Gday Richo, you are on the other side of the country to me, but I have a standing offer to visit some mates in Perth, so will chase you up when I'm over there. Yeah, quite familiar with the "challenges", it is a journey that I'm undertaking myself - sure does knock you around a bit. Thanks for the call for patience, we can be pretty frustrating...
Tim, good luck with your tests mate. In actual fact there is no specific "test for PD", it is more that you get checked for tumours, strokes, diabetes, and other stuff; and in the absence of any other diagnosis, and if you are showing typical symptoms, and you respond to PD treatment, then you become part of the club. I don't want to be welcoming you Tim, but if you do join the club then please contact me and I'll help where I can.
Firko, thanks for raising the topic, and it is a sign of the health of these forums that we can discuss such issues. True, greater awareness is needed, and there is a lot of misinformation around. And a lot of GP's under-educated on the matter. I'm doing quite a bit of stuff with Parkinsons Vic, so if any of you find yourself close to PD and needing / wanting support, please let me know and I'll put you in contact with the right people.
Also Firko, I think from memory you responded to my post about the Mk1 Ford Escort that some of my friends and former students are donating their time to restore for me. Well we have decided to dedicate the car to the Parkinsons Disease cause, and are doing it up as a tarmac rally car for entry into a few targa events. Plan is to enter it under a Parkinsons themed "brand" (logo, website etc underway), and link it to established PD charity organisations. Trajectory is to have it in display state at least by March, so will see if we can bring it along to HBBB.
The project is getting some good support, and we already have a sierra 5 speed gearbox, Minilite wheels, Dellorto carbs, sandblasting, paint and body repairs donated. I'm gathering photos to post an update on here.
If anyone here wants to get involved, even just to pop into the workshop (northern suburbs of Melb) to check it out and have a chat one weekend, please PM me.
Cheers, and sorry to distract us all from our nostalgic rock chick fantasies...
