Hello to all on this list.
Please do forgive me for posting this message on this side of the board. Due to something which has just happened which has deeply upset and horrified both myself and family, I must write this.
I joined this forum this weekend gone to participate as an active member of the list, to make good and trustworthy friends, offer my expertise and knlowledge in the field of woodturning and tooling, etc.
I also joined here as it is a chance for me to give some help to those who could benefit and support where I can.
Please understand that I do not use my blindness as a carrier to achieve things with intention to rattle people. I do not intentionally or actively use my disability for gain, etc. This is completely untrue.
The reason I mention every so often that I am blind is because I am comfortable in talking about it unlike most occasions where other disabled folk might not feel comfortable about it and that's understandable.
I'd like to put this straight and no I'm not doing this for the fun of it. This is so that people understand what I'm going through and so that you understand.
I was born visually impaired and underwent over 15 years of operations and therapies to try and give me good enough vision to get on with. Sadly that was stolen from me when school bullies thought it was funny to make my life a misery for 4 years. The attack which took place ended every chance of the life I had mapped out for me and changed the way I had to live. How this happened is pretty simple. A gang of over 20 lads decided between classes to gang up on me and give me a beating. this beating became even worse when I was pinned to the wall, punched, kicked, my head grabbed and fired into a solid concrete wall several times, then thrown to the floor, stood on my back then they proceeded to kick the base of my skull in.. All I can remember after that was waking up in hospital in St Asaph to see nothing and be in pain. then to find out when my surgeon had to talk to me and explain everything including sending me to have an advanced MRI scan to find out what else was wrong. That was it for me.
So for 11 years, I've had to fight for my rights for education, equality and freedom. Every day is a reminder I can't get over of what happened to me. Doesn't matter how hard I try, this is it. What I'M STUCK WITH.
For so long, I've asked for someone out there to treat me with respect, understanding and above all compassion. so far very few people have done that. Being here and having folk chat with me both on and off forum has allowed me to open up for the most part.
am a skilled woodturner, woodworker and tool guy and have grown up in a family full of tradesmen from steelworkers to joiners, etc. I learnt my trade from my grandfather and from there I took it on as a life saver. I'd give anything for a normal sighted life but hey, we don't always get what we want in life do we?
There's so many things I'd love to do. Drive, read a news paper, see the face of my mum or the people around me, ride a bike on my own, a steady 9 to 5 job working for a company, etc.
sorry...... And the audience said....... X
there we go.
I'm deeply sorry to those who I may have upset, etc
To be honest. I shouldn't have come here if the way certain people of forum have been. At least I know where everything lies.
To the moderators, Please do accept my sincerest apologies.
Yours.
Lewis