I can’t remember ever having a sense of smell. As a kid I breathed through my mouth and got teased for it constantly. When I left school I wanted to join the fire service, but they said no because I can’t smell. I am 71 now and have had to just get on with it all my life.
Once, as a boy, I was fanning a fire with a board to draw it up. I was facing away from it and forgot about it behind me. I wondered why my eyes were burning, and realised the whole wall was alight behind me. I never knew. Recently I was picking up my granddaughter for an appointment. She got in the car and said, “The car is burning, get out.” We got out quickly and smoke started pouring out of the bonnet. I knew nothing. Then last week I was microwaving some potatoes when my wife said, “The microwave is on fire.” It was. I knew nothing.
We have the kids stay over sometimes, and I worry more and more. I have applied for attendance allowance to help me get things in place, but I will not hear for a while yet. Probably won’t get it, because most people just laugh and say, “You’re lucky!” I have heard that all my life. I don’t feel lucky.
— Ed, Wirral, UK
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