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Showing content with the highest reputation on 17/02/20 in all areas
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Thank you to everyone who read and replied to my post. I'm actually humbled by how many people care! I'll reply in more depth later but it's just proven to me again how great a club the WSCC is!6 points
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That's quite a read, Andy. As has been said, just the fact you have taken on such a challenge in order to try and improve the lives of your two kids speaks wonders. Serious man kudos heading your way ๐ It's absolutely no wonder you struggle from time to time. My partner and I have this discussion every now and again to try and ground ourselves - we stop and think of what a 'normal' / average (appreciate that is a broad term but bear with me...) member of society deals with in a day. Then consider what you put yourself through every day. Simply having to make a large number of decisions in the best interests of another vulnerable human within your care takes a hell of a lot out of you! I am completely unaware of the setup of any support structure for heroes like yourself, but I hope there is something available. Hope to meet you at an event sometime (I'm just across the border in the better county ๐) and buy you a beer!4 points
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Hey Everyone In 2012 my wife and I adopted this incredible 2 year old boy (Josh) with so many disabilities you'd be hard pressed to find to find someone (even in the press) with more complex challenges to deal with. In 2014 we decided to do the same again and adopted a 3 year old girl (Evie) with just as many disabilities (albeit a lot more life threatening as she needs daily medications to keep her alive for the next day)! They have both come on in leaps & bounds. We were told Josh was never, ever going to be able to sit independently or have a sense of worth yet he's now walking and hacking into peoples YouTube channels due to his intelligence with a computer ... however if you put him near a road he will just walk into it without any consideration to his safety! Evie, who is also blind, was abused in many many horrific ways and now wants to train as a nurse to help others (and she has a good chance of fulfilling this wish!). Two days ago (before her latest seizure) I took her horse riding and the instructors think she, my 8 year old miracle, might have a shot for the British Para-Olympic team in the future ! For background her abuse was so bad she wouldn't allow me to change her or even be alone with her for the first 14 months! Every time I tried she went into a primal meltdown (as her primary carer this meant two or three times a day I had a girl who screamed the house down every time I tried to change her)! As my wife is a teacher, and had a lot of time off compared with me, I gave up my 'office' career as a marketing manager and became a marketing consultant (working from home) ... effectively becoming primary carer to both our kids. And, while it might not seem like it further down, I really do love all of it! So 12 months ago Evie had her first epileptic seizure. I was getting her ready for school and she just stopped breathing and fell to the ground ... only stopping being hurt further by me cushioning her fall (which my elbow ended up in sling for!). There was no trigger or prior warning. During this I was on the phone to the ambulance, performing CPR, trying to keep our son safe and trying not to throw up because I was in a bad way myself with the elbow. It was such a bad seizure that Evie required 8 doctors (plus many other nurses/professionals) in the resuscitation bay at the hospital just to keep her alive. Since then it's happened, to various degrees of severity (luckily not as bad as the above episode), every two or three weeks. There is no exaggeration when I say the critical care unit at our local hospital know me and the kids by first name! Both the kids are also autistic with Josh REALLY into his sports cars (hence my avatar as Roary The Racing Car). Due to this, and the success I've achieved being self employed, I've been able to indulge in my passion for cars ... enabling me to have a selection of incredible vehicles. So I understand I'm very fortunate. I understand there are plenty of people in a far worse situation to me and would love even a little of the lifestyle I currently enjoy. I've heard all the praise before. I know it's incredible what we've done and what we've given up. But both my wife and I get so much from the kids and wouldn't change it for the world. I would like to say I'm good at a number of things but I'm great at making my kids laugh. Not even my wife is able to do it as well as me and if that's the only thing I'm ever great at in life then I'll die a very happy man! And despite all of this I'm struggling! As soon as you adopt social services don't care about the adults. They say they do but they really don't so apologies to any social workers on here ... I know you are restricted by red tape and funding but a phone call once in a while (after the statutory requirements finish and one that isn't threatening BTW!) wouldn't hurt! Friends & family are brilliant at first but don't get what it's like to look after someone with disabilities. Finding childcare is next to impossible, they get offended when we have to cancel on short notice because of illness and they don't invite our children to their children's birthday parties as ours are different. Also don't get me started on being a man as a primary carer in a school carpark ... mothers and school staff really find that strange!!! But that's just the 'little stuff'! The big stuff ... well ... In 2020 I've had to perform CPR on my daughter three times and, despite being a very successful marketer, I can't even describe in words how it feels to save your own child on a regular basis. My relationship with my wife is strained despite knowing how important a stable relationship is for Josh & Evie (two of the regional groups will probably notice I only travel alone ... and that's only in part due to childcare ๐ ). Luckily those around me don't tell me to "man up" (except the Yorkshire WSCC Group but they do it in the right way ๐) but that's how it feels I should react to a situation like this ... however it's becoming more and more difficult to do hence this rambling post on a forum of amazing petrol heads! So thank you everyone who takes the time to read this and thank you to whoever started this thread (in my humble opinion you should be given free membership as you've given people like me a place to offload some things!). I'm not looking for sympathy or even advice. I've been on many training courses both for the medical and physiological side of things and know where to find professional support. However professional support isn't the same as real support and I just needed to unload some things. I know if I read this post again the marketer inside of me will cringe at the shocking grammar but to those who know me I hope you're understand why sometimes I'm chatty and then sometimes not! And finally is there is anyone who feels even worse than me ... PM, email or call me as I know what it's like to feel that low!3 points
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Well finally made up my mind and went with a set of Anthracite CXR's in the end, Also went back to 13" from the 15's and got a set that will completely fill the rear arches, Ta again for the help in this thread2 points
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@Andy_R what an amazing human being you are It's an honour and a privilege to have met you. Even better that you're a member of this club too! As mentioned above, you're not indestructible, so reach out and take whatever you need from the good folk on here too!2 points
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My perfect car would have Takeaway hook as found in the Micra's Adaptive Cruise Control Andriod AirPlay I did like the HUD on the lexus and most importantly the plexiglass divider you getin taxis so i dont have to listen to the kids.1 point
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Welcome. As Ian said, speak to a Omex, they will be able to confirm what's possible, or not. Just for reference though, the Westfields Mega S2000 version of the Omex 630 is not the same as yours I'm afraid. Our files cannot be used with other versions of the 630 I'm afraid. Please speak to Omex.1 point
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Agreed. I drove the usual routes (Cat and Fiddle, Via Gellia) out to Matlock Bath and back early doors (6am start) on Sunday and can confirm that there were many roads flooded. Some floods couldnโt be avoided and were a little too deep for comfort in a โnormalโ car. The A6020 between Chatsworth and Ashford in the Water was impassable! There were lots of fallen branches to avoid too. It would not have been enjoyable doing it in a Westfield!1 point
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Good Morning All, We have 2 x 2340074 AP-Racing 4 Pot Caliper Upgrade Kit - In stock and available for immediate dispatch. Order by phone 01384 400077, email parts@westfield-sportscars.co.uk or online https://parts.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=67&search=ap+brake&description=true Regards Parts Department1 point
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can do but would need to be away for about 4.30 because of Michelle working nights1 point
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can you please book and i'll watch the transactions; the system should be fully live. many thanks john1 point
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Humbled reading more about Josh and Evie @Andy_R and yes us Yorkshire WSCC members are here to help in our own unique way1 point
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Andy R, all I can say is if ever I meet you let me buy you and your wife a drink. I have friends who have adopted kids with no issues and the pressure they have is huge so I cannot begin to imagine what you two are going through. As I have said before I suffered with depression and one of the things my specialist said was that it is the people like you and I who are high achievers (although I pale into insignificance against you) in our lives that never see the pressure creeping up on us until it is too late. As Jude says you need to look after yourself and also your marriage as it can be easy to stop caring for yourself when you are absorbed in everything else. Is there any way that you might get some help with some respite care for the children so you can recharge your batteries? I would have thought that the social services might have some way of helping you if you ask. Just a final observation, even though you feel the way you do, you are offering to help others who may feel worse than you, which is amazing and is probably why you are the person you are but do you really need to put more on yourself at this moment in time? If ever you wish to email me feel free, do not have all the answers but will try to help if I can1 point
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It's a good job we didn't bring the Westfields out today because the roads in the Peak District were running a river with great big puddles everywhere. We would have been soaked from the ground upwards. We made it to Chatsworth, where it proceeded to tip it down, ate lunch and scooted straight back home. I changed the HT leads on the Westfield this afternoon, so did manage to start the engine, but no wheels were turned ๐. I love the 'pop' noise, it sounds like when you were a kid and you used to put your finger inside your cheek and pop it out, go on, you have to do it, 'pop' ha ha funny.1 point
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Thank you for getting us back on line, I thought my life had ended. Had to talk to my wife, she's quite nice really.1 point
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That's great can I paypal you the 20p and pick the blob up next time I pass your house on the way to see my Grannie?1 point
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