A short goodbye.

[Andy Milner]

Ladies and gentlemen (terms used advisedly),

I just wanted say a short goodbye from one of the more silent partners of this wonderful forum.

Long story short, end stage pancreatic cancer, 2-6 months.

This is just a quick thank you for your humour, your knowledge, your experience, your patience and the vast amount of information you all impart so freely, thus allowing people like myself to learn. It has enabled me to build a small collection of around 500 predominantly vintage bottles which have been carefully passed on to my relatives as a collection to be built upon, nurtured and drunk at an appropriate time.

Take care my friends and take a short lesson from someone going a tad too soon, imbibe freely today, we have no knowledge of how many tomorrow's there will be.

Best regards
Andy

[winesecretary]

Oh damn. I am so sorry. Thank you for letting us know. I will open some Fonseca 1992, and say 'ave atque vale'.

[MigSU]

Absolutely shocking to read this. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. Like George, I'll drink in your honour this weekend. I hope you can at least make the most of whatever time you have left. See you on the other side.

[mcoulson]

sound advice ... I raise a glass to you .....

[Mike J. W.]

Andy, we don't know each other, but nonetheless, that's terribly sad news to read. That must have been very difficult to write and I applaud your courage. I hope you find peace and comfort in your family over the next few months. God bless.

[Andy Milner]

Oh damn. I am so sorry. Thank you for letting us know. I will open some Fonseca 1992, and say 'ave atque vale'.

Having an end of life party and that's one of the bottles on the menu, cheers!

[Andy Milner]

Andy, we don't know each other, but nonetheless, that's terribly sad news to read. That must have been very difficult to write and I applaud your courage. I hope you find peace and comfort in your family over the next few months. God bless.

Many thanks Mike, I'm in a good place, 59 is no age but appreciate all the comments and genuinely I'll go with a smile and a glass (emptied!)

[jdaw1]

Thank you for sharing this tough news, which I’m surprised and sad to learn, and which likely wasn’t easy to write.

We will drink to your best-possible comfort.

Oh damn. I am so sorry. Thank you for letting us know. I will open some Fonseca 1992, and say 'ave atque vale'.

Having an end of life party and that's one of the bottles on the menu, cheers!

But this is proper stylish.

[Andy Milner]

Thank you for sharing this tough news, which I’m surprised and sad to learn, and which likely wasn’t easy to write.

We will drink to your best-possible comfort.

Oh damn. I am so sorry. Thank you for letting us know. I will open some Fonseca 1992, and say 'ave atque vale'.

Having an end of life party and that's one of the bottles on the menu, cheers!

But this is proper stylish.

Why thank you Sir.
For proprietarys sake the full menu is a slightly eclectic one
Grahams 85
Fonseca 92
QDV 94
Dows 97
Noval 00
Taylor 03
With a couple of outliers as back ups
Noval 66
Ferreira 11

[Andy Milner]

Thank you for sharing this tough news, which I’m surprised and sad to learn, and which likely wasn’t easy to write.

We will drink to your best-possible comfort.

Oh damn. I am so sorry. Thank you for letting us know. I will open some Fonseca 1992, and say 'ave atque vale'.

Having an end of life party and that's one of the bottles on the menu, cheers!

But this is proper stylish.

Why thank you Sir.
For proprietarys sake the full menu is a slightly eclectic one
Grahams 85
Fonseca 92
QDV 94
Dows 97
Noval 00
Taylor 03
With a couple of outliers as back ups
Noval 66
Ferreira 11

Scorecard may be posted but notes are unlikely

[Glenn E.]

So very sorry to hear this, Andy. Thank you for letting us know, and may the rest of your days be as peaceful and comfortable as possible, and surrounded by friends and family.

I will definitely think of you every time I open a 1970 or 1945 Graham!

[Andy Milner]

So very sorry to hear this, Andy. Thank you for letting us know, and may the rest of your days be as peaceful and comfortable as possible, and surrounded by friends and family.

I will definitely think of you every time I open a 1970 or 1945 Graham!

I am truly grateful that that 45 Graham went somewhere it would be properly appreciated, thanks Glenn

[PhilW]

I'm very sorry to hear the news of your situation. A port tasting for your end of life party sounds like a very fitting choice for a member of this forum; I hope the tasting goes well, and echo the thoughts of others in wishing you best-possible comfort.

[idj123]

Desperately sad news Andy it certainly makes me reflect given we share the same age. The port party is a great idea however. I will raise a glass of our favourite tipple to you at the port Forum Christmas bash next week. Godspeed.

[flash_uk]

Very sorry to hear, Andy. While you may consider yourself a more silent partner, you have I think now made an eternal contribution to the forum with the fabulous creation of the inaugural port end of life party. Will join Ian next week in raising a glass to you.

[akzy]

Andy, we never had the pleasure to meet but I am saddened but also touched by your message to the forum. I can only say that I wish you a peaceful good bye surrounded by those you love, and of course, some excellent Port. Next glass shall have a toast to you.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If I recall correctly, Graham 1985 is your favourite Port.

I shall take a bottle with me when we get together next week so we can think on your advice and salute your contribution to the forum.

Thank you Andy, and for your patience in finding a way to eventually get together to get Glenn’s Port to him.

On reflection, I bought a couple of the bottles of Graham 1970 from Glenn (so he had 12 bottles to pack and ship). One of your bottles would seem a fitting choice of Port for us to share on Thursday.

May your remaining days be full of family and comfort.

[Andy Milner]

If I recall correctly, Graham 1985 is your favourite Port.

I shall take a bottle with me when we get together next week so we can think on your advice and salute your contribution to the forum.

Thank you Andy, and for your patience in finding a way to eventually get together to get Glenn’s Port to him.

On reflection, I bought a couple of the bottles of Graham 1970 from Glenn (so he had 12 bottles to pack and ship). One of your bottles would seem a fitting choice of Port for us to share on Thursday.

May your remaining days be full of family and comfort.

Many thanks Alex for the wishes and you are correct about the Graham 85 (possible slight bias fromone particularly fine bottle), although the QDV 94 at Xmas last was startlingly good. Thanks also to you and your good lady for facilitating the transfer to Glenn, much appreciated. Hopefully the 70 is as good as the ones I retained from that purchase.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Andy

We opened a bottle of the 1970 Graham from your cellar this evening and drank a toast to you. The bottle was superb and compared extremely well against its competition - which included wines such as Fonseca 1922 and Taylor 1948.

We wish you all the very best for the next weeks and months with your family and friends.

All the best,

Alex

[rich_n]

Very sad news indeed, fingers crossed you're able to spend plenty of time with family and friends, and to enjoy some good indulgences. I'll raise a glass to you next time I'm enjoying some good port.