Gibraltar 2017 (1) Barbary Ape

I like it!
My sub made a port visit to Gibraltar in the Spring of 1990. Great place, probably my favorite port from that deployment.
Your image brings back fond memories.

I have to go out there for work every 3 months. It's a weird and quirky place but I love it despite grumbling about it a lot. The Officers' Mess is 20 yards from the runway!

All best wishes to for your partner's success in finding a donor & for a strong recovery.

Thanks HiHo. My partner has already had the transplant. A donor was found within 12 hours of deciding a transplant was necessary. This is what is known as "Super-urgent" listing in the UK. From listing to operating table in 12 hours flat. It is only used when the recipient is critically ill and unlikely to live 48 hours without a transplant (amongst many other criteria).

Monkeys/Apes are evil. Just saying. Congrats on the transplant, hope all goes well.

Thank you Eric. It was a marathon. 60 days in intensive care. Those macaques are very mischievous and crafty. Also aggressive and quite dangerous. Best approached with the benefit of a longer lens!

WOW! the ape and the circumstances. Very best to and your partner; and with all the stories heard about medical care here there and everywhere, it is good to know there are procedures that rise above procedural and do what is needed urgently.

So good to see this terrific series!

Yes exceptional medical care by King's College Hospital, London. They do 400 liver transplants a year, a world centre. What is very scary is that this was caused by a virus I have never even heard of, Hepatitis E. A food borne virus probably contracted in either Gibraltar or just across the border in Spain. The samples had to go to Porton Down, the military installation (my father worked there) but also the lab for rare viruses. We moan about the NHS in the UK but we have had it since 1947 and we all pay for it through our taxes. It is there when we need it and I have worked for both the NHS and defence. I don't understand the US situation; it is totally alien to me despite having travelled extensively in the US and having ex-pat friends who live there. In all honesty we would be in abject penury now if it wasn't for the NHS and my partner would probably be dead.

When we were there in 1990 one of my shipmates managed to get bit by one of the rock apes. Alcohol was involved.

A run ashore in Gibraltar and alcohol involved? Surely not! Haha.