Paul LeClair

Happy Birthday, Paul. I guess that explains why we haven't heard from you for a while! Very happy to hear they got onto this early. You are dead right about living and taking nothing for granted. Strange times for everyone, even stranger when you throw personal health issues into the mix.

All the best for a long, happy, Laverda-filled future.

Quentino

ps Yes, public health care is something to be very very happy for. Don't ever let 'them' take it away from us!
 
In a year full of shocks, yet another!  I'd missed your occasional post here Paul, but had put it down to your living the good life. Whoa!  Major mistake on my part.  You've been through a huge life-event.  I'm so  glad to read that you are making a good recovery and, most of all, have a positive outlook.  In that regard, a good blast down the road can do wonders!  Keep it up, my friend.  When the border again opens, I hope to ride up to Nakusp after so many lost summers without Wolfgang's gathering.  Perhaps the stars will align and I can meet up with you as well.  All the best. Lawrence
 
thanks all. I have good medical advice that I can be optimistic about recovery and am learning to manage the insulin requirements, carb counting, insulin dosing calculations, etc..

I was feeling so poorly the last year or so that even at this stage of my recovery I actually feel much better, higher energy, better appetite. Hard to accept physical or endurance/energy limitations, like not lifting anything very heavy, resting more often, etc. Not used to asking for or accepting help with anything, but I am a determined sort, walking a little further each and every day. I am not good at sitting around doing nothing....

Red mentioned himself having to go back into the hospital after initial discharge. Me too, shattering emotionally, just out, looking forward to recovery from major surgery, then bloody back in again. In my case it was diabetic acid ketosis, from incorrect initial insulin management on discharge, bloody nearly killed me. Don't ever want to experience that again, bloody awful. A strong lesson that you have to take as much control of your own treatment as possible after learning as much as possible as quickly as possible to allow yourself to assess what the medical folks are telling you.

my own very best wishes to all of you and your families, I have had some direct messages relating family/personal cancer experiences, my heart goes out to everyone.

Paul LeClair
 
Wow Paul. Scary story, but glad you're still here to tell us about it. I'm a few years older than you, and so far no major health issues apart from being too fat. Makes me think all of us old farts have a bloody axe hanging over our heads waiting to fall. I'm starting feel my mortality as I get older and recognise that most of my life is behind me. Oh well, there's not much any of us can do to stop the birthdays mounting up.

At least birthdays are good for you. Those who have the most birthdays tend to live longer. All the best for your 66th birthday and those still to come.

Now to important issues: Is that a Comstar wheel I can see peeking into the left edge of your last photo? I thought you'd sold your CBX.
 
That's a pretty good excuse for not being around much, you were missed. Bet you have been thinking about all those little jobs the bikes need, always good to plan this stuff out in your mind. And remembering fun times on the bike. Now get at it, nice and steady but while you're at it, you might as well DO IT ALL. Always got a huge laugh at your little jobs mate, and 5 minutes later the bikes in tiny bits.
 
Hey Paul bloody hell man, glad you?re on the road to recovery. Don?t need any more bad news, one of our good Laverda mates here in Sydney is just recovering from a stroke. Enjoy every day! 

Marty
 
Geez Paul!

I was wondering were you where. You must be a tough old bugger to survive that ordeal and come out with a manageable diabetic condition. Life has told you to slow down and enjoy the finer things. Take care and Happy Birthday.

Ron
 
Thanks for posting Paul. This forum has a wealth of knowledge, experience and humanity (and with a lovely bent touch of humor) and not only about your bike. You think you know every curve .. then life happens!

What really counts is that you have an outlet to communicate. Stay positive 'cos that's key .... you'll rarely win a race unless you believe you can WIN.
 
Dellortoman said:
SNIP

Now to important issues: Is that a Comstar wheel I can see peeking into the left edge of your last photo? I thought you'd sold your CBX.
Click to expand...

Hi Cam

Sharp eye, spotting the Comstar wheel in the edge of one of the photos. The CBX Turbo build has been sold at least a half dozen times, each time the sale has fallen through. Back for sale again, to best CASH offer. I have had some of the weirdest trade proposals, some sort of weird old Peugeot car never sold in North America, a Harley Heritage Softail, some sort of domestic car claimed to be worth $15,000 that was probably worth $3,000, etc. What seems to be lacking is someone with cash and the mechanical balls to take over a "finished" build that likely will need at least some ongoing fettling for the rest of its existence, just like any other old bike.

The bike really is fully sorted. Took me several years and a ton of time and money. Carburation and turbo well dialed in, starts on the button and choke, idles well, runs really well, and while much larger displacement it is as tame to ride as a stock CBX until boost comes in around 5,000 - 5,500 rpm. With the Metmachex braced swing arm and slightly larger stiffer 82 CBX front end with fork brace, the bike actually handles fairly well, much better than a stock 79 CBX certainly. Since I turned the boost down to around 7 - 10 psi, it has been quite reliable as well. The locals seem to be afraid of it, have had some really strange enquiries about whether a so called "normal" Honda mechanic could work on it, to which I replied that getting any Honda mechanic to work on a stock 40 year old CBX would be a challenge itself, but if they could find one the Turbo bike is actually much simpler, only one carb, better ignition, better charging system, better brakes and suspension, etc..... Not sure why I bothered to reply to that enquiry, this is not a bike to own if the owner would be so inept as to have to take it to a service shop for a "tune up". Bloody hell.

If it doesn't sell I will just go back to riding it after I heal up. :D :D

Paul LeClair
 
I'd love to own that CBX of yours Paul. I like multi-cylinder bikes and the turbo is a little bit bonkers, which I also like (nobody ever accused me of being a rivet counter). 
A CBX 1000 would complete my set of classic production 6-cylinder bikes. I already have a Kwak Z1300 and a Benelli Sei. Only problems are cash flow and the fact that it's on the other side of the world. I'm also a little gun-shy about Australia's ban on importing anything with a molecule of asbestos hidden in it somewhere.
 
Your illness belongs not to the easy cases, good that it was recognized and operated on early. I wish you a happy birthday and many happy returns - together with your family and friends!
Thanks for your report Paul!

Cheers
Jo
 
Hello Paul,

I feel a bit guilty not having congratulated you when Facebook told me it's your birthday. Could well have been the last chance to do so, but I hope (and it sounds alike) you will give me more chances the next years, thanks for that. Nevertheless: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAUL!! I think you have every reason to celebrate and enjoy it.

We lost a fair number of good friends the past years and I am really happy and thankful you stay with us for longer. Love your positive spirit, keep on!

All the best for you and your family
 
Happy belated birthday Paul,

I wish you all the best and may you recover to a somewhat normal life with your diabetes.

Regards Gerald
 
Hey Paul.
            WOW that must have been a bit of a shock,glad to hear you are recovering well.
We  all take our health for granted until the poo hits the fan and then reality really bites.I guess most of us on this sight have had more yesterdays than we have tomorrows so we all should enjoy all the good times and thank the universe or what ever god you believe in for surviving all the bad times. I hope you have many more years of fanging down the road on all of your bikes and I wish every one on this site the same. Also happy birthday I'm sure it was one to remember.
                                                                                                    Levo
 
Hi Paul

Sending all best wishes from England. Someone very dear to me is in a similar situation, so I sadly have somewhat of a keen insight to your situation (as so many of us do). Unfortunately he has fallen just the other side of the line, and won't make it through.

So, keep on keeping on Paul, despite the circumstances, it was great to see you posting on the forum. The world is a better place because of folk like you.

Paul H
 
Paul LeClair said:
A strong lesson that you have to take as much control of your own treatment as possible after learning as much as possible as quickly as possible to allow yourself to assess what the medical folks are telling you.
Click to expand...

Boy, you are SO right there, Paul.  Me, I've just got a broken collar bone.  But the poor advice I was given at first  :o ....

Thankfully, due to an alert physio, I got to see another Doc  ... who then confirmed what I'd already read on Tinternet  :D.

And given that a broken collar bone is about the most common break, you really wouldn't think it was that difficult.  But, apparently, it still is ...

All the very best to you, and keep on riding for as long as you can!
 
Wow, when I first read pancreatic cancer, I feared the next few paragraphs were going to be about thinning the herd. Really great you caught this early on and are in recovery mode.

Sucks getting old... "Don't let the old man in" though. (Toby Keith)

Stay Well! HBD!
 
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