I don't mind taking risks, especially if the risks are in my favour a guy who has done this for 40 years, and has done it without changing his method I figure it can't be too bad. He is in the UK his name is Mike Challis, he is now 85 years old still brewing 100 litre batches, the DVD he sent me shows him brewing in 1990 on a set up which a lot of home brewers would be more than happy with today.
I have asked him why he doesn't put his video on you tube, but he says he doesn't know how, and he doesn't like putting his head above the trenches. He got in touch with me about saving the co2 from the fermentation he does the same thing for keeping his casks connected to his beer engine and using his Noddy balloon connected to a cask breather. I think that was what he meant by keeping his head below the trenches he has had a few run ins with CAMRA.
As Grmblz has mentioned dry yeast has really changed a lot, no need to aerate wort, no need to re-hydrate, the Chinese English Ale yeast I have been using says to re hydrate but do not aerate the wort.
So anyone who is interested in Mikes DVD it is pretty long but interesting, I will post it out at no cost and maybe pass it around, I wouldn't like to go against his wishes and upload it, even if I new how.
Thanks for the messages for my wife, we were only reading on Saturday how cancer goes un diagnosed by doctors. She has had a pain in her side for about 6 months, she does yoga goes to the gym, and swims. It wasn't until we were in New York in May when I noticed she could not keep up walking and struggled with the sub way steps. The doctors had told her the pain in her side was muscle pain. We went back to the doctors and asked for a ultra sound, which led to a CT scan, which led to a PET scan and she was diagnosed with 4th stage mantle lymphoma. It is in her pelvis, rib, spleen, bone marrow and numerous lymph nodes.
She is going through aggressive chemo and immunotherapy I took her into Epworth Hospital yesterday and the treatment is over 2 days.