my dearest friend phylis has finally retired due to ill health.

phylis is my white cane. shes developed arthritus in her joints and no longer folds up cos shes so stiff. this also makes it hader to feel the feedback from the pavement so she filled in her incapacity form and is now taking a comfy seat in the corner of my room.

phylis has been tough to work with. shes got that typical teenage angst. likes to cause trouble by tripping people up andcausing commotions in shops by knocking things over. we've had our tese moments when shes tripped me up and sent me flyin and a few scary moments when shes got stuck in drains.

she will be truely missed not only by me but my mam has taking quite a shining to her and often has a little chat to her when she walks past phylis in the porch. one day me and phylis went shopping and it was pouring down and we got soaked. we got home and mam came rushig over with a big towel. grabbed phylis and rushed her into the kitchen to dry her off while im stood drenched and shivering in the porch wondering where my towel and hug are!

phylisis best friend is my mates guide dog. when we meet for coffee sandie the dog and phylis disapear under the table and gossip. they like to play 'who can cause the most damage' in shops. sandie usually wins by knocking shelves over when she gets too excited.

i contacted teh cane orphange and my new adoptee arrived yesterday. he's a boy and called samson. hes not as strong as phylis so il have to be more careful when i use him to lea on (not that your supposed to do that with white canes). hes a long cane which is the type most people associate with blind people. he has a big black grip handle which is much easier to hold with my old lady hands. he also folds up beuatifully so i wont have to go through the enjoyable game of trying to balance him agaisnt a wall or table.

he seems much more profeesional than phylis. hes longer than her so i didnt trip over him or kick him once yesterday. but time will tell what his persoanlity truely is.

so phylis. you will be missed and you will always be my favourite.

phylis stands tall in the pic at the top of my blog.