Christopher Anniversary

2011-11-30T22:30:00.000Z

Last night was the tenth anniversary gig for Mic Christopher, a musician I adore but never had the pleasure to meet or here live. His former band The Mary Janes, along with The Frames led a musical tribute in his honour in Vicar Street. Mic passed away tragically in Holland while on tour with the Waterboys, one of his favourite bands. He left behind some great music, including his solo album 'skylarkin', which was completed by his friends and released nine years ago on his first anniversary. Its one of the most beautiful Irish albums ever made.

A review of the four and a half hour gig (in aid of the Irish fragile x society ) wouldn't do it any justice, so to sum it up, it was magical! Musicians and friends celebrating the life of their friend and hero, someone they respected and admired, and who will be fondly remembered. It was great to learn a lot more about Mic's life and personality through the stories from his friends and his dad. It was an emotional night, which everybody involved should be so proud of. Mic would have been very proud too.

Set List:

Party Game (The Mary Janes) – Glen and MJs
Sham (The Mary Janes) – Eoin Glackin and MJs
Bored of Their Laughing (The Mary Janes) – Philip Marshall and MJs
Cut Me Loose (The Mary Janes) – Matthew Devereux and MJs
Listen Girl (Mic Christopher) – Matthew Devereux and Glen
I’ve Got Your Back (Mic Christopher) – The Frames and Conall Coleman
Traditional Jigs – Colm Mac Con Iomaire + 2 Others [Concertina and Uillean Pipes]
Pete Courtney and MJs
Eoin Dillon
Everything is Going to be Alright (poem) + John The Baptist (John Martyn) – Scullion with Colm and Dave
Eyelids Into Snow (Sonny Condell) – Scullion with Colm and Dave
I Need You (The Beatles) – Mark Geary and The Frames
This is the Sea (The Waterboys) – Mike Scott and The Frames
Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) – Mike Scott and The Frames
Peter Murphy
Ken O’Neill (Hey Day Festival contest winner)
[Don't know First name] Roche and her Son
Kids Song (Mic Christopher) – Interference, Mundy, The Frames, Levi + Isaac O’Sullivan and Annie Smith Short
Breaking Out (Interference) – Interference, Mundy and The Frames
Gold (Interference) – Interference and The Frames
Centurian (The Mary Janes) – Claire Nicolson
What a Curious Notion (Mic Christopher) – Nina Hynes
Who Knows Where Time Goes – Miriam Ingram
Hard Station (Paul Brady) – Paul Brady
Arthur McBride (Traditional) – Paul Brady
Poem – ‘He’s a true one fardadadididdle, He’s A True one and I tell you…’
Winesong (The Mary Janes) – Mundy and MJs
Lyin’ Down – Mundy and MJs
Part of Me (The Mary Janes) – Tony Fitz and MJs
Bones (The Mary Janes) – Aimee Christopher, Glen and MJs
The Story of an Artist (Daniel Johnston) – Jerry Fish
True Friends (Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club) – Jerry Fish
And The Healing Has Begun (Van Morrison) – Acko, Swanny and The Frames
The One I Love (REM) – Canice Kenealy and The Frames
Friends (The Mary Janes) – Paddy Casey, The Frames and MJs
Heyday (Mic Christopher) – The Coronas and everyone else
Skylarkin’ (Mic Christopher) – The Frames and Matthew Devereux
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan) – The Frames, Matt Devereux, Noreen O’Donnell, Acko, Levi + Isaac O’Sullivan and Annie Smith Short, Someone From Crowd
Forever Young (Bob Dylan) – Liam O Maonlai and everyone else
Wooden Heart (Elvis Presley) – Harry Christopher and The Frames
Suspicious Minds (Elvis Presley) – Harry Christopher and The Frames

As I watched the gig,
this
kept coming into my head. I've read it so many times but its still so beautiful.

Glor Tire

2011-11-27T15:58:00.005Z

If you've been reading here for a while you might remember hearing about Nicky Kealy.
Last year he wrote a great
guest post
about working with his first guide dog Richie, and I wrote about going to his
birthday
celebrations in Carlow in May.
He's been on TV a bit recently, and you might be able to keep him on it a bit longer if you keep reading, then if you live in Ireland or the UK and vote for him.

Glor Tire is a country and western music competition currently running on TG4. Nicky is one of nine singers participating. Wednesday is the beginning of the ilimination process, where two contestants leave the show each week, leaving three competing for the title of Glor Tire in the grand final.

You can watch the show at 10 30 PM on Wednesday on TG4. You can help to keep Nicky in the competition by texting glor7 to 53307 in Ireland or, glor7 to 81108 if your in Northern Ireland or the UK. Text any time and as often as you like, until he wins!

Writing for the sake of writing

2011-11-13T21:39:00.004Z

My enthusiasm for bloggings sort of died recently. I thought I might as well mention a few things i've been doing and thinking about during the last week. Usually when I write an unplanned post like this, it tturns out long and all over the place, so be prepared!

This is my first blog from my new house, since my friends set up the internet last night. We had another great night here, (its turning into a Saturday night drinking tradition at this stage.) The house has been busy all week with visitors. I've been paying the last few debts, before I get into the regularity of bills and boring stuff every month. O J is working really well around the area, even though the road is scarily busy at times. Its great to be reminded of the freedom a guide dog brings, when you learn a new route and watch the dog becoming more confident with it each time. Its very easy to lift the dog's harness handle each day and take the work that it does for granted. Dog's need to be challenged just like we do, so I'd advise anyone to teach their dog a new route once in a while to keep both your interests and appreciation for each other up.

I've decided to take a break from doing shows at the radio station for a while, and my last show was broadcast this evening. I'm honestly not enjoying being there at the moment, and when that happens and your doing voluntary work - something that's supposed to be fun then its time to go. Hopefully I'll be back in Spring of next year, broadcasting live with the appropriate technology, and the enthusiasm for radio that I usually have.
I'm not doing anything dog training related at the moment. The course I was considering studying in January won't happen for financial reasons. I'm listening to a great audiobook called 'the loved dog', which I'm really enjoying, and I think I'll have to stick to books for another while. Any recommendations would be really appreciated, in audio or braille formats of course!
Its frustrating when your interested in things but seem to be getting nowhere with them. That's sort of how I feel at the minute but I know I will return to radio and dog training more seriously when the time is right.

Speaking of books, I started reading 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' today while making dinner, and am probably 2 thirds the way through because its great fun!
'The Hunger Games' will be my next book I think, though I've no idea what to expect from it. I got David Blunket's autobiography from the braille library even though I don't remember ordering it.

I got a house phone in last week and two hours later my mobile died. I saw it coming for ages but refused to do anything about it. I'm using a brick of an old phone now, but it has lots of entertaining photos and sound clips on it so a few people are very happy that it has been ressorected. I've no real interest in Iphones but wonder if it would be my most sensible option to buy.

This week is going to be a busy one, with meetings tomorrow, a couple of busy days in work and celebrating (or lamenting) the fact that my nephew is thirteen on Thursday. That makes me feel ancient! It will be nice to make it to the weekend, when I can escape Donegal and the madness for a few days.

Guest Post: Plays With Puppies!

2011-11-02T12:00:00.001Z

I'm delighted that this month's guest post is from Patti, author of the excellent, entertaining, educational and resourceful blog
Plays With Puppies.
Thanks for the great post!

I am honored to write as a “guest blogger” on Jenny’s blog. In keeping with the flavor of my own blog, plays with puppies, I decided to offer a glimpse
of “a day in the life” of a puppy-raiser. Or, “what I went through so my puppy would behave at a Lions Club meeting.”

I am currently raising my 4th puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind, a black Lab/Golden mix my husband named “Scout” (after the narrator from To Kill a Mockingbird).
Future Leader Dog (FLD) Scout is about 3 ½ months old and like all my other FLD puppies, she is a sweetie-pie.

However, as you will read, sometimes raising a puppy, even a sweetie-pie, can be a challenge!

In the end, the effort is always worth the trouble. FLD Scout learned a lesson, my patience and persistence were reinforced, and together we were able to
express our gratitude to those who so generously support the mission of enhancing the lives of the blind and visually impaired.

HERE’S MY POST:

Rain. It started the night before and continued all day. Hard to get the puppy out for exercise, but I needed a “good” puppy that evening. If I’ve said
it once, I’ve said it a thousand times—A Tired Puppy is a Good Puppy.

Future Leader Dog (FLD) Scout and I were giving a presentation about Leader Dogs for the Blind that evening to a Lions Club “zone” meeting—a gathering of
local Lions Clubs. And Scout was acting like it was a full moon, even though it was almost new.

The corner of the blue dog bed in the living room that she’d been “suckling” now had a small hole in it, just enough for her to pluck out a bit of stuffing.
She’d become fascinated with all the computer cords under Andy’s desk. Although she wasn’t getting up on the couch anymore, she could still sometimes reach
the pillows.

I don’t wonder anymore how my mother always knew I was in to something, even though she was in the other room and I thought I was being quiet. Raising a
puppy means that sometimes you just can’t get anything else done.

So. Taking a long walk wasn’t attractive on this wet and windy day. I opted for obedience work inside. A couple of 15-20 minute sessions with Scout on-leash
practicing loose-leash heeling, stairs, sits, downs, stays, and come should have done it. Nope.

At about 3:30 in the afternoon, I braved the cold wet woods in an effort to really tire out my puppy. Base layers under rain gear topped with my Tilly hat
and we were off. An hour and a half and maybe only two miles later, drenched and finally tuckered out, we were home.

Andy was ready to send out a search party. He said, “You left and it was raining hard. Then it rained harder.”

“Miss Scout and I had a significant event,” I said.

I don’t know if she didn’t want to go back into the woods (the day before Andy and I took the dogs for a long, leisurely hike), or if she didn’t like the
rain (it never bothered her before), or if she just wasn’t interested in behaving, but most of the time I was either walking backwards or standing still
as Scout flailed against the leash and argued, sometimes flamboyantly. I thought our little noisemaker had learned to shut it off, but I was wrong. Squeals,
whines, barks, moans, howls—more than once I wondered if our pack of coyotes would appear to investigate!

It didn’t matter that we turned around to go home; Scout was just as unhappy. Somehow, I stayed calm and collected until FINALLY, up our last hill home,
Scout settled into an easy heel, leash loose at my side. Yay! Good puppy!

Once inside and dried off (somewhat), Scout waddled over to her mat and curled up with heavy eyelids.

Mission accomplished.

LATER

It was still raining when we arrived for the Lions meeting, but FLD Scout “parked” and trotted comfortably next to me into the hotel and through the halls
to the conference room. She amazed everyone, and me too, when she greeted each Lion calmly enough to be petted.

I shared my experiences as a volunteer puppy-raiser and fielded thoughtful questions from the group. During my half-hour talk, FLD Scout settled in at my
side (after whimpering a few times under her breath).

“That’s her pouting stance,” I said as she sprawled out on the floor with her chin between her paws.

It was great to have a chance to thank the Lions Club members for their strong support of Leader Dogs for the Blind. FLD Scout and I will have another opportunity
soon—members of the Hale Lions Club took my contact information.

I only hope it isn’t on a rainy day!

LINKS

To learn more about the Lions Clubs and Leader Dogs for the Blind, visit this page:
http://www.leaderdog.org/lions/history.php

Here is a link to my blog post about “A Tired Puppy is a Good Puppy”:
http://playswithpuppies.blogspot.com/2010/04/tip-for-tuesday-tired-puppy-is-good.html.

To hear my little noise-maker when she first came home with us, visit my blog post here:
http://playswithpuppies.blogspot.com/2011/09/tuesdays-training-tip-be-quiet.html.

If you are interested in what a “Tilly hat” is, check out this website:
http://www.tilley.com/The-T2-Cotton-Duck-Hat.aspx.

Settling in

2011-10-30T21:50:00.005Z

I've only been living in my house for four days, but already I can say that moving there was one of the best things I have ever done! I'm staying at home tonight to use the internet and keep my mum company since my dad is in Kentucky, and I miss the place already.

I spent Wednesday evening bringing boxes to the house, cleaning and deciding where to put things. My family and cousin helped, and even the builder called in for tea when he saw that the lights were still on at half ten. An hour later I went down to collect O J and we spent our first night there. I didn't feel lonely or it didn't feel strange. O J's bed is under the stairs and he slept there with no problems. He did creep upstairs to my room at one stage to see what was up there, but when he had a good look around, I told him to go back to bed because I don't want him coming up there.

On Thursday morning my table and chairs were delivered, and the sofa came later. Before that, my aunt came in to find me walking around with a bowl of cereal in my hand, and then I went and sat on the stairs. The blinds were fitted and my mum helped me to do a big shop for food and cleaning things. I was so busy that I completely forgot to vote in the presidential election. I had no real preference anyway, but well done to Michael D! A few friends came out that night and helped me to put things away and showed me how to work the dishwasher. The next door neighbour also called in with a box of biscuits and we had tea. She gave me her number encase I ever need it. I thought I would have to call her the following night, when my hair drier set off the very loud fire alarm at 12 A.M. Thankfully it stopped after a minute. I just have to remember to dry my hair in the kitchen anymore!

I had my first house warming gathering on Saturday night. I wouldn't call it a big party since there were only eight of us, but it went well. We had intended going to town to a Halloween fancy dress gig but ended up all dressing up but just staying in the house. I haven't got my TV up yet so Cheryl spent the night making up games and it was great fun. Nights without TV can be very interesting, and I wouldn't miss one if I didn't have it. It was great to have friends around and be able to entertain and feed them, even if it was only pizza and nibbles. The girls gave me some lovely presents too, in fact I got some very thoughtful things during the week that I really appreciate.

O J has settled in very quickly. He hasn't done much work since we moved but I know he will get back into it very quickly. He refused to use the run for the first two days but is fine with it now. He is also happy enough to stay in the house alone, which is great for me. The main reason I can tell that he has settled in well is that he already barks when people come to the door, meaning he is protecting what he considers to be his own territory already!

I'm so glad I have this week off work to spend time sorting things in the house. There are still lots of people who haven't seen it yet, and there are still some minor things that the builder and electrician have to fix. So far so good though, and I won't be moving back home any time soon!

On The Move!

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

People told me that building a house would be one of the most stressful things I will ever do, and I hope they are right. It is a lot of work, and in particular, the last month has been crazy!
Finally, after almost ten months of building and rennovating, my house is ready, and I will be moving in later today. All the hard work, time and energy was worth it, because I love the house!

Working with builders, plumbers, electricians, and all the people involved in putting a house together isn't easy. The plan on paper and in your head often turns out a little bit different in reality. Things go wrong and mistakes are made, which can result in things being much more expensive than they should. I had the advantage of rennovating an existing house, so I was able to see the progress and the changes more clearly. This is an ideal situation for a blind person who is building, because at least you don't have to imagine what plans will be like from a non-existing building.Thankfully the end result is a house that I am delighted with, and am really looking forward to showing relations and friends during my week off.

I spent the weekend sorting out clothes, cds and junk. I found things in my room that I completely forgot I owned! It will take a few weeks to actually move everything, but the necessities will do for now. I have started packing boxes and a friend helped to bring some down on Monday evening. Last night my mum, her friend and two of my aunts helped us to clean the house. It was so dusty after the builders had finished. By the time I get home from work today, my bedroom furniture and carpet should be in. OJ and I will have our last official dinner in my house (of course there'll be lots more as we will be visiting often!) Then we'll bring down some more things and I will spend my first night there. I'm so excited! The house isn't completely finished yet. There are no tables or chairs at all, and nothing in the spare rooms. As long as I have a bed, water and electricity I'll be fine.

I know that I am extremely lucky to own my own house already. It is something I have always wanted to do. It wouldn't be possible without my family, particularly my parents who have been more helpful than I could ever have imagined. Moving house also wouldn't be an option if I didn't have a guide dog. I lived away from home for three years when I studied at college, but I didn't have the independence, security and fredom that OJ gives me.I know the road crossing outside my house is busy and dangerous, and I will have problems getting around for a while, but the National Council for the Blind and Irish guide dogs are working to improve this. I know that it will eventually be sorted out and OJ will find his way around safely and confidently. Apart from that, he will be a good companion, and I don't mind living alone at all if I have a dog for company.

I will be internetless until next Wednesday when I get my phone line put in. This time next week I'll post my first week update.

O J Rocks!

2011-10-13T23:08:00.008+01:00

O J did possibly one of his best day's work for me yesterday, something that only took him four years to achieve, but something that makes me think he's cool.
He came to his first ever Frames related gig with me, Glen Hansard's gig at
An Grianan Theatre
in Letterkenny. I think it goes without saying that Glen is my favourite singer/songwriter, so being able to bring O J along with me, without him freaking out because the gig was too loud was great! The theatre is my favourite venue to see Glen play solo. Not only because he always seems to enjoy being there, but because the theatre itself is well run, the sound is excellent and the staff are really helpful.

I went straight to the theatre after a busy day in work, to have a chat with Mark Geary for my radio show, (due to techy problems the interview won't be broadcast until next Sunday 23rd.) Mark played with Glen during his first solo gig in Letterkenny in January 2003, so it was nice to have them both playing there again after eight and a half years. I was nervous for about two minutes, when I realised I was being rediculous. Mark is always friendly and easy to talk to, and I really appreciate the time he took to come and chat. Of course OJ insisted on being petted too, and got his own way as usual! :)
During our chat I could hear Glen soundchecking upstairs, and started to wonder if bringing O J was going to be a bad idea!

The gig itself was very intense, almost three hours long with a set list of about thirty songs. Glen's voice sounds even more mature, and a late night the night before didn't stop him choosing to sing some of the more difficult songs, with help from the audience when he couldn't hit some of the high notes. It will be interesting to hear how the new material sounds when it is recorded, as there are clearly many new things influencing his music at the moment. I know some people view Glen as a performer who doesn't change much - he knows how to connect with an audience and keep their attention so songs can often sound the same, but for me, there is always something different and something new every time I see him pplay, and that must be the thing that keeps me going to gigs over and over again, and coming out almost three hours later wondering when the next one will be.

O J was brilliant, and lay under the seat quietly most of the time, apart from getting up for a couple of stretches towards the end. At one point, just as Glen and Mark were getting ready to play together and the theatre was completely silent, O J did the hugest dog shake ever! The audience began laughing and Glen said, "that wasn't me!" Luckily it was dark and only my cousin could see how embarrassed I was. I don't know if he knew the dog was there or if he just thought something very strange was going on in the audience, but either way it was funny!

Set List (not in the correct order):

Lay Me Down
Song for Someone
Leave
Seven Day Mile
Low Rising (sexual healing snippet)
Finally
Pennies in the Fountain
Become
Stars are Underground
Revelate
Say it to Me Now
Gold
What Happens When The Heart Just Stops
Lies
Plateau (Jane Says)
Perfect Opening Line
The Parting Glass
Falling Slowly
It's Coming (new)
Come Away (new song written for Hunger Games)
Moving On (new)
Crash in the Levee (down in the Flood) (Dylan cover)
There’s a Ghost (new song)
Song of Good Hope (new)
When Your Mind's Made Up
Hairshirt, (R.E.M cover)
It Beats Me (with Mark),
Hold Tight (with Mark)
Forever Young (Dylan cover) with Mark, Fiacra & Keith McNamara)
I Will (Dean Martin cover) (lead vocals by Fiacra) – to a half empty theatre

Guest Post: Assistance Dog for Autism

2011-10-02T10:25:00.001+01:00

This month's guest post is from a blogger I have mentioned many times here during the last couple of years. They won an Irish Blog Award earlier this year, so I thought it was time they introduced themselves in their own words.

"Greetings from Clive & Co over at Clive - Assistance Dog for Autism and many thanks for the opportunity to introduce ourselves and talk a little about assistance dogs, autism and the impact both have had on our lives.
Three years ago we started blogging about Clive and Murray - our assistance dog and our son who has autism. Clive is 6 now, Murray is 13. Clive came into our lives five years ago and during that time a huge transformation has taken place in Murray. A lot of work has also taken place during that time too
- lots of special needs schooling, lots of occupational therapy and speech therapy, lots of horse-riding and swimming and Special Olympics competitions
but it's been the 'lots of Clive' that has really turned things around for Murray.
Before Clive came into our lives - simple everyday tasks were difficult for Murray. He craved routine, familiarity, the safety of home. Taking him shopping, trying to stand in a queue, attempting to go to a football match - these were all things that Murray found extremely frightening and upsetting. He had little language to explain his fear, his sensitivity to noise and crowds, his nervousness of strangers - so Murray cried or screamed or got so upset at
the idea of leaving the house - he threw up. We got so used to Murray getting sick that we couldn't remember a time when Murray didn't throw up at the idea of a change in routine. That was what life was like for our family or rather it was a lack of a life because we couldn't do much as a family. Murray has another sibling who didn't get much of look in with all that was going on with Murray.

Clive has changed that - Clive has transformed Murray - Clive has enabled Murray to lead a relatively normal life. When Murray has Clive with him - he feels secure, confident and is able to cope with a change in his surroundings, Murray can manage and now enjoy interaction with people outside of the house.
From the days of not even being able to go to our local GAA club to watch Murray's sister play football - we can now go into Croke Park to cheer on Dublin!
Over the past five years Murray's speech has come on hugely - Clive has helped that because Murray wanted to communicate with 'his dog' so having Clive with him 24/7 has helped develop Murray's language skills. Murray has become far more independent because of Clive - more independent than we ever thought possible - seeing him able to take Clive for a walk on his own this summer was a truly magical experience. An experience we would never have considered
possible five years ago prior to Clive coming into our lives. Murray's confidence has grown hugely - he now engages willingly and happily with people outside the house. He is hugely proud of Clive and always willing to go places, try new things, meet new people.
Clive has literally opened up the world for Murray! Clive has taken Murray to Spain, France, Belgium and the USA. A fellow blogger in the USA - reading Clive's blog in South Carolina has invited us over to her house for the past two summers. Clive and his blog have enabled Murray to experience new countries, new experiences - truly a whole new world. On the rare occasion that for some reason, Clive can't be with Murray - Murray can now accept and understand
that and can carry on without Clive (once he knows Clive is safe and happy at home).
Murray is a magical kid - a kid that has given his family so much pleasure over the past 13 years - he has enriched our lives and made all the family sit up and view the world a little differently. He has got his family involved in fundraising, autism awareness and supporting Irish Guide Dogs and the work they do. He has done all this and more because of that great golden shaggy dog that came home from Cork one June morning five years ago. If Murray is
magical - then Clive is his 'magical' canine!

There are currently 175 assistance dogs around Ireland working with children like Murray. There are also over 200 children with autism on a waiting list for an assistance dog. The current wait time for an assistance dog is four years. That's a long time when you have a child with autism ....
Many thanks for taking the time to read our guest post here on Jen's Blog. For more stories on Clive and the work he does as an assistance dog for autism
- please check out his blog
assistance dog for autism."

Finally, its October!

2011-10-01T13:43:00.004+01:00

September was a long horrible month, and to be honest I'm glad to see the end of it. I'm not the type of person to feel sorry for myself for long, and I always try to find positive things wherever possible. Last month was a reminder to appreciate spending time with family and friends, and not to take things for granted. When O J was sick, it reminded me to appreciate having a guide dog even more than I already do, because working without one is something I would find very difficult.
Lastly, and even though its less important, I was reminded that technology is easily lost or broken, so I should always back things up! I learned that the hard way!

A couple of good things happened in September, and I know I have a lot to look forward to now. I found out that I definitely have a job for another year, which is a great relief. My new house is currently being painted and I hope to have moved in by Halloween. Before that, I'm looking forward to meeting up with some friends, and going to a Glen Hansard gig (which is always exciting for me!)

I just wanted to write something here myself today, since I will be posting another guest post tomorrow from an award-winning blogger! Stay tuned!

Guest Post: Dog's Eye View

2011-09-23T10:00:00.002+01:00

Appologies for the late guest post this month. With so much going on, it was my fault entirely, and not the fault of this month's author. This one was worth waiting for though :)

Hello everyone and thanks to Jenny and OJ for giving me the opportunity to make a guest post. First of all, for those who don’t know me, on the internet I tend to go by the name L^2 (that’s L-Squared written in mathematical-speak), and for the last 7 years or so I have been blogging over at
Dog’s Eye View.
Mostly I blog about life with my guide dogs, but occasionally I mix it up a bit with some of my other interests including crochet and lots of photography.

In March of 2010 my first guide dog, a female pale yellow Labrador Retriever, named Willow retired after almost 8 years of hard work with me. Then, I went back to using a white cane for 7 months, until in October 2010 when I was matched with my second guide dog, a male dark Chocolate Lab, named Jack. He and I are approaching our one year anniversary as a guide dog team and I can honestly say I couldn’t be happier with him.

When Jenny contacted me about making a guest post, she mentioned the auction I recently held. So, I’ve decided to write a bit about fundraising. I’m not sure if other countries do this, but for at least the last 3 years, in the United States, September is designated as National Guide Dog month. This is supposed to be an event to promote awareness of guide dogs. However, mostly it is a marketing campaign put on by a well-known pet supply chain store and a dog food company, who get a couple of celebrities to help advertise for them. Together they make a video press release, commercials, and do a few television appearances to promote the sale of a certain type of dog food, from which some of those sales profits are donated to numerous guide dog organizations.

I think in some countries, guide dog organizations receive at least a little bit of support from the government. However, in the United States programs that train guide dogs do not receive any form of government funding. Also, most of the programs do not charge their clients any sort of fee to receive a guide dog - and even the few that do charge a fee, only ask for a tiny fraction of the total cost of raising and training the dog. So, all 15+ guide dog programs currently operating in the U.S. are only able to provide their services to individuals who are blind thanks to the incredible generosity of private donors. Thus, most, if not all, of these programs are constantly fundraising.

As some of you reading this probably know, about 6 months ago I embarked on a fundraising venture to sponsor a guide dog puppy. Many programs have started to offer sponsorship options - for a certain specific donation amount you can sponsor a guide dog leash, harness, newborn puppy, newborn litter, puppy in training, fully trained guide dog, student handler, or guide dog team. At my current guide dog’s program, a puppy sponsorship is a $5,000 donation which helps pay for anything the puppy needs while being raised to become a guide dog: including food, veterinary care, equipment, training, evaluation, etc..

I was motivated to take on this project partly because my guide dog Jack was a sponsored puppy himself, and this is treated as quite a neat honor at his school. I also decided to do it, because at one time I had hoped to be able to raise an assistance dog puppy as a way to "give back" for the gift of my first guide dog , Willow. I was never able to do that though, so I supported her school by raising funds for them in several ways with my photography. However, in my mind if I can’t raise a puppy myself, a puppy sponsorship is the next best option.

So far, to raise the needed funds, I have held a dog collar raffle and an online auction. Additionally I am continuing to offer special items for sale in my online photography shop (including holiday cards, items featuring an oil painting of Guide Dog Jack, and chocolate Lab 2012 wall calendars). I am donating proceeds from general sales at my shop during certain months to the cause as well, and of course, I have also been collecting a few personal donations from friends and family. With these efforts I am currently a little over 35% of the way to my goal. I haven’t quite been able to work out all the details for the fundraising event I had hoped to hold this month, but at some point in the future I am planning to hold an International Dog Walk, another online auction, and a few more fun contests.

When I started this project, I wasn’t sure I should even mention it on my blog, because a great majority of my blog's readers are associated with Assistance Dog organizations other than my own dog's program. So, I felt awkward asking for donations from them. However, I am both happy and grateful for my many blog friends who are able to look past the fact that this pup will wear a specific "In Training" jacket, and open their hearts to the more important fact that the money will provide for a future guide dog puppy who has the potential to help someone the way Willow helped me, the way Jack continues to help me, and the way that so many other awesome guide dogs help their partners every day. I truly appreciate this support, and I think it shows just how wonderful the guide dog community is - that breeders, raisers, and handlers from all over the world can come together to help a puppy on his or her quest to become a guide dog for the blind. And that’s why my puppy sponsorship is not really mine; the official sponsorship name that will appear on the puppy’s jacket will be
"Friends of Guide Dog Jack”, because so many generous friends and family are playing a part in helping to make this sponsorship possible.

Well, I didn’t mean to ramble on for so long about my own fundraising project, but my point is that I think everyone who is able to do so, should try to find at least a small way to help support a guide dog program. These great organizations couldn’t do what they do for those of us who want guide dogs, without the generosity of people who really care about such a worthwhile cause.

Its the end of the world as we know it...

2011-09-21T23:06:00.001+01:00

and I don't feel fine.
because REM, my favourite band of all time have decided to call it a day.

"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing.
And now we're going to walk away from it.
That's what REM's Michael Stipe said in a statement on their
official website
earlier today. After an impressive 31 year career as one of the world's most successful alternative rock bands, they have decided not to continue. They say that they made the decision amicably, with each other's best interests at heart. This is an honourable way to end a career, and I'm sure its how every band would wish to do it. They have enjoyed making music as much as their fans have enjoyed listening to it, and have never been shy about expressing their gratitude.

I began listening to REM when I was eight years old thanks to my sister's now 24 (or whatever version of the tape was out then.) I loved going to a particular restaurant in town because they had 'losing my religion' on the dukebox and I used to play it as often as I could. I didn't buy my first REM album 'green' until I was ten. I was obsessed with 'stand' which is on that album. When I listen to it now, I'm surprised how particular songs appealed to me, since the lyrics are bizarre to say the least! I think I quickly got on well with my now brother in law because he used to lend me his REM cds, and later gave me some to keep.

I was lucky enough to see the band play live twice. The first time was a gig in Lansdowne Road when I was thirteen, and later in Ardgillan Castle in 2005, when I won a radio competition. Michael Stipe is a fascinating character, and very interesting to watch live. He is quite shy but the music speaks for itself. Those were two of the best gigs I've ever been too. I hoped I would see them play live again, but all I can do now is be thankful that I went when I did.

REM will be sorely missed, but at least they have a huge back catalogue to keep us entertained. I think there's even some rare recordings and releases I haven't managed to get my hands on yet, so I still have new REM music to discover, and I can't wait.

O.J's results

2011-09-20T12:35:00.001+01:00

Sorry for the lack of updates on OJ. I intended posting more often when he was sick but honestly there was nothing to write about. He recovered well, everything was straightforward and he was his usual happy self all the time.
The drain that removed the fluid came out last monday, OJ finished anti-biotics last Thursday, and didn't need any more. His stitches came out yesterday morning (there was only one because he must have taken the rest out himself with all his mad running around!) The vet rang this morning with his results:

O. J had a lipoma, which is a fatty tumor, which thankfully in his case was benign. This is a huge relief! The vet said that it will just heal itself now and he shouldn’t have any future problems.

I brought O J back to work today, just on his lead because I don’t want to put his harness on for another few days. He had to guide me on to the road to avoid some cars that were parked on the footpath, but he did a great job of getting me to work safely.

I hope to get OJ’s toenails trimmed in the next few days, and have him back working soon. I would also like him to gain another kilogramme in weight but I’m sure this will happen soon enough. I forgot to mention he had his teeth cleaned while he was having his operation. This is something I wanted done but didn’t want to do unless he was under anisthetic for another reason. Now his breath smells better, his teeth look whiter and his coat is in great condition, even though he didn’t get groomed for almost two weeks! I think he will make a full recovery soon.

He's home!

2011-09-09T19:45:00.002+01:00

The vet who did OJ's operation rang me just after four to tell me that I could come and collect him. I left him there at half nine this morning, and even though I tried to keep busy, it was a long day and I couldn't wait for that phone call. I didn't collect him until almost half five, to give him a bit more of a chance to come round after the anesthetic. He had an x-ray on his leg three years ago, and he was hardly able to stand when I collected him afterwards.
He was very lively and happy this time, which was an unexpected surprise. The vet said that the lump looked like a cyst and she didn't think it was anything to be too concerned about, but she will send it away to be examined and I should know on Monday week how that goes. OJ has a drain tube type thing in covering part of the wound to drain the fluid. I have to clean the wound with sault water and cream, and bring him back on Monday to have the drain removed. He has a bandage from the catheter but I can take that off myself and clean it tomorrow. I was expecting to have lots of tablets to give him and was happy to learn that he only needs one twice a day. I bought a cooked chicken earlier to disguise them in tomorrow, (fatty chicken legs work wonders since this dog is a nightmare!)

On the way home I sat in the back of the car with OJ. He kept trying to lick his wound so I decided the cone of shame would have to go on when we got home. My mum found the one he had last year and just last week asked me if I wanted it thrown out. OJ knocked himself slightly when he was excitedly getting out of the car when we got home. He whined a bit and it looked a bit red but seems fine. I tried to settle him in his bed in the kitchen, with Dougal tied near his at the other end, but he insisted on having food. After a few handfuls, and crashing into things a lot because of his lampshade head, he lay down and went into a deep sleep, where he currently is at the moment.

Sorry if these next few posts are boring, but I wanted to write in detail for my own records. Things are looking positive so far. I think I will be very shocked if the results turn out to be something negative.

Lets hope its nothing serious

2011-09-07T16:45:00.003+01:00

I usually always love September for some reason, but not this year. I have had a very difficult week, and a visit to the vet with OJ this morning hasn't improved things.

On Friday night, after spending all day away from the dogs, they were very happy to see me. I was petting OJ and noticed a lump on his chest, just above his left leg. It wasn't sore to touch but it felt big enough. I tried to put it out of my mind during the weekend because I knew things would be difficult enough. My Granny's funeral was on Sunday, and like all my family, I was very close to her. Today I knew I couldn't leave it any longer, and my dad took O.J and I to the vet at 9 this morning.
O.J was a bit under 32 KG, so hadn't put on much weight since last time. I was still concerned about this and when I found the lump, I instantly wondered if the two things were related. The vet took a blood test to see if anything showed up, but said that either way, it would have to be removed, so that operation was scheduled for Friday morning.
I got a phone call from the vet about an hour and a half later, (humans would never get blood results so quickly!) to tell me that his bloods were clear, which was great news. She said that it is possibly just a cyst which is common enough, but that when it is removed it would be sent to the lab for testing to rule out anything else.

As is always the case with O.J, even when he is ill, he is in fantastic form, eating well and bringing his toys to anybody who might play with him. If it wasn't for his weight loss for no apparent reason, I wouldn't be so concerned about him. One of the kennel staff in guide dogs said that it is probably nothing to worry about and I hope she is right. We'll just have to wait and see.

You meet all sorts!

2011-08-21T21:36:00.000+01:00

Most guide dog owners know that when your out and about with your dog, you meet all kinds of people who sometimes say and do the strangest things. Here's a few situations I've encountered during the last week.

Last Tuesday my cousin and I went to Lydl to get some food to make lunch. We met a friendly woman who stopped to talk and to talk about how nice O J was etc, the usual conversation. She told me that she had a black labrador that looked very like him when he was younger. It was a great dog and she was mad about it, and it died. I asked her when it died, and she said:
"It died this morning."
Awkward! What was I supposed to say after that?

As we made our way towards the counter I heard a little child saying, "mammy I nearly petted it", obviously talking about O J. She was coming behind me and O J kept walking so he mustn't have noticed. Then the mother said, "just run up and touch its tail really really quickly." I told O J to walk straight on, making him speed up towards the counter. I was so annoyed, not because the child or the mother didn't ask if they could pet him, but because the mother encouraged the child to touch a working dog, acting as if myself or my cousin weren't even there.
While we were paying for our things, a small girl came up and asked if she could pet O J, and I told her that of course she could and that she had lovely manners to ask first. I just wish that other mother had been behind me.

Today I walked to town with my parents, O J and Dougal. As I was coming near the beach I met a woman with a big dog, which got very excited when it saw O J. He was excited too but I encouraged him to ignore it and walk on. The woman said, '''oh, my dog just wants to say hello', and I explained that O J was working and couldn't play with other dogs because it would distract him. The main reason that I did this was because she made no effort to take control of it or stop it from blocking our way as we walked. About five minutes later we had to walk past the same dog again, who ran at O.J making him yelp. I thought he had maybe bitten him, but my dad told me that he had a muzzle on, so they must have just banged heads or he put his paws on O.J and frightened him or something. The same woman didn't appologise or even acknowledge that anything had just happened.
Meeting her today made me really question how much adults honestly know about guide dogs. Is it presumptious of guide dog owners to think that everybody knows what that harness means? Do people like her not care, or do they genuinely understand the purpose of a working guide dog? Maybe we as guide dog owners still have a lot of educating to do, and it shouldn't just be taught to schoolchildren in the classroom.

Aftercare

2011-08-10T23:00:00.002+01:00

Every year since I trained with OJ in 2007, a guide dog trainer comes up from the centre in Cork to see how we are both getting on. This is known as an aftercare visit, and today was mine and O J's turn to be observed. Thankfully I have never had any issues, and the visit takes no more than an hour, but todays was a bit different, so I wanted to make note of a couple of things that happened.

The trainer rang just before three to say that she was in town, so my dad and I drove to meet her. I met her briefly before but she had never done an aftercare visit with me. OJ was in great form so I wasn't nervous. Working with a new trainer has its advantages, because they don't know much about the dog, and it is interesting to hear what they think when they follow behind and observe. We brought her to my new house, and my dad pointed out road crossings and things that could be difficult. This meant that she was able to choose the safest routes and talk them through with me before we started walking.

The road crossing outside my house is one of the busiest in the town, and is very difficult for anybody to get across. The trainer suggested that I turn right outside my front door, walk a couple of minutes until I get to a crossing with a small bit of tactile and an island. It means going a bit out of the way but it is much safer. It is vital that OJ finds this exact crossing, or there is less of a chance that I will get across that road safely. We walked to the supermarket to buy treats to make sure he gets it right. I never use them while working unless he's learning a new route, then I gradually iliminate them, so he was introduced to Schmackos and thought this was all very exciting! He was quite sniffy, and tried to eat a tomato from the ground right outside the supermarket, but the trainer removed it from his mouth making him whine, and he wasn't impressed! It poured rain and we got completely soaked, which made him a bit more distracted. This type of thing used to annoy me, but I reminded myself that it is realistic of his behaviour, and the trainer didn't see it as a major problem so neither should i.

I have walked the main road from my family home to my future new house a couple of times with OJ, and it has been fine apart from the busy crossing right opposite the house. We walked there and back, and found a slightly safer place to cross. I feel much more comfortable with that route now.

After more than two hours of working and walking, we went back to the supermarket for a well deserved coffee and a nice chat. The trainer said that she was very happy with OJ's work and how I could control him. She said he looked great, but did notice that he looked a bit lean. I showed her the vet book and explained that I had already noticed this, so its something I just need to keep an eye on. His quantity of food hasn't changed, and his workload hasn't increased, so there seems no obvious reason for it. It means that he can enjoy a couple of treats while working, until he gets this route perfect, but if he is still losing weight in a month's time, I might have to look at other possible causes and do something about it. She stressed how important it was for me to follow his recommended weight given to me by the centre, along with how he feels, and not be persuaded by vet's opinions or sighted people telling me that he looks fine. I have always judged his weight this way anyway, so its nothing new for me.

It was interesting and challenging to be working a new route with a new person teaching me, and it reminded me a lot of the first couple of weeks with OJ. It made me observe his body language more closely. I should also be aware of times when I should take his lead to prevent him from veering too much to the left. It also reminded me of how much praise and encouragement a dog needs when learning a new route (I do so many of mine now without hardly having to give OJ directions!)
The only thing I found strange about working with this particular trainer was how much she interacted with OJ while he was working. From my past experience, trainers usually ignore the dog as much as possible, and all the commands come from the handler. I've even had an aftercare visit where the trainer didn't even touch OJ or speak to him at all until I removed his harness when our walk was finished. Today, she praised him and gave him verbal directions and petted him while I was working him. She was very thorough which I liked, but` I just found this aspect interesting.
I don't have an aftercare visit from guide dogs now for another two years, unless I need help or have a problem in the meantime. This is partly a cost-cutting exercise, but also because of his age and the fact that he is settled. Its good to know that they don't think I will need one in the meantime, and its good to also know that I can just give them a call if I need help with anything.

Guest Post: At A Glacial Pace

2011-08-09T14:03:00.001+01:00

The first blog post of each month is a guest post from a guest blogger. This month’s is from Jes, whose blog has been an inspiration to me since I discovered it earlier this year. When you read her post, you’ll know exactly why. Then go follow her blog:
At A Glacial Pace.
You only think your life is busy until you read about hers!

Have you ever taken a step back and wondered
"where did the time go?" or,
"what have I done in the last six years?"
I didn't necessarily think these things exactly, but in December of
2005, I started writing a blog. I don't think anyone really read it,
but I was okay with that. It was more for my own entertainment and
musings; something I could look back on and remember what was going on
in my life. It was also a place for me to vent my feelings and
sentiments about living as a twenty-something, blind girl blundering
my way through life with my first guide dog, Jetta, by my side. A lot
has changed since December 2005. Jetta has retired, I've moved a
million times-it feels like it anyway-and I've grown up a lot. I still
rant from time to time, but I think I'm a bit more eloquent now and
perhaps don't get as fired up about certain things as I used to.
Now, my blog focuses primarily on my life as a blind woman in the
process of moving from the United States to Edinburgh Scotland. It
chronicles the happenings in my house with two guide dogs and a
husband. It's much different from the raging, slightly radical
Sociology student that often spewed words out in an attempt to make
her brain shut off. I still advocate for equality and accessibility; I
still try to raise awareness for those populations who may not
necessarily have a voice-that includes animals; but it's a less
aggressive and probably much more readable approach.
My blog is constantly changing and it's probably because I don't stay
still well. I always have at least two projects on the go and if not,
I'm looking for something else to add. I used to be a competitive
swimmer for Canada and retired in 2008. It took me a few years to
realise that the fire for competition had not burned out and I made it
my mission to fulfill this void; this happens to be training for a
triathlon. I have dreams of competing in the Paralympics again as a
triathlete. If you're going to dream, dream big.
Athletics are not my only interest. I have a degree in Sociology and
Massage Therapy. I would also like to get my Master's in
Physiotherapy, which is in the works for September of 2012. On the
side, I love training dogs and interacting with them. My most recent
dog related adventure was starting up a Pet Consulting business that
will be a side project until I can build up a client base. On top of
all of this, my posts are full of stories about the move to Scotland,
my experience as a guide dog handler and a few random ramblings about
the necessity of coffee. In reality, you will probably never know what
the next day's post is going to be about as I never run out of things
to say. Strangely enough, I am quite the opposite in person; if I
don't know you, I probably won't talk much.
"At A Glacial Pace" is the title of the blog and is intended to be
ironic and a play on words all at the same time. Glacier is my current
working dog and nothing moves "at a glacial pace" in our lives. The
URL for the blog is "Walking Barefoot in the Sand" because that is
what life is like. Sand is unstable and if you were to walk on it
every day, or at different times of the day, it would be different.
Sometimes it's warm and pleasant under your feet; others you must run
because it is too hot; and sometimes it is cold and wet and sticks to
your feet. Life is like walking on a sandy beach: you never know what
you're going to experience and sometimes it can be pleasant, soothing
and exciting and sometimes it is cold, ungiving and desolate. Either
way, life-and sand-go on and the next time you step out your front
door, or on to a beach, it will not be the same. That is what is
exciting about life and I think my blog reflects that; or at least I
hope it does.

Belfast Part 2: dog training

2011-07-31T15:00:00.002+01:00

I was a bit tired on Saturday morning after
the night before,
but a shower and a lovely breakfast soon fixed that. After getting directions from Anna, the very helpful receptionist at
Beneficts,
we took the bus to Newtownabbey, for my first experience of professional dog training. I've wanted to watch a training class in action since I talked about dog training
here
last year. I contacted Robin Bates (APDT) from
Dog Training NI
and he invited me to observe his classes to get a better idea of what's involved. I had no idea what to expect as we made our way to the Orange Hall in Mallusk, but this was a perfect introduction to dog training, because of the variety of things to observe.

Robin taught three obedience classes between 1 and 4 PM. The first was made up of adult dogs whose owners wanted them to learn obedience. Some of them had done the puppy class already, and all had a good understanding of what was expected of them.
Robin asked each owner to do tasks such as sit, down, heel while walking etc, then practiced recall and off leash walking. The dogs had to be able to wait while their owners left them at one side of the room, go to their bed when asked, and retrieve objects and bring them back. Like humans, dogs have unique personalities, and this is never more obvious than in a training room full of them. Jack the mixed breed and Hank the German Shepherd were almost always obedient, while Ralph the spaniel barked a lot and had a mind of his own. The rest were somewhere in between.
O J was an absolute star during this class, lying still, taking everything in but not getting up at all. Even when other dogs got treats and ran past him to retrieve their toys and play tug of war, he never moved. The dogs are all familiar with each other, so bringing a new dog into the mix can be a challenge, but they ignored O J and he didn't bother them, which was more impressive because his harness was off and he wasn't working. Many other people noticed this too, and complimented him. It was nice to have the opportunity to have him in such a distractive environment and see that he can completely control himself.

The second class contained two dogs who had specific problems that their owners wanted to fix. The female labrador seemed quite quiet, but Charlie the westie was a character. He kept wanting to meet O J and play, because he is so friendly and loves everybody, so we added distraction issues to the ones he was already dealing with. They did get a chance to play at the end, and O J was very gentle with such a small dog. Charlie was afraid of nothing though. He seemed like such a fun dog to be around, and his owner was great fun too!

The third and final class was puppy class, and wasn't as chaotic as I had expected. It was their fifth week, so the youngest pup was about sixteen weeks old. There were nine in total, and they were quite quiet and relaxed. Breeds included shitzus, a rottweiler, a golden retriever, a cockapoo (cocker spaniel x poodle), a keeshond, and black lab/retriever Greg, who is owned by a first time puppywalker, and will hopefully progress to become a guide dog. He is a beautiful dog, and his owner was very friendly, so we talked for a while after. She was happy to meet O J and see a working guide dog, and she had lots of questions which I was happy to answer.

Before the class finished, Robin came to talk to me about what I thought of it, what I wanted to do in the future with dogs, and to ask if there was any way he could help further. It was great to hear how he became a dog trainer, and his views on particular courses. I asked many questions, and told him my concerns about training dogs from a blind person's perspective. The work can be quite visual, and so much of a dog's behaviour is detected through its body language. He agreed, and gave an example of how a dog in class bit him recently. He saw it coming and was able to step back, therefore avoiding a more serious bite. He didn't seem to think it would be impossible, and never implied that I wouldn't be able to do it which was nice. Perhaps obedience is a safer option than working with dogs who have behavioural problems. He also suggested looking more at the theory side of things, as there is still a lot of learning to be done in that area. Its definitely what I'm going to start with anyway and see how things go. He promised to email me a reading list, so the search is on for books in braille or audio formats. He told me to keep in touch and to come up again if I wanted to. It was great to have such a positive beginning to my dog training adventure. Who knows how far I will actually go with this, but even if it becomes no more than an interesting hobby, I have to thank Robin for his great introduction. His gentle way with dogs impressed me, and I learned a lot about how to act better around dogs, just by attending his classes.

We collected Dougal on the way home, and I was surprised to see him so calm. He was happy to see me but not in a mad hurry to leave the kennels, which was a good sign. Apparently he was quiet and didn't bark as much as some of the other dogs. The kennel is more expensive than where I left him before, but worth it for the walks twice a day and the more professional care he would get.
Both dogs spent the evening cuddled beside each other when we got home. They like being away for a change of scenery, but I think they miss each other's company.

Belfast part 1: meeting friends

2011-07-30T21:49:00.006+01:00

I never write posts in two parts like this, but since so much happened, it might make this easier to read.

I just got home a couple of hours ago, from a busy two days in Belfast. It was one of those things that was difficult to organise, because I wanted to do so much, meet certain people, and fit in with everyones schedule.
My PA Dierdre and I left my house at nine yesterday morning. My parents were also going away for a few days, so we left Dougal in
kennels
on the way to get the bus to Belfast. He'd never stayed there before, but they looked after our pet labrador often when I was small and always did a good job. We made it just in time for the ten bus, and it turned out to be an interesting journey. We sat in the seats at the back row because there was more room for O.J. There was somebody sitting at each window, and a seat free between me and one of them, a man who turned out to be absolutely terrified of dogs. We only discovered this half way through the journey. He told us how he had a dog of his own, and loved them until he was bitten by a golden labrador for no reason. I felt terrible for sitting there, and wished he'd said something earlier, but he was very nice about it and assured me that he was ok. To make me feel even worse, he was going to Belfast for a hospital appointment, which was no doubt stressful enough without being trapped beside an animal that you are terrified of for almost two hours!
O.J wasn't offended though, because he had a teenager (who had mild special needs) keeping him company and hugging him lots. We also had an elderly woman in front of us, who at one stage removed a tissue from her top, blew her nose and then put it back again, all before putting on her glasses with only one lens. Sometimes being with sighted people who tell you absolutely everything that's going on around them isn't such a good idea!

I went to the RNIB to buy some things for my new house, including talking scales, a timer and sock locks (to avoid putting on odd socks, or that awful sock thief in the washing machine!) Then we went to Ruby's Diner to meet
Torie and her guide dog Ushi.
I first met Torie in December 2007, through a project I was doing when I worked in Derry. We've talked online lots since, but only managed to organise to meet yesterday. I'd heard lots about Ushi, and she's a lovely dog. She's much smaller than O.J, though not tiny. She's a great personality and seems like a good worker. Its clear that Torie absolutely adores her! The dogs were a bit excited to meet at first but soon lay quietly while we ate lunch outside. Then we walked them to Botanic Avenue for a free run in the park, which they loved. They played well together but did their own thing as well, and were both equally reluctant to come back sometimes when we called them. Those bushes must have been really interesting!
Torie's dad and sister came back to meet us and we chatted for a while before they went home and we went to our hotel. We stayed in
Benedicts.
I always enjoy staying there as its a lovely hotel, but I had never stayed with O.J before. The staff were very helpful and friendly, and put a blanket in the room for him to sleep on, even though I didn't even ask for one. Deirdre went to buy her son a birthday present while O.J and I chilled in our room. I made coffee and fed him, before getting ready to go out. I met a college friend for dinner, and another friend met us after for drinks in the hotel bar. We sat in a corner where nobody could walk past us or bother O.J. It was very busy with a hen party there, and the music got gradually louder. If we'd walked in first and it was that loud, I wouldn't have went in, but O.J wasn't bothered by it at all and stayed very relaxed for the few hours we were there. I think he is often more relaxed in situations than I think he is going to be. He handles things much better than I expect, and surprises me with his behaviour. This happened again earlier today, and I'll write about that soon.

Buncrana Music Festival 2011

2011-07-25T12:37:00.007+01:00

I often blog about music and gigs I have attended here, so I couldn't exactly not right about the amazing festival that took place in my home town at the weekend.
Every summer, the week long music festival was a highlight in our town, and people travelled from all parts of the country to be there. It was mostly country and western music which I disliked, but the atmosphere in the town was amazing. The festival lay dormant for a number of years, and a new festival was revived by a committee of young people in Buncrana last year. The
Buncrana music and arts festival
is the largest non-profit festival in Ireland, and hopefully after the success of last weekend, it will continue to take place every year.

On Thursday evening I went to town to have dinner with my parents and our Spanish student before he went home. I met a couple of friends and we watched the
Studio47
dancers opening the festival. This was followed by performances from Derry band
Furlo
and Offally songwriter
Mundywho were both brilliant! I went to the pub for an hour with my cousin to get heatened up before the night's indoor gig in
the Plaza.
We watched
Mick Flannery
play a great set to a small but appreciative crowd. He would be among my top three favourite Irish singer/songwriters, so it was a very enjoyable gig for me.

We returned to the town's main street on Friday night, where we only saw a small bit of
The Stunning's performance
but they sounded great. The pubs were packed and there was lots of music, and it was difficult to know where to go, even more difficult when you decide to take your mum and aunt on a night out! It was definitely a night with a difference, but the downside was that I missed
The 4 Of Us,
which I regretted the next day because everybody told me that they were amazing.

O.J made his only appearance at the festival on Saturday afternoon, when I walked to town after taking him to the beach for a run. The street was buzzing and there were plenty of distractions, but he made a decent attempt at guiding me past everything. The strangers around town, as well as the warm weather meant that lots of people wanted to stop and talk to the dog. One of the stewards who was working at the door of a wrestling event kept asking me if O.J would come in for a match every time we walked past him.
That night my friends and I went to a friend's engagement party, and then to the town for the end of the Knites of Leon, who always get a huge crowd when they regularly play in Buncrana. This was their first time to play on the street and the atmosphere was electric. Then I escaped to a small pub called Ruddens to hear a bit of
Mojo GoGo.
A friend offered to bring me because he heard they were good and thought I'd like them, and he was right. After a couple of drinks in another pub with my sister and her friends, we went to watch a U2 tribute band.

The Buncrana festival is known for its spectacular fireworks display at the beach on the closing night, and this year was no exception. Proceedded by music from
Balkan Alien Sound
and
TKO,
everyone said that the fireworks were fantastic. What was fantastic about them for me was that they were accompanied by none other than Toto's
Bobby Kimball!
He had been on tour with a young Irish band called
Shadowplay,
who's guitarist is from Inishowen. They played their own material, as well as some covers and Toto classics. Bobby Kimball might have had a few decades more experience than the Shadowplay boys, but they obviously impressed him, and it wasn't hard to see why. They were more than capable of the job, and I know they will go on to do great things in the future. When the final fireworks went off, as the festival closed with the crowd singing along to 'hold the line', it was a proud moment for the people of Buncrana.

As with any festival, it is almost impossible to attend all the events that I would have liked too. I missed a few of the main bands, as well as many bands who played in the pubs and in one of the cafes which hosted live music during the four days. So, just because I didn't mention a band doesn't mean that they weren't good! It was a great opportunity to spend time with friends, and meet people I haven't seen in a while. It was fantastic to have my cousin around for the whole thing, because we like the same music so she wanted to come with me.

The festival committee must be congradulated for such hard work during the year, and for organising such a brilliant weekend. Everything went great and the events were on time. The committee brought the community spirit that Buncrana is known for back to the town, and hopefully this feel-good factor will continue, even though we have to wait until July 2012 for the next festival.
Bring it on!! :D

The fundraiser wasn't for me!

2011-07-18T20:36:00.004+01:00

Last night I went to a fundraiser in a pub in Greencastle, about forty minutes from where I live. It was a barbecue and raffle, to raise money for
Keri,
who will be going to China for stem cell treatment to possibly help restore her sight. I work with Keri regularly in her school. She's a great child with an amazing personality, which is why the presenter of ICR's talk show instantly decided to organise the fundraiser after interviewing her.

My PA drove OJ and I down, and the rain just about stayed off for the barbecue. Everybody was very friendly and of course O.J was the centre of attention as usual. While I was being chatted up by a creepy Latvian fella with English that was almost impossible to understand, O.J got some water and was put in a small room beside the bar where we were sitting. It meant that drunk people couldn't stand on him, but he could still see what was going on. The subject of feeding guide dogs came up briefly at one stage, but the barman obviously forgot. When we came inside after getting food, he told me that O.J had been "fed and watered" and was happily sleeping. Apparently he only gave him half of a bun, but I think he told me that when he saw my reaction and realised that I wasn't impressed. After all, who would give a labrador with puppydog eyes a bun, when there were burgers and sausages on offer as well! I did mention the no feeding rule before, but obviously wasn't serious enough, so I couldn't really get annoyed at him .

The fact that O.J was fed when he wasn't supposed too was the least of my problems. When we got there we realised that Keri and her family were unable to make it to the event. People kept talking about how the funraiser was for a blind girl who wanted to get her sight back, and since I was the only blind person there, lots of them got the wrong idea. The woman singing announced what the money was being raised for, and a few people smiled over at me sympathetically. A couple of them tapped me on the shoulder as they were walking past and wished me good luck. I have no intentions of trying to have my sight restored. I wrote about it here
a couple of years ago
and nothing has changed since. I spent the rest of the evening clarifying that I wasn't Keri, and I wasn't going to China any time soon. The last thing I want is for people to see me out with my guide dog in a years time and think, either my opporation didn't work and feel sorry for me, or that I scammed them all because I never even went to China.

Luckily I have a good sense of humour about these things. Seriously though, I hope things go well for Keri. She will go far whatever happens, regardless of whether she has sight or not.

Don't give up, there are still jobs out there!

2011-07-15T13:36:00.003+01:00

Maybe this is easy for me to say because I already have a job, and am possibly in a very different frame of mind to people who have been unemployed for years. Its true that there are very few jobs on offer, and even less of a choice if you are visually impaired or blind, but if you really really want one, that's no excuse to completely give up looking.

The reason that I'm saying this is because, earlier today I got a phone call telling me about a new post which is going to be advertised soon. The person thought I might be a suitable candidate because of my previous experience, and because they would prefer to employ someone with a visual impairment for this particular job.
I instantly knew that it was a job I wouldn't be interested in. Even though I have most of the necessary academic qualifications, I wouldn't be as interested or as enthusiastic about the area that I would be working in, as the person who takes the job needs to be. Still though, it was nice to think that they thought of me, believed I could do it and wanted to give me the heads up. If I get the funding I need in September, I'll be more than happy with my current job until the end of 2012.

I wanted to blog about this because it might inspire other people looking for employment. For me, getting jobs turned out to be about who you know, and not what you know. In other words, I didn't need specific qualifications for the two places I have worked in, but met brilliant people, through other people, who were willing to give me a chance to work and prove myself. Of course, the fact that I had a degree showed that I could work to a certain standard, which is never a bad thing regardless of what you studied.
I can't stress how important volunteering was in helping me to gain employment, and even now, it still has many benefits. Also it looks good on the old CV! If two potential employees have similar qualifications, an employer is more likely to choose the person who has had the most experience, over the person with the huge gaps in their CV. I know its sometimes hard to realise this when your stuck at home because you don't have a job. I used to inwardly curse my mum for getting me up at eight o clock three mornings a week for five months when I finished college, to come into her class and help children with disabilities. At the time I had know real interest in doing such a thing, and definitely not as a career, but it was a great experience and helped me to mature in so many ways.

I really believe that if you are an active member of your community, take the time to get to know people and find out what opportunities are around you, you will maximise your job opportunities grately. Many people will always have a perception that people with disabilities are incapable of doing certain things, and as much as we might hate doing it, it is up to us to change this perception. It means working that little bit harder, but it will be worth it in the end.
You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised someday, when you get a random phone call, with a job offer that you really weren't expecting!

Thanks Freddie: the radio documentary

2011-07-11T22:58:00.006+01:00

In June of last year, you might remember I mentioned the fantastic post entitled
Thanks Freddie
which Darragh wrote as a tribute to his guide dog, the day he retired and moved to his new home. It is one I have reread a few times since. It was subsequently published in the Irish Examiner newspaper. It was also noticed by Sinead Vaughan, a radio student at D.I.T. She made a documentary based on the post, which is well worth a listen. You can listen to it
here.

I know many Irish guide dog owners will have heard it before, but for those of you who aren't on the mailing list or don't follow @digitaldarragh on twitter, I thought I'd post it here.

Thanks Darragh, and of course, Thanks Freddie!

Dougal

2011-07-06T00:02:00.003+01:00

I always seem to have some sort of dilemma to think about. At the moment I still haven't sorted out if I want to study in September, whether to explore dog training, or do something in the field of disability which would be useful for my work and for future employment.
Right now though, our mischievous bundle of fluff, otherwise known as Dougal is causing the problem.

We got Dougal in January 2007, when he was only six weeks old. I felt that he was too young to be taken away from his mother, but the people selling the pups were moving house and wanted to sell them ASAP. I chose him because he was the more confident independent pup, because he liked being handled and didn't mind being away from his parents or littermate, who was the complete opposite. My nephew Jack and I often wonder how different things might have been if I'd chosen the other pup!!

Dougal was always unbelievably independent and strong-willed. He is friendly and likes to be cuddled, but only on his terms. Pick him up when he doesn't want to be touched, and he will quickly let you know he's not happy. He dislikes having his paws touched and can be quite possessive about his toys or his bed. For this reason, I can't relax with him around children. He is fine with my nephews who know his personality, but you can never be sure.

Dougal is a difficult dog to watch because he was so hard to housetrain. Crate training was the best thing I ever did, but we always have to remember to take him out regularly during the day or there will be accidents. His recall isn't great, so when he gets outside off-lead if a door has been left open, he will run down the road and try to find something to eat (and this dog eats anything!), resulting in a dirty and often ill dog afterwards.

Dougal has a number of issues that make him difficult to look after, and a lot of it is due to inconsistent training from myself and my family. Its very difficult to convince everyone to treat him the same way that I do, and to put as much work into him as I have. I am concerned that when I move house, things will become much more difficult. He mightn't get as many walks, or the consistent obedience training and attention he needs, resulting in more disruptive behaviour and my parents becoming frustrated with him. I am unable to keep him with me during the week because I am out during the day and I would be afraid he would bark and annoy the neighbours. I will live beside an extremely busy road, I've had one dog knocked down before and I couldn't go through it again.
Its frustrating for me because when I'm with him on my own he is usually fine, and I know he has the potential to become a great dog. He loves other dogs and is great company for O.J, which I think is a great benefit when we meet other dogs in public because O J is so relaxed and doesn't really make a big deal out of it. I like him to be able to have free time with other dogs when he is not working, and I think guide dog owners often under-estimate the importance of this.

I need to seriously think whether I will keep Dougal or rehome him. Living without O.J there will be a big adjustment for him, and if he doesn't have something to occupy his day, then he will become an unhappy, distructive dog. I will know the reason for this and constantly feel guilty.
I have never rehomed a dog before, and swore it was something I would never do. I want to learn more about dog training, and feel like I am failing already if I give up on Dougal. I love the challenge of working with him and trying to shape his behaviour into something more manageable.
On the other hand, I need to think about the future and about when O J retires. My parents always said that they would look after him if I felt that I wasn't in the position to care for two large dogs, but I'm not sure if they would want two dogs either. Dougal is will be hard enough for them on his own. By that stage my parents will probably have retired and would enjoy having a dog like O J around. By then Dougal will probably be eight or nine years old, and it would be more difficult and stressful to rehome him then.
If I do rehome him, I know its better to do it sooner rather than later. I would have very specific requirements as to the type of people he lives with, but how would I know that they are the right ones? Would I keep in touch with them or would I just be better to rehome him and forget about him? He would be somebody else's dog then, and not my responsibility anymore.

So, now you can see why my heads spinning. I don't know what is best, and I really don't want to regret anything.

GDO's Unleashed

2011-07-02T14:57:00.000+01:00

A website for guide dog owners, called
GDO’s Unleashed
Was recently set up, to act as a community for people around the world. It contains a blog, a forum where people can discuss topics and ask questions, and a podcast. The brains behind the idea is Marie, who agreed to write a guest post explaining why she felt that there was a need for a site like this.

My name's Marie and I'm 27 and live in greater Manchester, England. I have been totally blind since the age of six and finally trained with my first Guide dog Bailey five years ago. I was 22 when I qualified with my loveable pup and had waited to get my first guide until I was emotionally ready to handle the responsibility I feel comes with working with a dog.

before having Bailey, I had lived in California for a year on an exchange programme and had since made several American blind acquaintances, some of which were guide dog owners themselves. Over the years of online interaction with other visually impaired people who are or have been guide dog handlers, I realised fast that the service and support I had received from Guide Dogs in the UK was not a universal experience. I was saddened to hear tales of people having to "send" the dogs back due to some problem as though they were a faulty product or not feeling like they had anyone to talk to about an issue they were experiencing with their dog. As I have had incredible support from the association from which I trained, I got to thinking that maybe some kind of international network for guide dog owners could be established to enable those feeling a strain or not feeling as though they were being supported could confide in other handlers within a supportive and friendly network. they could hear stories of other tales of woe from other guide dog owners and not feel as alone.

The podcast was an idea to have a group of guide dog owners discuss issues that affect us on a daily basis working these gorgeous dogs in the public eye, problems we may be experiencing both with working our pups or a wide spectrum of issues. And to not only huddle together for support and comfort at our downfalls, because let’s face it, we all have our off days, but to celebrate and rejoice in the cherished partnerships that we have formed.

I wanted to show the differences in training, the attitudes within society, the wonderful relationships we build and although not a replacement for your school or association, a cushion for those who need a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, or a stage to showcase extraordinary and indeed ordinary stories from all from across the globe.

For me, the relationship I have with my dog is special and sharing the good and bad times with others, no matter where they are in the world makes the good times seem great and the bad times not so bad.

New contributors are welcome, and they can contact the site by emailing
admin@gdosunleashed.com
or following
@gdosunleashed

Thanks for the post Marie. Hopefully some Paws For Thought readers will check out the site. It would be nice to hear their voices on a podcast in the future.
I think with regular updates and a variety of participants, GDO’s Unleashed could be a valuable resource for guide dog owners and people who just want
to find out more about these working dogs.

I want to try and make guest posts a regular feature on my blog, once a month if possible. If you would like to post something, or have an idea in mind
that I could research and post, please get in touch.

On holiday

2011-06-27T11:52:00.004+01:00

I took annual leave last week, but as usual I was busy. For me, a holiday is no fun when you are sitting around bored. When I got home from Dublin on Tuesday after the Paul Simon gig, I unpacked my bag and repacked it for Wednesday's trip to England.

O J and I flew to Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon, and received fantastic assistance in both Derry and Liverpool airports. The assistants were good-humoured and fun, and did their job expertly, until they offered me a wheelchair when I got off the plane. When I politely told them I didn't need it, the woman just guided me and wheeled my bag in it instead. O J was naturally a bit confused, and kept looking at it.

My cousin and her fiancae just bought a house in Cheshire, so I was excited to see it. It is in a lovely quiet area not far from a village, and you can hear sheep from the field beside their garden. Trains also run past, so between seeing them and lots of cats, O J did a lot of barking!! Cheshire is a place I travel to at least once a year, so it is nice to know that O J can become familiar with an area that he will regularly spend time in. The garden is fenced in too, so its the perfect place to bring a dog. And God does he get spoilled when we are there!

I spent Thursday relaxing while Sarah and Rob went to work. They left lunch for me, showed me where the food and everything was kept, and even put Jaws on a laptop so that I could go online. Hows that for service! They have a digital piano that I tried to play, but couldn't find the plug and didn't want to knock anything over by searching too much. It turns out that it was plugged into one of those extention leads that goes through the wall, which explains my confusion and didn't make me feel so stupid!

I went to Barnton school on Friday, to spend the day with Sarah's class who I had met last year. O J was a star, like he usually is around lots of children, and they were very excited to see both of us again. They were well behaved and under control, well as much as thirty-eight kids can be. The school was a bit manic with inspections taking place, but all the teachers were very welcoming. O J had a quick run around the field outside before leaving the school. Sarah and I took him for a walk, made brownies and had dinner before people came round for drinks. I hadn't met a few of them before but we all had great fun!

On Saturday Rob watched O J while Sarah and I took the train to Manchester for a complimentary day at
Double Take makeover and photography studio
We had our hair and make-up done and then had some professional photos taken. The staff were all very friendly, and our photographer was a bit excentric! She took us around the studios to different sets, telling us what she wanted us to do, and surprising us by making it less awkward than we thought it would be. It took forty-five minutes and there was an opportunity for three outfit changes, although we only changed our tops and did too. Most of the photos were of both of us together, and before you ask, they were all civilised and modest :D
We laughed the whole way through and didn't take it seriously at all, not like other people there. It was something I would never do again, but it was good fun. I just wish I could have had one professional photo with O J. We were there for over five hours, so it wouldn't have been fair to bring him and expect him to stay with other people for that length of time. We had to wait for over an hour before going into a room with a big screen to view and pick photos if we wanted to buy any. We almost missed our train back to Cheshire because the girl doing the viewing was so talkative, but the silly train broke down and we had to change anyway. We got a huge happy welcome from O J and a lovely dinner with Rob's mum when we got back.

Just like the journey there, the assistance at both airports was great, and O J was completely relaxed on the plane on the way home on Sunday morning. The only thing I do have an issue with regarding airport assistance is how inconsistent they can be. Sometimes they board people with disabilities first, sometimes last. In Liverpool they have often brought me to sit in a separate area after check-in. It is away from the general crowd, and you sort of feel like you have lepracy or something! Other times I get to sit with everyone else, where people usually come up to talk and keep me company. Finally, I hate when they think they are being more helpful by taking me up on the wheelchair lift thing instead of the steps. I am completely fine with steps and they are quicker, and don't slightly freak O J out. Apart from all that, air travel is usually great, and in my experience, much more enjoyable and simple with a dog than a cane.

Rhymin Simon!

2011-06-23T13:13:00.009+01:00

I'm not the biggest Paul Simon fan in the world. By that, I don't mean that I don't really like him, but that I am not familiar with all his music, and still have a lot of his back catalogue to explore. But when he announced a gig in Vicar Street ahead of his gig in Cork, I knew it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see him in such an intimate venue. Thanks to a mate managing to get tickets, and another offering to watch O J while I was at the gig and then let us stay with them, I saw one of the most amazing gigs ever on Monday night.

The Vicar Street staff were very helpful, since two of us are blind and one was visually impaired, so not a decent eye between us :D
They brought us down a corridor and we had no idea where we were going since it was away from the direction of the crowd. The man told us that it would be easier to get out at the end this way, but in fact we ended up getting seats at the wheelchair section, right in the front rows! I was two steps away from the stage. Although I didn't have a proper seat and it wasn't very comfortable, the sound was fantastic and in my opinion I had the best seat in the place! We were so close that even the lights hurt my eyes they were so bright. That's saying something, because my light perception is rubbish!

I really didn't know what to expect from Paul Simon's performance. I had only heard the new album 'so beautiful or so what' once the day before, and thought since he was touring it, I wouldn't be too familiar with the new songs. He played a great combination of hits as well as new material, which blended in perfectly, with a few cover versions too. For a man of almost seventy years old, he is acceptional. His voice is perfect and he sounds so young. He doesn't talk much but was polite and gracious, and seemed happy to be playing in what he called "a club." It all just seems so effortless. Performers like him could teach many of today's generation of bands a thing or two, because it seems nowadays, you are only respected and cool enough if you spend the majority of your performance shouting all the curses you can think of. God, I'm starting to sound like my dad, but you know he's right a lot of the time, but I'll never tell him that of course!
Anyway... back to the gig...

Simon's band of eight musicians are also amazing. I'd love to have seen the stage, because there must have been a large amount of instruments up there. The audience were fantastic, interacting when appropriate and being completely silent at other times. The band even played a couple of songs suggested by the audience. They might have already been on the set list but it was still nice to hear an audience member politely ask, and the band play it straight away.

I left the gig feeling that I was incredibly lucky to have been there, to have seen a musician who has been playing music for so long, and still clearly enjoying his job. During the gig I couldn't help thinking of Clarence Clemence, who unfortunately and tragically passed away last Saturday. He had a similarly long career, and watching him perform twice was a unique experience. His death was a reminder that musicians of this quality aren't going to be around forever. Often gig tickets are rediculously expensive and difficult to afford, but if you have the opportunity, seeing a performance from somebody with such "legendary" status (for want of a better word), is definitely worth the extra pounds.

Setlist:
1. The Boy in the Bubble
2. Dazzling Blue
3. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
4. So Beautiful or So What
5. Vietnam
6. Mother and Child Reunion
7. That Was Your Mother
8. Hearts and Bones
9. Mystery Train
10. Wheels
11. Slip Slidin' Away
12. Rewrite
13. Peace Like a River
14. The Obvious Child
15. The Only Living Boy in New York
16. The Afterlife
17. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
18. Gumboots
Encore:
19. The Sound of Silence
20. Kodachrome
21. Gone at Last
22. Here Comes the Sun
Encore 2:
23. Crazy Love, Vol. II
24. Late in the Evening
25. Still Crazy After All These Years

What goes on in our dog's heads

2011-06-12T11:31:00.003+01:00

Most of the time I'd rather not know, but sometimes O.J does little things that make me wonder how this dog's mind works!

My aunt opened a new health shop in our town last Wednesday. I know, your thinking, who in their right mind would open a new business these days, but this woman is such a professional and certainly knows what she's doing! Anyway the official opening took place on Friday, with food, champaign and everything. I visited my granny and then walked down to the general area of the shop, not far away. I'd been in it once before without O.J, and I just got out of a car and went in, so didn't have a clue how far down the street it was. I was sure I'd hear people I knew outside as we passed, or somebody I knew would see me, so just told O.J to keep walking. He stopped and pointed his head towards the shop door for a second, then began to walk on, but I smelled the incense and realised where we were. Just then, a woman I know came out to call me in.
I'm not sure if O.J saw somebody he knew, smelled the strange smell or just wanted a nosey, in what was to him a random shop. Its one he will become familiar with from now on, but its good to know that its really easy to find. He has done lots of random things like this before, and found things for me when I'm not really sure where I'm going. I just wonder if its all a coincidence, and what exactly goes on in my dog's big head.
He probably wonders that about me too! Right now I'm asking myself the same question. Got asked to do some extra work for someone this week, applying for funding for a radio project, trying to pick wooden floors, babysitting, working and recovering from a party last night.
I will be happy to be on annual leave in one weeks time, for a week of travelling and fun!

Annual vet visit

2011-06-03T23:47:00.003+01:00

I'm writing this more as a record for myself than anyone else!
O J had his annual check-up with the vet today. For some strange reason he jumped out of the car quickly when we got there, and couldn't wait to get inside. He wasn't pulling, but just happy to be going in. He must think they can't hurt him anymore now that his glands are gone. Before that, he would try and go to the door to get out any time it opened, and couldn't relax much when we were in there.
He was checked by a new vet that I hadn't met before. She was very thorough, and made sure she didn't forget anything, so it took about 15 minutes just for a checkup. He weighed just over 31 KG, which is maybe his lightest ever since I've had him. I noticed he had lost a bit of weight recently, and a girl I work with mentioned that she thought he looked thin from the back. He's happy and healthy so I'm not worried, I just wouldn't want him to lose any more.
The vet advised me to give him denta sticks twice a week because a few of his teeth are starting to show signs of needing a bit of a clean. She said its bound to happen sooner or later because of his age. I haven't been good at giving him them once a week never mind twice, but now they will be his main treat. After a booster injection, I got flea and worm treatment for both dogs and we left the vet, hopefully for another year.

I did some shopping in Derry today, including a present for my nephew Harry who is one today. Where did that year go!
I also found nylabones in a shop called B and M bargains, for only £2 each, which is better than the £7 I pay in the pet shops. The dogs are obsessed with them and I have to buy them often, so this was great. That, along with
Pet Land
in Letterkenny giving a discount on food for guide dog owners, I have made some good shopping discoveries!

Guest Post: To You I bestow

2011-06-01T09:00:00.001+01:00

Many blog readers already know that I produce a music show for my local community radio station
ICR FM
which is broadcast every Sunday between 8 and 9 pm. I enjoy picking music for the show and introducing listeners to the music that I like, but it can get a bit boring because the show is pre-recorded.
When I move house I hope to get lots of new equipment which will hopefully enable me to broadcast my show online from home. I haven't worked out the exact format of the show yet, but my love of music by Irish artists is making me consider an Irish alternative music show. Who knows how this will end up, but that's not the main point of this post.

The main point is to give you an insight into a blog which has inspired my appreciation for Irish artists even more. I guest posted on Peter Nagle's blog
2 U I Bestow
just over a year ago, and he kindly returned the favour when I asked him to write a bit about his blog last week. Thanks Peter!

I'm Peter and I write the 2 U I Bestow Irish music blog and a folk column for the collaborative blog
fourforty4.
For my day job I teach Maths in a special school but in the evenings and the weekends I'm constantly listening to music, discovering great music or going to gigs and festivals. The 2 U I Bestow blog has enabled me to run a sessions gig in an intimate venue in Slane called
Boyles
and we imaginatively called the night 'Live at Boyles'. Around half of my online traffic still comes from the US, with a sizable amount from the UK and the rest from Ireland. I'd say that there are over two hundred views from Ireland per day which I'm delighted with as the blog is just a hobby and there's no revenue from it. I'm going to talk about the origin of the blog and where I see it in years to come.

The main inspiration for me to become a blogger was when I discovered
Mp3hugger.com
around five years ago now. The writing was and is still crisp and to the point with an opportunity to listen to new music before going off to buy an album or to see the band live. As mp3hugger only satisfied the indie/alternative side of me I went looking for blogs that were writing about Irish artists, or singer-songwriters or even good blogs writing about artists I adore like Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. So when there's a spot in the market you have to go for it. I began a blog in February 2008 called Mixtape4Melfi. I was thinking along the lines of a website which provides good music to escape from the mundane day to day life. Yeah I didn't think it through enough. Anyway while writing the Mixtape4Melfi blog I realised that I was writing about Irish artists that no one else covered such as Finglas born but Pittsburgh based Mark Dignam or Galway's Peadar King. I therefore began planning an Irish artist only blog which went live in November 2008. I wanted a name for the blog that was the name of a popular Irish song. It came to me that I remembered reading that the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack has sold millions worldwide and it contains that Mundy song To You I Bestow.

There have been times in the past where I wondered if I was of any help to the bands I write passionately about. My 'best of ... ' lists rarely include albums that end up on the Choice Awards lists or are revered by other established bloggers. It's taken some time to build an Irish readership because the blog is my own thoughts suited to my own tastes and it's not a tool used by PR companies, record labels or concert promoters. I therefore have free reign to write about those artist I value and to ignore the music I do not value. Over time I hope those artists I write about gain the recognition and attention they deserve. I'm particularly delighted for artist such as Lisa O'Neill and Henrietta Game who are building a sizable fan base years after I first wrote a few words about them.

I aim to continue writing until I lose passion for the blog. I'd love to see the establishment of a Nationwide Irish music only radio station because we have so many wonderful musicians and bands. Ireland unfortunately is too small to keep a band gainfully employed full time. They need to look beyond Ireland to the UK, Europe and beyond in the way Villagers, Julie Feeney and James Vincent McMorrow have been touring and promoting recently. For this reason I hope all of my readers from the US and the UK keep returning to the blog to discover new Irish music.

Thanks Jen for asking me to write a guest post for you. I hope your new radio show goes well and that you continue to find new Irish music from 2 U I Bestow.

Slane 2011

2011-05-29T23:38:00.004+01:00

I've wanted to go to a concert at the legendary
Slane Castle
since REM played there in 95. I was nine years old, so obviously the folks were completely against it. I cried all day.

Yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of Slane, and I went to my first gig there. Kings of Leon headlined, and its the first time myself and four of my best friends (and their boyfriends) all went to see the same band together.
The weather was surprisingly dry all day, but we all came prepared for the worst. Wellies and raincoats on, we got Dublin bus to Slane at half past three. They provided a great service, and drove closer to the main gates of the venue than the private busses did. This lessened the walk considerabley, but it still took us over 40 mins to get there. If I haven't already mentioned, I'm doing the
Flora Women's Mini Marathon
for
DCIL
next Monday, so at least I was able to get a bit of training in!

Slane is a fantastic venue, on a hill overlooking the River Boyne. Even though I couldn't see it, it just felt like an amazing area. I couldn't help wishing I was born a couple of decades earlier and was old enough to have witnessed performances from artists like Queen, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen there. We did get to see Thin Lizzie, or the remaining members of the band perform. I'm not a huge fan to be honest, so it would be unfair of me to say they didn't do much for me.
Elbow were fantastic, but much more suited to a smaller indoor venue, and too mellow to proceed a band like Kings of Leon.

When they did come on just before nine, Kings of Leon rocked for two hours, playing their longest set to date. They don't stop long in between songs, but when he talked, Caleb was charming and seemed genuinely grateful to be playing such a historical gig. I could listen to his accent all day!! Apparently he's not bad looking either!! They played lots of songs from their five albums, and thanked the artists who had played before them. Two of my friends put me on their shoulders at different points during the gig. The sound was so much better up there, I wish I was taller!
The performance finished with a fireworks display, during which we began the long walk back to the bus. Luckily getting home was straightforward enough, and we were in warm beds in Dublin before two A.M, unlike a friend who took the bus back home and didn't get home until half 5.

Kings of Leon were great, but they are the kind of band I'd be happy enough to see only once. I would definitely return to Slane Castle for another gig though. I'm sure it was much better years ago, when Slane was the only big music gig happening in Ireland every year. Now there are just so many outdoor festivals to choose from. The setting and the venue is very unique, and definitely worth going to if you've never been.

Keeping up appearances

2011-05-23T21:23:00.004+01:00

Even though this has been a very busy month, I've lots of things coming up and lots to think about and organise, I rarely feel like writing about any of it.
When I'm like this, rather than not blog at all, I like to write something that will hopefully get people thinking, debating and posting their comments and opinions.

How important is your appearance when you are blind?

People have individual opinions about how they should dress, how much make-up to put on and what is fashonable. Some people put lots of time and effort into dressing up and getting ready each day, while others just aren't interested. This is true whether you have sight or not, so it isn't necessarily a visual thing.

Some people who are blind have no interest in colour or style of clothes, because they can't see, so why would it matter? Why should they put on make-up when they can't look in the mirror and admire it, or feel that they can't put it on themselves without making a mess of it. They can't see themselves, so why bother putting so much effort in when it doesn't matter what they look like. As long as they are comfortable with what they ware, why does it matter to anybody else? Isn't your personality more important than what you look like?

Other blind people feel strongly about how they present themselves in public, because image is important whether we like it or not. They want to look well-dressed for work, special ocasions etc, just like sighted people do. They believe that the fact that they are blind shouldn't mean that they take no interest in how they look and present themselves. This gives an impression that blind people aren't capable of co-ordinating their style and looking trendy. Blind people often get enough unwanted attention because of mobility aids etc, so why attract more with an unmatching dress sense? These people believe that dressing well and putting time and effort into your appearance makes you feel more confident and happy, therefore having a positive effect on your every day life.

We live in a sighted world, and regularly spend more time in the company of sighted people. Do we sometimes pay attention to our appearance because of peer pressure so we fit in? In an ideal world, people would judge others by getting to know them and their personalities, not by their appearance, but in reality this doesn't happen. People make instant judgements about others based on their appearance, whether they mean to or not. Your appearance says a lot about the type of person you are, and the sighted world can be cruel.
Is it important to conform to this world to fit in, or can you have your own individual style without it ever being an issue?
If you don't enjoy spending time buying clothes or make-up, and taking at least an hour to get ready for a night out, is it because you genuinely aren't interested, or is it because you can't see, so what's the point?

Discuss :)

Lots of fun in 24 hours!

2011-05-16T14:47:00.002+01:00

On Saturday morning, O.J and I left rainy Buncrana and eventually ended up in Carlow for my friend
Nicky Kealy's
birthday. It was organised by
Darragh
who did a great job of getting as many of us as possible together, and who
wrote about it
all better than I ever could!

Cathal met me off the bus and brought me to the train station, where we met Keri and Paul and got the train to Carlow. O.J made himself at home very quickly as soon as we got to Nicky's house, by drinking from Ralph's water bowl before he even got his harness off, then relieving himself both in and out of the dog run. We didn't realise the second one had been done until Nicky went to get drinks from the shed and stood on it!
O.J kept lying in Ralph's bed, and being the gentleman of a dog that Ralph is, he didn't mind. He's a very relaxed dog and they got on great.
Darragh Emma and Ike came a while later and we all went for dinner. It was my first time meeting Emma, she was very helpful and we got on well. Ike is a gorgeous dog, and very well behaved, especially since he's so young. Pity I couldn't say the same about his owner haha.

We watched
Jedward
perform in the Eurovision before going to the pub for the party. I also got to hear Nicky singing for the first time, when Darragh put on the new CD he has just recorded. Nicky hid upstairs until it was finished. I have no idea why though, because he is an amazing singer!

We had a great night, and it was nice to meet Nicky's family and friends. We spent most of the time making fun of each other, and you certainly have to be able to defend and stick up for yourself when your with this group! The funniest parts of the night were:
-When Darragh touched Cathal's hair thinking that it was Ike
-Listening to Nicky and Peter because they are hilarius
-Walking home with Darragh guiding me and Ike guiding Darragh. Darragh decided to show me how fast he usually walks, and I was running beside him
-Darragh hugging Nicky outside their house and nearly cracking Nicky's ribs (I really thought he was going to cry!)

The next day was mostly the same sort of messing. Cathal cooked us a lovely very big breakfast, and Nicky and I washed up after (had to put that in there encase yous thought I did nothing!) Three of us got the train back to Dublin around four. I love travelling on trains and rarely get to do it, but they are so much better than buses. Getting out of the train station was interesting, since I had no idea where we were going, the trains were so noisy and I had to completely depend on O.J to make sure he was following everybody else.
I got a taxi to meet my friend Julie and her friend for pizza for a couple of hours. The taxi driver used to work in the prison service, and talking to him was very interesting. The second driver who took me to my bus was very funny, so although the journey to meet the girls was a bit out of my way, it was an interesting one.

Thanks to everyone for a great weekend. Nicky its hard deciding what to get somebody for their fortieth but you'll have it on Thursday, which is your actual birthday.
Happy birthday, you mad thing :)

Blogging against disablism day: independent living

2011-05-01T00:00:00.002+01:00

Today, May 1st is "blogging against disablism day", an annual day for bloggers to write about anything related to disability. As always, it is hosted by
diary of a goldfish
and you can read more about it and find out how to join in
here
This is my first time to participate, and here's my post.

Centres for independent living (CIlS) provide personal assistants (PAs) for people with physical and sensory disabilities in Ireland, to help them live as independently as possible. Clients are often referred by family members, social workers and other disability organisations. They complete a detailed application form to determine if they are eligible for a PA, and what tasks they need assistance with. The person with the disability directs their own service, in other words, they decide what they need help with and what they want their PA to do from day to day.

Why exactly would a blind person need a PA? That's a question I sometimes find myself having to answer and explain to people with and without sight.
When the idea of a personal assistant was suggested to me over four years ago, I wasn't really interested. I wanted to do things by myself, and felt that having a PA would mean that I was depending on somebody to do things for me. In fact, this is quite the opposite, since having a PA allows me to do things that I would otherwise not be able to do.
I live in a rural area, so public transport is not always readily availible. If I didn't have the assistance of a PA, I wouldn't be able to travel to the studio to record my weekly radio show. I mightn't be able to bring my guide dog to the vet immediately when he needs to go. I would have difficulty teaching my dog new routes that I am unfamiliar with. I wouldn't be able to do my job as well in work, because I would be confined to the office, where I can only do so much. I mightn't be able to do a part-time or evening course if I found oneI was interested in, and I wouldn't be able to explore new opportunities and interests. I know there would be many more opportunities availible if I moved to a city, but I like living in my home town, where I grew up and where people know me. I think its a pity that people feel that they have to move away in order to live independently. If we all moved away from our communities, these communities would never have to make an effort to become more accessible. I know its difficult to find work in small towns, and that's the only thing that would prevent me from staying in my home town.

I know there are blind people who live completely independently, without the help of an independent living service. It can be done effectively, but this depends on the area in which you live, the facilities availible to you and how motivated you are as an individual. I know people who depend on their family or partners to help them. My family are always willing to help, but I know that I would feel bad if I had to ask them to help with every single thing that my PA does. As a result, I would avoid doing things because they cause other people to have to go out of their way for me. My PA gets paid and this is her job, so I don't feel bad about asking her to go somewhere with me, as long as she has enough notice.

I am in the lucky position that I have a wide circle of friends to socialise with. My PA is twenty years older than me, so it would not be appropriate if I had to depend on her to accompany me on all my social activities. We get along very well but we just aren't interested in all the same things! Some people have no choice but to use their personal assistant to bring them to the cinema, to gigs, for dinner etc, and this works well for them. I would personally hate people to socialise with me because it is their job and they are getting paid. I want people to do things with me because they want to, not because they have to.

I know people who are blind, who would be too proud to apply for help from an organisation such as a CIL. In reality, some of these people are not able to do the things they would like to independently. As a result, they miss out on opportunities, and don't get to do the things they really want to. This means that they are ultimately less independent because their opportunities are limited

If you are ever given the opportunity to apply for a personal assistant, don't dismiss it as quickly as I did at first. Consider how it might improve your quality of life. If it is organised well and you are in control of your own service, having a personal assistant can be a great enhancement to the life of a person with a disability.

Reactions to OJ

2011-04-20T16:12:00.006+01:00

This is a post for the third assistance dog carnival, hosted this time by
The Trouble Is...
The topic this time is reactions, and I wasn't going to take part, simply because I couldn't think of something to write about. Then I decided I'd write about a mixture of things, a mixture of ways people have reacted, both positively and negatively to O J.

The first unusual reaction that I noticed towardsO J was during our training in Cork in August 2007. I was sitting at a cafe with two of the other trainees, waiting for our turn to go for a walk with our trainer. A man came over to look at our dogs, two goldens and O J being the only black. He commented on how well behaved they were, and then said that he'd heard how the black ones didn't have as good of a temperament as yellow or chocolate labs. My classmates and my trainer reassured me that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. If black dogs aren't as friendly, O J doesn't follow this stereotypical rule.

I guess about 95% of the people we meet react positively to O J. Many people comment on his handsome looks or his gentle personality. I've had people ask if they can pet him, which sometimes turns out to be more of a cuddle or a hug. Many people have offered to look after him when he retires. People who know us often say hello to him before me.
Some people tell me that they don't like dogs but they like him. I have worked, and currently work with people who are afraid of dogs, and wouldn't touch one in a million years, but they respect O J's work as a guide dog, and my right to have him in our office.

Children's reactions to a guide dog are always interesting. They regularly call him a "guard dog" or "blind dog", ask loudly, "why is their a dog in the shop" to their parent's embarrassment, and pet him without asking first. They are children, a guide dog in a harness is a novelty to them and they will never learn how to behave around one if they are not taught correctly. Instead of becoming frustrated at them, I use these interactions to educate them about blindness. If only teaching adults was so easy!

Adults are strange. Mostly they are genuinely interested in how a guide dog works, and they like to ask questions. Sometimes though, I meet the odd one who just doesn't get it, and no amount of explaining will change things.
Like the people who call him over to them when they can see that he is guiding me. I usually tell O J to go "straight on" in a firm voice loud enough for them to hear, and hope they'll get the message. I'm always happy when O J ignores them and walks on.
People who don't get it, like the man who quickly dropped something in front of O J while we were waiting for a bus, and casually said, I just gave the dog a biscuit. When I explained why this was not acceptable, and he could see that I wasn't pleased, he walked away and said nothing.
The strangest of all happened just after Christmas, when I went to look at furniture with my mum. The shop owner came up to chat, and proceeded to ask about O J, like he'd never seen him before, which he had. I suddenly felt O J's front legs move off the ground like he was jumping up. He never does this, and definitely not in harness, so I was very surprised. I firmly corrected him, only to be told by my mum that the shop owner we'd been talking to had actually lifted O J's front paws off the ground. He put him down and carried on talking as normal as if nothing had happened. Needless to say, I didn't buy any furniture there, and don't plan to in the future.

Record Store Day 2011

2011-04-16T23:02:00.008+01:00

Last Saturday (16th April) was
record store day
I spent the afternoon listening to live music in
Cool Discs
in Derry.
It was great to see the shop busy with people coming and going, with new CDs in their hands as they left. I stood near the door with O J and tried to keep him from being in people's way as much as possible. He enjoyed getting petted and trying to sniff people when they went in and out. Who knew he could have a career as a bouncer as well? I brought him encase I decided to go out anywhere during the performances, but they were all great, so we more or less stood in the same place for three hours and listened.

The performances included acoustic sets from
Paul Casey
Bronagh Gallagher
Paddy Nash
Furlo, Connor McAtteer, Justin Black and a few more (who I can't think of to save my life!) They were all great though!

I've written
before.
about why I like this shop so much and why I prefer shopping in Cool Discs to shopping online. Downloading music is quick and easy and it doesn't take up physical space. There are times, when I'm making a radio show for example, when I need something instantly so I will download music. However, shopping online is a lonely activity. You can't have a face-to-face conversation with the retailer before you buy what you are looking for. Websites like Amazon can recommend music, but they won't ask you what you thought of the last albums you bought next time you go to buy more. They definitely won't promote the music released by Irish artists or local bands in your area.

Before I left on Saturday, I wanted to buy some new music. I'd been meaning to buy a Paul Casey album for ages, and when I met him after he played, I promised him that I would. I had a million other things I wanted to get but decided to let Lee and Danny who work in the shop recommend something else for me. Its a great way of finding new music that I know I'll like. I've never been in a shop that knows its customers so well. Its not like I'm in every few days or few weeks even. If I could afford all the music I want I'd never leave the place! I was given 'the king is dead' by The Decemberists, which I absolutely love and haven't stopped listening to for the last two days.

Record store day is definitely a great way of celebrating shops that work hard to promote independent music and local talent. Its a pity it only happens once a year. I just hope all the people who came to their local shops on Saturday keep coming back and supporting independent music.

"Record Stores can't change your life. but they can give you a better one."
--Nick Hornby

My future dog

2011-04-13T23:06:00.000+01:00

At just over five years old, and having been a working dog for over three and a half years, I’d hope that O J is only mid-way through his career as a guide dog. He is very settled and knows his job well. He is very relaxed while working, and even when his harness is off he knows to behave if we’re out in public. I tell people it’s like having two dogs, because when he gets the chance to play, O J is still a very playful, hyper, puppy-like animal, with plenty of energy.

I’m not exactly sure why I’ve been thinking about this so much recently, but I have been considering what I would want in my next guide dog.
Ideally I want O J to work as long as possible, as long as he is healthy and happy, and willing to work. I hope I am able to recognise the signs when he does not want to do his job anymore.
He will always be very special because he was my first guide dog, and I waited so long to have the independence and freedom he has given me. I think I have been incredibly lucky to have him as a first dog, because despite being quite big and strong, he has been brilliant to work with. I haven’t had to contact a trainer for any advice since I finished my official training with him at the end of august 2007 (his only major problems have been health issues.) I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with contacting a trainer at all. Sometimes maybe I could have benefitted from their feedback if we had problems, but I persevered and worked things out, I’m stubborn like that. This doesn’t mean O J is a perfect dog, because he’s far from it, and I don’t think a perfect dog even exists.

O J has plenty of personality traits that I would rather my next dog didn’t have. He is a constant sniffer, never passing an opportunity to be nosey. He takes forever deciding where to relieve himself, going round and round in circles until he finds the perfect spot, even on grass he is familiar with. This is very annoying when its pouring rain or I’m in a hurry to be somewhere. Like most labs, he is highly motivated by food, and forgets his manners very quickly if left alone and there’s food in sight. He walks to the extreme left of everything and goes right up to an obstacle before working his way around it. People find this quite unsettling to watch, as they are sure he will walk me into something, but I know he won’t. He works much better when we’re alone together, when he has to take the lead and make the decisions. If there’s someone with us he’ll slacken off as if to say, “They can see so they know where to go”, and people can interpret this as him not being a good guide dog. I find myself having to explain his strange quirks to people over and over again.

Although he is very easily distracted, it is just as easy to refocus him again and continue working. All his problems are things I can work around and have learned to deal with, and they make him the dog I love being guided by. If my next dog doesn’t have any of these quirks I’ll be perfectly happy, just as long as his or her own personality traits aren’t any worse than O J’s.

I have also been thinking about dog breeds recently. I am very familiar with lab/retrievers, and love the temperament, adaptability and easy going nature of the breed. I like having a black dog because they are less common guide dogs around here than goldens, the hair isn’t as obvious when it sheds, and (I don’t know if it’s anything to do with the colour or not) but O J has a very shiny healthy coat, which people often remark on. Maybe if my dog is the same breed but a different colour, I’ll be less likely to compare them, and other people will too. I have always preferred male dogs for some unknown reason, even though as pets, they were harder to housetrain. That doesn’t mean I’d be disappointed if I got a female.
I would also like the challenge of working with a different breed of dog for a change. I’d be too small to get a shepherd and not sure if I could afford the high maintenance of a goldendoodle. I have no strong feeling for or against retrievers. A change of breed would help me not to compare my future dog with O J either.

These are just thoughts. I’d never actually request a certain breed, sex or colour of guide dog. I will let the guide dog trainer decide my dog by the best possible match when the time comes.
I hope dog number two is a long way away yet, and O J would probably be disgusted at the fact that I’m even thinking about this. I know I have to be realistic when the time comes though. Living without a guide dog is not an option for me anymore, so I will always have to think of the future dog.

'For the Birds' tenth anniversary gig

2011-04-02T17:50:00.009+01:00

I'm only getting a chance to sit down and write now, and try and describe what was a really special
anniversary gig
for the frames last Wednesday.
After discovering that the bus times had changed, O J and I had to get a connecting bus on the way to Dublin. I got a very friendly taxi driver who brought us to the friends house we were staying with. I'd never been there before, but we were well looked after and I think they enjoyed having a guide dog around.

I intended going into Vicar Street a bit early, encase I needed to sort out anything with O J, and to meet some friends and look at the merch stand. We had to wait on a friend's friend who had our tickets, but when we got in ten minutes before the gig started, the staff were very helpful.

O J eventually lay down under the seat and slept while
Interference
played. They are a very unique band, and despite their lead singer Fergus O'Farrell being seriously ill a couple of months ago, he sounded amazing. A few people came up to talk and to pet O J, and the staff took him out just before the frames came on stage. I gave them his bed and a bone and he went with them no bother.

Long time Frames fan Emmett O'Brien came on stage to provide a heartfelt introduction and tribute to the band and to the Album, which you can read
here.
After a huge round of applause, the band came on and played the entire album from start to finish. Magic is the only word I can use to describe it.

Thanks Dave for the picture!

When they had finished someone shouted "play another album!" Glen asked Roddy Doyle to come up and read one of his stories. It is called
Blood
and is really entertaining and funny. Then the second half of the Frames gig began, with them performing tracks mostly from the earlier part of their career. Then it was time for more special guests; Bronagh Gallagher and Damien Rice both sang a song each, then Fergus joined Glen for an amazing version of a song called 'Gold'. This was followed by a performance by Liam O'Maonlai, which was the strangest twenty minutes of music I've seen in a long long time. Liam seemed like he was in a world of his own and didn't know when to stop. My friend turned round at one stage and asked if we were in India or somewhere! He had the audience on their feet, singing and clapping, and from reading reviews and comments online the next day, I'd say some of them didn't know whether to laugh with him or at him. . He eventually decided to finish by playing a version of forever young with the frames, which was flawless. Finally, Glen, who was a bit emotional at this stage said, "we have one more special guest", at which point a backdrop of a picture of
Mic Christopher
appeared and the members of the Mary Janes joined him onstage. they all sang hey day, with the audience joining in as loud as they possibly could. If you've seen the Frames playing this, or you know anything about Mic Christopher, you'll understand how special this is. If not, go and do some research, and if you get the opportunity to hear it live, you'll also sing as loud as you can as well, maybe with tears in your eyes, and definitely a happy smile on your face.

The three-hour Frames gig ended at half twelve, and soon afterwards O J was brought back in to me. He came in wagging his tail and I knew he'd been looked after well. The staff gave him water, walked him, took him to the toilet and gave him lots of attention. They said everybody liked him and they'd be happy to have him again any time. They had done so much more than I was expecting, and I can't praise Jake and Marie enough for their help. They were friendly and helpful without being patronising or going overboard. It makes me recommend what already is a fantastic venue even more.

The weekend continued to be brilliant, with the announcement of the
Buncrana music festival
lineup for July, and probably the best party I've ever been too last night.
It was fantastic to be able to introduce some new people to the Frames, and have them react so positively to their live performance. It was also brilliant to know that I can go and see my favourite band, in a fantastic venue that allows me to bring my guide dog as well, which makes life so much easier.

A mixture of things

2011-03-22T22:15:00.002Z

Basically the last week has been busy, with no one major thing happening, so here's a post about everything and nothing at the same time.

First of all, I have to congradulate
Clive
and co for winning the award for best specialist blog at the 2011 Irish blog awards in Belfast last weekend. I've been reading their blog for the last two years and mentioned it lots here, so it was fantastic to have it officially recognised.
Damien Mulley, organiser of the awards is stepping down after six great years of hard work. I really wish I'd gone to one of these events now. Well done to everyone else who won an award.

I spent St. Patrick's day in town with my family. Nothing too exciting and the town was unusually quiet after the parade. O J did great with all the noise and people, and lay quietly in my granny's house after, even with lots of children running around.
I put a few bets on the horses but didn't win anything. Just as well I don't gamble often, because I'm useless at it.

On Sunday morning I took O J to mass. I think I've only taken him
once
before in Galway. I didn't get to go to any masses the weekend of the guide dog collection, and thought it was only right that I took him with me, since the people who go were some of those who helped us to collect the 1,775 euros we raised. He lay reasonably still through most of it and did well guiding me to communion. A few small kids ran up to pet him when we were waiting. It was so cute!

Its hard to believe that its almost a year since I applied for O J's
pet passport
I haven't used it yet, but still glad I have it encase I need it. I didn't want to mention because I thought I'd jinx myself in some way, but I actually got the whole passport process completely free. I don't know if this was thanks to my very generous vet, though he never admitted it. I have no idea, but I offered to pay and they told me it was all sorted, so I'm not complaining!
I need clarification on something though, and will ring the department of agriculture in the morning. The passport says that O.J's rabies vaccine was given on 25 March 2010 and will expire on the same date in 2012. I've been told that some countries require the vaccination to be updated yearly, and if it is not, you have to do the blood test again which is a pain. I don't know which countries these are, or if I would ever travel to any of them, but I'd hate to be stuck, so the vet suggested getting an annual vaccination to prevent any problems. If I do this I'll have to get it done on Thursday.
I think this is right anyway. I'm a bit confused!

On Saturday, O J and I and some friends are going to a
Who Wants To Be A Thousandaire?
fundraiser for the music festival that's taking place in Buncrana this summer. I don't know the lineup of that yet but can't wait to find out.

O.J's birthday

2011-03-13T23:41:00.000Z

Poor O.J didn't exactly have the nicest birthday today. We did our annual church gate collection for Irish guide dogs this weekend. I am the only guide dog owner in my town and although I detest bucket collections, I don't mind doing this one, as if I don't nobody else will, and its a great chance to raise a bit of cash.

Family and friends were very helpful as usual, standing in the cold collecting at the different gates in three different chapels. We did two collections on Saturday, but had an hour in between to go get a coffee and get heatened up. One of the local supermarkets opened a new cafe about six months ago and the staff there love O.J and are always very helpful.

Today was much colder than yesterday, and very very wet. I collected outside three churches, and people were so generous. They kept saying things like, "you must be freezing" and "you picked a bad day to do the collection." Each charity has a date assigned to them every year. Do they really think that if I had a choice, I'd decide to collect in the middle of March?
O.J didn't seem to mind the rain at all, and stood patiently beside me, giving the odd passerby a sniff when they gave us money. He also barked at a dog across the road and I had to stop him quickly encase he put people off coming near us.

O.J spent the next three hours lying on a mat in front of the fire drying himself. He had a bone and lots of cuddles but nothing else exciting happened on his birthday. I went to a fashon show that my friend is running, but thought I'd leave him at home since I'd traumatised him enough for one day.
I promise O.J, your sixth birthday will be much better!

Keep an eye on the comments section to see how much we raised!

Project 366 things

2011-03-11T15:32:00.005Z

I don't know how I haven't read this blog before now. Its a brilliant concept, interesting, funny and very well written.
The creater of
the project 366 things
is Dan Mooney, a 26 year-old from Limerick. He began the project on his 26th birthday, and will do something he has never done before every day until he turns 27.

I heard Dan talking to Ray Darcy on today fm yesterday, just before he began one of his latest challenges. I've also heard him
plucking a turkey
looked for a needle in a haystack (literally)
and getting a
Brazilian wax
all on national radio. Its not like I hadn't heard of him before, so I have no idea why I only looked at the blog for the first time yesterday. Better late than never I suppose, and reading back through his posts was great fun.

Other things Dan did for the first time included dying his hair, knitting, set dancing and sewing.
Some of the stranger things included:
staying outdoors for 24 hours
drinking his own urine
learning to beat box, burning a bra, giving money to a stranger, and lots lots more.
Dan even tried
being blind for a day
Pity he didn't have a guide dog to try walking with that day too.

There's still another month of new things to go. Good luck with the rest of the project Dan!
Anyone who hasn't seen it, check it out!

So much to think about

2011-03-06T17:55:00.003Z

The building is going well on my new house, and the builders are working on the roof at the moment. It all seems to be happening so fast since they began on the first of February, but everybody says this is the quickest part. My parents and sister have been brilliant, overseeing the work and making slight changes to the original plans, as they notice things that could make it look better. There are so many decisions for me to make in the next few months, and my head hurts just thinking about them all.

We have to order the windows this week. What type of windows do I want?
What type of door would look good on the house? What colour of a door? I can't see colours and don't understand them but I want the house to look good.
What type of stairs do I want, open or closed? What type of floor, carpet upstairs but wood or tyles downstairs? I want tyles that aren't a nightmare to clean. If I have wooden floors, I don't want ones that will get marked by dog paws and look like they need replaced soon after I put them down.

What type of heating system do I want? I've more or less decided on oil, but how good are these high efficiency condenser boilers? Will I need something else as well as a back-up. There's a fireplace in the house already. I love an open fire but hate lighting things and dealing with coal and all that messy stuff. Will I put an electric stove or electric fire there instead. These new wood pellet stoves are economical and give out a lot of heat but they are expensive to install. Its hard to know how much running my own house will cost until I actually move in. I don't want to be constantly broke forever!

We went to look at kitchens yesterday. I know what size the kitchen is and where everything will go, but what colour of kitchen do I want? What type of wood do I want? What's my budget? I don't know!

Do I want curtains or blinds? What type of sofa and chairs? built-in or free standing wardrobes? What colour will each room be painted? I want an alarm system, so that has to be organised when the electrition comes. Oh crap, when the electrition comes, how many plugs do I need and where do I want them? Better to have too many than not enough right?
And it goes on and on and on...

Designing and decorating a house can be fun when your blind, and there are certain parts that I just have no interest in. You really have to trust other people's opinions sometimes, and when people have different opinions about what looks good, it can be difficult.
I was talking to a friend about this recently, and we talked about how we like our houses to look as good as anybody who can see. Being blind doesn't mean living in darkness, or having no pictures on the wall, just because you can't see them. I want visitors to my house to feel comfortable and not feel embarrassed by the lack of anything stylish in my house.

There are two areas that my family and friends won't really be able to help with much, and these are things that I really need to work well, so any advice would be great!

The first thing is appliances and gagets. I don't want to put in a washing machine, dishwasher or any appliance and then discover that it isn't accessible or that I could have got another type that's easier to use.
Are there any must-have gagets that you couldn't live without in your house? I'm just curious!

One of the things I'm most excited about is having somewhere to have all my computer equipment and audio together, and setting up a small studio when I move in. I haven't decided the exact reason for doing this yet, but I have a few ideas I'd love to try if I had the right equipment. Good audio equipment also means having the perfect sound system. Ideally I'd love surround sound through the house if possible. It would be great if everything could be connected so that it could work through my stereo, TV and laptop. The wiring for this would have to be done soon, but I have no idea how it would all work. I know there's wireless surround sound speakers but I have no idea how these work either. I know you have audio systems where your main source of audio is in one room and you can play it to other rooms in the house, but I don't know if this is just availible in a stereo or could it be connected to other things? Are these accessible? So many things are digital and have touch screens, and I don't like it!

I don't want to spend money on things for my house, and then realise later that I should have got something else instead. When you haven't bought any of this stuff before, its hard to know what is the right price to pay for stuff and when you are being ripped off.
Everybody is telling me to enjoy this part of the moving stage, because there's a chance I might never move again, or it won't be as much fun the next time. I'm trying to relax and enjoy it, while thinking about a million things at the same time!

You and Your Dog!

2011-02-28T11:46:00.006Z

In October last year I wrote
this post
(which happens to be the most commented post on this blog!) where I talked about wanting to study in the area of dog training, as its something I've always been interested in. I also wanted to try a distance learning course, so I chose to do the 'You and Your Dog' course with
COAPE,
or the centre of applied pet ethology in the UK. I'll give my review of the course before telling you how I got on.

This course was the most basic one that they offered, and they recommended taking it as an introduction before anything else. I thought it might be very basic, but since it was the cheapest, and half the price of the next course, I decided to go with their suggestion. The course work was emailed to me in PDF form, and I wrote and returned the assignments by email. The tutur was Peter Neville, who has a vast amount of experience working with dogs. His course notes were written in a simple, friendly, often humourous style, making them easy to absorb and remember. He was approachable and helpful by email, and left useful thoughtful comments on each assignment.

The course was made up of six units with an assignment after each one. It was based around getting and owning a new puppy, or you could write about one you already owned or have owned in the past. It was quite basic, but it made me think about how I look after my own dogs and how I could improve. I based my assignments on both dogs, depending on the question, and I might even post one or two of these sometime.
The final assignment was made up of two parts, and the first asked you to draw six pictures to show the facial and body expressions of dogs in different emotional states. Before beginning the course, the tutor decided that I could just find pictures online and present them in a slideshow since it was only a small part of the course. My friend and my nephew helped to find the pictures and put this together, and the tutur was happy with the result. He did say however that he should have given me an alternative assignment to make it more accessible, which is true but I didn't mind.

Overall, I felt that the course was a good introduction to distance learning. It made me realise how bad I am at managing time though. The assignments could be completed in a couple of hours or less when I put my mind to it. I find that when deadlines are flexible I'll leave everything to the last minute. I emailed my last assignment last Thursday because I was determined to get it done by the end of February. There was no need for these six assignments to take me almost four months to complete.

I thought there could have been a bit more reading material in each unit, especially for the cost of the course. I was expecting reading recommendations or extra material on the website they provided but apparently this is only availible for the more advanced courses.

My results for the six units varied from 95 to 85 per cent, giving me an average overall grade of 90.2% which I was very happy with. I'll get a certificate from COAPE in the next few days and one from the open college network (OCN) later.
I have another course in mind which would begin in September if I go ahead with it. I still have some research to do about it first, so I'll see what happens. In the meantime I'll just enjoy being a geeky student :)

Residential in Garton

2011-02-27T22:17:00.003Z

On Friday morning I went to
Garton adventure centre
with blind and visually impaired people from the RNIB and NCBI, (organisations that work to help people with sight loss in the North and South of Ireland.) It was part of the
Sensory Engagement Programme
which you can read more about from the link above. I left the house at eight with my dad and had intended to vote first, but our car had a flat tire so we just about made it to the bus! It picked people up along the way, and nine of us, along with three PAs and two organisers met in Garton at eleven. O.J was the only dog since the other guide dog owner didn't take his, but that meant he got all the attention.

We had coffee, got to chat a bit and meet people if we hadn't met before, then settled into our rooms. O.J and I had one to ourselves, even though it could sleep four people. We did some confidence building exercises with Tracy Dempsey, who runs a company called
Soul Ambition
She is excellent at her job and made it a lot of fun. Sometimes I find things like that boring or a bit airy fairy, but she kept it down to earth and lighthearted.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go on the residential at first. I never really liked them when I was small, because I didn't go to a school for blind people, so I never knew a lot of the people who went, and it felt like I was just being made to go because me and all these people where blind. When I eventually did give in and go to a couple, I always enjoyed them. The main reason I felt I had to go to this one is that they asked me to record what happened during the weekend for a podcast for the project's website. I packed my plextalk recorder with its great new memory card, and two microphones and intended to record whenever I had a good opportunity.

After dinner we did what's called the nightline, where you go into a forest blindfolded and follow a rope to find your way around. The person in front has to give directions to the person behind and so on, so the aim is to be able to listen and pass on clear instructions, and to trust yourself and others of course. The facilitator from Garton told me to leave the recorder behind because I'd need my two hands. I told her I'd just record her instructions before we began then put it away. I knew what to expect as I'd done the walk before, and for a totally blind person Its not as challenging. We don't worry about every step we are taking as much as somebody who is blindfolded, so we are much more relaxed. After ten minutes I took out the recorder and recorded the whole thing, while holding the rope with the other hand. I did have to put it away to crawl on my belly under a tree! Of course I was delighted with myself and got some great audio. The weather was lovely and everyone had fun. I enjoyed hearing other people's reactions most of all. We had supper, watched the social network and went to bed.

After breakfast on Saturday we had a talk about education and courses availible and a member of the NCBI came to show us equipment on sale in their shop. I'd seen most of it before but there are a couple of things I want when I move house. We had a talk about benefits, to make sure people know what they are entitled to. After lunch two members of the group demonstrated apple technology to those of us who weren't familiar with it. This didn't work too well because there were too many computers and phones talking at the same time. I was more interested in the i phone than anything else. After that we all went canooing which was great!

After dinner we had a quiz. There were three teams and it was mostly music, with two general knowledge rounds at the end. We were allowed to use the computers to find the answers, which is cheating of course, but the aim was to force us to use the technology. I didn't get far because voiceover kept stopping every time I typed. Tracy and I spent the time laughing, changing the voices and making fun of each one instead. Hillarius, but I think you had to be there. The questions were too old for me and I knew about four of them but we won. We went to the pub and Tracy played the guitar and sang when we got back. She's an amazing singer, and check out her
myspace
and find out for yourself.

We were just about to go to bed and I'd been recording bits and pieces of the singing. I wanted to delete something, and decided to do it with one earphone in my ear while getting O.J ready and talking at the same time. I learned the hard way that I can't multi-task, because I clearly wasn't listening to the plextalk's voice prompts and didn't have it on the correct setting, and deleted everything I'd recorded. When I got to my room and realised what I'd done, I could have cried. There was a lot of cursing involved. I couldn't sleep and was in the worst mood ever. I kept thinking maybe there's some way I can get it back, so decided in the morning to say nothing to the organisers, continue recording and make the best with what I had. I recorded two of the boys getting ready for a tandem cycle, then interviewed one of the organisers down beside the lake. Really all I wanted to do was throw the bloody recorder and microphone into the lake and never see it again. We finished the morning with evaluation forms and more lifecoaching, setting goals for the future and how we were going to achieve them. My goal for that day was to try and forget about the recording but it didn't happen.

O.J was a bit of a brat the morning we were leaving, but a star when we were there. He did bark at dogs outside during one of our sessions, but it was funny. One of the PAs took him for a walk today, and he stayed quietly in my room during the nightline and cannooing as I couldn't bring him. It was good to have him to get around as the building was quite big, and complicated at first.

I think this programme could bring good opportunities, and already it was a good chance to meet some nice people. You always learn new things and new tips that way as well, and can pass on things you find useful. The weekend away taught me not to judge things before they happen, like I often have a habit of doing. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, so I won't dismiss the next one as quickly. I just won't volunteer to record anything next time!

What's the best thing about being blind?

2011-02-22T15:51:00.002Z

Last week I mentioned the lovely kids I'd met at a small school I visited as part of the disability awareness programme for work. I often find that children are quite shy at first, and sometimes they don't really start asking many questions until the second session, a week after we first meet them. The questions often become more thoughtful and interesting, which was the case with this class. The teacher knew I was going to get a bus, so he told them they only had time for one more question before I left. A few put up their hands and shouted "sir, sir" enthusiastically. He picked a girl from fourth class who asked, what's the best thing about being blind?
I've never been asked this by a child so young before, and wasn't sure what to say at first. I told them that of course it was the fact that I get a free dog! They all laughed, and it gave me time to think of an honest answer.

The best thing about being blind for me is that I am not able to judge people straight away. I can't make judgements on their appearance or by how they dress. I have to get to know them a bit first, and base my opinion of them on their personality. I explained to the children that of course I can make judgements about people without looking at them, and those judgements can also sometimes be made too quickly or unfairly, the same as sighted people can. The fact that I can't see doesn't necessarily make me less judgmental. It just means I can't judge somebody by how they look, and that is something I am actually grateful for.

What's your favourite thing about being blind?

Today is a good day :)

2011-02-18T16:15:00.004Z

Not because its my birthday, and as far too many people keep reminding me, I turn quarter of a century.
Today is a good day because O.J and I walked to our new house today for the first time on our own, and he did it almost perfectly. We pass lots of houses with barking dogs at the gates, so he was fairly distracted, but I could tell he was excited and determined to get us there. The road opposite my house is one of the busiest in the town, and we are hoping to speak to the town council about this as its very difficult to get across. My dad told me when to cross from the other side of the road, but I was delighted that O.J got us that far with no problems.
The walls are built up now, and they are starting the floor upstairs. It is amazing to walk inside the shell of what will be your future home. There's rubble on the ground and everything is everywhere. O.J sat down in the middle of the floor like he owns the place. I think he will make himself at home very quickly, when we eventually move in.

I'm going for dinner with my cousin tonight and meeting up with my sister and her friends. My three-year-old nephew can't wait to have a party for me over the weekend. Not exactly sure what that will involve, but having kids around stops you from feeling completely ancient!

The wheels on the bus...

2011-02-17T11:28:00.003Z

O.J and I have been on a bus every day for the last week. He's in great form and really enjoying the variety of work and change of scenery each day.

Last thursday morning we went to work in Letterkenny
The next morning I finished the second week of disability awareness training with possibly one of the nicest groups of kids I have ever met. There were only sixteen in the class, and the schools only had two rooms. Their teacher was friendly and enthusiastic, and it was clear that they all got along well and get a great education there.
After that we got the bus to Dublin to visit
Stuart
and his partner. We had a great weekend as usual. A couple of friends came to visit, we watched some Father Ted and did the radio show as usual. We went to the pub for food after it and met another of Stuart's friends who I chat to on twitter but haven't seen in eight years.
The good thing about visiting this part of Dublin often is that it is becoming familiar to O.J. He relishes in the fact that he can find the right house on the way home from the shop or the pub.

The two dogs get on very well but had a bit of an incident on Saturday. We let them play outside because the weather was lovely. They weren't really chasing each other as much as usual so we thought a toy would encourage them to play. They both ran and tried to grab it at the same time, and O.J got his ear nippled on in the process. He whined a bit and ran over to me. He was fine though, no harm done. The dynamic completely changed after that, and the dogs avoided each other for the rest of the day. O.J did try and get his own back by eating some of Q's food. By the next morning they were friends again.

I worked in the office on Monday, finishing off preparations for a presentation I had to make at a conference. On tuesday afternoon my PA and I got the bus to Dublin again. We stayed in
Isaac's Hotel
which is opposite the depot and very easy to find. Its very basic but there is grass close by which is good when you've got a guide dog who refuses to go on concrete. The staff were friendly and loved O.J.

We attended the shared learning conference for CILs yesterday morning. I had to talk about a fundraising project we've done in work, which I'm not directly involved in but the person who is couldn't do it. I was very nervous and it didn't help that I was last to present. Everybody was very friendly and I was worrying about nothing. The presentation couldn't have gone better.
O.J was happy to meet Isaac, the first Irish guide dog trained for a person who also uses a wheelchair. He's one very big dog!

We had a couple of hours to kill before the bus home, so I met Keri for a coffee. O.J didnt exactly know where to go to find the bus, but he knew we were looking for one and tried to bring me on every bus he could find.

Back in work today, and we're both a bit tired. I think we'll both be glad to have a break from buses for the weekend.

Waw, a blog award nomination?

2011-02-14T21:43:00.004Z

The 2011 Irish blog awards take place on 19 March in the Europa Hotel in Belfast. They are hosted by
Rick O Shea
who is just one of the coolest people on Irish radio.
I usually always nominate blogs in the various categories, and keep an eye out for the results. This year I didn't hear much about them beforehand, and was surprised to hear that nominations had closed sooner than I was expecting. I was even more surprised to read on twitter today that my blog has been nominated in the 'personal blog' and 'specialist blog' 2011 categories. Waw!

I don't know who nominated me, but thank you, whoever you are. I'm pleasantly surprised :)
I doubt I'll get shortlisted in either category, there's just far too many good blogs out there. I'm quite happy just to be nominated.
Many people say that blogging is dead, but if you take a look at the long list of nominated blogs on the
Irish Blog Awards website
you will see that there are still many talented and dedicated Irish bloggers out there.

Quote of the week!

2011-02-08T21:18:00.002Z

We had a very busy but enjoyable ten days with my brother, and I miss him a lot even though he's only been gone for one day.
The funniest thing all week was something he said to O.J. He opened the boot to put him into the car one morning when we were going to town. When O.J sat down like he was told to, my brother gave him a hug and said,
"If I have sons, I hope they are as lovely and well behaved as you are."

Brilliant :)

Celebrations!

2011-02-01T23:23:00.003Z

I have told lots of lies recently. In fact, I have never lied so much in my entire life. It was all for a good reason, and I'm sure I will be forgiven.

My mum will turn 60 on Thursday. Last Friday she celebrated with my dad and a couple of their friends by going to a hotel she really loves. She came home on Saturday night, thinking she was collecting me to go and have dinner in my aunt's house. Instead, our house was filled with around 50 of her family and friends who were there to surprise her. Needless to say she was completely shocked, and had absolutely no idea that we had planned anything. The biggest surprise of all was that my Brother came home from Afghanistan for the party. My sister and I had known he was coming since Christmas. My dad had no idea either, and when he finally got over the shock, he was delighted.

The party couldn't have gone better, and we spent the next day confessing all the lies we'd told our mum during the last few weeks. My brother is here until next week, and we still have my mum's actual birth day to celebrate, as well as my godson/nephew's confirmation on Saturday.

Another thing that's made me excited this week is that the building of my new house has finally started. I am rennovating and extending an existing house, which O.J and I will hopefully move to at the end of the summer. We applied for planning permission in August and it was refused, but after making small changes, it went through in December. Part of the building was knocked down yesterday, and the cement lorries were there early this morning. My three year-old nephew is obsessed with what's happening, so I get a full account of exactly what happens each day. He even said yesterday when we were watching the builders that he wished I could see, because it was so exciting!

I have been working in my current job for exactly one year today. The original plan was that I'd work there for two months while they found a new receptionist. Six months later they employed two part-time receptionists, but I'm still there and will hopefully be for another year. The school project I'm involved in is going well, and could open exciting possibilities for me this year, but I can't talk about that at the moment.

Off to bed now, to listen to some music with my new earphones. Yay for Amazon vouchers :)

'For The Birds'

2011-01-24T21:18:00.004Z

On 30 March 2001, The Frames released their fourth studio album
'For the Birds.
Having been previously dropped by two record lables, and having little trust in the music industry, the band released For the Birds independently, on their own record label, 'Plateau'. They were determined to do things differently, and make a record for themselves, not for music producers. They were aware that they could potentially lose many old fans in the process, but there was a possibility of gaining many new ones as well, and that's exactly what happened.

The initial sessions for For the Birds began in a country house in Kerry in the spring of 2000. The band rented a house for two weeks, played music, wrote songs, cooked each other dinner, went for walks and had fun. Later that year they travelled to Chicago to work with sound engineer Steve Albini it his
Electrical Audio studio
and if you've ever heard Glen Hansard talking about this in interviews, it is clear that it was an incredible experience for them all.
The album sold more copies in the first few weeks of its release in Ireland than all of the band's previous albums put together. It was very different from anything they had done before, but it was obvious that the band made the right move by finally making music the way they wanted to.

'For the Birds' was the first Frames album that I ever bought. I have a crazy memory, so can recall that day very well. I was in Dublin with my mum, visiting UCD and trying to decide what course I wanted to do and where to study when I finished secondary school. Before getting the bus home, I went to HMV and bought the album because 'Lay Me Down' was on it. I remember being disappointed when I heard it first because I didn't look at the track list and was expecting to hear more songs that I was familiar with. 'Lay Me Down' was the only one. I didn't listen to it much until we went to visit my brother in Australia a few weeks later, where I had lots of time to relax, and not enough music with me. I'll admit the album took a while to grow on me, but it is one of my favourite Frames albums today. I think you really have to be in the mood to listen to it, and it is best suited to long drives or listened too on headphones late at night.

So why am I talking about 'For the Birds'? On 30 March it will be ten years old, and since its release was such a turning point in the Frames career, they will perform the entire album in Vicar Street in Dublin. Tickets went on sale and sold out today, but luckily I have mine. I've decided to tell certain people who already think I'm mad for wanting to see this band so many times that I got free tickets. It kind of justifies my madness a little bit :)
I really wanted to take O.J to Dublin with me then, as it will make getting around much easier. I could bring him in during the support band, an amazing band called
Interference
who I've wanted to hear live for a long time. They play guitar and stringed instruments, and no drums. I decided to ask the staff if there was anywhere I could leave O.J during the Frames performance, explaining the reasons that I wrote about in
this post.
If they said no, I had nothing to lose. They actually said yes!
This is a very positive step for an Irish music venue, and one I am very grateful for. I just hope O.J stays on his best behaviour when I am watching my favourite band. He will be able to accompany me for post-gig drinks and meet some friends who are looking forward to meeting him afterwards.

What if your not a doggy person?

2011-01-16T17:47:00.004Z

What if, you are visually impaired or blind and want to be more independent. What if, you use the cane but aren't comfortable or confident or don't feel safe walking with it. What if, you hear guide dog owners speak of how much freedom and independence their dogs give them, and how they couldn't imagine not having one. What if, you would love this freedom, confidence and independence, but don't really like dogs. You haven't had much experience with them, and you worry that you wouldn't be able to bond with one or look after one properly. Is it possible to be matched with a suitable guide dog and develop a good working relationship with that dog and trust it to guide you safely? How do you trust that dog if you don't really like dogs? And, in that case, do you view your dog as a mobility tool rather than a companion?

Anyone who knows me already knows that I am a doggy person, have always loved dogs and will hopefully always own at least one throughout my life. I couldn't wait to begin guide dog training, because training with a dog was all I had ever wanted when I was small. The training was difficult, challenging and exhausting, but I really enjoyed it. I'm convinced that one thing that made it a bit easier was that I had lots of previous experience with dogs. I could concentrate less on the daily care of the dog, and more on the new skills and techniques that I needed to learn to work with it effectively.

I know there are people who successfully train with guide dogs who have had little or no experience with dogs before. I have heard of people who were afraid of dogs before, but for some reason decided to overcome their fear and train with one. I know someone who enjoys working with their own guide dog but isn't too fond of other dogs. I also know that there are people who view their guide dog primarily as a mobility aid that helps them get from A to B safely, and could do without the so called companionship it offers when it is off-duty.

I'm not saying the above situations are wrong, or the incorrect way to approach guide dog ownership. If anything, I admire people like this. It must be very difficult to put your trust in an animal if you aren't very fond of them to begin with. It must be difficult to have to put so much time and energy into looking after it, cleaning up after it, taking it to the vet etc. I'd imagine its difficult to bond with a dog if doing this doesn't seem natural to you. It must be a huge learning curve, and one I don't honestly think I'd be brave enough to deal with. I doubt there is evidence that suggests that people who have had lots of experience with dogs make better guide dog owners or are easier to train. There is a good chance that they tend to concentrate on the pet dog aspect or on previous experiences more, and lose sight (pardon the punn) of the fact that the dog is a working animal and things have to be done in certain ways. If you can successfully train and work with a dog no matter what your doggy background is, the instructors will give you one. If you weren't suitable, you wouldn't be matched. As long as the dog is healthy, happy and working well, that's the main thing right? Or is that enough?
Can someone possibly go from not really liking dogs to successfully working with their own guide dog?
I'm just curious!
and bored
:)

Guide Dog Training, From Cork to New Jersey!

2011-01-15T00:44:00.002Z

This week, two guide dog owners began training with their second dogs. Although they will share similar experiences as they bond with their new pups, the main difference is that they are sharing these experiences from different sides of the world.

Darragh and Ike
are training at the guide dog centre in Cork in Ireland, where I trained with O.J, while
Julia and her dog Kerry
are training in Morristown New Jersey.
It is interesting to hear their first impressions of their new dogs, their challenges, frustrations and expectations for the future, and the similarities and differences in the way they are trained. It brings back a lot of memories for me, and its hard to believe that I trained with O.J three and a half years ago. I can't imagine working with another dog, but of course it will happen someday. I don't want to compare my future dogs with O.J, but I suppose its only natural. I just hope I don't have to do it for a very long time.

Love Train

2011-01-05T19:34:00.004Z

I knew there was a band called the O'Jays and of course I know this song well, but never actually connected both of them until I heard it on the radio in work this morning.

here they are!

It will be stuck in your head all day!

My review of 2010

2010-12-29T22:20:00.004Z

Now that We’ve survived Christmas, which involved excited nephews with lots of toys, lots of lovely food, a few nights out with my best friends, and some nice presents such as clothes, make-up and new music, its time I wrote about the year that was 2010. Apart from our government being a joke and the country being in a huge financial mess that affects everybody who lives here, It was mostly a great year for myself and O.J. If I didn’t keep a blog I wouldn’t remember half of it!

In January 2010 I
lost my job
As a result of lack of funding, and a week later, I got
a new one.

In February I spent my 24th birthday in London with my mum and sister, and we went to see Lion King the musical, which I’d wanted to see for years.
O.J got his first professional groom, and I applied for his pet passport in March.
In April I did an amazing work placement for a week at Radio Foyle. O.J came with me and was always the centre of attention. I think its fair to say we both enjoyed it a lot!

In May I had five amazing
guest posts
On the blog, from guide dog owners who wrote about different stages of owning a dog. They are definitely worth a read if you haven’t seen them already. Guest posting is a feature I want to do again on the blog next year.
I was also asked to be a guest blogger on Peter Nagle’s blog
2uibestow
Where I wrote five music-related posts.

June was a busy but brilliant month. On the 3rd, my gorgeous nephew Harry was born, the following week my brother came home, and the week after that we celebrated my dad’s
sixtieth birthday.

O.J had an
operation
To have his anal glands removed in July. He recovered well after a slightly difficult start, and hasn’t looked back since.
We worked on developing a disability awareness project in work, which meant that O.J and I featured in a few newspaper articles and on a few school walls.
I gave my first talk to secondary school pupils in October in
St. Cecilia’s College
In Derry and it was really enjoyable.

O.J took his third flight in November, when we went to
Cheshire
To visit my cousin’s school.
December was the coldest weather I’ve ever experienced in my life, but when the yak trax I bought from Amazon finally came in the post we managed much better than previous years in the ice. I missed a lot of days at work and it restricted us a lot, but there was no point in getting annoyed about it when there was nothing anybody could do.

As usual, music was an important part of the year. I attended my first music award ceremony In Vicar Street In March, Duke Special’s Hector Mann performance, two Neil Hannon Gigs with O.J, that incredible Glen Hansard gig in
Dunlewey
In September, and two of the Frames 20th anniversary gigs in December, (I found out I definitely had a ticket for the Wheelans gig 3 hours before jumping on the bus from here to Dublin!)

I haven’t made too many plans for 2010 yet. That’s because my main plan is to renovate an existing house and move in at the end of the summer if all goes well. Hopefully I can improve at my job and learn new things, and O.J’s work will be as good as it usually is. I also hope we can go new places, have new experiences and meet new people.

I hope everyone has a happy new year, and a healthy and happy 2011.
) 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-24T12:02:00.005Z

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and the kennels were still,
with most dogs now asleep having eaten their fill.

The Labradors sprawled out, quite snug in their beds,
while visions of ANYTHING edible danced in their heads.

And the Goldens and Shepherds curled up on the floor,
some twitched in their sleep and some even did snore.

The dog food was stacked in the feed room with care,
in hopes that a trainer soon would be there.

On the window ledge, one of the kennel cats lay,
surveying the lawn at the end of this day.

Something was different, that little cat knew.
Tonight something would happen, it had to be true.

For that day as the workers had left to go home,
they'd wished Merry Christmas! before starting to roam.

The dogs had noticed it too during this past week's walks;
the trainers seemed just that much happier and eager to talk.

In the mall where they worked through the maze of people and stores,
there were decoration and music and distractions galore!

Most dogs pranced along without worry or fear,
but some balked at the man on the sleigh and those fake looking
deer.

The cat was almost asleep too when he first heard the sound,
a whoosh through the air and a jingle around.

It reminded him of a dog's collar when the animal shook,
but this sound kept on growing. He'd better go look.

From the ceiling there came a faint sort of thunk,
as the kennel cat climbed to the highest pile of junk.

Once before people had worked on the roof
and come down through the trap door to a chorus of "Woooof!"

But the dogs still were quiet, all sleeping so sound,
as this man dressed in red made his way right on down.

He patted the cat as he climbed past his spot,
and then made his way right to the trainers' coffee pot.

A shepherd sat up, not fully awake,
then a Golden followed her with a mighty loud shake.

That did it! All the dogs sprang to life with loud noise.
In spite of the din, the old man kept his poise.

He filled the pot full and it started to brew,
then he pulled up a chair and took in the view.

Dogs all around him, so carefully bred,
he knew well their jobs, the blind people they led.

Some had stopped barking and looked at him now,
while others delighted in their own deafening howl.

Laying a finger in front of his lips,
the jolly old man silenced the excitable yips.

"You all may not know me, but I'm Santa Claus,"
the old man smiled and took a short pause,

While he filled up his mug with hot liquid and cream,
"I've always wanted to stop here. It's been one of my dreams."

The cat had climbed down and was exploring Santa's sack.
"Yes, little kitty, that's an empty pack."

Santa smiled as he drank and looked at those eyes,
deep brown ones and gold ones held wide in surprise.

Some of these dogs, he'd seen just last year,
in their puppy homes, cute and full of holiday cheer.

He'd seen the effects of a pup on the tree,
but now they were here at the school, just waiting to be.

"I didn't bring you presents or bones just to chew.
I'll tell you something better, what you are going to do."

"You all will work hard and the trainers will share,
both praise and correction, gentle and fair."

"You'll go lots of places and face big scary things.
You'll ride buses and subways and hear fire sirens ring."

"Cars will drive at you but you will stand strong,
not moving into danger, not moving toward wrong."

"And then just when you think that this trainer's the best,
the kindest, and funniest person, toss away all the rest,"

"That trainer will begin to ignore you and give you away,
handing your leash over despite your dismay."

"Now the person who pets you and feeds you will be
a blind person.
That's a person who can't see."

"This man or this woman may see just a tad,
but their view's missing parts or the focus is bad."

"So you, well trained dogs, will act as their eyes.
You will work as a team and discover the size

Of this great world we live in, because you will go
a million new places with this person, you know."

Santa sipped at his coffee and looked over the brood,
knowing what he had to say next might sound kind of rude.

"Not all of you will make it and become canine guides.
Your time here isn't wasted though. You won't be cast aside."

"Some of you will be drug dogs and some will find bombs.
Some will become pets in a home with a dad and a mom."

"All these things are important. People wait on long lists,
to receive such good dogs as you, the school folks insist."

The last drop of coffee had gone into his cup
as Santa turned, smiling at each wide eyed pup.

"The best gift of all is to give something back.
That's why there's nothing for you all inside of my pack."

Draining his mug, Santa went to each pen,
and petted and scratched each dog again and again.

"Now next year and many more years after that,
you all will give gifts wherever you're at."

"You might lick a hand that's had a bad day,
Or notice a car and step out of the way."

"You might help catch a crook or discover some loot,
Or just bring some joy to a tired old man in a funny red suit."

"Your master will love you and treat you with care.
In return, your training and trust will always be there."

After the last dog had been petted and soothed,
Santa put away the coffee pot and made ready to move.

Up the ladder he rose to the door high above,
with a smile and a wave as he slipped on his gloves.

And all the dog ears were pricked as he disappeared out of sight.
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"

~ Author Unknown

Happy Christmas to anyone who has read here during the year. I hope Santa paws comes to all the dogs and they get something nice.

O.J got his first Christmas present last night. My friends and I always go to my cousin's pub on Christmas eve eve to do secret santa and open our presents. I got a CD and O.J got a stocking. We ended up being the last ones to leave the pub. The girls were singing Christmas songs and didn't want to leave! O.J didn't know what to think of it all.

I usually spend most of Christmas eve visiting people and giving presents, before going to mass and staying in my sister's house, so I can see her excited children getting their presents in the morning. Christmas would be boring if there weren't any children around.
Have a good one everyone.
Jen and O.J xx

Dougal m"eats" Santa

2010-12-21T08:56:00.006Z

Living with my two dogs is like living with the angel and the devil. Dougal has ate some crazy things in his almost four years of existance, but last week's episode was his biggest achievement to date. How he is still alive, never mind perfectly healthy, I will never know.

I went up to my room after work to find a plastic bag in the middle of the floor. The only thing in it was a small bell. I was very confused for a few minutes, but then a quick look around my room confirmed my worst fears.
Dougal had eaten not one but three Lindt chocolate Santas, tinsel and all, only leaving one little bell. These are pure milk chocolate, and if you ate one yourself you'd feel slightly sick. Imagine a dog as small as Dougal eating three?

The next six hours were not good. I won't go into detail, but lets just say there was a lot of constant cleaning up to do. My cousin who is a vet said to keep an eye on him encase of seizures, because chocolate can be fatal for dogs. He was very dehydrated and had a racing heartbeat, but I knew by how sick he was that he would probably be fine.

After a much needed bath the next day he was back to his usual self. His thieving habits haven't stopped completely, but he has moved from chocolate to opening Christmas presents now.
Go fetch mine Dougal!

emails

2010-12-13T14:54:00.003Z

My inbox had some nice things in it this morning:

1. an email from guide dogs in Cork saying their pups for sponsorring have been put online. Over the summer I mentioned that my mum and some friends did a charity shop and raised 2,500, 500 quid for five different charities, one being Irish guide dogs. I decided to use the money to sponsor two pups for my three and twelve-year-old nephews. two black pups, Doodles Harris and Holly will be going to live with a family soon, who will look after them for the next year. My nephews will receive their first update about them this week.
Danny pulled a wishbone for the first time the other day. His dad was explaining what it was and how you had to make a wish and not tell anybody. A few minutes later he came over and whispered in my ear, "I wished for a real puppy!" I can't give him one, but this is the best I can do.

2. I got my first COAPE assignment back and got an A - 90% It will probably go downhill from there!

3. I am attempting to help a teacher for the blind in Minnasoda, who got in contact through the blog.

4. I went to see the Frames on Saturday in Belfast. It wasn't my favourite frames gig but still amazing, and I met up with some great people again. I contacted the students union where the gig was taking place to see if there was anywhere I could leave OJ during the gig, as my parents weren't at home. They thought about it for an hour but told me they didn't have enough staff because of students doing exams, and they wouldn't take the responsibility of leaving O.J on his own. They couldn't guarantee that some drunk person wouldn't go over and start petting him. This was completely understandable and they were very appologetic. It worked out for the best because Belfast was so busy with Christmas parties. It would have been a guide dog's nightmare!
Anyway this morning I got an email from a staff member who was absent at the weekend. She said that in future if there were staff availible, (probably any other time of the year) O.J would be more than welcome.
Josh Ritter's playing there next year. I just might have to go now and take them up on their offer.

"I Can See Clearly Now"

2010-12-07T20:22:00.003Z

Sabrina McKiernan from Tralee recently released her debut CD to raise money for Irish guide dogs. She qualified with her first guide dog Ned when she was eighteen years old, and says that deciding to train with a guide dog was the best decision she has ever made in her life.
O.J and I met Sabrina in Cork in February 09, when she was working with her second dog Ella. During the summer, apart from being busy putting her album together, Sabrina trained with her third dog, a labradoodle named Vaz.

She has always enjoyed singing, and chose songs for the CD that meant something special to her or someone in her family. The Cd contains twelve tracks that people know well, such as ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’, ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Danny Boy’ and the title track – ‘I Can See Clearly Now’. There are no backing tracks on the Cd, musicians - Aine Murray, Alfie Curtin, Billy Curtin, Jimmy Canty, Ger Hurley and John Curtin all recorded live with Sabrina.

You can purchase a copy of the CD for ten euros from the guide dogs website
here

I'm just waiting for mine in the post.

Surviving the cold snap

2010-11-28T21:32:00.002Z

We've had snow here since Friday night, and it is really beautiful outside. My mum and I took the dogs for a walk in it today. O.J was let off his lead because there was no traffic and he loved it. Dougal refused to walk and had to be carried part of the way. His paws must have been freezing though because the snow had caked in around his feet by the time we got home. Ouch!

The snow created a good opportunity for me to practice obedience with O.J. It sends him completely crazy, and he will run constantly until you put his lead back on. If we're out for a walk his recall is almost perfect, but in our garden he can be a nightmare. Yesterday he ran down the steps to the neighbours house for the first time in his life, because she had left out food for the birds. She has cats and feeds the dog down the road as well, so I was hoping O.J would never discover this. He hasn't until now! He ran down today and completely refused to come back when I called him.
My mum thinks I should just always take him out on a long lead but I want him to learn not to go down there and to come as soon as he's called. We did lots of obedience exercises to remind him of this. I call him and make him sit at my right hand side. I will walk a few metres away, then call him until he comes and sits at the same place again. I let him run free for a minute then call him again. I rarely use food to motivate him but he gets an unexpected treat now and again, just to make sure he keeps coming back.
The excitement of the snow is just so much for him and its not surprising he forgets to listen to me, but it was a good reminder for me that he can get a bit naughty sometimes.

The snow is fine because if its bad enough nobody can go anywhere and there's nothing you can do about it. The trouble starts when the snow melts and we're left with icy freezing conditions that are difficult to work in with a guide dog. The dog is trained to stay on the footpath and not walk on the road unless you are crossing over. Footpaths here never get gritted so walking anywhere is impossible.
How do other guide dog owners manage when they have to go somewhere? I keep meaning to try out a pair of
yak trax
which might help me to walk more easily. I know that O.J would have a fit if I put dog boots on him, and I wouldn't blame him!

Icy weather and no walks means that bordum will eventually set in. I'm lucky that O.J has lots of space and toys inside and Dougal to keep him company. He is very relaxed, but by the third day of no walks he gets restless. Looks like we'll be doing lots of training to keep his mind active if the cold weather keeps up. He'll be learning to read soon enough :)

Back to Barnton

2010-11-21T21:37:00.002Z

Last Thursday I travelled to Cheshire with O.J and my cousin Paul to visit my cousin and her fiancae. It was O.J's third flight, and he must be the only living thing that has no hatred at all for Ryanair. In fairness why would he? He doesn't get charged extra, in fact he doesn't have to pay at all and still gets two seats so he has space to lie on the floor. The flight went well and landed ten minutes early, with a bang that made O.J sit up quickly and look out the window.

We spent a while in my cousin's school while she got ready to leave and go home. We both visited it
eighteen months ago
and the staff seemed happy to have us back. I tried to avoid children and hid in the staffroom with O.J, but a few spotted him and got very excited. We did some food shopping and got him some dog food before going to their house. The spare bag of dog food from last time which hadn't been opened yet was only three weeks out of date. They didn't have lab/retriever royal canin and the nearest pet shop was far away, so I bought him the all breeds royal canin. Its very similar to his own, so even though he hasn't eaten anything different since he left Cork, I figured it wouldn't do him much harm. He had no problems at all.
We had dinner in a pub and spent the night relaxing. Friday was going to be a busy day!

Sarah, Rob, O.J and I were in Barnton primary school at half eight the next morning. I spent most of the day with Sarah's year three class, thirty-five seven and eight-year-olds who were obsessed with dogs! We listened to reading, went to music class (where they were learning Christmas songs for a musical), watched a drama workshop and taught the kids how to do sighted guide outside. Children made us cards and drew pictures. They petted O.J multiple times, often lying to the teacher saying that they hadn't had a chance to pet him yet. O.J behaved like a star as usual. He can be a brat at home sometimes, is usually as good as gold in other people's houses and in public, but when he is among a group of children he is always incredible. He was particularly amazing with two boys with a variety of disabilities and special needs. They would usually not get so attached to anything but were very comfortable with myself and O.J by the end of the day. Even though they had difficulty with speech or concentration, they asked many questions and remembered not to touch a working guide dog.

We all took the train to Chester to shop on Saturday. O.J was surprisingly very relaxed in the shops, except he kept poking his head out of the changing rooms when I was trying on clothes! Lots of people commented on how lovely he is, and one staff member in Lush had the sense not to pet him but said, 'oh I just want to cuddle him!!'
He worked well through the busy street, either following my cousin or walking calmly while I took her arm. He was very excited by the new surroundings but didn't pull much. We had a quick drink before getting the train back. We relaxed for a while while O.J ran around like a maniac with a rubber turkey my cousin found. He wasn't impressed with the squeak, but when it was taken out it was his new favourite thing in the house.

We got a taxi to an Indian restaurant for dinner. The driver loved dogs and O.J loved his car and didn't want to get out. I'm not sure if it was a cultural thing or they just didn't like dogs, but a couple of staff members tried as much as possible not to walk near O.J. They were polite though and the food was lovely. We watched 'stand by me' (my favourite film) when we got home, and O.J was obviously exhausted as he slept the whole way through it and barked in his sleep.

Our plane left Liverpool this afternoon and everything went well. The assistance were very helpful, just as they had been on the way there. I asked for them because my cousin who is eighteen might have been a bit shy about guiding me around in a busy place like an airport. He did great when I needed help though, and I think we all saw a different side to him this weekend.

O.J has done nothing but sleep since we got home. I had to get a friend to read twenty-five kid's essays and help me pick a winner. Right now I have a sore throat and am getting a headcold. Our useless government have just announced we're getting a bailout from the EU. I want to go back to Cheshire, where I relaxed and thought about nothing important all weekend. The saying 'its a dog's life' couldn't be more true!

Socialising when you're blind

2010-11-14T18:51:00.005Z

The idea for this post came from a night out I had last night.
There were a few bands playing in our town, and I really wanted to hear one of them. They are friends of a friend, I've seen them a few times before, and wanted to support them as they will release their debut album soon. A group of my friends said they'd go, then pulled out one by one. Some genuinely had no money to go out, while others made excuses.

A girl I know, who I get on well with but wouldn't go out with often was working in the venue, and told me to come along anyway, because I could stay with her friends while she was busy. I didn't want her friends thinking they had to bring me around all night. If they weren't comfortable with doing it, it wouldn't have been fair. At the same time I didn't want to miss out, and am sick missing out on things because my usual group of friends aren't interested.
In the end I decided to be brave and go, and had one of the most random nights I've had in ages.

I started off being with the people I had planned to be with, who were lovely. A friend from school came up to chat, and we talked about primary school and had a great laugh. Then my sister's friends asked me to come and sit with them. This was fine because I get on well with all of them, but I ended up being stuck in the same corner while the band I liked were playing. This is the disadvantage of being blind, not knowing your way around a place and having no dog. You can't just walk around and find people on your own. Sometimes with the best intentions in the world, sighted people bring you to a particular place because you can sit where it's less busy, but you don't get a chance to talk to anyone else, and other people can't find you. The friend I came in with texted me during the gig to see where I was, appologised for being so busy but wanted to make sure I was OK.
I ended up getting a taxi home after 4 A.M, with completely different people from the ones I'd been with earlier. It was all very strange!

I'm very lucky because I'm well-known in our town, so will always meet people I know when I'm out. Some of them (especially males) are less shy with a few drinks in them, so it sort of breaks the ice and as long as they aren't too drunk I don't mind. I can be shy too, but realised when I went to college that being very shy and having a disability doesn't get you very far. I can instantly tell if people are uncomfortable talking to me because I am blind, and I think its up to me to use humour or some distraction then to make it easier for them.

I am very lucky that I have a close relationship with my parents and family. They are like my personal taxi drivers if they think I'm missing out on something because of the cost of transport. If I'm stuck for people to come to a gig or something they will often offer to go, even though they will more than likely hate it. My dad came to Des Bishop with O.J and I last Friday (probably not the best thing to bring your dad too!) This probably makes me sound very spoilled, but they know that being blind has its challenges, and from a young age they never wanted me to miss out on anything socially.
I also have some amazing friends. We've done lots of brilliant things together, and even gone on holiday a few times. Some of us have very different music tastes, but we are all going to Kings of Leon in Slane next year, which will be our first concert together.

I know from personal experience and from reading other blogs that other blind people don't have the opportunities to socialise like I do, and it is something I never take for granted. People shouldn't think that their disability means they have to have few or no friends. It shouldn't mean they should just stay indoors unless they have to go to work or to get their shopping, and stick to their routinely activities. They shouldn't accept that this is normal just because they have a disability, and convince themselves they are happy and things can't be any different. I understand it can be difficult to start conversations with people if you can't make eye contact or use body language the same way sighted people do. There's nothing worse than being in a group of people in a noisy environment, not knowing exactly where the person you want to talk to is. I think it takes a certain amount of participation and common sense from everybody to make socialising between blind and sighted people work.

Having a guide dog makes going to new places with people I wouldn't normally go out with much easier, because I feel I can be a little bit more independent. However, going out last night without O.J taught me that sometimes people are much more accepting than I expect them to be. If we are going to the same place then we must at least have some similar interests. If we can talk about things easily and have fun, then the fact that I am blind isn't the main thing on their mind. It definitely takes a bit of guts to force yourself to go out with new people, but if you give it a go once, you might be surprised at how enjoyable your night is.

The class clown

2010-11-11T14:55:00.002Z

Funny story for you on this cold, wet, windy, miserable day in Ireland...

I visited a school on Tuesday as part of the disability awareness programme I'm doing for work. The kids had an idea of what to expect this time and were much more talkative. They petted O.J as they came up to collect their names in braille. I showed them some of his things: his brushes passport and a bone-shaped toy that floats in the water. The teacher told me there was a big space in front of me if I wanted to throw it for him. I told her that probably wasn't a good idea since he would get very lively, but not wanting to disappoint the kids I threw it anyway. O.J fetched it and came right back to me. He didn't want to give his toy back and we had a bit of a tug of war game. The children found it hillarius and O.J wasn't impressed when I hid the toy back in my bag.

I decided to show the kids how to do sighted guide, i.e. how to guide a person with a visual impairment properly by allowing them to take your elbo. The first volunteer came up and we began walking around the room. The class started laughing hysterically and I couldn't figure out why. Then I heard O.J coming behind me, dragging the swivel chair he'd been tied to along with him around the room!
The teacher offered to hold him while I worked with the children, and he got very excited when I came back, like he hadn't seen me in weeks. The teacher said that it was great to see the relaxed, non-working side of him, and that he has such a strong personality. I'm just glad the children found it so entertaining. He was quiet as usual when we went to the next class. We have to go back next week. I hope he behaves then.

He didn't want to get off the bus, then walked right past the building where I work this morning. What a strange dog.

What happens when you don't train a puppy...

2010-11-08T21:12:00.001Z

My family brought me home, cradled in their arms,
They cuddled me and smiled at me, said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me, they showered me with toys,
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats,
They even let me sleep with them, all snuggled in their sheets.
I used to go for many walks, often several times a day,
They even fought to hold the leash, I'm very proud to say.

They used to laugh and praise me, when I played with that old shoe,
But I didn't know the difference between the old ones and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, and for hours we would tug,
So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.

They said I was out of control and would have to live outside,
This I did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn't time,
I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely in the backyard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to a shelter, but were embarrassed to say why,
They said I caused an allergy, and then kissed me good-bye.

If I'd only had some classes when I was just a pup,
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle, when I was all grown up.
"You only have one day left," I heard a worker say.
Does this mean a second chance? Do I go home today?

blogs, dogs and halloween

2010-10-29T23:13:00.003+01:00

Thanks to everyone who commented on my
last post.
I got some great encouragement to continue doing what I'm interested in. A couple of people said they are aware of dog trainers who are blind, but I haven't got a contact for one yet. I'm researching training options locally and hopefully I can go meet some dogs and trainers in the future, but any more feedback from people online would still be great.

The blog carnival post is up on
aftergaget's blog
if you want to take a look at all the posts together. My favourite new blog discovery from that was
plays with puppies
who already follow me. My follower's blogs don't come up as proper links, so if they don't introduce themselves I'm less likely to be able to find their blogs as easily, and might miss some good stuff, which happened with plays with puppies. It is an excellent resource for dog training, telling the experiences of training possible future guide dogs for leader dogs for the blind.

My friend invited O.J and I to talk to first-year pupils in her school on Monday. It was originally just to her form class, but ended up being to 120 pupils in the assembly hall. I was nervous at the beginning, but secondary school students were a lot nicer than I'd imagined! Being an all girls school, naturally lots of their questions were based around going shopping, how do I pick and match my clothes, how do I put on make-up and so on. My favourite was asked as serious as the rest:
How do you wash yourself?
A few minutes later, another pupil asked if I ever get paranoid. Yes, I told her, I'm paranoid right now!

O.J was a star during the whole thing, and the girls had a quick pet on their way out. We had a look (and a sniff) around their new school, and it is very impressive! I got some lovely cards, candles and chocolates, which I wasn't expecting but really appreciated. I also got a voucher from my nephew's teacher after our visit to her class a couple of weeks ago. I never expect any of this when I visit classrooms with O.J. There is no need but it is a lovely thought.

I am running a disability awareness programme with primary schools as part of my work. It will be my main job from now on. It starts next week, and there is great interest already. Schools are one of O.J's favourite places to visit and he is usually well behaved there, so we'll be seeing lots more good behaviour between now and Christmas.

Finally, I should probably wish people a happy halloween. I'm not doing anything for it this year, not even going out anywhere, never mind dressing up. I don't mind though as I've just had a very busy week (y cousin got engaged so there were lots of celebrations!)
Luckily my dogs aren't bothered by fireworks at all, and there aren't many going off in our area anymore. Some dogs are terrified though, and it can be a particularly tough time for guide dog owners if they can't work their dogs during halloween. I know someone who actually has to put their dog in kennels for a couple of weeks every October. Its just something to keep in mind during your halloween celebrations.
Happy halloween from me and the black hound :)

Train the human, not the dog

2010-10-19T22:11:00.004+01:00

This is probably just another one of my rediculous ideas that will actually never happen, but I'll tell you about it anyway!

Its true that when your studying, you usually can't wait to be finished after a while, and think you'll never study again. Now that I'm at work, in a job that I like but particularly don't feel like I'm learning anything knew in, I want to study even more. There aren't any courses at local colleges that appeal to me. I don't want to move anywhere now because I'm close to friends and family, I'm planning on having my own house in the town I grew up in and know well, and I have a job. This means that my only option at the moment is distance learning.

Remember, I don't always make the most useful decisions when it comes to choosing subjects. I go for things I like rather than things that are useful. As a result, I already have a music degree which I loved studying for, but didn't exactly get me my dream job. I don't think it helped me get a job at all, and I could easily be doing the one I'm in now without that degree. I have also tried an introduction to counselling, worked with a newspaper and considered a radio career. What will my parents think if I tell them about my latest idea?

I have recently been looking at canine behaviour and dog training courses, since its an area I've been interested in since i was small. I was especially reminded of this during guide dog training. I loved every minute of being there and found it all naturally easy. That doesn't mean I'd make a good trainer of course. I'm not sure if I'd have enough patience. However, I found a good distance learning option that could give me an idea if I'm seriously interested in this or not.

The centre of applied pet ethology (COAPE) in the U.K is an established organisation with a great reputation and some of the best lecturers in the field of animal behaviour. They offer a foundation course 'you and your dog', which lasts four months but can be completed in half the time if you study hard enough.
Then you can choose from a few canine-related, OCN accredited certificate courses, which take 9 months to complete. Students who qualify can then do the diploma, which contains some practical modules at the college a few times a year. This diploma gives you the necessary skills to set up your own training business.

I like the idea that the courses are in stages. I could start the foundation now, and do the certificate in February next year, which is the next time it runs. There is a year-long course taught in Ireland starting next September, which I could do if I was still interested. This is also distance learning, with practical experience in the summer.

Dog trainers are encouraged to register with the association of pet dog trainers in Ireland (APDT) when they qualify. They have to pass an assessment to prove they have the necessary skills, and this entitles them to membership. So many people are setting themselves up as dog trainers, so this organisation ensures that they are fit to operate to the highest standards. Dog owners looking for trainers can find a trainer who trains in their area, and who they can be confident have met a minimum standard of training and use only dog-friendly training techniques.

This all sounds like a long process, but suppose if you enjoy what your doing you wouldn't see it that way. Small courses would enable me to discover if I really like this area, and it would be much easier to manage it financially. I think I need to get some experience shadowing a reputable trainer to see exactly what is involved before I consider a complete career change.

I'm so confused.To study or not to study, that is the question!
If I go ahead and complete all this studying, am I likely to get a job? I mean, is there even such thing as a completely blind dog trainer? :)

"first" time I met him

2010-10-12T10:26:00.012+01:00

I am writing this post as part of Sharon Wachsler'sassistance dog blog carnival
It seemed like a very obvious topic to write about, but I couldn't think of anything else, and can remember the first day I met O.J in crazy detail,so thought I'd go with it.

22nd June 2007 was a day I will never forget. I woke up two hours earlier than I needed to get up, and couldn't get back to sleep. I had to force myself to eat breakfast, and my aunt drove my parents, my nephew and myself to the train station. Jack couldn't decide if he wanted to come to the guide dog centre with us, but eventually decided he'd come. We got the train from Laois to Cork where the guide dog training centre is. I had coffee on the train, and we met a lovely man from Kerry called mr. O Shea. He was a retired school teacher and was very friendly.

When we arrived at the centre, we met the trainer who had trained my dog, and we all had soup and sandwiches. She talked about guide dogs in general, and the dog she thought might be a good match for me. I was so excited and just wanted to meet him, but she told me not to get my hopes up. She felt that the dog was a good temperment, but the main reason she needed me to travel the eight hour journey to Cork to meet him before class was that he had high body sensitivity. This meant that he didn't particularly like his harness and needed someone who was light on the handle and wouldn't be too strong for him. He was a bit big for someone my size, so she was concerned he might be too strong. We'd just have to wait and see.

She asked us to sit on a couch in the dining area while she went to get the dog. My mum told my nephew to let me touch him first and not run up to him and make a fuss, but as soon as the dog came he soon forgot! "This is O.J" the trainer said, as he came towards us wagging his tail. As soon as I petted him I remember thinking he was huge! I'd had a golden labrador as a pet for thirteen years, but was expecting my guide dog to be a lot smaller. His black coat was more coarse and his ears were much smaller. He wasn't as tall and his muscles were still growing. He was only 15 months and still had five weeks training to complete, but it was obvious he was a big strong dog with lots of energy.

Then the real test began. The trainer taught me how to do obedience and I walked O.J on his lead up and down the corridor. Then we put him in the training van and did some short handle work so that I could learn the foot positions and commands you use when your walking with a guide dog.

We drove to a quiet residential area about ten minutes away for my matching walk. Queen's greatest hits was playing in the van and my trainer had a sore throat and was very hoarse. When we got there, the trainer showed me how to put on the harness. O.J didn't like getting it on anyway, never mind having it put on by a stranger, so I had to give him a treat each time. She showed me how to hold the handle properly and I was so nervous I could hardly hold it. She stood a bit behind me and told me to tell O.J to go "forward." I waited for a few seconds, nearly afraid to say the word. When I did he started walking immediately. It felt like a run rather than a walk. After about two minutes, that feeling of nervousness was gone. It was amazing to be walking along a footpath in an area I didn't know, being lead by a dog. We walked a straight route with no turns or obstacles. O.J responded well to my commands and the trainer was surprised at how well he walked with a new person. He did bring me into the grass so he could sniff, but walked in front of me when we turned around to go home. The trainer said that dogs generally won't walk across somebody like this if they are nervous, so this was a good sign. He walked much slower this time, because he didn't want to go to the training centre. The route we'd just done was short and not challenging enough for him and he wasn't impressed.

When we got back to the van I gave O.J lots of praise for such a good walk. Then the trainer asked me if I would like to come on class to train at the beginning of August. I knew that the walk went well, and that O.J felt right, even if he was a bit big, but it was still amazing to be finally asked to come and train. I have wanted a guide dog for as long as I can remember, which is probably since I was three years old. I was on the waiting list for a dog with another organisation who assured me they'd have one for me when I was at college, which didn't happen. I had been waiting far too long for this day to come, and I smiled all the way back to the centre. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to know about O.J. He had the same trainer since he began official guide dog training, which isn't always the case. It was great because she was able to tell me a lot about him.

Back at the centre I filled in some paperwork and the trainer let O.J stay with me while she went to get something. She showed me how to get him to sit and lie down, and he did everything he was told. We took a few pictures of him, and some of the staff came over to congradulate me and tell me their own stories about O.J. I didn't want to go home, and I couldn't wait to start training. It all seemed so real now that I had actually met my dog.

I probably talked constantly on the way back to my aunt's house. I even remember having a yorkie and Lucozade sport on the train on the
way home. Jack had been comparing the price of the drink in different shops since we left our home town, and concluded that the train station was the greatest ripoff!
I texted everyone in my phone, and I even still have some of the messages i got that day:

“Are you in Cork yet? Did you see O.J yet? Is it wild exciting? Get a photo” – Veronica

“Im so happy for ya one of the best days of your life id say. Wahoo!” – Mark

“Hey Jenny Im soo delighted for you that’s great. will you have to give him a name? Dougal will be the craic...” – Jennifer

Now, more than three years later, the feeling of working with a guide dog is still very enjoyable. The first time you walk with a dog, and you secretly know you are going to be a good match is something that can't really be explained. If you've done it yourself, you'll understand.
O.J isn't a perfect dog by any means. I don't think there's such thing to be honest. He is a great match for me though. I wouldn't change a thing, and I know that the extra long wait to get a guide dog was worth it!

The assistance dog carnival

2010-10-10T17:36:00.003+01:00

If you have any experience of assistance dogs, you might like to participate in this blogging carnival.
You can find out exactly how it works
here

Assistance dogs can be guide dogs, hearing dogs, autism service dogs, seizure detection dogs, service dogs etc.
If you own one or have owned one in the past, train or have trained one, live with someone who owns one, or have any experience of one and a story to tell, write a blog post, post it on your blog and send the host of the carnival the link. You can also submit a link to a post you've already written, provided it fits the topic.

the topic for the blog posts is "first." this can be first anything relating to an assistance dog.
The deadline for submissions is 19th October, and you can post your blog posts any time between now and then.

It is an interesting project, and it will be good to read what people come up with.
If your taking part, good luck and have fun writing :)

My trip to Dublin

2010-10-05T22:27:00.006+01:00

Its been a while, but I'm finally back on the computer to post about my weekend in Dublin, which was great fun!

We went down on Thursday to stay with Jen's friends. They are really cool, and one of them owns a dog. What's even cooler is he is a guide dog like me and we get on really well.

The humans went for dinner in a lovely place called
Mona Lisa
We had to get the bus to town first and I didn't know where I was going, but I followed like a good dog and did what I was told. After dinner we went to the Olympia to see the Divine Comedy. I went to see them with Jen
in July
and the crazy man on stage, (I think he's called Neil Hannon) was just as funny as before. There were more people watching and they made more noise, and people kept walking past and I had to keep getting up. Sooo annoying!! Tracy who worked in the theatre was very helpful and couldn't have been nicer. The manager wasn't happy that us dogs were lying at the fire exit, but there was nowhere else for us to go, and we stayed quietly of course.

On friday Jen and her friend (who uses that white stick thing) went for a walk and had lunch. I ran in front of him on the way home and found the right house, which made Jen very happy. I slept for most of the afternoon because Jen was helping to make a documentary. She was on the computer editing for like 4 hours! I have no idea what that is, but I think she likes doing it.

Saturday was very relaxing and we didn't go out because the humans were doing a radio show. It sounded like fun and they were talking to lots of people, even though I only saw one new person come into the studio. They played their
documentary
about the divine comedy on the show, and people connected to the band were very impressed. Jen edited the
podcast
of the show afterwards. Its all a bit mad. You should listen!

I loved playing with my guide dog friend, running around and pretending to fight over toys. We ran up and down the stairs, and sometimes Jen put my lead on to stop me being hiper. He always ran in front of me and barked at me to tease me. He barks a lot! I kept sniffing the bin in the kitchen because its one of those ones without a lid, and of course its very tempting for a lab type dog like me. I got told off each time I did it but I kept forgetting and still went back. The food bowl was kept right beside the bin, so sometimes i'd try to pretend I was getting a drink of water when they caught me.

I didn't want to leave Dublin but I am very excited about some things I will be doing with Jen. She says we will be going to the theatre, visiting schools and going on a plane, all before Christmas. Then after that people will start building our new house. I love the house I live in now because its nice and warm with lots of space and Dougal to play with. I saw the house we will be living in and it doesn't look too appealing at the minute. Just walls and bricks and rough ground everywhere. There's no bed or food bowl or anything. Will it be a lot nicer when we move there? I hope so, or I'm not moving!

Good stuff :)

2010-09-27T20:11:00.004+01:00

I got an email a few days ago, telling me that the blog has received a “2010 Top 30 Vision Impaired Blogs award”, presented by Medical Billing and Coding!
Winners were chosen through a scoring system that included Internet
nominations, which came from my reader base.
I have no idea what that means, or what this is, but thank you anyway! :)
If your interested in blogs by blind and visually impaired writers, you can see the list of winners and their blogs
here.

On the subject of good things, I just had an amazing weekend in Galway with my cousin. She lives right in the city centre, so we didn’t have to go far for anything. I didn’t take O.J because there was no grass close to her house. If I’d have known the weather was going to be so nice, we could have easily walked to find some when he needed it, but good weather in Ireland is a rare thing!
We had lovely Thai food in Thai Garden and the nicest pizza in the world in Milanos. We shopped and went to the market, and most importantly, we chatted a lot and just had fun. I got to see a few great pubs, and on Saturday we ended up in the Roisin, which I love. I was two days late though, as David Gray played a secret gig there on Arthursday.

The people in Galway are so friendly! I didn’t bring my cane, and none of the bouncers at the doors of the pubs thought I was drunk, which was a relief. Usually if they don’t know me, they tell me I’m not allowed in, and when I tell them I’m blind they nearly die with embarrassment. That didn’t happen at all this time.
It also seems like somewhere that wouldn't be impossible to find your way around with a guide dog. Its busy but not too big. I think you'd have to be a student to live in the city centre though.
The best thing about leaving O.J was the enormous enthusiastic welcome back I got from him when I got home!

We’re going to Dublin on Thursday for a gig, and I’m in the studio for Lawler Live with
Stuart
on Saturday. Tune in to
HKC radio
at 3 pm if you can. It would be great to have some participation from listeners to the show, who discovered it via the blog, so give us a shout on skype, msn or twitter if you can.

The gig

2010-09-11T18:00:00.005+01:00

Ionad Cois Locha or the Dunlewey Lakeside Centre is situated on the shores of Dunlewey Lough in the shadow of the haunting and mysterious Poison Glen and at the foot of Mount Errigal, the highest mountain in the county.
That was the venue for the Glen Hansard gig on Thursday, one of the most unique performances I have ever seen.

We arrived there an hour early hoping to get a cup of tea but they weren't letting anyone in so we ended up going to the Seaview hotel.
The gig itself was held in a room that held about 200 people and was very packed. A staff member asked a guy I was with if I was blind, and then let us sit in the small balcony. This was brilliant because we had more space. Still, I can see why they told me it wouldn't be a suitable venue for a guide dog, and it was so so hot!
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh and Manus Lunny played for half an hour before Glen came on, and needless to say they were brilliant! A large part of the audience were probably there because of them, and didn't know Glen or the frames music, which made the gig more unique.

During her introduction to Glen, Mairead described how she has known him since he busked on Grafton street, and always thought of him as a sensitive performer. It is obvious that he loves what he does, and she guaranteed the people who hadn't seen him before that they wouldn't be disappointed.
He played for almost two hours: a mixture of frames and swell season songs and a few snippets of covers inbetween. His stories and jokes kept everybody entertained and the room was silent as he sang. There were no electric guitars either. The audience sang along when he asked them too, and you could tell that everyone there was absorbed in the music. The highlight was when Lunny and Ni Mhaonaigh joined him on stage to sing 'the auld triangle', with Glen finding audience members to help out with some of the verses. It was amazing!

We met Glen as we were leaving. He begins the conversation with me by giving me a hug and chatting in his Northern Irish accent! I couldn't resist taking a hand at him about a recent interview he did with Dan Hegarty on 2fm at Electric Picnic. He talked about how he met Stevie Wonder and ended up jamming with him. They sang the chorus of a song then Glen knodded over to Stevie to sing the next verse, then remembered "shit, he can't see!" Of course I find stuff like this hillarius. We were interrupted by a girl with a dog (that's another story!) and then he shouted "you have a great sense of humour" to me as I was going out the door.

Tickets went on sale the next morning for the frames 20th anniversary tour, so I got mine for Belfast. There's at least ten people I know going so its going to be brilliant! Even a girl who didn't know much about the frames until the Dunlewey gig texted me the next day to say she'd got tickets too. Nice one!

I haven't done the performance justice by describing it here, but it was one of those things you had to see for yourself. One of those gigs that you know your never going to see again. Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh is organising a gig there once a month, and all of these are probably going to be special. It feels like your in a room of people you know because everyone is so relaxed. The people are there for the music, and the musicians aren't there for the money. They are there because they share a strong bond through music.
I'm just delighted that I found great people to go with, and had the chance to see my favourite musician play in such a wonderful place.

Another random off-topic post

2010-09-05T00:44:00.006+01:00

This is mostly about music, a little bit about dogs, but just stuff that's in my head so here goes!

We had a few days of gorgeous weather, and luckily I was off work for two of them. I love working 3 days at the beginning of the week and then being finished but it doesn't always turn out that way.
I knew the dogs would be home alone for a while today so took them for a long walk yesterday. There's a walk you can do from my house to the beach, then on a country road to my sister's house. It takes almost an hour and a half to do, and is great because the dogs get to run on the beach for a small bit half way through. I've never done the whole thing on my own as its a bit tricky to get across the rocks coming off the beach to go towards my sister's, but have no doubt O.J would learn it quickly if the surface wasn't so rough. I decided to walk the dogs home after lunch and a bit of a rest. My parents passed me on the road and both dogs tried to race the jeep home. This was not good so I quickly had to calm them down. Of course they thought it was great fun!

My nephew was christened today and we had a lovely evening in my sister's house after. I was so annoyed that I wasn't at electric picnic, so took my ipod and tried to listen to some of the coverage that 2fm were broadcasting. My aunt had my cousin's dog Charlie with her, who refused to get off the sofa beside me. He saw the cats in the garden and barked, making me jump and spill my drink all over my dress, my phone and my ipod. The three-year-old nephew thought it was all very funny, and I did too until I realised that the ipod won't work anymore. Its sturdy enough so I'm surprised. I'm hoping maybe it will revive itself when I charge it. I have it for ages and want a new one anyway but have too many important things to buy first, so a new mp3 players far down the list.

One of the reasons I wanted to go to the picnic this year was to see The Frames. Yeah I know, I've seen them loads, but they haven't played as a proper rock band in almost three years and are celebrating their 20th anniversary, so it was going to be special. I heard about half of their set on the radio and they sounded on top form.
This post
might give you an idea of how much I like them.
Their lead singer Glen Hansard is playing an unexpected gig in Dunlewy in Donegal on Thursday. I don't know too much about it apart from the fact that he will be accompanied by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Manus Lunny. Tickets were only 15 quid and its a small venue, so its going to be one of those rare opportunities, and a very special gig I'd imagine. A group of us are going, and still have absolutely no idea how we will get there and back, but that's all part of the fun isn't it?
Expect a very happy post from me on Friday. :) :)

Why do I blog?

2010-08-26T23:28:00.000+01:00

This is a question I've asked myself a lot since I started keeping this diary of owning a guide dog three years ago.

When I started blogging, the idea was to keep a record of training with O.J and his progress. I didn't think of it as a way of talking to new people. I didn't think people would really care. If somebody discovered it and found it useful then that would be great.

Sometimes I wonder if its a bit strange or boring writing about my dog all the time. I have so many other things in my life apart from him. On the other hand, I like having a subject matter and a focus for the blog, because it means that I am less inclined to write about random off-topic things or write in too much detail. I like my privacy too, and I think sometimes people lose sight of that when they spend so much time online. I blog about other things I've been up too, and how O.J fits into my life and helps me to become more independent and do things I enjoy. That's not saying I only read blogs similar to mine. I enjoy reading when people write about a wide variety of things, but I think if I did that, this blog could go in a very different direction, and not necessarily a good one.

I'm not the type of blogger who thinks, oh crap, I haven't wrote something in two days, I must blog. In fact I don't even have 200 posts yet, which isn't much in three years. Still, I enjoy it enough to write something when I have something in mind, or when O.J does something important. I like the fact that people take time to leave comments if they agree/disagree with something I've said. I like how people on guide dog waiting lists have found it useful, and I have been able to follow their journey of getting a dog too. It's always amazing when people who have no connection to blindness or guide dogs read what I write and enjoy it. My favourite thing is that O.J's puppywalkers read sometimes, and are able to see how the dog that they put so much time and energy into when he was a pup is doing. They have the choice to read as much about him as they want too.

I wonder how long I will blog for? Will I read this someday and think why did I write all this stuff, and just delete it? Who knows, but for the meantime It is enjoyable, and O.J has a lot of work to do over the next number of years, so I'm not disappearing off the blogosphere just yet!

OJ, did you not realise we were having aftercare?

2010-08-16T13:23:00.002+01:00

A trainer from the guide dog centre visits once a year to see how O.J and I are working, to teach us a new route if we need help, or to deal with any problems that might be happening. Yesterday my sister and nephew helped me to wash O.J as his coat hasn't been as nice as usual since his operation. The weather was lovely so he dried quickly. I gave the house a good proper clean to make myself look like a responsible guide dog owner. I've been a bit slack since the folks have gone, so it was a good excuse to get it done.

Natalie came this morning after ten. She got a bit lost and I decided I'd meet her in town to make things a bit easier. We've done the same route on the previous aftercare visits so it was good to have a bit of a change and to see O.J working in the town in a busier environment. We met at supervalue and walked to my grannys at the other end of the town. O.J decided two minutes after we left that he needed to go to the toilet. I tried to run to grass at my granny's house, with him walking sideways down the street. He very rarely has to go while he's working, unless he didn't go in the morning, but he did this morning so it didn't make sense. Of course I didn't come prepared but met my aunt who went and got me a bag to clean up after him. Natalie said he probably just picked up on the fact that I was nervous, and thankfully she saw the funny side of it.

We went to a cafe for a much needed coffee, and O.J lay quietly and slept. I always enjoy talking to the trainers, as their experiences and the work they do is so interesting. Natalie is from New Jersey and worked with the seeing eye there for five years before coming to Ireland. It is interesting to hear how the two organisations are so different, and her perspectives on both. When we left the cafe to walk back to the supermarket it was beginning to rain. I changed part of the route slightly and the rain made O.J's sensitive sniffy nose go into overdrive. He was very distracted and sniffed at everything. I wasn't impressed! Natalie reminded me that this is all quite normal, and if sniffing is the extent of my problems then I have absolutely nothing to worry about. She was happy with how quickly O.J responds to me, and how focused he can be when he needs to be. It was funny because he has behaved perfectly during his last two aftercare visits, and I told her he probably would after she left. Sure enough, I decided to walk home, and he didn't stop to sniff once. We met people with dogs and he ignored them all. Bloody typical!

Do you remember what you did this day three years ago?

2010-08-10T14:10:00.005+01:00

Strange question, but I do.
On August 10th 2007, I officially qualified with O.J and became a guide dog owner!

It was a Friday afternoon, and I'd just spent two intensive weeks in Cork training at the guide dog centre. It was hard work but the people were amazing and I loved every minute. The four people in my class, along with our dogs and trainers went for a walk in the city. The client services manager at the time (who was also a guide dog trainer) came to observe us individually. Three of us sat and had coffee while one person went for a walk in the city. The aim was to see how we would handle busy environments, with people, animals, shops, busy traffic and as many distractions as possible. The trainer walked behind giving me verbal directions and describing what was ahead, but it was up to me to work the dog correctly based on where I was told to go. Apart from bringing me into a random shop and trying to go up some random steps, O.J worked brilliantly.

When we returned to the training centre, we waited in the dining-room to be called to sign or lease agreement form and be given our qualification packs. I was called first. I was asked about my training experience, if I had any problems and if there was anything I think should be changed. I was happy with everything so the meeting didn't take long. I signed the forms and officially became a guide dog handler.

We got some photos taken of our guide dog class when everyone had qualified. There were still a few walks left to complete as people didn't go home until Monday or Tuesday, but it was a relief to know that everything was official. Unlike other guide dog training schools, you qualify in Cork before you complete your home training. It doesn't make sense really but I suppose they want to do all the official paperwork at the centre. You don't really feel like a guide dog owner though until you go for that first walk on your own, when the trainer has gone home and you are left with the dog and the harness.

The reason I am writing this apart from randomly discovering that it was this day three years ago, is that
Torie
is starting training with a dog called Ushi in Belfast in a couple of weeks. She has all this to look forward to. I hope she enjoys it just as much as I did :)

Operation O.J is complete!

2010-08-05T23:43:00.003+01:00

I worked O.J today for the first time since his operation two and a half weeks ago. I didn't want to overdo things, but he seemed in good form and had no objections to having his harness put back on.

Since his vet check-up last Friday, I've just been taking O.J for short 10-15 minute walks on his lead. Its great because he can walk a regular route around the beach and guide me, even though he has no harness on. He seemed tired at first when we were almost home, but by the beginning of this week I knew he was bored and wanted to get back to work again.

I got a lift to work on Tuesday but had to use the cane when I got off the bus yesterday. I haven't used it in over three years, and even though I only had to walk three minutes, it was horrible. There's an entrance into a car park just before the footpath and row of buildings where our office is. O.J always goes to the extreme left when we come to the entrance, and usually has to go right a bit to get us on to the footpath. He goes so much to the left that it almost annoys me. Pity I didn't follow his example and do the same, because I missed the footpath and walked straight past. When I turned round to correct myself, the postman came over to see if I was okay and to ask where the dog was. We chatted for a while and he was going to the same building so I knew I was in the right place. He said he sees me every day but that the dog is so quick and confident when he's working that he doesn't want to interrupt.
O.J didn't seem to mind being away from me at all until I started back at work. He refused to get into his bed in the morning when I was leaving. As if I didn't feel guilty enough!

Today my aunt and I took my baby nephew for a walk from her house to town. We bought a few things and went for lunch. O.J was very alert and wasn't distracted by the pram. I'll just gradually lengthen his routes each day now until we're back to normal.
He has lost a bit of weight in the last couple of weeks, and his appetite has just about returned to normal. He's not exactly wolfing his food down proper lab style, but as long as it goes in and comes out the way its supposed to, I don't care! One of the dogs did get sick earlier, and since they are both hyper and it was only a small bit, I'm not sure who it was.
My nephews are looking forward to helping me to bath O.J during the weekend. His coat is very lifeless and he's shedding a lot of extra hair.
He has recovered well for all he has been through, and I'm very glad. Any operation is a big risk, but I think it was worth it in O.J's case. Hopefully I will have a much happier and healthier dog from now on.

Slowly getting better

2010-07-31T15:50:00.002+01:00

O.J has been home one week now, and is healing well every day.

My aunt and sister drove to Belfast with me to collect O.J last Saturday afternoon. I was expecting him to be tired, in pain and not very lively, but he was the complete opposite- full of energy and very happy to see me. The vet was very helpful. He gave me his tablets, filled in the pet insurance form and vet reports for Cork and my local vet, and talked about the effects of the medication. The staff said that O.J was very easy to look after. They showed me how to put on the cone collar before I left, but he has hardly touched his wound and hasn't needed it since.

O.J had to have two anti-biotics twice a day in his food. He ate no problem at the beginning with the tablets crushed up, but then refused to eat his food. I had to hide the tablets in chicken or meat, and got them into him with difficulty. He will eat Dougal's food no problem. Its royal canin for small dogs, so not a million miles away from his own food. I'm happy enough for him to eat this while he's taking medication, and I'll just only feed him his own food when it finishes, so he'll have no choice and eventually eat it.

I brought O.J to the vet for a check-up on tuesday, where he was given a liquid painkiller because the wound was still red. It has to be added to his food using a syringe once a day, so its a bit awkward that I can't do it myself. He went for another check-up yesterday and the vet is happy enough not to give him anymore medication. That's a sign he's definitely getting better. She said that the wound was the neatest she's ever seen, so the vet in Belfast really did a great job. I'm sure his appetite will return to normal soon and he'll be back working in a week or so. He's been going for short walks on his lead, but I know that if he was allowed, he'd be back working today.

People have been constantly asking me how I'm managing without being able to work my guide dog. I honestly haven't noticed it too much because I've been so busy recently. I was out all last weekend at the Buncrana music festival (which was amazing and deserves a post of its own), had some radio work to do during the week, and had a wedding on Thursday. Its frustrating not being able to go somewhere when I want, and there are times when I'd just love to go for a long relaxing walk on my own. My parents are away now for a few weeks, so I'm depending on lifts more often, but people are very helpful. I'm back to work on Tuesday so that should be interesting. Wonder where my cane is?

Update on O.J

2010-07-22T17:23:00.001+01:00

As most regular readers already know, O.J went to Belfast to have his anal glands removed on Monday. I got the bus up with my PA and got a taxi to the vet in East Belfast. The taxi driver was friendly and waited until we were finished without charging us any extra. We didn't spend long in there, and O.J left with the assistant, wagging his tail and not looking back. There's a lot to be said for getting your dog familiar with other people and not always spending time with you. Sometimes you just don't have a choice. The fact that O.J went away happy meant I was relaxed leaving him too. He was referred to a specialist vet in Belfast so I knew he was in safe hands.

The plan was that he'd stay until Wednesday to give him time to recover encase anything went wrong. I rang that evening to see how things were. The vet said that O.J had just woke up and was looking around him. The left gland which was giving him the most problems was difficult to remove so they were afraid of infection. He said he was glad that I left him in, and said that deciding to have them removed was a very good decision in O.J's case, as he would have had more serious problems sooner or later.

I rang back the following evening to hear less positive news. The wound were the left gland was removed had bled and needed to be stiched again, so O.J was put under anisthetic again on Monday night. On Wednesday morning the vet advised me to leave him at least another day, as his wound was annoying him so he was constantly trying to itch it. He was afraid that if I took him home he would take out his stiches, and then we'd have trouble.

When I rang this morning (phone calls at the same time each day must drive the receptionist crazy by now) there was a slight improvement, but the vet still wasn't ready to take any chances. O.J is eating and seems relaxed and not so uncomfortable. The wound looks like its healing well. . There's a chance he could get home tomorrow, or definitely Saturday.

Its horrible not having him around the house, and of course we miss him, but I know he's better staying there until he's ready to come home. He won't be working for a while anyway, and the more rest he gets without Dougal pestering him to play, the better!

The divine comedy gig

2010-07-17T22:26:00.005+01:00

I'm a bit late with this since the gig was last Wednesday, but didn't seem to have the time or energy to write until now.

Neil Hannon was brilliant at An Grianan Theatre. It was a lovely relaxed gig with a great audience. The venue seemed to be very full, which is a good sign for his first performance there. He performed a great mixture of old and new songs, including 'songs of love' (the theme tune to Father Ted encase anyone doesn't know) which was class! It was interesting to hear acoustic versions of songs I am used to hearing with orchestration and a full band. Neil isn't an amazing guitarist, but he admits that himself. His piano playing is very impressive though, and his voice is amazing and can definitely hold a note! He is very witty and charming, and had the audience laughing almost every time he spoke. At one point he proceeded to show us the contents of his bag (a towel, a boarding pass, twix and some other random stuff) just for no reason! I deliberately didn't look at reviews or set lists of previous gigs, so got a great surprise when he performed his fantastic version of 'time to pretend' by MGMT. You could hear the words clearly in his version and it brought a whole new meaning to the song.

I contacted Neil Hannon's PR people to see if I could interview him for my show. They told me that it should be no problem but that they'd get back to me closer to the time. I've heard this before from other PR people so didn't get my hopes up. Just as well, because even though I reminded them about it I got no reply. I wish people would just say something's not possible instead of saying it might be and then not contacting you again. I would have completely understood if they'd contacted to say it couldn't happen. That would have been better than nothing. I did bring my plextalk recorder and mic just encase!

It was strange going to a gig with no humans and only O.J, and if it was a noisy gig that I couldn't bring him too, I definitely wouldn't have gone on my own. Having him there made me feel completely relaxed, even though he slept through the entire thing. He moved his head on top of my foot during the third song 'everybody knows...) but didn't move an inch apart from that. He didn't even flinch during the loooong note at the end of 'can you stand upon one leg' (have a listen to the song and you'll know what I mean!) Lots of people saw him and came up to chat, which is always helpful when I don't know anyone. I did meet two friends who I didn't know were going, and we had a drink in the theatre with their friends after, since the gig was over earlier than the film my parents went to see in the cinema. One of the bar staff came over to pet O.J (his harness was off John :)) and my friends kept an eye out for Neil, but we had no luck. The cover of the new Divine Comedy album shows him in a bath with a dog who apparently looks like O.J. Maybe its just as well they didn't meet up. That might have been very strange!

Apart from the gig, we had a quiet week. The tragic road accident between Buncrana and Clonmany last Sunday night is still hard to believe and make sense of, and people in our town have had a tough week. Regardless of whether you knew the men or not, it has been on everybody's mind since. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the families who are left behind.

My granny stayed with us for five days so we had a busy house. The dogs loved sitting beside her to get petted and they were great company for each other. Its amazing how gentle they were around her, while getting excited and playful around everyone else.
I will hopefully have a nice walk and some playtime with O.J tomorrow, before he takes sick leave for a few weeks on Monday. I am off work until 3rd August because they want someone to work up hours and I have to work extra for them in September. It works out perfect while O.J is recovering, because I'll be able to look after him until the stiches come out.

Things we've been up to

2010-07-11T19:28:00.003+01:00

Last week was another busy one for us. Our visitors went home at the beginning of the week and the house returned to some kind of normality.
On Wednesday eight of us from work went to Dublin for the protest against cuts towards people with disabilities that inclusion Ireland had organised. It was a long day, and we were only in Dublin for less than four hours, but since I work with the biggest service provider for people with disabilities in Donegal, I couldn't really say no.
Everyone knows that the Irish government are a joke, and don't give a crap about protests like this going on outside the Mansion house. They see them regularly so I don't think they pay much attention. They have said that they are not going to make any more financial cuts, but the ones they have already made are rediculous. One of the Donegal TDS did come out to talk to us, but the boys who make the big decisions stayed inside and pretended to do important work.

Our group was at the back of the protest so it was relaxed. We met lots of people who were very supportive. One woman just heard it on the news and came to lend her support. Another woman gave sweets to people in the crowd. We heard Maureen, the mother of Orla being interviewed on the radio on the way down to Dublin. She wrote a letter to the minister for health, on behalf of her severely disabled daughter, and she happened to pass us and came over for a chat. If you haven't read her letter, its heartbreaking but worth a read if you can find it online.
I was interviewed for a radio station and my supervisor managed to get herself on the 6:1 news that evening. O.\J and our t-shirts (which showed that we were from Donegal) attracted a lot of attention.

I went to a kids play place on Friday. I went in first with my nephew Danny, who quickly told the receptionist that "O.J is a guide dog so he's a special dog, so He's allowed in here." He was warning her in advance, just encase she tried to stop him. Very cute! The children in there loved O.J, but we escaped after an hour to go to Derry and get the money for his operation on the 19th. The girl in the bank didn't expect me to be able to put in my PIN number myself at first and asked if I had "any sort of ID like a passport or driving licence" with me. Hang on a minute til I get out my driver's licence! I'm a great driver you know!

O.J and I walked 5 K yesterday for a local primary school. We walked with my aunt and it was good fun. I just walked O.J on his lead so he wouldn't have to do any work and he seemed to enjoy that.
My cousin came out this morning to ask me if I'd be her son's Godmother. I wasn't expecting it at all and am very happy. I am my oldest nephew Jack's Godmother, but he's almost twelve, so it will be nice to start buying special baby and small boy presents every year again. He's six weeks older than my nephew Harry so I'll be able to take them places together when they are older (I'm not good with small babies!)

I'm listening to the brilliant coverage of Oxygen on 2fm now. I really wish I was there!
Because of Oxygen, I didn't go to the pub to watch the world cup final with my parents. I want Spain to win, just because it will make Javier so happy :)

Opinion?

2010-07-05T13:11:00.003+01:00

I've mentioned this briefly before, and its a topic that's come up on the guide dog mailing list, but I'm curious to know what guide dog owner's opinions are here?
If theatres and concert venues offered a service to mind your guide dog while you watched a performance, would you think its a good idea?

Many guide dog owners enjoy theatre, music and different types of performances. Venues nowadays usually have excellent facilities for people with disabilities, and will provide a seat in a suitable area if somebody is attending with a guide dog. Sometimes people might not want to bring their dog into a performance for various reasons:
It might be too loud or busy inside and the dog might get frightened.
Standing gigs aren't suitable for guide dogs.
Somebody may need their dog to get to a particular venue.
Some owners would never dream of leaving their dog alone and may not have somebody to watch it when they are away.

Would it be useful if venues provided trained staff to keep an eye on a guide dog while its owner is in an auditorium? Staff would need to be professionally trained in the basic rules around guide dogs, by a guide dogs organisation. Maybe a certificate or something to prove they have undergone training would be useful. The owner would have to be confident that their dog would stay relaxed while they are away, and not cause any problems. A well behaved dog would just lie with a chew or favourite toy, without requiring constant attention.

Many venues in the UK offer this service, and some even mention it on their websites. Out of curiosity, I contacted a number of venues in Ireland to see how they would react to the suggestion. Out of the ten that I contacted, only three replied. One venue said that they would not do it for insurance reasons. Another said that they hadn't done it before, but with the right training they don't see why it would be a problem. The third was a stadium, who wanted me to call them to discuss the issue further. Tony couldn't have been more helpful. He had concerns, but was aware that they need to do as much as possible to assist people with disabilities. He invited me to come and look at their current facilities, (which I haven't done yet) and said the venue would be willing to do something about this in the future.
It would obviously be the guide dog centre's job to encourage venues to provide this service, and since they have so many other things to do, I doubt they'll consider it any time soon. Its not a necessity, but just an added extra that some people might like to avail of.

When this topic came up on the guide dog mailing list, views were mixed. Some people had positive experiences of using services like this in the UK, while others weren't so sure. Someone said that it should be a guide dog owner's responsibility to look after their own dog, and why should we expect staff to do it? Another person pointed out that you wouldn't leave your child with a stranger, so why would you even consider leaving your dog?

Have you left your dog with a staff member at the theatre before? How was the experience?
If you would never dream of doing this, why not?

I'll keep my own opinion quiet for a while, while you post yours in the comments section :)

Proper Tourists!

2010-07-02T12:59:00.001+01:00

My brother and his future mother in law convinced me to ask for Tuesday off work (at 5 pm on Monday evening) to go to Dublin with them. I would usually never think about asking off at such short notice, but my coleagues reminded me that when my brother leaves at the weekend, I don't know when I'll see him again.

We got the bus to Dublin on Tuesday morning. Its a journey that O.J is very familiar with by now. We had a lovely lunch in the Thai Orchid restaurant before checking into our hotel. It was one O.J and I stayed in about six months ago, so he was familiar with the layout and learned where our room was quickly. It is located close to the
Guinness storehouse
so we decided to do the tour. I don't like guinness but it was very interesting to learn how it is made. We only had to pay for two tickets, because apparently "my carer" can go free. Strange logic. Why not just give the person with the disability the free entry? Anyway, when you reach the top floor, you get a free pint in the gravity bar, which has great views of Dublin city, well so I'm told anyway. O.J even tried to have a taste of the black stuff.

After the guinness tour we got on an open-air Dublin tour bus and did part of the tour around the city. I've only ever done this in London, and wouldn't have even thought about it if we didn't have a tourist from Thailand with us. We made it back to our hotel to watch the second half of a world cup match, I think it was Spain V Portugal. The hotel room was so uncomfortably warm! The windows had been opened and a fan blowing cold air was on all day, but they told us we couldn't get air-con unless we upgraded to a suite. If I knew it was going to be that difficult to sleep, I think I would have upgraded. It was rediculous, especially when there was a dog in the room, who was clearly not happy with the heat either.

We were up early because we couldn't sleep anyway, and did more of the city tour, as well as a look around Trinity college and the shops. It was nice having a relaxing day to do nothing, and the weather was perfect. I felt like a proper tourist! O.J was brilliant, and had no problem with the amount of walking, getting on and off buses, up and down small stairs, and the amount of people who admired him. He does have a problem having to follow people all the time when he doesn't know exactly where we are going. He usually wants to lead if I'm walking in a group, so he'll be happy to get back to familiar routes at home tomorrow.

I've made my decision

2010-06-28T09:20:00.002+01:00

You might remember back in November I talked about OJ's
anal gland problem.
Seven months later and they haven't got any better. They've got a lot worse and have to be emptied every three weeks. He's gotten really good at going to the vet now. He goes in and finds the room no problem, stands on the weighing scales, then lets the vet work with him even though its obviously very painful. Bran, fruit and veg added to his food hasn't helped the glands much, so I've made the decision to have them removed.

The vets in Derry have been very helpful during the last year since the problem began. The owner has insisted that I never pay for treatment or injections. He has left the final decision up to me, but offering advice and being very supportive at the same time. He said that they have only done a few of these operations in Derry, and recommended referring O.J to a vet in Belfast who would be more experienced. I really appreciate their honesty, because if they'd have done it themselves I wouldn't have known any different.

I rang
Earlswood vet
in Belfast and they said they would do it no problem. They just needed confirmation from Irish guide dogs to go ahead. Julie from kennels rang me when she spoke to them, and the senior vet who will do the operation rang me to have a chat. Everything seems well organised so far, and they are happy to let him stay there to recover for as long as I want him to.

Luckily I have pet insurance. It sometimes seems pointless paying these things, but worth it when things like this happen. I have to pay for everything and then claim it back because they can't claim insurance in the South from Northern Ireland. The operation costs the same amount that I've paid in insurance during the last two years.

O.J is having the glands removed on the 19th of July. I needed to pick a time when I know I can work without him for a couple of weeks at least. We're both busy until then. Its going to be difficult, but luckily I have a few things on then that I wouldn't be bringing him to anyway.
I just hope everything goes okay and he recovers well. Every dog owner I've spoken to hasn't had any problems afterwards, but if something did happen I'd feel terrible.
I really hope I've made the right decision.

Happy sixtieth!

2010-06-22T12:18:00.003+01:00

My dad turned sixty last Friday (18th June), which was the reason my brother came home from Afghanistan. We organised a surprise party for him, so we had to keep him out of the house all day while my aunts and sister got the house ready. He told us later that he had an idea that something was going on, but having a visitor from Thailand to entertain meant that we had to do some scenic tours of Donegal and it was a great distraction.

My mum finished teaching at twelve and we drove to
Grianan of aileach
for a look around. O.J had a run around too and tried to do a bit of rock climbing because my dad and brother were up getting photos. He soon realised that that was not a good idea and my brother had to help him down encase he hurt his legs. Crazy dog!
we ended up in
Glenveagh National Park
The weather was perfect, and its a lovely area of Donegal that I'm ashamed to say I don't remember seeing before. We did the tour of the castle, looked around the gardens, had coffee in the sun and took lots of photos!

We came home at eight to a packed house, lots of food and drink and music from a playlist I had made the day before. The party went great and my dad was delighted. A few people came from London and his brother came up from Dublin, and everybody helped to make it really special. Dougal stayed with a lady in our town who watches people's dogs, but O.J was in the middle of all the action. He spent the night out on the decking chewing a bone, on his lead or in my brother's room where Jack had set up his playstation. One of the party guests even took him for a walk down the road before she started dancing.

We had lots of food left over, so around twenty people came back for dinner on Saturday. There were four dogs there too, but they had raw hyde bones instead.
A couple who were at the party offered to take my dad out on their boat, so twelve of us went sailing on Sunday morning. It was great fun but very cold! I left O.J behind encase he either got seasick or tried to jump out and go for a swim. We

We had lots of visitors to the house all week. My brother cooked us some lovely thai meals from his restaurant menu, and I went for dinner with work coleagues on Wednesday night. I went to get dog food and walked O.J yesterday. My dad only got his present from us (his three children) last night because we've been so busy. We got him a bike and he really likes it.

Today I'm in work and the rest of the family are taking the ferry to Northern Ireland and going for a drive, ending up in Belfast to shop. I'm jealous! Even Dougal got a day out too. I'm not sure what plans are for the weekend yet, but no doubt we'll be busy. Its amazing how much you do when you have visitors to entertain and any excuse to celebrate.

Subject = none in particular

2010-06-15T22:37:00.004+01:00

*This is one of those posts about nothing in particular*
I need to think of titles for those.

World cup fever has gripped the nation again. The most annoying thing about this is not that Ireland aren't in it, but those bloody vuvuzelas. They sound like a constant swarm of bees and are driving me crazy. I don't like football, so when I try to listen to a match they are the only thing I can hear. Please please make them stop!
My family did a draw to pick teams tonight. There were 8 of us and we picked 4 teams each. We only put in a fiver each because Jack is only eleven and didn't want to put in any more money. I drew France, Greece, Chile and the USA. Not sure how lucky I'll be but at least I'll have a bit more interest in following the matches now.

My brother came home from Afghanistan last night and his future mother in law (who I've never met) is coming tomorrow to stay with us. More about why they are here soon. Last week was a horrible week so its nice to have visitors to cheer us up. We have lots to keep us busy and a good weekend to look forward to. I'm off work until next week, so trying to find time to plan radio stuff and walk the dogs every day too.

Please take a few minutes to read Darragh's excellent post about
Freddie

Torie has moved her blog to blogger, and you can find it and follow her at:
http://thebig-t.blogspot.com

Finally, I bought 'Dog Training Mastery, An Owner's Manual' last week. I have enquired about dog behaviour and training courses or something I could study in that area, and haven't heard much feedback, so thought this might be something to read through in the meantime. Its an online publication, so no books or audio cds involved. It might put me off the subject completely, but I won't know until I start reading.

Always paying attention

2010-06-09T16:35:00.006+01:00

O.J often looks like he's fast asleep, sometimes snoaring quietly, or lying on his back with his four paws in the air (he has no shame!)
Don't be fooled though, this dog doesn't miss much!

In the office he can associate different sounds with what's going to happen next. When I put the phone on the answering machine it beeps twice. O.J immediately jumps up, because he knows we are going for lunch or moving from the desk. When I don't need to bring him I'll tell him to lie down again and he usually sighs loudly at me in disgust.
If I'm wearing headphones to edit some audio, he'll lift his head when I take them off, wondering what I'm going to do next.
When Windows makes the sound to indecate that the computer is shutting down, O.J jumps up and gets all excited. That means I'm finished with the computer so O.J will try and get my attention before something else does.

Apart from the sound of his bowl, or me opening the container where I keep the dog food, O.J's favourite sound is the bell on his play collar. I put it on when we're going to the beach so that I know where he is and what he's up too all the time (if the bells quiet that means he's sniffing or eating something he shouldn't be!) When he hears it he goes absolutely insane!

Maybe I should try and educate him about good music next. I've heard of dogs who whine when they hear tv theme tunes etc, so I'm sure its possible.

O.J, wag your tail when you hear Bruce, Christy or the frames. Stay snoaring when you hear westlife. Good boy!

Exciting!

2010-06-03T22:13:00.004+01:00

I had to post something short today, because its June 3rd 2010, the day my third nephew was born.
He was born this morning just after eleven, and thankfully himself and his mum are doing great. I got to meet him when he was just over three hours old. He's the youngest baby I've ever seen, but not the smallest as he was quite a big boy! He's gorgeous!
Hopefully he'll have a name soon :) at the minute his mum, dad and two brothers can't agree on one.

The dogs were neglected for most of the day because we were at the hospital, and O.J threw up while we were gone. Jealousy doesn't get you anywhere mister! You should know that by now! I took them to the beach to make up for it.
Everybody is happy now.

I took my oldest nephew for lunch yesterday, and bought the three-year-old (who was the baby until today) two of
Benji Bennett's
books, which are worth buying if you've got children. The inspiration behind them is beautiful, as is the message that you should always make extra time for your children and tell them that you love them.

Is it June already?

2010-06-01T16:12:00.004+01:00

Where did the first half of the year go!

I went to Galway on Saturday morning for the Craol Feile, an annual training event for people involved in community radio. It was my first time attending, and only four people from each station could go. Flirt FM in Galway hosted the event this year, and they organised it very well. The training sessions were useful and I learned some good tips, especially for documentary making.
Everyone was very friendly, and a few people in particular were great at guiding me around if I needed help. I met the manager of a station who have a blind volunteer starting work with them soon. I was able to tell him how I worked in the station, and passed on my contact details to him, and he rang me last night.
We stayed in
Flannery's
hotel, which is a short drive from the university where the training took place. The staff were lovely and helpful and the food was great.
The hotel staff, radio trainees and general members of the public who were staying in the hotel loved O.J, and he managed to get himself into many photographs. He was a good example of an almost perfect guide dog all weekend, quiet and relaxed during a busy couple of days of travelling, moving from room to room, being around lots of food and people, and having no idea where he was going most of the time.

Yesterday was my second week of disability awareness training with primary school children as part of my work. It went very well, and the children put a lot of effort into the homework I gave them the week before. They were very attentive, and asked lots of questions about everything, not just guide dogs. This is great because the aim of the training is to discuss a variety of disabilities, not just blindness, so its good to have O.J there but not always being the centre of attention.

Our Spanish student Javier is going back to Spain on Thursday morning. He's been with us since September and I'm going to miss having him around. He's like a little brother and we have had great fun during the last nine months. He celebrated his fourteenth birthday with us yesterday, and was happy with the greenday CD/DVD I gave him as a present. He enjoyed the radio station so much when I took him in February, that I promised him We'd do another show. We're going to do that with his friend Joaquin tomorrow. Two crazy teenagers in a studio, wish me luck!

Thursday is also going to be a very exciting day for my family, but more about that another time :)

The silent world of Hector Mann

2010-05-28T09:23:00.003+01:00

Myself and a friend made a last minute decision to go to see
Duke Special
in Letterkenny yesterday. I tried getting an interview with him for my show but it didn't work out, so I wasn't really planning to go to the gig. Luckily it hadn't sold out and we got tickets on the door.

Duke recently released a box set called 'the stage, a book and the silver screen', which contains music he wrote for a played called 'mother courage and her children', music for 'huckelberry Fin' and music for twelve films by the silent movie maker Hector Mann.
Its a very interesting concept and you can read more about it
here

Duke and his band performed the twelve songs from Hector Mann in the first half of the gig. Between songs they showed some video clips of some of the songwriters talking about the film they had written their song for. After a fifteen minute interval they played tracks from 'mother courage' and a couple from 'Huckelberry Finn', ending with 'diggin an early grave' from the previous album 'I never thought this day would come'. The audience sang and clapped as Duke made his way through the rows of people, nearly tripping over my feet when he came to our row. Oops! Just as well O.J wasn't there too.
All his songs feature a piano, and the old style piano sounded amazing in the theatre last night.

We talked to him briefly after the gig. He was nervous about how the audience would react to the songs, since this was the first gig of the Irish tour. There was no need to be though. It was a bit different from his usual gigs, and attracted a slightly older audience. He's always an interesting performer to watch on stage,, while off stage each time I've met him he seems quite shy.I admire him because he is always innovative. Whether he's writing for a musical, playing with his musician friends having fun, playing with an orchestra or just touring his latest album, his live performances never disappoint.

Quote of the night:
"Mother nature called very quick, never mind mother courage! I don't think I've ever made such a swift exit off stage after a song in my life!"

Thanks!

2010-05-22T12:00:00.002+01:00

Thanks so much to
Torie
Ro
Nicky
Becky
and
Beth
for their brilliant guest posts during the last week. I've enjoyed reading the comments after each one, and I'm glad people found them useful and insightful. Thanks to the people who mentioned this on their blogs and twitter as well.

Brad Taylor from the Lighthouse for the visually impaired and blind in Port Richey, Florida contacted me to tell me about
Sylvia
their executive director, who is blogging about her journey of getting her first guide dog. Check it out!

If anyone has any ideas for a guest post they'd like to write, just email me. Otherwise its back to normal blogging service from me! :)

Guest post: Dora's Retirement

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

Guest posted By
Beth Finke

We were on a normal walk to town when I first noticed. My harness hand. It was dipping and swerving with each step. I leaned down to feel Dora's shoulder. She was limping.

Arthritis, the vet said. Taking his advice, I started Dora on a daily dose of buffered aspirin. The limping stopped, but the walks to town that used to invigorate Dora just plain wore her out. She started taking long naps after our excursions, and she didn't rouse from those naps as easily as she used to. She'd need to retire soon.

Back in 1990, it took two terrifying mishaps in traffic to convince me to switch from a white cane to a guide dog. Now, after ten years of side-by-side travel with Dora, it was going to take a lot to convince me that I'd ever love my next Seeing Eye dog as much as I did her.

Blindness dictates practicality, however. For Dora's and for my sake, I signed up to return to the Seeing Eye for a replacement dog. Dog-loving friends assumed I'd keep Dora at home when she retired. My husband Mike would have liked us to keep her, too, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to devote myself to a new Seeing Eye dog if Dora was still around.

Another option was to bring her back to the Seeing Eye. They keep a long list of volunteers interested in adopting retired dogs. I've never done a formal study on the pros and cons of bringing a retired dog back to the school they started from, but I'd talked to two people who had chosen that option. Our conversation took place way back in 1991, when I was training with Dora. Their stories have stuck with me all these years.

Barking in the Kennels

I talked to John and Jeri about their dogs’ retirement at the Seeing Eye during one of our rare breaks from the daily training routine. John described walking into the front hallway with Robin, his previous dog, and being met by a Seeing Eye staff member. "Say goodbye to your dog," the staff member instructed. "I said goodbye, and then someone took her away," John said. He heard Robin's harness jingling as she walked away. "And that was that.

Once Jeri got started telling me about her retired German Shepherd, Sarah, all she could do was cry. The only thing I understood through all the tears was that she was convinced she could hear her dog barking in the kennels at night. "I know it's her," she said, taking a couple big sniffs. "I can tell it's my Sarah." John claimed, too, that he could pick out Robin's barking amongst all the dogs we heard each day in the nearby kennels. "I know she'll be happy here," John said, talking to himself now rather than to us. "They'll take good care of her."

Dora wouldn't be going back to the seeing eye to retire. There was no way I could concentrate on a new dog while hearing Dora bark in the distance. The new dog wouldn't stand a chance.

Adoption Option

Lots of people showed interest in adopting Dora. The post office worker who helped with my packages had just lost her yellow lab the year before. she told me she'd like to take Dora. The waitress at our favorite restaurant wanted Dora. One day at the library, the man behind me in line heard me talking to the librarian about Dora. He passed me his business card. "I'd take her in a second," he said.

But I'd pretty much decided that if Dora was going to live with anyone, it'd be with Randy. Randy lived alone and dated an old friend of ours who was a single mom. When we first met Randy, he took an instant liking to Dora. After finding out that Randy did foster care for the local animal shelter, I took an instant liking to him, too. So did Dora.

Dora spent a happy trial weekend with Randy. I liked the idea that at Randy's, Dora would get a lot of individual attention. Plus there'd be plenty of opportunities for play with children when our friend and her kids came to visit. Best of all, Randy only lived a half-mile away. This meant that when I got Dora pangs, I could easily head over there for a hug. Which I did. Many, many times. Every time I visited, I found Dora lying on the couch, happy,fluffy and...fat. "I give her treats all the time!" Randy gushed. "She is such a beautiful, beautiful dog." He bathed her every week, too -- that's why her fur fluffed out the way it did. I could hardly recognize her by the feel of her coat!

Happy in her retirement, Dora lived to be 17 years old. These days when I think about my own retirement, I hope it's one like Dora had: living with a man who spoils me, lets me lie on the couch, feeds me bon bons and tells me all the time how beautiful I am.

Guest post: Settled In

2010-05-20T08:00:00.001+01:00

guest posted by
Becky

As Cricket and I walked one of our 'usual' routes today, I reflected on how we were enjoying the stage of being settled in as a team. She is healthy, happy, loves her job as a guide dog, we rarely have any behavioral issues, she knows my mannerisms and often can anticipate my moves -- all some of the joys of a team a few years in.

Cricket is four (five in June) and has been as a working guide for three plus years. As my second guide dog, Cricket and I settled into our routine fairly quickly - although I recall about six months into our work as a team walking along and it just felt natural like we were in synch. Cricket can walk as far as I want to go, she races to the door each time she sees me get ready to leave, she settles in at my office, she is calm but still perky and full of energy.

I also realize as we are settled in that I know Cricket's little likes and dislikes so much more. She likes to eat and then have a nice drink of CLEAN water .. the bowl needs to be rinsed out then she drinks lots in the morning. Knowing her routine of likes and dislikes and a pretty consistent routine of business duties is another joy of a mid-career dog!

At this stage we are as one ... it feels like we glide and it is such a joy. I love this time as a team - I have experienced retirement and the passing of my first guide so I know those are difficult days ahead but for now I cherish and embrace each day with my Cricket Girl as she is in the prime of her career as a guide dog!

Guest post: Richie

2010-05-19T08:00:00.001+01:00

Guest posted by
Nicky
(remember to wish him a happy birthday in the comments section!)

The one thing that I was sure of since I can remember and since I knew enough was that I wanted a Guide Dog. I was always a lover of dogs and Animals and the idea that at some point I could have a dog that would Guide me and take me places was something brilliant to think about. I remember thinking about how we would go places or where we might live. I grew up in the countryside and loved to go for walks with my mother and our pet Labrador Cleo. I imagined how if I had a Guide Dog I could do all of this on my own and have our own place and stuff like that. It seemed like the day would never come.

When I first made my application for a dog, all eligible applicants had to be eighteen years old. I was a bit older than that when I applied as I realised that I needed to know where exactly my life was going and what plans in the short term I had that may impact on the dog should I be matched up with one. I was still living in the family home and commuting from Carlow to Dublin to work every day. This was roughly a two hour trip morning and evening so that would also more than likely require a dog with patience.

My assessment visit went well. When you are assessed you are measured for walking speed and asked some questions about your life in general and what sort of things you might expose the dog too and what my daly routine was. This was to ensure that the dog I would get could cope with all of this and that we wouldn’t in so far as possible have problems.

It was near enough to a year later before I got the call that I had a possible match with a Labrador called Richie. I remember meeting Richie in Cork for the first time and the meeting went very well. We had a good matching walk together with the instructor and she was pleased with how we got along together. It was decided that I would start on class with him in three weeks from then.

The class had its ups and downs in terms of our walks or how we were getting on together in terms of working as a unit or a partnership. Off harness Richie was a pet. He was very loveable but cheeky. He could also be bold and grab things like socks or shoes and run round and round a room with them and would refuse point blank to give them back. On our walks there was a good deal of pulling when I had him on harness and we tried to just put this down to him being excited or eager but unfortunately he became a hard dog to control.
Coming home was no bother to him. He settled in well and wasn’t a very sensitive dog so he took it all in his stride.

Straight after my home training and the class training had finished, I started to get gradually back into my lifestyle. Richie was becoming very dominant with other dogs and at the time I didn’t really know what was happening but I learned a lot about dog behaviour with Richie and from the instructions given to me by the centre. He was also a scavenger and at times if he saw food or some interesting bit of rubbish on the road that he wanted to have more of a look at he would pull me straight to it not realising that it mightn’t be safe to do so. It got to the stage where I needed two hands to control him having the lead in my right hand and his harness handle in my left. If we saw another dog this became a nightmare as he would growl and bark and go on the attack as if he was telling the dog off and wanted to let them know that he was the boss and that they had to do as he wanted. In one incident shortly after we had come home and were back at work he walked me into a motorbike and we knocked it over. I was so embarrassed that I just kept walking and I knew that he did that because he just simply was not concentrating on what he was supposed to be doing.

We lasted two and a half years together. In recounting my experiences I am conscious that I do not want to scare people and I have left some details out as to other little problems I encountered with him as I don’t feel it would be appropriate to go into total detail. I knew at that stage the game was up. He never ever let anything happen to me and whether that was a fluke or not I just don’t know. I always felt safe with him but his behaviour was not in keeping with the behaviour of a dog that is supposed to be working. He was being so distracted by dogs that he might see while working or noises he heard, that he would bark continuously at them or cower at suspicious objects which was only one time as harmless as a Christmas tree, but to him it was something he just couldn’t get to like and it startled him.

I retired him and felt very sad. I knew the game was up and was given great support by a man no longer working with Guide Dogs here in Ireland but a man that I very much still respect. Simon Higgs had a great way with the dogs and the clients and he certainly took the time to talk to me and help me realise that none of this was my fault. This was important and there were times when I felt that maybe I didn’t do enough to make the partnership work better but I know now that Richie just wasn’t happy being a working Guide Dog. He just wasn’t cut out for this sort of thing where he had to work to a routine every day. He was most happiest when he could get out and run and play around and be his cheeky self. He is now still alive and well living with a family in Co. Meath and I know that he made such a difference to their lives and has brought them great happiness.

Richie retired in the Autumn and by the summer of the following year I had successfully trained with my current dog Ralph. I still work with Ralph nearly six years later and we have a fantastic working relationship. I learned so much from having Richie about how I might cope with situations should they ever happen again but thankfully they didn’t. I am so glad that I didn’t give up like I was tempted to at the time and not go for a successor dog. Ralph fits into my life now and having him is not like having an attachment you have to think about its just like being part of a good team. He is there for me and is my eyes when we are working and I am there to look after him and take care of him, and we work well like that with each other.

I really hope that my account of my experiences with Richie and how everything didn’t quite go to plan, and how I did eventually become very lucky to get a dog like Ralph gives people encouragement to keep going even if they have a bad experience. Never ever should people blame themselves if it doesn’t work out. Its all a learning curve. At some point I will have to face the time when Ralph will not be able to work for me any more and I will have to go through another stage of learning to get use to the personality of another dog all over again.

I have never before written anything about my experiences with Richie and would like to thank Jen for letting me contribute my story and hopefully it will benefit people to know the negative experiences along with the positive ones.

Guest Post: the training

2010-05-18T08:00:00.001+01:00

Guest posted by
Ro

When I went blind in April of 2008, I was put in touch with the friend of a friend who is blind. I remember her telling me all about her guide dog and how I just had to get one. Mind you, I had only been blind maybe a month when she was telling me all about going to San Rafael, CA for a month. Are you kidding me??? Get on a plane and go stay at a school for a month? Yeah, how bout no. At the time, I didn't even have a white cane. The thought of leaving my boyfriend and my friends was way too scary.

Well, after a rough period of adjustment, I started learning "blind skills" like orientation and mobility with the white cane. I had learned how to use a screen reader. I went to the blind center often. Life was getting back to some sense of normalcy. One day I decided to look up guide dogs. I ended up spending an entire day reading all about Guide Dogs for the Blind, or GDB. It was the school that lady told me I just had to attend. I was hooked. I applied. I told my friend about it and it was then that my blog was born. I had joked about writing a
Doggy Diaries to document the journey and she told me I should and told me about Blogger. I'm so grateful I did, because now I can just click certain labels and remember the whole journey.

After I applied, I had a home visit. A man from the school came to look at my home area and assess my travel skills. The visit went really well. I also had to submit a ton of medical paperwork which was pretty easy; I just asked my doctors to send in the required info. I had to get a tetanus shot and a TB test. Once all that was in, I waited. I got my acceptance email on December 29, 2009, after having applied in September. I would be going to school on February 15! The classes have changed now and are only three weeks, much to my relief. I had joined an email list of other GDB grads and began signing my emails with my name and "insert doggy here". Soon we all referred to my unknown dog as "Insert" haha!
I have an
Insert" label
on my blog so I can go remember the waiting and the anticipation.
Already, Insert had changed my life. Because of the blog and the email list, I had made so many amazing friends. I sometimes wonder how I made it before I met all my Blogger pals.

Finally it was time to go. I boarded a plane to California, about to begin
the biggest adventure of my life.
At the campus, I had my own dorm room. The first few days we worked with the instructors on learning the guide dog commands. We learned how to harness "Wheeler" the fake dog on wheels. We did Juno work, Juno being a rolled up piece of carpet. We learned obedience commands and even got to practice with a few dogs who were still in their formal training. February 17, 2010 was dog day. We'd be getting our dogs that day. The instructors had painstakingly matched each of us to a dog, based on information gathered from our home interviews and discussions with the instructors. All I knew was that I needed a chill dog because of my auto immune disease. That was really my only requirement. I was convinced I'd be getting a black lab female. Don't ask me why. The morning of dog day, they went around the room and told us our dog's names and details. My heart pounded as I waited for them to get to me. Finally they did. "You will be receiving Jayden, a yellow lab male." I sat there, whispering his name to myself. They took us back to our rooms and we had to wait for them to come take us to meet our dogs. Finally they came and got me. I finally had my dog! After all the waiting and the anticipation, I had him. He was awesome. He was chill. I got him back to my room and crouched down beside him and he put his head on my shoulder. I instantly knew he was the perfect dog. I don't know how I knew, but I knew.

The training began immediately. We spent some time together and then I took him to lunch. We didn't work the dogs in the building yet, so I heeled him next to me. That afternoon was our first workout together. I harnessed him up and we went for a walk in downtown San Rafael. There are many experiences I've read about the first walk. For me it was nerve wracking haha! There was so much to remember, so many commands, when to take out the leash, when to tell him to hop up, when to probe out when he stopped, finding curbs, listening for traffic. It was intense. I was still fairly new to traveling blind and here I was trusting a dog to guide me. I won't lie. The training was hard. It was grueling. There was a very set feeding and relieving schedule. My day went something like this: Wake up at 5:45. Get dressed, make instant coffee. Feed Jayden at 6:20. Relieve Jayden at 6:30. Breakfast at 7:15. Meet in day room at 8:15. Relieve Jayden at 8:30. Board bus. Arrive at downtown lounge, go on a work out. Arrive back at campus at 11:30 and water and relieve. Lunch at 12:30. Relieve at 1:30. Board bus. Do another workout. Arrive back at campus. Feed and relieve at 4:30. Dinner at 6. Water at 7, sometimes have a night lecture. Relieve at 8:30. Pass out. It was hard to find time to shower or do laundry. I limited phone calls to my boyfriend and family only after quickly realizing that phone time was too stressful. All I wanted to do was bond with Jayden. In the dorm room we would play or cuddle. He was with me all the time. He went with me to meals in the dining hall. I'll never forget when I finally could work him in the building. I told him to take me to dinner and he took me right to the dining hall, and then right to our table. We flew through the halls!

I learned so much in those three weeks and I thought that was it. But no. The training really begins upon arriving home. Jayden knew that campus and San Rafael from his formal training days, but he didn't know my home. The first few weeks were all about showing him routes. I patterned him by heeling him and using the cane to walk routes. I used food reward to mark places we'd go on a regular basis and always had a party when we reached my door, so he'd do anything to get me to those places. We got lost a few times, right in my apartment complex haha! Luckily there were always neighbors around, but once I had to call the office and get rescued. I quickly learned never to leave the house without my phone and a poop bag, oh and kibble of course! The last time we got lost, a storm had blown in out of nowhere. I couldn't hear to get my orientation. I didn't have my cane. I had no idea where we were. Finally I said, "Jayden, find home." And he took us right to my door...that was the day it all began to click. That was the day I finally turned my life over to my guide dog. I fully trusted him then, and we haven't gotten lost since.

Jayden fitted in well right from the start. He quickly earned house freedom and was only on tie down at home for about two weeks. I started giving him small amounts of freedom and he never once tried to eat anything or kill a cat haha! The training continues and will for awhile. I do obedience with him regularly and even have made it a game of hide and seek. He knows I'm boss, but also knows I love him more than anything. I'm the keeper of the food. :) Having Jayden has changed my life. Those grueling three weeks of training at school were so worth it. Jayden is my guide, my companion, my best friend. He picks me up when I'm down either by throwing his head into my lap when we're on the couch, or dropping onto his back in front of me for a belly rub and a romp. I love my guide dog!