The Ambling Rambler

A NZ break-a-way :)
The Ambling Rambler At the beginning of the year, when I was still down and out, morose, upset, and struggling with total hearing loss, Air New Zealand Grab-a-Seat advertised flights to Christchurch for $10 each way. I grabbed them, and was booked to go to Christchurch 21st May, coming back on 2nd June. You can't sneeze at these prices.I emailed my step-sister Liz and asked if I could ...
Art and Storytelling Tech Fri, Jun 05 2009

Cochlear Implant Update
The Ambling Rambler I keep getting little messages in my inbox asking...'How's the hearing?' and'We haven't heard you talk about your CI - trust it's going well...?'...and I keep meaning to give an update but keep ending up being sidetracked. First my gorgeous burmese cat went missing, so I was too busy delivering flyers and trying to find her, so the updates went by the by. Then I to...
Art and Storytelling Tech Culture Fri, Jun 05 2009

Of French Horns and Bomb Raid Sirens
The Ambling Rambler This new implant is wonderful. I am now able to use the phone with confidence at long last. I was forced into it really as I have had to ring around all the vets to see if my old grey girl has been handed in. Unfortunately - she's still missing and i'ts now 9 days. Her poor mate sits at the top of the stairs every night waiting for her to come up. Sad.Anyway, for...
Tech Thu, May 14 2009

Missing - Lost
The Ambling Rambler Missing/LostNorthcote/Hillcrest AreaMuch Loved Family Pet, Burmese Blue, 13 years oldHealthy but slightly arthriticVery Vocal, Likes cars, NosyMay be locked in a little used shed/garage.Answers to the name of Mika (Meeka)Owner desperate to find her.That's the flyer I have been delivering around my neighbourhood today. I've searched high and low, canvassed the neighb...
Tech Fri, May 08 2009

It's a Success...
The Ambling Rambler It's now two weeks since I was switch-on with my new ear. These are the things I have been hearing...Indian Mynah birds fighting on the neighbour's roof.When someone talks to me from Facebook there's a quiet 'click' sound that alerts me to the fact they've messaged me on chat. I had no idea that it gave a sound at all. Spider Solitaire - has the most wonderful soun...
Art and Storytelling Tech Tue, May 05 2009

Wired for Sound once Again
The Ambling Rambler The 22nd April took a long time to come. In fact I was emailing my implant team my countdown on a regular basis in the last week. I think my Facebook friends also got sick of it!I didn't take anyone to my switch on this time around. I think the Novelty of being switched-on has worn off the third time around!I arrived and the usual thing happened - just like last ti...
Language Art and Storytelling Tech Tue, May 05 2009

It was All Worth It!!!
The Ambling Rambler This scar of mine - I have to say I'm proud of it because....It was all so worth it. I'm sitting here tonight, watching 'Stars in their Eyes'. I can follow the music and lyrics, and it's so pleasant. Two weeks ago, I wouldn't have been able to do this.I know the scar is a bit in your face. But I remind myself that it was a such small price to pay for an amazing, e...
Language Art and Storytelling Tech Tue, May 05 2009

Waiting for Switch-On
The Ambling Rambler My third Cochlear Implant operation finally happened 3 weeks ago on the 30th March.Just a quick recap - I was originally implanted in March 1993, and switched on in April 1993. I had 15 years of near normal hearing with this implant (Cochlear Corp N22). This failed in June 2007. In March 2008 I was reimplanted with the new Freedom implant and switched on in Apri...
Tech Mon, Apr 20 2009

I could never be an Air Traffic Controller!
The Ambling Rambler I've always had a problem. Right through my life, this particular problem of mine has caused either great hilarity, extreme embarrassment or made me feel very dumb. Especially if it was pointed out (yet again) by my big brother. I thought I was alone.You see - I cannot tell which way is left, from which way is right. I'm left/right challenged. If someone tells me...
Language Art and Storytelling Tech Sat, Mar 21 2009

Just what part of DEAF do people not understand?
The Ambling Rambler I'm still gobsmacked at the continuing sagas that happen around me when it comes to my deafness.Two weeks ago I had the following conversation.Person 1: "You should read Robyn's blog - it's hilarious"Person 2: "Yep - Robyn you should write professionally"Me: "Well - I would if someone would pay me!!"Person 1: "I still can't believe some of the things she h...
Art and Storytelling Tech Culture Thu, Mar 19 2009

I have a Surgery Date !!! Wheeeee !!!!
The Ambling Rambler 30th March.30th March30th March30th March30th MarchWhew - it's such a relief. Never ever have I ever looked forward so much to have my head cut open. If they could do it tomorrow I'd even be happier, but this at last gives me something to look forward to, and the hope that I might hear something other than my confounded tinnitus all day. The only unfortunate thing ...
Tech Mon, Mar 02 2009

Finally - The Legal Opinion
The Ambling Rambler ACC sought a legal opinion from Bruce Corkill QC based on Phil Birds report. QC stands for Queen's Counsel - so as far as legal matters are concerned in New Zealand - that's pretty high up. Again I've had to upload them as images. If you need to make your screen bigger so you can read it, you can hold down ctrl and press the + key several times, or you can just dou...
Art and Storytelling Tech Legal Fri, Feb 27 2009

The Outside Independent Surgeon's Report to ACC...
The Ambling Rambler This is what the Cochlear implant specialist said in his report to ACC. Unfortuantely I wasn't able to cut and paste text but had to upload them as images as it was a scanned document.
Art and Storytelling Tech Fri, Feb 27 2009

ACC Declined Funding for my Cochlear Reimplantation
The Ambling Rambler Ugh.It happened. ACC denied me funding to fix my defunct, not working Cochlear Implant. It didn't come as a surprise - I had had a really bad feeling about ACC right from the beginning. Probably not helped by the case worker who had been trying to PHONE me despite me putting on my forms that I was unable to hear on the phone!!!Anyway - their letter verbatim......We...
Art and Storytelling Tech Fri, Feb 27 2009

Lipreading Misinterpreted? Or just bad Luck?
The Ambling Rambler I've been advertising for flatmate. You know the story, recession, hard times, need something to help pay the mortgage. I really didn't want another student, as now that my daughter has left home, I'm ready to kick up my heels, and don't want to be tied down cooking meals for people every night of the week. As I'm totally deaf now, and can no longer use a phone, I g...
Art and Storytelling Mon, Feb 23 2009

I'm Still Waiting ......
The Ambling Rambler Waiting for anything is always frustrating, waiting to get some vestige of hearing back because of a slow government department is making me want to scream.Just to recap - I was originally implanted in March 1993. For 16 years I had near normal hearing with the cochlear implant. In June 2007 my implant failed. In March 2008 I was reimplanted and my old electrode a...
Tech Legal Wed, Feb 11 2009

My Brain Keeps Playing Tricks on Me!
The Ambling Rambler Yep - tricks It's constantly testing my sanity! I can't hear a thing. Nothing. Nada. Not one iota of sound gets through my ears. The degree of deafness was brought home earlier this week when I sat in my lounge completely unaware that my house alarm of 140db was blaring.. And I heard nothing.But wait! I can hear the waste disposal when I turn it on. Yep - defi...
Art and Storytelling Wed, Jan 21 2009

Is My House Alarm Useless?
The Ambling Rambler My house is not only protected with an alarm, but it is also monitored. I sometimes wonder if it's worth having the place monitored, because the alarm has only ever been activated so far, by my cats being locked in a room. Over the years, the cats have cost me a pretty penny in callouts to check the place for burglars. At $60 a pop, this isn't cheap.When I go out, ...
Tech Sun, Jan 18 2009

Total Deafness Brings out my Evil Streak
The Ambling Rambler I'm now totally deaf. I hear nothing. Nada. My cochlear implant processor has been relegated to a drawer until I can be reimplanted. This is not America where I can dial up private health insurance to get it done quickly - no private health insurance will touch anything to do with ears with a 10 foot barge pole. It makes me wonder if they think helping deafness i...
Tech Legal Sat, Jan 17 2009

It's Official!
The Ambling Rambler It’s now official. I’m have just been diagnosed with depression for the first time in my life. Simply because of the frustration I’m having with lack of hearing, and lack of action in terms of ACC funding my new implant.The hearing loss I’m dealing with is huge compared to when my original implant was up and working properly, and I haven’t really heard properly exce...
Tech Tue, Jan 06 2009

I'm So Over Being Deaf
The Ambling Rambler I'm seriously no longer coping with this whole deafness issue. I managed to get through Christmas, but New Year totally sucked. I was meant to go up to my brothers place for afternoon tea on New Years Eve, but I couldn't get off the couch and face yet another afternoon sitting around with a plastic smile on my face, understanding nothing, and wishing to go home. Ye...
Tech Sun, Jan 04 2009

Goodbye 2008, Welcome 2009
The Ambling Rambler 2009 is here. I didn't bother heralding the new year in, I watched a movie on TV then headed to bed early. My fault entirely - I ate some dark chocolate truffles. They gave me a headache. I needn't have gone to bed early - the headache kept me awake, and also next door was having a party and was playing the music loud. Obviously very loud. I couldn't hear anythi...
Tech Culture Wed, Dec 31 2008

Frustrated
The Ambling Rambler I'm so frustrated. I can't hear squat. It's been 6 weeks since we applied for funding for reimplantation to our group ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation). I had hoped that they would have got hold of me before Christmas to tell me that they had approved of funding. This way I would know that I would be having my operation sometime in January - but no - I had ...
Language Audism Tech Tue, Dec 23 2008

Vodaphone Answered - 12 Days Later!
The Ambling Rambler Here is their reply to me...Hello Robyn, I have discussed your case with my manager. We have come to a conclusion stating that we would be able to provide you with $10 off your broadband service if your home phone line rental is with us .Since your home phone line is with a different provider you are currently paying $50 for your broadband service. If your home phone ...
Media Language Audism Art and Storytelling Tech Legal Wed, Nov 26 2008

Vodafone - Shame - Another Deaf Unfriendly Company
The Ambling Rambler I'm not very happy with Vodafone. I have to deal with them because ihug (Internet Home Users Group), sold themselves to them. When it was ihug, I had a great service there, if I ever needed help, I used to email someone, and give my MSN details and a helpdesk attendee would add me and we would sort the problem via msn, seeing I couldn't hear on the phone. This was ...
Media Language Audism Tech Culture Thu, Nov 20 2008

Another Implant Update...
The Ambling Rambler Well - we've finally found the problem to why my impalnt has been going backwards, not forwards. About two weeks ago I asked the Implant Team for an x-ray to see if the electrodes were still in the same place. I remember reading some time ago of someone having this problem, and so wondered if I had this as well. My specialist sent me the form and I had the x-ray tw...
Tech Sun, Nov 02 2008

Latest Update with My Implant
The Ambling Rambler Sound has been getting more and more painful, and I feel movement again, so on Friday it was back to the Implant team to get my electrodes adjusted again. Rather than the electrodes being switched off, they were able to turn the upper six right down. Which doesn't leave me a very good dynamic range as most of those upper six comfort levels were actually on very soft...
Tech Sun, Oct 26 2008

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) - Deaf Unfriendly
The Ambling Rambler I'm incensed. I'm spitting tacks.On Monday I got a standard letter from the BNZ Bank.It offered me a Gold Card with a $7500 credit limit. If I didn't want a Gold Card I was then pre-approved with an increase in credit limit with my existing Visa Card.If I wanted to accept the gold card, then phone an 0800 number.If I want the pre-approved credit limit - do nothingIf ...
Language Audism Tech Culture Wed, Oct 22 2008

October Implant Update
The Ambling Rambler I've been having more problems with my implant. When I was switched on in early April, it showed such promise. I had 17 out of 22 electrodes working. My test scores for listening without lipreading were 94%, which was so exciting, as back then - as I would get used to the new sounds, it would improve. How wrong I was.Nearly very month, I've had an electrode switch...
Tech Mon, Oct 20 2008

Another Deaf Unfriendly Company
The Ambling Rambler I ordered some photos from my favourite photographic place the other day. Their service is second to none, and the quality of images wonderful. They also don't mind communnicating via email when needed, and their deliveries are on time and quick. Wonderful company.Shame I can't say the same thing about the courier company that delivers their products. Not for the ...
Tech Thu, Oct 16 2008

What on Earth is going on???
The Ambling Rambler It used to be that I could head down to my local video store and hire just about any DVD to watch, and it would be captioned or subtitled. A few wouldn't be, but they would be mainly New Zealand movies. New Zealand doesn't have the law like the ADA (American Disabilities Act), so they don't legally have to put captions or subtitles on any of theirs. I believe NZ m...
Media Language Tech Legal Sat, Sep 27 2008

Implant Update
The Ambling Rambler It's nearly been six months with my new implant now. I have to tell you all I'm still struggling with it. How I long for the days of easy hearing I had with my old implant before it failed on me. Where nothing was a struggle. Where I could pick up the phone and ring my girlfriends for a laugh and natter. Where I could deal with marketing phone calls swiftly and w...
Language Tech Mon, Sep 15 2008

Deafess and Photography
The Ambling Rambler Someone asked me recently whether I would be so keen on photography if I had perfect hearing. I found it rather hard to answer that question as I've been deaf all my life and have never had perfect hearing. We all do things in life, the things that shape us, through our own experiences, some that aren't of our choosing, and we all tend to bend towards those that we ...
Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, Aug 22 2008

Are Customer Service People Dense?
The Ambling Rambler What is it with Customer Service people? I'm sure I've blogged about this before but..I had to ring Southern Cross Healthcare today about a claim they should have paid while I was away - they were asking for information that they already have on file (sigh!!).I still cannot hear on the phone, so I asked a friend to phone for me. My friend kindly explained that I was...
Mon, Aug 18 2008

Best and Worst of the Say What? Club Philadelphia Convention
The Ambling Rambler This is the third day I've been home from the USA after attending the SWC con in Philadelphia. So far I've done 6 loads of washing, and gradually putting things away. My house each day is looking less and less like a bomb site, and turning into a home again.My cats will NOT leave me alone - they obviously missed me and all they want to do is smooch or sleep on me, o...
Culture Wed, Aug 06 2008

28th July - San Francisco
The Ambling Rambler Well. Life certainly is not boring. And it's days like these you really wish you had normal hearing so you can sort things out yourself.It started last night. I hit the sack at 8pm as I was simply exhausted. Mike went out and searched for a beer and dinner and walked the streets. He felt someone brush up against him, but didn't think anything of it.Until.... this morn...
Legal Culture Mon, Jul 28 2008

Highs and Lows
The Ambling Rambler I heard it, I heard it. Finally! It's been over a year since I heard my washing machine beep when it finished all the cycles and was ready to be hung out. For me this has been a real nuisance as I would put a load of washing on, then completely forget that I had. Then my washing would go out far too late in the day to be hung out and get dry, or I would find the l...
Tech Sat, Jun 21 2008

Cochlear Implant at Two Months
The Ambling Rambler The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle with my new Cochlear Implant (CI). The reasons are numerous, and some of them complicated. However, today I went back for another remap, and I'm a happy chappy again.The problems I was experiencing started two weeks ago. I noticed at the two month post switch on mapping that I wasn't hearing well, however, the n...
Tech Tue, Jun 17 2008

Say What Club Hearing Loss Convention - Philadelphia
The Ambling Rambler I'm soooooooo excited. In a little over three weeks, I'll be flying to the United States to attend the Say What Club convention in Philadelphia. The Say What? Club has been part of my life now since early 1996, over 12 years ago. I found them by accident when surfing on the internet many moons ago, and signed up to the club. I have met so many great friends though...
Language Tech Wed, Jun 11 2008

Deaf Read, Commercial Sites, and Rachel's Unjustified...
The Ambling Rambler I've just read Deaf Read's response to commerical sites, by Jared Evans.To be honest, I'm still disappointed in their stance that they still have not reinstated the blog for even reading what Jared had to say, Rachel's blog still does not violate ANY of said 'guidelines'.Jared pointed out these 3 guidelines...1) Posts about non-profit organizations are entirely OK2) P...
Tech Tue, Jun 10 2008

Sign Language vs AVT - One Cochlear Implantee's Perspective
The Ambling Rambler As some already know, I am a Cochlear Implant user. I have been implanted for 16 years, and have recently just being reimplanted and am learning to hear with it all over again.My last post about running got some fairly negative comments. I'm not sure whether this is because of the fall out over Rachel's blog on Deafread, or whether it's simply sour grapes because I ...
Language Tech Culture Sun, Jun 08 2008

I Should have been Arrested!
The Ambling Rambler Ever since my Cochlear Implant Reimplantatation Operation, I've been sitting on the couch becoming the proverbial couch potato. If anyone mentioned exercise, I'd point to my head and say - oh it's sore - I will continue to rest up!! And that's what I've done for nearly 3 months.I was sitting on the couch in my usual spot last week and noticed that the girth around m...
Tech Sat, Jun 07 2008

Censorship is Alive and Well
The Ambling Rambler I was horrified to find that this morning, a fellow Cochlear Implantee had been removed from Deafread simply because she was a volunteer for CAN (Cochlear Awareness Network).So - If I am removed from Deafread after this post, so be it. What Deafread has done to Rachel is abhorrent.I am a CAN volunteer here in New Zealand.Like Rachel, I am not paid by Cochlear. My hour...
Tech Culture Wed, Jun 04 2008

The Cat Purrs Too Loudly
The Ambling Rambler I had another mapping session today. My two months post switch on one. I thought it would need quite a bit of tweaking as I had started hearing the ssssss sounds again on the ends of people's words. I had also noticed I wasn't singing in tune again. The clash was back. However, I was only there for a short time, and there were only a couple of very minor adjustmen...
Tech Mon, Jun 02 2008

I Can Hear Clicks!!!
The Ambling Rambler Ever since I've been switched on back in April, I've been hearing clicking noises around my house. I'd be sitting on the sofa in the quiet, and the click would start. No rhythm just a click. Some clicks were louder than others. Some like a stone being thrown at the window. I have mentioned this in passing on more than one occasion to my student, but she couldn't he...
Art and Storytelling Tech Sat, May 31 2008

Piano Sounds
The Ambling Rambler I’ve started playing the piano again. it's totally weird and wonderful, with a bit more emphasis on the weird at the moment!When I had the spectra body worn Cochlear Implant, I got a really good sound with the piano. When I was upgraded to the newer 3G BTE fo the N22 (read OLD Implant), the piano never really sounded that good after that, not as good as the body worn...
Tech Thu, May 29 2008

I'm Angry, Wild, and want to SCREAM with Frustration!
The Ambling Rambler I HATE Power companies. Of all the companies out there I deal with, when it comes to deafness and customer service, power companies are the WORST.My level of frustration is so high now, that I'm ready to take them to task publicly.It all started like this...Empower (yep I'm naming them), is the company that sends me my bills on a monthly basis. In the last bill they...
Tech Mon, May 26 2008

Recognising Country Sounds with the Cochlear Implant
The Ambling Rambler I'm trying to relearn all the sounds again that I had learnt with my first implant, before it stopped working. I'm finding it hard and frustrating at times because of the twang that I am still experiencing, however every now and then I will notice a huge improvement. It obviously improves over time, imperceptibly, then suddenly I'll be in awe of what I'm hearing.I had...
Tech Sun, May 18 2008

The Deaf in China
The Ambling Rambler I was having an interesting conversation with my students from Hong Kong and China recently, about deafness. She told me that they never see any deaf people in Hong Kong or China. They didn't know why, but they just didn't.I had a wee laugh over this initially because what do 'deaf' people look like??? We dont exactly standout a crowd.But the conversation made me curi...
Language Culture Fri, May 16 2008

Bilateral Implantation
The Ambling Rambler A close friend of mine just had bilateral implants a month ago. He was brave enough to get them done at the same time. He was switched on yesterday, and has written his first blog.Steven came and visited me about three years ago from San Francisco, and I took him around to various places in New Zealand. We laughed for the full three weeks he was here, with all sort...
Thu, May 15 2008