ePz member Leo-nid

Many members have noticed that Leo has not been active on ePz for some time now. He recently closed his account, giving circumstances connected with the present Russian situation and sanctions as the reason. We have now received a more informative mail from Leo, where he gives more detailed reasons leading to his leaving the site. He has given permission for us to share the following with the members, at the same time apologizing for not being able to write to all who have supported him and his work throughout his time on ePz. [i]I had been a happy member of this wonderful community for 5 years and it was with a pain in my heart that i decided to discontinue my membership and close my account. In the first place I realized I would no longer be able to pay my membership fee "due to the ongoing situation", and secondly, my health deteriorated dramatically after having been laid up with Covid-19 in February 2022, involving delayed complications that are at the moment affecting my physical mobility which in turn inhibits me from going out and taking new pictures... Many thanks again, and if am lucky to overcome my health problems, and if this world returns to normality, I will rejoin the community at some point in the future. Kind regards Leonid[/i] At his specific request, all his images will be removed from view in the course of the next day or so... We can only hope that his circumstances improve to a point where he is able to rejoin and enjoy the online company ePz offers.

Many members have noticed that Leo has not been active on ePz for some time now. He recently closed his account, giving circumstances connected with the present Russian situation and sanctions as the reason. We have now received a more informative mail from Leo, where he gives more detailed reasons leading to his leaving the site.
He has given permission for us to share the following with the members, at the same time apologizing for not being able to write to all who have supported him and his work throughout his time on ePz.

I had been a happy member of this wonderful community for 5 years and it was with a pain in my heart that i decided to discontinue my membership and close my account. In the first place I realized I would no longer be able to pay my membership fee "due to the ongoing situation", and secondly, my health deteriorated dramatically after having been laid up with Covid-19 in February 2022, involving delayed complications that are at the moment affecting my physical mobility which in turn inhibits me from going out and taking new pictures...

Many thanks again, and if am lucky to overcome my health problems, and if this world returns to normality, I will rejoin the community at some point in the future.

Kind regards
Leonid

At his specific request, all his images will be removed from view in the course of the next day or so...

We can only hope that his circumstances improve to a point where he is able to rejoin and enjoy the online company ePz offers.

I was only thinking about Leonid today and am so pleased he got in touch. I wish him well, and hope that he will return when all this nastiness is over.

I was only thinking about Leonid today and am so pleased he got in touch.
I wish him well, and hope that he will return when all this nastiness is over.

I hope he was told there is no "membership" fee. Merely a completely optional payment for Plus membership. Not a member I've come across but it would be a shame if he left under a misapprehension. Also many members have health issues from time to time. I was hospitalised for 5 months in 2005 but still kept in touch with EPZ. I think I even posted a picture taken while I was incarcerated! 😱😊 All a bit weird. 🤔

I hope he was told there is no "membership" fee. Merely a completely optional payment for Plus membership.

Not a member I've come across but it would be a shame if he left under a misapprehension.

Also many members have health issues from time to time. I was hospitalised for 5 months in 2005 but still kept in touch with EPZ. I think I even posted a picture taken while I was incarcerated! 😱😊

All a bit weird. 🤔

[quote]I hope he was told there is no "membership" fee. Merely a completely optional payment for Plus membership. Not a member I've come across but it would be a shame if he left under a misapprehension. Also many members have health issues from time to time. I was hospitalised for 5 months in 2005 but still kept in touch with EPZ. I think I even posted a picture Itaken while I was incarcerated! 😱😊 All a bit weird. 🤔[/quote] Foreign payment sanctions imposed by Russia was the problem, I believe, and yes, he was aware that free membership is available, but his health problems are serious and he is wheelchair dependent after a serious stroke some time ago. He is unable to get out and about.

Quote:I hope he was told there is no "membership" fee. Merely a completely optional payment for Plus membership.

Not a member I've come across but it would be a shame if he left under a misapprehension.

Also many members have health issues from time to time. I was hospitalised for 5 months in 2005 but still kept in touch with EPZ. I think I even posted a picture Itaken while I was incarcerated! 😱😊

All a bit weird. 🤔

Foreign payment sanctions imposed by Russia was the problem, I believe, and yes, he was aware that free membership is available, but his health problems are serious and he is wheelchair dependent after a serious stroke some time ago. He is unable to get out and about.

His choice of course but we have photos still on EPZ taken by members who actually died several years ago. "Highlander" (Doug) comes to mind - he passed away in 2007. We wish Leonid well. :)

His choice of course but we have photos still on EPZ taken by members who actually died several years ago. "Highlander" (Doug) comes to mind - he passed away in 2007.

We wish Leonid well.

Quite sad to read...he was one of my close friends in this community, yesterday I thought of giving him a private message asking his health but unfortunately I hadn't done that PM... It is disgusting to see that the political barrier is taking its toll...

Quite sad to read...he was one of my close friends in this community, yesterday I thought of giving him a private message asking his health but unfortunately I hadn't done that PM...

It is disgusting to see that the political barrier is taking its toll...

Unless they have blocked the Internet in Russia I don't see the political situation has any relevance! I think this is a cri de coeur from someone frustrated that his health issues prevent him from fully enjoying his hobby.

Unless they have blocked the Internet in Russia I don't see the political situation has any relevance!

I think this is a cri de coeur from someone frustrated that his health issues prevent him from fully enjoying his hobby.

[quote]Unless they have blocked the Internet in Russia I don't see the political situation has any relevance! I think this is a cri de coeur from someone frustrated that his health issues prevent him from fully enjoying his hobby. [/quote] As I understand it, he was unable to transfer funds out of the country...

Quote:Unless they have blocked the Internet in Russia I don't see the political situation has any relevance!

I think this is a cri de coeur from someone frustrated that his health issues prevent him from fully enjoying his hobby.

As I understand it, he was unable to transfer funds out of the country...

Leo, if you are looking in we will miss you, and we wish you better health in the future. Moira

Leo, if you are looking in we will miss you, and we wish you better health in the future.
Moira

Leaves a big hole in the middle of the site. And I'll miss those barmy videos he often used to post in response to people's images. Hope he's able to return at some point.

Leaves a big hole in the middle of the site.

And I'll miss those barmy videos he often used to post in response to people's images.

Hope he's able to return at some point.

So sad, he epitomized the bedrock of membership, geniality and good will of this site.

So sad, he epitomized the bedrock of membership, geniality and good will of this site.

All best wishes for Leo and a hope that life improves for him soon.

All best wishes for Leo and a hope that life improves for him soon.

Yes, all the best Leo. I hope your situation improves soon.

Yes, all the best Leo. I hope your situation improves soon.

Best wishes to you, Leo. Ken.

Best wishes to you, Leo.

Ken.

I too was thinking about him only today. Like many here I shall miss him and his wacky videos. He was a great, regular contributor to the site and I wish him a full and speedy recovery.. This insanity, like all wars, will not last forever and normality will return. I hope Leo returns soon too. All the very best Leo. Dave

I too was thinking about him only today.

Like many here I shall miss him and his wacky videos. He was a great, regular contributor to the site and I wish him a full and speedy recovery.. This insanity, like all wars, will not last forever and normality will return. I hope Leo returns soon too.

All the very best Leo.

Dave