I thought as it’s been a while; so I felt compelled to share my latest ‘blind fail’ with you all … It’s a good one!
Despite not having my guide dog I have pushed myself each day to enjoy at least one long walk. Some days this is in the countryside or along the beach, but more often than not it’s around my local area.
On this particular walk I was walking on a road I know very well. I was approaching the junction of a side road and preparing to cross.
As I approached the junction I heard a car engine to my left.
The sun was bright, but I could make out a bright blue car on the left directly opposite the junction, so assumed it was also the engine I could hear:
As a guide dog owner, old habits die hard and I waved the car on: this is partly because the sound of the engine could be masking the sound of other approaching traffic or even bicycles.
I waved the car on … Nothing.
I waved it on again … Still nothing.
At this point a man appeared to be speaking to me from the other side of the road.
“Wait there I am coming to you.”
He crossed over and stood beside me, he asked me what help I needed and I explained I was simply waiting for this car to move on and then I would cross:
It was at this point (with a smile on his voice) he explained that there was no car waiting to turn.
The blue car was actually parked and had nobody inside it.
The car engine I could hear was on a driveway, the car had its doors and bonnet open, so was not moving anytime soon.
So it was safe for me to cross. And it had been for some time!
The kind man explained he was loading a van up the street and had seen me waving my arm; but he couldn’t get to me any sooner as his arms had been full.
I laughed when he explained it all, because it’s moments like this that if I didn’t laugh I could easily cry.
I made my apologies and rushed off as quickly as I could without breaking into an actual run!
When relaying this embarrassing story to a sighted friend they helpfully pointed out…
Rule 243 of the Highway Code states you must not park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space.”
This didn’t make me feel any less embarrassed, however one bonus to tthis sight loss journey is that I would never recognise the kind man who came to my aid, if I saw him again. So that’s a small mercy, right?
