YOU would think that, coming from someone who was once very paralysed after suffering a stroke, moving would be a good thing.

It definitely is because my walking is still improving but I don’t mean that kind of moving.

I mean moving house, which is generally understood to be one of the most stressful events in one’s life.

This week I’m surrounded by full and half-full boxes of my things and I can’t find anything.

Trying to do it with just one usable arm and being visually impaired is very difficult.

Without the various friends and helpers that supported me through this it would be impossible.

Looking, literally, on the bright side, the marvellous weather this week has made it a lot easier and seems to herald the start of spring.

As a keen natural historian and wildlife enthusiast, there are few things that can be as uplifting as being in the garden when the daffodils are flowering and the first bright yellow brimstone butterflies fly from their winter hibernation sites in the ivy with the male robin singing beautifully in the background.

This can only raise my mood as I sort through my things and throw away the old unwanted ones – signs of spring herald a new start for nature, which is exactly where I am too at the moment.

My landlady gave me notice that she wanted the house back. It meant that having spent six months teaching Richie, my guide dog, the way around Witney and the places that I go, I have now got to move somewhere different and start again.

I am moving to Eynsham and together Richie and I will have to learn to find our way around.

The first problem I faced was to find a landlord that would accept having a dog living in the house.

I’ve been very lucky with the place I’ve been living for the last 18 months because the landlord was very accepting of my guide dog and there have been no problems at all.

I can understand why landlords might be against pets in their houses, but this discrimination is just one more thing in a long line of obstacles that I face as a disabled person.

I’m not entitled to any help with my council tax bill. But when I think of the number of times I’ve tripped on uneven paving, tree roots and potholes walking around Witney, I think they should blooming well be paying me.

I know that we are in difficult times with austerity and money being tight. However difficult things may be for you, spare thought for the disabled people and the elderly and vulnerable out there for whom it is particularly difficult.