When I went to Fiona Stanley, at last I was given a private room. Being a new hospital, everything was very different and top of the range compared to Royal Perth. The exceptionally good service was the same. Here, as my walking ability had improved, I was allowed more freedom. I was able to wander around the complex, unaided and found the gym where I discovered a rowing machine.

The SHIU advised that I return to Carnarvon for ‘on the job’ further rehabilitation.

While I was doing this, my wife decided to get a job in Perth. That same week we swapped locations, my wife in Perth and me in Carnarvon. This was very confusing and stressful. So that we could see each other, I now had to do the driving which amounted to around 1,800 km.

I actually didn’t mind this so much, as I felt pleased that I could do the long drive on my own but the continual going back and forth drained me and emotionally knackered me. I remember one time I cried and cried for the whole nine hours.

When I arrived in Carnarvon I was completely exhausted.

My employer, SHIU, and I were closely working together to help me get my job back. Unfortunately, I realized I was never going to retain my fleet master position. I was devastated that after 21 years I would have to end my career with redundancy in June 2017. I had worked for a good company and they looked after me. Even though I would have liked to end my career on my own terms.

The Comfort of Strangers

Now that I was in Carnarvon home alone, the ‘Give up Door’ would appear.

With nobody to talk to once again I felt lost and alone. I needed people to share life and fun with me. In my house I had a downstairs unit that had been vacant.

At this time, a woman asked to rent it and she moved in. She was a real ‘Have a Chat’, and we had lots of great conversations. I’m sure my speech got better because of her and the ‘Hope Door’ appeared again.

Later a Korean backpacker arrived and wanted to rent the room.

His English was not so good, so we were a good pair. We communicated using language, signs, facial expressions, and everything that we could, to get our messages across.

One day we had fish and chips. I had never seen fish and chips eaten with chopsticks. We shared a good laugh over that. Laughter and conversation made me feel human.

My wife and I always were going to eventually relocate to our investment property in Port Denison.

It now seemed pointless as my wife was in Perth. I was obliged to sell the house in Carnarvon and the property.

As it was a time of low property values, I leased the house and now had to go to Perth. While the house was being prepared for rental, my wife’s son persuaded her to go to Mexico for a month. Therefore, I took the dog and then returned to Carnarvon. I found sorting out our business, on my own, very demanding.

Luckily, I found great comfort in our little dog “Buddy.” In hindsight it would have been better had these decisions not been forced upon me.

(to be continued …)