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

Good finish to 2008

I decided I would go to Queenscliff this year as they seem to have given the Festival a broader appeal this year.

• Queenscliff Music Festival 2008.
  

For the first time in our lives Lady Bear and myself were treated to Xmas dinner put on by our boys, Merlin and Somerled. As Lady said, "This was nice, perhaps we could do it again next year".

• Bluestone 2008
  

I did Bluestone 2008 from home this year. After being in and out of hospital with Eric since September I just did not feel up to camping so I went home in the wee hours of the New Year to recover then came back again mid morning for the next day's bands.

Lighthouses of Australia Reunion

In November (2008) we had a reunion with many of the foundation members of Lighthouses of Australia at Point Lonsdale.

This is the part of my life that I really miss now I am on dialysis, the adventures we had.
It was good to catch up after all these years, and this would be the last time we would be all together with Ed.

Eric, a short bout of freedom

• I felt the need to return to my own country.
  
• Catching up with Lady Bear and Maldon.
  
• Exit Bubbles, the dialysis machine.
  
• Apollo Bay Music Festival 2008.
  

Last night Ruth and I went to see Queensland Theatre Company's "Heroes", based on the hilarious French play of 3 old veterans trying to escape from a home for invalid soldiers in the late 1950s. The scary thing was that I actually knew some of the characters!

I have not felt like adding anything more as so much has been up in the air. There have been a few issues with Eric The Kidney and I have felt that I would rather say nothing for the moment until I have more of an idea how things are travelling.

It all came to a bit of a head with me ending up in St Vincents for around 6 weeks with no real outcome. It became quite frustrating as I semed to be in their too hard basket, but some respite came as I did make it away for a few days to get to Maldon.

• Maldon Folk Festival 2008.
  

I am now at home again. I went back for another 10 days and then we all agreed as we were going nowhere, and things seem to be stable, the best place for me was at home.

I am now going to Monash Medical Center under a different team and am much happier with how things are being handled. They feel I am stable and seem to be happier for me to be at home, only coming in when something needs to be done.

Eric the Kidney

I had a kidney transplant on Wed 12 Mar 2008 and came home on Fri (Good) 21 Mar 2008.

• Eric the Kidney has arrived!
  
• Eric the Kidney has his own MySpace page.
  

This year (2008) Ruth and I went to see Bell Shakespeare's "As You Like It". Despite being 3 hours it was good. I love the way John Bell presents Shakespeare. See it if you can!



I have been able to get away a bit now I am not tied to the dialysis machine.

Out and about 2007

I went to the Maldon Folk Festival again and got really bad food poisoning on the first day and went home early!!

But I made up for it with a few other activities to finish 2007.

Og enjoying the company of fellow blues fans at the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club in 2007.

Og Bear trying to get some relief from the heatwave New Years Eve at Bluestone 2007.