Good morning everyone,
As some might have noticed, I've been conspicuous by my absence from here recently and also much less active on Social Media.
As well as a recent 3-week visit to Japan, another issue has kept me occupied. In late September I was diagnosed with cancer, just a couple of weeks before we left for Japan. Surgery was scheduled for removal (subject to final tests/scans to confirm it had not spread) and the first available surgery date was while we were in Japan but fortunately, there was a second slot available for 24th Oct, 4 days after we returned. I had my final targeted bone scan 2 days before we flew out and got the results while on holiday - the good news was that all of the scans were clear.
Fast forward 2 weeks from the surgery and everything is going well so far. The scars are healing, the soreness is dwindling and apart from rest, physio exercise and nightly enoxarpin injections (self administered, to help prevent DVT) the only medication I'm taking are over-the-counter pain killers (as needed - not very often :good2: ). Again, thankfully as I'm over 60, all medication is free.
The first 1-week check up went very well and my recovery has gotten off to a great start. Further tests in early December will determine if chemo/radiotherapy are necessary, but the docs think they took everything out and I shouldn't need any.
So..................I'm going to be off riding for a good few months now (not a problem as the roads will be wet and salty) and probably until spring. Sadly I'm also under instruction to stay out of the garage for a good couple of months too (no lifting, pushing, pulling, straining etc). :cray:
Around the time of hearing about all of this, just when I was feeling I needed a bit of good news, I got a call from Bikesure, the title sponsors of our biggest national bike show, "Motorcycle Live" at the National Exhibition Centre, to ask if they could borrow my FJ, to put as the principle display machine, on their show stand.
Obviously I said yes and arrangements have been made to collect my bike on 15th Nov and return it on 25th.
It appears that there has been a great deal of interest in my FJ and our story together, following their "Forever Bikes" feature on us earlier this year.
Yet more proof, if any of us needed it, of the love and respect that's still out there for our venerable old FJ's.
I'm hoping to make it there with the bike on set-up day, even if just for a short while, and have been diligently working on my recovery exercises so that I can have the best chance of visiting the Show to see the bike on display, with the rest of the public/visitors. A proud week for the old girl indeed.
One way or another, I'll get a couple of photographs to post here :good2:
Good luck with your recovery Dean and good news that they say it's all out, just do the time ...
That's great news about your bike, more centrefold material :good:
I've Been on an extended forced layoff too but not due to cancer, more like the chest getting cracked open and a couple of extra extractors added for extra flow :nea:
Getting old sucks !!!
March 2022 I had a total hip replacement (and femur extension), that kept me off the bike until mid-summer, at least time, the timing is right to let me be ready fit the start of the better weather next year (minimum amount of riding time lost) :good2:
I sincerely hope your recovery goes well and you get back to riding soon too - that's what it's all about :good2:
Dean,
Good to hear. Hang tough. The physio can be irksome, but you could come out better than you went in. Those folks are often a strange crew, but with the best of intentions.
The bike show sounds good there.
Best wishes.
Thanks for the update Dean, Heal up amigo, we have plenty more miles left to see...
Pat
Best wishes and heal up soon and well!
Dean,
Glad to hear you are recovering and the prognosis is good. My own '89 is languishing due to airplane work so I'm targeting spring of next year. I had orthoscopic knee surgery a couple of weeks ago and it went great. Before that my knee was another reason not to ride.
Keep us posted!
Bit of a disaster today for my bike !!!!
A friend was trailering it to be detailed (as I can't do it myself) and his trailer flipped while going around a roundabout and hitting a large pothole.
The bike took the brunt of the hit snapping off the right side mirror, scraping the indicator pod badly and scraping the engine/crash bars. At the moment, that's all I've been told has been damaged. Hopefully it will still be presentable for the Bike Site at the weekend.
My pal Pete is beside himself with remorse for the damage, but he was doing me a favour so I can't really blame him.
Anyway, c'est la vie, once the show is over and I'm on the mend, I can think about repairing the FJ properly.
Thankfully no riders/others were hurt (other than emotions and ones wallet).
Quote from: Millietant on November 11, 2024, 03:27:04 PMBit of a disaster today for my bike !!!!
A friend was trailering it to be detailed (as I can't do it myself) and his trailer flipped while going around a roundabout and hitting a large pothole.
Bugger !!
What a shame
At least you know that you can fix it, I thought we were the only country with bloody potholes, you learn something new each day you are alive. :biggrin:
Thanks all for the well wishes.....fortunately the damage isn't too bad, here are the photo's. Mirror, Pod, Crash Bar, extra little scrape to Belly Pan.
Remember the old adage...."Pride comes before a fall"............... maybe thinking this was the fall following my pride at the bike being selected for display !!!!
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6213-121124051200-12634551.jpeg)
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6213-121124051202-126351381.jpeg)
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6213-121124051200-126252397.jpeg)
And a little photo of why I was not able to be with the bike
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6213-121124051741-12636554.jpeg)
Awesome belly pan, dude!
Get well, soon. My FJ has been in storage for about 1 month now. Tank drained, two cups of oil sloshed about, fuel run out of the carbs, battery out, old bedsheet on the bike in the garage until April, I suppose.
Ted
Thanks Ted and all :good2:
At my first round of post-surgery tests and check up's on Wednesday, the good news was that the results for the cancer markers have come back a "undetectable" and my surgical wounds, despite the allergic reaction to the surgical glue, are now healing very well. The surgeon has said that they are confident that they removed everything that was there and this means no chemo/radio therapy will be needed, so I'm on the road to a full recovery.
I've been given the all clear to drive, but not ride (and a few other restrictions) - although my body is still telling me riding is not possible :sarcastic: - and I have a programme of physiotherapy and exercises etc to follow, for the next six months.
Next tests and check up are in three months, so not it looks like I'm following Ted's example, will ask the bikes laid up in the garage until spring time.
This also gives me time to sort through my spare fairings to replace the original (which slightly damaged after its transportation "incident") with an undamaged one and to detail the bike properly ready for the 2025 season.
Excellent news Dean! Let us know how the repairs (both you and FJ) progresses. I know shipping is a bitch but perhaps there will be something you need we can send you. Let us know.
Pat
Thank you Pat, that's a very kind offer,
Fortunately, I have a garage full of spares for the old girl (including a complete "spare" 88 3CV) - i keep buying up cheap ones that people can't be bothered to sort out after standing for while. I keep the parts I think I might one day need and pass along most of the rest (either for free or for a voluntary donation) to other needy FJ owners.
I now have 5 friends locally with identical colour 3CV's, so my parts store is regularly raided :sarcastic:
Ha! ......and my wife calls ME a hoarder!