There is a lot to like about celebrating Christmas. My favourite is plum pudding. This Christmas treat has a history dating back to 1430 when meals were prepared in a large pot over an open fire. For special occasions these dinners were served with a wine sauce. There were many customs and superstitions surrounding the Christmas pudding. Over the years the customs and superstitions may have changed but the pudding still tastes mighty good.
CoffeeHead II is an exciting new cafe in Frankston, not far from the beach. The cafe is part of the Quest tower building. It has good coffee and delicious food that is not too expensive. The menu includes meals from different countries like Japan, as well as Australian food. I recently enjoyed a tasty breakfast there of salmon and eggs on English muffins. The cafe has a wheelchair friendly side entrance and toilets nearby. The staff were helpful and welcoming.
I wanted to go to the new Brunetti café in Carlton. But my mum said the café is busy. She thought it would be too hard for me to use my walking frame. But I was determined to go and so I went with a friend. The café was very busy. It was hard to navigate with my walking frame. Brunetti does not have a toilet and I had to use another one nearby. The staff was very helpful and kind. And I enjoyed the food. I suggest that people who use walking aids to visit Brunetti during quieter café hours.
A plate with a folded crepe with an orange slice, syrup and icing sugar.
Choix specialises in crepes.
Choix is a café bar that specialises in sweet and savory crepes. They also make the best hot chocolate drink. Choix serves breakfast and lunch and is open late Thursday and Friday. Choix is in Melbourne's city, near the Southern Cross train station. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The café has a level entrance accessible for people who use wheelchairs. The menu can be read on the café's website. Choix also serves beer and wine. The café can get busy so it is sometimes hard to find a seat. Choix is a great café.
I think Singapore is a food paradise. There are many food choices people can eat in Singapore. They include Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Thai food. You can eat at the many food stalls, coffee shops and restaurants found everywhere. Some of the local favourite dishes are chilli crab, laksa, fish head curries and a chicken dish with rice. Singaporean people love eating food. One time I went with my family to a restaurant at midnight. It was so busy we had to wait for an empty table. If you visit Singapore try as many different foods as you can.
When you are blind or have a vision impairment it is important to organise your kitchen well . You need to have an organised system for storing ingredients, spices and utensils. This will help minimise any cooking stress. Tactile labelling on ingredients is a great idea. Kitchen appliances should also be labelled. I recommend pouring ingredients over the sink or a tray. Spillages are then easier to clean up. Using our sense of smell, hearing and touch can be helpful in cooking. Timers are also very handy.
The best plan of action is a combination of resourcefulness and practice
I want to be more independent. This includes feeding myself. But I have difficulty using a knife and fork. There is special cutlery I can use. But it can still take me a long time to feed myself. It can be easier to ask someone to help. But what if I want to live alone? What about when I am on a date? I need to practice. I need to strengthen my arms. I also need to be resourceful. And I should not be ashamed to ask for help when I need it.
My friend Gerda and I love going out. But we do not spend a lot of money. We have found ways of having fun at cheap prices. Free public transport helps. We also use discount vouchers. We recently went to Warrnambool on the train. We had a half price lunch using a shopping docket discount coupon. We had a great day. There are many different ways of getting discount coupons. They can help people save a lot of money. Using vouchers enables us to enjoy things that would otherwise be out of reach.
Two forks lying on a dining table with wine glasses in the background
I fumble around to rearrange tableware into the safest possible position
I have vision loss. It can make dining at a restaurant difficult. I need lighting that is not too dark or light. There is also a lot to consider when ordering food. I need a menu with large print. I also need to order something easy to eat. Cutting up food can be difficult. It can be embarrassing when a big piece of food is on my fork. I also cannot see when people are bringing things to the table. My friend usually warns me. Once I knocked a waiter and my plate of food went everywhere.
I love going out. I love movies, nightclubs and concerts. The Companion Card has been great for me. The card lets some people with a disability get a free entry ticket for a companion. I used to split the cost of tickets with my friends. The card saved us a lot of money. It let me have a good social life. But I have decided not to get a new card. I want to be more independent. I have learned new skills. I think there are other people with a disability who need the card more than me.
