Big thanks to ...
 

Ali, Chris, Dickie, Claire, Jon, Lizzie, Eric, Ant and Mark and all the DD racers and DSC/DuN members without whom I would have had a very unhappy weekend, not to mention being stuck in Wolverhampton waiting for the RAC to recover my bike.

First thought when I fell in the quiet, traffic free cul de sac close to my Aunt’s house on a flying visit on the way up to Oulton Park ‘I’m going to miss the racing’. 2nd thought ‘my foot’s broken’. 3rd thought – I can’t believe I’ve dropped the Duchess again. It turns out that the shock absorber had dislocated itself from the bike (more technical explanation may follow if Eric or Ant care to explain) so I was lucky I got spat off there and not on the 110 mile motorway journey I had just completed.

Nothing broken, as it turned, just a nasty 2” split in the skin and a lot of swelling and bruising. (Chris, I heard your comments about my nasty gash – those garage walls are only breeze block, you know!). My resolve never to ride in anything other than top quality boots has been vindicated. I think the foot peg might well have embedded in my foot if I didn’t spend so much on good kit. So after a trip to Wolverhampton General, a phone call to Ali who, whilst en route to Oulton, co-ordinated the rescue effort, a bite to eat and a bottle of bucks fizz with Auntie B, some very nice boys, Dickie and Chris, collected me from my Aunt’s house and delivered me to Lily and JPM’s before going on to their B & B.

Thanks to Claire and Jon for the bed for the night, the beer and the tea and sympathy (well, Claire was sympathetic, at least). And the banana for breakfast, which a northern bloke took a photo of when it revisited at about midday. Lizzie and I were watching the racing at Cascades, (thanks for acting as chauffeur all day Lizzie). This bloke who I’ve seen before at track days, was sitting in the next van watching me throw up and asking how good a night I’d had. Lizzie explained it was the painkillers making me sick. He later showed me a picture of a crow eating what I’d brought up. He claimed that was northern humour. I didn’t really see the funny side. Thanks to Lizzie for her right sandal too. I will post it back to you but at the moment it’s the only thing I can get onto my foot so it may be a while.

Great day’s racing. Congratulation to Eric for a 1st and 2nd place trophy – no need to explain how that happened. Suffice to say, he and Skids both had a great time and he gets his first silverware.

I'm posting some pictures in the 'My Photos' section

Thanks again to Eric, Antonye and Mark for picking the Duchess up from my Aunt’s and for their impeccable behaviour in the company of an ex-headmistress – that’s apart from Ant ‘watering’ her garden. When left to his own devices in the back of Eric’s van, apart from his disco dancing making the whole van rock, his sense of decorum deserted him to such an extent that he relieved himself (I think I’m just talking bladder here) into one of Eric’s petrol cans then tipped the contents onto a sapling in my Aunt’s garden. Luckily, she didn’t delve too deeply into Eric’s comment about the secret ingredient in Ant’s petrol that gives him that little extra speed.

Can't post pictures at the moment as the fatal error is back. Will try after I've negotiated a hot bath and some more tea.

Nice to see your sense of humour wasn't damaged Ruth :D

Hope you make a speedy recovery ;)

Ruth

I don`t think pictures of you in the bath would go down to well on here!

No, but you can email them :eek: :lol: :lol:

Ruth,

sorry to read that you've had painfull weekend - at least you enjoyed the racing and was looked after well.

Hope you mend soon :) - you best stay off the wine with those painkillers though :D

Aww nooo Ruth!!
WTF happend?? Bolt shear/fall out or did the shock collapse?
Hope you feel better soon.

Ruth you were so lucky that it happened when it did and not on the motorway.take it easy,Get well soon.

Tough luck, gal.

Hope you're on the mend.

(I think you need to have a quiet word with the people who just "mended" your shock aborber!)

Hi Ruth,

How's the foot?

Had a quick look last night when we unloaded Eric's van.
It looks like the bottom 'eye' end has snapped just above the adjusters!
Most of the fracture has I think been there for a while, as half the broken face of the shock has dirt on it and the other side all 'bright and shiny' like it's just happened ! Very worrying indeed.
Can I suggest you remind the shock 'fixers' about the legal side of product liability, and count yourself luck you were only going at walking pace!

See you soon,
Mark (the pit bitch)

Such lies! I would never think of using any of Eric's petrol cans for such deeds!


PS. I've left you a little present in your fuel tank...

I gave you some sympathy woman! :D

Glad you got home safe and sound, always good to see you hop-a-long although I don't think turquoise (Sp) is your colour ;)

Broken Shock
 

Thanks for the info, Mark. I'm sure Mitch will be on the case with the people who reconditioned the shock.

Thanks Lee, Keith and Mark for your get well messages. I'm already on the mend, although I think I overdid the doctor's advice of getting walking on the foot a.s.a.p. I don't think he meant me to be quite as active as I was on Saturday because I certainly paid for that on Sunday.

Antonye, if whatever you've put in my petrol tank makes me go faster, I'll be after you for further supplies ;)

This is a picture of my Auntie Betty and Pete the ex-copper, her neighbour, who came to my rescue on Friday afternoon, including picking up the bike, taking me to hospital and bringing the bike back to Betty's house. He's the local hero now :)

I don't think calling me Spas as soon as I arrived was really sympathetic, was it?

It's alright Jon. As Dom said, I didn't suffer a sense of humour failure, not completely anyway. :devil:

Jeez Ruth....I've only just seen this.

As everyone else has said it's really unlucky that you've taken a tumble and have some pain to go through but in this case I think the bad luck has been far outweighed by the good luck of having the thing let go at slow speed.

I disagree with Beancounter about having a quiet word with the shock repairers - I'd be screaming blue murder at 'em.

I'm so glad it didn't happen when you were going quick...just for the record I never, ever, EVER want to be picking you or any of my mates out of the hedge.

A bit of a difficult one if the crack was an old one,It could have been like that since new!!!! I've been in engineering all my working life and seen lots of things snap for no apparent reason. The other thing the only way to see if there is a crack is to xray the part and unless it's a known weak point no one will bother( was it the eye of the rod?).
The main thing is that Ruth is fit and well apart from the ankle, just sit down when drinking.

Aw bless, don't you two look like the happy couple!

Remember to do the lottery etc.etc.,sounds like you were extremely lucky to get away with so little damage,both to yourself and the bike.Wishing you a speedy recovery.Have you got any photos of the crow?:p

That's a very good point, actually. I haven't done the lottery for about 5 years. Should really consider it again. But then if I won I might use up all my luck for the next 50 years and get killed next time I ride a motorbike. :devil:

Hi Ruth, only just seen this! Hope you're mending quickly and thank goodness you were pootling at the time of the accident. Not sure if there's anything I can do (that can't be done better by others here), but if there is, let me know!

All the best, my dear, get well soon!

Jeez Ruthie, have a big hug to help the speedy recovery, you poor thing, sounds like you were lucky just getting away with your foot, how awful.

Best of luck for feeling much better real real quick, go and endulge yourself in chocolate with a cupa xxx

Thats scary to think if the shock had collapsed on the motorway Ruth, anyway best not dwell on that, hope your gash is getting better.

Best treat with copious quantities of red wine, not direct on your leg of course, best drunk of course or intravienous drip if you must.

Shaun, far worse than the predicament with my foot is the fact that I now find I can't drink red wine any more. One glass gives me a raging headache. This is because I'm on some fandangled medication that's supposed to lower my blood pressure. I ask you! Year's of nurturing high blood pressure with bottle upon bottle of red wine and now it doesn't agree with me!

I'm not thinking about how bad it could have been. Just thinking that I keep my guardian angel fully employed 24/7. She'll be looking for an upgrade to a responsible member of the public soon, no doubt :devil:

Thanks Mel. On the mend already. Will be out on the Monster down your way very soon, I'm sure. x