Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[Edgy 2]

Oh Pulcie please take good care of yourself.
I know how you fell especially about the easing of lockdown, I’m very anxious currently too.
Many many years ago I was advised by a psychiatrist to stop watching the news and reading the papers, best advice I was ever given

You will be missed but I hope your absence is temporary

[LMcD]

Oh Pulcie please take good care of yourself.
I know how you fell especially about the easing of lockdown, I’m very anxious currently too.
Many many years ago I was advised by a psychiatrist to stop watching the news and reading the papers, best advice I was ever given

You will be missed but I hope your absence is temporary

Agreed!

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Agreed!

Hear, hear!

[johncorrigan]

I'm leaving/taking a break: not sure when/if I'll return.
I'm not posting this out of any sense of self-importance, but a previous time I took a break some members posted their concerns about my absence (which were rather touching), so I thought it best to give notice.

I'm also hoping to take a break from newspapers/online news.
I recognise that I'm apprehensive about the easing of lockdown and things getting back to normal, and I suspect that my addiction to my iPad isn't helping my wellbeing.

With best wishes to all.
Pulcinella

Enjoy the break, Pulcinella. Be kind to yourself. Look forward to seeing you back in the near future.

[eighthobstruction]

Enjoy the break, Pulcinella. Be kind to yourself. Look forward to seeing you back in the near future.

....bestio....

[Pulcinella]

Back momentarily (in the UK not US sense) to thank you all for your good wishes.
Admittedly yesterday was a pretty grim day (jab aftereffects(?) compounded with more leaky windows and the prospect of yet another claim against the builder through NHBC, though fingers crossed that it all might be considered under the claim that's just been approved!) and I was feeling particularly low.

But I'm about to order the Proms 2021 Guide, which will be something to look forward to.
And we'll be having some Summer BaLs while the Proms are on, which I've often helped with, so I might just be back then.
Thinking caps on: there have already been two suggestions: Bernstein Symphony 2 (The age of anxiety) and Berlioz Romeo and Juliet.
Once more, thanks, and best wishes to all.

[Petrushka]

I'm leaving/taking a break: not sure when/if I'll return.
I'm not posting this out of any sense of self-importance, but a previous time I took a break some members posted their concerns about my absence (which were rather touching), so I thought it best to give notice.

I'm also hoping to take a break from newspapers/online news.
I recognise that I'm apprehensive about the easing of lockdown and things getting back to normal, and I suspect that my addiction to my iPad isn't helping my wellbeing.

With best wishes to all.
Pulcinella

I also hope that your break is merely a temporary one and offer you my best wishes.

Interesting to see, though, that all the reasons you put forward for taking this break are entirely within your control. I'm a big believer in changing what we can and accepting what we cannot change, otherwise feelings of helplessness can overwhelm. I long ago took Edgy2's advice to boycott the news media and now ration myself to a morning look at the Guardian and a peek at Sky News at the end of the day.

Lockdown easing apprehension is a fascinating phenomenon and is probably more widespread than anyone would have expected. When you recall the past apprehension you felt at various points in life you quickly realise that they turned out to be actually not very much at all. It's the custard pie round the next corner that catches you out! This is no different. I'd be taking a few easy steps at a time to gently return to normality rather than heed siren voices to take some major step with which I wasn't happy. I recently met up with friends for an al fresco meal and had to travel by train to get there. I hadn't done either of these since February 2020 and it felt strange but the train crew, station staff and restaurant staff were all extremely helpful and I'm looking forward to doing so again soon.

Oh and keep listening to the music! There is no better therapy.

[Barbirollians]

Back momentarily (in the UK not US sense) to thank you all for your good wishes.
Admittedly yesterday was a pretty grim day (jab aftereffects(?) compounded with more leaky windows and the prospect of yet another claim against the builder through NHBC, though fingers crossed that it all might be considered under the claim that's just been approved!) and I was feeling particularly low.

But I'm about to order the Proms 2021 Guide, which will be something to look forward to.
And we'll be having some Summer BaLs while the Proms are on, which I've often helped with, so I might just be back then.
Thinking caps on: there have already been two suggestions: Bernstein Symphony 2 (The age of anxiety) and Berlioz Romeo and Juliet.
Once more, thanks, and best wishes to all.

The rationing news thing is a good idea. I tend to watch the 10pm news and nothing else and it certainly helps.

You might try rationing us too rather than complete cold turkey

Take care

[Serial_Apologist]

Back momentarily (in the UK not US sense) to thank you all for your good wishes.
Admittedly yesterday was a pretty grim day (jab aftereffects(?) compounded with more leaky windows and the prospect of yet another claim against the builder through NHBC, though fingers crossed that it all might be considered under the claim that's just been approved!) and I was feeling particularly low.

But I'm about to order the Proms 2021 Guide, which will be something to look forward to.
And we'll be having some Summer BaLs while the Proms are on, which I've often helped with, so I might just be back then.
Thinking caps on: there have already been two suggestions: Bernstein Symphony 2 (The age of anxiety) and Berlioz Romeo and Juliet.
Once more, thanks, and best wishes to all.

My very best wishes to you, Pulcinella. You are greatly appreciated and you can look forward to a hearty welcome back here when the time is right for you.

[Nick Armstrong]

My very best wishes to you, Pulcinella. You are greatly appreciated and you can look forward to a hearty welcome back here when the time is right for you.

Thoroughly seconded! Look after yourself, P!

[antongould]

My very best wishes to you, Pulcinella. You are greatly appreciated and you can look forward to a hearty welcome back here when the time is right for you.

Thirded

[BBMmk2]

Back momentarily (in the UK not US sense) to thank you all for your good wishes.
Admittedly yesterday was a pretty grim day (jab aftereffects(?) compounded with more leaky windows and the prospect of yet another claim against the builder through NHBC, though fingers crossed that it all might be considered under the claim that's just been approved!) and I was feeling particularly low.

But I'm about to order the Proms 2021 Guide, which will be something to look forward to.
And we'll be having some Summer BaLs while the Proms are on, which I've often helped with, so I might just be back then.
Thinking caps on: there have already been two suggestions: Bernstein Symphony 2 (The age of anxiety) and Berlioz Romeo and Juliet.
Once more, thanks, and best wishes to all.

Oh no, Pulcie! I’m greatly saddened by this. I hope you will return very soon. Much missed.

[Dave2002]

Best wishes indeed - Pulcie. I guess you know where we all are.

[Serial_Apologist]

Best wishes indeed - Pulcie. I guess you know where we all are.

All over the place - some of us!

[HighlandDougie]

I hope that your "sabbatical" (as you will, we all hope, be back) gives you the breathing space to get your work/life/everything else back into balance, the planets will all come back into perfect alignment and that harmony in all things will soon be restored. Your posts are often a great stimulus for me (and I am sure for others) to explore pieces of music in greater depth - and not just Stravinsky so will be even more welcome when you - and they - return. I would have suggested regular visits to the National Railway Museum and to Betty's for the odd fat rascal and a cup of lapsang souchong but, post-lockdown in staycation Britain, I'm not sure that you would find much peace and quiet in either of them!