Green Estate in Newcastle-u-Lyme

[tzd-92]

Yesterday I saw a Green estate driving through Maybank heading towards Newcastle-under-Lyme. I was going the opposite way in my Polo coupe so couldn't tell what spec it was.

This is the first BX I've seen around here for a while, was it anyone from here?

[merlyn]

Haven't seen that one but I do see a silver BX occasionally in the area, not sure if it's always the same one or if there are a couple. If all goes according to plan there will be a lovely pale blue metallic one moving to Audley in the very near future. Can't come soon enough because my Xantia have just died this morning! Hopefully the lovely Richard Dalton can do something with it next week.

[Mickey taker]

If all goes according to plan there will be a lovely pale blue metallic one moving to Audley in the very near future.

You going for the TXi auto then Jane ,
If you dont like the slush box ,I'll swap the TXi for my meteor

[tzd-92]

Haven't seen that one but I do see a silver BX occasionally in the area, not sure if it's always the same one or if there are a couple. If all goes according to plan there will be a lovely pale blue metallic one moving to Audley in the very near future. Can't come soon enough because my Xantia have just died this morning! Hopefully the lovely Richard Dalton can do something with it next week.

That silver one was ebay not too long ago and did see some pics of it at the X rally. Would be ace if you have a BX would be nice to see one around here again, I'm only in Chesterton so will probs see you about in it I really wish I could have one but with me only being 17 insurance is ridiculous. I passed my test at the beginning of March and ended up paying out £3000 for insurance on my '93 1.0 Polo Coup!

[merlyn]

You going for the TXi auto then Jane ,
If you dont like the slush box ,I'll swap the TXi for my meteor

You've sussed me out there Mick! I had someone look it over on Saturday for me and he was duly impressed so I am in the process of sorting out the finances now. Not sure when I can collect it though, I would like to make it a social trip as I have some very good friends in Colchester but I'm due back at work this week so it may be next month before I can go down. Not happy.

I'll keep your offer in mind if I can't manage to drive it!!

Jane

[Caffiend]

Congrats Jane, hope that the last bit of actual purchase and collection all work out for you! - look forward to pics when it's under new management!

[merlyn]

Xantia up and running again so I am now baking cake as a thank-you. Being carless round here is no fun.

[saintjamesy89]

Xantia up and running again so I am now baking cake as a thank-you. Being carless round here is no fun.

First time I read that I read 'careless' rather than 'carless' and had a little giggle to myself.

[merlyn]

That silver one was ebay not too long ago and did see some pics of it at the X rally. Would be ace if you have a BX would be nice to see one around here again, I'm only in Chesterton so will probs see you about in it I really wish I could have one but with me only being 17 insurance is ridiculous. I passed my test at the beginning of March and ended up paying out £3000 for insurance on my '93 1.0 Polo Coup!

Brought the car up last night from Colchester, you may see it around Chesterton if you keep your eyes peeled or if you are passing through Bignall End it will be on Chapel Street. She may also be seen at the Blood Donor Centre in Etruria when I am working.

Jane

[Mickey taker]

[quote="merly]. She may also be seen at the Blood Donor Centre in Etruria when I am working Jane[/quote]



Cripes, better watch what I say in future,
Didn't realize Jane was a vampire

[merlyn]

Cripes, better watch what I say in future,
Didn't realize Jane was a vampire

Yep, fully fledged, but only a pint at a time, I don't drain them dry. And surprisingly they always say, "Thank-you".

[saintjamesy89]

Ah must be them mind tricks, y'know the ones that make it pleasurable rather than painful and leave you with no memory of the event. Vampires are cool! Except (in this case) they seem to have an aversion to gay blokes donating their blood, assuming we must all have frequent, unprotected sex with unknown people so are assumed to have HIV/AID's or other infections But if we are to abstain from intercourse for 6 months (or was it 12? Can't remember) then we can donate - unrealistic much? And what about those clean guys in long term monogamous relationships like moi?

Yes, I read far to many vampire sci-fi books, i'm not sad, honest...

Sorry Jane, that wasn't directed at you, but for the stupid crappy system and ignorant people that came up with it. I have a very rare blood type (B rhesus -), and gave blood once (before I met my boyfriend) but now cannot - so cannot help others in this way. Really pisses my off.

[/rant]

[merlyn]

No offence taken Tom, after all I don't make the rules!

It's a tricky one, they have to be SO SO careful because the blood has to be safe for the recipient. It is a while since I received my training when the rules changed and we get very few gay men coming forward to donate anyway, but I seem to remember that if you are in a long term, monogamous relationship and you are both donors and therefore both tested then you can donate. Don't quote me on this because in a screening situation I would have to refer to a nurse anyway but if you are keen to donate and your partner would also come along then it would be worth calling the helpline to double check.

But at least you have donated, there are too many out there not even prepared to give it a try. I am aware that many people are needle phobic but plenty who do come along are very scared and still put themselves through it, those are the ones the impress me the most. The worrying ones are those that get offended and often angry and abusive, when we refuse them with a streaming cold when it will affect their receiving a milestone award, they are donating for selfish reasons. They are the ones who may not be honest in their answers and they are far more dangerous than your average gay man! People like that make my job very difficult.

Jane

[saintjamesy89]

I appreciate that great care must be taken to ensure the blood is safe for the patient, or really there isn't much of a point in donating! But from my experience of donating it was almost gay=no donation, it was in 2008 I think, I remember the form saying if you had any sexual contact with a man (if you are male) then you could not donate, but that was before the rules changed - I will ring and check though. We were and are still clean, we got tested when we first got together, it was difficult for the two weeks to abstain whilst the test results were being worked out - you know what it's like at the beginning of a new relationship!

I do remember my partner and I having a good laugh when the rules changed, would we be able to abstain from sex for 6 months? Some people say nothing is impossible, but...

I'm one of those people that don't really do getting stressed/worried much, so I was just laying there chatting to the lady, it was an odd but definitely not unpleasant experience, I didn't have any side effects or anything and went straight back to work after. I remember the staff being very nice and friendly, a credit to the NHS.

People get angry/abusive because they are refused to donate? That sounds silly, it's a good thing to donate, but if you can't there's no point in aggression! Is the blood tested after donation? I suppose otherwise you're relying on people being honest - something I wouldn't want to rely that heavily on.

[tzd-92]

[quote="merlyn"

Brought the car up last night from Colchester, you may see it around Chesterton if you keep your eyes peeled or if you are passing through Bignall End it will be on Chapel Street. She may also be seen at the Blood Donor Centre in Etruria when I am working.

Jane[/quote]

I will keep an eye out for you. If I see you I'll give you a wave I'll be in a white Polo coupe with the side and back windows plastered in stickers