A DEAF man came into a shop I was in recently.
Unlike blind people, who tend to be more outwardly distinctive, I hadn't a clue he was deaf until he opened his mouth and asked for something.
Then, after a couple of seconds' struggle, and with his girlfriend's help, he was able to obtain what he wanted.
It reminded me how difficult other people's daily lives can be if they have a disability of some sort.
It also took me back to the northern rural district where I was raised which used to have its own blacksmith, who was also deaf.
Strong as an ox, his party trick, apparently, was to lift up a full-sized sledgehammer with one hand and, using just wrist strength, touch his nose with the business end.
However, because his disability made his speech somewhat unusual, people occasionally used to take the Mickey out of him.
This backfired spectacularly one day when some leather jacketed bikers roared in and took over a local pub.
They found the blacksmith sitting in his usual spot at the bar and began making fun of him.
Not surprisingly, after a while, he lost his temper.
Yet instead of remonstrating verbally with the oiks, he just walked outside, eyed up their cherished motorcycles, then started hurling them around like Dinky toys.
One was even flung across the road.
I believe police were called in to calm him down and I'm not sure if he was ever charged with an offence.
But those bikers would never forget him.