Hello from Bangor N.Ireland [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

View Full Version : Hello from Bangor N.Ireland

Savo

21-12-2011, 11:47

Hi, never introduced myself on a forum before so here goes.. I'm 40 married to Suzanne with 3 kids Samantha 9, John 3 & Lucy 1 1/2. My system has been built up over the last 20 years, Roksan TMS, SME309, Audio Innovations S500, Roksan Caspian cdp, Snell K (early 80's type recently refoamed).
My Hifi was packed away for a load of years while I was working full time night shift but last year I was treated for primary cutaneous non hodgkins lymphoma, this changed everything. I was successfully treated with Radiotherapy last October at the Cancer Centre an Belfast City Hospital (fingers crossed) & now get 3 monthly checkups. While I was off sick I realised how much I hated my job/boss/stress and what I was missing from not being home 5 nights a week, so when I was offered redundancy earlier this year I took it and now am staying at home looking after the kids. My hifi has been set up again, I've bought some nice cables second hand off a forum and I once again have some time to spend enjoying a hobby that had been forgotten years ago. Its incredible how much has changed & I'm looking forward to getting myself all up to date. My music consists of 3-4 hundred vinyl albums that sound a bit crackly and about 300 cd albums, I like loads of different types of music ie Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Bjork, Oasis, Evanescence, Muse, Metallica, Dire Straits, Dusty Springfield, Stiff Little Fingers, The Pixies, The Prodigy.

My future upgrades will probably be along the server/squeezebox type lines & a new cartridge for the TT but I have a lot of saving up and reading to do before then.

So Phew, Sorry you had to read all that :lol:

Andrew :cool:

Spectral Morn

21-12-2011, 14:23

Hi Andrew

Very warm welcome from me to AOS.

I was just in your neck of the woods an hour ago. Christmas shopping bedlam has hit :doh:

There are probably near enough guys from NI that we could maybe have a go at organising an AOS NI bake off, listening sessions sometime next year. Worth thinking about perhaps?

Nice system there and I guess I might know you, as I used to work for Zeus Audio back in the late 80's early 90's.

Sorry to hear of your illness and I hope you make a full and complete recovery.

Happy Christmas and Happy New year to you.

Regards D S D L

keiths

21-12-2011, 14:28

Hi Andrew - welcome to AoS from me too :wave:

Hope your recovery continues to progress well.

Enjoy the forum.

Savo

21-12-2011, 14:41

Hi, thanks for the welcome :) Bought my amp and a Micromega stage 1 from Zeus many moons ago & used to enjoy the old Hifi shows in the Stormont Hotel. An AOS NI bake off listening session would be great. Good luck with the rest of you shopping & have a great Christmas :)

Reid Malenfant

21-12-2011, 20:14

Hi Andrew, a warm welcome to AoS from me to :) I hope you stay in remission chap, horrifying disease that I hope I can avoid ;)

All the very best to you & I hope you enjoy your stay here :cool:

jostber

21-12-2011, 20:37

Welcome from me as well. A lot of fine components there in your hifi setup. Good to hear that you found a way out from a stressful and unsatisfying job and also that your recovery is going well. :thumbsup: I am in a job change situation now too. Next year will be a time for new possibilities. :)

Tweedle-Dee

21-12-2011, 22:20

Spectral Morn

21-12-2011, 23:11

Hi Andrew,
You're very welcome - glad you found us.

We may have rubbed shoulders in Zeus all those years ago - it seems your purchases were well made, whereas mine of that era are long gone and best forgotten. Your Audio Innovations and Snell set up seems a match made in heaven.

Your story is an inspiration and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Neil, I would love a bake off, if we can organise such a thing.

Kind regards,
TD

We should have a go at this sometime, why should the AOS folks on the mainland be the only ones having such fun.

We can look at it in the New Year.

Happy Christmas to you by the way.

Regards D S D L

Alex_UK

21-12-2011, 23:41

Hi Andrew, welcome from me too. Good to hear that your illness is in remission and that the life-lesson you have learned is working out for you. Would be great for you NI chaps to do a meet - as Neil says, "why should the AOS folks on the mainland be the only ones having such fun.! :)

Enjoy AoS, and happy Christmas to you.

Savo

22-12-2011, 00:21

normmc

22-12-2011, 16:26

I am another Northern Irish bloke keen on his hi-fi, welcome to AOF, sorry to hear of your health problems. have a good Christmas and keep listening.Normmc

Spectral Morn

22-12-2011, 16:47

Didn't know you were Neil!!! Are you the same Neil whose bedroom I was in listening to some fine music many years ago in Holywood? I was friends with Garth & I think you knew my mum Sandra. Sorry if I'm wrong.

Spot on, that's me.

When I lived with my parents my system was in the bottom part of the L shaped room. Marantz CD94, Nakamichi CR7, Audio Innovations S500, ProAc Super Tablets, Oracle Dephi 4 etc.....

Not seen you in very many years.

Regards D S D L

jazzpiano

22-12-2011, 17:48

Warm Welcome Andrew! Sorry about what you and your family have had to go through and glad you made changes to reduce stress and increase enjoyment in life. You will find many a helpful person here to help you with hi-fi and music interests.

Merry Christmas,
Barry

Savo

23-12-2011, 00:26

Thanks :) , I feel a bit embarrassed now for mentioning the Lymphoma especially considering what other people have been through. The treatment was easy & it has led to me getting out of the rut that I was stuck in so I should really be grateful.

Neil I remember your system blew me away & the TT was beautiful! Its good to be in contact,

Anyway why do I always want to spend money when I read about hifi stuff, I have young kids wanting toys? Hopefully Santa will leave me a few quit to buy a Squeezebox after Christmas :lol:

Andrew