Best wishes to you and your son. I hope he has a full and speedy recovery.

Also, I hope things work out for your journey in your new Porsche.

Extra lever... pull to go, push to stop.

I hope to take delivery sometime next week. This is taken by the company which has fitted the hand controls. I may get the leather on the handle changed to the blue to match the steering wheel. Now it has to be inspected by customs to check the installation, and then brought down from Jo’burg to the Cape, where it will need prepping before hand over. Getting closer.

So don’t have delivery yet. Maybe (hopefully...) next week. My dealer has been great, knowing how important the car and the planned trip home is to my stepson, they even offered to fly me up to Johannesburg to take delivery up here, so I can make the expected discharge date. That is something special, that I really appreciated, but actually turned down, for a number of reasons. Thabo continues to amaze everyone with his determination and positivity over his new status as a wheelchair user. I have to admit that this kid (OK, he just turned 22, but he will always be a kid to me!!) has surprised me with his reaction to life’s challenges for him.

I also have have no doubt at all in my mind that my new Porsche is a vital component of his reaction to all this. I think to both of us, it is a powerful symbol that not only life goes on after becoming disabled, but dreams continue. It demonstrates so many things. Yes, one would be that I have been successful since becoming disabled, but also that my dreams have remained the same, and can be attainable. I have wanted to own a Porsche 911 since cleaning my surrogate father’s Porsche 911 in 1980. My enjoyment of driving has not diminished since becoming disabled (indeed, it has become more important, to me). I spent 6 months not being able to drive (& even not knowing if I ever would be able to). This lump of aluminium (with PDK & 2 turbos...just to upset people who call the,selves “purists”) is a sign for me of a goal achieved, for Thabo it is a symbol of what he might achieve himself in the future. There are links to important people in our lives, who are no longer with us on our journeys, to my surrogate father (life motto: “life is not a rehearsal”), to Thabo’s surrogate mother, my soulmate, to my biological father (his axheived target was an Aston Martin). It might be the last new car I ever purchase...I specced it with that in mind. Every decision, even every omission, has a clear reason behind it that I can justify. It is really a “dream car”.

I finally got delivery of my C2 today. As I could not test drive any car, it was a very special experience to drive this amazing vehicle from the dealer back to my house. The sales person also generously included some presents for Thabo and I to wear on our return journey. The actual delivery date was pushed back and pushed back, so the plan has had to be modified and compressed. I shall leave in the early hours of tomorrow for a 1000mile journey up to Jo’burg.

We we have a busy week ahead with some work commitments. We also have to work out how to fit 2 wheelchairs into 1 Porsche 911. I shall try to film some of our “attempts”. Both Thabo and I try to be as independent as possible, so whatever method we use cannot rely on any outside assistance. I can get my wheelchair folded up on one back seat (seat backs folded flat), but not sure if Thabo’s new wheelchair will fold as small as my own!

But I am in awe of this car! I still haven’t quite done 100km yet, but what a capable, amazing, fabulous vehicle!! Driving back in quite heavy traffic at some periods, made me realize what a great option the adaptive cruise control is, for a person driving on hand controls, in traffic. I had to come back home, to complete some work, but am about to explore some of the mountain passes that I am fortunate to live close to. Tomorrow will be quite different as the centre of South Africa (the Karoo) is a mostly flat, and dry semi-arid desert. The destination (Jo’burg) is at 2000m (thank goodness for forced induction!). The colour (sapphire blue) does work with the graphite blue and crayon interior. Apparently, mine was the first vehicle to have optioned this through the Cape Town dealership.

Enough now, I have a Porsche to drive!!



Finally leaving the dealership!

Been following this thread from the beginning. Congrats on taking delivery. Keep telling your story. You and your son are an inspiration.