My Vision: A Perfect Sight Without Eyeglasses

MD William H. Bates, said, “The art of seeing is passive. Things are seen, just as they are felt, or heard, or tasted, without effort or volition on the part of the subject. When sight is perfect the letters on the test card are waiting, perfectly black and perfectly distinct to be recognized.”

I have nothing against my eyeglasses. I love wearing them, don’t feel this inferiority thing. I kind of thought, it’s a form of a confidence crutch to this effect – proudly I can say, here look I am one of those women who have aged and still look good in their eyeglasses.

The only reason why I want to be without them is because of my job. On long hours shift they become blurred because of the moisture and all sorts of reasons. Most of the times I tend to bear with in using them for fear of contamination such as when I am changing dressings, etc. I just can’t wipe my eyeglasses once they are blurred unless I have washed my hands. Well maybe it’s only me so life in the workplace becomes a bit difficult which then resulted to a dream of a perfect vision.

My partner knew about this and a day before our 10^th year anniversary we went to one of the popular optical sites last Saturday, 10^th at Southampton to query for an eye laser surgery, had a thorough eye tests which they did for free and my refractive optometrist said I qualified for a pain free, 20 20 vision Wavefront/Lasik which unfortunately didn’t fall under their first costing range of £595 each eye because of my age. My partner wanted to have the best procedure for me so we continued to discuss the price with the refractive technician and opted for a spot cash to qualify for a 15 % discount to be paid within 21 days before the surgery. Even then it will entail an enormous amount of money, way far from his allotted budget yet he was happy, a very kind gesture of love indeed.

To cut the story short, my surgery will be on the 7^th September and we will go back this Sunday, 18^th for me to have contact lenses fitted in. My optician said, this is part of the pre operative procedure to check if my brain will be able to cope with the visual adjustment after the surgery.

After a few hours in the mall, btw, flaunting a prominent yellow eye shadow, lol because of the eye dye needed in one of the tests, we went home excited and happy until we sort of decided to surf for some independent patients’ reviews and testimonials of their eye laser experiences.

Now the big dilemma for us, although the optical’s site reviews were encouraging and promising the independent reviews were very scary. We never expected this because one of my colleagues had it two years ago under the same optical company and still is very happy and contented saying the money’s worth it.

I always think I am lucky and I feel it in my gut that nothing will happen to me but of course I have to be realistic of the risks involved too. The risks were featured in the testimonials. Either way my partner is willing to support me with my decision, bless him. My problem is I want to continue but I am scared and the clock is ticking...

Anyone who had been through this? Would you like to share your experiences with me?

Thanks for reading. Till then with a touch of love....

 

Those Precious Little Things

 

Life these days is kind of funny, big dreams and big things count most. Not to all I must say. My first article was about one of our residents here at T.O.P. who had a dream to relive her motorcycle ride with her dad and to her joy achieved it with the assistance of the team. This time I have a lady who enjoys whatever life gives her and that is a pigeon who visits this bird cage to eat every day. Least this pigeon knew that her visit was expected and has made a difference to this resident’s life.

 One could see in one of these pics here that the side of the bed was purposely taken to be able to show how close the proximity of the bed to the window where our lady resident was watching this bird.

It was an evening drug round that this moment was captured. It was a pleasure and touching to watch. Honestly these few minutes of our resident watching this pigeon fits her life circumstances without question.

This might be over dramatic but let’s just say that this moment was so compelling to share. This great pigeon that may not mean something to us means a lot to the life of this lady resident each day.

This pigeon without a doubt was one of those precious little things, unappreciated by some but meaningful to one and that in fact is more than enough.

                                              

On Life's Poetry of Cliches - A Christmas Reflection

Yesterday I’ve learned that life is neither good nor bad

It is up for us to make the most of our full potential and capabilities

It is the only way beyond explanation to understand life itself

So the challenges are really big and yet another thing possible to achieve

It would have been right to say that whatever life brings and showers us

We should not abandon it despite its struggles and serious failures

We must have to take all steps to lift us up and to see the means and ways

On how we are going to live our lives according to our vision and plans

Pushing boundaries with a great mental positive attitude to reach them

 And if clearly our goals are not materialising as we wanted them to be

Then we are bound to set ourselves and welcome the changes for good

And never to stop trying hard again to look for every given chance out there

Creating a grand future in everything possible within our humane might

Whilst pulling up ourselves unbroken, unwavering, and unhappy.

Today I’ve learned more that actually life is cheesy, light, and fun

And the best way to outwit it, is to learn to trust that it is not all down to us

Which means we have just to embrace life’s heritage particularly our own

We owe it to ourselves, to our dear parents and who else but to Him

 This given life is one opportunity, a precious gift to treasure and to keep

And to appreciate and celebrate, unmindful of every clichés attached to it

This coming Christmas season let us be grateful of the birth of our Lord

And not to forget to complement ours and others with special care and love

Enjoy, do not worry, and bear in mind life will take care of its own mysteries.

Merry Christmas!

This poem was inspired by the most amazing fairytale life story of one of my best friends. To you my dearest friend, Celia Ledford, whose zest and unwavering faith to life brought you to where you are now. Congratulations and enjoy your fabulous existence!

Last but not least this is lovingly dedicated to my love ones, friends, and colleagues and most especially to our residents at T.O.P. To a Happy Christmas!

Author: Jocelyn Pedrola

Where Dreams Come True

Holding my head high and landing down my feet
A greener fence I found and wondered what’s out there
Dressed in white and nightingale on my side
The candle burning and a different life began
Homage starts and love for duty sits on a rocking chair
When beauty fades and senses dull and dark
A wrinkling hand reaching out for compassion and love
Devoid of strength and energy of youth
A sudden shiver of fear and uncertainty I felt
With tears like pearls down my cheeks, an old woman I saw
Not in white but in a shaded blue
I watched intently as if like watching a film
The old woman looking fragile figuring her way around
She thought she knew the place and could smell that familiar air
Then a warm and caring hand held her thoughts away
And I could hear someone saying, you’ll be fine, Ms. Jo
How wonderful life’s mystery is
Round in circles tears and laughter may come
Yet one will certainly receives what one gives
So deep in my thoughts that I forgot, my resident was waiting for me
Holding her hand, I walked her down the corridor of our found ‘home’.
A home where love and care are felt everywhere
Home to my vocation and home to my resident
A place where dreams of the souls come true
Bless this country for its diversity
Bless this ‘home’ for its great deed of honour.

White Cherry Blossoms

It was a gloomy day today but then I thought

From our window this white cherry tree brought

An untarnished beauty of nature’s growth

Against the cloudy wind round its petals sought

That inspired my poetic sense of admiration as I looked

I hope you’ll like this humble poem for you I wrote.

 

New Year's Resolution: A New Attitude

So much has had happened in the past year that all I want to do is to create another new year’s resolution without looking back at the ones that I haven’t done at all except of course, I know that I have been eating a lot. I love my comfort snacks, more on the savoury side. For example I am munching one of my favs ‘Old El Paso’ original nachos which I bought from Tescos while I am writing this. I don’t have to sit down in a Mexican restaurant to eat a good one. I have a knack at creating my own topping and I tell you if you seldom drink coke, this is the best combination snack apart from pizza.

My own interpretation of a new year’s resolution is a short one; it is simply a new promise to oneself to become a happier or a better person. Literally simple I must admit but why have I not done it. Is it because when I make a new year’s resolution; I knew I made a promise to myself so if I break this promise no one would know. Whatever I have promised to myself there is no pressure of embarrassment if I fail to do it. I can justify to myself it’s alright I’ll do it next year, there is plenty of time. Or it’s alright that person will never know that I had to be nice to her, or it’s alright my boss does not expect me to do more than what I am doing already, or it’s alright to postpone my dream holiday because the money had helped my love one or went to a good cause, etc. Anyway this is only for me and my self satisfaction.

 Exactly the point I want to make, I keep going and doing other things except for the things that I really want to do thinking that there will be another new year next year.

Since I was young I have pictured myself dining and wining in one of the romantic restaurants in Venice with the love of my life. My figure was just right and I was wearing a simple, sleeveless, long flowing lacy dress feeling pretty and ecstatic. Totally, simple and absurd to others but I would like to do that to satisfy my feminine world. I am not adventurous or a traveller by nature. Let us just say that I prefer using my own bathroom or toilet than Hilton’s for example but in Venice I wouldn’t mind.

Over my mature years - years that I have started to what you call earn a decent income; I have never exceeded spending more than what is basic or to lavish myself.

My partner’s question every year is, are we going to Venice this year and my usual answer is, "Let me think about it". "Well in fact we don’t have to go out of the country to enjoy and it’s so hard to pack, I have to bring a number of shoes for a number of dresses, I have not achieved my ideal weight yet and the number of mishaps in the news of travelling frightens me, etc.".

How much time and money will it take me to fulfil that childhood romance in my mind, not so much but it never happens because very quickly when the subject comes up my rational head will remind me that there are more productive things that I could do with that money and with that time.

Right at our fingertips there are so many ways to fulfil our new year’s resolution especially the ones that we would like to do for ourselves. Would you agree? Well if you do, do it then and have a new one next year. Don’t pile them up like me.

Here’s my new year’s resolution. No more excuses and get that right figure for that long flowing lacy dress. Johnny Depp here I come, oh my, please excuse me, I am dreaming. Have you watched that movie, “The Tourist”. You better do. To our new year's resolution...Cheers!

Our Precious Little Alfie - Happiness Is Made To Be Shared

I have not written for long. My time passed by so swiftly because of Alfie, our first kitten. When I accepted a colleague’s offer of having a kitten, the first thing in my mind was my partner. He had been dreaming to have at least a cat or a dog in this country and I grabbed this opportunity straight away, it would mean a dream come true for him. Never had it occurred to me that Alfie would be more than a fulfilled dream, Alfie is a blessing from heaven. He is an absolute ‘Joy’!

Alfie does things that make my partner and I so happy every day. He is full of fun and energy. What really makes us laugh is when he plays his small balls like a football player. One day as we were watching him I came up with an idea of calling him a.k.a. David Beckham and the more we laughed with the thought of it. There are so many antics and writing them down would make them sound overrated rather than when you’re watching them in action so I would like to avoid that. Maybe a video cam would be a good idea, my partner and I have agreed.

So far there are two most significant things other than my career that I am blessed with when I arrived in this country. One is when I met my partner who has made me changed my lifestyle from spending beyond my means, meaning that I can afford not to work too many hours and only if I choose to and two is Alfie who has brought out that hidden child in me. There has not been a boring day with Alfie and I have been playing with him since day one.

With this happiness in mind I remembered my dearest cousin, Terry Deblois, the first person in my life whom I‘ve known to love cats so much. We grew up together and I could see her in my imagination, kissing her cats. That was so absurd to me considering my obsessive compulsive nature. Only to realise now what I have missed.

Our precious Alfie is such a beautiful creature and having his joyful and soulful company is one of the best things that ever happened to us this year, 2011. If only I could I would never live without Alfie or a cat again.

In fact as I am writing this blog Alfie’s dozing on my lap with his head resting on my right lower arm, quiet hard to type but he is so sweet, he can get away from it as a cat always do. That thought alone makes me laugh.

This blog is dedicated to my dearest partner,Las and my cousin,Titz, my two lovely and beloved children, Tj and Pau, my gorgeous grandchildren, Ice and Lester, and most of all to our precious little Alfie. Last but not least to my beautiful and kind colleague, Sonya who gifted Alfie to us.