So, she’s done it again……….only half as bad as last time, seeing, as she has only hit two parked cars instead of the four last year. The conversation went something like this: Its time I said……you know it is. NO it isn’t. I am not just saying it to take away your independence but you are going to hurt yourself and/or someone else. No I’m not, I just got distracted, and it’s not my fault. Are we going to fall out over this? No, because I am not discussing it with you. And so it went on…and on….and on The best interim result I could get was. I will think about it. But, forever the optimist that she is going to see sense I have come up with an alternative to her Volvo V40:
I didn't quite have that conversation but it was similar with my dad. I needed some parts from the motor factors and he said he would take me.. OMG, stopping at red lights that wasn't, going through red lights that were...scariest roller coaster ride I'd been on in years. Which is basically what I said when we got back and my mother asked how the drive went...along with the "Mr Magoo and Miss Daisy obviously had a love child" remark, I was told that I wasn't getting any more lifts..to which I replied "not without sedatives" He keeps to short well known journeys now, though I noticed a couple of mysterious blemishes on the paintwork recently..
Hard isn't it? My Dad's driving is something of a nightmare. He simply can't see properly when its dark at all, but his daytime driving is... somewhat erratic, and his car keeps accumulating dents/scrapes. Have had an initial chat... I think he'll come round sooner or later, but it will probably involve him needing to move house also, since he's in a tiny village 5 miles from the nearest town, so the car is a big deal for his independence.
The funny thing is, a couple of years ago he got caught for speeding, 36 in 30, 8.30am on a Sunday morning. What made it funny was that he was driving his vintage car to a classic car show so only tootling along, and the speedo was fairly erratic. My mother was with him and said to him there was a scamera van ahead, by the time the "what ? where?" conversation had been had and he attempted to slow, he had trundled past it. I'd driven past the same spot in my van 15 minutes before and saw the scamera van so went by it at 20mph just to be safe. When he got the summons through the post he obviously wasn't happy, but took a speed awareness course, which he got lost trying to find and we think he drove into the place using the pedestrian entrance as he said it was a stupidly narrow gate that barely cleared his door mirrors....
He's dead now but my owd Chap was avin' none of it so me and me sis just grassed him up to the Doctor and let the inevitable take it's course!
Thanks Guys, it would seem it’s not just my mother that is being stubborn, although I genuinely believe she doesn’t think it’s a big issue. We had the same conversation last year after the other careless parked cars incident, that time both my brother and I were given a firm NO and the look that only your mother can give you. We decided to back off and let the doctor have a word, but to our horror he signed her off as fit to drive. I had to use every interview and reverse psychology techniques I have ever learned to “walk” her into admitting that she only ever drives in the village which is less than a mile at its furthest point and everything she needs (post office, doctors, hairdresser etc is within walking distance, ok I admit it takes her ten minutes to put the rubbish out, so walking anywhere is not an option but a mobility scooter is a real and much safer alternative. She already has a local friendly taxi driver who takes her anywhere else she wants to go. I have already spoken to the taxi guy and if required he is willing to set up a billing system whereby I pay him on line. He is even willing to take her to the post box at the end of the road if needed, no doubt he will royally charge for it but that’s not an issue I am worried about at the moment. Her car is away at the garage getting fixed so we have a week or two to work on her. If anyone has any advice on how to deal with this. The best outcome would be that she thinks about it logically and realises she has without knowing it become a danger to herself and others.
