Waggle Those Hands to Communicate

On the ferry back home we came across a gorgeous little brown Spaniel. He was wearing a 'service dog' harness. We had been missing Ava rather a lot, and were in need of some puppy love. But, we were responsible adults, and so I asked permission to give the dog some attention before just launching in and bestowing 'love'.

I signed to the lady (as this was a service dog for the deaf), that we loved her dog, and asked if we might stroke him. Looking back, my signs were very clumsy, more the incoherent mutterings of an infant than cogent conversation. However, the lady signed that we could, and seemed delighted we had 1. asked, and 2. asked in sign. 

The dog was so happy to receive cuddles, and we were happy to give. We thanked the lady, and made our way to our seats. All in all, it was a happy little interaction. It gives me a great buzz to be able to use little bits of British Sign Language. 

Fingerspelling

At sign class I was delighted that I was able to remember some of the signs we used last week. The ones I can remember are accountant, addition, subtraction, accident, help, Christmas, see, access, and after. Yes, there are a lot of 'a' words in there!

We played the Fingerspelling Game. I was on the slowest setting. My first attempt was a pitiful 5 words in 2 minutes, but I was having problems with the touchscreen device. My second attempt was a much better 18.

Over the last 25 years, when I have had a cold, throat or chest infection, my voice disappeared. First I taught fingerspelling to the Beloved, and then later to the children. It has been a really useful way to communicate when my voice has gone. Unfortunately, this means I got to be quite good at signing the letters, but not so good at reading what someone else was signing. 

A great, and more fluid means of communication was one of my reasons for wanting to learn BSL. I could learn, and then teach my family the signs I would most commonly use. But, now I stop to think about it, the last time I lost my voice was Easter 2018. My doctor put me on a hefty dose of steroids. Whilst it brought my asthma under control, cleared the chest infection, and brought my voice back, it also did weird things to my taste buds. Everything tasted metallic and saccharine. It was horrible having everything tasting so sweet.

As I was weaned off the steroids, the first things I could taste, and enjoy were vegetables. We ended up buying a large fridge to house all of the vegetables. Our tiny fridge was no longer sufficient. It was at that point we started eating more vegetables. In September last year, this was kicked up a notch when white carbs all but disappeared from our diets. Our weight started reducing, and our health improved. My original reason for learning BSL seems not to be needed any more. 

However, it is interesting, it's fun, and I'm enjoying myself.  If more people had a basic understanding of BSL it would make life a great deal easier for those who are deaf and use BSL to communicate.

British Sign Language

"fit/well" and "Are you fit/well?"

I've been wanting to learn BSL (British Sign Language) for quite some time. Various things have prevented me from doing so, but at last circumstances have conspired, and I can attend a sign language class in a convenient location, at a convenient time, and for a reasonable price.

It had been my goal to restrict my spending on physical things to only food, toiletries and emergencies. But, now I need 'the big book of signs'. My desire to learn BSL is greater than my desire not to buy. Therefore, the book has been ordered.