Have decided I have become neurotic

A manicure kit in your bag with nail scissors should do the trick. You did make me smile though to think of you being stopped and searched then arrested under the influence with an offensive weapon

Hoping you get out on your new scooter really soon - what a great achievement that first trip will be!

Go for it annie and report back!

Plastic rain hats are still available

Other retailers stock them as well

www.amazon.co.uk/CLEAR-PLASTIC-RAIN-HOODS-3PACK/dp/B005NIA220?tag=gransnetforum-21

annie I am very claustrophobic (well I was for 40 years till I decided to take myself in hand) I know there is not much point telling you it will be fine. You need to find a solution that will make you feel ok. Your safety net. You never need to use it just to have it there. A small pair of pointed craft scissors could do the trick. I wouldn't think they would be classed as dangerous as they are not very long but they should be enough to cut a hole in the plastic.
Go on annie get out there with Fred and do let us know how you get on. Good luck.

Thank you Jalima but no thank you. Not the right look for a gangsta granny on the rampage ?

Willow, it could happen, one of my goals is to attended a monthly poetry group, held in a local pub !

Bella, I will, stand by for some mega showing off. And I will have my younger granddaughter show me how to put a photograph of Fred and me outside the pub , on poetry night .

Doodle, yes a safety net . Take me ages to get it all together, scissor, rescue remedy , phone, sun glasses , my attempt at a disguise.

A boy I taught should have been on a food website researching healthy breakfasts but instead was looking at Google Earth. He spotted me creeping up on him and said, 'Look at this, Miss. What are the chances eh?'

When I asked him what he was looking at he said it was his grandmother's house then pointed to what I thought was a old lady on a mobility scooter heading off down the pavement.

' Just my luck,' he said. She'll kill me if she ever sees this. She has a sleep every afternoon so I thought I'd take it for a spin.'

Small steps, or should I say small wheels, I hope you achieve your first goal in attending the monthly poetry group Annie, in a pub of all places! A tea shop at least, then you could wash that tea down with some Bara Brith yum! yum! Never mind I'm sure you'll make do with some pork scratchings

I too cary a "safety net" bag whenever I go out annie. In mine is an inhaler in case of breathing problems due to claustrophobia & asthma ( not used in years but has to be with me) one sweet in case I start coughing, two folded tissues in case I forget to pick some up before I leave and ...spare pair of knickers in case of accident well you never know.

Apologies if already suggested but what about one of those small safety cutters/ parcel openers ? Discreet and practical too.

www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Cutter-Safety-Cutters-Assorted/dp/B01DOB3TBI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?psc=1&keywords=parcel+opener+cutter&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1536305738&sr=8-1-spons

Ymlaen, Annie, Ymlaen! Embrace the canopy and don’t let this thing beat you! I rode a motor scooter in the sixties and I remember how bloody ‘orrible it was in wet weather!!

merlot, in this cul de sac during school holidays often see children on their grandparents scooters ?

Terri, the pub allows a room ,no bar, to be used by locals for poetry group and a few other groups , think one group is local history , bet they go into bar after ?

Doodle, poor you, I have only had this problem 10 months x

Thank you gilly x

Greyduster , yes it’s conopy or get wet , will choose canopy ?

Hope you can get out there soon, Annie.

For you annie!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=w1nb_T1JKps&feature=youtu.be

in this cul de sac during school holidays often see children on their grandparents scooters

Little darlings.

Thank you Nandalot, I will get out there

merlot, they really ride around the Cul de Sac , from one bungalow two children share a scooter, one on the seat and one hanging onto the back.

Katek, that video was hilarious, I found it on uTube after looking at your link and mailed it to my granddaughters ?

Just GO Annie!
When you've done it a few times it will become easier.
Short trips first, then increase.

Just to say I decided to take Fred out for a little run today, rain had stopped, no one around, checked my son in law who isn’t was home and was answering his mobile, had a panic, not a big one, unzipped canopy, bigger panic, sat on seat then , went back indoors.

I had forgotten I had to charge Fred’s battery ?

Oh Annie, you have made me laugh.

I do hope you get some good weather for a jaunt tomorrow. But please tell me you’ve ditched the Stanley knife.

Didn’t take a knife Maggie, hence the panic after I unzipped the canopy and got in

I can’t take Fred out until I buy an extension reel , plug one end in the hall and the other end outside in Fred.

Cars are certaintly less of a problem, one only has to phone the garage ?

Annie, you made me laugh as well. Oh brilliant, thought I, Annie has gone for a drive. Then I got to the bit where you hadn't charged it up. ☔️ ? ?
One day Annie, one day, you will terrorise your close, and we will all be behind you cheering. Go girl.

I was going today Auntieflo, Fred wouldn’t ?, felt a plonker when I had to phone son in law who isn’t to say I was back home, less than five minutes since the call to tell him I was leaving the house .

It was the support here that spurred me on today ?

So, Annie, how’s it going???

Not going well Bellanonna, was going to try EFT for help with the wretched phobia, the practitioner has given up, she is home teaching her grandson.

I am now thinking buying the canopy was a big mistake, my first step was riding Fred around the paths near my bungalow, the canopy makes it difficult for reversing and doing my five point turns ! And it frightens me.

Wish there was a treatment for regaining confidence. Mine seems to have reached rock bottom and still drilling !

Thank you for asking.

Funny moment this morning, was still in bed when postman delivered. Tesco delivery chap came with my order, told me there was a parcel under the csnopy on Fred’s Seat , it was raining to postman put parcel in there. So it has a use ?

Hi Annie - can you take the canopy off and take a chance that it doesn't rain?
When I am feeling less than confident I say to myself "I am what I am".........somehow it makes me feel better but I can't explain why.
Give it a go and stop beating yourself up!!

Fred is an expensive parcel box! He needs to earn his cost and feel useful, Annie. You'll have to get him going somehow.