My friends in the North

This weekend I took a trip up to the wilds of the north east – Newcastle to be precise. It was to be only my second ever trip to that city and the reason was a tad unusual.

I’d agreed to do a stand up comedy set for a meeting of the Northern Alliance Ushers & RP Group.  This is a get together of folk who have the same eye condition as myself along with those who have Usher’s syndrome – same condition but with added “bonus” of gradual loss of hearing.

I was wary of the trip. Partly because I could find myself in the company of people who speak an unusual form of English, but also because I wasn’t sure what to expect from a large crowd of people with such conditions (would the room be full of bods tuning pianos or weaving baskets?  I’m joking of course). To be fair, I was also anticipating quite a lively afternoon.

And, so it was. As I arrived, the pub function room was alive with conversation, laughter and the occasional bark coming from the front end of one or other of several guide dogs. I was struck by the upbeat nature of the people there.

During the afternoon however, I had a number of conversations with attendees and, actually felt quite saddened by a theme that applied to most of them. When asked whether they were working they said not. Now, was I dealing with what appeared to be people incapable or unwilling to work? From what I experienced – no way! These were bright, intelligent individuals who expressed a real desire to earn a living along with an intense frustration at currently being unable to find employment.

I mused to myself that having the burden of a disability can be massively exacerbated by difficulties in becoming as independent as possible through working.

At risk of sounding hackneyed, I found myself counting my own blessings. It appears that, being a visually impaired man in his late 50’s, earning and supporting a family is pretty much an exception rather than a rule. For that I remain grateful.

I’m also grateful I was invited up there to perform. And, how did the comedy set go? It seems it went down very well – my new friends in the north certainly know how to laugh. More than anything, I’m glad and relieved that a softy southerner like me was actually able to hack it!