Three Days, One Manual Car, and a Very Happy Me

Monday, 18th-Wednesday, 20th August 2025

While I’ve been off recovering my car has been at the garage getting repaired. It’s been 4 weeks since I took it in - I had a courtesy car the week before my first op.

It wasn’t an issue until last Wednesday when I was told I was allowed to drive again then I was like a bird with my wings tied. 

I am a very independent person and living where I do I’m a little isolated if I can’t drive and have to rely on other people to do things or take me places etc.

This week I was determined not to be restricted any longer and made the decision to hire a car for 3 days. (The garage hadn’t got any courtesy cars they could lend me this time unfortunately). 

Mark took me to collect it first thing Monday morning. 

I’m used to driving an automatic but as I was trying to keep costs down I’d gone for a manual.

On my way back from the rental place I decided to make the most of my freedom; First stop the garage that was holding my car hostage - My sunglasses had been left in the car when I dropped it off and now I was driving again I wouldn’t be able to get away with using my prescription sunglasses as I had up till now. 

Second stop to return a parcel at the convenience store in the next village. 

Then I went back home. 

Now I had a car, it didn’t feel right just to be sitting at home doing nothing, so within 20 minutes I was back in the car driving to my parents house to collect my beloved Stanley cup that I’d left there last week. 

Not long after I whizzed over to work - I wanted to catch the first class before they finished. 

As I’d arrived early I took the opportunity to nip into Tesco next door to return the button up PJs I’d bought but not used after my surgery. 

I arrived at work just as the first class of the day was finishing. As I walked into the studio I was greeted with smiles and hugs and I felt like a celebrity making a visit. 

As the classes changed over, clients were asking how things were going and concerned that I was back too early. 

I knew however that today was the perfect day to return. Last week would have been too early however I knew I could do enough to get through one class. 

The class I had chosen to be my first was one of our Low Intensity Pilates classes that don’t need me to do any high level demonstrations, so I could do most of the class with verbal instructions and a few low level demos.

It was so nice to be moving my body again and being able to get on the floor and back up again without pain was a massive step in the recovery journey.

After the class finished I had to get back home in time for a zoom call with my accountant that I’d been putting off while I was recovering.

It felt just like a normal busy day - I was in my element.

That evening I drove to St Albans for an Entrepreneurs Circle local meeting an hour away, I had been offered a lift by one of my friends from the group but I was so excited to be driving again I said I’d make my own way. 

That night I went to sleep happy, I felt the most like ‘me’ I had since the first operation.

On Tuesday I was up early as I was driving up to EC HQ in Birmingham for a business workshop, after getting a lift from Dad last week it was a treat to be driving myself again. I was a little concerned that I may need to take extra breaks so left extra early but I was absolutely fine and arrived in plenty of time even with a wee stop.

The workshop was well worth the journey and I felt completely normal again as I hadn’t had to take any pain killers like I had done the week before.

Driving home in traffic that afternoon I missed my automatic car, but reminded myself that it was great just to be on the road independently again. 

On Wednesday I got up at 7 for work, I would say like I used to, however pre-surgery I’d be up at 6am doing work at the computer before getting ready for the day. (I’ve not been doing that since the op as I’ve had lots of time during the day to be doing work stuff).

I was only taking one class today, a mixed level Pilates class, but I still felt confident that I’d manage. The night before I had been able to do all of my physio exercises pain free for the first time. 

The class again were pleased to have me back and I was so happy to be there - my studio is very much my happy place. 

After the class I did some filming for our website that needed to be done in the studio so I could get it edited and live while I was stuck at home again. 

After a routine trip to the vet with Dottie and a cheeky first driving lesson with Amber in the Manual car in our cul-de-sac (shhh don’t tell the hire company!), a couple of phone calls and some work bits, it was time to return the car.

I drove it back to the hire place and waited for Mark to collect me when he’d finished work. 

He had a boot camp session round the corner from the hire place so I sat in his car and watch Netflix until he had finished.

When he got back he asked if I wanted to drive us home. Now this was a MASSIVE deal. Mark has a Tesla (which he’s had for 4 years and NEVER let me drive), this cancer malarky is definitely working in my favour!

Of course I said yes and very much enjoyed driving home, and apart from making him spill his drink when I accelerated a bit too quickly he even said I hadn’t done a bad job!

Now I’m back to being car-less and after Thursday’s surgery I won’t be allowed to drive again for at least a week. I think I can safely say I made the most of my 3 days of freedom!

Tomorrow is Op #2, I’m not sure how I’m feeling to be honest, it’s only a short 30 minute operation, it’s more the worry of how much of a step back it’s going to be in my mobility recovery. 

I’m more concerned about the GCSE results that we have to wait for in the morning!!