Hi everyone, my wife Eril and I are 64 and have spent the last 6 years recovering from a firey aircraft Work place accident I had. We now live in Miners Rest 10km north of Ballarat.
The journey has been divided into 5 steps.
1st: was concentrating on rehabilitation. It has taken 5 years to stabilise, I spent 9 months out of the first 18 months in the Alfred hospital. I had major back damage around L4 & L5. I also had 3rd degree full thickness burns to 55% of my body. With the marvels of medicine they were able to scrape skin from my legs and graft it to my burnt areas. Used some pig skin for a while. Some areas they took a second and 3rd lot of skin after I think it was 30 days to grow enough that they could re scrape for grafting. I never ever felt I was burnt as they kept me sedated for 7 weeks in ICU. Then I was woken up and found I still had the mind of a 58 year old and the body of an 80 year old, and 7 weeks had disappeared!!!!!
2nd: The second stage was having to fight Work cover for some compensation. I wished I had crashed the car and not the aircraft as TAC pay a lot more than Work cover!!!! We finally ended up with an amount that we could live with as we don't need a lot of money these days. We have raised 4 children and all have good jobs and are paying their taxes!!! Just glad this did not happen in my 30s.
3rd: was to downsize from the 2 acre property where the kids grew up. So property had to be sold.
4th: was to find a more suitable property for our now confined life. I spend 80% of my waking hours in my comfortable lounge chair with my laptop on my knees. I put peoples home movies including film, video, slides and photos to DVD. Keeps the grey matter working and gives me a little pocket money.
5th: Shifting 29 years of handy s**t (technical word) that we two hoarders had around the house and my 20 mtr x 8 mtr shed in which I used to build aircraft. Extremely emotional for me to not be able to use all the tools etc that I had acquired over many years. Sorta glad Eril was a hoarder otherwise she might have tossed me out!!!!
We still have a couple of storage units of stuff to be sorted but have slowed a little after the last hectic 12 months. During the last 3 years we have travelled to KI twice where Eril's sister has a holiday home, 3 weeks each time, and I have come home buggered BUT realised that we can possibly tour at our own pace with a 4x4 and caravan. So, for better opr for worse we have purchased a 2011 24 Jayco Sterling with ensuite, solar etc and a 2010 Pajero diesel auto with cruise. Only need a genset now to be self sufficient. I have trouble with the heat as I don't have all of my sweat glands and find I need aircon a lot. Friday we are heading 80km north to Laancoorie for our first shake down trip of around 3/4 days.
Looking forward to catching up with other GNs from time to time.
Aussie Paul, a miracle of modern medicine!!! & his patient wife of over 40 years, Eril.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Monday 10th of February 2014 10:18:41 PM
Welcome Paul and Eril, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You sound like a real fighter Paul and have successfully come through some horrific stuff for sure, I am also sure Eril has had a different sort of fight along the way, well done both of you. Now it's time to enjoy all that hard work with getting back on track so ENJOY both of you but most important,
neilnruth said
09:17 PM Feb 11, 2014
Welcome from us too aussie_paul. Hope you both enjoy this forum and some well earned relaxation.
RosieW said
12:17 PM Feb 13, 2014
G'day Paul & Eril.
My husband is 50, with the heart of a man in his late 70's and the bones of someone in their 80's (has arthritis, genetic heart condition, and an old injury at the breathing centre in his neck, bone in the spinal cord and a break). The frustration of realising what you can't do is hard, but every now and then, something happens that makes him realise that the things he can do still have value, even if it's 'only' for him and me.
That's the trick, we have found, not to dwell on the things we can't do, and treasure and enjoy the things we can. The bad days are bad, but they make us appreciate the good days/experiences more.
aussie_paul said
12:22 PM Feb 13, 2014
RosieW wrote:
G'day Paul & Eril.
My husband is 50, with the heart of a man in his late 70's and the bones of someone in their 80's (has arthritis, genetic heart condition, and an old injury at the breathing centre in his neck, bone in the spinal cord and a break). The frustration of realising what you can't do is hard, but every now and then, something happens that makes him realise that the things he can do still have value, even if it's 'only' for him and me.
That's the trick, we have found, not to dwell on the things we can't do, and treasure and enjoy the things we can. The bad days are bad, but they make us appreciate the good days/experiences more.
So nice to hear from you Rosie. Yes that is good advice, I just sometimes forget to use it!!!!
Aussie Paul.
aussie_paul said
12:24 PM Feb 13, 2014
Thanks everyone for the welcome.
Aussie Paul.
RosieW said
01:22 PM Feb 13, 2014
aussie_paul wrote:
RosieW wrote: The frustration of realising what you can't do is hard, but every now and then, something happens that makes him realise that the things he can do still have value, even if it's 'only' for him and me.
Yes that is good advice, I just sometimes forget to use it!!!!
Aussie Paul.
We all forget it some days. And it's often the daftest things that will remind us.
scottynbulldog said
12:01 PM Feb 14, 2014
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
aussie_paul said
12:49 PM Feb 14, 2014
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
0411336533 is phone. Gail
Aussie Paul.
_wombat_ said
10:24 AM Feb 17, 2014
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
0411336533 is phone. Gail
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
_wombat_ said
10:25 AM Feb 17, 2014
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
0411336533 is phone. Gail
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
_wombat_ said
10:43 AM Feb 17, 2014
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
0411336533 is phone. Gail
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
aussie_paul said
10:50 AM Feb 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
aussie_paul said
10:51 AM Feb 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
aussie_paul said
10:51 AM Feb 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
aussie_paul said
11:12 AM Feb 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
aussie_paul wrote:
scottynbulldog wrote:
Welcome Aussie Paul, I am sure you will find travelling at your own pace a breeze. If you want to move you move if not just stay put and see what the next day brings.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
aussie_paul said
11:15 AM Feb 17, 2014
Certainly mucked this thread up now. Still can't get rid of all my mobile number inserts. Help!!!!
Aussie Paul.
_wombat_ said
11:24 AM Feb 17, 2014
aussie_paul wrote:
Certainly mucked this thread up now. Still can't get rid of all my mobile number inserts. Help!!!!
Aussie Paul.
there should be a tag on the topic that says Edit click on that and then you can delete your number, you may need to do it in all the ones you have now listed again, now to worry just send Cindy an email and ask if she can help you delete it if you cannot do it.
Hi everyone, my wife Eril and I are 64 and have spent the last 6 years recovering from a firey aircraft Work place accident I had. We now live in Miners Rest 10km north of Ballarat.
The journey has been divided into 5 steps.
1st: was concentrating on rehabilitation. It has taken 5 years to stabilise, I spent 9 months out of the first 18 months in the Alfred hospital. I had major back damage around L4 & L5. I also had 3rd degree full thickness burns to 55% of my body. With the marvels of medicine they were able to scrape skin from my legs and graft it to my burnt areas. Used some pig skin for a while. Some areas they took a second and 3rd lot of skin after I think it was 30 days to grow enough that they could re scrape for grafting. I never ever felt I was burnt as they kept me sedated for 7 weeks in ICU. Then I was woken up and found I still had the mind of a 58 year old and the body of an 80 year old, and 7 weeks had disappeared!!!!!
2nd: The second stage was having to fight Work cover for some compensation. I wished I had crashed the car and not the aircraft as TAC pay a lot more than Work cover!!!! We finally ended up with an amount that we could live with as we don't need a lot of money these days. We have raised 4 children and all have good jobs and are paying their taxes!!! Just glad this did not happen in my 30s.
3rd: was to downsize from the 2 acre property where the kids grew up. So property had to be sold.
4th: was to find a more suitable property for our now confined life. I spend 80% of my waking hours in my comfortable lounge chair with my laptop on my knees. I put peoples home movies including film, video, slides and photos to DVD. Keeps the grey matter working and gives me a little pocket money.
5th: Shifting 29 years of handy s**t (technical word) that we two hoarders had around the house and my 20 mtr x 8 mtr shed in which I used to build aircraft. Extremely emotional for me to not be able to use all the tools etc that I had acquired over many years. Sorta glad Eril was a hoarder otherwise she might have tossed me out!!!!
We still have a couple of storage units of stuff to be sorted but have slowed a little after the last hectic 12 months. During the last 3 years we have travelled to KI twice where Eril's sister has a holiday home, 3 weeks each time, and I have come home buggered BUT realised that we can possibly tour at our own pace with a 4x4 and caravan. So, for better opr for worse we have purchased a 2011 24 Jayco Sterling with ensuite, solar etc and a 2010 Pajero diesel auto with cruise. Only need a genset now to be self sufficient. I have trouble with the heat as I don't have all of my sweat glands and find I need aircon a lot. Friday we are heading 80km north to Laancoorie for our first shake down trip of around 3/4 days.
Looking forward to catching up with other GNs from time to time.
Aussie Paul, a miracle of modern medicine!!! & his patient wife of over 40 years, Eril.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Monday 10th of February 2014 10:18:41 PM
You sound like a real fighter Paul and have successfully come through some horrific stuff for sure, I am also sure Eril has had a different sort of fight along the way, well done both of you. Now it's time to enjoy all that hard work with getting back on track so ENJOY both of you but most important,
My husband is 50, with the heart of a man in his late 70's and the bones of someone in their 80's (has arthritis, genetic heart condition, and an old injury at the breathing centre in his neck, bone in the spinal cord and a break). The frustration of realising what you can't do is hard, but every now and then, something happens that makes him realise that the things he can do still have value, even if it's 'only' for him and me.
That's the trick, we have found, not to dwell on the things we can't do, and treasure and enjoy the things we can. The bad days are bad, but they make us appreciate the good days/experiences more.
So nice to hear from you Rosie. Yes that is good advice, I just sometimes forget to use it!!!!
Aussie Paul.
Thanks everyone for the welcome.
Aussie Paul.
We all forget it some days. And it's often the daftest things that will remind us.
Am very interested in your hobby about putting home movies on DVD and we are about to set off to Corowa for 3 weeks so if we are in Ballarat I will contact you.
0411336533 is phone. Gail
Aussie Paul.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
Not a good idea to put phone no on public site, anybody can see it now, suggest you edit out the number and send a PM to those interested.
Certainly mucked this thread up now. Still can't get rid of all my mobile number inserts. Help!!!!
Aussie Paul.
there should be a tag on the topic that says Edit click on that and then you can delete your number, you may need to do it in all the ones you have now listed again, now to worry just send Cindy an email and ask if she can help you delete it if you cannot do it.
contact Cindy here http://thegreynomads.com.au/
at the top of the page there is a contact link click there are fill in the form