Update 29/12
I got out of hospital last night and have been asleep since then. I managed to avoid a trip to the loony bin – result!
I’m really touched by all of your kind words – it makes it a lot harder to hate myself when so many people obviously don’t. Many thanks.
I shall try to resume normal service as soon as I can.
In his suicide note the Polish novelist Jerzy Kosinski tells us:
I am going to put myself to sleep now for a bit longer than usual. Call the time Eternity
That is more erudite than I can manage. Goodbye.
Update! – David is in hospital following a thankfully unsuccessful suicide attempt last night. He is expected to make a full recovery, but will undoubtedly be out of action for some days. Please don’t hesitate to post a comment or send him an e-mail if you want to send him a message.
I will update this post when I have more news. /Daniel
David. You are someone I’ve heard so much about and really want to meet you over a fine meal and many bottles of wine. Please get well soon
David
Please make a full recovery. No saccharine here, but you should realise you’re not alone.
Ron
Douglas and Linda send their love
Bon courage, David and Daniel.
David
Gallows humour compels me to wish you a merry Christmas… and a speedy recovery. I am hoping to drink many more bottles with you this coming year, and you must both come round to meet my little boy. More David please, for a while yet. X R
David – reading your original post at 1.30 in the morning (and “posted 6 hours ago”) was more than a little disconcerting, I can tell you. After a restless night, first thing I did was check the wine-pages forum – expecting the worst, I must say.
Though we’ve never met, and spoken only briefly on the phone, you come across as a really top bloke. So please get well soon – and don’t frighten me like that again! 😉
Kindest regards
Leon
David and Daniel,
My thoughts are with you both.
David, I wish you a full and speedy recovery. You writings bring a smile to my face and always show me someone who lives life with so much gusto, please never give up on that. For the future there is always more joy to be had, more wine to be drunk – the limits of pleasure are yet to be defined or reached. Take good care!
Not so fast, you have a duty to entertain us with your literature!…call it a mission! get well!… and on with it!
David.
I’ll be missing you in France. A reunion of the Oxford blind tasting group without you seems incomplete and all wrong. But I look forward to seeing you back in Blighty when you are recovered.
All the best, and get well soon.
Peter
David,
I look forward to seeing you when you feel like it, which I hope is soon.
There are so many good dinners ahead, like the ones we’ve enjoyed this year, and I look forward to them immensely.
In the meantime, am thinking of you and Daniel.
Guy
Hope you make a very quick and full recovery David.
Would love to meet you,and share a glass or two,when you are fit.
cheers Keith
I was so sorry to hear of your despair David. I so hope you will feel better soon and very much hope I can share a top bottle of Cedric Bouchard when you do.
I get terrific enjoyment from your blog, David, and both the writing and the events fill me with jealousy & vicarious pleasure in a roughly equal mix. I much look forward to reading more of your posts in the future, and perhaps meeting over a good bottle at the Hawksmoor one day.
(I’ve also recently been over-using the word ‘refulgent’; the direct consequence of one of your tasting notes.)
I hope we have the chance to meet and share a bottle or three sometime when I’m in London. I really enjoy your writing. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Although we have never met, I enjoy your blog and posts on the wine berzerker board. Your wit would be sorely missed if you weren’t with us.
Monte in Houston
Please stay with us. The world is a better place with you.
How am I going to meet you if you don’t stick around? So please, linger more.
Dear David,
Lance and I are so sorry and shocked you have been in such a dark place and hope that you can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
We’ve really enjoyed getting to know you over the last year; you’re a top chap and a brilliant writer and you really need to stick around for all your fans.
Thinking ofyou both
David,
You wit is enjoyed by more people than you thing. Buck up man, you’ve got much more to offer! Best on a speedy recovery, Cordially-Shaun
Dear David,
I have enjoyed your posts – agreed with some and disagreed with others. You are part of our virtual circle of wine friends. I wish you a happy and peaceful 2011.
Anthony Hall.
David. I only really know you through your wonderful writing. The world would be a much poorer place without it. I look forward to seeing a great deal more of it. Thinking of you. All the best. Ben.
David,
You are very much in my thoughts. I shall be raising a glass of fine Burgundy in your honour later today, and looking forward to renewing our acquaintance over similar glasses in the future.
Robert
David,
We are thinking of you. Please get well soon.
Roy and And
Hi David,
Pretty shocked to read this. All the best for a speedy recovery.
Thinking of some great times in Oxford days!
Simon Lloyd