Reasons to be glad:

[hectormac]

The kidney thing: the latest and most exhaustive tests are in and - suddenly, apparently - I am not in imminent danger of popping my clogs. Dontcha just love the medical profession? Well, I did demand worst-case scenario. Nope, just a fairly lightweight drug regime and the possibility of some surgery down the line. Hell, if I get to 65 uncut,

Comments

[snowcalla]

It sounds like things are looking up for you, which is great. Good luck on your new career venture, how exciting!

[hectormac]

Thanks! It's good to be cheerful again after a rather shitty three months in terms of work, health and heart. A good wallow in self-pity is actually quite therapeutic, but there eventually comes a time when you gotta kick your own arse (not easy!) and start living again.

[bobbsy]

Happy to read all your news, particularly that about the kidneys. Kidneys marinated in single malt could be an interesting recipe, but probably best done with lambs' kidneys rather than your own!

Your photographic venture sounds interesting and I'll be interested to hear how you get on with it. Back in my university days I enjoyed doing photos commercially (mainly weddings with a smattering of school shots and a lot of portfolio photos for the acting students at the uni) for a few years but after a while it became a grind and, after graduation, I didn't do much photography for years.

I'm sending you an email about the pension thing...

[staglet_5]

Glad to hear that the prognosis on your kidneys is good, may you have many more years of whisky drinking left!

Out of professional curiosity what Aussie red were you drinking? Is it of the Penfold's variety?

[hectormac]

Oz knows how to name wines - this one was less of The Dead Arm than The Dead Head (the following day). Very big and VERY lush.

[staglet_5]

Awesome wine, had a taste of it myself a couple of months back when the boss brought it in and did a horizontal tasting with Wynn's Michael Shiraz and Penfold's RWT. I can't remember what year, 1996 or 98 (I left my tasting notes at work) but all three were huge and would keep going for at least another 5-10 years. Can't beat a good Aussie Shiraz to knock you for six! *Remembers St Hallett's Old Block Shiraz very fondly*.

[bobbsy]

Wine ponce fact: "Dead Arm" is a fungus that affects vines all over the world. One "arm" of the vine tends to die off and become brittle but, when this happens, the other arm tends to produce fruit with an amazing intensity.

I don't know what year you enjoyed but it was quite an olive branch--even down here, a bottle of 2005 goes for around $65 (£30) though I've noticed that, as you go up the scale, prices here don't differ much from the UK. It's at the cheaper end that we have the advantage--a £2 bottle would be battery acid there but here you get a really drinkable wine!

[gatorsunshine]

I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear ALL your good news. Especially the kidney part...no damn it, it's all good! :>

Can't wait to see how the photography business goes for you. Ed has been "discovered" after doing a social shoot at a grand opening by a rich Columbian who insists he take all his family photos, internet business photos, and wants him to come to Miami and take photos at his parties down there. All because of a picture he took of the man's two sons. So you never know what is on the horizon. Good luck and I'm always sending good thought your way.

[hectormac]

Thanks - and thanks again. Can't tell you how much your email helped. That was just about the grimmest (huh? ok, most grim . . ) time. Good to hear about Ed - he seems to have that talent for making his subjects happy and relaxed. I'm supersmooth with a reporter's notebook but turn into a proper little Hitler when behind a camera. Not good for wedding groups.