Except that we continue to subsidise Mining companies, but I don't want to get into a political discussion at the moment...
...
Yesterday, at roughly 11:30am AEDST, I lost my 87y/o Great Uncle to severe Renal Failure.
Some may remember my mentioning of his diagnosis in early December 2013; well, at the complete astonishment & bewilderment of both my family and the medical professionals looking after him, with only 7% kidney function and absolutely no dialysis, he was discharged from hospital and fought on for another 2 months...
...but he was re-admitted to hospital last weekend suffering anaphylaxis brought on by the medication he was taking to cope with the effects of Renal Failure; sadly he went to sleep Tuesday evening and never regained consciousness.
His passing closes a generational chapter in my family; as along with his wife (Who passed away abruptly only 7 months ago) & his elder Brother (My Grandfather who passed 7 years ago), he was a patriarchal pillar, looked up to by many in & outside of our family with great love, respect and reverence.
He only ever entered hospital 3 times in his life; At birth, returning from serving in WWII and this final time.
I feel mostly for my second cousins who have now just lost both of their parents within a matter of months, one of whom's children have only had a chance to know their Grandparents for a decade... probably a little less I think, it's a set of circumstances I surely hope I don't come to experience myself.
My Great Uncle reflected my Grandfather's qualities in so many ways, there were differences but they were quite outweighed by the similarities; both were quite close, shaped by serving in WWII, surviving the Great Depression and carrying on & furthering an already very successful family business in accounting.
I am just glad that he is no longer in pain, physically or of heartache - I'll love him forever and always, and though I am not a religious person, he was and I like to think that wherever he is, he's with those he loved in life.
You'll be missed, Uncle Brian.