A CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

[peter wilkins]

I have often wondered what I would do if ever I was given, or
won, a hamper. So much so, that I have usually avoided taking
part in a prize draw when one was on offer, being concerned as to
how I would know what was in it.

On Thursday of this week I was given a hamper.

On Saturday evening, whilst listening to the boxing, I decided to
open the hamper, and see if I could identify the items in it
using my Optacon. I was able to do this quite easily, and I
then put a Braille label on each item to identify it when we come
to use it.

At the end of the exercise I was left with a jar which I thought
was jam, and also a round packet of thin biscuits which I needed
further detail on. So, for the first time ever, I decided to
use the Be My Eyes ap on the In Your Pocket tablet. It was
12.30 in the morning, and I didn't know whether I would need a
light on or not for the volunteer to see the items, so I simply
opened the ap, and waited for the volunteer to speak. She was a
very nice sounding lady, and she assured me that she could see
the items on my table which I wanted help with. she directed me
when to turn the jar and the packet of biscuits so she could read
all round it, and then told me that it was strawberry jam and
Jacobs cheese biscuits.

I then asked the lady if I could ask her a question which has
interested me, and that is, how does a volunteer decide when to
be available? This to avoid being interrupted during a
television programme for example, or did she just select a
certain time and make herself available. She told me that she
leaves the ap on all the time, and if she gets a signal that a
call is coming in, she will either ignore it or take it, knowing
that it would automatically be transferred to the next available
volunteer. She told me that I was only the second caller who
she had answered.

This was a very interesting experience. I will continue to use
my own technology whenever possible, but it's nice to know that
there is always someone available at the end of a camera phone if
you want that little bit of help.

For interest, here are the contents of the hamper.

Genoa cake.
Chocolate orange.
Yorkshire tea bags.
Nuts and raisins.
All butter shortbread fingers.
Quadruple chocolate cookies.
After eight mints.
A bottle of The Society's Cava.
Quality Street.
A bottle of de Dochter Beltian beer.
A tin of Highlander's broth.
A big bar of Dairy milk.
and finally, the Jacobs cheese biscuits
and the Strawberry jam.

Best wishes for Christmas and 2019.

Peter Wilkins

[Co...@pobox.com]

Greetings,

Peter, thanks for the headsup on BeMyEyes, wonder if I could use it on my
KAPSYS phone? I'll investigate. I've taken the plunge and installed WatsApp
and to date, made a couple of calls and found it very useful. As, so I
understand, it's free, I wonder if the Committee could use it for
conference calls?

I know Chris, John, Paul and I are on WatsApp via our celphones, not sure
about Sylvia, Meg and Norman though, they have celphones also, perhaps they
can use it, sure they can come back to me on this.



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[Co...@pobox.com]

Peter,

I note most of the items listed are from the sweet side of food, do you
reckon you can make use of them? I guess Lynda will need to be very careful
with such things, being she is diabetic.

[Sylv Grimes]

Sorry Colin we think it best to leave things as they are if
you dont mind. The system we are using has proved to be ok.
Thanks,
Sylvia.

----- Original Message -----
From: Co...@pobox.com
To: avip...@googlegroups.com
Date sent: Mon, 24 Dec 2018 10:50:03 +0000
Subject: Re: [avip] A CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

Greetings,

Peter, thanks for the headsup on BeMyEyes, wonder if I could
use it on my
KAPSYS phone? I'll investigate. I've taken the plunge and
installed WatsApp
and to date, made a couple of calls and found it very
useful. As, so I
understand, it's free, I wonder if the Committee could use
it for
conference calls?

I know Chris, John, Paul and I are on WatsApp via our
celphones, not sure
about Sylvia, Meg and Norman though, they have celphones
also, perhaps they
can use it, sure they can come back to me on this.

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[peter wilkins]

Hello Colin.

I am sure we will both make good use of the contents of the
hamper.

Peter

[Colin Howard]

Peter,

Going through my huge number of back posts since my email client was
reinstalled, I found this particularly interesting.

I've so far not tried any of these be my eyes type apps, I am pleased your
experience was so positive.

I assume all the content has long been demolished! I might have difficulties
so doing now being type 2 diabetic, but over the nearly 8 years since this
was posted, no doubt would have a jolly good try!

Have you had any more such hampers?

Colin Howard from Southern England.

[mj.ba...@gmail.com]

Hello Colin

I must admit that I never seem to hear anything on this list regarding be My Eyes.

I have used the app only once, partly because I normally have Jacqueline to be my eyes if I can't see something myself. There have probably been other times when I haven't thought of using the app.

When I did, it was when Jacqueline had left me with the job of turning on the slow cooker at a certain time, but I was unsure how to adjust the dial to the right setting. The person who answered told me what the controls said and I was therefore able to have the food cooked at the right time. I have to say this was at a more civilised hour than Peter chose to open his hamper!

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: avip...@googlegroups.com <avip...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Colin Howard
Sent: 10 June 2026 01:14
To: avip...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [avip] A CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

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