Ash is in hospital

Well i have had a better day today a lot more of myself, yesterday it got the better of me while talking on the phone to Debra, couldn't help it just broke down badly the tears just started to roll down, i was so upset being stuck here, so hopeless, relying on everyone, unable to have my dog beside me, having Debra chatting my ears off and the worst of all not doing nothing but sitting here, i can now understand depression but i am not going to let it get me down, a good cry sometimes is good, i had a trainie nurse on when it got the better of me and he held his hand on my arm, a young Zimmbarbien, such a lovely youg lad made me feel better.
Its funny how your mind works but being stuck here from something out of our hands, i have always been a good person but have never been a angle have done some bad things in my younger days but nothing to bad, things i knew i could get away with, but now i look at things like why us we have never hurt anyone and to suffer this that will change our lives forever.
One mistake from one person has changed our road, whats down that road is another thing, what away to enjoy our old age together me and Debra, should be happy times now but just hope its not all bad times as that is what it feels like now.
Sorry for my rant but its seems we have been punished for being good people who care.
Maybe i am overthinking things or letting my mind wonder the move closer to home will sort things out and mire mates dropping in will help me to get back on the right road again instead of this road to nowhere, its getting too bumpy.

Ash

ashman said:

Well i have had a better day today a lot more of myself, yesterday it got the better of me while talking on the phone to Debra, couldn't help it just broke down badly the tears just started to roll down, i was so upset being stuck here, so hopeless, relying on everyone, unable to have my dog beside me, having Debra chatting my ears off and the worst of all not doing nothing but sitting here, i can now understand depression but i am not going to let it get me down, a good cry sometimes is good, i had a trainie nurse on when it got the better of me and he held his hand on my arm, a young Zimmbarbien, such a lovely youg lad made me feel better.
Its funny how your mind works but being stuck here from something out of our hands, i have always been a good person but have never been a angle have done some bad things in my younger days but nothing to bad, things i knew i could get away with, but now i look at things like why us we have never hurt anyone and to suffer this that will change our lives forever.
One mistake from one person has changed our road, whats down that road is another thing, what away to enjoy our old age together me and Debra, should be happy times now but just hope its not all bad times as that is what it feels like now.
Sorry for my rant but its seems we have been punished for being good people who care.
Maybe i am overthinking things or letting my mind wonder the move closer to home will sort things out and mire mates dropping in will help me to get back on the right road again instead of this road to nowhere, its getting too bumpy.

Ash

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It's all perfectly normal mate
When you have been self reliant all your life and had people relying on you it's a huge jump to now being reliant on someone else
Take each day as it comes
It's great to have a goal like getting home as quickly as possible etc
But keep in mind what the doctors tell you along the way
You'll be fine but be prepared your probably still in shock and your brain can race on ahead of you especially when you've got nothing else to occupy your mind
Take it easy and it'll come good

Ash, I could be talking utter bollox here as it’s all above my pay grade, but given the trauma you’ve been through I think your brain will go through some natural cycles of sadness, depression, anger, etc in a similar way to how it does when dealing with the loss of a loved one.

I think the key is to know this is going to happen, and that it’s all a part of the healing process, and to keep focused on maintaining a positive overall outlook (as you are doing so well) whilst accepting you’ll have bad days and taking them on the chin as best you can.

N̈igelv i know i am going to have bad days, i am such a strong person who has climbed a lot of high walls in life and the lost of our 2 baby boys at a young part of our and their lives, we got over those dark days to be better again, but we will win again, as soon as you get kicked in the guts, just get back up quickly and take control and win and we will, be harder for Debra but she has all her sisters and daughters to help all i have is 2 brothers one we don't want no part and my older brother who doesn't care except for his own kids, my wife family is my family.
Well its getting on 9 pm the fruitcake over from me had a brain attact earlier in when we all had visitors, but i will sort him iut tomorrow with a few words, he can't run he has 2 broken legs lol.

Ashley

you are doing well Ash, you're an inspiration to all of us. Keep it up, I know you will !

trident sam said:

you are doing well Ash, you're an inspiration to all of us. Keep it up, I know you will !

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Sometimes i think i am a inspiration to myself lol, i have no choice but to keep it up but having family and great mates who are all looking up to me and helping me and Debra to get us both home and off this crazy rollercoaster and back to a near normal life again and all my friends here on access Norton,who are surporting me from aways it all helping me by reading about my crazy ride, so many friends love you all.

Ash

ashman said:

Well i have had a better day today a lot more of myself, yesterday it got the better of me while talking on the phone to Debra, couldn't help it just broke down badly the tears just started to roll down, i was so upset being stuck here, so hopeless, relying on everyone, unable to have my dog beside me, having Debra chatting my ears off and the worst of all not doing nothing but sitting here, i can now understand depression but i am not going to let it get me down, a good cry sometimes is good, i had a trainie nurse on when it got the better of me and he held his hand on my arm, a young Zimmbarbien, such a lovely youg lad made me feel better.
Its funny how your mind works but being stuck here from something out of our hands, i have always been a good person but have never been a angle have done some bad things in my younger days but nothing to bad, things i knew i could get away with, but now i look at things like why us we have never hurt anyone and to suffer this that will change our lives forever.
One mistake from one person has changed our road, whats down that road is another thing, what away to enjoy our old age together me and Debra, should be happy times now but just hope its not all bad times as that is what it feels like now.
Sorry for my rant but its seems we have been punished for being good people who care.
Maybe i am overthinking things or letting my mind wonder the move closer to home will sort things out and mire mates dropping in will help me to get back on the right road again instead of this road to nowhere, its getting too bumpy.

Ash

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I would say "Man Up Dude!" but that's exactly what you're doing, including today! I think one of your AU sayings is "Good on you!"

Why is everything americanized, i am a true blue Aussie so when i need to get back on the bike it will be done the aussie way as for the side stand who needs one my Norton is use to leaning up againse something, as for kick starting i will find away around that, ride with mates and have one kick start it for me, but my mates have troubles kicking my Norton, a bunch of girls, they just don't have the knack, as for gear change my gear lever is long and have always taken my foot of the foot peg for changing so that might work for me, easy going up a gear but might be harder going back a gear, but then who knows, its going to be a learning curve and take it as it is.
In June my Norton be 50 years in my hands last ride with the mates i was planning a ride with old mates to celebrate my Norton ownership a party after celebrate the aussie way, but the problem is i am already legless lol.

Ash

ashman said:

Why is everything americanized, i am a true blue Aussie so when i need to get back on the bike it will be done the aussie way as for the side stand who needs one my Norton is use to leaning up againse something, as for kick starting i will find away around that, ride with mates and have one kick start it for me, but my mates have troubles kicking my Norton, a bunch of girls, they just don't have the knack, as for gear change my gear lever is long and have always taken my foot of the foot peg for changing so that might work for me, easy going up a gear but might be harder going back a gear, but then who knows, its going to be a learning curve and take it as it is.
In June my Norton be 50 years in my hands last ride with the mates i was planning a ride with old mates to celebrate my Norton ownership a party after celebrate the aussie way, but the problem is i am already legless lol.

Ash

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Ash I forget what year is your bike? I know you said it's been in your hands for 50 years. I own three 1974 roadsters. All manufactured in June of 74. In June of 2024 we did have a 50th birthday party for them. Hamburgers, beer, and a little bit of bourbon. The bikes just stood there looking at us dumbfounded while we tried to sing Happy Birthday. They have their own names. The green bike. The blue bike, and Ronnie's bike.

I brought my new 74 Commando in 1976 old new stock hiding down the back behind all the M111s and new Triumphs and in 1980 i started the converstion to the Featherbed frame with the 850 motor being built for the Featherbed frame, crank balanced, hot cam and head work etc etc it took me 2 years to build and has been on the road since although its been semi retired since 2013 but ridden regularly, was a everyday rider most of its life, so no more Commando but a Commando/Featherbed combo.

Ash

ashman said:

I brought my new 74 Commando in 1976 old new stock hiding down the back behind all the M111s and new Triumphs and in 1980 i started the converstion to the Featherbed frame with the 850 motor being built for the Featherbed frame, crank balanced, hot cam and head work etc etc it took me 2 years to build and has been on the road since although its been semi retired since 2013 but ridden regularly, was a everyday rider most of its life, so no more Commando but a Commando/Featherbed combo.

Ash
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So what month was the bike built? Love the "Cocktail Shakers". I have a set on the shelf whenever I finish "Ronnie's Bike" I'm sure you'll be out riding before that happens.

She's probably sitting at home wondering where the hell yer at.

NORTSTER1974 said:

So what month was the bike built? Love the "Cocktail Shakers". I have a set on the shelf whenever I finish "Ronnie's Bike" I'm sure you'll be out riding before that happens.

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I go by what day i picked up the Norton after paying for it and riding it out the show room door, i told no one i was buying it just told a few of my mates i got to go up town on Saturday morning to the bike shop, they gave me a lift, Saturday morning is a busy time up there all the hard core bikers getting parts for their Harleys and British bikes so when we got there i told my mate to pull up to let me out at the front door while they find a car park.
My new 850 Roadster was sitting just inside the front door, the salesman was going over the bike with me when my mates turned up, i was sitting on the Norton, while the SM was showing me the fuel, keys, kick start and gear change as well all the books that came with a new bike which i gave to my mate to look after, now was the big time.
Here i was a young 17 year old, 9 stone nothing, skinny chicken legs and rarin to go.
The whole shop stopped to watch my first kick, tickle the carbs, turn on the key then one big kick the Norton fired up, before the salesman could say a word i had it in gear and straight out the showroom door, i was gone, my first adventure on my new 850 Commando, everyone was dumbfounded i just disappeared down the road with a big grin on my face.
Near 50 years on i still have that big grin on my face everytime i ride my hotrod Norton and the way i built it, its such a fun bike to ride.
So 21st of June it be 50 years when i took ownership of my Norton, i know every nut, bolt and all of my Norton, it has no name except for bike, it has been so reliable with only a few mishaps in that 50 years of ownership and we have clicked up a lot of adventures together without any troubles, its showing its age now but thats the way i like it, well riddin, aging like its owner and its no show pony, but it draws a crowd where ever i park up at biker stops.

Ash

Nice story Ash!

Rob owning the same bike for near 50 years i have many tails and adventures to tell about what i have done on my Norton, i am glad it can't talk lol, have also got into a few misadventures that could have landed me in a bit of trouble if caught, but the Norton never let me down, always had a excape plan lol, also been in a few police chases in my younger days, slipping away with lights turn off, always have one brake light disconnected lol even to this day lol.
Also been down a few times just pushing it a way too far, mostly coming into a tight corner to find its covered in lose gravel and fu ck gone, but always been lucky with min damage like bent foot peg and a few scrapes on the mufflers.

Ash

If an electric starter conversion is out of the question, a longer kick start arm might help. A step further, the latest Harleys come with automatic compression releases for easier starting. Prior to the automatic ones, they had a manual version. You lifted a small button on each cylinder head, and once the bike fired they would snap shut. If you could figure out a spot to machine the holes to thread them in, you might end up with a motor that would start with a pretty easy push. If you poke around on this site you should find a picture showing one mounted close to the spark plug. I'm sure there are lots of other sources for them. Here's the site:

No i be keeping the Norton the way it is, the way i built it without any hi tec gismos added to it, i have a set of rollers mounted in a low frame and i also have a small 12v motor i be able to make a nice roller starter for the shed, but a built in kicker in my bionic foot might be the go, i already have the longer RGM folding kicker but with the Joe Hunt maggie my Norton is a one kick bike to fire up and when its been fired up for the day it always fire up on lazy kicks usualy 1/2way through the kick its always running, the JH and old Amals work so well together, my old riding mates can't believe how well it runs, but its always been like that, coming up to 50 years of ownership and 46 years when i built it into the Featherbed, i think i have iron out all the bugs.

Ash