Well, I got several items crossed off my "to-do list" yesterday. (There is no actual list. Only in my head.)
First, in late morning, I went back to the optometrist. I simply wanted to ask him whether my experience with my varifocal lenses was normal. Was it normal, for example, to only see a portion of a photo on a computer screen in focus? An area about the size of a drinks coaster?
To my surprise, he did not say, "Give it a while and try to get used to them." He didn't say, "Your eyes will adapt." Instead he said, "Oh, that's not good," and promptly took the glasses back. He said the way these lenses are designed, there's a sort of hourglass-shaped area of focus -- which is why the tops and bottoms of the lenses worked fine for distance and close reading, but the mid-range center focal area was so narrow. Why on earth they would be designed so that the CENTER OF THE LENS is the narrowest focal point is my question, but no matter. He said he'd give me new lenses! I don't really need the distance part -- my distance vision is only a tiny degree shy of normal, and I can read signs and see birds in trees and that kind of thing unaided -- so he's going to turn the glasses into bifocals, with mid-range and close-up areas, and I can continue wearing them as readers.
I also wonder how much of this problem has to do with the size of the lens. They aren't that big, and it could be that we were just trying to do too much with too small an area.
Anyway, I'm back using my old reading glasses for the next week or so.
I did some other stuff too, including finally ordering a new couch. Dave and I are ready to get rid of the brown behemoth, which you'll remember we did not even choose but simpy inherited from this flat's previous occupants. (It was almost new then.) The brown behemoth is gigantic, and the new couch is not going to be as big -- about 40 cm shorter, and 20 cm less deep. So we'll have a bit more breathing space in the living room. The new one is also going to be dark blue, a shade poetically called "night owl blue" in the "clever woolly" fabric range. I think it will arrive in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, we have to figure out how to get rid of the brown behemoth. It's worn out, with a big hole in one cushion and substantial fabric wear, mostly from dog paws. The company delivering our new couch won't take away the old one, so Dave and I will have to get it out to the street somehow and schedule the council to remove it. I remember the previous owner telling me that the delivery guys had a terrible time getting it into place because it's so big it wouldn't fit through the hallway -- they had to bring it up the alley at the side of the house and in through the back door. But we've had the side gate replaced since then and I'm not sure even that will be possible. Drama to come!
I also trimmed the neighbor's rose bush overhanging our patio -- aka "the monster" -- and filled a yard waste bag with all those cuttings.
Meanwhile, we had Trump and Putin "negotiating" at their summit about the future of Ukraine, without even allowing the president of Ukraine to be present. What kind of colonialist BS is that? It's like two Victorian kings carving up Africa. Trump is so proud of his statesmanship but all he did, as far as I can tell, is cave to Putin's demands. It's not difficult to negotiate peace when all you're doing is capitulating. Giving in to a global menace is the easiest thing in the world.
(Photos: A hoverfly on our pink anemone, yesterday.)
Do you know anyone with a chain saw? That sofa needs chopping up!
ReplyDeleteI was going to say the same thing!
DeleteExactly my thought...disassemble it!
DeleteI was going to say take an axe to it, but a chainsaw would be faster.
DeleteHa! I cannot imagine chainsawing a sofa apart in my living room! I am determined to get it outside whole.
DeleteI wonder who comes up with these names, obviously there's a market. I recently painted a worktop in "heavenly night music" greyish blue. Don't ask.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a name. I'm not sure it helps me envision a color!
DeleteJust get the sofa into the garden for the foxes to sleep on. Not a water feature but a sofa feature. Let Nature gradually reclaim it.
ReplyDeleteThat's what some people in Florida would do!
DeleteThose photographs are stunning.
ReplyDeleteThe new sofa looks very swish and comfortable. I hope the old one can be disposed of satisfactorily. It's a problem.
It IS a problem. The council will do it, but we have to pay. :(
DeleteWe had to cut an old sofa up before removing it, we found cutting the arms off worked. Lovely photo's.
ReplyDeleteHow did you do that? It seems like cutting a sofa apart would be awfully messy! Isn't there metal in the frames?
DeleteGreat news and response from the optometrist. When I first starting using bifocals years ago I remember having less options for frames because I was choosing those too small to handle the two views. It would be even harder with varifocals. Ah yes, those night owls are such a rich shade of blue. Evil Putin is sitting and laughing at his idiot friend, Trump.
ReplyDeleteThe size of the lens might have been a problem for me, too. They didn't suggest a bigger lens but I wonder if mine were too small to be effective.
DeleteI am glad that there is an easy solution for the bifocal problem. Let's hope the sofa deconstruction works well too!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed!
DeleteI have some lounge room furniture to buy, but I will ensure the company takes away the old, otherwise, no deal. It will cost extra, of course.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure why but some English people buy huge and bulky lounge room suites to fit into quite small rooms.
Your glasses experience is interesting, and ongoing.
Our sofa maker will take away the old one if it's the same size or smaller than the new. But ours is much bigger, so we need to make other arrangements. Some people need big furniture because they're big people!
DeleteIt's great that the optician can help. The size of the lenses is definitely an obstacle. But it's good that you chose small lenses. Behind large lenses, you sweat to death in hot weather (as is unfortunately the case with me).
ReplyDeleteI guess you can't unscrew the old sofa? My suggestion would have been to use the side passage, but that doesn't seem to be an option anymore. That leaves only the saw. Good luck.
I hadn't even thought of the sweat factor with large lenses!
DeleteI think we might be able to get the couch out another way. Stay tuned!
As another commenter stated, the size of the lens can be an issue, It is great that you are getting a new pair of glasses. I don't envy you getting rid of that couch. It sounds like a major task!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't envy us either!
DeleteThe optometrist's solution is exactly why mine doesn't use the popular lab. But why did yours prescribe them in the first place knowing this? Do they count on people not wanting to come back and complain? Evidently he doesn't have a lab that can make progressives like my very good ones.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to take apart the old sofa!
I don't know why they thought these would be the right lenses for me. I told them I work a lot on the computer.
DeleteThat "meeting" in Alaska was another Epstein Deflection™. Nothing was done except Putin got his way and The Felon looked like a lovesick puppy.
ReplyDeleteIt's disgusting how he fawns over Putin. Honestly, I think he's a Russian agent.
DeleteGlad to hear the optometrist is finding a solution. You might consider basically tearing the behemoth apart and getting it out that way since it's going to be trash one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteThat might have to happen, but I hope not. It sounds like a lot of work!
DeleteI had to get different lenses once due to a similar problem. It happens.
ReplyDeleteWell, that new couch is surely going to be a change! Next thing you know you'll be redecorating the whole place and then tearing out walls and then...
Just kidding.
NO! God forbid! If Mr. Russia were here he'd volunteer to do it all for free!
DeleteI agree with other comments - chop up the old sofa to get it out.
ReplyDeleteGlad your glasses will be changed - hope you like the new ones, Steve.
Chopping up a sofa sounds like a huge amount of work!
DeleteI use vari-focals and love them - but they are hopeless for desktop screens - for which I revert to my old readers
ReplyDeleteWell, that's interesting to hear! I wish they'd told me that at the optician because I would have gone another route.
DeleteI'm glad that you are getting lenses better suited to your usage needs. I'm still not sure how a varifocal compares to progressive lenses. I will do an internet search! Getting old furniture out is a huge challenge indeed. I hired someone to move my mom's dining table out of her house and into mine. I had the money and didn't need the stress of having to figure it out myself!
ReplyDeleteI think varifocal and progressive are basically the same thing? Maybe it's the British name versus the American name.
DeleteI'm glad you took the initiative to ask at the optometrist's office rather than just trying to adjust.
ReplyDeleteYep... I think breaking down the sofa is going to be the best bet for removal.
They were too far off to be easily adjustable. I might have tried to adjust to them if they seemed close to what I needed, but this was WAAAAAY off.
DeleteYour trip back to the optician was so interesting. I am really pleased that you are being 'sorted'.
ReplyDeleteI once sawed up an old sofa and really enjoyed myself! I know that you will be careful of Nicole if sofa moving - I am pleased she is flourishing.
Wendy (Wales)
Ha! OK, that is encouraging to hear, because I'm dreading having to saw up the sofa! I love that you had fun doing it.
DeleteThe new couch sounds lovely; I love all shades of blue. Finding and adding some new contrasting pillows will be fun.
ReplyDeleteGetting rid of large pieces of old furniture is not easy. Given your new gate, it seems nearly impossible to get the big couch through the passage. Maybe lifting it up and over the gate works.
The new glasses should be a good improvement. They should have known, the lenses were not going to be acceptable. Multiple appointments, seems to be the name of the game.
In Alaska, the Felon looked foolish and totally out-of-his depth. Nothing was accomplished. Total waste of time. VP was treated with a royal red-carpet welcome and this sends the wrong message again. More like a royal tea party gone wrong.
The EU as well as the majority of US supports VZ.
The new gate MIGHT be wide enough. I won't be a hundred percent sure until we try it!
DeleteHow nice to get a new sofa. I'll look forward to the saga of removing the old one. It sounds like it might be a test of wills.
ReplyDeleteHa! It will definitely be worth at least one blog post! LOL
DeleteGood luck regarding the removal...
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know how it goes!
DeleteI had the same experience with my progressive lenses - the middle part which I used for the computer, was too narrow to be helpful. Now my progressives just have computer and reading distances and my distance ones are pure bifocals so I can read labels in the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteThat sofa dilemma reminds me of the tale of Mike's dad & the old bathtub in their house. They just cut a hole in the bathroom wall to get it out & install the new one. Crazy!
That's exactly what I'm getting -- computer and reading glasses. I don't really need the distance part anyway.
DeleteI think our landlord would frown on us if we cut out the wall! LOL!
Yes, Trump got Putined, again.
ReplyDeleteNauseating.
DeleteI hope you get the gasses issue settled and don't ask me to help youg et the couch out. It's not that I don' want to help you. I just can't lift very much.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure WE can lift this much either. Stay tuned!
DeleteCodex: Nice that they're changing them. Frames matter when I went with my dad the best frames they offered him made him look like Elton John.
ReplyDeleteTo the books. Yeah I'd ask. They get free copies for promotion or as gifts.
New color names are hilarious.
Did the frames have ostrich feathers and sequins?! :)
DeleteBig, coloful horn rimmed. I started to laugh when he tried them on. BTW Elton has an eyeware line. Also funny.
DeleteYour photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCould you cut the couch up into movable sections? It sounds like it's way past it's best before date. Electric chain saws are not expensive at all, and it's fun:)
As for trump and putin, two turds in a pod. They are despicable people.
We were waiting on the couch until we were dogless, to keep it clean for at least a year before the next canine adventure begins.
DeleteGlad you are getting the glasses sorted.
ReplyDeleteSo am I!
DeleteI once had a couch that got sawn in half to remove it easier from the apartment. It was A LOT easier than carrying it down the way it had come.
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand the left's pushback on the Putin-Trump negotiation. All my life, any high stakes negotiations such as Carter's "Camp David Accords" began with an intermediary meetings with both sides individually before the final two opposing parties met to hammer out an agreement. Throwing Zelensky and Putin together in a room at this point would seem pointless to me.
I get the pushback in the sense that Trump is the one being the intermediary. He is about the worst person I would pick to head any such negotiation. But at this point, I think something is better than doing nothing and letting thousands more Ukrainians needlessly die. We did that for three years already. If by some miracle, Trump can get Zelensky and Putin into the same room and come to a peace agreement, I will give credit where credit is due. Sure this meeting wasn't a success but I never thought it would end with an agreement because it could never without Zelensky present. But I think it is the first step. Meeting with Zelensky today is the second. Will there be a third and final step where Zelensky and Putin meet in the same room and reach and agreement? I would bet no if I were a betting man but I hope there will be.
The more I hear that so many people have cut up their couches, the more I think we should go that route.
DeleteI wouldn't be pushing back if I thought this was a true negotiation. But we've seen that Trump is wildly susceptible to Putin's persuasions, and no matter how you look at it, Putin is the aggressor in this war. He should not be rewarded with territory by the international community. He should be treated like a pariah, with continued sanctions and international isolation.