[nagdu] Hello

[blind springbok]

Hi Elice and Becky, 
thanks so much for saying hi.  Whereabouts are you based in the UK?
Yes it took me about 11/12 years before I too felt settled enough to make the application for a dog.  
I lost my sight in South Africa and I did know about guide dogs and had always wanted one but it took coming to the UK 15 years ago for me to finally make up my mind to get one.  Now I have no family in the UK so over the 18 years I've had to learn to cope and live on my own as a blind woman and it's been an eye opener to say the least.  hahaha 
I thought I was free and independent with my cane.  Boy was I wrong! It was only once I got Thomas that I finally realised what freedom and independence are all about.  This is one of the biggest reasons why I do so much for guide dogs on a voluntary basis.  This continues and will do so even when I'm finally moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland where the guide dogs family over there is far more of a family, I feel, than in the rest of the UK.  
Anyway so glad to have met you and little Becky. What kind of dog is she? 
Big woofs from Thomas to her and take care.
Cheers 
Diane and Thomas Marks 

> On 17 Aug 2015, at 02:04, Elise Berkley via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hey, Diane.  My name is Elise and I am a first time guide dog owner after twenty years of blindness.  If you can believe it, I did not want a dog. But, after my husband talking me into applying, and getting my baby Becky, I really don't know what took me so long.  Welcome to the list from the U.K. Happy posting!
> Elise and Becky
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Diane and Thomas Marks via nagdu
> Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 2:43 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Diane and Thomas Marks
> Subject: [nagdu] Hello
> 
> Hi all
> my name is Diane & 'm a first time guide dog owner of 7 years.  I have a beautiful boy called Thomas who is a lab retriever cross.
> I currently live in Brighton, UK but am in the throws of moving to Belfast to be with my partner who is also a guide dog owner.  She is on her fourth guide dog.
> As you guys can see I'm also a gay guide dog owner & there certainly aren't too many of us here in thee UK. :)
> I met my partner at the 2013 national guide dogs awards ceremony. Actually her guide dog pulled her over to my boy & as they say the rest is history. :)
> So I look forward to reading loads of posts here on the mailing list.
> cheers
> Diane and Thomas Marks
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