Driving Test. . .

Martin Luther King Jr, said,

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom..."

I like this quote, I feel I have gone through a huge period of change since I wheeled into that physio gym, it sometimes felt like an uphill struggle. I want to straighten my back up and press on.

But then he went onto say.

"...A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."

So now I'm not so sure.

It’s been 2 weeks since I left hospital. It feels like a lot longer as so much seems to have happened in the same space of time where I have done very little.
For the first week I worked on my endurance levels. Mum and I set a daily goal, an errand to run or a place to get to. I built that up to being able to use the crutches for up to 750 metres non stop.

With all this walking , I had worn out the rubber on the bottom on my crutches. This resulted in me falling over, twice. Once in Safeway (safe, way, ironic really) and once in the showers at the local swimming pool.

The only thing I hurt was my pride and luckily I had practised how to get up from the ground in my physio sessions.

I have not used the wheelchair for 12 days. The KARMA QUEEN (the wheelchair brand is Karma - who thought of that?) is still parked at home like my trusty steed, but is now covered in clothes.

I went for my first outpatients appointment at the hospital last Thursday and met with the orthopaedic surgeon and the spinal surgeon who is responsible for the 4 inch line down my back. And the successful operation of course.
I learnt that the nerve that is damaged was actually cut during the operation. This is wide open for analysis but without being a spinal surgeon and conscious during the op, I won't delve further into it.

After the appointment Mum and I went on the hunt for new rubber bottoms for my crutches. We were successful and I even got a couple of spares. I always thought I would carry a different kind of spare rubber in my hand bag.

3 weeks ago I thought I would be driving a specially adapted hand control car. Today I passed my test in an automatic. I drove brilliantly. I only wish I had done so well 13 years ago on my first test...and my second test...
A big thanks to Marie for trusting in me and letting me drive her car round the block a couple of times last week. It gave me great confidence getting behind the wheel again, in a pressured situation.

So much confidence in fact I have already chosen my car, My friend Kelly was kind enough to give up her day off and drive me around to different car yards yesterday.

It's a mine field out there and I have decided that as well as politics and religion, cars should not be discussed over dinner. Opinion after conflicting opinion from guys who are currently auditioning for Underbelly 3. Of course the car I like was at the first car yard, but we still had to go to 3 others and drive for 6 hours - yawn!

I will hopefully be mobile by Wednesday…watch this space.

Its official, my Mum knows someone in every Country. Not content with meeting an ex prisoner in Thailand 8 years ago, she’s managed to drag up a cousin here in Melbourne, that she hasn't seen in 58 years. We are having lunch with her on Monday.

So onwards and upwards everyone. And thanks for all the votes of confidence!