Mother tells of 'blind' Wife Swap experience (From Watford Observer)

Mother tells of 'blind' Wife Swap experience

3:00pm Friday 12th September 2008

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A mother of five is appearing on reality television show Wife Swap this week, when she switches places with a blind woman.

Vanessa Walsh, who was born in Watford, decided to take part in the show because she “fancied a bit of a break”.

With five children, Vanessa felt it was time to let another woman see how she copes in her “chaotic” house.

The 42-year-old said: “The woman I swapped with was blind, and lived just as busy a life as me, she has two children and had a very organised, text-book regime.

“I was not allowed to let her children watch television in bed and they were not allowed to play computer games.

“I have learnt an awful lot by being on the show, and have made changes to our daily lives, now my children cannot watch television in bed – it was a great experience.”

Vanessa, who now lives in Flitwick in Bedfordshire, said that she was not allowed any contact with her own family during the swap and before she travelled to the other family’s house, her purse and mobile phone were taken away from her.

She said: “I was absolutely terrified, the swap could have been anywhere in the country.

“Even when I had been in the house for a few days, I did wonder what I was doing and felt like a bit of a prisoner because ten days is a long time.

“I even had to be a blind person for the day and found it really emotional. I was doing the washing with the special glasses on and wondering why her husband was not helping me, but it is because she is fiercely independent, and an amazing woman.

“I thought it was a really productive ten days, and the whole family has benefited from it. I am so pleased we took part.”

Vanessa appears on Wife Swap tonight (Friday) at 9pm on E4.

Vanessa, who was brought up in her family home in St Albans Road, attended Parmiter's School in Garston. She later married in All Saints Church in Horseshoe Lane.

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