It's Been Far To Quiet From The Donkey Stables

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Hi Guys

A bit of a strange one this post, but thought I’d put my thoughts down and post them here to see if others have been through the same

I suppose it started a year ago with been made redundant and having to look for work. I started my new job in August ’09.

During that period I found myself losing interest the Hi-Fi gear side of things and enjoying more just the music. I rediscovered some older stuff and discovered some new, but just really enjoyed it all.

I kept a watch on the AoS and though I enjoyed the posts throughout the whole of the Forum and though some were excellent also some not, and had my own thoughts on some of the threads I never got round to posting, I sort of couldn’t be bothered (no reflection on the place or members). I just enjoyed playing music wherever I got chance, which due to a change of work patterns still isn’t often enough.

Has anyone else been through that, or still is. It’s all a bit strange. I’ll still be around and hope to get back into the swing of thing shortly, but for now just taking a back seat is fine.

Does any of the above make sense at all, it sort of does to me. Plenty of time to rediscover my posting powers.

Another thing that goes along side my feelings noted above and my lack of posting is I have had no thoughts or desires to change any of my gear recently. Just really happy with it all, it isn’t perfect and some parts could do with being addressed but they are not such big issues that it needs immediate attention.

Ha well, feet on the ground and back to my own personal reality, whatever that may be :eek:.

Take Care All,

Andy - SDDW

[twelvebears]

Hey Andy.

First of all, nice to have you back and glad to here that things are getting back on track for you, that's excellent. A close friend of ours was struggling work-wise last year and it sucks.

I think it's only natural that interest and contributions here go through peaks and troughs. With the other things going on in lives away from AOS, it's bound to happen to everyone, even the Mods who are kind of duty bound to keep at it!

I'd say that enjoying the music rather than thinking about the kit's a good thing. Sometimes fiddling with the system can get a bit obsessive and in the way of the music which is what it should really be about shouldn't it?

Also, I find I'm more happy to forgive any system deficiencies when I don't really have the funds to do much about it. That's why I'll be making some changes of the next two weeks because of the very modest bonus I'll be getting in Feb and which, for once, isn't immediately needed to pay for something!

Anyway, good to have you back.

[DSJR]

I started out in recent years by re-discovering my Tangerine Dream LP and CD collection and found a few sites dedicated to this seminal "Electronic" group who helped to start the whole "Berlin School" way of using synths and "treated" acoustic instruments.

I've made a good few "online friends" through these sites and I'm extremely grateful for that. A huge shout to "Big Moog" who occasionally posts here, as he encouraged a vigorous audio debate on his site, now in stasis. he recommended PFM and Marco "found" me and brought me here.

In more recent times, Edgar Froese (the band's main man over more than 40 years) has released a seeming shedload of new releases for the faithful, most of which are quite expensive and almost samey in feel (those that I've heard) and I've kinda lost interest in the band's current work again, although "Madcap's Flaming Duty" is superbly done IMO and well worth looking out. As a result of this, I've drifted away from the TeeDee forums, although I very much value the "Barmy Army" contacts I try to maintain...

I also find PFM not quite to my tastes at the moment. I've been there and done it with 1980's Naim and, in my view, there's been too much focus on that brand's olde worlde gear as if it's new and still relevant, when both the market and the brand itself have moved on a good way since then and actually improved, albeit at a huge price financially - my opinion of course... Perhaps that's why the old stuff is revered so much over there.

So, I frequent here and spend too much time (like now) posting away. It's good typing practice (I'm told I'm a two-fingered "pecker...") though, yet when I can, I'm enjoying more good music than ever (from my existing collection).

So Andy, this person knows where you are. Enjoy the music and post when the mood takes you :)

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Andy

Yes..it is most definitely good to have you back...I am sure others have missed you as I had/have.

I can whole heartedly understand your experience...though mine is/has been different.

Early on I stopped listening to my system,and music (even my love of music was not enough) I just couldn't stand being reminded of what I had lost, my passion had died, or so I thought, until finding AoS. I had even stopped reading magazines ,though I kept buying them. It is AoS that rekindled my sense of self worth, value and passion for music and audio. Some might think this sad, but AoS became my way of keeping in work. It has allowed me to help, guide and inform people in the way I did while in work, but above all it has allowed me to rekindle my passion for writing (whether I am any good or not is another thing), and this has manifested its self in the main by writing reviews for the AoS membership and the wider audio community; and more recently my new audio review journal; which is an experiment, but may hopefully develop into something of long term worth.

I owe AoS a lot, its membership, and management team (my friends from both sides), my wife, my Church, for giving me the support I needed, and still do if I am honest.

Am I out of the woods ? no, but I am getting there, bit by bit. I have more good days than bad, but depression is not far from the door. Its a daily battle to stop it. I am glad Andy, that you found a job you enjoy, and its my hope that I too will find or create something that I can both enjoy and earn a living at.

I have tried the job market (and still am), and so far I can't find anything, or have been turned down (many times) because of my age, and level of experience (to high). I seem to have fallen through the cracks, in the job market and in terms of my age (too old it seems), and even in regard to the DHSS....I don't qualify for help with anything :(. You pays your taxes and when you need help its just 6 months (contribution based) and thats it. As to help with finding a job, maybe its just me, but I think they are a waste of space and time...I am just another statistic to them.

Late last year a friend (someone who I used to work for years ago), who now runs a S/H book shop, offered me 1 day a weeks (this was to be temporary, but so far its still happening..thank God) work in his shop. This was something I jumped at. To be honest without that rope being thrown to me, I am not sure where I would be at now. Its only 7 and half hours on a Saturday, but its brilliant. It has done much the same thing for me as finding AoS has...giving me structure to my days, value, self worth and a purpose.

So there it is, for me AoS gave me my audio mojo back, and I look forward to being here and doing what I can day to day :) Its onward and upward now (mostly)


Regards D S D L

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Hi Guys

Having read your replies, and they were very much appreciated, I seem to understand my situation much better. I can see that others go through these lulls in life just as much as I have.

Steve – Thanks for you very accurate, to me anyway, thoughts. Much appreciated, Cheers

Dave - I understand where you are coming from with regard to other forums (audio or otherwise), I do like and enjoy the AoS which is why I still view and enjoy the contributions form you all. It’s from my view the most friendly forum with a population of very knowledgeable patrons, who more than eagerly put their experiences in to a thread to help (hopefully anyway) those who want to expand their understanding of the murky world of Audio.

As for German Electronic groups I have bought this week Kraftwerk – Autobahn. Will be getting round to playing this later. But reading your posts in the past I should really get another listen (enjoyed them years ago in my teens) to Tangerine Dream. Will let you know how I get on.

Neil – I know where you are coming from, I really feel for you in your predicament, and I sincerely hope things get much better soon. Posting here on none audio topics is a very cathartic experience, I very much enjoy posting in the Abstract Gallery. My photos are not that good but I enjoyed the process and results, will have to keep that up and post more often.

I know the feeling of sometimes been almost too old, but that’s just a company being short sighted, age related experience is a valuable tool.

Just to add a variable in to my current life, I have been contacted on Friday by an agency to be put forward for a job as Site Electrical Engineer. I won’t say which company yet, but it would mean relocating if the job came through. I am considering it today, what I’m not sure of is, am I just looking to add mayhem into my life, or do I seriously want to move on to something I will have to work hard at, or stay with what I know and can do well.
My mind works in strange ways, and no decision seems to be forthcoming.

Cheers again for your time and thoughts guys.

Take Care All,

Andy - SDDW

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Guys

Having read your replies, and they were very much appreciated, I seem to understand my situation much better. I can see that others go through these lulls in life just as much as I have.

Steve – Thanks for you very accurate, to me anyway, thoughts. Much appreciated, Cheers

Dave - I understand where you are coming from with regard to other forums (audio or otherwise), I do like and enjoy the AoS which is why I still view and enjoy the contributions form you all. It’s from my view the most friendly forum with a population of very knowledgeable patrons, who more than eagerly put their experiences in to a thread to help (hopefully anyway) those who want to expand their understanding of the murky world of Audio.

As for German Electronic groups I have bought this week Kraftwerk – Autobahn. Will be getting round to playing this later. But reading your posts in the past I should really get another listen (enjoyed them years ago in my teens) to Tangerine Dream. Will let you know how I get on.

Neil – I know where you are coming from, I really feel for you in your predicament, and I sincerely hope things get much better soon. Posting here on none audio topics is a very cathartic experience, I very much enjoy posting in the Abstract Gallery. My photos are not that good but I enjoyed the process and results, will have to keep that up and post more often.

I know the feeling of sometimes been almost too old, but that’s just a company being short sighted, age related experience is a valuable tool.

Just to add a variable in to my current life, I have been contacted on Friday by an agency to be put forward for a job as Site Electrical Engineer. I won’t say which company yet, but it would mean relocating if the job came through. I am considering it today, what I’m not sure of is, am I just looking to add mayhem into my life, or do I seriously want to move on to something I will have to work hard at, or stay with what I know and can do well.
My mind works in strange ways, and no decision seems to be forthcoming.

Cheers again for your time and thoughts guys.

Take Care All,

Andy - SDDW

Hi Andy

Do what makes you happy.


Regards D S D L


Edit Hi Andy...I have moved your thread as I think its better in Abstract Chat rather than in Blank Canvas..hope you don't mind?

[Rare Bird]

Hi Andy
I've been in the hobby too long, spent too much money & had too much equipment.. i can openly say that hi-fi adventures are a pointless waste of money IMHO..I don't bother with it anymore, i'm on a crusade to get one old system back together before i completely retire from it. i concentrate on the music all the time,i've always had more of an obsession with the music than the hi-fi anyway..

i'd rather buy a handfull of CD's that a length of cable anyday..The guys that are still true to all this hi-fi too-ing & fro-ing good luck to em..They wil never be happy but will never admit too it.Due too the dis-intrest in hi-fi these days i feel myself pulling more & more away from internet posting, i tend to just lurk around the places posting bollox at every opportunity..Good luck in what ever you feels right andy.

[Joe]

I think it's true that too much time on hifi forums can make you dissatisfied with what you've got and distract from the music, so taking an occasional break from them is sensible, unless you're a compulsive box-swapper or fettler.

[DSJR]

Neil and I were in the audio industry for many years (30+ in my case) and although the music is all important, there's also the little boy playing with his toys hobby part as well and I suspect the two of us were able to indulge in this at work while enjoying the music at home..

Now we're out of it (my last employer went [deliberately I think] tits up a few months after I left), the hobby part has come back and that's what has stopped me getting a pair of ADM9.1's and a "musical server" laptop to drive them.........

[Joe]

Now we're out of it (my last employer went [deliberately I think] tits up a few months after I left), the hobby part has come back and that's what has stopped me getting a pair of ADM9.1's and a "musical server" laptop to drive them.........

What's stopping me is that I've had three laptops die on me in less than ten years, but never a CD drive unit (after 15 years' use of one player and 12 years for the other).

[Spectral Morn]

Neil and I were in the audio industry for many years (30+ in my case) and although the music is all important, there's also the little boy playing with his toys hobby part as well and I suspect the two of us were able to indulge in this at work while enjoying the music at home..

Now we're out of it (my last employer went [deliberately I think] tits up a few months after I left), the hobby part has come back and that's what has stopped me getting a pair of ADM9.1's and a "musical server" laptop to drive them.........

Indeed thats pretty much spot on, though I also very much enjoyed meeting people, sharing and learning about music, and solving problems for them. The joy of providing someone the system of their needs and dreams was also fun, and rewarding. It was however a fantastic thing to be able to play with all sorts of kit at any price. I got to take things home too...and not just for a day or two.

I have looked at vintage kit more than I ever did in the past, partly because I can't afford anything new anymore (not that I didn't buy S/H before), and partly because of AoS. I also want to sort out some of the myth from actual reality..hence my up coming Tuner mega review (it is coming, honest :eyebrows:)

I can't really see me going down the PC/Mac/server route, but a few years ago I could not really see me on Forums or running a separate journal....so perhaps it would be silly to say Never.:lol::lol:.


Regards D S D L

[DSJR]

+1 :lol:

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Neil

Just made a visit to your 'Adventures in High-Fidelity Audio ' Looks good too. Always liked you writing style, will be keeping an eye on it now I know where it is.

How long have you had the site up?
Shame you can't get in to writing for the publications that would pay for your words, you are definitely have a more interesting writing technique that a lot of the so called professionals.

Good luck with it all.

Andy - SDDW

[Spectral Morn]

Neil

Just made a visit to your 'Adventures in High-Fidelity Audio ' Looks good too. Always liked you writing style, will be keeping an eye on it now I know where it is.

How long have you had the site up?
Shame you can't get in to writing for the publications that would pay for your words, you are definitely have a more interesting writing technique that a lot of the so called professionals.

Good luck with it all.

Andy - SDDW

Hi Andy

Thats kind, thank you.

The journals been only up and running for a few days, so its early days. I may move it at some point in the future, as not being able to post photos in the text; but in a separate gallery only, is a weakness. However in saying that, back 20 years or so The Absolute Sound did not have photos in many of its articles. I think we are to image focussed these days, as magazines are to be read imho, but a few photos in the text is nice.

Regards D S D L