◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎Vale Ω Forums Member "verithingeoff"◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎

Geoff was a very active poster in the rebus thread that was active several months ago. A very astute participant who was either very close or dead on to the final answer. I exchanged PMS with him on numerous occasions when the thread was active. In the one exchange with him, I enquired if his nom de plume pertained to Gruen Veri-Thin watches. It had nothing to do with Gruens. He was a guitar collector, and he had a website celebrating guitars, using the same nom de plume. I knew he was not well. A very intelligent, outgoing, friendly guy who never put on airs. He will be missed. R I P Geoff.

Geoff did own two Gruen Veri-Thin pocket watches, a number of years ago. Pictures shown. He shamelessly admitted to me that, several years ago, he swapped them for guitars. His serious arthritis prevented him from playing much, any longer.

Just a closing post.

First. About me.

A little treat I enjoy is a couple of Guinness Draft every Friday evening before dinner.

Now, back to Geoff and me.

When Geoff first approached me about servicing one of his watches, I gave him the warning.

"I'll do my best mate, all care taken but I don't have professional qualifications or coverage".

"Neither did I for half the stuff I got up to!" was the reply, so a watch arrived, was serviced and returned.

"What do I owe you for that mate?" was the next PM.

"Nothin' Geoff. I do it mainly for enjoyment and if you're happy with my work that's reward enough".

His reply was "OK, no worries mate 😉".

So a couple of days later, a delivery of 12YO Lagavulin arrives at my door 😲. With some internet detective work I figured out it came from the same locality as Geoff's place. So I sent a big thankyou, and in reply I got another watch!

We came to an agreement. He would pay return postage and a few bucks for oils etc. and that's how it went.
However, there was always a little surprise at the door a couple of days after he got his watch back.



Anyway, after he had a fall very recently, his Tudor Submariner had a heavy bump and the second hand came off and I got a PM.

"G'day Jim
I had a bit of a fall last night and caught my Tudor on a window frame, the second hand has come adrift. The watch is working fine except for that.. Can I ship it over to you for a quick fix mate?

Geoff"

"You know the answer to that mate, of course."

So my most unfavourite watch 😉 comes back to roost. It wasn't a big task, just a check of the internals, the seconds hand was cleaned up and the pipe was broached to give it more purchase on the pinion, all tested and sent back.

Thankfully it got there OK.

"Hi Jim

Watch back on the wrist mate, it arrived on Monday arvo. Bit crook at the moment so a bit slow off the mark. Done the Paypal thing and also visited Dan Murphy!

Something black and delicious should be with you soon ready for the footy…woowooo"

A day or so later, another delivery on my doorstep!

This time a case of Guinness Draft (how did he know I liked Guinness?).

That was my last communication with Geoff, and it must have been one of his last I suppose.

So now, my Friday night treat has a lot more meaning to me.

I suppose that even when this case runs out, I'll always have a small smile on my mug whenever I sip my first drop of Guinness at the end of the week.

Cheers Geoff!

Blue Skies.

I'm not crying, you're crying!
Sounds like he was a top notch guy (as do you @JimInOz).
I'm sure he will be greatly missed. RIP Geoff.

If you Google “verithingeoff guitars”, you will have access to the others things that interested Geoff. He had a message board for guitar enthusiasts much like the Omega board. He was particularly into Selmer and Hofner Verithin guitars, hence his Omega board handle.