Ajourney to a new lifestyle

In 2000 I was diagnosed as having Asbestosis in both lungs. I managed to work until I had a heart attack in 2002 and was then medically retired from my job in local government.

That is when my life was turned upside down.  Ill health, no job and the prospect of being dependent on oxygen within 5 years. I was damned but refused to give in. The doctors told me to move to the country, during this time my wife had no understanding of the trauma and soon divorce proceedings were instigated by her which made my condition worse. The fat lady was singing. I could hear her very clearly. I ended up losing all my material wealth except for my car and was also penniless. I took lodgings with an old friend who had lost her husband some 4 years earlier. She needed a husband like she needs a hole in the head. I was just a lodger with my own front door key and room and came and went as I pleased. However a couple of weeks later my ex-wife came and tried to wreck my landlady’s home and told us she would get someone to burn us out when we were in our beds.

This, of course, brought on more stress. I began to get very ill my lungs would lock out and palpitations would hit me without warning even in my sleep. My pelvic floor would open up under stress of climbing stairs or walking up anywhere that was remotely steep and I could quite easily wet myself.

My landlady and I became an item shortly after the threats of fire. We pooled our money bought a caravan, went on holiday, and when we returned decided to sell up.

The story of survival starts here.