Michael 'Mike the Matchlock Man' is back !!!

[Matchlock]

My first thing to do is to say a heartfelt 'thanks a lot' to my dear friends here, and especially to those who kept calling me while I was at the University hospital of Regensburg, Bavaria and had to undergo some 20 surgeries, each of which took 10 to 12 hours. Very special thanks go out to my close friends 'Nando and Jim. Especially 'Nando never gave up phoning and assuring me how dearly I was needed on the forum.
God bless you!

I am also very grateful to all who posted their good wishes and prayers in 'Nando's thread on my being silent. 'Nando told me about that in many phone conversations. As always, your caring has proved to be a stimulus for me to carry on, so here I am trying to work my way back to active (forum) life.

There is another person I have often thought of, not only because of his unusual brilliance, and it felt so good seeing him post in that thread: Richard, my friend, thanks a million; man, I do wish you would jump in on my threads more often! Your comments and thoughts are much missed.

And thank you so much, Alexender, for calling me your teacher! This makes me as proud as a peacock, especially as you are such a splendid student that you will surpass your old teacher very soon!


After spending one year in bed almost all of the time, I am still very weak and all those little everyday things still absorb a tremendous lot of strength which I feel there is way too little left of. At prresent, I cannot even properly walk ...

Well, what had happened?
On September 29, 2012 I experienced a complete physical breakdown at my home, without the slightest warning. I tumbled to the floor, with a stream of blood literally gushing out of my guts. The emergency doctor estimated the amount of blood to be about one to one and a half liters. So they immediately took me from my home (and collection!) to the hospital where the first emergency surgery was done right away.
To follow was one year without even accessing a computer or the forum - imagine! I guess I missed you at least as much as you missed me ...

Much later I learned that a wellknown bacterium, helicobacter pylori, had caused severe and bleeding ulcers in my intestines.

Btw, in January, I turned 60 at the hospital, so cheers! As Johnny Cash said, 'I'm a wiser man but older - and sadder!' (see attachment)

So please allow an old man to take his time and resume posting again. Hopefully it will meet my former standards.

I will also work my way thru all the private requests that I noticed waiting patiently in my in-box; all of you will be considered, don't worry.


Best wishes as ever,
Michael

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...michael+silent

[fernando]

Oh man ... i was in despair,
In my last phone call, all i understood from your words was the last part in what you said 'don't contact me any more, thank you'. I didn't know what to make of this, as ignoring what you have first said. Only now i see what you were about flying out of the hospital ... thank all Gods.
So glad you are back with us; several questions posted here, well within your 'section', were already growing spider webs, waiting for a reply .
Take your time ... but answer them all

Yours humbly
'Nando

[Spiridonov]

It' s a really great new. I am very happy that your current condition allows to have a contact with all of us. Thank You for being with us.

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Spiridonov

It' s a really great new. I am very happy that your current condition allows to have a contact with all of us. Thank You for being with us.

Hi Alexender,

Thank you so much too for caring and keeping me up!

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

My good and dear friend 'Nando,

Don't worry and do not humiliate yourself - there is no need for such a nonsense!
I admit getting fed up with everything and everybody during the last weeks of my hospitalization; it was getting so hard I cannot tell, too hard for me to bear anyway; I was on opiates (!) for most of the time, just trying to control the various pains. So please do not take my words seriously, they were uttered out of sheer despair ...

I feel I went thru all the seven hells (actually there was a whole lot more) and back again. I was part of John's Apocalypse, Dante's Inferno and all those cruel feelings described in unparalleled impressions in Nick Cave's Mercy Seat (the electric chair)

http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/66400/

and perfectly interpreted by the late Johnny Cash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGSTiDOjKU


I got tortured and tormented by a thousand sadistic devils, got burnt with hellfire and grilled on a fiendish barbecue - scenes perfectly depicted by Hieronymus Bosch!
https://www.google.com/search?q=hier...:de%3Aofficial

I really cannot imagine where I would be today without your continuing care!!!

Now I will have to go to rehab for about 6 weeks soon, in order to do some exercise to fill the weakened muscles of my spine and the rest of my body with at least some of the strength that has all got lost during one year in bed ...

Of course I already have been busy leafing thru some posts that sound very promising, and I also noted we had a new German member Andi, who seems to be interested in some areas I can cover with sufficient authority!

As I said: please let me take my time and work my way thru these things; I will respond as quickly as possible, and have done so today on Dana W's thread on blunderbusses.



Thanks again, my warm-hearted and true friend!

With all my very best wishes,
Michl

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

... I feel I went thru all the seven hells (actually there was a whole lot more) and back again. I was part of John's Apocalypse, Dante's Inferno and all those cruel feelings described in unparalleled impressions in Nick Cave's Mercy Seat (the electric chair) perfectly interpreted by the late Johnny Cash. I got tortured and tormented by a thousand sadistic devils, got burnt with hellfire and grilled on a fiendish barbecue - scenes perfectly depicted by Hieronymus Bosch! ...

That is gone, now. Bugger Mr. Dante; back to business

Originally Posted by Matchlock

... Now I will have to go to rehab for about 6 weeks soon, in order to do some exercise to fill the weakened muscles of my spine and the rest of my body with at least some of the strength that has all got lost during one year in bed ...

Oh, you told me you would have to undergo such sessions; i hope the masseuses are gentle; just tell me if they aren't

[Micke D]

I'm happy to see that you are coming back to life again Michael!
I have not been here at the forum that much but I miss your posts!

/Mikael Dahlström,
Stockholm LockbowSociety,
Sweden

[Rick]

Huzzah times three !!
So glad to have you back with us, Michael .
This place was not the same with your absence .

[Matchlock]

Thanks, Micke,

You should really post some more stuff!

Best,
Michael

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Michael,
So very very nice to have you back with us, you were much missed. I was fearing from the time span of your absence that we may not have the pleasure of your company for some time to come but I'm absolutely delighted that although you still have some way to go to full health that a lot of the pain and worry is now but a memory.
Gott sei mit euch .
My Sincere and Warmest Regards,
Norman.

[Pukka Bundook]

Michael,

You have made my day, my week and my Year by coming back to us!
I am so very pleased, and have been so very concerned about you.
Welcome back my friend.
Must say it again, I am so very pleased.

In the near future, we hope to get High-speed access, so then it will be easier to reply to your posts with all those fantastic photos!.........no more waiting for them to load!
I am happy for you and happy with you.

Richard.

[fernando]

This time i have lost track of Michael .
I have phoned the hospital he was supposed to be for recuperation (before re-hab) and they said he wasn't with them. The operator didn't speak english; i couldn't get further details, as i ignore where re-hab takes place.
Let's hope he is back with us soon or ... at least, give us some sign.

[Matchlock]

Well, 'Nando and everybody,


So I'm finally back again and here to stay for whatever it takes!!!

I arrived only this noon after 5 weeks of intensive exercise on rehab in the Bavarian Forest, and I have been busy here on the forum ever since my arrival.

Let's call it a day now and raise our mugs with a dark neer or two to our love for cats and earliest fiearms, my friend!


More soon - boom chucka boom ...


Thank you so much, my dear friend!

Best,
Michl

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

...
Let's call it a day now and raise our mugs with a dark beer or two to our love for cats and earliest fiearms, my friend! ...

A glass (or two, or three) of red whine it will be on this side. My cats prefer whine to beer; who am i to contradict them ?