My condolences too, Stan.
I was just thinking the other day that Werner hadn't been around on here for a while.
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My condolences too, Stan.
I was just thinking the other day that Werner hadn't been around on here for a while.
These two sentences in your post might wrongly suggest that they are related to each other.
Yours being the first post of a new page (well at least on my laptop) therefore might scare the hell out of some of us, so I'd like to clarify that the condolances do not refer to Werner.
Truely hope he is feeling well/better though! His absence on AoS struck me as well.
Werner, I am glad to hear that you are doing allright.
Although I don't know you well personally (who does on internet forums) and I am not a regular poster, I always like(d) reading your posts and insights.
And I bet there are more of me. :)
Werner, there's life outside hifi and hifi forums!
Hope your well and congrats on not being trapped here onlilne like the rest of us!
Gaz.
It's good to hear from you again, Werner.
Craig, Dave, Gaz, Jerry, Keith, Martin, Stan, Steven, Terry:
many thanks to you all for your kind words. I was not aware that I had so many virtual friends here :-)
Here’s what happened: As a passionate smoker of black, thick French cigarettes for more than 40 years I had developed a moderate form of COPD at least 15 years ago. In August last year things got serious since I suffered a series of pneumonias and painful asthmatic spasms in the chest. Often during these attacks I had no idea how to take the next breath, and more than once I experienced fear of death. Almost weekly I had to be transported to the next hospital by an ambulance car (often during odd hours deep in the night) to enable me to breathe again.
Fortunately this happened the last time until now early October last year, more than seven months ago, and I think and do hope these asthamatic spasms won’t return ever again.
On August 6th, 2012, during a pneumonia I was not aware of (but I felt very weak) and before the first lung cramps, I opted for cold turkey and immediately stopped smoking without further medical or psychological support. Contrary to popular opinion and experience I lost weight afterwards, probably because my food preferences changed. I rarely drink coffee anymore (I used to love Italian espresso), but I drink a lot of black tea (Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon). My days now start with slow motion, flowing Qi-Gong exercises. No more early cigarette while waiting for the coffee ;-)
I love music and life more than ever; I saw many really sick people and a lot of grief during my days in the various hospitals. My favourite music is from the singer-songwriters Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucinda Williams, Gretchen Peters and Fabrizio De André. I love compositions of Ludovico Einaudi, Dustin O’Halloran, Erik Satie, György Ligeti and Philip Glass (just to name a few) and angelic voices like for example Jane Monheit or Loreena McKennitt. As long as my music reproduction gear sounds good and is easy on the eye I don’t care too much for it, so I have been silent here on AoS during the last months.
Now back to my work, to design the faceplate of Stan’s new top secret killer DAC :-)
Many thanks again for your sympathy, my dear friends. Highly appreciated.
Werner.
I am pleased you got to tackle your COPD early enough to do something about it Werner, unfortunately my Mum wasn't quite so fortunate. As a result I gave up smoking myself and I have not looked back. It's good to see you posting back on AoS again sir, myself and my good lady Jo send you our very best wishes... ;)
Best wishes from me too Werner. It's superb that you gave up smoking like that and I have heard that after 10 years your lungs will be as good as someone who has never smoked.
We need more Schiit news not shit news! :lol: