29. Rainbow Eyes ~ 26th June

I have to apologise for being behind with my blog, I've been away and also submerged under life's stresses - I'm sure you know the feeling!

I went to the audiology clinic today for an appointment to see if I fit the criteria to be given some equipment to help me lead as normal a life as possible.

The lady almost immediately commented on me having different coloured eyes. All the usual thoughts sprung to mind when someone says "oh my goodness you have different coloured eyes!" such as 'duh..do you think I have never noticed that before?' (of course I didn't actually say that to her!). Rather than the normal "wow, that's so cool" or "that's so unusual" or "they are amazing" or " have they always been like that" or "they are so beautiful", this time was different with the lady saying "interesting". I asked her why they are interesting and she started telling me about a condition called 'Waardenberg Syndrome'. She told me that two of the symptoms of this condition are different coloured eyes with one eye having a different coloured iris eg one of my eyes is blue and the other is a mixture of blue, green and brown. The other symptom I have is being deaf. I looked into the condition when I got home and other than those two traits, I don't have any of the long list of symptoms such as a white lock of hair, premature greying etc, so it has been ruled out).

Then the questions began:

"Can you hear your front door bell ring?

Can you hear the telephone ring?

Can you hear the person at the other end of the line when you're on the telephone?

Can you hear the television?

Can you hear someone shouting from downstairs to you upstairs?

Can you hear the fire alarm ring?

Can you hear your alarm clock?"

........ The questions carried on and on. 

She said that I met all the strict criteria and in a few weeks time a man will come to my house with lots of goodies and gadgets. I wanted to jump up and down, finding it hard to contain my excitement knowing this will be life changing for me.

21. My listening feet ~ 14th June

At this very moment, I am sitting outside at a huge outdoor concert with an audience of 6000. There are some famous singers and a well known orchestra........... What a noise! However whilst all of the audience have smiles on their faces, I want to stick my fingers in my ears. 

Try turning your television to the loudest volume it will go to and listen to how distorted it sounds. Now also turn the volume up as loud as it will go on your radio and change the channel between one programme and another until you hear really loud crackling noises. Probably a better description is when you listen to music coming through massive speakers (ie at parties, concerts etc) when there is a sudden deafening, screeching noise. The sound is painful in my ear. For a second I wish I am completely deaf in both ears but then realise what I have just thought and immediately tell myself off. 

Although some of the performers are clearer than others, I've decided to take my hearing aids out. I can't hear a lot of the music now despite being fairly near the front, but I am relieved to not have the pain in my ear anymore. I am reminded of when I went to Mamma Mia a few weeks ago when I felt the vibrations of the music through the floor. Here the music is obviously loud as I can feel the strong vibrations go up my entire body. Unfortunately the difference is that I know Abba music far better than I do Aled Jones (unless he had sung "The Snowman", which he surprisingly didn't!) for example, which does help!

As you can tell, I've given up. I've got my phone out and I am writing this post for my blog.

Later in the evening, everyone starts waving their Union Jack flags (given out at the start of the evening). I realise what is being sung and quickly pick up the vibrations of "Rule Britannia" through my feet. I immediately put my hearing aids back on. I immerse myself back into the concert. Just as the orchestra stops playing, my feet reveal the "Sailor's Hornpipe", a favourite of mine which always makes me smile. 

When I was at school I was told that when writing a story, the beginning, middle and end are always the most important parts. Thankfully this evening has been that way too.