Time for a Re-fit

I checked on him again. He's speaking now, if only in a hoarse whisper. I had to lean in close to hear but I think he said that his recent garbled message was supposed to read "If I don't make it through this tell all the good folks on this forum to take good care of my IIA. I've put quite a lot of work into it." Well, that solves that little mystery. Anyone paying attention to detail would have noticed the "IIA" part of that message - the only bit that seemed to make any sense. He's starting to smell a bit so I gave him another spray with the garden hose, a good soaking this time. He'll be alright.

Things are looking up. I was discovered by a passing encyclopaedia salesman and rushed to the Sad Little Man unit at the Royal, where they have a special ward for people who have undertaken Series Land Rover projects. It’s been a long road (my clinical psychologist tells me it is good to start using words like “road” and “drive” again), but the amazing staff at the unit have brought me back from the brink. Their procedures are cutting-edge: when an emergency patient is brought in, they resuscitate using the crankcase breather hose and EGR valve from a 2.25 petrol, then begin the immersion programme (full immersion of the patient in EP90, with a breathing apparatus developed from Camel Trophy vehicles).
Gradually, the uncontrollable shaking abated (I must say, I was impressed to see at first hand how the EP90 behaved under load ) and I was able to be moved to the main ward. They change my dressings twice a day, as per the patient service schedule, and I am more comfortable (though some are saying now that the original schedule is not adequate under ward conditions and that bandages should be changed at least twice as often and apparently somebody has developed a kit that, when fitted, means that the bandage changes are no longer necessary).

My aunt dropped in to the ward this morning. She’s an old dear – she’d knitted me a beanie and also brought books and some grapes.

By this evening, things were returning to normal. After a bracing supper of cheese on toast, I have regained enough strength to begin looking through recent photographs of the Landy.

Here she is at Wally's a few weeks ago, following the mugs of Stone's Green Ginger and a bit of a wash.

A few more photos. Plenty more to come.

Glad to hear your recovering,it certainly is a thing of beauty , looks great a real credit to you :) just hope to cost to your health hasn't been to high a price to pay:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sisyphus

Glad to hear your recovering,it certainly is a thing of beauty , looks great a real credit to you :) just hope to cost to your health hasn't been to high a price to pay:p

---

Thanks mate. I will post more photos and lots of detail on the project in the coming days.

Yeah, apparently this morning the nurses found me in the hallway curled in the foetal position. When they approached me, I started screaming "The grinding wheel!!! It has eyes!!!!!!!!" I don't remember any of it. I guess that the night terrors will keep coming, but the medication is pretty good (Talisker) and the poor, gibbering wreck in the next bed apparently tried to bleed the brakes in a 109 - which helps me keep my condition in perspective.

John

One thing that is really nice is that, although I have really only been on a few short drives, every time I take the Landy out I seem to run into other Landy drivers. In town on Saturday, a fellow on the side of the road with a very nice 130 twin cab gave a cheery wave as I went past, then moments later a bloke in a lovely little grey 90 slowed up in his lane at the lights to say G'day. Then I passed a P38, waved and got nothing in return. I guess the bloke was just too worried about his pneumatic suspension to have a hand free. Then after that, I waved at a Defender and the bloke ignored me - which means it must have been a stolen car.

I'm pleased to report that due to the care that I've given him, John has made a speedy recovery of late. I'd been holding onto these photos out of respect for John and his condition. I have many. Here are four. If anyone is interested I can share more of them.

Attachment 86875

Attachment 86876

Attachment 86877

Attachment 86878

I have fitted one of those nice Roamerdrive alloy bottom covers to the transfer case. I am pretty sure it doesn't leak, but will have to sort out the oil weeping out from around the end of the intermediate shaft before I'm certain.....