Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[HighlandDougie]

Last month marked the 10th Anniversary of my joining the BBC Messageboards. I joined at a time after my partner had spent a year undergoing treatment for Cancer, which was pronounced "sorted" - the relief had an unusual effect on me ... I found that I couldn't read novels for a long time (Eco and then Proust got me back in the habit), and sharing ideas with people on the Messageboards was a great form of therapy.

Tomorrow I hit 60 - or it hits me - a mere Spring Chicken, I know (well, perhaps "Autumn" would be more accurate, but that ruins a joke about "well-sprung" that I was going to make) but an age when a reassessment of one's priorities seems appropriate. As some of you know, my partner died six years ago - and the Forum has been an invaluable source of life for me in that time: you all helped me keep in contact with myself (even - who knows, perhaps especially - those of you who have raised my ire and passionate fury with ideas and opinions directly contradictory to my own). It has been a pleasure and a very real privilege being a Host for the past five years, and to have had the chance to steer the Forum over the past three-and-a-bit years.

But such a prvilege brings with it responsibilities which make great demands on one's time - those phishing posts advertising "Hot Sex" sites don't delete themselves. And, at this age, I need to devote more time - a lot more time - to the activities that are most important to me. I do not wish to face the end of my life (which I don't intend to occur for many decades yet!) having failed to at least attempt the compositions and writing projects that have been tickling the back of my mind for some years now. My partner was always delighted to see me working on my creative projects, and I feel I owe it to her memory as well as to myself, to devote all my spare time on this work.

And so, this is my last post as a member of the Forum. I hand the keys of the Executive Washroom over to my good friend Eine Alpensinfonie, knowing that the future of this wonderful Forum, which has been so important to me this past decade, is in the very best of hands, and I leave knowing that it can only go on to further heights of social, cultural, and educational benefit to its members, to all of whom I wish all the very best of health, wealth, and happiness, and to whom I send my very deepest gratitude for the help you've given me over the years - none more so than when most of you didn't know you were doing this.

Bestio!

The very happiest of 60th birthdays - indeed, a mere child with years in front of you. And much respect for your decision to concentrate on what brings you intellectual satisfaction, enjoyment and, I hope, a sense of achievement. Time is a precious commodity which really shouldn't be wasted on the occasional pettinesses of this forum. Seeing someone on Sunday at the Wigmore Hall with an HCMF tote bag made me think of you so I hope that it (the Festival) may benefit further from your input. But, but, but, as the many other posts attest, we will be bereft at your absence. In this case, partir, c'est certainement mourir un peu.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm not the only one to have benefitted immeasurably from ferney's generosity - remembering particularly his patient explanation of chord inversions for me, as well as the numerous times we were on the same or different wavelengths. Where we disagreed it was always about somebody or something else, never "basics". Ferney, it is down especially to you that this place has been a home and refuge in these times when so much of true value is being thrown to the dogs - and, for sure, not just for me. I can't put what I feel better than others already have, so, just to urge, get that final, definitive answer to "Licht" completed... you still have all the time in the world to experience it, along with all in life of which, we learn from those who know you directly, you have made the most, while helping others do likewise.

Thanks, mate!

[eighthobstruction]

....happy birthday....

[Serial_Apologist]

....happy birthday....

And from me!

[Padraig]

I have just read the news, doubly unexpected and therefore shocking. Two fine gentlemen taking their leave, always hard to express due appreciation. Here are two other gentlemen, with violin and guitar, trying the same task. I think they, at least, succeed.

Slan libh go foill. (Goodbye for the present)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnzEvNQYElA

[antongould]

Just to say - I'm also taking my leave, to concentrate on other projects. I'm grateful to forumites past and present for all I've learnt, and for many musical discoveries. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to serve with Cap'n Ferney and my fellow hosts. I wish Ferney the very best in his future projects, my fellow hosts every success in in running the forum, and forumites old and new continued enjoyment for years to come.

Very sorry to hear this Richard ..... as others have said please drop in occasionally .........

[gradus]

Seconded. Besides being a fountain of knowledge the sheer generosity of your personality has been one of the main joys of this forum. Good luck on your creative endeavors.

Cheered to the echo from me.

[edashtav]

Seconded. Besides being a fountain of knowledge the sheer generosity of your personality has been one of the main joys of this forum. Good luck on your creative endeavors.

Thank you ferney: you ran a model house of correction replete with incision, precision and concision. You will be sorely missed but we look forward to hearing the great works of your 'late period'.

[gradus]

Richard, many thanks for all your work here.

[HighlandDougie]

Just to say - I'm also taking my leave, to concentrate on other projects. I'm grateful to forumites past and present for all I've learnt, and for many musical discoveries. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to serve with Cap'n Ferney and my fellow hosts. I wish Ferney the very best in his future projects, my fellow hosts every success in in running the forum, and forumites old and new continued enjoyment for years to come.

I feel that the world is crumbling around me. Very best wishes - your posts have been informative, educational and enjoyable. From my selfish point of view, your ornithological expertise will be particularly missed. I hope that your love of everything Iberian will continue long into the future.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Ferney - sorry to hear you are leaving . It’s been a real pleasure to engage with you on the forum and to find a fellow fan of Kathleen Ferrier and indeed non enthusiast of Scheherazade ( played this morning on Essential Classics as perhaps the final provocation) . Seriously though you must have been an exceptional teacher as it is not easy to explain simply even quite basic musical concepts - something you have clearly mastered. I have come to the forum only after semi-retiring (down to about two days a week) and I can only guess at the effort that must have gone into being a host and the amount of time it must have consumed. I hope you find as much satisfaction in your future creative endeavours as you have given in your incisive, witty and thought provoking contributions.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hmm. Do you really need to 'cut and run'? Relinquish your leadership role, by all means, but do retain your membership and continue to contribute the occasional post. As to your 60th, isn't that the new 30th? I know I have come to regard 70 as the new 40. Good to have worked with you on Cardew's The Great Learning in the summer of 2015. All the best . . .

Sentiments echoed here. Have a break, by all means, but your contributions are always welcome, Ferney.

[Pulcinella]

Sentiments echoed here. Have a break, by all means, but your contributions are always welcome, Ferney.

Thinking about contributions, Alpie, are you going to continue with BaL listings?
Is it perhaps not time simply for a link to Presto, and throw the discussion open from there?
Not that we all don't value the lists, of course.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thinking about contributions, Alpie, are you going to continue with BaL listings?
Is it perhaps not time simply for a link to Presto, and throw the discussion open from there?
Not that we all don't value the lists, of course.

Some weeks I think that might be a good idea, and then I find so many errors on the (admittedly awesome) Presto website. So I'll be carrying on for now.

[hmvman]

Happy 60th Birthday, ferney, and wishing you all the very best with your creative endeavours. I admire your taking control of your life and concentrating on the things you really want to do. When I turned 60 two and a half years ago I had similar thoughts and ambitions but inertia took hold and I find myself carrying on much as before. So, congratulations and all power to your elbow - and other bits!