Why do some people get so angry?
This guy may have forgotten what he said by the time he got on the tube, but it ruined my day. You can hear in my voice just how stressed I was.
I’d never endanger
@Kika_GuideDog
or myself by attempting to move on an escalator.
Please, be kind
I write this with a heavy heart, there’s no easy way to say it.
@Kika_GuideDog
has cancer.
We don’t know how far it’s spread as yet, we’re focussing on Kika’s quality of life, taking every day as it comes.
For now, my girl is home with her family, where she belongs 💙
We may be in lockdown but you’re not alone.
If you ever need someone to talk to, please reach out 💙
📞 Samaritans 116 123
📞 Mind 0300 123 3393
📞 Calm 0800 58 58 58
📞 Women’s Aid 0808 2000 247
📞 Age UK 0800 678 1602
📞 Childline 0800 1111
📞 YoungMinds 0800 018 2138
It takes so much concentration & energy to get from A to B when you have no sight, let alone the anxiety.
A little help can change that - to be seen & the offer of assistance makes the world of difference.
This act of kindness turned my day from good to great!
#KindnessMatters
I’ve had enough of being refused access to businesses because I have a guide dog!
Having a security guard in a department store aggressively shout “no pets allowed” over & over again whilst I’m with my kids is inexcusable. Both my kids noticed customers stopping to stare.
If you see a Guide Dog on an escalator, please be patient.
Guide dogs are taught how to get on & disembark an escalator to keep them safe. Any unexpected movements could result in an accident for either of us.
Even after a long day, look how concentrated
@Kika_GuideDog
is ⬇️⬇️
I’m touched by the incredible amount of support we’ve received. These types of incidents really knock my confidence but you’d never know it as I put on a brave face. In reality, I feel like a terrified little boy inside. I hope this serves as a little reminder to slow down 🙏🏽
Practicing a new route to my kids swimming class. I have to say that my daughter is becoming extremely good at guiding her dad, she’s been watching her brother to see how it’s done 💙
I’ve only ever changed trains at
#BristolTempleMeads
(with assistance from staff) & never had to navigate the station concourse or find the Information office. Add to that 100’s of stranded people in the station, this was challenging, I don’t know how
@Kika_GuideDog
does it!
We were back at the vets today for a post op check & I’m glad to say that despite a small trickle of blood, the vets are pleased with
@Kika_GuideDog
’s progress.
Kika’s still spending most of the day sleeping but we’ve seen a definite pick up in her mood, let’s hope it continues!
I’m very sad to say that I’ve decided not to take
@Kika_GuideDog
out alone anymore.
In the last week so many people haven’t bothered moving & instead brush past me. The pavements are now too busy for us to maintain social distancing.
One step back for independence.
#COVID__19
Not knowing why Kika’s stopped & refusing to walk into danger when given the command “forward” is why I trust her with my life.
I always appreciate a little help from a stranger, thank for guiding us around the lorry😁
I ❤️ being a dad!
#BlindDad
@guidedogs
#DaddyCam
@scope
My life has become even more beautiful with the latest addition to the Patel family. Mother & child are both doing well. Thank you to the amazing team of midwives at the Princess Royal Hospital, you all are truly wonderful. 🧔🏽👩🏽🐶👦🏽👶🏽❤️
#TeamPatel
Kika Update:
Kika’s bleeding stopped last night but she’s now developed anaemia.
The vets want to keep her sedated, the plan is to reduce the dose over the next few days. We’re still waiting on biopsy results.
Hopefully my beautiful girl will be home by the end of the week 💙
I rely so much on Kika to keep me safe, just her presence gives me comfort. So it’s great to see that she can turn to me for comfort too 🧔🏽🐶❤️👌🏾
@Kika_GuideDog
[video shows Kika resting her head on Amit’s knee whilst they are on a noisy train]
When you accidentally walk into a construction site!
With so many construction sites popping up around London, I’m surprised
@Kika_GuideDog
has taken so long to visit one. Must remember to bring my hard hat when back in the area.
And we couldn’t have asked for better assistance
This is the gold standard when it comes to helping a blind/visually impaired person waiting to catch a bus:
✅ Stop right in front of the person
✅ Clearly announce the bus number & route
✅ Provide clear directions to the nearest available seat
✅ Audio announcements working
This caught me completely unawares. Having a polite chat with someone whilst waiting for my boy at the leisure centre.
They look at
@Kika_GuideDog
& say to me “Did you move to this country to get a guide dog? I bet they don’t have these where you come from!”
SERIOUSLY?!!
I may not be able to see the look
@Kika_GuideDog
’s giving me, but I can certainly hear the disapproving noises she’s making as I try to explain why she can’t come to work with me.
Good news Kika’s swelling is beginning to come down but she’s still very tired.
I point the camera & record, always in the dark (excuse the pun) about what’s really happening in front of me but sometimes I get lucky.
When my wife or my kids describe the videos of Kika to me, they paint a beautiful picture & in that moment I forget that I can’t see 💙
Travelling with a buggy & a guide dog means we often have to let a few buses go as the ramp isn’t deployed or there’s no space for us to get on. Fortunately this time the police officer made sure the ramp was put out for us otherwise we’d have missed yet another bus!
#BlindDad
Waiting on the platform at our local station when a gentleman approached me & asked if I was ok getting on the train when it arrives. I replied “I’ll be fine getting on but thank you for asking”, to which he replied “no need to thank me, have a great day” 💙
I know how much the cone is irritating Kika & slowing down the healing on her neck, so I’ve removed it whilst I sit with her.
We’ve discussed the rules for cone-free time:
🔴 No getting excited
🔴 No running off
🔴 Absolutely no nose diving on the bed
And now she’s sulking!🤦🏽♂️
✨ Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Kika
Happy Birthday to You! ✨
9 years old & still as stubborn as the day you first came home! We wouldn’t change you for the world, we love you
@Kika_GuideDog
!
#TheKikaEffect
keeps coming!
🥕🎂🥳
People can be so selfish, they pretend they can’t see or hear when I ask if there’s a seat available. Its so humiliating when I struggle to find something to hold onto & keep Kika safe at the same time, this is when you’ll see a tear running down my face. Life is difficult enough
We walked to the end of the platform in the pouring rain so that we can board the designated disabled section on the
@Se_Railway
train & even with dad giving me the command “find a seat” not one passenger gave up their seat! 😡😤😢
@GuidedogsLondon
@guidedogs
@transportforall
Another day & another procedure for
@Kika_GuideDog
.
I’m staying positive but Kika has the grumps. Not because of what lies ahead for her today, but because she’s been nil by mouth since midnight.
I guess she is a Labrador after all!
Kika was very unsettled yesterday so I spent the night sat on the floor with her head on my lap & finally she fell asleep around midnight. We’re back at the vets & the good news is that the meds are working & she needs more bed rest. We’ve passed on all of your cuddles🤗❤️
Today, I'm left wondering how I will manage without her by my side.
@Kika_GuideDog
has definitely perked up today, she's got her appetite & tail wag back. I know that my Kika is a stubborn one, she won't give up & neither will we.
Our home is more full of love than ever 💙
In terms of next steps we hope it’s not aggressive & we’ll be seeing a specialist too. We’re trying to stay positive.
Thank you all for your messages of love & support for
@Kika_GuideDog
, I wish she could understand just how loved she is!
As a POC this makes me so angry. A blind student was dragged out of an Oxford Union debate by his ankles because they wrongly thought he wasn’t allowed to be there. Being racially profiled is wrong, the aggressiveness even scarier when you have no vision.
The man from
@guidedogs
said 👍
I’m pleased to share that
@Kika_GuideDog
isn’t hanging up her harness just yet. What doesn’t help is that I’ve lost a bit of confidence over the last 2 years too & Kika’s clearly picking up my vibes. But together we’ll work through it 💙
Last Tuesday, my concerns about
@Kika_GuideDog
’s confidence & it’s impact on her working peaked, so I made the difficult decision to call
@guidedogs
to seek some support.
Today we’re on our way to meet with a Guide Dogs Mobility Instructor so that he can observe Kika working.
Is it too late for me to say Happy New Year?
I've taken some time off to rest & recuperate after a very rough December. Pleased to say that I'm back, but taking it slow as I'm still not 100%.
Hoping 2022 will be kinder to all of us.
If our path is blocked, Kika will stop & sit.
Not knowing why she’s stoped, I would ask her to find her way around. This usually means she’ll take me to the kerb, wait for the command “forward”, & take me onto the road, around the obstacle & back on the pavement.
But not today!
I crouch down & softly say to Kika “trains are delayed & it’s going to take us a little longer to get home”, to which she responds with blowing a procession of raspberry’s
And this is who I have to work with!
#TongueOutTuesday
Without any hesitation, Kika woke up in the middle of the night to guide me to hospital & subsequently has only had a few hours of rest. So this morning I let her sleep in & I travelled to work using my long white cane.
I’ll be back for her in a few hours 💤
I’ve never worn cardigans but the other week I decided to buy one. Not sure if I can pull it off &
@Kika_GuideDog
’s absolutely no help.
Despite what Kika thinks, I put it on today & in my minds eyes it looks ok 😆
Can you believe that my beautiful
@Kika_GuideDog
turned 10 years old today?
Kika's even more stubborn & energetic than the day I first met her. Over the last 8 years she's been by my side through my ups & downs, always keeping me strong.
Here's to many more birthdays!🎂🎈👑
Early this morning I got refused by an
@Uber
driver as he didn’t want
@Kika_GuideDog
in his car.
2nd driver, couldn’t have been more helpful. He helped me with my bags & made sure we were comfortable before driving us to
@GLA_Airport
. He even insisted on guiding us to check-in.
Thanks for all the love & support you’ve shown
@Kika_GuideDog
& me. Kika’s an absolute professional & has been specially trained by
@guidedogs
to travel on escalators safely. Heres a little clip of how we do it.
All we need is a little space & patience & we can all travel safely
Why do some people get so angry?
This guy may have forgotten what he said by the time he got on the tube, but it ruined my day. You can hear in my voice just how stressed I was.
I’d never endanger
@Kika_GuideDog
or myself by attempting to move on an escalator.
Please, be kind
Staff at our resort have been taking such good care of us: they’ve kept us the same table for meals every day (close to the buffet so handy for Seema when she breakfast in!) & flagged it out with cones so Kika doesn’t get trodden on or tripped over
#KindnessMatters
(3/3) Thank you to everyone that has reached out with messages of support. It means a lot to us.
Hopefully our girl
@Kika_GuideDog
will be back home with us soon 💙
Walking with
@Kika_GuideDog
& toddler means I’m having to concentrate doubly hard & it’s exhausting. But I’m always amazed by the kindness of strangers - it just goes to show how a little awareness goes a long way (& takes the pressure off me too!)
#KindnessMatters
#BlindDad
Eight years ago, Seema & I tied the knot at our BIG FAT Indian wedding. Unbeknown to us, our future was going to throw us a massive curve ball.
Yet here we are, eight years on... with one amazing Guide Dog & two beautiful kids. Here’s to the next eight & many many more!
Kika update:
The bleeding has slowed down but hasn’t stopped. Kika had a shot of adrenaline this morning & I’ve been reassured that she’s happy & comfortable.
She’ll be having more procedures later today.
Thank you all for your kind messages, I’ll keep you updated.
Apparently it’s emasculating for a man to carry his child around according to
@piersmorgan
. As a
#BlindDad
, babywearing is hugely practical but let’s be honest, that’s got nothing to do with it. Real men do what’s best for their family regardless of what others say or think.
I made a formal complaint in the store & they are investigating. The challenge is that as we get out more, the chance of incidences like this occurring increase.
Shops & restaurants need to be clear on the law regarding assistance dogs. I’ll update once I get a response.
“Nobody’s going to let you go, I’ve seen you stood there”
Never have I been more grateful to be seen. This chap passed me, crossed the road & then came back a 2 minutes later to check I was ok.
Stay safe & look out for those around you 🤍
#KindnessMatters
#SharedSpace
#KikaCam
Today I need to keep a close eye on Kika as she collided with a cyclist in the woods this morning. Obviously she was shaken, but she managed to walk home in harness, albeit slower than usual. The cyclist walked alway uninjured but I can’t say the same for his bike.
Thank you all for you kind messages unfortunately being ignored when asking for a seat is a daily occurrence for us. I was very upset yesterday as the floor on the train was slippery, Kika kept sliding & she was obviously distressed. She looks after me everyday & I felt useless.
I hate leaving
@Kika_GuideDog
at the vet hospital but I know she’s in great hands.
The amazing staff looking after her keep me updated & make sure Kika’s as comfortable as possible.
They’re always telling me Kika’s a fighter & how she makes all the staff smile.
#Warrior
It’s just Kika resting her head on my bag, well that’s what I thought until the snoring began. The unmistakable loud snore with the added whooping noises clearly tells me that she’s worked hard today.
She’s such a character.
#TheKikaEffect
I'm so excited to finally announce that my book is called... Kika & Me!
It’ll be published by
@panmacmillan
on 20th February 2020 & if you want to be one of the first to get it when it comes out, you can pre-order now here 👇🏽
#KikaAndMe
@Kika_GuideDog
This little face has barely left my side since I fell ill. She's not even been keen on going for walks with Seema or playing with the kids.
@Kika_GuideDog
needs a break so I'm sending her on holiday to her grandparents, so that she can be the centre of attention for a while 💙
“Are you the blind guy from MasterChef?”
“Are you the GP on the telly?”
This week I’ve been mistaken for Amar Latif & Dr Amir Khan.
2 of us are doctors & 2 of us are visually impaired but what do we have in common? Well it’s got to be that we’re 3 handsome guys of course 😊
After much back & forth with security, they demanded to see
@Kika_GuideDog
’s ID. Luckily I carry a digital copy on my phone. We were finally allowed into the store but by this time, we had a circle of onlookers as if we were a form of entertainment. What a humiliating experience.
We left our hotel not knowing whether we’d be able to get into Bristol station, or even on a train back to London.
To my relief, Kika worked through the crowd brilliantly &
@GWRHelp
staff were amazing getting us on a train.
Kika’s even found a comfy foot & a bag to rest on.
Kika is not well, she’s got an infection which she’s been hiding very well. She’s got her meds & needs plenty of bed rest. We took the bus to the vets & she worked amazingly but we took a taxi home. She’s comfortable & I’m sure her little bro will give her extra cuddles. 🐶🤒💊💉
Kika Update:
The biopsy went well but because it was under her nose, there’s been a lot of bleeding after the procedure. The vets rightly feel Kika needs to be supervised over night & have chosen to keep her at the hospital. I didn’t get to see her but I know she’s in good hands
Kika is only as good as her
@guidedogs
training.
Note the road & pavement at the same height, no tactile paving to indicate the road, a car stopped & lorry turning in.
From experience I’ve learned to trust
@Kika_GuideDog
’s instinct. No commands from me, it’s all Kika.
#KikaCam
“For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness & in health…”
Who knew that so soon after saying these words, we’d be tested against them.
10 years on and we’re stronger than we’ve ever been.
Here’s to my beautiful wife, my rock, my soulmate ♥️
An animal welfare campaigner says it's time to stop using guide dogs as they don't agree to do the work & using them is unethical. I don’t agree - the bond between assistance dog & owner is so strong, Kika loves her job & is clearly thriving.
@GMB
@piersmorgan
@susannareid100
With the frosty weather, ice & grit on the pavements, I'm always worried about
@Kika_GuideDog
's paws. Kika's never worn boots before so this is all new for her - she needs to learn how to walk in them. Luckily I know what motivates her! 🐾🥕🐾
#PractiseMakesPerfect
#TheKikaEffect
Last Tuesday, my concerns about
@Kika_GuideDog
’s confidence & it’s impact on her working peaked, so I made the difficult decision to call
@guidedogs
to seek some support.
Today we’re on our way to meet with a Guide Dogs Mobility Instructor so that he can observe Kika working.
Sat on the train, off to speak at a charity event (committed to a long time ago), reminiscing about 7 years ago today when I was training with
@Kika_GuideDog
& wondered if I could ever trust a dog with my life.
After a great evening last night, it took 45 minutes to finally get a taxi. When it arrived, the driver said I should have told him about
@Kika_GuideDog
& refused to take us. Whilst he’s arguing, Kika jumped into the footwell & made herself comfortable. This girls not for moving!
When I take
@Kika_GuideDog
to the park on my own she wears a bell so that I can hear where she is. Yesterday I was asked by a lady to remove her bell as she claimed it was disturbing her (even though she could see me holding Kika’s harness) - I had to politely decline!
Thanks for your support everyone. It's ironic that earlier in the eve I was on stage & gave an anecdote about the grief assistance dog owners get from some people about our working dogs. Our dogs are so loved, well cared for & love their jobs. If they didn't, they wouldn't work.
Have you ever noticed just how bumpy an escalator is? Now imagine going down one when you can't see & having people try to push past you.
Tune in to
@BBCBreakfast
tomorrow to see me &
@Kika_GuideDog
chat to
@TVNaga01
& Charlie Stayt about the reality of commuting when blind.
🚨 Exciting Announcement! 🚨
It’s been so hard to keep this under wraps for so long but
#DogSquad
is coming to
@CBeebiesHQ
&
@BBCiPlayer
in November!
Starring me &
@Kika_GuideDog
, Dog Squad follows our missions alongside 4 other assistance dogs with real superhero powers 🦮
🐶 Meet Kika, Diesel, Meagaidh, Sylvie and Tinks - aka Dog Squad!
Follow the missions of these five superhero assistance dogs with real superhero powers in a brand-new series on
@CBeebiesHQ
and
@BBCiPlayer
Meet the dogs ➡️
My smile doesn’t always come naturally. Some mornings I wake up feeling lost, worried about how I’m going to get through the day.
But I know it’s ok to feel this way.
It’s on those days that I’m even more grateful for these two beautiful souls in my life.
#KikaAndMe
A dad with a buggy isn’t a novelty anymore but as a
#BlindDad
I just do things a bit differently. With
@Kika_GuideDog
by my side, I’ve learnt to safely pull the buggy rather than push, a lifesaver after a trip to the park when the little one’s shattered!
@Bugaboo
#BlindParenting
Today we're celebrating Diwali which is the Festival of Lights. Diwali celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.
Happy Diwali to all from the Patel’s
#Diwali2019
The one thing I’m sure of is that there’s a lot of ❤️ in the Patel household.
The kids are helping take care of
@Kika_GuideDog
, both kids are usually found cuddled up with her in her bed.
Yesterday, I took Kika for a short walk on the lead & of course the little one came along
Not only are these charging posts in the middle of the pavement, it also means there’s a thick charging cable trailing from the post to the car which is a trip hazard.
Green measures don’t need to come at the expense of accessibility & safety. This is just plain silly.
New electric car charging posts have been installed in Widnes.
Whilst a positive move for the environment, there has been concern about their placement on the pavement.
Hear more on Breakfast at 0725am
When you’re having to stay in hospital & staff walk into your room without announcing themselves when they KNOW you’re blind is very uncomfortable...this was my experience. Today I’m back to do a little training 😁. I’m lucky Kika can make herself comfortable anywhere 🐶 💤
An elastic band on the door handle to identify my room & a small triangle of velcro on the key card help me to know which way to insert the key card to open the door.
I still don’t know how
@Kika_GuideDog
finds our room, especially as we were in a different hotel this morning.
When I stay in hotels solo, I pack my little bag of tactiles. They comprise of elastic bands, sticky foam dots, cut up Velcro in various shapes & some small rubber pads.
I’ll use this to help me find my room again, to id my room card & even on the lift if there isn’t any braille
I’ve been quiet on here for a while as I’ve been in hospital with a very serious chest infection that left me struggling to breathe.
I’m heading home soon but turned on my phone to find so many lovely tweets & DM’s from you all - thank you for checking in on me. Merry Christmas!
Wishing my beautiful
@Kika_GuideDog
a fantastic 7th birthday!
We’ve had some crazy adventures since she joined the family over 5 years ago & we can’t wait to celebrate with her when she comes home! 🎁🎂🎈🎉 (But don’t worry she’s getting spoiled as we speak by her grandparents!)
7 years ago today I officially made
@SeemaMistryP
Mrs Patel & we haven’t looked back since. Sight loss threw a bit of a spanner in our future but it’s only made us stronger & more determined to enjoy life. Here’s to more adventures with 👩🏽🐶👦🏽+👶🏽🎀 on the way!
#TeamPatel
Ending my Sunday on a high: my
@sainsburys
delivery driver Richard surprised me tonight. He's not only a huge fan of
@Kika_GuideDog
but also told me that after reading my tweets he no longer parks on the pavement, even though it probably makes his job harder.
#BeMoreRichard
! 🌟
On a wet days,
@Kika_GuideDog
will always stand or sit on the train, so the least I can do is try to make her comfortable (even if that means having a wet patch on my clothes) 😊
I’ve arrived
@marksandspencer
HQ to meet with senior execs to highlight the impact that an access refusal has for an assistance dog user. Also keen to hear what they are doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again & learn about their approach to accessibility.
#AccessAllAreas
Today, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh (
@RoyalFamily
) officially opened
@RNIB
’s new London office –The Grimaldi Building.
I had the great pleasure of catching up with the Duchess & a tour of the RNIB’s accessible building which is a perfect hub for the VI community.
Today, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh (
@RoyalFamily
) joined staff and supporters to officially open our new London office –The Grimaldi Building on Pentonville Road in Islington.
Since September 2015
@Kika_GuideDog
has kept me safe & in that time, my trust in her has gone from strength to strength.
I know from her mannerisms when she’s preoccupied or when she’s not feeling quite right.
More praise, a slower pace, a bit of patience & we’ll get home.
I was worried that Quark may have a little too much energy when he came to us, as Kika has always been calm. But after a few weeks, Quark had settled down & he definitely loves having Kika as a big sister.
At 6am this morning I find them together 💛
#TheKikaEffect
#WhatAQuarker
The media can often focus on the negative, but there’s so many positives too. I don’t need or expect a seat every time I travel but in bad conditions or crowded trains I feel safer sat down. I hope the articles at least encourage people to be more aware of those around them.
When navigating a familiar route, I’ve learned to use anything that will help me to identify where I am or which way I need to turn - like a change of pavement surface, posts, walls & even manhole covers.
But I can only do this if my white cane is intact! 🤦🏽♂️
With so much misinformation out there about the
#COVID19
vaccine I wanted to give you an insight into my jab.
As a blind person with a guide dog, I've had a positive experience - from getting a text invite, to booking & the jab itself.
#KikaCam
@Kika_GuideDog
@NHSEngland
Since Kika’s recent procedures I’m happy to say she’s bounced back remarkably well.
As we don’t want any more surprises, Kika had a CT scan under general anaesthetic today, just to make that all is clear.
She’s a little groggy, but it’s nothing a good nights sleep won’t cure.
Yesterday I went back to work but it was too soon. I got on the wrong train, got on the wrong bus, gave
@Kika_GuideDog
the wrong directions, was disoriented & turned up to a meeting a week early.
Brain fog & fatigue is still present so today I decided to work from home.
Today I was solo with
@Kika_GuideDog
& baby. I’m fed up with stores blaming external security companies - if someone works on the door they should know the basics of the law. They shouldn’t need a member of the public to tell them my rights, despite me saying the same thing.