Linda took part in a “sightseeing Blind” documentary and was selected by blind director Amar Latif who has the same eye condition as Linda, Retinitis Pigmentosa, and who stared in BBC2’s Beyond Boundaries series.

And then friend put Linda’s name forward after spotting an advertisement for the documentary.

Linda said, “I never thought I would be picked.
“I was short-listed then my family and I were interviewed at my home.
“When I got the Phone call and the ‘yes’, I just thought what a chance of a life time.”

Linda, 46, from Low Moor, Bradford was teamed up with a 21-yearold nightclub bouncer from Brixton, known as Hashi, who became her eyes for the trip.

Has had never interacted with a blind person before and the documentary looked at how the two managed to establish a relationship to get the most out of their trip.

Hashi was a natural guide, according to Linda, and she was impressed with how well he described the art and architecture of the city. But, there were certain tasks Hashi couldn’t help her with.

She explained 2My husband Steven, usually puts my make-up on and gets my clothes ready, laying them out on the bed.
“But these were things I could not ask Hashi to do – he is a similar age to my daughters! To me, these were personal things I had to do myself.”

One sightseeing opportunity Linda took up, which she says she may not have done if she had been with her family, was climbing the 463 steps up Florence’s famous cathedral.

She said “Hashi just said ‘why shouldn’t you be able to do it?’ so, with encouragement, I did and it was wonderful. The city was breathtaking, and it is quite a good place foe blind people because of the amount of sculpture you can feel.”

“The experience has made me more independent, I know what I am capable of doing and what I’m not. I would definitely do it again.”