Blindfolded meal to raise funds for trust
IF you love to slurp, burp or eat with your mouth open at the dinner table, this public banquet is perfect for you.
Terry Bartlett is organising a blindfolded twocourse meal at the Leviathan Hotel on June 25, to raise funds for the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust.
‘‘It’s perfect for people without table manners. Everyone will hear you doing it, but noone will know who’s doing it.’’
There would be no lights on in the dining room, and people would be blindfolded at the door before being led to their seats by assistants, he said.
‘‘The only time the blindfold comes off is when they go to the toilet.
‘‘Everybody’s in the dark. The waiters will have head lamps so they can see enough to deliver the meals.’’
There would also be a guest speaker and the event was designed to create an experience that participants would talk about for years to come.
Born blind, he hoped the event would give people a taste of what life was like for sightimpaired people.
‘‘It’s about getting people to use their other senses — touch, taste and smell.
‘‘What they’ve also got to do is talk to the people next to them — that’s tricky because they can’t see each other; they’ve got to interact with their plate and tell us what’s on their plate.
‘‘Just simple things like reaching out and picking up a glass of wine could have dire consequences. It could spill.
‘‘I wouldn’t recommend buying a new dress for the occasion.’’
He wanted people to go away with a ‘‘positive light’’ about the experience, Mr Bartlett said.
‘‘I don’t want it to be frightening for them.
‘‘I want it to be fun and educational,’’ Mr Bartlett said.
‘‘I want to show them that a person that is blind can function just as well.
‘‘If this experience can do that for people, then my mission is achieved.’’
He was not yet aware what would be on the menu.
‘‘All I can say is we will cater for individual dietary needs and everything will be perfectly edible.
‘‘I can confirm, there won’t be any flies in the soup.’’
It was hoped up to 70 people would attend the event, and if more people wanted to attend, a second night would be held, he said.