What's wrong with me?!

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0a

23,901 posts

195 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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E65Ross said:
zarjaz1991 said:
At least you'll be able to drive again Ross, which is brilliant news.
This, 100% this!

It's a case of "when" not "if" biggrin

It's going to seem slow as f**k but I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the 745i again.

"Br d" has driven it more than me this year rofl
We must organise a Barge 1-5 event for your return to barging!

Your total raised is incredible - well done Ross.

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
0a said:
E65Ross said:
zarjaz1991 said:
At least you'll be able to drive again Ross, which is brilliant news.
This, 100% this!

It's a case of "when" not "if" biggrin

It's going to seem slow as f**k but I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the 745i again.

"Br d" has driven it more than me this year rofl
We must organise a Barge 1-5 event for your return to barging!

Your total raised is incredible - well done Ross.
Roll on 2016!

Oa - thanks again for your generosity! You've just bumped me up quite a lot again! biggrin

0a

23,901 posts

195 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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E65Ross said:
Roll on 2016!

Oa - thanks again for your generosity! You've just bumped me up quite a lot again! biggrin
I got so bored looking at your just giving page target scaling up to 1,442% from 100% of £500 target I had to donate again smile

For anyone else, the link is here: https://www.justgiving.com/Ross-Fripp

As man of roughly Ross's age and interests (he has to mature a little to appreciate old mercs!), reading this thread from the beginning really did inspire me.

You are now miles fitter than me Ross - a great reflection on you, and a terrible one on me!

Edited by 0a on Monday 3rd August 23:04

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
0a said:
I got so bored looking at your just giving page target scaling up to 1,442% from 100% of £500 target I had to donate again smile

For anyone else, the link is here: https://www.justgiving.com/Ross-Fripp

As man of roughly Ross's age and interests (he has to mature a little to appreciate old mercs!), reading this thread from the beginning really did inspire me.

You are now miles fitter than me Ross - a great reflection on you, and a terrible one on me!

Edited by 0a on Monday 3rd August 23:04
thumbup

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Just had an email from the charity and found myself here as well

http://www.charitytoday.co.uk/ross-continues-to-in...

Quite a nice little piece.

Thanks again Martin wink

jjlynn27

7,935 posts

110 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Impressive. All the best.

TheAngryDog

12,409 posts

210 months

Thursday 13th August 2015
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Any further news to report, Ross?

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Thursday 13th August 2015
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TheAngryDog said:
Any further news to report, Ross?
Not really to be honest. Still waiting on the letter from my eye consultant.

I spoke to my neurosurgeon, Vas, and he has said not to wait for a letter from him to send to the DVLA, because the DVLA will have to contact him anyway..... He said even if they say you can apply 8 weeks in advance (of the 12 month waiting period) he said once I get that letter from the eye consultant I may as well apply for my license.... I've nothing to lose in doing so.

It'll be 3 weeks as of Monday..... So of I haven't got it by then I'll give them a and chase them up!

Cheers, and glad to hear of your progress too.

TheAngryDog

12,409 posts

210 months

Thursday 13th August 2015
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E65Ross said:
TheAngryDog said:
Any further news to report, Ross?
Not really to be honest. Still waiting on the letter from my eye consultant.

I spoke to my neurosurgeon, Vas, and he has said not to wait for a letter from him to send to the DVLA, because the DVLA will have to contact him anyway..... He said even if they say you can apply 8 weeks in advance (of the 12 month waiting period) he said once I get that letter from the eye consultant I may as well apply for my license.... I've nothing to lose in doing so.

It'll be 3 weeks as of Monday..... So of I haven't got it by then I'll give them a and chase them up!

Cheers, and glad to hear of your progress too.
Fingers crossed that you hear something / can get your license back soon. Must be a little frustrating being so close, yet so far away, from being allowed to drive again?

Cheers.

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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I spoke to the DVLA yesterday, they said if I send my license in before the 8 week period it will just get rejected.

Even though my consultants say I'm fine, I have to wait 12 months.... So the earliest I can apply is early October (8 weeks prior to my 12 month period. I asked what happens if it takes longer than 8 weeks to sort all the paperwork out.... They said then I'll have to wait more than 8 weeks.

What pencil pushing bds. Why can't I apply early, they contact my surgeons, they say I'm fine, they give licence back and say I'm good to go as of 1st December?

Daft.

On the plus side, another hefty donation today of £1k!

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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Letter from eye consultant has FINALLY arrived! Just says that I have to really look for the double vision to find it and that from an orthoptic point of view there is no reason why I cannot have a drivers licence.

I have decided to order a 2nd drivers license application form, when that arrives (about all week) I'll fill it in and send 1 form off now. It's quite close to that 8 week period anyway so may not get rejected. If it does, I've got another form ready to send off immediately anyway. Nothing much to lose but potentially something to gain.

Charity are happy, as am I..... Fundraising hit north of £10k after gift aid. Absolutely incredible!

Ross

br d

8,403 posts

227 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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E65Ross said:
Letter from eye consultant has FINALLY arrived! Just says that I have to really look for the double vision to find it and that from an orthoptic point of view there is no reason why I cannot have a drivers licence.

I have decided to order a 2nd drivers license application form, when that arrives (about all week) I'll fill it in and send 1 form off now. It's quite close to that 8 week period anyway so may not get rejected. If it does, I've got another form ready to send off immediately anyway. Nothing much to lose but potentially something to gain.

Charity are happy, as am I..... Fundraising hit north of £10k after gift aid. Absolutely incredible!

Ross
That's amazing, top work everybody!

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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Indeed! Everyone has been amazing!

I photocopied everything and actually sent off my application form today 1st class recorded delivery. I figured that if I don't hear from them by a few days prior to that 8 week period I can phone them and see what's happening. If it got rejected I have everything I need to send it off immediately again.

I have also requested a phone conversation with my GP tomorrow..... There's the odd chance DVLA will ask my GP if I'm fit to drive, he hasn't seen me for ages and I want to avoid that potential delay of him saying "I'm not sure if he's OK, I'll get him booked in to see..... Oh, that'll be a few weeks". Asking if he may need to see me could avoid that if I can get seen (if required) before my 8 week period.

I have also been in contact with Vas, one of my surgeons) and he thinks I should have no problem in getting my license back now the eye people have written that.

One small complication is that, unfortunately he's leaving Southampton from 1st October to become a consultant in Oxford.... And it will likely be his replacement who will fill in the DVLA questionnaire unless he gets it before then. He said if there are any issues he can talk to Southampton. I'm hoping this won't slow matters.

Driving on 1st December would be great, but I've already got it in my head (no pun intended) that it won't be ready then..... But driving before Christmas would be something I'd love!

Fingers crossed!

crikey

1,700 posts

212 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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Hi Ross,

As you're already finding out, the DVLA are a fking nightmare. My license was revoked 12 months following my surgery but I managed to get my license back after 9 by getting my MP involved. At that point I already had a letter from my surgeon saying he considered me fit to drive so she used that along with a large bag of common sense to present fight my corner, I got it back within weeks of her getting involved.

Be aware though that you only initially get it back for 12 months, then the whole process has to be repeated again. My 12 months were up at the end of July and despite them having all of the paperwork over 2 months before that they still haven't looked at it. Thankfully it actually states on the form that you can carry on driving while they look into it so I carry photocopies of all the forms and my license in the car just in case I get pulled for anything.

I'm more than happy to send copies of my correspondence and/or chat on the phone if you think it would help in any way ?

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Friday 11th September 2015
quotequote all
Hi Crikey, and thanks for your message.

I have just emailed my local MP so we shall see what happens. I may well contact you if necessary.... If the MP thinks they can help I may be able to use you as an example and say to the DVLA "well, you let this chap drive when his consultants said he was OK, so let me!"

Will let you know how it goes!

Many thanks

crikey

1,700 posts

212 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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No worries, just drop me a pm. Good luck with it.

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Friday 11th September 2015
quotequote all
crikey said:
No worries, just drop me a pm. Good luck with it.
Thank you very much for the offer, it's something I may well take you up on!

I'll wait until I hear back from my local MP and see what's what.

I remain doubtful and still don't expect to be driving on December 1st. If the MP says they can't do anything and the DVLA are taking ages.... Is it a case of just continually pestering the DVLA and asking them to get their arse in gear?

0a

23,901 posts

195 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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I'll donate another £100 to your very worthy cause when you drive me around the block in the E65 at the next PH event Ross!

All the best with getting your licence back.

E65Ross

Original Poster:

35,100 posts

213 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
0a said:
I'll donate another £100 to your very worthy cause when you drive me around the block in the E65 at the next PH event Ross!

All the best with getting your licence back.
Just pinged you a reply to you email biggrin

That's a vrey kind offer thanks. We will definitely have to sort a meet up in 2016!!!

It does seem daft that the DVLA insist on a 12 month period, despite top medical experts saying you're absolutely fine to drive. Personally, I think it'd make much more sense to totally disregard that 12 month period and just say "you can't drive until the medical professionals say you're good to go". Can't see why that isn't the case.

I can understand 12 months in some cases, such as where epilepsy/chance of fitting etc is possible, and not having a fit in 12 months means you're less likely to fit in the future, but in cases like mine that's not an issue....it really doesn't make sense!

br d

8,403 posts

227 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
0a said:
I'll donate another £100 to your very worthy cause when you drive me around the block in the E65 at the next PH event Ross!

All the best with getting your licence back.
Now that's genius Oa. Get your licence back Ross, get on the road and drop in on as many people from this thread as you can, I'd be more than happy to make a donation to see you turn up! Would make a great story for the charity too!