Tag: Driving

Drip..

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The car doors are closed, the windows are up, the air vents are off… But I feel a drip of water on my hand, a tiny spot, a speck… But I don’t understand? How did it happen. I could really feel it. So how. I think it came through the windscreen. … Through, like there was no glass. I hadn’t coughed or sneezed? Then a few seconds later… Drip, I lift my hand from the steering wheel. There is a definite droplet of water, rapidly shrinking on my hand. What is going on..

Then it happened, a WAVE, crashing through the car, but the glass was solid. It was like being in a goldfish bowl. I skidded to a halt and pushed the drivers door open. I was safe, the water evaporated. What would happen next?

I don’t know this world I am in, the place is strange, surviving is becoming difficult. Odd things happen. Last week a glacier appeared then snapped out of existence as I slammed my brakes on.

I’m giving up this job, continuum deliveries has just lost their driver!

Tired

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I’ve been to two choir sessions today, both are slighty different groups. So we learn different songs although the warm up is usually the same. I love singing different songs and it lifts me when I am feeling down.

I go to choir because I’ve been going for between 15 and 20 years. It’s my rock I can cling onto in a raging river of life. If I didn’t go I would be seriously lost. It helps my mental health and I believe it’s also good for my physical health but it’s getting harder and harder to keep going. I need to rest between songs and I get tired quicker. Also I have to drive to get to the groups and I have to be careful that I am safe to drive. I can think about all the journeys I used to make but I can no longer do them. That diminished possibility hurts me.

Driving

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What makes you nervous?

As you get older you become more aware of your infirmities. If you are sensible you will take that into account when you drive. It’s not just for your benefit, it’s for the people who are driving or who are travelling around you.

Things like sight, strength, hand eye coordination, reaction times are all important. You must notify the relevant authorities if there is something wrong with you.

There are many places I would have happily visited until recently, but I’m nervous of travelling any distance without someone alongside me. I will continue to take care and drive carefully and not put anyone else at risk.

Driving test

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How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

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When I failed my driving test I learnt from that experience, I learned that an unmarked crossroads should be approached with caution and you should stop to check if anyone else is coming and give way if necessary. Also if the driver next to you drives over a pedestrian crossing on a one way street, don’t assume it’s clear of pedestrians. If someone is about to cross- Stop!

When I did the follow up test my car would not start… It turned out it was an electrical fault. I sat in the drivers seat while people from the test centre had to give me a bump (push) start. The instructor told me to turn right, I indicated left! I apologised, explained the electric problem had flustered me. We started again, me convinced I had failed again.

We did the test, I passed! I was amazed, but I had learnt from the previous test.

Mom’s old car

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Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

When I passed my driving test I couldn’t afford to buy a car so my mom gave me her Austin Allegro? as she had wanted to replace it. She did say the brakes were a bit dodgy. But with the enthusiasm of a new driver I wasn’t too worried.

A couple of weeks after getting it we decided to explore the countryside where we used to cycle. The narrow lanes were tricky but I got us safely to Rudyard lake and a peaceful afternoon.

What possessed me to take a wrong turn on the way home will never be known. Possibly I thought I was taking a shorter route? But we got lost, the lanes were narrower, steep banks on either side. I came down a hill approaching a bend when suddenly another car roared round the bend coming head on for us!

All I could do was violently swing the car left toward the side, the other car got past, but the brakes didn’t stop us in time. I hit a low stone wall straight into the radiator. The car stopped. I had to find a phone (no mobiles in those days). We rang the AA who came out. The car was a write off, the engine had been knocked back six inches!

Despite the fact the car was destroyed I still think it was the best gift. And I learnt a valuable lesson. Don’t drive beyond your capabilities.

Snow due

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The last lot of snow fell a few weeks ago, now here is a threat of more. The forecast is for wet weather coming up from the south hitting cold air in the north. Wherever it clashes we will get the snow.

There is also the risk of ice, and possibly heavy sleet and high winds. Oh what fun. I’m staying in and snuggling if I can. We live in a city and don’t get things too bad. But even so we can sometimes get gridlocked as there are a lot of bottlenecks in the road system. It once took me three hours to dive home two miles due to abandoned vehicles.

Five things?

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Share five things you’re good at.

Cooking. I don’t follow recipes but I can cook reasonable food. I like experimenting with flavours and my favourite treat is trifle,

Driving, I’m pretty good at driving, although developing cataracts may change this. Aging is such an annoying thing. I have good road awareness but I think I might go for an automatic car if I get another one.

Art, if you follow ti’s blog you will be aware of the art work that I do. I mainly use acrylic on canvas, but I sometimes paint in oils and watercolours and then digital art.

Reading? Is reading a skill? I’ve got over a thousand books on bookcases around the house. Reading helps keep my mind working. I don’t like reading devices, I prefer real books.

Singing, I have been a member of different choirs for several years now. It helps me take my mind off my worries. I have a quite deep speaking voice and sing low (alto/bass), I love singing in harmony. Life is making what you can of your talents.

Cataracts

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What is one thing you would change about yourself?

My eyes are going fuzzy round the edges… My central vision is OK. I’m allowed to drive but I’m wearing sunglasses at night when I drive because it limits the glare from other cars headlights. My optician is monitoring them as eventually I should be able to have an operation to remove them. It’s making fine details difficult to see and it’s getting very frustrating.

In leg news

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It’s healing up

The weeping has stopped and my leg is actually healing. The dressing the nurse put on is smaller than this, it only reaches half way up my calf now, and there is no strike through, which means there is no fluid escaping from the wound through the bandage. You don’t know how relieved I am to know I’ll be able to get out and about again. I drove the car a short distance yesterday to drop hubby off. But the bandage on my foot was restricting getting my shoe on so I kept in one gear for most of the drive. Life is strange, I just hope I don’t do anything else to myself in the future.

Cat with allergy

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One of my cats has become allergic to certain foods. The trouble is we don’t know what. I’m concerned it might be cat treats because he’s had something different recently.

I rang the vets, they were closed so I got an emergency vets number. They would see him but it’s 5 miles away. I haven’t been out the house for a month or driven so my stress is really high. I asked about pet transport but non of them were suitable. One wanted £90 to come over from Lichfield. Another was fully booked. Friends were out. I couldn’t get any help.

I could have waited till tomorrow, but the cat needs seeing. Finally I decided I would take him. The step out of the front door was a challenge and I took my crutches. We had to go on a big main road and I managed to drive OK just very nervous and driving below the speed limit!

So I’m sitting waiting with hubby. It’s going to cost a lot but it needs sorting out…

He’s been seen, he’s been given an injection and a gel for his damaged skin where he’s been scratching. Only 1/3 of the cost was the medication, the rest was the out of hours consultation. I won’t say how much… 😭

Got home, it took me ages to get back in. But I feel happier now, and the cat is sorted out.