Does Trusting Make me Naïve?

Last summer, I had an amazing experience performing in front of thousands of people at a festival. Never in my dreams had I ever thought I would have this opportunity. On that stage, I felt on top of the world, the happiest I had ever been. My heart was still tingling with the magical feeling one gets after an extraordinary day, when reality did that usual thing of getting in the way.

I was going home, but the train was delayed as a result of a fatality on the tracks. We were reassured that a train would be available soon, but 9pm became 10pm and I started to feel ill at ease. So I asked the station staff to help me call a cab.

I got in the cab, thanked the staff member and after the driver confirmed my identity, my journey commenced.

I had had a very long and exciting day and at this point, I was exhausted, so I was grateful to be in a clean and air-conditioned car.

I asked the driver if he could pass me a lead to charge my phone as I was now at one percent, and didn’t want to risk my phone dying before I reached my destination.

I then carried on using my phone. The driver asked me how I came to be blind. I am always irritated when people I hardly know ask me a personal question. I have written about this in a much earlier post, (it’s nice to see you), but he was the person at the wheel, and I was in the back of his car, so I felt it best to be polite.

I went on to complement his car and ask him about it, thanking him for having a clean air conditioned vehicle. I even told him about my fantasy of being able to drive a car that can go really fast. The journey went on smoothly, but when we reached my destination, he said he was trying to end the trip and the app was not letting him complete the task.  He asked me if I could give him my phone so he could end it on my app. I thought this was odd, but there was nothing in his behavior over the past 45 minutes that led me to suspect anything, so I handed it to him. I use my phone with the aid of a screen reader which tells me everything that is happening on the screen. In order for a sighted person to use my phone, I have to switch off the screen reader so it can function like any other. When I handed him the phone, it was silent. He could see, but I could not hear what was happening. He gave the phone to me after a few quiet moments and escorted me to my doorstep.

Having had a 14 hour day thanks to the delayed train, I was relieved to be home in one piece. Just before going to bed, I checked my email to see how much I had been charged. I discovered that not only had I been charged the sur-charge expected, but that there had been a £20 tip and a 5 star rating for the driver that I was not aware of. The tingly magical feelings completely disappeared, replaced with shock and then anger. Shock that a person who appeared so caring could do something so calculating and deceitful. Anger that I was so easily taken for a fool because I was blind. Hurt that I had made an effort to relate to this person as a fellow human in spite of how tired and unwilling I was to engage with him in conversation. Sad that no matter how invincible I felt on that stage, one single act from a sighted person could make me feel so vulnerable.

I immediately used the help menu on my app to report the incident. I started to think about this from the company’s point of view. What if they did not believe me? After all, it would have been my word against his, the crime was committed using my device. Who is to say I didn’t do it by accident? Or even realize much too late that I couldn’t afford such a large tip? Or just wanted to cause mischief? I knew I didn’t give him the tip, I knew I didn’t rate him 5 stars, but I also knew that if he had not done what he did, I would have rated him 5 stars before the next trip I would take using Uber. I also know that in the five years since I started Uber, I have never tipped a driver more than £1.

Being a free-lance opera singer, I travel to places that are unfamiliar to me; for ease of movement and peace of mind, I use cabs a lot. If I tipped every driver £20 I’d be completely out of pocket.

In a cab, I can relax, listen to music or learn my script without unwanted interruptions. Sometimes, I could even catch a power nap if I am flagging during a long day.

Fortunately, Uber was very good. I got a response in the next day, and after arranging a suitable time, a member of the customer care team called to have a chat with me. They expressed their regret that I experienced something this awful in their hands and they refunded me my fair. With regards to the tip, they reported this to the police and sent me the incident reference number.

The police called a week later and the investigation began. I told the police everything I knew. I had hoped that a caution/warning would have been enough if he had confessed, and showed remorse when questioned by the police.

A few months later, I was informed that the driver denied taking any tip from me, and as a result of this, they reported the case to the CPS.

At this point, I started to doubt myself. If I was in the driver’s shoes, and I did something this despicable, the time to confess would be now, when the police were asking. As an experiment, I went back to the app and attempted to tip a driver. I noticed that the app only gave you the options to tip £1, £2 or £5. Anything else would have required me to go to double tap on the edit box, type £20 in it and press submit. I could never have accidentally tipped the driver.

Two weeks ago, I appeared to testify as a witness before the magistrates. At the conclusion of the trial, the driver was found guilty.

 

Media Coverage

I was not aware that all criminal cases were open to media attendance until I got a call from a paper asking me for a comment.  When the story was released online, I received a lot of support from people, but there were some who were of the opinion that I was naïve to have handed the driver my phone in the first place. I was even more surprised that such comments were made by visually impaired people. I have been made very aware of my vulnerability and how susceptible I am to be a victim of crime. This aspect of life causes me anxiety. If I could describe the anxiety I would experience before leaving my house each day, it would look to you like a big growling monster. A monster which would grow bigger, with sharp claws, fangs, etc if I fed it by imagining all the awful things that could happen to me outside the comfort of my home.

However, to allow my mind to do this would be to deny myself the right to live a full and fulfilling life. I have very nice and trustworthy PAs who work with me to facilitate my independence, but I also spend time without PAs. Such as when I hang out with friends, go to work, and attend college. When I choose to go out alone, I refuse to give in to the monster’s growls. I choose to believe that I live in a society where people are kind and generally mean well, and that is usually the case. The worst that would ever happen is people trying too hard that I have to say, “it’s all right, I’m ok”. I am a living testimony to the fact that in a world that could sometimes be perceived as cruel, there is goodness and kindness. That is what I choose to bare in mind when I go out on my own.

 

Does Trusting Make me Naïve?

Having been blind for over 30 years, I have come to learn that one of the things sighted people fear the most is the thought of losing their sight. People with sight rely on it for information that keeps them feeling in control of most situations; therefore, they perceive themselves to be less vulnerable. I am aware of how vulnerable I am perceived to be because of my need to trust  people. If I am crossing an unfamiliar road, I would often ask a stranger to help me get to the other side. I am trusting at that point that the person will not leave me half way. I do this because I need to trust in order to get to the other side of the road.

When I go into Tescos to ask for a carton of milk, I need to trust that I am being given almond milk instead of  oat milk. Now there are some blind people who would rather order things online or go with an equipment which reads out what is being given to them, but that process does not cater for an unforeseen emergency, especially when the technology fails.

When I chose to give the driver my phone, I trusted that he was a licenced TFL driver working for Uber, whose details and whereabouts could be traced. I also know that he could not access my banking tools etc without my pin. I was also aware that if he did anything using the Uber app, Uber would inform me automatically. My only error was trusting that he was intelligent enough to understand the reasoning behind my choice to trust him. He saw an easy opportunity to exploit someone he perceived to be vulnerable and could not resist the temptation. From my point of view, that says a lot more about his moral fiber than about my common sense.

 

The Power of Vulnerability

I have also come to learn that there is strength in vulnerability. The more aware I am of my vulnerability, the more equipped I am to work with it. I have written about this in one of my previous posts (I trust because).

Some let other people’s perception of their disability define their relationship with it, I choose to have the relationship with my disability that leaves me feeling empowered. I ask for help because I need to do things differently. I also realise that trust has so far taken me places that most people could only imagine.

I trust because, choosing not to trust is synonymous with choosing not to live.

 

Court Ruling

• Committed to prison for 5 months suspended for 12 months.
• Unpaid Work Requirement: Carry out unpaid work for 240 hours within the next twelve months.
• To pay compensation of £220.00.
• To pay costs of £897.00 to the Crown Prosecution Service.
• Disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for 6 months.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/uber-driver-conned-blind-singer-victoria-oruwari-a4352836.html

 

Rocking it blind – Fashion as I see it

When you are blind, putting an outfit together could be a minefield. Especially when so many people are telling you different things. My advice, keep it simple. The fact still remains that you cannot see what you are wearing and until you feel confident enough with your understanding of how colours work together, don’t go trying to match pinks with reds because some fashion expert says they’re in because you need to know that perfect shade of pink that goes with red, or that perfect shade of yellow that goes with orange. I haven’t found that perfect colour detector that tells you these things so I’m keeping this simple.
Here are some tips I would like to share.

1. Colour detector:
I could not live without this device. Get one from the RNIB. I think it costs about £84. This device will tell you the colours of your clothes simply by switching it on and placing it on the item you want described to you and ensuring that the lights in the room are on. Mind you, it does get confused with pale colours like, cream, pale pink, pale yellow, white, etc. It may just tell you that those things are “(light grey olive green” but it would recognize bold bright and dark colours and save you from going out in totally mismatched clothes.
Please note: it is not great with patterns hence the need to ask people to describe your clothes to you at the initial stage of purchase or receipt.

You can get it here:

http://www.shop.rnib.co.uk/cobolt-talking-colour-detector-1.html

For those in America:

http://www.braillebookstore.com/Cobolt-Talking-Colour-Identifier.1

2. If you are blind, it is always useful to own black or navy blue trousers or skirts. This is because they will go with just about anything. If you are the type to want to look striking, then team these with any bright coloured tops such as: Red, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Green, white, Gold or Silver and you will be sure to look great. For men, you can wear similar coloured shirts for leisure but for a corporate look, I think people prefer it when you are in white, pale blue, black, pink, or maroon shirts. You could also have shirts with pin stripes or checks in any of these colours. you can wear v neck jumpers over your shirts for work if you wish to keep warm in the winter. It helps if the jumper is the same colour of the trousers you’re wearing so that the light or bright colour of your shirt peaks out at the top. If you’re going casual, you can still team the dark coloured bottoms with nice jumpers in your preferred bright or dark colour.

Woman wearing red top and black trousers

Man wearing green jumper and navy blue jeans

 

3. Avoid wearing separate pieces of clothes with patterns: So If you want to wear a top that has any patterns, be it floral, stripes, aztec, swirls or checks etc., ensure that the bottoms you choose to wear are of one colour. The same applies if you choose to wear bottoms with patterns, then you should ensure that the top you are wearing is plain. It’s OK to where a whole outfit of patterns if the shop sold them together as a pair. This way the patterns would be the same or complement each other. If you can, try to ensure that the plain top or bottom you are wearing has one of the colours in the pattern of the other item.

Woman wearing white shirt with flared patterned trousers. Colours is pattern are: red, green, black, white.

Woman wearing white shirt white shirt with blue and green floral pattern and blue trousers

Daniel Radcliffe wearing a black suit with black and white checked shirt and black tie.

Navy blue and white striped T-shirt and blue trousers

 

4. If you are in a situation where you are unsure of two pale colours you have, always team the pale coloured outfit with a dark coloured clothing item. For example, if you have tops that are pale versions of pink, blue, green, grey, or just cream, you’re safest wearing it with dark coloured trousers. This is where dark grey, dark brown or maroon bottoms could also complement the pale top you are wearing.

Kate Moss wearing a black shirt with pale pink trousers

Man wearing a pale blue jacket, white shirt, navy tie and navy trousers

Man wearing a pale blue Denim shirt and navy blue trousers

 

5. You can also team pale coloured tops with white or cream trousers or skirts if you want a fresh spring or summery kind of look. Lilac, turquoise or aquamarine are colours I do not quite understand but they go with these as well as pale pinks and blues. (please note: sky blue is pale blue)

 

Woman wearing white top and pale pink shorts

Man wearing pale blue shirt and white trousers

 

6. Dresses
They are by far my favourite item of clothing as you do not have to worry about matching them. If you are the type who likes dresses, get a few of them as your staple clothing items as they rescue you on those mornings when you can’t seem to find those trousers or that top you really want to wear. In winter, I particularly love to wear jumper dresses either with V necks, cow necks, scoop necks etc. In summer, I go to town with dresses that have lots of lovely colourful patterns or just one bold bright colour.

 

White dress with blue and green flowers

Woman wearing cobalt blue wrap maxi dress

Orange midi dress

Hot pink cashmere jumper dress with turtleneck

 

7. If you are buying any items of clothing, or you are being given any, do not be afraid of asking the person to describe it to you. After all, they liked the look of it, that’s why they picked it for you so why shouldn’t you have the pleasure and delight of knowing what it looks like? I often find that having items of my clothing described to me in detail gives me confidence because I feel I have made an informed decision when choosing to wear it.

8. Texture:
It is often helpful to buy clothes with various textures you can feel so if you are in a hurry, you can tell which top you are pulling out of the wardrobe. For example: Zara and Gap do these ribbed thin jumpers in different colours. If you know the colours you bought, and you pull it out, simply find any trousers or skirts you have (because you know they are dark colours), and team them together and you’re ready to go. Winter clothing is great because of all the knit patterns you can feel. Cable knit, crochet knit, ribbed, etc.

Multi-coloured crochet jumper, colours are dark green, grey, yellow, maroon, white, salmon pink, light blue and dark blue. The colours are done in horizontal stripes up to the middle of the jumper, the colour patterns become random afterwards.

White turtleneck cable knit jumper

Mauve turtleneck ribbed jumper

 

9. Scarfs:
Keep it simple as you don’t want to have too many scarves to choose from each day. Think of the colours that dominate your wardrobe and pick the most common colours you have. For example, if most of the things in your wardrobe are dark, pick a bright scarf to give your outfit a lift. Especially if you are wearing a black or dark coat. If most of your outfits are bright, then it’s safer to pick a dark coloured scarf except on occasions where you are absolutely sure that the bright scarf you’re choosing goes with that particular outfit. If you have a patterned scarf, it’s safest to team it with outfits that are plain. It is helpful if the outfit has one of the colours in the patterned scarf.

Woman wearing blue jeans, black jacket, black and white stripy top and a yellow scarf

 

10. Shoes:
With regards to shoes, I am afraid to say I remain conservative and mostly wear dark coloured shoes. In the summer, I do experiment with colours like sparkly gold, or silver because again, they are neutral and can be easily matched with many things.

Silver sparkles on the straps with the inside being gold.

Plim soles with a white sole, gold mesh and silver threads all around the top and sides

 

I once recall buying a pair of sparkly pumps that reflected all the colours of the rainbow. I’m afraid to say that I can count the number of times I have warn these pumps as I was worried they wouldn’t go well with my often multi coloured summer outfits.

Pumps with sparkles of many colours

I thought to share these tips as they are guidelines I use for myself and they have worked wonders for me. It helps if like me, you have a good memory as I can describe to you, every single item of clothing I own. Having been sighted before, I can still see things in my mind. I do hope though that I have helped with this post.

Have you got any tips you would like to share? Comment below. I would like to hear your thoughts. Until the next post, have a colourific week! :)

How do I look?

This is a question very often asked by blind people when trying on an outfit. We often get given answers which inform our decision to proceed with what we’re doing, or change our approach, but the truth is that we will never really know what our answer to that question is. We are relying on a trusted source of information but if we could really see what we were trying on, would our choices be different?

I decided to write this post after reading this:

http://silkspun.net/2017/02/06/on-blindness-and-the-body/

I was deeply moved by her article and thought it would help to share my experiences and how I have gradually learnt to take control of my appearance in the hope that it will help others in a similar situation.

 

Victoria wearing a multi-coloured dress, standing in front of an artwork

 

Victoria in a long white dress, with black and brown braids, with a sunflower Alice-band around her head

 

Victoria in an orange cow-neck fitted jumper dress, standing in front of a Christmas tree

 

I lost my sight at the age of 7 as a result of some eye operations going wrong. Until then I was partially sighted enough to attend mainstream school, watch television, draw, paint, and do all the things a sighted child could do.

A partially sighted Victoria age 6, standing in a white dress with her birthday cake

 

After losing my sight, I remember my mum and sister teaching me how to recognise things with my hands. Such as knowing how to tell if my clothes are inside out, locating the right buttonhole for the buttons on clothes, learning to eat with a knife and fork without making a huge mess, etc.

I often hated mornings when it was time to get dressed as my mum and sister did not just lay out my clothes for me, they asked me which outfit I would like to wear. When I made my choices, they would then describe what I had chosen, and ask me why I chose them. A discussion would then occur after which I would realise why I could not wear that combination. After a while, I started to choose my own outfit combinations following the colour rules I was given. At that time, I was not aware that they were helping me take control of my image.

 

My Mum and I

My sister and I

 

My sister always told me about the importance of being presentable. It is more so if one has a disability because there is a tendency for society to expect less of you. You defy their expectations by appearing in a way that says “my disability does not impact on my ability to take pride in my appearance”, and you are taken more seriously. In saying this, she was not advocating that appearance is everything, but in a situation where a blind person doesn’t have the advantage of using eye contact to draw the attention of someone, it is far easier to be approached by other people who are often led by visual cues, if you are looking presentable.

My sister and my nieces

 

So how does one get to a point where they are happy with their appearance when one cannot see?

I must admit, seeing is important because it helps us confirm how great we look, or what needs adjusting. As a blind person, I learnt a lot from growing up in a family of people with good fashion sense. Conversations I have had with my sister, my Mum, my nieces etc have helped me build on ideas of how to dress myself in a way that makes me feel confident in my appearance. I can now go shopping independently and ask questions that ensure that I am choosing what is right for me.

 

Victoria in a multi-coloured, flowery top and black leggings touching shoes in a shop

 

I also think that one power we have as blind people is the ability to summon a feeling when we want to. I do have days when I feel really out of sorts and no matter what outfit I wear, I feel that I’m not looking great. Such days, I would “Look” at myself in the mirror, say to myself, “Victoria, you’re totally rocking this dress”, before I leave the house and I sincerely hope that I do.

I have made some errors in the past by wearing things that don’t quite go well together, or sometimes, I am in such a hurry that I have worn two different shoes. On such occasions, I “Own” my mismatched appearance and because it is a rare occurrence, people tend to think I was double dared to do so.

Negative comments about my appearance? Yes I have received quite a few of those from those close enough to give them, and yes, they do hurt at the time you are being told, but I would rather be aware of things I have to work on, because again, it is giving me control over my appearance. I must admit it does reach a point where I censor what I take in, especially if the person I am interacting with is in the habit of giving me negative feedback all the time. Some people have extremely high standards and they may want to foist those standards on to you. There is nothing wrong with having high standards of fashion, but for me, if it gets to the point where it causes me constant worry, I take what I can from what I am being told, and ignore the rest.

For example: I have been told that my eye lashes look better with mascara on, but whenever I try to apply it, I end up jabbing my eye or dropping blobs of it on my cheeks hence ruining my blusher. You know what? I have given up on them. I would only wear mascara if I have the help of a sighted person.

 

Victoria in a strapless gown with brown hair and blonde tips, full makeup with mascara

 

Victoria in a headshot, full professional makeup (didn’t do this myself :)) Photo by: Lilla Nyeki

 

I know I couldn’t get any blinder from a mascara injury, but I still would like to keep my eyes intact thank you very much. Another example is when I am persuaded to choose clothes that need constant adjusting during the day such as tops or dresses that hang off the shoulder. Yes, I know they are “In” but I have more important things to worry about when I am out or on stage than having to constantly hoist up a sleeve that keeps sliding off because it is hanging precariously around my arm.

So I do not think there is a clear answer to whether we as blind people will ever know how we look in any outfits, or how we look as people. We will get honest feedback from people we trust and we can work with that as guidelines. The important thing to remember though, is that to the people who really matter, what we look like will only matter to them a little bit as they will be more interested in what we carry in our hearts.

I will be posting something else about ways to bring outfits together if you are blind and have no concept of how colours work. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this feel free to comment and share your thoughts.

My PA and Me

My PA Emily and me

I started employing the services of a personal assistant about three years ago when I finally admitted to myself that organizing my life to a point that would enable me to function to a high standard required some help from a sighted person. Having been in boarding school for most of my life, and living in a university setting for some of it, I have had the privilege of living in an environment that was organized and equipped in such a way that I could function independently.

However, starting life after school as a freelance opera singer and a teacher of singing gradually drew me out of my comfort zone, as I had to travel around London a lot and organize my lessons and my wardrobe to be suitable for different occasions. I also became a full time user of social media to expand my client base, keep people informed of my musical/ life journey and generally to stay in touch with all the people I have encountered so far.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t use social media independently as a blind person, but I am a firm believer in surviving in a world where visual content is vital in getting a message across or keeping people interested. This is where my PA comes in handy in helping me select the right images for any articles I write or for my posts on Facebook or Twitter.

My PA is also vital in helping me carry out tasks to a high standard. For example, if I need to prepare flyers advertising my concerts etc, we work together as a team, with me describing to her what I would like the flyer to look like, and she sourcing the materials to help me get my desired result. As I never fail to remind people: “I may be blind, but I do have a vision.”

I first of all heard about Independent Living Alternatives when I sang at the Liberty Festival and was assigned a PA to work with me for the day. We instantly clicked, not just as PA and PA user, but as friends, for the simple reason that she understood my situation when my curling tongs stopped working and I called her in panic mode, asking her to bring one along to help me get my hair looking nice for the event. She had already left home when I called to ask for her help with this, and she dashed back to bring me the tongs, and I got my desired hairdo for the event.

OK, this might sound completely trivial, but who doesn’t want to look their best when on stage? A sighted person has the ability to check their appearance in the mirror before they walk out of the house on a normal day, and on a special day, that check is even more thoroughly done.

In my case, on a daily basis, I could pull off a good enough look, but on a day that I’m to appear in front of a huge crowd because it’s a special occasion, I need my PA’s reassuring presence to see that everything goes just right. This frees my mind from worrying about my appearance, to focusing on the technical details of the performance I’m about to give.

OK… back to the point I was trying to make. I got on so well with the PA that was assigned to me that I instantly decided to employ her. She told me about Independent Living Alternatives and when I rang to thank them for recommending her, I asked the lady how she knew that I would get on very well with this particular PA.

She said: “I didn’t know you, but I had a look at your website and saw that you paid particular attention to detail with everything to do with your music and your appearance, so I thought she would be right for you”.

My first PA and I had a great working relationship that lasted a whole year, till I had to say goodbye to her because she got a full time job.

This was when I first experienced the Independent Living Alternatives matching process. I then approached them to find me another PA. I sent them a detailed job specification and answered their personality questionnaire. With this information, they sent me a few prospective PAs with personal attributes and educational qualifications which matched my requirements.

When I read through my current PA’s personal attributes, I knew we would work well together and I haven’t looked back since. In order for a PA to work well for you, the person needs to have a huge amount of empathy with your situation and a good understanding of what sort of help you need.

Emily helps me with tasks that require vision to complete: Reading my mail, filing print documents, sourcing sheet music, choosing images for articles, flyers and my social media, organizing my wardrobe for easy access, helping me with my food/grocery shopping and labelling of tinned food, accompanying me to events or to the theatre or cinema for shows that are not audio described, going to inaccessible shopping malls, helping me shop online by describing items on the display to me, and the list goes on, since each working day brings about new challenges.

She’s very intelligent but unassuming and I never know what she has up her sleeve until she reveals them. She is perfect in the sense that she keeps a professional distance but not so distant that I find her unapproachable. She is very intuitive and knows the difference between when I need encouraging to complete a very difficult task, and when I need her to intervene.

Being in control is vital to everyone, but it is more so to anyone who lives with a disability that makes them somewhat vulnerable. If you are visually impaired or blind, you are that little bit more vulnerable, as most people with other disabilities can still rely on their sight to fully assess any situation they’re in, whereas all you have to rely on is the tone of the voice speaking to you and what you’re being told. In order for a blind person to trust someone, the person has to give a bit more of themselves so the blind person is sure that they have their best interests at heart. My PA is highly aware of this so she is very good at expressing herself fully and in the most sincere form, that reassures me that I am being made fully aware of what is happening around me.

She only helps me with tasks that I ask her to… In time, she has come to know more about me, and my interests so much so that when we’re out and about, she instinctively draws my attention to things that I would have noticed had I been sighted. This I find invaluable as she practically acts as my eyes. We have a mutual amount of respect for each other and I have come to see her as a friend.

In order for a PA and a PA user to work effectively, there has to be a mutual sense of trust. I have to trust that my PA has my best interest at heart in order to trust her judgement. She has to trust that I am in control and capable of making the right decisions for me, and in cases where she is supplying me with information, that I am able to make decisions based on the information I am given.

I also believe that as a PA user, you are responsible for the wellbeing of your PA when she is with you so the caring element should be mutual.

The Threepenny Opera company’s campaign to save the Independent Living Fund. Members of the cast hold postcards saying “Save the ILF”

PAs are very useful in helping people living with a disability lead a life without limits. To some disabled people, having a PA makes a difference between their being able to eat, wash, use the bathroom  or carry out normal daily activities that many of us take for granted. The government cuts have resulted in the Independent Living Fund, which pays for such services, to be closed. This will result in many disabled people becoming prisoners in their own homes, or even worse, the death of many disabled people due to neglect, and depression.

I urge everyone to look up organizations like the Independent Living Alternatives (www.ila.org.uk) to have a full understanding of how vital their role is to humanity, and ask yourselves if the government have the right to deprive more than a fifth of the whole British population of their right to live a life without limits?

To find out more about the Independent Living Fund and to participate in the fight to save the ILF, please visit the following links:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/back-basics-independent-living-fund
https://www.facebook.com/ILFpostcard
http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/threepenny-opera-ilf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMl1Vl4SBwI

The true meaning of vision

Inner Vision group photo

On the 19^th of November 2011, I attended a workshop led by the RNIB and happened to come across a nice lady called Linda, who was accompanying her husband Baluji to the same workshop. She told me about what would later become the Inner Vision Orchestra, and asked me if I would like to join in the pilot project. I am always up for new experiences so I said yes, and that was how our journey began.

We had our first rehearsal in March 2012 and all the musicians (fabulous people I hasten to add) were introduced, and we had a musical jam.

I fast came to realize that there were many things I needed to learn about world music. Having come from a classical background where everything is set in stone, working with Inner Vision requires you to have a well developed inner hearing as you need to react to what is happening around you and interact musically to make the piece work.

OK, before I start to bore the non musicians reading this, I must get to the heart of the matter. Every member of the Inner Vision Orchestra is a barrel of laughs! It’s a wonder we get any work done because of all the banter we enjoy together.

Another thing you have to know about blind people is the never ending soundscape we are capable of producing with our instruments and our voices.

Ziad (our Lebanese oud player and singer), for instance, is able to do a whistle so loud I swear it would give the ambulance a run for its money. He also has a way of recounting events that add a flavour unique to him.
 
 

Fereshteh, our singer from Iran, and mother to Bruce, her very boisterous and affectionate guide dog, adds a very feisty character to the mix.
 
 
 
If you’re lucky on a long bus or train journey to sit beside Ricky, you will end up in stitches from all the jokes and limericks he creates off the top of his head. I tell you, as well as being an amazing musician, he makes a pretty entertaining comedian.
 
 
Takashi (our Japanese viola player and singer), on the other hand, is whom I would call the group’s wise owl. This is because he isn’t often garrulous, but when he has something to say, it is very profound and unforgettable.
 
 
 
 
 
Abi, (our pianist, violinist, and clarinetist, from Somerset), is whom I would call the clever one. This is not to undermine anyone’s intelligence, but she came up with the phrase “optically challenged” as a substitute for visually impaired. Abi is very good with words so if you ever need to convey any message clearly, she’s the one for the job.
 
 
 
Peggy, our cymbalist who calls herself the simple cymbalist is one person who brings us all together and keeps us sane whenever we lose it. A good example is whenever the sound engineers at venues we go to do not get the balance right and we all get frustrated, and Peggy reminds us all of the fact that we all love music and we can still make music regardless of the sound balance being wrong.
 
 
Tristram, our enigmatic keyboard player is very instrumental in keeping us all together musically, as he often determines the speed of the music.
 
 
 
Baldev is a good example of how music can unite, because his main language is Punjabi. In spite of this, he is able to keep the orchestra together with his tabla, which is as reliable as a heartbeat.
 
 
 
Then I must talk about Baluji. He doesn’t like to be referred to as the leader of this group because he aims to empower everybody but one thing you must know, is that he is the brain behind the formation of this orchestra. He had a vision that was beyond what is physical. He often reminds me of water – the one thing apart from oxygen that we can not do with out. I say this because he has a gentle unassuming approach to everything, but he always delivers in the end.
 
 
I am Victoria, the classical singer of Nigerian origin in the orchestra. One thing you will come to notice is that I laugh a lot and love all the improvised sessions we have, but there are a few things I do not laugh about: being too far away from a warm drink of lemon and honey, and being forced to eat things that don’t agree with my voice 🙂
 
So here you have the Inner Vision Orchestra, the orchestra with a vision to change the world’s definition of disability. The blind can lead the blind and get them to their destination in one piece. Watch this space. 🙂

Thank God for the Metropolitan Police

Me and my mobility cane

I remember the first time I started learning to use a mobility cane. I was doing my A- levels at the former RNIB New College Worcester and I used to think the mobility cane was the most uncool thing ever created. My views gradually changed as my mobility teacher started pointing out ways in which it would prevent me from hitting obstacles and scarring my legs or falling down steps. I also got to learn how to use my mobility cane to locate landmarks to help me get to where I need to go.

When I passed my test for mobility, I had the keys to the world in my hands. I could go just about any where if given directions. This led to my second fear: People!

When I was growing up, my family (my mum and sister especially), always made me aware of how tricky and unpredictable the world is, and how I should always have my wits about me especially since I don’t have the use of the most valued sensory organ: my sight.

In many ways I am glad I had been forewarned because I have come across some interesting people in my years of independent travel. They range from genuinely nice people with whom I am happy to engage in pleasant chats, to strange people who think I’m their good deed for the day by laying their hands on me to “cure my affliction” to dodgy people who take advantage of the contact they have when they take my arm to help me across the road, as an opportunity to chat me up inappropriately.

Most times I’m polite but if I start to feel like I’m being asked obtrusive questions, I firmly ask them to stop and walk away. If I am not in a position where I feel free to do that, I would raise my voice in the hope that someone else passing by would notice what was happening and help.

I sometimes get approached by beggars asking me for money, and in one case last year, I was followed after I had withdrawn some money from the cash point. Luckily I was with my friend who intervened by asking them to leave me alone. I got the feeling they were quite harmless but they seemed desperate as they kept insisting that I should give them a bit of money so when I got home I called the Met Police and made a complaint. They assured me they would do something about it and since then I have had no more bother from those people.

Another aspect of travel that disabled people have to deal with, is inpatient members of the public. I have often witnessed station assistants get some abuse from passengers because they are having to walk at a more steady pace helping me up the stairs or assisting me on to the train. They would often say things like “Hurry up we haven’t got all day” or “For God’s sake I have a train to catch” In this case, the station assistant would tell them they’re helping a VIP (Visually impaired person) and immediately the passenger would be contrite.

One of the great London Underground station staff

On one particular evening, the Oxford circus Tube station was congested and we had to wait in a queue for up to 20 minutes before we were allowed into the station. A kind lady was helping me down the stairs after expressing her concern that as a consequence of the crowded environment I would be accidentally pushed. On getting to the ticket barriers, she was in the middle of asking me who she should speak to about assisting me, when an angry voice from behind started shouting “Get out of the way! It’s people like you that cause the long queue and keep people waiting outside for ages” so the lady helping me explained to her that she was helping me because I was blind.

A Crowded Tube Station

The passenger showed no concern. She went on to say that she didn’t care if I was blind or crippled or anything and that no one had the right to keep people waiting. At this point, I decided to speak up for myself. I told her I was in the queue myself and my journey had been delayed, but I would only travel safely if I got the help I needed hence this lady trying to get a station staff’s attention. I also told her that it was people like her who made life that bit more difficult for people like me.

When the angry lady carried on ranting, I decided there was no point having a logical conversation with her so I told her in no polite terms to keep quiet because her behaviour was unacceptable. On hearing shouting the police were called and we both had the opportunity to explain what happened.

At this point I was seething for the following reasons:

1) The station was so crowded I had no idea where I was standing, and I wasn’t standing in her way for more than 30 seconds.

2) She was venting her frustration out on me, forgetting that every one else at the station was experiencing the same thing.

3) If she had done this to another disabled person who might have anxieties attached with going out, she would justify their fears.

The wonderful police of London

So when the policeman approached me, I made him aware of the situation and why he should have a stern word with her because in Britain, we respect people and we do not make disabled people feel like they are a public nuisance. It’s people like this angry lady, who make some people living with a disability terrified of leaving their homes and such behaviour in the public should be curtailed.

The policeman told her, that her behaviour was unacceptable and she was asked to leave the station.

So here is my word to all people living with a disability, all parents/carers who have to struggle with prams, and senior citizens.

1) We all have a right to travel safely. Even if it means we have to tread more carefully, so never let any one make you feel like you’re a public nuisance.

2) Don’t be afraid to report any one who makes you feel like you are a public nuisance when you’re trying to make your way in the best way you can.

3) Never hesitate to ask members of the public for help if you can’t find any staff around. Most people you will find, are willing to support you in any way they can, but remember not to take them for granted.

I would like to say a huge thank you to the unnamed lady who helped me down the stairs and got verbally assaulted by the angry lady. I didn’t get the chance to ask your name but wherever you are, may God send you an angel in your hour of need as you were mine at that crucial point in time.

Thank you to the Metropolitan Police for being the friendly calming influence that you are. You have helped me cross the road several times in my life and you always have pleasant things to say no matter how cold, hot, wet or snowy the weather is. I know you don’t often get people saying thanks to you, but I’m grateful to you for doing your best to make our cities safe.

Have you or any friends/relations experienced anything similar? I would like to hear about your experiences and your thoughts.

Life on the stage

Image above © Patrick Baldwin 2014: Me on stage with the rest of the cast, performing a song. We are standing still with our palms spread in front of us, and a screen above our heads displays the lyrics ‘For life today is cold and grey and ghastly’

I must apologise for not keeping you updated with my musings/activities.

As the title suggests, I have been on the stage most nights for the past few weeks, something I am grateful for. It has been an amazing experience, with never a dull moment. I often pinch myself to check that it’s not a dream.

The first leg of the Threepenny Opera tour saw us in Nottingham where we played at the Nottingham Playhouse for two weeks. We arrived two weeks prior to the beginning of the show and our time was mainly spent in rehearsals.

Going away for a long time is always a daunting prospect for someone with a visual impairment. You are leaving familiar surroundings behind and in many ways you are trying your hardest to maintain some control over how you choose to live. Rehearsals were a bit of a revelation to me. Having come from an operatic background where the orchestra is usually neatly placed in the pit or on the side of the stage, it was a bit of a shock to find that I had to share the stage with musicians carrying their instruments and sometimes moving around with them:-) This is a feature that is unique to an actor/muso production. The sound level was also a huge factor in affecting my orientation as I depend mainly on my ears to give me a sense of where I am on stage. I thought my challenges would be over when I got used to the sound levels but little did I know that there would be another aspect of the stage for me to tackle: the fall-back speakers. These speakers can make someone standing next to you seem like they’re standing somewhere completely different. Whilst they’re great for balancing out the sound, and helping the musicians keep together, they’re not so great for helping me gauge where I should face when I’m addressing someone on stage.

Image above © Patrick Baldwin 2014: Wearing a black dress, I am standing behind the wheelchair of my onstage husband Mr Peachum ( Garry Robson) with my hands on his shoulders.  I have a kind expression on my face, while he has his leather-gloved hands spread and looks serious.

Rehearsals also brought to light my need for simple and concise instructions during choreography sessions. It was very useful to have many rehearsals on the stage prior to the first show. I was able to familiarise myself with the stage with the help of my fellow cast members. We were also able to establish cues they could give me to inform me of where they were, or where necessary, the choreographer adapted movements to make things easier for me.

In spite of all the work that’s involved in rehearsals, there can be a few mishaps in a show. For instance, last week (our first week in Ipswich) I got  completely disorientated by the new space and the change in the nature of the sound output as a result of the shape of the theatre. I was about to faint (as was required by the script) on what should have been the platform but was the floor when CiCi Howells, who plays my daughter Polly, Garry Robson who plays my husband Mr Peachum and Will Kenning who plays Tiger Brown dived to my rescue just in time to prevent me from banging my head on the metal platform edge. It worked out really well as the audience would have thought my stage family were rather concerned about my health. There were also a few times that I have walked a little too close to the edge of the stage but fortunately, the stage manager had put two wooden pipes down, one to warn me that I’m too close for comfort, and the other to completely stop me from falling off. I often find that my adrenalin kicks in, giving any other scenes after such incidents more of a boost.

Afterwards I go over the incident with my support worker and cast members who are on set with me at the time, and we think of ways to prevent them from happening again. It could either be a case of me counting my steps, or getting a sound cue from one of them to reassure me, or to stop me from veering off too far.

In situations like this, I feel grateful to be working with such talented and reliable people. On the whole it has been a new and interesting experience being in an actor/muso production. I think the concept when its all put together works out really well as it gives what I would describe as maximum entertainment to the audience.

Image above © Patrick Baldwin 2014: I am crying in Garry’s lap while he shouts at Polly (CiCi Howells), who is standing to the left of us in her red dress.

Possible Solutions:

Ask to have more time in the performance space during rehearsals.

Ask to be shown around the set.

Ask to be informed of any changes to the set in great detail.

Don’t be shy about confiding in your fellow cast members. You’re only saying what they are already thinking because they are just as concerned for your safety.

Some blind people use their guide canes on the stage but I have often found the guide cane more of a hindrance than a help because it limits my ability to use my hands when expressing myself. I also find that my stick encourages me to look down instead of outwards because it channels my attention to the things on the floor that might trip me up.

I tend to rely on many rehearsals, because let’s face it, the stage could be as familiar as your bedroom if you’re on it long enough. Since I don’t use my stick when I’m at home, I feel that using it on stage is telling me that I’m not familiar with the space. This is in no way disregarding the choices of other blind people who may feel better using a stick, especially those with a little vision. The stage can be rather confusing for them as the flashing lights blur their vision, hence disorientating them.

When working with a company like Graeae it is easy to communicate this to the artistic directors, however with non-disabled theatre companies time is always precious as you don’t often gain access to the performance space until maybe two days before the performance. Even with the use of a guide cane that isn’t enough time to get familiar with the space. This is something that companies could think about as more and more visually impaired actors/musicians are emerging.

The Threepenny Opera is currently showing at the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich until  Saturday 22nd of March. Then we’re off to Birmingham Rep, and then West Yorkshire playhouse in Leeds.

For performance schedule and tickets, visit: www.graeae.org/productions/the-threepenny-opera/

Click here to see some reviews:

http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/graeae-the-threepenny-opera-review

http://www.insuffolk.com/threepenny-opera-insuffolk-review/

http://news.cision.com/dakota-digitalltd/r/graeae-theatre-company-presents-a-contemporary-opera-for-our-times,c9551566

To find out what we’re up to when the cast of Threepenny Opera are not on stage, visit Tash’s Threepenny Opera Blog:

http://graeaetheatrecompany.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/tashs-threepenny-opera-blog-4

My wonderful job!

Picture above: Me singing at the Attitude Awards

As most of you might have observed, I am a singer, songwriter, teacher of singing, and now to add to my skills, I have recently dipped my toes in to the whirlpool of acting as I embrace my role as Mrs Peachum in Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera.

Yes, I know I am lucky to be able to pursue my preferred career in this very competitive climate, and I never forget to be thankful.

I have wanted to be a singer ever since I was 4 and was mesmerized by the voice of Aurora in Walt Disney’s adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, and my passion, with the help of my family and a lot of hard work, has taken me to music college where I honed my skills to make this happen.

How have I been able to pursue my career as a blind person?

Well, I have endured a lot of rejection and worked in a few productions where I was not necessarily playing a principle role, but I remained single minded and doggedly determined. The day I got the letter from Graeae Theatre Company asking me to audition began a turning point.

Graeae Theatre Company are a force for change. They make theatre accessible to musicians and actors who live with a disability or multiple disabilities. In fact, they cut through all the what-ifs, and buts, and make it happen!

Of course, everyone undergoes a fair audition where a number of experienced artistic and musical directors observe each candidate doing what they do best and pick who is best for each role. I remember having two call backs before I was offered the role of Mrs Peachum! And you should have seen the ceremonial dance I did in my hotel suite (as at that time, I was back in Nigeria because I had been invited to sing at the Musical Society of Nigeria’s gala concert).

The amazing thing about the cast they have put together for this show, is that a lot of the actors/singers are also part of the orchestra! The cast also include a few actors/singers who do not have a disability.

Picture above: inside the Graeae studios

Working for Graeae these past two weeks has been such an amazing experience. Unlike most theatres I have been to, the Graeae building is very accessible. Most times I do not feel the need to hold my stick as I walk around the building because there are no sudden steps or obstacles to trip me up. The freedom has been amazing in giving me the confidence to participate on stage unaided most times. I also have the help of a support worker who is always there to help me with orientation and with anything else I need. If she is not available, another member of the cast often describes what is happening during rehearsals hence keeping me up to date with any changes, or making me aware of what the joke is when there is sudden laughter.

Picture below: Me standing with my onstage hubby Mr Peachum and daughter Polly, with MacHeath and Jenny in the foreground

My onstage family – Gary Robson who plays my husband Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum, and CiCi Howells who plays my daughter Polly – are very experienced actors/singers. They are also very aware of ways to make their presence known to me so I do not end up directing my comments into space.

I am really enjoying the work in progress because for the first time, I feel like my skills are being utilised to the fullest. Mrs Peachum is a role that requires a lot of presence. She is a harridan to say the least and it has been quite a journey to get from the smiley Victoria to this other person I become on stage.

Picture above: Mrs Peachum (Victoria) and daughter Polly (CiCi Howells) in a silent stand-off

There are a lot of things that a blind person worries about whilst on stage – where props are placed and where people are being at the top of the list. This is why I appreciate the repeated runs we have to help Amelia, who plays Jenny, and I familiarise ourselves with the lay out of the stage. Amelia and I also have an action packed scene which I won’t let out of the bag till you see the show…

Picture above: Sharing an onstage moment with Amelia – she is leaning on her cane, looking at me seriously, while I look back defiantly

I do hope that you can all come and see the show! I’m telling you, it will be an unforgettable experience! The dialogue is colourful and the songs range from well known jazz standards to some rather operatic songs. You will definitely be leaving on a high!

I will paste the link for you to book tickets. We are showing at the following venues:

Nottingham Playhouse from 21st Feb to 8^th March 2014,

The New Wolsey Theatre from 12^th March to 22^nd March 2014,

Birmingham Rep from 27^th march to 12^th April 2014,

And West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds from 24^th April to 10^th May 2014.

Please find below the following links:

To book tickets, click here

For Mrs Peachum’s story, click here

Click here to see the promo for the show. This week, Mr and Mrs Peachum AKA Garry Robson and Victoria Oruwari are flying the flag!

To find out more about Amelia Cavallo, visit her blog here

My Gadgets And Me

One thing doctors should remember to tell people after they’ve been diagnosed with a permanent condition that renders them disabled is that living with a disability is very capital intensive. I tell you! The number of extra things you need to function are endless!

I’ll only focus on being blind as that’s my specialty.

First you need a white stick:

And also an orientation officer which thankfully the British social system make available for free.

Then you need little things like

1) A water level indicator:

I don’t use this often because I’m now able to detect from the sound liquid makes when it’s being poured that the glass is almost full but it is very useful when the kitchen is full of other noises that might distract you and cause accidents.

2) A Pen friend:

It is just like a pen which comes with many little sticky labels. So when the pen is put on the label, you can name the item you want that particular label to recognize, and the next time the pen is placed on that same label, it tells you what it is. It is very useful for labelling food, clothes, cds, etc.

3) A colour detector:

I make use of mine very often. It does what it says on the package. Tells you what colour your clothes are, though sometimes it confuses some colours such as pink and red, or purple and blue, or grey and cream.

4) Loc8tor Tag:

My orientation officer just introduced me to “Loc8tor” tags and they have been so helpful. You know those mornings when I’m getting ready and I can’t find my hair brush, keys, etc? Well I now have them tagged to this device that makes them beep when the device is pressed so I can locate them.

5) Braille note:

This is just like a mini computer though it works with a Braille key system, and a Braille display. With this, you can check and send emails, browse the internet, record, and read any print files once it’s been transferred on to it.

6) Jaws: Job Access With Speech is the name of the screen reader on my computer that enables me to make full use of my laptop. It basically reads every thing on the screen. Instead of using the mouse when operating my laptop, I use short cut keys to get me to documents, the internet, and every other place I decide to locate on the computer. Jaws needs to be updated at least once a year as it has to be compatible with the ever changing web browsers. Another capital intensive venture.

7) Victor reader:

Before the iPhone became accessible, blind people needed devices like the Victor Stream, Iriver, Phlex talk, etc to enable them to listen to their music, store downloaded audio books, and record things on the go. In many ways, though the iphone has come to stay, I still take my Victor Stream with me because it has a longer battery life than my iphone. I also think many blind people would agree that the iphone still doesn’t beat the products of Humanware who created the victor stream.

8) Eye pal solo:

This is a scanner. This literally reads any print document to you! Just place the book, or letter etc on the flat surface and it reads it to you! Definitely on my to buy list!

9) Braille wrist watches and talking watches:

The Braille wrist watch uses Braille symbols to enable you tell the time by feel. The face of the watch can be lifted to allow this. With the talking watch, you simply press a button on the side of the watch and it tells you the time. The thing is, Braille watches have to be replaced every 3 years because they get rusty due to constant exposure to dust etc.

10) Talking scales:

They do just that. You can get ones for weighing yourself or ones for weighing ingredients.

11) Trekker Breeze:

This is a talking GPS that tells you where you are when you’re out and about. All you have to do is, press the button. It’s portable, and has all UK postal codes logged in the system. It may prevent you from getting lost but sometimes you still need an arm especially if you’re crossing an unfamiliar road or the path isn’t so straight forward.

12) Braille embosser:

This is a device that produces documents in Braille. It works a bit like a printer only what it churns out is Braille. Very useful for when I am sent a lot of print to read and I get fed up with having Jaws read it to me. Sometimes it’s always better to access information first hand. 

In many ways, we should be grateful to the very thoughtful people who create all this equipment to enable us function independently.

I cannot promise you that I have gone through the whole list of gadgets, I can only talk about the ones I make use of. To find out more about equipment for blind or partially sighted people, visit.

www.humanware.com

www.rnib.org

www.freedomscientific.com

The many shades of Christmas

 

I have experienced Christmas in so many different ways when I was growing up. As a partially sighted child, it was a season I dreaded the most because I had to go and see Father Christmas. I’m sure you’d think that really odd because all children are meant to like him since he gives you presents and all, but I was extremely terrified of him because he didn’t look like a human being and I didn’t understand why I had to go in to this room alone, and talk to him. So I did what I did best. Screamed the place down until my mum or my Nanny was allowed to go in with me. I guess what people didn’t understand, was that being partially sighted, I also couldn’t see him very well. Santa’s grotto was a bit dark and even though he sounded quite harmless, I didn’t think I could trust him not to whisk me away in to a deep dark hole, and no one would be able to find me. So I endured the visits year after year until the year I lost my sight. That year was the first time I allowed Santa to put me on his knee and tell me the story about Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem and how if I was very good, one day, He would take me to Jerusalem to see where it all happened. He also showed me his costume and I realized that I shouldn’t have spent all those other years being frightened of him.

 An aspect of Christmas I remember very well was the flashing lights on our Christmas tree which turned our sitting room in to an enchanted place. The lights had so many different colours and because we had white walls, the colours turned the walls in to various shades of pink, red, blue, green, etc. I also loved the transformations in school and church where every place was decked with holly, and tinsel.

Picture of Christmas tree below:

 

 

I wish they could make Christmas trees that had lights that made different twinkly charming noises. That would make it easier for blind people to appreciate.

 As I got older, I started to appreciate Christmas carols more and making cards for my friends. As a blind person, I find cards rather tricky to write as they have to be written in Print to my sighted friends. When I was in school, A friend of mine helped me figure out that you could tell where to write because the top and bottom of cards are blank. When the card is closed, the top half is longer than the bottom half so that way, I can tell that I’m writing in the correct places.

I have since used this method to write cards though it would be helpful if more cards are designed with tactile decorations to make access easier.

Wrapping presents is another minefield. Some wrapping papers have two textures where the outside is shiny and the inside is matted. It gets tricky when both sides feel the same as you can’t tell which way the wrapping paper should go.

Sometimes people wonder if I would appreciate being given a card and my answer is:

If the card has things I can feel, and the sender bares in mind my love for bright colours, I am always as happy to enjoy a card as I would if I could see it.

Picture of tactile Christmas cards below

During my college years, Christmas became more about singing in concerts and attending many concerts and in time I got to memorize all the descants in carols.It was also about watching my adorable nieces and nephews open their presents.

 Now as a Teacher of singing, I arrange modern versions of traditional Christmas carols for my pupils and listen with pride when they perform them at their Christmas concert. It is also about going to various Christmas events where I am invited to sing.

My dream Christmas would be to spend it in a really cold country like Switzerland or New York where there is a lot of snow. On Christmas day, to wake up with loved ones in a 5 star hotel where there are lots of Christmas activities I can enjoy without having the extra stress of preparing them.

I am pasting below, a link to my arrangement of the Holly and the Ivy which I recorded last week. In this track, I am singing in one of my different styles and I am accompanied by a guitarist called Joao Smart, who was introduced to me by a friend. Joao who is a guitarist in a band called “the Rast collective” also produced the track.

I hope you enjoy it!

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!