DiscoC
Wow! I was getting tired just reading that and trying to visualise the route, ATC switches etc. It is very, very reassuring to hear that there are friendly and accommodating ATCs out there who understand and assist us to make things a little easier even when we may make the occasional error ;-)
I'm still finding R/T work the hardest part of the job - I've passed the written exam and am lining up for the practical. My instructor (and the books) impresses upon me the importance of being terse and using standard phraseology. Sometimes though I feel the need to 'chat' to confirm my understanding - but I know I can't chat so I try to put things into standard terms - by which time there has been a long pregnant pause and so the instructor makes the call. But I'm learning and forcing myself to bite the bullet and just do it even if sometimes my wording isn't quite correct or in the right order - the ATCs always know what I mean ;-)
Cheq - pass on my thoughts to your friend and wish him a very speedy recovery.