Monthly Archives: Apr 2022

Walking around the fields while our dogs go for a run in the afternoon on Wednesday (the 20th of April)… Gosh and blimey, here goes the feijoas season already, but it will arrive mid-May. Let’s start picking up feijoas before dad gets home while the dogs are with me out in the fields. So many noises from the State Highway road as dad arrived already while the dogs were inside, and I continued to pick up feijoas without noticing dad was home already. 

This year it has been a bumper crop for two years. I was busy working through Lockdown COVID-19 and did not have a chance to pick up feijoas in the last two years. 

Feijoas come in different sizes, from small to large. The following day I dropped off at my workplace under social services, then to a Deaf man and at Vinnies Food Parcel Bank as there was a community lunch meal. Just in time, homeless people and low-income people gathered feijoas as much they could take with them. Then off to another Deaf lady plus her neighbour – Carole, and Carole was delighted with my donation of feijoas. Carole said she will bake a couple of feijoa loaves for me when I see her tomorrow (the 26th of April) to thank you. That night I made a delightful apple and feijoas crumble pie as desert. Mm, delicious meals on a cold night. 

I made feijoa chutneys and then moved on to feijoa muffins on the same day – Friday the 22nd of April. More planning on what to do with feijoas as most people don’t like the sour taste or other people loves it. Our large feijoa tree stands mightly wide and tall this year, and back in 2014, November was the month we moved here, and this feijoa tree was a medium height and width. I knew it was a feijoa tree straight away, and my wish for a feijoa tree was granted at last. Four years ago, we pruned back to a medium height and width, so this year, once feijoa season is over, we will prune back again. The branches and twigs will go into the barn to store as firewoods through the Winter season. Yes, we have a fireplace in the house to warm our home. I will freeze the rest of the feijoas in the freezer for the coming Winter to Summertime.

Facts about Feijoas

Feijoa sellowiana Berg is from the genus which the German botanist Ernst Berger, named after João da Silva Feijó, a Portuguese naturalist. The specific name honours Friedrich Sellow, a German who first collected specimens of Feijoa in southern Brazil. Did you know it was actually called ‘pineapple guava’ in English? From Wikipedia website.

The feijoa trees have been growing in New Zealand since around the 1920s and are available between March and June. 

They are filled with antioxidant-rich vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Feijoas have plenty of great minerals, including calcium and magnesium. They will keep you healthy and free of illnesses, plus they are filled with fibre, so you’ll stay full for longer.

Feijoas have light to dark green skin. The skin is edible; however, some people think the skin and flavour can be pretty bitter to some palettes.

You can freeze feijoas whole and unpeeled. To do that, lay them out on trays in a single layer, ideally not touching and once solid, you can bag them up, making sure to remove any air from the bag. Sitting them up in egg trays makes it easier to avoid touching them if your freezer is large enough.

The fruit is mainly eaten fresh; however, due to the short season, sometime around autumn, Feijoas are often used in cooking and are preserved.

It’s not only the Feijoa fruit that’s edible! You can also eat the petals of the flower! With a sweet and musky taste, they make a great addition to salads.

Initially, the native tribes of South America used the leaves of the Feijoa to make a liquid potion for medicinal purposes. Today in parts of Eastern Europe, The Caucasus and other parts of the ex-Soviet Union, Feijoa leaves are brewed as a tea.

There is a lot more about feijoas on the websites, and if you want to make feijoas smoothies to chutneys, then lookup for the recipes on the website or ask your grandmother, mother, aunty even friends. 

“Your gifts are not about YOU, Leadership is not about YOU, your purpose is not about YOU.

A life of significance is about SERVING those who need your gifts, leadership and purpose.” Kevin Hall, Author “Aspire”

My last holiday was Raratonga, and it was a gift from mum because I completed my BA in Arts at Waikato University. It was the same year I met my partner, and I will never forget one part was my partner had his carpal tunnel surgeries on both arms. I told him that he needed to book the nurse to take the stitches out while mum and I were on holiday. Guess what he removed the stitches himself without booking a nurse. He told me that I swiftly inspected both arms where the stitches were before I got home. Both arms were clean, and no infections. Ah, Relief. From time to time, when my partner has surgeries and always insists I will do the job, dressing and checking the stitches/wounds and other issues. He recently went through many surgeries, such as a hip replacement, an updated skin graft for his neck, and a rotator tear shoulder and forearm for six months after the surgery, and twice he pulled his groin while working. His recovery programme amazed his specialists, for they accepted me as a carer in the good hands and faith where I have skills in my previous job as a Health carer.   

My mother, sister, family members and friends wondering if I will firmly stay down on the ground instead of taking off for another oversea holiday around the world every two or three years. I have not been out to other countries since 2010. Out of surprise, I looked for another flatmate/boarder back in Nawton, where my second home was again. Because having a boarder/flatmate’s income helped with mortgage, food and power while I earned a single income and the cost of inflation went up and up. My partner was formerly a flatmate into our relationship in the following year. His past had been forgotten except for making the lost time with his son and his new family – grandchildren, and we met regularly by building up trusting each other and making a good foundation of a family as a fresh start. We built our trust and friendship, supporting each other, respecting each other, working as a team and understanding each other no matter our different backgrounds, even my disability as deaf at that time. Oh boy! Eleven years in our relationship and sailing smoothly with a few hiccups, we make up and move on.  

The key to building trust, relationships, encouraging each other, supporting each other and many other examples in the Leadership role. No matter how hard anyone succeeds through relationships, workplaces, team building, or the Disability sectors.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” Mother Theresa 

 If anyone made a mistake, do apologise or change something else that works well for someone else. Do not criticise or control other people… These are harmful tools and the loss of being a leadership role. Here are a couple of the quotes – “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” ― Winston Churchill.

 “Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.” ― Margaret Chase Smith.

Mm, what else I have done in the past so far? Oh yeah! I have been involved with many Disability Sectors from 1983 to the present. I am very fortunate to have mentors and several family members involved in the Political sector and the Disability sector. They encouraged me, led me the way in the right direction the path and took their pieces of advice to pass on to another person with a disability or clients. I lost several mentors/friends over the years. For example, Ron Camplin was a bank manager, Rev Edna Garner, Rev Moke Couch, Bill Morrison, Dad, Armand (Deaf Historian in France), and several more people, especially John McIntosh, recently passed away.

 I am a deaf with disabilities as an Advocator for people with disabilities, D/deaf people and D/deaf people with disabilities. I am interested in improving and encouraging people with disabilities to become more equal to other people in New Zealand and other countries. Currently, People with disabilities are not equal in society to other people. We want “EQUITY” AND TO BE INCLUSION” in the community. We do not want to be left out or the forgotten people. If you are reading this bit, please consider for yourself to make our life better and do the action by removing the barriers, friendly accessible in the environment, and living on the same roof as yours. Consider yourself to make friendly design housing accessible, playground accessible, transport accessible, earn the same income as your income, and the list goes on. 

 Social Change: Supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (nvctraining.com)

I am a deaf historian and researcher by establishing a website – Deaf History International, for the public in my spare time. I am working on two different approaches to making two books, such as classroom photo groups and the history of the Deaf units. I am currently working on creating a book – The Deaf Units in Hamilton, which I have not completed.

I bought three houses between 1983 and the current present, and the first two houses were under my name, leaving the present house under a joint name with my partner for the first time together. It was not too bad, and today, we are happy to live away from the city as I found my ground in the rural lifestyle that matches my childhood life. Our home has been a privilege for us to relax, ponder around the house and gardens, more space to allow our three dogs to run freely in the well-fenced property and away from the city of Hamilton. Ah, garden and vegetable gardens are my favourite pastime, and I have increased the size from the previous garden in 2014 to the present.

Gosh, how much I typed my chapter of the last fifty-eight years plus to leave out other memories to our hearts. Now it is time to close the chapter until another 50 years. Who knows when I will be around in the future!

I chose to study for a BA degree, and I know there was a big challenge for me as a deaf student at the university. My studying was a lot of hard work by using a literacy tutor at the university due to academic guidelines, plenty of extra hours of studying, and notetakers and interpreters in the lecture classes during the examinations. I decided to take a part-time course while working to pay the mortgage and living costs under my first home. But under the second home, I was receiving two incomes: a part-time job and benefits. My subjects were History, Linguistics, Anthropology and last Tourism. These courses took me five and a half years to complete without complaining, and of course, there was no student loan after a year I ended. I did the homework and research before taking up the classes at the university; for example, is there any disability support service available. There were services to help students with Disabilities at University and WINTEC. I ensured StudyLink and Workbridge (supports People with Disabilities in University/AUT/College) paid the interpreters and notetakers. I did take up the previous course – Certificate in Human Service: Disability Support Worker and Challenge Behaviour course at WINTEC (Formerly Waikato Polytechnic).

I did have surgery – Endometriosis in the same year I came home from the United States during my three-week holidays by visiting friends, Gallaudet University in Washington DC, and other places in July. In the following month, I taught and assisted a small group of students with disabilities in their play theatre. The play was called Snow White and Seven Tall Dwarfs. Oh, I remember this one, and I was teaching students to sign language in song with no barriers; how can they manage to sign with their physical disabilities. It was such a great time and fun working with them. Mind you, I was not paid to do this. Within several months I received a nasty cramp that GP could not diagnose my symptom until the nurse at the Radiology discovered by doing a reversal scan.

Finally, the specialist tried to arrange the booking for me to return to teach and be there during the performance night. Because the students and manager wanted me to be there for them. I jumped the booking secured to have surgery because one of the patients pulled out, and the month was October. I found a replacement person for three weeks while in the private hospital. Before I went to the hospital, I explained to the students what had happened, and the plan continued while I was absent. The students accepted this and continued to practice the song in sign language. The performance night was successful, and many of their parents, friends, and staff were amazed to see their students could do anything. Of course, I was there to see them on the stage just five weeks from the surgery in November. I treasured their card with many signatures and comments here. My mother gave me the card on the first week out of the hospital in Raglan, where I was resting. Ah, I recalled my swearing language to the nurse while she was trying to tell me that my mother was on the phone after the most prolonged surgery in the late evening. I was sure that mum was relieved to hear that I was okay. The following day, I woke up to find three different specialists standing at the foot of the bed; who the hell was they.

I have another disability called C4-7, Cervical degenerative disc disease, and this symptom took five-six years to get the correct diagnosis. The result was officially in 2015. I was relieved after many years to acknowledge that ACC was wrong to point out back in the 1990s when I moved to my second home in April. Then in May, I woke up with a shattered nerve full of haywire and unable to move my right side before going to work as a teacher aide. It felt like a truck ran over me in the early hour of the morning. The recovering timeframe was a year while I continued to work on light duties and battled with ACC. This was my belief of this injury-related back to the 1990s, not recently or ‘wear and tear’ like arthritis. I never get any claim for this from ACC, and yes, I have tried before. Because I knew they would not accept this injury. Today I learn to live with it by managing physical activities, resting, and having support from my partner, for I am grateful, and two workplaces where I am now to get time leave. If you tell me about the supporting bracket in the disc spine, it is not impossible because I have done my homework through a specialist in the United States. I would not have this as it is my decision.

Actually, I am deaf with disabilities now.

Part Four follow later

Part Two continue… Click the photos as it is gallery.

Looking through many photos, I treasure the pen drives over many years.

Without a problem, I gained my first job – as a Bank Officer/Data Entry under the BNZ (Bank of New Zealand). Straight from work experience while I was at school. The Bank Manager (I forgot his name was) was a well-respected man, for he knew my disability, and there was no stopping me from working in the bank. Because he saw my skill and photo memories where there were so many human errors by the customers, bank tellers, storage files, and the customers of Hamilton East knew me through my late grandparents. My firsts job was the longest-serving until I chose redundancy due to bank change, merged to cover central North Island as a data entry processing banking and the changing of barriers that prevent people with disabilities from communicating within their banks. There was the discrimination of not putting me into a higher position like a team leader or supervisor, and yes, they breached the Human Right Acts many times. The main problem was the telephone, communication where staff does not understand my deaf, which is slightly different from customers who don’t have any problem with me. They knew I had excellent skills with no human errors each year, only the other staff. I chose against their advantage of using me on the ground level and their choice to have me continue to work in the new system covering the central North Island data processing centre. It was their fault, and they must continue to improve themselves without too many human errors.

I received an award from the Hamilton City Council – Unsung Heroes in the community. I was the first Deaf receipted to receive the award in Hamilton. Our late friend/mentor – Rev Edna Garner, filled out the submission form – Unsung Heroes for my work involved with the churches and breaking down the barriers to allow Deaf Christian people to be included in their church.

I went on to work in other areas such as a Health Carer/Assistant, Disability Support Worker under two organisations, Literacy Tutor in NZSL/ESOL, Teacher Aides for two Deaf students in mainstream schools, and currently a Deaf Specialised Community Worker/Advocator under Social Services. Now I am involved with a substantial area: the Disability sectors, along with the Government, such as EGL Waikato Leadership, Advisory Groups, and Churches ministry. In New Zealand, there is so much work for the people/children with disabilities by making their lives equal to others and better accessible everywhere as inclusion, even to communicate in NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language). I am saying this because you people need to hear their (People/children with disabilities, D/deaf people and D/deaf people with disabilities)’s voices first before deciding on building, accessible, live better, learn to communicate in sign language, technology such as video chat.

I spent my time travelling worldwide – starting in 1981 with my first income and saving income. I travelled independently except twice in tour groups in Itlay and Ireland. One time we did not have flash technology like today – the internet or a fax machine. I recalled my mother, who was worried and waiting at the airport in Auckland, wondering if I was coming home okay or not. My understanding was that my sister told her to go up to the airport and wait and see if I came home. I came home and greeted my mother. Mum said she had not received my last postcard before coming home, and I told her I did from Switzerland before arriving to stay a week in The Netherlands. Oh, bother! Well, mum, I am home okay and guess what, the postcard arrived a couple weeks later after I got home. I missed travelling to many countries, catching up with families and friends, and sightseeing in many new places. Here is one of the many photos.

Part Three will follow…

Mā mua ka kite a muri Mā muri ka ora a mua

Those who lead give sight to those who follow Those who follow give life to those who lead. Whakatauki.

From the day I was born deaf, that went unnoticed until my late grandmother told my mother about my hearing problem when I was eighteen months old. My deafness was the result of rubella; at the time, my mother went through the Second trimester via my sister got rubella. Oh gosh, fifty-eight years and counting…

I don’t usually write/type my life here to reflect on how far I managed to go through every year. I inputted my philosophy as a deaf blogger on this website, apart from The Dog’s Tales and Deaf International History sites.

Be mindful to understand how my life and my deaf with disabilities mark my journey to the present.

I am the second deaf child/person in the household of four children (note three other children are hearing). We lost a favourite father at six years old due to lung cancer (Asbestos) and left our mother with four children. I did not actually realise I was deaf until I was a teenager. Of course – silly me BUT every morning, I put on a pair of hearing aids before going to school or activity. This pair of hearing aids did not affect my understanding of my deafness until I realised it during my teenage stage.

My late grandparents on our father’s side were a great help when mum needed time out or went to work to earn income. Poppa (Shorty) taught me a fine yarn of stories, his skill in carpentry, dog, and taking me out to duck/rabbit shootings over the school holidays. I love visiting Ruakura Research Centre, where Poppa worked for many years. Of course, Mama (Biddy) spoiled rotten to me, for she knew I was deaf and taught me everything around home, sewing, knitting, gardens and met many other people until I realised these people were related to us at the time of her death. Beaches and farms were among my favourite places, but once I refused to go away with them, I was sick and threw up onto Mama’s rug. Oops! I don’t remember why I did this, for I was young. Mamma and Poppa took me out to see their friends who worked at Ruakura Research Centre outside Rotorua, and I enjoyed the company of their friend’s children. One of the memories was the giant mushrooms, and we held the largest mushrooms for the photoshoot by Mama. As well as holding ducks from duck shooting.

My sister and I played in the old playhouse – Dad built this old playhouse because we loved this place. We played with dolls as hairdressers, but I decided to cut our brothers’ hair. Yep, and poor mum was horrified to see that. Oh well, that us as what a mischief children! We love playing with our neighbours’ children, and I don’t recall how I managed to communicate with our neighbours’ children. We have had many pets, such as budgies, dogs, quails, one rabbit, a cat, and my brother’s two ferrets. I was waiting for mum to finish cleaning the house when I was about 5 years old, and I decided to walk to the dairy shop for lolly treats. Mum was aware until she got a phone call and was taken back how I walked to the shop without problem except for not having enough money for the lolly treats.

I went to three Deaf Units in Hamilton – Hamilton West Primary, Melville Intermediate and Melville High. I decided on the education by the Kelston Deaf Education-Specialised Education for Disabled children; I was not getting the benefit of learning from the Deaf Units and not having equally to other students in the ordinary classrooms, for example, examination to get an excellent job. I spoke to my mother, and we went to Hillcrest High, where my sister went. I recalled the principal – J Morrison, was a well-respected man, and I was accepted to enrol at Hillcrest High School with extra staff/equipment such as an FM Loop and a notetaker. I had to re-learn literacy and take up subjects in Form 5 (Years Eleven or Twelve?) in 1979. Because in our education system, there was a school certificate examination before taking up higher-level certificates. Yes, it was hard work with homework and timeframes from home and school. My mother and sister realised I had not learned more grammar at the Deaf Units Melville High School because the teachers had not done that. Yes, I passed SC (School Certificate exams) before completing the Sixth Form. I was the first deaf student at Hillcrest High School from 1979 to 1981.

In primary school, parents made the resources for the Deaf children until the funding came through. A means of transport to/from school was using the taxi service, while the MOE (Ministry of Education) paid the financing. With the Intermediate and High School in the Melville area, I caught the bus, and sometimes I rode the bike to/from school. Then I walked to/from Hillcrest High School or rode a bike.

I remember having a broken wrist at the primary school field, and I was pushed over by one of the Deaf boys. Oh, brilliant, there does the broken wrist as mum thought I sprained the wrist. Mum said to wait and see overnight if the pain went away or not. The following day, the pain was still there, and I told the taxi driver that we were going to the hospital about my wrist. Bummer! The doctor told mum that I had got three small bones broken in the wrist area, and I would need to have the wrist and forearm in plaster. That was the second accident I had, the previous accident was my tongue split in half, and mum and dad took me up to the hospital for surgery when I was under two years old. I still have a scar on my tongue. According to my mum, I fell out of the pram for some reason.

More to follow in Part Two…

In New Zealand, there is another year of COVID-19 – Omicron variant after Delta variant, and we staff work tirelessly throughout the year. Leaving for a weekend retreat by our work as the boss shouted us a second retreat this year. What was the reason for us to have a retreat weekend again!

We went to the same lodge accommodation for the second time because it was a perfect place to wind down, switch our minds off from work, and take a pleasant walk along the beach down the road from the lodge.

Saying goodbye to my partner as he was off to work in the early hours of the morning, then out to do a quick job for one deaf elderly in the morning, bank the cash deposit at the ATM but blast for not having a deposit bag with me and head home in time for packing, a quick lunch. Beep, beep sound the car horn at the gate, said goodbye to our dogs for they inspected something not right.

Off I go with the director of the work and one of the staff in the car and left for Flaxmill Bay Accommodation in Cooks Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. It would take approximately one hour and fifty-eight minutes from our home and from Hamilton as it would take about two hours and sixteen minutes.

You would need to travel and admire the Coromandel Forests through many winding roads, incredibly tight bends, and plenty of one-lane bridges to reach Cooks Beach. Beware, there had been landslips five years ago where my partner was working for one of the Road Constructions, and he joined the force teams to clear out the landslips. The brunt scarring marks of the landslips remain there as we pass on. In 2017, the people around Coromandel were severely affected and cut off from other places where they could not access other towns for groceries, medical centres, etc. Yes, my partner and his team spent a couple nights there before heading homes.

We got there just after three pm on Friday 1st of April, 2022. We stayed in a different house than last year. The director booked two houses and one cabin, and there were six females and one male. Three females in one place of two homes and one male in the cabin. The weather was perfect for us, and it was warm, cloudy and sunshine apart from the chilly morning.

There are several restaurants, cafes, and accommodations around Coromandel. There are plenty of beaches surrounding Cooks Beach, Hot Water Beach and other local beaches around Coromandel.

I spent a quiet time relaxing, reading books on Kindle and a paperback book, blogging on a Friday night, and doing online jigsaw puzzles. A morning trip to Whitianga by catching the ferry – a short trip takes four minutes one way than driving around to Whitianga, which takes about thirty-five minutes on a Saturday. We did a lot of walking around and grabbed coffees while we rested. Headed back to the ferry by walking along the beach to the wharf, then a quick drive back to the Flaxmill Accommodation Lodge. Walked to the nearest cafe, which is right next door, this cafe called Eggsentric Cafe and Restaurant along Maramaratotara Bay, for lunch. What a delicious meal there!
Walked back to the accommodation for a short break before we headed out to Hahei Bay, where there is another restaurant called The Church Bistro in the evening. The Church Bistro has a fascinating history of the building, and here is the website if you wish to pursue or explore your plan. Not too bad for I have had two meals – fish in the day and evening and it is my favourite food – not the fish and chips meal.

Oh, and awe as we saw the stunning sunset display in the sky, and we stopped to pause and wonder at the sight of sunset over the Coromandel Forest and mountain.

The night we realised it was time for New Zealand Daylight saving, we rewound our hour before heading to bed. Sunday morning came as it was a bit chilly, while we had had a New Zealand continental style breakfast – mushrooms, bacon, scrambled eggs and toast. Still, quickly the temperature rose to seventeen degrees C, and the sun came out just before we left the accommodation lodge.

Heading home onward bound as we travel through long winding roads and see so many dead possums lying on the roads. It appeared that possums became the victim of hit and run by speeding drivers during the night.

I finally reached our home, and dogs greeted me at the gate, leaving Jazz suspicious of other people by barking as she protected me. My partner greeted us as he came along to ensure our dogs were not behaving silly at people. Joseph was delighted to have me home, and young Nova playing delightful as she missed me.

It is nice to be home with our dogs and my partner. The dogs climbed over me while Joseph slept next to my feet close enough.

I recommend the accommodation – Flaxmill Bay is suitable for anyone who wishes to take a break, time to spend with the families during the wedding, reunion, catch up while recovering from cancer surgery, or go through cancer remissions. First of all, there are two friendly houses accessible to people/children with disabilities. These two accessible houses were built-in 2017. Here is the link for you to explore and decide to take a weekend break.

Accessible Houses

The Church Bistro – https://www.thechurchbistro.co.nz

Eggsentric Cafe via Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/EggsentricCafe/

Flaxmill Bay Accommodation – https://www.flaxmillbay.co.nz/about-us/

Ferry Landing – https://www.thecoromandel.com/assets/Whitianga-Ferry-Landing-Cooks-Beach.pdf

Coromandel and Ferry Landing – https://www.thecoromandel.com/towns/cooks-beach-and-ferry-landing/

Reflecting two months ago, there was a tragedy near our property that involved two cars and one ute with a jetski on the trailer. Our raw memories were a young ten-week-old child’s death and the mother’s death. Our neighbours and I never forget the incidents and are involved in assisting people, including emergency workers.

How I am faring so far? Actually, I am out of Waikato and staying at the lovely lodge in Coromandel. Why this? My workplace shouted – staff under social service a weekend retreat for the second time this year. There are seven staff here and relaxing, taking time out or refreshing our minds and cleansing our bodies. We are staying at the same lodge we stayed in late Winter last year.

I am doing well and slowly getting things back to regular routines apart from driving out and driving home on the same road where the accident site took place. Whenever I stopped at the stop sign intersection and waited patiently, looking out for any odd speeding cars passing me or not. Yes, there were speeding vehicles during the morning and late afternoon, which annoyed me or pissed me off. Daily reading the newspapers and watching the news on television always bought up cars, trucks, and even pedestrians accidents. It has been part of our lives throughout the years.

When I go out shopping at the shopping centre, banks, grocery supermarkets, or catching up on the news from the people I know and my partner’s son about his growing family. It brings recurring reminders of the youngest child and his mother back to my mind; they both died in the accident. I keep reminding myself – life is so unpredictable.

Ah, so relaxing while I pondered on the environment surrounding us. Back to the place we are staying, so peaceful and calming place where there are birds, plants, shrubs and trees surrounding. Our director of the workplace said to me, there is tui out there as she was listening, for she knows I am unable to hear the familiar sounds coming from the birds.

Cherie saw me doing the input on the laptop, and she asked me, “you are not supposed to be working!” No, I am doing the blog to separate from work. Cherie replied that it was fantastic to have a deaf writer/blogger here. It is like a writer’s retreat here where many authors and writers spend their lives doing books and blogs. I enjoy keeping English literacy through my blogs. Because it helps me to continue improving my literacy, enjoying writing/typing stories, blogs and Deaf history.