Posted on 07/24/2005 12:44:15 AM PDT by naturalman1975
FREED Iraq hostage Douglas Wood plans to buy an Aussie pub.
With the money earned selling the story of his survival after being taken hostage by Iraqi militants, Wood is planning to buy a hotel towards the end of the year.
But first he wants to start a career on the public speaking circuit.
Questioned about the pub plan this week, Mr Wood described it as a "miscellaneous rumour".
But his brother Vernon Wood confirmed it was true.
"He's interested," Vernon Wood said. "I think it will be down the track, in three to six months.
"He is focusing on the next period of his life. He has to sort out what he will do.
"He is hoping to get some gigs on the speaking circuit, He has a story to tell and tells it well."
Vernon Wood said the beer-loving former hostage, who famously asked for a VB soon after being released from 47 days as a hostage in Iraq, has experience in the hotel industry. Mr Wood, 64, ran a pub in the US town of Galt, which has a population of about 20,000, in northern California.
Australian Hotels' Association Victorian branch CEO Brian Kearney described Mr Wood as an ideal publican.
"The pub business is about hospitality, gregariousness and willingness to engage. Douglas seems to fit that well," he said. It is not known whether the passionate Cats' supporter is considering buying in Geelong or in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
Mr Wood and his American wife Yvonne have decided to make Melbourne their home and have taken a six-month lease on an inner-suburban apartment.
Vernon Wood said his brother was now starting to take charge of his financial affairs, having heavily relied on his family when first back in Australia.
He was going through "ups and downs" because of various medical conditions and medications he had been taking while working overseas, Vernon Wood said.
"He has been on some pretty horrific medicine in various parts of the world and weaning him off can be fairly painful and traumatic," he said.
Mr Wood has been treated for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis and also suffers glaucoma.
Vernon Wood also said his brother was improving mentally after the trauma of being kidnapped, beaten and held captive.
"I think he is coming out of whatever he has been in," he said.
Call it the Boar's Head.
Personally I'd go with the Saracen's Head - fine old traditional British pub name.
That's even better.
No takers on "Hogs Breath Salon"?
The previous one is more traditionally appropriate for one who has been held captive by the Moors.
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