#057: Hashtag Give it a bash!

It’s time for your favourite podcast again folks. We have a small change to the starting panel as Stuart has gone to Germany searching for gas to heat his massive penthouse in the sleepy suburbs of Kathmandu. So, wearing one of Stuart’s off the shoulder numbers is the wonderful Clodagh. Ooh la la…   We kick off this week with Jan and his new video doorbell. Yes, it appears Jan’s wife is getting a bit sick and tired of Larry bursting through the front door for playtime with Sjef. So the Bloem household now features a First Security video doorbell which Jan thinks is the business. The great news is that it is not a subscription service but rather has an SD card for recording locally instead of on the cloud, like Ring doorbells. Check it out here: www.firstsecurityserviceinc.com/video-doorbell.html   Now that the security is sorted, it’s time to move onto a great discussion on mental health. Clodagh is joined by Peter O’Toole, Head of Counselling, Wellbeing & Emotional Support with NCBI; Kathryn Sinnott, Senior Fundraising Executive and Insight Counselling Service Insight Groups Coordinator in Fighting Blindness; and Ken Walsh, who is visually impaired and is a guide dog owner. The panel talk about how to recognise when you might benefit from some support with your mental health, what support groups are available, and the difference between counselling and support groups, and much more besides.   We have compiled a list of supports available from Fighting Blindness and NCBI which you can access here: tinyurl.com/BGCsupports. We will add to this list as time goes on. If you would like to add information about these kinds of services from your country, please send the info to [email protected].   So, throw caution to the wind, throw frisbees to the dog, and settle in for the number 1 podcast as voted by COP27 delegates: Blind Guys Chat. 27 out of 27 attendees prefer it to overpriced sandwiches and desalinated water. Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat