UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Aggggh

Story goes like this.

I wander up to the ticket barriers at paddington. There isn't a high vis orange man in view to let me through the gate (why are these labled with the wheelchair symbol when you can't get a wheelchair on 90% of the tube). So I put me and the Dog through the automatic ticket barrier.

Firstly Dog stands in the beam that says you gone to far so my Oystercard won't open the gate. Pull dog back hit the sensor again dog walks forward cos he spotted a pasty on the floor (he likes his pasties). Gate don't open. Impatient old biddy behind decideds to tell the blind man that the barrier says seek assistance and to get out of her way.

I pull dog back again. Hit sensor with card a little harder just to scare it into opening. Gate opens dog shoots through and gate eats me. Still having dog in left hand and holding on for dear life cos that pasties only 3 feet away I end up climbing over the gate to keep dog under control. Get through the ordeal and the old biddy behind says they shouldn't allow people like you on the tube without assistance.

I wanted to tell her where to put her freedom pass and her shopping trolley but I am just too polite especially to old ladies. Then I realised she wasn't old and her shopping trolley was a posh wheely laptop bag. I hope she missed her next train!!!

I am sure we all have moments like this at one point or another, wot can be done about them?

Drew

Hey there Drewy!

Sorry to read about this bad experience, the tube is a nightmare even when you can see! So i understand that must have been hard and having someone going on behind you is dam unfair when you are holding a guide dog for goodness sake!

Hoping the rest of your time in London gets better! Did you say that you are back for the summer now? Hehe would like to meet Yates, although it would also be nice to meet the guy holding onto his lead!!! LOL!!

Take care, Sweet X x X

Hi Sweet

Am back in Cardiff until end of June then 3 months summer holidays

Will be in and around West Ham visiting the relics at some point no doubt.

Drew

Drew,

Despite your trauma on the underground, your calm behaveour will mean you live to a ripe old age.

Stroppy business bint will work herself to the bone, have no social life and giver herself an uklcer or a coronry.

I know the sort of person I would prefer to be left on the planet and some come with extras like pastie loving guide dogs

Bit Welsh round here init?

Hehe yea! The dragon is taking over the world!!!!!!!!

Sweet X x X

Drew

When I was still registered blind, I had to attend a dinner at Guildhall. I vist London only very rarely, but manage to get about more or less well using the tube.

I had thought it would be straight forward for a blind man to navigate the trogladite underworld of the capital, but I was wrong.

People were kind, and I got off the train at the right station, but then I had to make my way up to ground level and escape through the little barriers. In Scotland there is always an attendant to help people throuhg theaotomatic barriers, but this did not seem to be the case in London.

Eventually a kind man who sounded slightly foreign came to my rescue. I asked where he was from and he said "Islington".

I was there in my kilt and black tie, white stick and dark glasses, smack in the middle of the City and the same foreign sounding gentleman offered to walk with me to Guildhall.

There are some really good people around.

The dinner was extremely good.

Andrew

Hehe am glad that someone came to your rescue! After living in London for two years i should he used to how people are here but sadly not. Most are less social and polite and far too busy with their own lives and rushing around from place to place to give anyone else some attention. On the other hand though when i go back to Wales i'm thrown back into a goldfish bowl!! Where everyone knows absolutely everything about people there!! So i can't really win!

I could either be totally unknown or completely found!! LOL!! Maybe some middle ground would be nice!

Sweet X x X

Originating from the south, I do truly beleive that the further northyou go the nicer people are.

My wife and I have agreed that once we can afford to retire we will go back up to Yorkshire.

If not Yorkshire, then probably Germany.

The odd thing about my story is that I had never expected anyone from Islington to sound quite so East European.

Drew's story is far more shaming on the management of the London Tube than mine. It is just disgraceful that a man with guide dog should not be given all assistance.

Grr

Andrew