91热爆

Explore the 91热爆
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

16 October 2014

NiconColl


91热爆 91热爆page
Scotland
Island Blogging
Argyll & Clyde Islands

Arran
Bute
Coll
Colonsay
Easdale
Fladda
Gigha
Great Cumbrae
Iona
Islay
Jura
Kerrera
Lismore
Lunga
Luing
Mull
Seil
Tiree

Northern Isles
Western Isles

Contribute
House Rules

From the 91热爆
I.B.H.Q.

Contact Us

Feeling my age

Last time I had to go to Oban (a rather pointless visit to the hospital where a man drew round my feet, and no, I don't know why I had to go to Oban just for that) I also visited the optician (or optomotrist, or whatever Specsavers call themselves). They were extremely helpful and rushed me through so I could get to the hospital on time, and recommended I tried varifocal glasses. I had been resisting this move: unlike going grey, which starts at age 18, wearing varifocals is a definite sign of wearing out. But it was getting increasingly difficult to focus on chalking the pool cue, and my short-sighted eye is very short-sighted, so to see the pool cue I had to lift up my old ordinary glasses and hold it about 2 inches from my face, or hold it out at arms length, and both methods were affecting my concentration (and making my opponent laugh).
So now I have a pair of varifocals. I was warned I would fall down the stairs and feel sick and dizzy and it would take ages to get used to them, but I'm not so sure I need them much at all, as there isn't a huge difference between the top and the bottom. Reading magazines at the kitchen table is a bit easier through the bottom section, but reading in bed is much more difficult, the edges of the glasses don't focus at all, so the head and the book have to be in line both up and down and side to side. The computer monitor seems to be at exactly the distance where I could use the top or the bottom half and focus, but constantly switching from looking at the keyboard to the screen is rather confusing. But I have discovered they are a bit like ear defenders. Wearing ear defenders kind of cocoons you away from the real world, providing a barrier between you and the madness, and looking through the bottom of my glasses at distances makes everything go fuzzy and also separates the real world from the world in my head.


Meanwhile, Coll International is open for business. The 91热爆 flew in (but unfortunately no passengers for Coll), did a couple of interviews and flew on to Tiree. We were all invited down to wave flags and cheer, but I am not that great a supporter so I stayed away, and then had to ask everyone I saw what had happened, just in case I missed something important. It was a pity they picked a day when all the qualified 'volunteer' firefighters were away, so someone had to come in on the ferry the day before to man the baby fire truck. Still, I'm sure it made good economic sense! There still seems to be some confusion over getting the kids home on a Friday; the latest and almost certainly false, rumours say a) only the best-behaved can come home early (surely a recipe for disaster, labelling those who have to stay troublesome is more likely to make them so) or b) if the hostel can't shut, so the staff have to stay, then none of the kids will come home.
However, once mjc has paid a visit I might conclude the airport has its uses.

PS in 2 years I will be half as old as my Gran, that's a lot of life left, but it means I will be wearing varifocals for over half my life, surely that can't be right.
Posted on NiconColl at 12:53

Comments

Not sure I agree that varifocals are a sign of imminent (or at least ongoing) decay, but you get used to them pretty quickly. I find the centre "band" is perfect for the computer screen, the bottom bit is fine for normal reading, but if I'm reading at a desk (for work) I have a separate pair of reading glasses to give me more flexibility. And for really fine up-close sight I have to resort to lifting the specs up :-)

Jill from EK


I use the straight bi-focals myself, but wife shifted to the progressive lenses, and is pleased with them. Nic, it won't take you long to get accustomed to them. # Coll International: hopefully it will be on the tube before the end of the tourist season. About the students: if they have to select, they should do a rotation. Whoever had the silly idea that only the best behaved (not necessarily the most imaginative or the achievers) should be allowed a seat?!

mjc from NM,USA


Great news about the plane service. I am sad to hear that you are not a fan. Surely it is progress and progress is good?

The Young Laird from England


Straight bifocals? Are there gay bifocals then?

Flying Cat from wide-eyed innocence


Progress is by definition good. That's why the sooner we take the lairds, old or young, to chop chop square, the better we'll all be. (oh, hi Malkie, you wanna help?!) # Heavens help me if my nose is not telling me the young landowner from England is after something: sophomoric and soporific would characterize the style.

mjc from NM,USA


You'll get used to them. For reading in bed I just slip the specs down my nose a bit to bring the appropriate focal length in to play. It beats having two pairs of specs of different focal lengths. I spent years wandering round plaintively bleating, "Where are my bl**@^ specs."

Hyper-Borean from The lens grinder's


Where's the fun in that!!?

Flying Cat from 20/20


It isn't so bad having to wear glassed with multi levels of focus... I started wearing bifocals at age 18, so it will be the majority of my life that I've had to wear them!

Taliessin from Bifocals are fun


When I was young, I was merry and gay. Now that some words in the English language have been hijacked, I am just merry, and the poorer for it. To insist on the original meaning of the word in the States is as hopeless as insisting on certain English spellings this side of the Atlantic. I gave up after fifteen or so years, having decided to go with the flow, and now I look askance (while exercising saintly tolerance) at anyone talking with a plum accent and a fake stammer: further, I insist on republican english spellings.

mjc from NM,USA


It was good to see some of you on telly yesterday. I love planes and I love airports, but I can't see myself landing at the airstrip with luggage, and having to walk it all the way to the village... the alternative would presumably be to wait for the one taxi to drive back and forward a few times??? I'll stick to the ferry I think.

Al from Glasgow


If you go with luggage, Al from Glasgow, you'll have to pay extra. Why would you want luggage for, anyway? Go as you are. If and when your clothes are left at the hotel for washing, you can take a wholesome dip in the nude by the ferry. NiconColl won't insist on your wearing a shirt in order to serve you her famous burger. And Squidgy might just be there to take a picture (which she'll only publish upon receiving your notarized permission). Don't drop any chewing gum on the runway.

mjc from NM,USA


I think this posting is feeling its age as well! Come on Nic, let's have a nibble.

mjc from NM,USA




This blog is now closed and we are no longer accepting new posts.



About the 91热爆 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy