AOS Member - Alex_UK

[southall-1998_mk2]

Sorry to ask but what happened to Alex? Been a while since he's last posted on here.

S.

[Tim]

He's just moved on Shane, busy with family and stuff. I'm in touch occasionally, so he's doing well just has different priorities in life ;)

[southall-1998_mk2]

Quite enjoyed reading some his content over the years, always great fun! Good to hear Alex is OK.

S.

[Barry]

Yes, Alex now has different, but more important priorities in his life now.

Good to learn that he is keeping well.

[Lawrence001]

Something I need to consider doing now with 2-young 'uns. I wouldn't disappear, just visit the forum less often and stick with what I have gear wise.

Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk

[struth]

depends on your circumstances and outlook, but no reason why both cannot co-exist happily. Think Alex had other interests he wanted to pursue more than audio, thus he dropped out.

[Marco]

depends on your circumstances and outlook, but no reason why both cannot co-exist happily. Think Alex had other interests he wanted to pursue more than audio, thus he dropped out.

Indeed... In reference to that, I've never understood either why the arrival of a baby should *automatically* mean one moving all of one's hi-fi equipment into a spare room/putting it into storage - or worse - selling the lot!!??:mental:

Folks panic way too much.......

Surely it's more advantageous in the long term to integrate a baby into its new environment, and TRAIN it to become accustomed to the contents? If we'd ever had kids, that's what we'd have done, as there'd be NO WAY I'd have got rid of all my gear (or music collection), or turned the house upside down like that, simply to accommodate a kid:nono:

It would come into the house getting used to what's already there, and like it - and while I'm at it, if I were single, the SAME would apply to any newly acquired wives or girlfriends!!:exactly::eyebrows:

In terms of Alex, he's much missed, but things change and folks move on. It's what happens in life, and as much as we don't like change, it's impossible to expect things to stay the same forever.... I'm sure that Alex is happy doing what he's doing now, and I wish him all the best for the future:cool:

Marco.

[Joe]

Having children changes everything. Apart from anything else, you get little or no sleep for several months. You eventually also need a room for the little blighter(s), and your disposable income plummets to zero or less as either a) you lose one income or b) you pay out shedloads for childcare. So even if you don't sell all your hifi, or put it all in storage, you won't be listening to it, or adding new bits to it, for quite a while.

We met our new grand-niece yesterday; one month old and cute as anything, but her parents are beginning to realise just how big an impact one tiny person can have.

[Marco]

Having children changes everything. Apart from anything else, you get little or no sleep for several months. You eventually also need a room for the little blighter(s), and your disposable income plummets to zero or less as either a) you lose one income or b) you pay out shedloads for childcare. So even if you don't sell all your hifi, or put it all in storage, you won't be listening to it, or adding new bits to it, for quite a while.

We met our new grand-niece yesterday; one month old and cute as anything, but her parents are beginning to realise just how big an impact one tiny person can have.

Firstly, congrats on your new grand-niece. I wish her a long, healthy and happy life:)

I don't doubt that having children completely changes your life, in many ways, some of which you describe. However, I still don't buy the notion that it *needs* to involve selling and/or temporarily disposing of the things that you REALLY love and value, and which existed long before 'baby' arrived.

Like Grant says, it depends on your circumstances and outlook. If we'd had kids, I can assure you that the hi-fi system, all the ornaments/antiques (handed down from relatives), music collection and everything else in our house that meant something to us, would still have remained (child care wouldn't have been an issue either, as that's what grandparents are for), and we'd have trained the 'new arrival' to get used to and (eventually) respect its surroundings.

It can be done, as one of my close friends, who builds amplifiers and repairs valve guitar amps for musicians, and is a member of this forum (you may guess whom I'm referring to), has a (now) 4-year old little girl, and the contents of his house haven't changed one iota, other than his lounge now being full of toys!:D

However, his music room, containing valve monoblocks, big Tannoys, etc, and even banks of Marshall guitar amps, remains intact... In fact, I've got a great picture of his female partner in said room, along with his daughter, with the little one smiling and sitting on top of said Marshall amps, taken only a couple of years ago! I'd post it, as it would demonstrate my point nicely, but not without his permission first.

He solved the problem by having a sliding partition, separating the lounge from his music room, so when the baby/toddler was about, he simply shut the doors to his music room, to isolate both his equipment and daughter from any danger. Simples! As they say: 'where there's a will, there's a way....'

And I have other hi-fi/music-loving friends with kids, and also shedloads of grandkids, who somehow managed to cope without 'selling up'. It just depends on your circumstances and how willing and/or able you are to make it all work.

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Moved into my house, (very modest three bed) when my daughter was 15months old, 18 years ago, second daughter came along 4 years later.

House is small but music is an intergral part of my life and the set up I had then went in the corner of the back room.

Have been many changes to the set up over those years but it's always remained in that same corner.

The kids, as they were then have grown around it, with it, no issues, no probs.

Music / system always been a part of my life and my wife knew that even before we became an item.

It would not be going anywhere, kids or no kids ;)

[Marco]

:clapclapclap:

:more::more: :respect:

:yesbruv::thumbsup:

Too many hen-pecked wusses, posing as 'men', me thinks, bring dictated to by their other halves ["Your hi-fi's going, dear, to make way for Junior, and that's that", I hear being cried]!:D;)

Marco.

[Bjork67]

:clapclapclap:

:more::more: :respect:

:yesbruv::thumbsup:

Too many hen-pecked wusses, posing as 'men', me thinks, bring dictated to by their other halves ["Your hi-fi's going, dear, to make way for Junior, and that's that", I hear being cried]!:D;)

Marco.
When you put the enjoyment of a hifi before the safety of a child some might say that is a very strange point of view imo. Have you tried teaching a young one under the age of say 4 not to touch something , unless you have your eyes on them constantly you are asking for trouble. Unless you have a dedicated lockable room I wouldn't even attempt it. Plus your time to listen and enjoy music goes out of the window.

[struth]

I managed to keep my grandkids off mine. I it wasn't easy but I persevered and so did their mum. She was getting the bill lol. So
The boys soon learned not to touch. Wife wanted me to get rid of it. I said no. They will adapt

[Macca]

When you put the enjoyment of a hifi before the safety of a child some might say that is a very strange point of view imo. Have you tried teaching a young one under the age of say 4 not to touch something , unless you have your eyes on them constantly you are asking for trouble. Unless you have a dedicated lockable room I wouldn't even attempt it. Plus your time to listen and enjoy music goes out of the window.

Under two maybe. Once they can walk and talk they can understand what is out of bounds. All my nephews and nieces would understand and obey me when they younger than 2 and doing stuff like walking into the room holding dressmaking shears like Chucky (and other stories).

[Marco]

When you put the enjoyment of a hifi before the safety of a child some might say that is a very strange point of view imo.


Yes, but that's not what I'm suggesting, so why interpret it that way? In the example I've given, with my friend using a partition between both rooms, and his little girl never gaining access to his music room, unsupervised, how would that endanger her? There's no way she could open the partition herself.

So what I'm saying is take adequate steps, such as the above, to ensure that your child is safe, rather than simply getting rid of your hi-fi system altogether, is the way to go. That's certainly what I'd have done, and it's worked perfectly well for my friends, and others like them, who despite having children, still retained their hi-fi equipment (and dedicated listening rooms):)

Rob, as he's stated, also seems to have managed it, and I'm sure he never put any of his kids in danger either...

As for your time to listen to music going out of the window, well to an extent that may be the case, but it's still no reason to sell your system, especially (like my friend) when he gets some precious time to himself, when his daughter is in bed, he likes to use that time relaxing to his favourite music.

If something matters enough to you, such as the joy of listening to music, through a quality hi-fi system, and you can still afford to keep it, despite having to fund the upbringing of your children, then you'll do everything possible in your power to do that, no matter how much your life changes, in ANY respect:cool:

Marco.

[Marco]

I managed to keep my grandkids off mine. I it wasn't easy but I persevered and so did their mum. She was getting the bill lol. So
The boys soon learned not to touch. Wife wanted me to get rid of it. I said no. They will adapt...

Indeed; perseverance is the key! And yes, kids will adapt.

Trouble is, it seems that some parents are too lazy to persevere, and simply take the easy 'cop out' of getting rid of the hi-fi system altogether. You were also quite right standing up to your wife and holding your ground, as it was obviously something you were passionate about.

More men should have such gumption, kids or no kids, rather than giving into the every whim of 'her indoors', simply for an easy life!

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

In my case, system in the house was a total non issue, affected the kids safety growing up in no way whatsoever.

Granted the back room has a door to it that can be shut.

When in the front room, there was / is the telly and other stuff, again wasnt an issue in the scheme of raising kids these things are the norm and you live accordingly, usual common sense, rules and natural behaviours apply

ie: you keep an eye, hold them, supervise them and so on as you would / as you do

[Marco]

In other words, you indulged actively in some RESPONSIBLE PARENTING, rather than simply 'nannying' everything to death, for an easy life!;)

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

I.E, you indulged actively in some RESPONSIBLE PARENTING, rather than simply 'nannying' everything to death!;)

Marco.

Absolutely ! Raised the little uns responsibly, had / have system, endulged my passion when I could end of.

In fact as they got older they knew Dad, his music and system were / are a part of him and the home, we have endulged together on many occasions :)

When they were toddlers, as I say my system never factored as some kind of safety issue no different to any other item, appliance in the house with little ones around, dealt with in the same way in that respect

[Macca]

My parents had little hooks on the top of the doors of the room you couldn't go into. They are still there now. By the time you were tall enough to unhook them you were old enough to know not to randomly trash whatever was in there (nothing much in my particular case, certainly no hi-fi).

[Edward]

When the girls came along I simply moved the hifi onto a higher shelf with the big Radford speakers remaining precisely where they were. Never fell on them. Only moved the speakers when they had a party. Only thing I would have changed was to get even bigger speakers - which I did. :lol:

Love them to bits - speakers and the girls. :)

[Marco]

In fact as they got older they knew Dad, his music and system were / are a part of him and the home, we have endulged together on many occasions :)


Nice one, so quite clearly your healthy and constructive approach to such matters has paid dividends!:cool:

There's a lesson to be learned there for some, me thinks......

Marco.

[Audio Al]

I have 3 children , Cant see what all the fuss is about

Child = food in one end Sh-t out the other end , some washing , Re adapting into the house , I told the EX wife I would re paint the wheel barrow and put some old bed clothes in it , However she wanted a £600 pushchair :eek:

I cleared a draw in my chest of draws specialy for said child to sleep in , The Ex wanted a £500 cot

Its not the child that costs money its the wife :)

I gave in on the next two , Did suggest re using some of the kit but strangely it all had to be NEW again :scratch:

[struth]

When the girls came along I simply moved the hifi onto a higher shelf with the big Radford speakers remaining precisely where they were. Never fell on them. Only moved the speakers when they had a party. Only thing I would have changed was to get even bigger speakers - which I did. :lol:

Love them to bits - speakers and the girls. :)

my little girl is 35 now but still love her to bits. they never change much if your lucky, just get a bit calmer

[Alex_UK]

Well, I'm still alive, and flattered to see that you missed me (albeit took 4 years to notice! :lol:) Hope you’re all well and talking as much pish as usual?! :eyebrows:

Various reasons I've been away - not least work and other interests and commitments - there was also a lot of "turmoil" in the hi-fi forum world at the time when I sneaked off, just felt I was better off away from it. All water under the bridge now!

Still in touch with a few from here, and music is still a big part of my life, hi-fi not so much, as although I still have all the kit I had before, I kind of found that the system(s) I'd put together were sounding so good I didn't really feel any need to get the "next best thing" or tinker with it too much – just enjoy the music. Must confess that I rarely do anything other than stream these days – ultimate sound quality may not be there but for me it’s driven by convenience.

Having said all of that, we're moving out to the country soon and I'll have new rooms to contend with so there may be a few changes needed and a rationalisation of kit - sorting out ready for the move I realised I'm into double-figures for pairs of speakers, dozens of bits of old kit and boxes of cables that you wouldn't believe!

Well, good to “speak” to you all, I’ll try and keep a closer eye on AoS from now on and not be a stranger (well, any stranger than normal!)

[Marco]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the update, and good to hear you're well and still enjoying life (as hectic as it is)!:)

No matter where you are in the world mate, please pop in and see us when you can and tell us what you're up to - and it doesn't need to be about hi-fi either!:cool:

AoS is, and always will be, much more than just a hi-fi forum.

Take care.

Marco.

[Audio Al]

Hi Alex glad life is good for you , We still have to put up with Marco :D Lucky You :)

[Alex_UK]

Cheers Marco, I have genuinely missed you all, so I shall certainly try and find a bit of time to pop in.

Cheers Al! He's a big-frilly-nightie-wearing-daftee, but you love him really! :D

[Barry]

Great to hear from you again Alex!

Don't leave it so long next time. ;)

[Alex_UK]

Thanks Barry - hoping not to! I hope you are keeping well. BTW - how do I become an "AOS Supporter"?

[Barry]

Thanks Barry - hoping not to! I hope you are keeping well. BTW - how do I become an "AOS Supporter"?

Hi Alex,

Simply click on the "Contribute" button at the top of the page and pledge a shedload of money. But first make sure it doesn't impinge too much on the 'rioja budget'. :lol:

Cheers
Barry

[Alex_UK]

But first make sure it doesn't impinge too much on the 'rioja budget'. :lol:

Heaven forbid! (And you remembered my favourite tipple!) Thanks Barry.:cocktail:

[Audio Al]

Thanks Barry - hoping not to! I hope you are keeping well. BTW - how do I become an "AOS Supporter"?

Click on Contribute and chip in some funds to help run the forum :)

Opps , already done above

[Ali Tait]

Nice to see you around Alex, don’t be a stranger. :-)

[Alex_UK]

Cheers Ali! Hope you're well mate. :)

[southall-1998_mk2]

Howdy Alex, hope all is well. Are you still using Rega Brio-R?

S.

[Ali Tait]

Cheers Ali! Hope you're well mate. :)

Yeah good thanks. :-)

[Alex_UK]

Hi Shane - all good thanks, hope you are too.

Yes, the Brio-R is still the mainstay in my living room system. I'm not a volume freak, I've never needed more power, and sounds wonderfully natural to me.

[Jimbo]

Good to see you back, can't believe you have been away for so long!