Top Man

[jeff1954]

Thank,s to Mike Kennedy for all the help and contributions he has made to this forum. I would like to wish him all the best for the future and I hope his health issues ie back problems are sorted out in the very near future.

All the best Mike.

Jeff

[Equalizer]

Hear, hear!

[Gary220262]

Thanks for the help you've given me over the years, the ride in J44 , and hope your feeling better soon 'you grizzly old git' . Gary

[robv12]

yeah the real grumpy old man is our Mike, but he is a great mate, a true gent which is a rare breed these days, we have had some great laughs, done a few things, been a few places together, I'll miss his laconic humour from the wheelhouse of the SS Kennedy, get well soon dear boy and keep in touch, otherwise I will visit Farehem Creek and pull your plug out my floating friend!!

[Brakebuster]

, otherwise I will visit Farehem Creek and pull your plug out my floating friend!!

DUNE !!

best film of all time

best wishes Mike

BB

[Montana5]

Just like to echo the sentiments of others here, thanks Mike for the welcome and introduction to the S Type Bulletin Board, for all your hands on tech guides in the Magazine, for your assistance in putting together the STR Anniversary Events and most of all for your enthusiasm of all things S Type. I really hope your health improves and we can meet up again very soon.

Doug.

[J44EAG]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Things have not been easy recently. I never thought sciatica could affect one so much. I got hit early in September 2013 with the condition. For the next three weeks, life was a misery. Effectively raging cramp in my right leg and foot. I never thought that just one incident could change ones life so markedly and in so many areas. So be it. The condition has moderated somewhat and I`m due for an epidural block in the near future. Apparently that should calm the sciatic nerve down somewhat and make life more tolerable. Perhaps I can then reacquire the two and a half stone I`ve lost since September. Worry not. I shall make some recovery but I think the leg will never be the same again.

No doubt you will all understand how profoundly damaging something like sciatica can be. It certainly has affected me in many aspects of life. Concentration, creativity and physical ability has been badly affected as has mobility. i am in the throws of changing occupation also to try to make life less physically arduous. Once I can get life back under control, then no doubt some of those previous attributes may return. Until that occurs, I need to off load various parts of my life and give myself some recovery time after which I hope I may return to writing again with more enthusiasm than I can presently muster.

I do hope that someone will take over where I have left off. Being a Co-ordinator is great fun and the sessions with the other Co-ordinators can be extremely rewarding and frequently extremely amusing. Anyone taking on the role should however realise tat a fair degree of personal and creative input is required to service the Forum pages in the magazines. Nigel cannot generate all the input and this is where a good Forums man really comes into his own. I`m happy to guide and hand hold anyone who thinks they may be able to fulfill the role. Talk to Mike Horlor, `Orrible Rob or myself if you wish to learn more.

I`m not dropping out of the Jaguar scene completely. I`ll continue as Moderator here and continue as Portsmouth Region Chairman for as long as the Region wish. I expect to be around at JEC events and possibly at the National Days.

I`ve made many friends via the JEC and I`m keen that continues. So please keep in touch in the ways we have in the past.

So I am taking a sdeline chair for a while and see if things improve for the future.

Thank you all again for your kind wishes.

Mike

[poprivet]

Wishing you well Mike, I think the shock of owning that XJ-S was just too much!

[raysearles]

Mike

I hope that things improve for you in 2014, and that you may be back to your fighting weight in the fullness of time - you will be missed during your sabbatical!

All the best

[Martec]

Best wishes Mike.

Brian

[SteveKK]

Mike,
There is hope of recovery from sciatica. 4 years ago I suffered and gradually got worse, until one morning when I just couldn't sit down at all because of the pain. I'd been through this before and recovered within a couple of weeks, so wasn't too worried.

However this time I didn't get better and spent a couple of months working from my bed. I was lucky to have a job that allowed me to do this. This was a very low period as I felt like my life was on hold. I'd watched my new garage being build while laid up and could get into a car to use it.

Eventually I was recommended for surgery and had a microdiscectomy, which was a complete success. Since then I've had the odd twinge, but I know a good osteopath, who I tend to see every 6 months, just as a preventative measure.

I'd like to thank you for all you do for the club. I know how much goes on behind the scenes of a car club as for many years now I've been on the committee for another (kit) car club. Without people like you willing to put in that extra effort there would be no club for the other members.

Look after yourself and get better soon.

Regards,
Steve

[J44EAG]

Thank you all once again for you kind remarks. i`ve had a large email reaction and I must thank those members also.

The effect of the sciatica has been brutal with only a small improvement after four months. However following an MRI before Christmas, just four hours ago, I had an epidural type blocking session done at QAH in Portsmouth. The effect has been quite remarkable although I realise it is early hours. I feel about 100 years younger. The anesthetist consultant was superb and I watched him work on me via two TV X ray screens.

I have to say I feel as if I might just have got my life back again. The next few days will tell. I`ll rest up and take it easy. Ankle is still wonky, toes a bit prickly and the calf muscle much more comfortable. The back up staff were total stars. I`ve never experienced such care and concern. OK the wait for treatment seemed interminable but once you are on the table, I think we experience the best health service available. Stuff the critics and the well known politician who regularly tries to wreck this very necessary part of our public services.

The JEC brotherhood is quite incredible. Portsmouth Region Vice Chairman Tony Reddaway and Treasurer Vince Lavendar have been true bricks of support during this difficult period. Indeed, Vince took me in today and later collected me. In addition I have also received huge support from my aged parents. So to those people and also to my friends here in our Club site, I offer you my deepest gratitude. What a bullet proof set up we enjoy.

Changing the subject slightly here is the photographic story of my lucky escape before Christmas when the boat behind mine suffered a gas explosion and caught fire. This also took out another boat. Marvel at how my old workshop yacht moored less than three feet away escaped unmarked and how my grey motor boat also survived. The occupants of the yacht survived, one totally ok and the other with a broken ankle. Cause of the explosion was a gas leak ignited when a big fat spark from the starter motor blew that Sunday calm to smithereens. Had the wind been blowing from the North, then the story for me would have been very different. There for the Grace of God, go I.

View from my rear cabin after the fire brigade left.

The boat that exploded.

The boat that also became severely damaged.

One of my two boats that survived. "Pieceapoo" the £300 workshop and laundry yacht lives to fight another day.

These images don`t really show the scale of damage. Prepared to be horrified. I hate gas on boats. No second chances. Here is the Hampshire Fire Service YouTube video on the incident.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... G4&cad=rja

Cheers Guys.

Mike

[Martec]

I'm really glad to hear things are improving for you Mike, I hope the recovery continues apace.

Best wishes

Brian

[Equalizer]

Glad you're okay and amazing how quick things can change for anyone or anything at anytime. The damage to the boats looks awful but good job no-one seriously hurt - boats can be re-built, people can't.

[sheldon1]

Good Luck in your recovery Mike and hope to see you again at one of the JEC events.

Thankyou for your advice on Locking wheel nuts, Autogearbox oil change and Dampers.

Kind Regards

Paul Matthews