Roadworks........
Most people moan about the roadworks in Edinburgh at the moment. It's quite tiring. It must be tough for bus users, taxi drivers and the emergency services - not to mention business suppliers. I really don't mind them though - I actually found myself wallowing in the glory of passing a huge tailback on Laurietson place the other day on the way home from work........
As I waited at the temporary lights by the fire museum I noticed a woman with a dog taking out a yellow card from her rain cape and waving it gently in the air. I cycled by her slowly and noticed it was an aid for the blind and stopped to help her. How demeaning it must be to have to shout. The mirrored glasses were par for the course but the Irish accent was a pleasant surprise. You suddenly look at the prospect of crossing from her perspective and it get's quite scary - very little where it usually is, no beeping green man and frustrated drivers looking for a speedy exit from their standstill. At Haymarket it takes a bit of co-ordination even for the fully sighted at the moment.
We had a chat as we crossed and I failed to point out kerbs which she eventually got over. her dog wasn't much use either - sensing an opportunity to slack off as another human was there to do the piloting. I confirmed location and headed off thinking about how useful a reminder it is to come across disability, remembering the awakening I had got when restricted to crutches. How difficult our lives really are!
There's some interesting products on the RNIB site - check out the designer watches.
