...sent to try us!

[alan refail]

Firstly, apologies for any typing errors in this post.

If forthcoming operations go well, I think this year will go down in my book as "the lost spring".


I was not intending to burden rhe forum with my troubles, which is why I have been missing for quite a while. But I had a nice PM from Old Herbaceous asking how I was, so gere goes.

I have been having trouble with my eyes for some time = cataracts in both eyes. Things started to get bad last autumn and by Easter I had lost most of the sight in my right eye and now all it will do is distinguish between light and dark. The left one is not too good, but is keeping me going. I have had to give up driving for the time being and I have been unable to read anything but newspaper headlines for months; very frustrating! Thank goodness for 400% magnification on the laptop screen!

When things got bad I was inclined just to give up growing, but just could not face the prospect of getting my sight back and ending the summer with no crops, especialy tomatoes and cucumbers. So I managed to get shallots in, sowed and pricked out / potted on cabbage, lettuce, herbs, which are now all planted out in the polytunnel. I got three short rows of potatoes in, but they are now just taking their chanve amid the weeds. I have a dozen French beans yet to be planted and my Tamra cucumbers. I'm still hoping that Real Seeds will get the annual crop of cucumber seed from them - I mangaed 150 grams last year, so I am deternined to produce at least some this year.

It has been an experience doing all this through a combination of half sight, experience and feel! By the way, I don't recommend strimming by this method, though I haven't done any damage yet.

I think the wordt thing has been not seeing the signs of spring as well as usual, daffodils, lambs, apple b losson and do on.

But enough of all that. My first operation is on 4 June and the second a couple of months later. If all goes well we should still get those tomatoes

[peter]

Alan, at work we have a number of colleagues with various sight issues and offer a range of IT aids.

Bigger screens, magnifiers, reading and dictation tools, etc. Dragon Naturally Speaking is a recommended pc solution.

Apple, Android and Windows phones and tablets now come with sound based assistive products built in, Siri, various & Cortana respectively.

Wishing you all the best and that we'll see you fighting fit again soon.

[robo]

I hope all goes well with your operations best wishes from myself

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Alan, how lovely to see you back on the boards again....i really do hope you get sorted as quickly as possible.

I can't really think of any thing to cheer you up a little but, i suppose if there could be one gain out of your eyesight being bad at the moment, it might be to meet me quickly and then you won't be able to my ugly face...

All the best my good friend.

[Geoff]

All the best for your treatment.
You've probably had lots of encouraging stories about laser treatment and lens replacement that I guess is what you have booked, here's one more. Apparently I might not recognise my sister next time I go and visit her. She has cataract problems and has had one lens replaced and can see well through that eye without glasses. She is booked to have the second eye done next week and if it goes as well she will no longer need glasses. She has worn glasses since she was nine, as she is seventeen years older than me that is why I say I might not recognise her! If it works that well at 84 it might help cheer you up.

[Gerry]

Alan,
All the very best with your op.

I woke one morning and opened my right eye to see the clock. All I could see was a black disc.

My GP sent me to A&E. Age related Macular Degeneration was diagnosed and I was told nothing could be done. However a friend recommended a GP who specialised in eyes. She in turn sent me to see a Professor and I now have an injection in the eye every seven weeks.

The sight has returned and in fact the affected eye is the better one of the two.

Hope it all goes as well for you. I'll be thinking of you.

Regards,
Gerry.

[Monika]

Hello, Alan, lovely to hear from you again and very best wishes for your operation and recovery!

[Diane]

So sorry to hear of your eye troubles and I wish you well with your operation. From experience with family members who have had the same operation - the results will be wonderful. Not long now to wait.....thinking of you and sending you my very best wishes. XX

[Bren]

Alan sorry to hear of your poor eye sight hope they will be a lot better after the operations, I had both done some years ago, August 1996 and February 1997 what a difference it made for me. Good luck

Bren

[Shallot Man]

All the best Alan.

[Primrose]

Very sorry to hear of your problems Alan. Do hope your surgery is successful and that you will soon be back amongst your vegetables again.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Alan, just a little challenge for you

Sorry, I couldnt resist

[John P]

Wishing you the best Alan,and hoping to have you back soon on a regular basis.JP.

[Elaine]

Hello Alan. I'm sorry to hear of your sight problems and hope the surgery is a complete success,
Good to see you back on here.

[alan refail]

Thanks all for good wishes/ A week today I get the first eye done. It's been a long wait, so I hope it turns ouy well.
There will be a load of work to catch up on