Andy
Honorary Member
Just an update from Andy world.
As some of you old timers will know, I’ve had a few health shocks over the years. 2002 - spinal tumour, 2006 heart electrics failed, 2018 brain stem stroke, so I’m conditioned to putting 1 finger up at challenges & riding the benefits of a positive attitude. Late last year, after contracting an especially inconvenient chest infection whilst travelling the US, that transitioned to pneumonia with complications that pneumonia alone could not explain, & investigations / scans commenced.
Initially, they tested for the dreaded “C” word, thankfully, that was clear, but they found a number of significant issues, including emphysema. Bottom line, the cumulative issues are life limiting. After numerous tests, I’ve had the life expectancy talk, & it’s not great. My apparent stellar natural lung capacity has bought me functional time until this point, but I’ve now cashed in my chips, & the ride begins.
Ok, sympathy is definitely not what I’m after here. Life throws stuff at you, & there’s many who’ve dealt with far worse than me. Certainly, some of my latest challenge is self inflicted, but life's a crap shoot.
So what’s changing? I’m giving my current band until the end of this year & see what happens. That doesn’t mean I’m calling time on a modestly successful act, although I might. There’s challenges in the band, nothing too severe, but I’m kind of done with being the hardest working member by some margin. I had hoped this group of players would transition to my first love - original music, but that’s never going to happen with collective commitments. Even arranging show rehearsals is a trial.
Upshot, I think a change of personal emphasis is in the wind. I know enough good players to bring some original material to a presentable reality. That will take a while. I think I’ve got a while. How long, I’m not sure, but as ever, I’m super positive. I’m not going silly & trying to condense as much stuff into a timeline indicated by medics, that’s just hastening demise, but I do need to make the next phase about me more than others.
Until I make changes, I’m determined to enjoy this show season. Some great gigs lined up, & no, you can’t have my Guru’s
Andy.
As some of you old timers will know, I’ve had a few health shocks over the years. 2002 - spinal tumour, 2006 heart electrics failed, 2018 brain stem stroke, so I’m conditioned to putting 1 finger up at challenges & riding the benefits of a positive attitude. Late last year, after contracting an especially inconvenient chest infection whilst travelling the US, that transitioned to pneumonia with complications that pneumonia alone could not explain, & investigations / scans commenced.
Initially, they tested for the dreaded “C” word, thankfully, that was clear, but they found a number of significant issues, including emphysema. Bottom line, the cumulative issues are life limiting. After numerous tests, I’ve had the life expectancy talk, & it’s not great. My apparent stellar natural lung capacity has bought me functional time until this point, but I’ve now cashed in my chips, & the ride begins.
Ok, sympathy is definitely not what I’m after here. Life throws stuff at you, & there’s many who’ve dealt with far worse than me. Certainly, some of my latest challenge is self inflicted, but life's a crap shoot.
So what’s changing? I’m giving my current band until the end of this year & see what happens. That doesn’t mean I’m calling time on a modestly successful act, although I might. There’s challenges in the band, nothing too severe, but I’m kind of done with being the hardest working member by some margin. I had hoped this group of players would transition to my first love - original music, but that’s never going to happen with collective commitments. Even arranging show rehearsals is a trial.
Upshot, I think a change of personal emphasis is in the wind. I know enough good players to bring some original material to a presentable reality. That will take a while. I think I’ve got a while. How long, I’m not sure, but as ever, I’m super positive. I’m not going silly & trying to condense as much stuff into a timeline indicated by medics, that’s just hastening demise, but I do need to make the next phase about me more than others.
Until I make changes, I’m determined to enjoy this show season. Some great gigs lined up, & no, you can’t have my Guru’s
Andy.