https://linktr.ee/blindmanwithabackpack

Blind man with a backpack - Chris and Guide Dog Chester, Tilehurst (2025)

28/10/2025

Oswald was on camera duty this time 🎥🐾

After a full-on week, we took things back to basics – boots on, leads off, and straight to the woods for some much-needed headspace. This time, we gave Oswald the GoPro and let him take the lead.

What followed was pure joy:
• floppy ears in full flight
• enthusiastic sniffing of every interesting smell
• woodland zoomies with Chester weaving in and out like a golden satellite in orbit

No training, no working mode, no plan — just two dogs absolutely living their best lives in the woods.

There’s something grounding in seeing the world at dog-height.
No stress.
No overthinking.
Just the moment you’re in.

Sometimes that’s all you need.

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Video Description ( )

A GoPro is mounted on Oswald, a large yellow golden retriever. The camera captures his view as he trots and runs along woodland paths, his big floppy ears bouncing in front of the lens as he moves. Chester, a sunburst amber golden retriever x Labrador guide dog, weaves in and out of frame as the two dogs explore together. They sniff along the forest floor, run through brush, and move side-by-side through the trees with relaxed, happy energy.

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26/10/2025

Happy Sunday from Team Chester! 🐾.
We hope you’ve had a good one.

It’s been another really busy week for us, including two solo trips into the office without our usual support. I always book Passenger Assistance when travelling by train, but I don’t always need every element of it because I normally meet my Access Assistant in Reading and we travel together.

This week, Chester and I had to travel alone because he was unwell — but everything went to plan, and the station support teams were brilliant. Thursday was a bit stressful due to a points failure near Didcot, but in the end the delays actually worked in our favour and we made every connection. Only a couple of minutes late in the end, so I’ll take that as a win!

Now, you’d think lying quietly through a three-hour presentation wouldn’t take much effort from a highly trained Guide Dog… but when they’re on duty, they’re always ready to work at a moment’s notice. They never fully switch off. Add in a couple more meeting days and by Saturday, Chester was ready for a well-earned rest.

He did have one more job to do though — taking me to the pool. Kath and William had some errands in town so we skipped the bus and walked from there. There were lots of other dogs around and Chester showed just how far his distraction training has come — he stayed focused all the way, even when we had to divert around the window cleaners blocking the riverside path.

We rounded off the week with a well-deserved free run in the woods with big brother Oswald. Lots of other dogs around (a big section of the woods is closed for maintenance at the moment) but Chester handled it all incredibly well. Ozzy was cameraman for the walk, so I’ll share a little highlight video soon.

But before that — here’s my golden boy in action taking me through M&S to meet Kath and William. We start in the food court, weave through trolleys and baskets, then out into womenswear and through the crowds to the door. And outside? It’s fuss, cuddles, and a bit of tail wagging before we get set for the rest of the walk. 💛

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21/10/2025

This one is really special. ❤️

In this clip from my latest episode — In conversation with… The wife – How sight loss changed us both — Kath and I talk about how her background as a counsellor has helped her adapt to my evolving disability, and how we’ve learned to build strategies that work for all of us as a family.

It’s an honest and emotional conversation, but also a hopeful one — a reminder that when life changes, the people around us often grow and adapt in incredible ways too.

🎧 Listen now on Buzzsprout:
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446119/episodes/18038215-in-conversation-with-the-wife-how-sight-loss-changed-us-both

Or find it on your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to find out more — or fancy joining me for a chat on a future episode (about any topic, not just sight loss!) — I’d love to hear from you. Just drop me a message and let’s talk. 🎙️

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Alt text:
A recording setup in a cosy garden studio. Kath is sat in a soft wing-backed chair and Chris is sat opposite on the sofa with his legs curled up beneath him. There is a mixing desk in between them with multicoloured lights on it, and they are deep in warm conversation.

15/10/2025

That’s another episode in the bag! 🎙️
A massive thank you to my lovely wife for joining me for this one — our most personal chat yet. ❤️

It was so special to record this in person, sat across from each other in the garden studio, sharing stories, a few laughs, and maybe even a few tears.

Editing is well and truly underway, and I honestly can’t wait to share this one with you all.

Stay tuned — it’s going to be a good one. 👀

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Alt text:
A recording setup in a cosy garden studio. Kath is sat in a soft wing-backed chair and Chris is sat opposite on the sofa with his legs curled up beneath him. There is a mixing desk in between them with multicolored lights on it and they are deep in warm conversation.

12/10/2025

It’s been a little while since I’ve shared an update on Chester, so I thought it was time to let you know how he’s been getting on. 💛

Over the summer, our trainer has been working hard with Ches to help bring his anxiety levels down — and he’s responded brilliantly (was there ever any doubt?). We started with free runs before moving back to our local routes. Previously, as soon as his lead came off, he’d be so excited he could hardly contain himself! Now, when we’re out in the woods, he often doesn’t even notice when his lead comes off — he’s too busy snuffling for blackberries. Once he does, he just trots happily alongside me.

His lunchtime free run at the office is still a work in progress — he gets a bit too excited to get to the field — but we’re getting there, step by step.

Our next focus is helping Chester stay calm in busier environments, especially around other dogs. His first big test came on Thursday at work during our annual Guide Dogs Day, which coincided with World Sight Day. These events are brilliant for raising awareness about sight loss and celebrating the impact our dogs have on our lives.

This year’s event featured an amazing mix of puppies, working dogs, and retirees ranging from six months to ten years old. My friend Stuart Pearce gave a great talk, and we watched a demonstration of how guide dogs are trained to support us in everyday life. With so much going on, we expected it might be challenging for Chester — but he absolutely smashed it! I was so proud of how calm and focused he stayed throughout the day, and having his original trainer on hand was a huge help.

There’s still plenty to work on, but with the support we’re getting, I know we’ll get there soon enough.

Here are a few snaps from the day — including some of my favourites from the demo team and, of course, Chester doing what he does best.

✨ Have a great weekend, everyone!

Image 1: A group of eight Guide Dogs volunteers and handlers stand side by side, each holding the lead or harness of their guide dog. The dogs, a mix of golden retrievers, labradors, and crossbreeds, sit calmly in front of their handlers. The photo is taken indoors, surrounded by a range of BMW cars on display.

Image 2: A member of the Guide Dogs demo team, wearing a navy Guide Dogs polo shirt stands beside a prop road crossing box while holding the harness of his black Labrador who is touching the post with her nose to help orientate her handler at the roadside.

Image 3: Volunteer speaker, Stuart is wearing a light blue Guide Dogs t-shirt and sits on a chair while speaking to the audience. His black guide dog lies calmly at his feet. Rows of people are seated in front of him, listening attentively in a bright room with a blue wall behind him.

Image 4: Chester, my sunburst amber golden retriever x lab guide dog, lies relaxed on a blue mat with yellow trim that has his name “Chester” embroidered on it. He wears his neon yellow guide dog harness and is gently taking a treat from someone crouched beside him.

05/10/2025

It’s not often Kath and I get a night out together so it was a welcome change to head up to Camden on Friday evening to see Sleeper at the Electric Ballroom

Going to a gig when you can’t see very well is always daunting but as I’ve been here many times over the past few years I know the lay of the land. One of the perks of being registered blind is you get to bring someone with you for free (so long as they promise not to run away if the fire alarm goes off!). Where it gets complicated is each venue has their own way of working. For some, like The Roundhouse, you must book tickets directly with them to be eligible for an assistant ticket, many of the larger venues such as the O2 have a dedicated phone line where you need to wait on hold for the best part of an hour in the vein hope they have some of their select few accessible tickets left but for The Ballroom, it’s simply a case of booking the ticket and then emailing the assisatnce team with proof of disability and they add you to the guest list.

Anyway, we got to London in plenty of time and stopped off for a quick bite to eat around Euston on the way up before finding somewhere a pint or two before heading into the gig. The Electric Ballroom doesn’t look much from the outside but once you get down the steps, you emerge into this cavernous auditorium with stage to the right and bar to the left. I am always offered the accessible viewing stage but much prefer to be stood in the mix so we took our usual spot, just to the left of the monitor desk (it’s important to have familiarity when you can’t see very well!).

The gig was excellent, it really felt like the band had come home and they played a broad set of old and new to keep everyone bouncing and singing along. Of course, I like to take a couple of photos throughout the show but I do get frustrated with all the people holding their phones up to record whole songs – it seems pointless to be at a band you’ve paid good money to see and then spend the whole time watching them through a screen. It’s also selfish – when your arm’s up recording, you’re blocking the view or the people behind you and don’t get me started on all the screen glare.

Anyway, rant over, like I say the gig was great and there we had the slightly panicked rush back to the station to get the last train home. I haven’t done this in years and can say I don’t miss this part of gig-going, but we made it home safe-and-sound, if slightly damp from Storm Amy.

1. The band on stage during the show, lead singer Louise is singing into a microphone with lead guitarist Jon to her left wearing a pork-pie hat, Andy is playing keyboards just behind them and bass player Kieron is sat down by the drums,
2. At the end of the show, the band are stood centre stage, arm-in-arm smiling and cheering the crowd

28/09/2025

Weekend reset, Chester-style 🐶💛

It’s been another busy week in the Backpack household with meetings, trips to the office, school pickups and so much more that a reset was much-needed this weekend.

We were up bright and early this morning meaning after a quick coffee, it was time to get set and head out for a morning swim. Chester was a little bit chatty on the bus into town and this is something that I am working on as, for some reason, not everyone likes one of his little yips as they find their seat! Once in town, Ches was ready and focussed on his walk under the station and along the river to the pool. There were a couple of little dogs on the tow path but Chester’s distraction is much, much better now and he totally ignored them — although he did have a bit of a look at the goslings just making their way into the river, but the sight of the adult Canada geese was enough to put him off.

At the pool, Ches had his usual spot to settle behind the counter whilst I did my lengths and wound down in the hot tub before getting dressed again and we both found our way to the bar — him to finish his Kong and me for a cheeky BLT to accompany my coffee.

Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures that make the biggest difference. ✨

💬 How have you been recharging this weekend?

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Video Description ( ):
A close-up video shows Chester, my sunburst amber Golden Retriever x Labrador guide dog, lying on his blanket in a café. His nose points toward the camera as he chews happily on a stuffed Kong, one paw holding the toy steady.

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23/09/2025

After a busy day at the Berkshire Vision AGM and board meeting, Chester definitely earned his free run! 🐾

He was calm and patient throughout (though he did seem to cast his own “vote” at the wrong moment by standing up at just the right time 😅).

Being part of Berkshire Vision as a trustee gives me the chance to help shape services that support people with sight loss across the county — work that I’m really proud to be involved in.

💬 Supporting local charities makes such a difference — what local causes are close to your heart?

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Image Descriptions ( )
1. Chester, my sunburst amber Golden Retriever x Labrador guide dog, trots happily along a sunlit farm track, tongue lolling after his free run. Behind him stretch green fields and distant trees.
2. Chester explores a woodland path, nose to the ground and tail swishing, surrounded by leafy trees and a scattering of fallen leaves.

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18/09/2025

💳 Excluded by design 💳

I keep seeing adverts for card machines “taking the UK by storm” — but they’re all touch screen. For people with sight loss, that means entering a PIN or confirming a payment is almost impossible without giving up privacy and independence.

This isn’t about convenience — it’s about inclusion. With audio prompts or tactile options, these machines could work for everyone.

I’ve written more about this in my latest blog post — take a look here:
👉 https://blindmanwithabackpack.uk/2025/03/29/excluded-by-design/

Accessibility matters. Design for everyone. 💛

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Video Description ( ):
The video opens with a short advert snippet showing a touch-screen card machine in use. It then cuts to Chris talking directly to the camera, wearing a “Blind Man with a Backpack” baseball cap, explaining why machines like this exclude people with sight loss.

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16/09/2025

Every so often, you hear something that just makes you smile from ear to ear — and this was definitely one of those moments 😊

If anyone recognises the lovely woman’s voice in this clip, please do share this with her. It was such a joy to hear 💛

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Video Description ( ):
A short video starts with Chris talking to the camera and then dissolves into Chester, a sunburst amber Golden Retriever x Labrador in his Guide Dogs UK harness, walking through a tunnel as we hear a woman speaking off-camera behind us.

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13/09/2025

Last week we had the privilege of being part of the Loxwood Park Rangers Football Club charity football match in support of Guide Dogs UK.

It was a fantastic day filled with football, community spirit, and plenty of laughs. Events like this make such a difference — not just by raising vital funds, but also by spreading awareness about the life-changing impact guide dogs have.

A massive thank you to the club for their incredible fundraising and for making us feel so welcome. Chester was, of course, the star of the show (although I think the trophy might come a close second!). 🐾🏆⚽

Blind man with a backpack - Chris and Guide Dog Chester

28/10/2025

26/10/2025

21/10/2025

15/10/2025

12/10/2025

05/10/2025

28/09/2025

23/09/2025

18/09/2025

16/09/2025

13/09/2025

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