Down, Down, Deeper and Down
Was off work for most of the week. Went back to the opticians on Tuesday, having not worn my contact lenses since Sunday. Well, I did wear my lenses, just to drive to the opticians, and I could feel it irritating my eye.
So. Now I have new lenses in my glasses (and wasn’t that a fun two days without them - resorted to wearing one contact lens, and spending the whole day feeling incredibly lopsided), not that it makes a whole lot of difference. I went back to work on Friday, but it was so hard. I have, however, been in contact with the RNIB (apparently I can describe myself as ‘part-time partially sighted’), who put me onto the Job centre, who have sent me a form to fill in. Then someone will come out (probably from the RNIB) and do a workstation assessment, and hopefully recommend things I can do and use to at least make the work day a little more bearable.
The thing which is particularly getting me down is the disbelief I get. Thankfully my new boss is great, but I know in my old job it would have been awful, because the old boss just didn’t believe I couldn’t see through my glasses. Mainly her own fault, for refusing to read the internet links I sent her because she is ‘too busy’. But a lot of people just assume I am making it up, since most people have never heard of anything which you *have* to wear contact lenses to be able to see, and glasses aren’t an option. They assum contact lenses are for vanity only.
Have been extremely bored. Have ‘watched’ some of my dvd’s, getting annoyed with the ones who have a ‘letter’, or other written thing which is crucial to the plot, since I can’t read it. On my way back from the opticians one time I popped into Hobbycraft. £30 later, I was home, and have been making some cards, although I am dreading when I can actually see them just how imprecise the placement of some things will be. Still, it’s kept me failry sane. And the radio has been a great help - particularly BBC radio 7, with it’s thriller hour, and comedy shows.
One thing I found particularly scary was when I asked the optician about whether I should inform the DVLA. I had asked my old optician, and he had told me I didn’t have to, but I have since found a discussion group website which is suggesting I have to tell the DVLA and my insurance company. Apparently I don’t have to. And not just when I am wearing my lenses, apparently I can see well enough with my glasses to drive. Not ‘just’ able to see either, but over and above the limit set by the DVLA - by two lines!
Excuse me? No way can I see clearly enough to be out on the open roads. I must admit I have driven with just my glasses, but no further than to the local shop (or Indian takeaway).
What is scary is that there are going to be people with worse eyesight than mine out there driving, because legally they can see.
One other thing which isn’t helping my mood is LELI. He’s gone back home today for a week’s holiday. I am missing him already. When we went out on Sunday night he was making noises about not moving back home, maybe just moving to London. Even better was the rarely alluded to staying here, and if he does then he would make an effort to ’settle’ and buy a flat and car, and properly ’stay’. I didn’t realise just how much this had got my hopes up when, as I usually do when he goes back I sent him a text saying to have a good time and “remember to come back”. He replied “this time I will come back, but not so sure next time”. Urk! He is going home for Christmas, even when he is talking of going home he has been talking about March/April. Bugger.