Time mechanically rolls along. I have never worn a watch, as I don’t need to be reminded when to eat or sleep. I use a bedside clock to inform me of the hour I wake. From that point each day, I can conduct myself punctually for meetings or appointments. The rest of life fits where comfortable. If I need to be aware of the particular time of day, I have no hesitation in asking passersby. This can lead to friendly banter in much the same way asking for visual assistance, breaches the ‘stranger barrier’.

     One fortunate benefit of vision loss is the need to converse with total strangers, in order to gain awareness of unfamiliar environments, assistance with shopping or many varied details that require description. By far the greater majority of folk are only too pleased to give guidance and it is one of life’s joys to meet so many people, whom, as a fully sighted person I ignored.