The Auswine Forum

Does anybody know how Ric is keeping or has anybody heard from him lately?
I remember him having some health issues a year or two ago and wonder if he is alright now.

Haven't asked Brian(The Red Bigot) for some time now but Ric's health had improved a bit when last I enquired.
Don't anticipate Ric's return to the wine forums though. I miss his feisty, flinty comments on more than just red wines. If those here who remember care to post on this thread Brian may give us an update if Ric gives his approval for it.

Does this mean its safe to say Sauvignon Blanc?

Craig(NZ) wrote:Does this mean its safe to say Sauvignon Blanc?

Only if you're drowning in it in Marlborough NZ - and don't expect to be rescued..............

Craig(NZ) wrote:Does this mean its safe to say Sauvignon Blanc?

Only if "Cat's Piss" is used in the same sentence. I do miss his rapier sharp wit and very honest wine reviews.

Maybe we start up a "Bring Back TORB" Facebook page if I knew how to drive Facebook......

Carl

Like so many of the originals on the various boards, Torb and co. no longer grace us with their knowledge, wit and vinous guile. 'Tis a real shame but as most of these people will probably readily admit and more than likely understand, shit happens. Sad to see Boccaccio go as a board, too, but I think they got hacked once too often.

If any of these "polarised posters" still lurk occasionally in these parts, can I offer you all my best regards (or a giant get stuffed - as we used to greet each other in another etheral place!) and hope things are only getting better for you as time rolls on.

I think he posted on here (or maybe it was a different site) that he has been very busy with is own board so he hasn't really had time to visit other forums like he used to..not just Australian ones but others as well....

Richard was an occasional interloper on a certain UK site but hasn't posted since March 2009.

I first encountered Ric on the old Winepros site of James Halliday and Len Evans in the forum on that site. He introduced me to this site before it moved to it's second generation and to StarForum when it was first established, this site adopting a similar format not long after. I don't know what his illness is/was but Ric was suffering from a serious condition that caused him to sell his pet shop business in the southern NSW highlands and to withdraw from the world of wine commentary. He and the original Red Bigot, Brian Handreck were good friends, indeed Brian was the editor of Ric's tour diaries, some tours their having participated in together. The last time I asked Brian of Ric's condition a year or two ago, he was improved but still not well. There, I suggest, we leave Ric to himself with wishes for his wellness and for want of a more appropriate phrase, let sleeping dogs lie.

Miss you Ric and thanks for your wit and informed comment.

daz

For anyone interested, the website still exists http://www.torbwine.com/home.shtml with a disclaimer that it is closed and still available for historical interest.

The historical interest includes some of the aforementioned tour diaries, which still make entertaining reading.

Good health, Ric

Allan

dlo wrote:Like so many of the originals on the various boards, Torb and co. no longer grace us with their knowledge, wit and vinous guile. 'Tis a real shame but as most of these people will probably readily admit and more than likely understand, shit happens. Sad to see Boccaccio go as a board, too, but I think they got hacked once too often.

If any of these "polarised posters" still lurk occasionally in these parts, can I offer you all my best regards (or a giant get stuffed - as we used to greet each other in another etheral place!) and hope things are only getting better for you as time rolls on.

Thanks for the reminder DLo. Good to see Craig (NZ) still posting in his time outs between running over mountains.

Ric is fine guys, he sold his pet supplies shop a few years back and is still living in the same place near Berrima with a variety of cats and dogs and some egg-laying chickens.

He's spent some of the proceeds on a big array of woodworking gear and spends a lot of time making various items for himself, relatives and friends, the biggest of which is a large kitchen island bench with a very thick/heavy parquetry-block chopping bench top.

He still enjoys a good red, although not in as much quantity as in some times past. We get together every few months, usually for dinner at Eschalot or an occasional visit of him to Canberra.

He's definitely retired from wine-writing and any online wine activities other than purchasing. I probably visit his site about once every couple of weeks, there is still a wealth of information there.

Thanks for the good news, Brian.

Thanks Brian,

It is good to hear Ric is doing well, I sure do miss his comments.

Thanks Brian

We don't hear enough from you anymore either - miss your pithy comments, no bullshit and good sense

all the best

Luke

Luke W wrote:Thanks Brian

We don't hear enough from you anymore either - miss your pithy comments, no bullshit and good sense

all the best

Luke

Thanks Luke, but I'm busy with my own site and subscribers-only Forum now.
I've just passed my post count here on my Forum, not bad for 2 and a half years, only n4sir has passed my count here, although Craig (NZ) is getting close.

Despite Gavin thinking we are in competition, we really are not, the last time I "advertised" here and offended him I scored one new member. There are some who post on both forums, but it's a different group mostly, only about 350 members, but pretty active.

Brian, thanks for the update on the irascible Ric's current circumstances. It's pleasing to know he's keeping himself occupied and that you're still in touch with each other. Perhaps you could issue a challenge to him to cook a thai-style omelette for you using his free-range eggs! Just a thought bubble Please pass to him my personal best regards and wishes for his wellness.

daz

Hey Brian, nice to hear from you. Hope you and Andrea are both well and enjoying life. Been a very long time between drinks with you guys so let me know if you're down in Sydney or going to Eschallot with Ric and we might see if we can come up for the weekend or something. Same email and same mobile. Give Ric our love too if you see him.

Red Bigot wrote:Thanks Luke, but I'm busy with my own site and subscribers-only Forum now.
I've just passed my post count here on my Forum, not bad for 2 and a half years, only n4sir has passed my count here, although Craig (NZ) is getting close.
.

Replying to this post gets me even closer
I heard you get a bottle of 1990 Grange when you hit 3000 posts?

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:Thanks Luke, but I'm busy with my own site and subscribers-only Forum now.
I've just passed my post count here on my Forum, not bad for 2 and a half years, only n4sir has passed my count here, although Craig (NZ) is getting close.
.

Replying to this post gets me even closer
I heard you get a bottle of 1990 Grange when you hit 3000 posts?

You're almost right for once, Craig. Can't guarantee it will be a 1990 .... but what I can guarantee you - whatever vintage it is, it will be empty.

bacchaebabe wrote:Hey Brian, nice to hear from you. Hope you and Andrea are both well and enjoying life. Been a very long time between drinks with you guys so let me know if you're down in Sydney or going to Eschallot with Ric and we might see if we can come up for the weekend or something. Same email and same mobile. Give Ric our love too if you see him.

Hi Kris, it has been a long time, we don't get to Sydney much in recent years, unless it's a quick dash to Langtons or to the airport on the way out, I'd rather drive in Bangkok than Sydney these days. I'll certainly pass on your message to Ric and keep you in mind if we are organising something. Andrea finishes work in 2 weeks, I need to get my act together.

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:Thanks Luke, but I'm busy with my own site and subscribers-only Forum now.
I've just passed my post count here on my Forum, not bad for 2 and a half years, only n4sir has passed my count here, although Craig (NZ) is getting close.
.

Replying to this post gets me even closer
I heard you get a bottle of 1990 Grange when you hit 3000 posts?

I should hit 3000 on my Forum tomorrow, 3 to go, but it's scheduled to be an AFD, so no Grange.

daz wrote:Brian, thanks for the update on the irascible Ric's current circumstances. It's pleasing to know he's keeping himself occupied and that you're still in touch with each other. Perhaps you could issue a challenge to him to cook a thai-style omelette for you using his free-range eggs! Just a thought bubble Please pass to him my personal best regards and wishes for his wellness.

daz

Andrea would enjoy that, particularly with some oysters in it, but I don't eat anything where the eggs are obvious, childhood on a chicken/egg farm scarred me forever.

Red Bigot wrote:

daz wrote:Brian, thanks for the update on the irascible Ric's current circumstances. It's pleasing to know he's keeping himself occupied and that you're still in touch with each other. Perhaps you could issue a challenge to him to cook a thai-style omelette for you using his free-range eggs! Just a thought bubble Please pass to him my personal best regards and wishes for his wellness.

daz

Andrea would enjoy that, particularly with some oysters in it, but I don't eat anything where the eggs are obvious, childhood on a chicken/egg farm scarred me forever.

LOL!

Interesting that I just posted a "where's Torn" thread on Wineberserkers.com stateside, and someone pointed me here. I'm glad to hear he's doing well. If you have more details on Ric's current whereabouts, I'd love to hear.

By the way the Wineberserker thread: http://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81546&p=1122488#p1122488