I’m okay. Everything is okay, just missing you and not being able to go and see people and not going to work. The uncertainty now is kicking in, not knowing when we’re going to go back. And it sounds like a long time. And obviously, my working at home is very limited. But all is good. I’ll just try to keep it up. Okay, Vicky, have a good day you take care, we’ll speak soon. Inshallah assalamu’alaikum.

The minute I left the office, then I could not work anymore. It wasn’t easy to bring my support work to come to me, plus the private banking applications couldn’t be sorted out. So you know, during lockdown, it just disappeared. You have to have a good relationship with your support worker, and my success depends on my support worker. In my previous job, I used to be face-to-face and I used to deal with the phone. So if they telling me something, they have to be discreet, because not many of the clients knew I’m blind.

I had no reason to tell them, because I did the job just as well as anybody else. And I had more to offer than my other colleagues because I use my memory to remember their voices and they were quite happy that when they came on the telephone, I was saying ‘Good morning, Mr. so and so’ or ‘Good morning, Mrs. so and so’. And they were quite surprised that I remembered their voice. By time, I knew a lot about their home life and you know, the name of their dog or their cat, and it enhanced the trust. And yeah, it makes me more aware of other people’s problems and struggles. So yeah. 

Hi,Vidhi. Thanks for your call. Um, yeah, I’m still, still around. I’m sorry for the voice. I’m still in my bed, can’t be bothered to get up today. I haven’t been sleeping very well during Ramadan. So it’s probably tiredness, rather than anything else. My workplace, they’re saying we might go back in July. We also moving from Mayfair, to the city, which is something I’m not happy about. But they tried to fulfil all my requirements, like my desk being near a door so that I can follow a wall or something. And the floor has a toilet for people with disabilities. Because I said I don’t want to go in a communal toilet because it’s very difficult for me to do. And I don’t want anybody to take me to the toilet. And another thing – I need some way to pray. Usually it’s in the basement somewhere. So I might just have to pray by my desk or something. And the lifts as well. I said they have to talk. So they said there is a small lift for the boxes and whatever. So we need to see. Anyway dear, I hope you’re well, keep it up: exercise. And I hope the boys are keeping you entertained. You take care and I’ll speak to you very soon. Bye bye, love you. 

I get up early, depending on what the time the prayer in the morning. In the summer they’re very early. So it’s about twenty to three and the last prayer of the day is around 11 o’clock, so you don’t have a lot of sleep. So after I did my morning prayer, I might stay up for a little while, four or half past four, reading the Quran and different things. And then I can sleep till nearly half past seven and listen to the radio. So I’ll be switching from one channel to another and listening. 

Radio: If you’re a slugabed, it’s likely you’re listening to this from under the covers. 

Radio: On the lighter side. One of our guests will tell us how she became a cartoon rabbit

I join the daily meeting with my team at half past 10. And that’s really what got me out of my bed because otherwise, the day would have been so long for me to deal with. You know, you can clean and you can cook, but you can’t cook every single day. It would become monotonous anyway. 

I haven’t worn my work shirts for a long time. So I struggle to know. That’s what I do, I touch. 

Maha: Hi, good evening, it’s Maha here, would you be able to let me know what colours are these shirts, please? 

Volunteer: Sure. The first one -

Be My Eyes works on a volunteer basis around the world, and you can ring them. And then with the camera, they will be able to tell you what your item is. 

Volunteer: They’re like stripey patterns, but kind of diagonal, it’s quite nice. 

I used to do it on my own. But nowadays, I just feel it’s a luxury to get somebody to do it for me. Before I have to get my cousin or a friend. I will ask them what it is. And then I will put them in a hangar with all the scarves that go with that shirt, and so on.

Maha: Thank you very much. Have a good evening.

Volunteer: You too, bye!

My phone was a lifesaver during lockdown. I couldn’t have really gone through being totally on my own, isolated. I couldn’t go shopping. I couldn’t go to friends. I couldn’t go to work. So it was the only thing that connected me with the world. And I do have family in America and Sudan. And we’re a very, very close family. And also my friends. They check on me to make sure I’m still alive and I haven’t gone mad. Not that I would go that route. 

But I also have my faith. I have this call with my friend from three till five. So we do a lot of chatting and we read part of the Quran and have it explained she has a recorded explanation. So we both listen to it at the same time. And then we recap. So that was a really, really nice slot of the day. I look forward to it.

I realised the situation we’re in is all for a reason. It’s all about the test. Everybody’s tested in their lives. I’m totally blind, but that gives me more other good things. It increases my resilience. And you know, when we believe when God takes one thing away from you, it gives you another hundred, and you learn to be happy with what you’ve got, and all the other beautiful things you have. 

Hi Vidhi, thanks for your message and I’m really so pleased you came last night, I was so delighted. I had the best meal I’ve ever had for a long time. It must be the company. That’s it. You take care and I will come you know on a Friday one day but, don’t worry, I don’t expect a banquet. Whatever you’re having, I will have – I’m so easygoing with food. 

You take care, lots of love. Bye bye.