Hi everyone,
It's been a long time since I've been on here so thought I'd say Hi.
First of all I want to say how thankful I am for finding this forum early in my boat life when I knew no other sailors and was scared of so much that I had to tackle in my steep learning curve.
Different ones of you reached out and made contact with me and some have become good friends, and great encouragers of me along the way. One of these friends very tragically was lost to me and this forum before Christmas when he took his life. I can't remember what his name was on the forum as after his early emails we kept contact by phone. HIs emails to me have long since been deleted I discovered when I went looking for them. This was very sad. He had asspurges syndrome and found life very difficult.
In January whilst I was already off work for a physical problem, I had a bad car accident and broke my back in 2 places. Thank God my spinal chord was not impinged and although it has been a slow recovery, I am so grateful to not be in a wheelchair, and to be back on my boat 4 weeks later with a lot of help from my son.
The last month I sailed from Yamba to Hervey Bay and back, all the but first stretch to Mooloolaba, solo. The joy in accomplishing this was indescribable!
Now I am back at work but my heart is out somewhere far away in some pretty anchorage in the sun.
Wow, just wow! 
That's been a real tough time. My heart goes out to you and I can only assume the next few years will be awsome.
Welcome back McNaughtical, always glad to have you aboard and happy that you are still with us after your accident.
You've had a rough time but nothing has stopped you living your dreams good on you????????
Glad to hear you're still fighting McNaughtical!
Baby steps mate, just remember each one, no matter how small, is a step forward, ie : in the right direction.
I predict you'll be parked up somewhere nice and relaxing with a sundowner soon, and then you look around and realise you're actually doing it, living your dream.
Hope you're doing ok!
SB
Welcome back McN. Sounds like you've had a real tough trot. Glad you think of the forum folks as good friends, because
we are. We can get so much support from each other. Keep on keeping on McN, I'm proud of you.
Welcome back McN. I hope the return to work wasn't too laborious. Glad you got to do a coastal trip before going back. Well done!
Hi Lovely
Ditto to everyone's wise comments.
As I said privately you are a lovely and resourceful person. I hold you in high esteem and admire your strength and resolution.
You deserve the prettiest and calmest of anchorages.
Kind regards always
Trace
Wow, You all have warmed my heart so much with you comments. I look forward to meeting those of you who I haven't already met, on the water somewhere down the track. You're right Sam Sturdy about the forum being full of friends.
For those of you on Facebook I have a public page with a lot of my boat adventures on it called "50 Something Girl with a Boat"
I put live videos of a lot of my trip last month up there, if any of you want to have a look.
See you on the water!!
Admire your courage and resolve. Something about the water that gives you strength.
I call it my valium with extra salt. Enjoy the good times.
Cheers
MrMac
