Mixed ending to 2009

The Maldon Folk Festival this year turned out to be a real stinker with the weather, but that is better than it pouring down!

• Maldon Folk Festival 2009

I ,mentioned that Greg Chandler wanted to see my at the Festival.  A week later passed away, massive heart attack just before being prepped up for open heart surgery.  A sad lost of my oldest friend from Maldon.

In November and December our Tasmanian accident in 2006 was brought back to us with a very nasty Xmas present from Budget.

• 4 Years Later Our Tasmanian Accident ...

The real plus was the reforming of Turning Blue to play their first full gig in 10 years at the Black Hatt (De La Ville)

I went to the Blues Club's New Years Eve event, Bluestone, which turned out to be the last one at Modewarre.  We were glad it was not as hot as previous year, and no swarms of bugs either!

Og, Mr Merls & Somerled at the Hawks vs Bombers

This is a bit of an annual event for myself and my boys.  It used to be right on my birthday weekend.

You might remember two years ago it was the choice between having a bypass done and going to the match.

This year it is the 2nd time we meet them, in August, rather than than our usual 1st in May

I am the Hawks supporter, but sadly (bad parenting), Mr Merls and Somerled are Bombers supporters.
Even more sadly we lost :-(

Though never a player of Australian Rules I enjoy very much attending the games.

I get a membership every year and really enjoy the comradre of going to the matches.

• Hawks 9-13-67 Crows 13-16-94

It can be painful at time though as we don't always put in the 100 plus percent.  But I have also been at ones that we pull out of the hat!

So what else aren't you telling us Mr Merls?

It has been a bit of a struggle since Eric has gone and even though I thought I would bounce right back. I have since realised the doctors were right when they said it would take about 18 months to get well again from being so run down from Eric not working properly. My Specialist felt it would do me some good, so I headed off to the Echuca Winter Blues Festival with Merlin and Somerled, my two boys.
It was an intense effort to get there, and when we did it was as cold as ice.

It took us until Saturday the next day to really get our bearings, but once we did Mr Merls, Somerled and myself were off and running.

• Me and My Boys’ Echuca Winter Blues Festival

One must be humble when fame is thrust upon them

I have heard rumours and feedback that I have unwittingly become a bit of a celebrity as a quintessential Hawks Football fan being referred to at length several times on national radio. One must be humble when fame is thrust upon them, so thus I must accept the title of "Lord Og Bear OOC".

Vale Eric the Kidney

Lady Bear picking me up from Monash Hospital after saying goodbye [Photo: Linda]

As many of you are aware, I had a kidney transplant in March 2008, but unfortunatly Eric never really took, and has been is steady decline ever since with extended stays at St Vincents towards the end of 2008. My health had reached crisis point in early 2009 where it was decided to resume dialysis. It was then decided that to aid me in recovering my health and to assist moving on to another transplant that it would be better to remove Eric. This was done in early June.

Merl's 30th Birthday with myself and Lady Bear at Fujisan [Photo: Anonymous]

Hardly out of hospital, Lady Bear and myself took Merlin out for his 30th birthday.

A bit of a different festival this year

• Apollo Bay Music Festival 2009

Merlin came with me to the Apollo Bay Music Festival. A bit of a different festival this year but we still had a good time.

Og at the 2009 Ocean Grove Summer Festival

Mid January sees the Ocean Grove Summer Festival.  It is hot and our seaside village is full of holiday makers.

It is a good little festival with 4 or 5 good quality bands through the day and stalls all along the main street which is closed off for the occassion.

At the other end of the street they also had a young performers stage featuring some really good local up and coming acts.

Spotted Matty and Sarah in the crowd, a bit of a surprise.  Also Chris and Karla and a few others.

For more 2009 Ocean Grove Summer Festival photos check out :

https://picasaweb.google.com/102935184649222300700/OceanGroveSummerFestival2009