Had some sad news from Quokka last week, Big Al has passed away. Long-time Burgers will remember Al from previous incarnations of the blog. Always one of the friendliest regulars he took a lot of pleasure (and as his illness progressed, some solace) from the friendships he made here. It makes me regret not posting more often simply to have given him the chance to hang out.
Always fun, the trips out to the peninsula to see Al. For the life of me I cannot recall the name of his cat. He got very quiet when he & Ros moved out to Toowoomba a few years ago. He was in a lot of pain & I figured he needed the solitude and he had his family around him. Ros found me last week & said that he went quietly in his sleep on Thursday after a long struggle with lung cancer. Apologies for not working through my contacts list, it caught us at a bad time as 92yro FIL fell off the perch a week ago. Thanks JB. We had some fun visits with the Burgerati to visit Al & when we are raising that glass to he of the long-bladed poking stick, I'll be thinking of the jaunt we made to Margate shopping centre so that Boylan could procure a functioning mobile phone, and we had to explain the proliferation of southern cross tattoos on the locals. One of us told him, it's the equivalent of the Confederate flag. Which is why Humpybong needed such a very sharp poking stick.
Met him a couple of times at burger gatherings. I count myself lucky. And who wouldn't forget the stick of poking and the attack penguins? Glass is raised.
This is sad news. Condolences to Big Al's family and loved ones 😥
I was one of the many that had the pleasure of dropping in to see him, definitely one of life's characters as he lived a varied and interesting life.
Will definitely crack a can in his memory.
Lifting a glass to Al. Long will we remember him and his poking stick.
Always fun, the trips out to the peninsula to see Al. For the life of me I cannot recall the name of his cat. He got very quiet when he & Ros moved out to Toowoomba a few years ago. He was in a lot of pain & I figured he needed the solitude and he had his family around him. Ros found me last week & said that he went quietly in his sleep on Thursday after a long struggle with lung cancer. Apologies for not working through my contacts list, it caught us at a bad time as 92yro FIL fell off the perch a week ago. Thanks JB. We had some fun visits with the Burgerati to visit Al & when we are raising that glass to he of the long-bladed poking stick, I'll be thinking of the jaunt we made to Margate shopping centre so that Boylan could procure a functioning mobile phone, and we had to explain the proliferation of southern cross tattoos on the locals. One of us told him, it's the equivalent of the Confederate flag. Which is why Humpybong needed such a very sharp poking stick.
Met him a couple of times at burger gatherings. I count myself lucky. And who wouldn't forget the stick of poking and the attack penguins? Glass is raised.
Rest easy, Al.
Hey Therbs, long time no speak. Still working for the Swiss?
Switched over to Mac in Martin Place. Pretty much the same.
What a you up to? International man of mystery still?
Yup, but I have hired a few ex-Mac types in recent years. They’re a weird mob. I lasted all of three months there in the mid 90s.
Indeed the world is left a little poorer today
Condolences to Big Al's family and loved ones.
Caught up with Al a few times, one of the nicest folk you could meet. Loved his stories from when he rode bikes in the army way back.
Happy poking Al.
Oh how sad. Vale Big Al.