Thursday 9 June 2016

Chevrolet Choo Choo.

Wednesday morning, May 18, 2016.  Destination, Dovedale, via Ilam, in the Peak District National Park.  Dovedale is about fifteen miles east of our starting point, Leek, Staffordshire. Whenever I see the road sign for "Ilam", I always think of eleven o'clock in the morning. Coincidentally, that's around the time we arrived at Ilam on our way to Dovedale. 

This was going to be a three day camping adventure for my son, Tristan and his good friend, Dominic aka "Dom."  Tristan had suggested I take the shorter yet, oh so narrow, winding road via Ilam, to get to Dovedale.  A road so narrow that whenever a vehicle came the other way, I had to take evasive action, pull way wide to the edge and avoid upsetting the sheep.  I will refrain from any sheep jokes.  
Here they are, all ready to go on their camping trip.  Dom is on the left and that makes Tristan on the right.  The photo was taking from a very wet Dovedale car park, which you might refer to as a parking lot.  

Before leaving, I told them if they needed a ride back, I would come and get them.  They had planned walking the fifteen miles back to Leek.  
As I headed back out of Dovedale, I decided to take the easier route back to Leek.  A road somewhat wider than the one we came in on.  Then I got to a crossroads.  One way indicated Ashbourne, Derbyshire, the other, Buxton, Derbyshire.  Knowing Buxton very well, I thought, what the heck, head towards Buxton for a different, scenic drive back.

Then it happened.  My very smooth running Chevrolet, suddenly became a violent, trembling beast of a car.  The car was shaking real bad and I heard a sound that made me feel like I was in the cab of a steam train.  Wasn't quite sure whether to apply the accelerator or look for some coal to shovel.  This went on for about five minutes.  Then the car ran smoothly for the next five minutes.  I was feeling somewhat panicky but I did maintain my composure.

The drive to Buxton seemed to take forever and then some.  The car continued with its five minutes of smooth driving and five minutes of living in an earthquake zone.  Buxton, where for art thou, Buxton.  Finally after about thirty minutes, I arrived in Buxton.

I knew that the journey from Buxton to Leek would require me driving the A53, one of the steepest stretches of road in the UK.  Predictably, as I headed up the steep road, my car started acting up again.  Somehow, I did continue to stay calm.  I visualised the end of the thirteen mile stretch that would get me to Leek and to a mechanic I trusted.

I explained the symptoms to the mechanic and I got my Chevrolet booked in for the next morning, Thursday morning.  

After taking my car to the mechanics, I waited for the outcome.  Of course, my car needed one part and the part wasn't going to arrive until Friday morning.  The part, to bore you, was called a caliper, which is part of the braking system.  How odd that such weird happenings from my car could be related to the braking system. 

On Friday morning, my phone rang.  It was my son asking me to come and get them.  At this point, I still didn't know if my car had been fixed.  I explained to my son what had happened to my car.  I told him I'd phone him back.  Luckily, the car was fixed.  Within the hour, I had paid for the repair and got the two dudes in what was now a very smooth running car.

I know, by my standards, I rambled on in this post.  To summarise, which is a good starting point for anybody who, heaven forbid, skims through my posts, all turned out well.   I stayed calm.  That, in itself, is a momentous step forward in my ongoing challenge of not allowing anxiety to overwhelm me.

As for Dom and Tristan, they had fun during three days of torrential rain. 

104 comments:

  1. I'm not sure 'fun' and 'camping in torrential rain' go in the same sentence!!!! Glad they enjoyed themselves.
    I'm impressed that you stayed calm throughout the drive. that's NOT fun waiting for the next 5 minutes. Good for you!! :)

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    1. Hi Jemi,

      A somewhat ironic sentence by myself :) Still, they did make the most of some miserable weather. You'd almost think this was an English camping trip, eh! :)

      Thank you. It was a nerve-wracking or nerve-racking, journey, somewhat literally. I was quite impressed with myself :)

      Take care, Jemi.

      Gary :)

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  2. Congratulations on remaining calm. Cars can be so worrisome. I love the name Tristan, and of course, I read Chaucer. I'm glad you didn't have a daughter and name her Isolde.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Hi Janie,

      Thank you. It felt like the longest drive, ever! I was very pleased with how calm I actually remained. The visualisation of the journey's end, helped a lot. My son was named after an actor on General Hospital who went by the name, um, "Tristan", on the show. It's a nice name, for sure. My son in an opera, who'd thought he'd be in an opera with his princess lover.

      Hugs and cheers,

      Gary :)

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    2. I never watched General Hospital. I used to work with a woman who named her son Tristan. She chose it because she had seen Legends of the Fall while she was preggers. Brad Pitt's character is named Tristan, and Brad looked hotter than a firecracker then.

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    3. Hi Janie,

      Thank you for the follow up comment. I briefly watched the American daytime soap, General Hospital, in the late 1970's. That was when I was still living in Vancouver. Interesting story about the lady you worked with in regards to naming her son, Tristan. You do realise, I'm sure, that Brad Pitt is forever phoning me asking me what's the secret to my charm and stunning good looks. Or, is that stunned good looks.

      Thank you, Janie.

      Gary :)

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  3. Happy to hear the guys enjoyed their rainy camping and you stayed calm with a shaky car. Bravo to you! I don't think you rambled. I quite enjoyed the trip you took us on no matter how shaky it was. :)

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    1. Hi Christine,

      All turned out okay, despite the wet weather and a calm dude trying to calm down a shaky car. Very good, my shaky sentence structure seemed to have worked. I shall ramble in the forest.

      Cheers, Christine.

      Gary :)

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  4. Ugh, camping. I can't stand sleeping on hard ground with no air conditioning.

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  5. Hey Pat,

    I hear you. Why would anybody want to subject themselves to a damp sleeping bag and no waiter service. I think the air conditioning may well have been provided by wafting farts.

    Thank you, Pat.

    Gary :)

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  6. Any time in any weather in the forest is better than blue, sunny days in the city.

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    1. Hi Dizzy-Dick,

      Yep and that's why I moved to the countryside. Thank you, good sir.

      Gary

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  7. I don't think you rambled on at all; it was a good story and well told.
    Kudos for staying calm though, if my car (I don't have one) did things like you described, I'd be panicky and imagining the worst possible scenarios all the way to the mechanic.
    Glad the boys had a great time in a rainy forest.

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    1. Hi River,

      I appreciate your complimentary words. Thank you for that. I was surprised at just how calm I remained, especially being on my own. I sensed that all would be just fine. Positive anticipation for a good conclusion, really kept me calm.

      Indeed, despite the constant rain, the lads were out in the beauty of the rainy forest.

      Thank you, River.

      Gary

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  8. Well done you for staying calm, I would not have coped for sure. I'm glad Tristan and Dom enjoyed their adventure, but that doesn't sound like much fun to me. As the saying goes, all's well that ends well!

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    1. Hi Eileen,

      Thanks for that. I coped because I kept visualising that moment when the shaky adventure had ended. That helped a lot. The two lads love to go camping, no matter the weather. I suppose you can create fun when the weather is miserable. Indeed, a good conclusion.

      Thank you, Eileen.

      Gary

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  9. The fact that you were able to stay calm is a HUGE testament to your will power and strength of mind. Well done.
    I am so glad that you are safe - and that the boys had a wonderful wet muddy time AND you could pick them up.

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    1. Hi Sue,

      I appreciate your kind words, Sue. Even though, at times, it seemed like the drive back home, would go on forever, I did have this calmness.

      It all worked out very well. Of course, it also motivated me to actual put up a post!

      Thank you, Sue.

      Gary

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  10. Blimey...I was mentally out-of-the-car-and-making-panicky-calls on reading the first chug of the Chev o_O ... Brave man!

    My Mum and sister were washed out (literally) on a camping trip last year... torrential rain flooding the field they were tented up in...their tent (and everything in it were soaked. Luckily the site owners were fabulous and put all campers up in the games room... and washed/dried everything that the rain had attacked for them.

    I'm glad the boys had a good time despite the rain... and that you made it to the repair man in one piece :)

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    1. Hi Kimmie,

      I was tempted to pull the car off to the side of the road. However, I though the car might conk out, thus, I kept going. Through the smooth and the very rough times! Thanks for thinking I'm brave :)

      Being washed out of a tent is not a pleasant feeling. I have experienced that situation. It's really nice to know the owners of the site were that thoughtful.

      Yes, two soaked guys with beaming smiles when my fixed car arrived to bring them back. I was tempted to ask the repair man if he could repair me! :)

      Thank you, Kimmie.

      Gary

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  11. I well remember The Peak District from a visit many years ago.
    Most enjoyable to read Gary, but camping in the rain? Still each to their own.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Hi Yvonne,

      The Peak District is such a lovely area. I hope you had an enjoyable time when you visited.

      Yes, camping in the rain. Ever the optimists, they had hoped the rain would subside. They had planed the camping trip weeks in advance. Glad they made the most of a soggy situation :)

      Thank you, Yvonne.

      Gary

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  12. Hi Gary - that's wonderful Tristan was able to enjoy his stay in the Dales and hike through the countryside ... and that rain up there is just 'wonderful' when it comes rushing down. I love those little lanes, but not as you say in that weather ... but I'm so glad the car is fixed, and all things panned out for you all - the lads enjoyed themselves, you were composed and able to cope - and get your car back ... congratulations to you - I'd say. Take care and all the best - this was happy reading .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary,

      Thank you and yes, the two chaps made the most of their time in the Peak District. There is a beauty captured by the rain. Those back lanes can be quite scary. Especially when the vehicle coming the other way has no perception of giving me some of the road.

      All in all, a good result from a bad start. Keeping my composure and visualising a positive outcome, did wonders.

      Thank you, Hilary.

      Gary

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  13. Glad the car got fixed, and that you made it to the mechanic!

    Most of my camping trips have been during torrential rain - I think the act of packing a tent summons the rain gods :-(

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    1. Hi Annalisa,

      Thanks and yes, I took the car to a very honest mechanic I've made mention of in a previous post.

      Oh how right you are! Pack the tent and the rain starts!

      Thank you, Annalisa.

      Gary :)

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  14. You stayed calm and made it home.
    Tristan and Dom didn't want to walk all the way home in rain? I would imagine they were already quite wet anyway at that point.

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    1. Hi Alex,

      Eventually and staying surprisingly calm, I made it home.

      Tristan and Dom did walk about six miles. I actually met them at a small village that's on the way to where they camped. Yes, I saw two wet young guys waiting for me outside a pub!

      Thank you, Alex.

      Gary

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  15. It's great you stayed calm and the car was fixed. While it's still moving it's always worth keeping going!
    I've only been camping once when I was nine. It put me off for life. Glad Dom and Tristan had a good time :-) xx

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    1. Hi Teresa,

      Cheers for that, Teresa. It might of seemed a bit risky to keep driving but I sensed that it was going to be okay.

      Not a happy camper, eh Teresa :) Thank you and yes indeed, the two guys had a good time, despite the rain.

      Thank you, Teresa.

      Gary :) xx

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  16. Hi Gary. That's actually a nice story to read. Visualisation, a technique involving focusing on positive mental images, can transform one's experiences by choosing an image (real or imagined) of something that makes you feel calm. The beauty of visualisation, is that like mindfulness, it’s easy to incorporate into your everyday experience. Well done sir!
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Hi Barry,

      What a thoughtful, illuminating comment, good sir. Your words explain what I was achieving. I visualised the conversation with the mechanic as I my car was sputtering up one of the steepest hills in the UK. Visualisation and verbalisation, quite a positive combination.

      Thank you, kindly, Barry.

      Gary

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  17. Staying calm sure can help a lot. Always weird how one part can do so much to a car. Camping and fun never go hand and hand for me, but with rain? Pffft nah lol

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    1. Hi Pat Hatt,

      Calm way the best way, for sure. It's really weird about a part of a car cause such bizarre reaction to other parts of the car. You need to go camping with cats in a pup tent. Yes, camping and discovering your sleeping bag is drenched in rain. Good times!

      Thank you, Pat.

      Gary

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  18. You didn't panic and it all worked out.

    Did the boys enjoy their soggy camping?

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    1. Hi Diane,

      No panic for me. A pleasant surprise.

      The boys seemed to have a good time, despite the weather.

      Thank you, Diane.

      Gary

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  19. Scary!

    I just put two cars in the shop, one last week and one this week, and shelled out almost $1,500 for repairs. I feel your pain.

    How was the camping trip?

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    1. Hi Melissa,

      I most certainly was scary!

      Oh, bummer! Cars can be an expensive pain in the butt. I've had my car for six years and it's been very reliable. I guess I was due for a bit of car concern.

      The camping trip, despite the rain, turned out quite well.

      Thank you, Melissa.

      Gary

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  20. Congrats on being cool, calm and collected! Glad it all turned out well. Except for the torrential rain on the guys' camping trip -- LOL, oh no, there's nothing worse than camping in the rain!

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    1. Hi Debra,

      Thanks for the congrats. Yep, that's me, cool, calm and collected. A positive outcome in the end. Camping in the rain, indeed. The two guys should try camping on the Wet Coast aka West Coast, eh!

      Thank you, Debra.

      Gary

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  21. That's a big turning point, remaining calm. Something similar happened to me recently. It's a good feeling knowing one's strength of mind is still there. Good for you, dear Gary. You were there when Tristan needed you, as always.

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    1. Hi Joylene,

      Indeed it was a big turning point. Ah, so you can relate to this story. It does make you feel good about yourself realising you can stay calm when all your senses are telling you to freak out. Thank you for such a kind comment, my lovely friend.

      Gary

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  22. Thank goodness you were safe, and the car is fixed. Sounds scary. I hope it and you stay calm, my friend. Life is shaky enough without any extra earthquake-ry.

    Be kind to and patient with yourself. xo

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    1. Hi Robyn,

      Thank you and despite it being scary, I just sensed that all would be just fine. My car has been calm since that day, a little over three weeks ago. Shake, rattle and roll! :)

      Wise words, Robyn.

      Have a peaceful, positive weekend.

      Gary xo :)

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  23. I hate car problems, and I get anxiety too when anything sounds out of the ordinary. . .even though I took Driver Education when in secondary school in the States, I never have been mechanically inclined. That skill went to my brother, I'm sure. Glad you have learned how to fight anxiety. I had to do that seriously when I was trying to get out of the path of Hurrican Ivan in 2004. .

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    1. Hi D.G. Hudson,

      It had been a long time since I had any car problems. Car anxiety is most unpleasant. I remember, way back when, if I heard a strange sound from my car, I'd crank up the stereo!

      Visualising a positive outcome did wonders in my remaining calm. Wow and yikes, Hurricane Ivan in your path! That's anxiety!

      Thank you for your comment, my friend.

      Gary

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  24. Good for you for remaining as calm as possible. Those short trips when a vehicle is malfunctioning can seem like an eternity. Glad that you got it fixed!

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    1. Hi JoJo,

      Thank you for that. Because I took a different route home, I ended up adding about 30 extra miles to my journey. Of all the days to take a different rout! All fixed and back to normal, even the car! :)

      Thank you, JoJo.

      Gary

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  25. It still cracks me up that there is a town called Leek! Do leeks come from Leek?

    I'm so sorry about the anxiety. As you know, I live with it also, and it can be a real bitch.

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    1. Hi Riot Kitty,

      Yep, you do realise I always wanted to live in a town named after a type of onion! Leeks come from Wales but what the heck, you can get leeks in Leek.

      Thank you for your supportive words. We both know that, as best we can, we try to not give permission to anxiety to rule our lives.

      Thank you and for your powerful post on your blog.

      Gary

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  26. Gary I'm right there with you on car problems! Since I know nothing about my car, other than how to put gas in it, I would have freaked out! So glad you got home and got your car fixed and that you stayed cool as a cucumber during the whole thing! I wanted to say I loved your last post about Canada, I can almost see it from my front door!!
    Hugs to you and Penny!

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    1. Hi CraveCute,

      Oh yeah, car problems! I don't much about today's modern cars. I rather like being a cool cucumber living in leek, um, Leek. Really pleased you liked my Canada post, eh! Hopefully, your view wont be obscured by a brick wall :)

      Hugs back to you, Diane.

      Gary :)

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  27. A caliper! Of course! Everyone knows what a caliper is, except you and me.
    You have a handsome son, and Dom is okay.
    Sometimes the uncertain road trips are the most memorable.
    Good times.

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    1. Hi Susan,

      You bet, a caliper is a regular topic of conversation with most folks. My son gets his looks from his mother, no doubt.

      It was a memorable road trip adventure. That's for sure.

      Thank you, Susan.

      Gary :)

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  28. My car busted on me right after a road trip once. I'm going on another one soon and hopefully there won't be any problems. Car repairs are on the top of my list of things I dislike to do. I need to learn more about cars so that I understand what mechanics are saying.

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    1. Hi Medeia,

      I suppose it's a bit of consolation that your car broke down after that road trip. Hopefully, your next road trip will be a nice, smooth experience. These days, you need to be a computer technician when it comes to cars :)

      Thank you, Medeia.

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  29. Im so glad you stopped in to my blog! When i saw the Chevy title I knew I should read!!! I drive a chevy that got slammed last year on a trip to NJ to meet up with blogger friends. I duct taped the front suspension and went on . Driving three hours home two days later was the real adventure...cant afford a new car so i got it fixed...its still going!!! 211,000 miles turned last weekend. Im on a mission to 250! Kiss penny for me! Ivy/zoe and skip the poodle

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    1. Hi Zoe,

      I'm always pleased to visit your blog, Zoe. Although, now I'm getting "permission denied" messages when I try to get back to your site. Yep, here's me driving a Chevrolet in England! :) It has actually been a very reliable car. First incident in six years of owning the car.

      Wow, that's quite the story in regards to your Chevy. A little ingenuity and I reckon you will reach the 250 milestone in your Chevy!

      Penny has been kissed. Her regards to Ivy, Skip and of course, your kind self.

      Gary :)

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  30. Great job on staying calm, cool, and collected, Gary. Better than I would've done. Also glad the repair wasn't anything too major. Every time I take my car in these days it seems to cost me a small fortune. Yikes!

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    1. Hi Elsie,

      Thank you. You might surprise yourself as to how calm you can be :) The repair was quite expensive. Not the labour costs, but the cost of the part! I used to be able to fix cars. These days, cars are computerised and we don't have a chance. Yes, a small fortune and Yikes!

      Thank you, Elsie.

      Gary :)

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  31. Great job on holding it all together with a car that was going kerflooey. There's nothing worse than having car troubles that keep resolving and happening and resolving and happening. And glad it was as simple as a caliper, and not more complex, like when they have to take half the engine apart just to reach the tiny part they have to fix.

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    1. Hi Lynda,

      "Kerflooey" is quite the word to describe my car's symptoms. I almost went "doolally", over the whole situation :) I think there's a conspiracy going on with today's cars. They have cars set up so that the amateur mechanic can no longer fix what should be something simple. It now takes two people and a special tool just to change my brake light!

      Thank you, Lynda.

      Gary :)

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  32. I'm impressed! I would have been a nervous wreck. Not that I mind walking, but if I'm depending on the machine to get me somewhere I'd rather it just do so ;-) In a hurry one brisk morning to get to our jobs in a neighboring town, a wheel fell off our little truck. No kidding, we hit a dip in the road during a curve and the wheel shot across the road in front of us! I had pretty much written off getting to work that day, but my husband surprised me by using the wingnut off the air cleaner to hold the wheel on so we could limp it back home and get another car :-)
    Glad you were able to bring the boys home after a soggy camping trip. I bet they were more than grateful. Sometimes getting home is just as nice as a great adventure.

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    1. Hi Diedre,

      Thanks and I'm pleased you're impressed. I think I'm more of a nervous wreck thinking about it :) That's an amazing story of ingenuity. Your husband was very clever doing that.

      It was marvellous seeing the two young dudes waiting outside a pub. They were most grateful for the ride at such short notice. I was grateful my car got to them without turning back into a steam train. It was most assuredly, an adventure for all concerned.

      Thank you, Diedre.

      Gary :)

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  33. I don't think I would have been able to stay calm. Kudos to you for doing it! I struggle with anxiety as well and haven't been managing it too well lately, so I could imagine the panic that would have set in if I had been the one driving the car.
    I'm so glad you were able to hold it together. Here's to progress!

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    1. Hi Julie,

      I didn't think I was going to stay calm. We can surprise ourselves. Thank you for the kudos :) Anxiety can be so debilitating, as you will well know, Julie. I challenged my anxiety and the negative inner chatter, big style!

      Progress and determination, along with some positive visualisation, worked wonders.

      Thank you, Julie.

      Gary

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  34. Congratulations on the calm zen like response to what would have had me in tears. :) I don't do well in such situations, but usually because hubby is cussing up a storm and loud ugly words hurt my brain. LOL
    A camping trip when the weather prediction says remnants of a Hurricane could hit, isn't wise either. Miserable isn't even the word for it, but at least we were on higher ground than most and didn't end up under water.
    So glad to hear you are getting stronger, and love seeing you posting again!

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    1. Hi Yolanda,

      Thanks an bit of zen was wonderfully calming. I don't have to worry about anybody cussing at me! :) Actually, it would of been nice if somebody was with me when my car started acting weird.

      Oh yes, camping when the remnants of a hurricane are still passing through, doesn't make for ideal camping. Good thing you were at an elevation where you didn't up under water.

      Thank you for your kind words, Yolanda. I'm getting better and the posts may not be as sporadic. Yikes!

      Thank you, Yolanda.

      Gary :)

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  35. I hate it when the car plays up... well done for staying calm and getting to the garage. I have camped in the rain - really not my idea of fun anymore, I enjoy a bed and a proper bathroom! Glad Tristan and Dom managed to make the most of their trip despite the weather.

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    1. Hi Suzanne,

      I've been fortunate with my car. It's the first time its really acted up so strangely. Okay, it did have a mysterious electrical problem that seemed to fix itself.

      I almost enjoy camping in the rain. Feeling all cosy inside a tent, hopefully, a still dry tent, can be quite soothing. Then again, a bed and a real bathroom, sounds like a plan.

      Yes indeed, Tristan and Dom made the most of the lousy weather during their camping trip.

      Thank you, Suzanne.

      Gary :)

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  36. Very cool that you were able to stay calm. Good on you. Keep up the great work and happy weekend.

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    1. Hi Ivy,

      Thanks and I was very pleased with my calmness. Hope you have a great week ahead.

      Thank you, Ivy.

      Gary :)

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  37. The car trouble sounds like it was stressful- but you handled it so well. Bravo! I was not expecting the problem to be related to the brake system. Glad the boys had fun- even with all the rain. You never know what will happen! :) Great post!
    ~Jess

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    1. Hi Jess,

      It was stressful and I managed to keep my anxious thoughts under control. It totally baffled me that a brake problem could make a car act that way. I bet they were singing in the rain :)

      Thank you, Jess.

      Gary :)

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  38. Calm, cool and collected! Way to go. Glad everything turned out well and the guys had fun. In all that rain!

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    1. Hi Martha,

      Absolutely, I'm Mr. calm, cool and collected :) All turned out just fine. Two drenched dudes sitting in my now smooth running car....

      Thank you, Martha.

      Gary :)

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  39. Glad to hear your car got fixed without a lot of head ache.

    Does the universe just wait to rain on campers? I once made camp in a dry creek bed, then a storm came that night and my air mattress was suddenly a water bed. I was so tired, I pulled the sleeping bag over my head and went back to sleep.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      Thank you and any head ache was definitely a minimum.

      The rain conspires against campers and folks go to outdoor rock festivals. Wow, an air mattress becoming a water bed. Good thing you didn't float away and end up in the next State :)

      Thank you, Elizabeth.

      Gary :)

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  40. I’m not sure I would have remained calm given the same circumstances so really well done you.
    I will forever think of eleven o’clock when I see the name "Ilam" now. I love visiting you Gary because you always make me laugh even on a wet and miserable day like today. I'm glad your son and his friend had such a good time and glad you all got home safely.

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    1. Hi Barbara,

      You can surprise yourself in such circumstances. I do know that staying calm and visualising the end of the journey, helped immensely.

      Yep, "Ilam", one hour before noon! :)

      The story had a happy ending and we all got home safely, if not somewhat wet.

      Thank you, Barbara.

      Gary :)

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  41. I love reading about your wild life, Gary!
    And I love your attitude :) xx

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    1. Hi Kim,

      Thank you and wild life just about sums up my world :)

      And I love your attitude, Kim!

      Thank you, my lovely friend.

      Gary :) xx

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  42. Of course your car would choose to "shake you up" when you were depending on it. If you only had a short distance home. No trouble. If you had no commitments that required that car. No trouble. Glad all worked out and you didn't have to mortgage Penny to pay the mechanic. You didn't, did you?

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    1. Hi Lee,

      Shake, rattle and roll. Of course, I decided to take the scenic route home, added thirty miles to my drive, while my car, the comedian, decides to make my life hell. When it isn't an important outing, your car runs trouble free.

      Actually, Adrian, the mechanic, asked Penny for some technical advice. Something about Rover acting up.

      Thank you, Lee.

      Gary :)

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  43. Glad it turned out well in the end - can imagine it was alarming at the time though.

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    1. Hi Patsy,

      I appreciate that. It was alarming and yet, I stayed in control instead of turning into a blubbering wreck.

      Thank you, Patsy.

      Gary :)

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  44. Yay for staying calm! Defeating the anxiety is always as big an accomplishment, if not bigger, as whatever physical accomplishment it accompanied. Glad they had fun on their camping trip, too, though rain, blech.

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    1. Hi Shannon,

      Thanks and staying calm was something I'm very proud of being able to maintain. Challenging anxiety and the physical symptoms that can accompany such feelings, is quite the achievement. I know you can relate.

      Yes, the had a fun camping trip. Rain is almost certain in England. Especially when you want to go camping.

      Thank you, Shannon.

      Gary :)

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  45. Gosh. This post reminds me of the troubles I went through last month with my car and shaking. I took it to two mechanics, lost money, and was told it was a simple problem. It drove great when I first got it back, but when I was almost home a vibration started. When I start the car now, it shakes but goes away after it warms up.

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    1. Hi Chrys,

      Good grief, I can relate to the similarities. I reckon you'd better take your car to the last mechanic who saw it. I used to be able to fix cars back when I could actually figure them out. Nowadays, you have to have a major in computer science. Good luck.

      Thank you, Chrys.

      Gary

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  46. I'm glad everything worked out in the end. Car trouble is no fun. Just a few weeks ago, I completely ran out of gas as I was on my way to the gas station, right in front of a roadblock I hadn't expected to still be there. Amazingly, about five minutes later a cop came from the side street right across the road, and was able to push me onto the side street and stayed with me while I called my little brother and asked him to bring me emergency gasoline. Staying calm really is the key in those situations.

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    1. Hi Carrie-Anne,

      Thank you for that. For sure, car trouble is not exactly a good laugh. Thank goodness for the cop coming to the rescue. Well done for staying calm and having your brother bring you some gas. I think a situation like that would of made me feel kinda' embarrassed.

      Thank you, Carrie-Anne.

      Gary

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  47. Sounds like you did brilliantly. I would have been a bag of nerves. Well done! and I bet the boys were glad too.

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    1. Hi Jenny,

      I was at my brilliant best! :) Hopefully, you never get into such a situation. You'd be surprised how calm you can be when you think ahead about the time when the situation is over. The dudes were most pleased to see me drive up. I don't think they fancied walking about another nine miles in the pouring rain.

      Thank you, Jenny.

      Gary

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  48. Car troubles. Ugh! And they always pick the worst possible time to happen. At least you can be proud of staying calm and happy that the cost wasn't too high. Plus, you even picked up the boys after all of that. Yay!

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    1. Hi Lexa,

      I had six years of trouble-free driving with my car. Of course, a car breaks down at the most inconvenient of times. I really believe in visualisation of the moment when the car crisis would be over. To think, in the space of about an hour, I'd walked across town, got my car from the mechanic's and drove to the location where two wet, grateful dudes were waiting for me.

      Thank you, Lexa.

      Gary :)

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  49. Thanks for today's post Gary. I needed to read that. I really needed it.

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    1. Hi Sue,

      Thank you for commenting on this post in regards to my next post. The poison of hatred must stop. In peace and hope,

      Gary

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  50. Same here, echoing EC. There is just too much needless killing lately.

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    1. Hi River,

      And thank you also for responding via this previous post. The madness has to stop. In peace and hope,

      Gary

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  51. That was quite the adventure and sometimes we need to remain calm to get us through those bumps on the road. I am glad it all turned out well. Well, I wouldn't even be able to drive there as you drive on the opposite side of the road. That would stress me out.

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    1. Hi Truedessa,

      They had quite the adventure and I had quite the unexpected adventure. Calmness through the potholes of life are always a challenge. You'd be surprised about driving on the other side of the road. All you have to is remember that you drive on the left. I've driven on the left, the right and sometimes, right down the middle :)

      Thank you, Truedessa.

      Gary

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  52. Gary, I commend you for staying calm in a most difficult situation. I'm glad Tristan and his friend enjoyed their camping trip, and thank goodness you were able to pick them up. He's very lucky to have you. On another note, I read your most recent post and agree with your sentiments. There is far too much hatred in the world. Your kindness shines through and brightens so many lives, Gary.

    Julie

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    1. Hi Julie,

      Humble apologies for my big delay in replying to your very thoughtful comment. I'm still delighted over just how calm I stayed. The two young dudes did have a good time, despite the crap weather. Thank you for what you say. And thank you for your alluding to my next post. Hatred, despite even more awful events, will never win.

      Thank you, my lovely friend.

      Gary

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I do try to comment back to each commenter individually. However, I might have to shorten my replies or give a group thank you. That way, I can spend more time commenting on your blogs. Thank you and peace, my friend.