Sea in the Dark Lipreading (pun intended)

It’s been a traditional Bank Holiday weekend. It rained – a lot. Yesterday I briefly skimmed through the Sunday Telegraph seeking something other than gossip and speculation that seems to fill the silly season.

And I found something, two something’s to be exact.

A story about Gavin Reid, a deaf crew member on a yacht taking part in the ‘Clipper Round the World Race’. Gavin “deaf from birth and normally reliant on lip reading and hearing aids” would have been unable to communicate during night watches and when the weather turned loud and nasty – think about the worst storms you’ve experienced then you’ll know a little of what he faces. The answer came from a crew member whilst preparing for the race at the pub, glow-in-the -dark-lipstick which will light up under the beam of a UV torch.

Absolutely brilliant (no pun intended) and I’m in awe of anyone who goes out to sea in serious weather, let along round the world. My boating experiences have been tame but I’ve spoken with hard core sailors who’ve seen waves up to 90 feet high (27.43 metres). Good luck to Gavin and all who sail with him.

Then I read Alan Titchmarsh’s column for the first time, only because the caption “Discreet: actress Jodie Foster appears to sometimes wear a hearing aid” was pasted under a pic of the (I didn’t recognise her) actress. His words were interesting and insightful and I hope readers will think more about communication needs when they meet someone with impaired hearing. I’m not going to take up gardening or read Mr T’s books (not my taste, not his fault) but I’ve elevated him in my estimation.

How’s this for a connection? Sue and I often see Charlie Dimmock driving around as she lives near to where we keep Sue’s horse. And, I’ve been drinking tea at the feed merchants a few times when she’s dropped in for supplies, Ms D is  real person who’s genuinely pleasant and just ‘one of the lad(ie)s’.

Back to tradition. 6 pm Bank Holiday Monday, it’s stopped raining and the sun is shyly peeking through the clouds to mock those returning damp and despondent from holidays.