´Hi-Fi, Kafka and me

(duplicated from pfm)




I arrived at Stansted Saturday morning and was kindly picked up by Chris. We went to his house and listened to his system for a while; later on, Dean, Michael, Ian and Neil arrived. We then went over to Michael's (minus Chris as he wanted to go bike riding) and listened to that system. Interesting contrast.

On the Sunday, I went to David Cathro's studio where I also met Dev.

On Monday, I either lost my wallet on the tube or it was nicked. I met Alex at his workshop and we discovered that I'd have a problem finding a hotel because they'd require a proof of identity, which I couldn't provide. Thorsten (3DSonics) had joined us at that point and kindly offered me a bed at his place. So I also heard Alex's and Thorsten's systems.

All of the systems I heard were excelllent, I would be happy to live with each of them even while they all sound different and also different from my own. But they all were at the level where the basics are taken care of and they tend to reflect the taste of the owner.

On the Tuesday, I had a somewhat Kafka-esque experience at the German embassy getting a get-me-home provisional passport. Let's just say customer orientation was not the guiding principle by which they organised the process.

On Ian's recommendation, I had been reading Wheen's superb Karl Marx biography and so thought it appropriate to go to the British Museum and spend some time in the Reading Room where Marx spent so much of his life (and which has recently been restored to its 1857 glory, i.e. it looks exactly as it did when Marx worked there). I also managed to fulfill a wish I'd had since I was about 15 and saw the Rosetta Stone, having read a book about Champollion at that age.

The real highlights of a trip such as this are not the systems but the people. Seeing a few people again, and meeting others for the first time, was a great pleasure. Everybody I met was extremely kind and generous to me, so thanks a lot guys. I had a good time, London was its usual interesting self and I can recommend the experience to anybody. Here's hoping to see you all again.

 

Damn, how did you organise that without me knowing?! õ.O

Its sounds like an audiophile pub crawl!

 

'twas easy

 

well, when you next fly into Edinburgh, let me know and us-up-here will extend hospitality.

enjoyed the read

ps I've drawn Costa Rica in the sweepstake ... (and Holland)

 

(duplicated from pfm)

Hi Markus, it was good to meet you finally. Very sorry about your misfortune.

 

sorry to hear about your wallet, hope nothing unreplaceable got taken.

glad you could make it over, and hope you enjoyed the break despite the mishaps!

 

Markus,

Good you still managed to get your flight and the inconvenience got not any bigger, though we'd have been delighted to offer you a bed for another night of two if needed. Drop by again if you have the chance, perhaps under better auspices.

Ciao T

 

Sadly I have heard that devs system cant play Shellac!

 

Sadly?

Some would sat thank **** for that.

 

Thank you for informing us about this factoid, but what's that got to do with anything?

 

Haha once you have heard it in all its glory you might change your mind dev

Its everything to do with everything Markus!

 

Bollox

 

Perhaps you should come to the impending bake off at my pad along with Rob and Tenson? I might change your mind

 

But you haven't heard my system (which I admit is quite modest) and yet you already know what it can't play and that to me sounds like bollox. Also you are assuming that it matters to me whether my system can play Shellac. To be frank, I have no idea who or what Shellac is and don't care. If I hear it and like it I'll let you know.

 

Which label are they on?

 

Ask BBV.

 

Now, that might be good.

 

You have already heard it. As has tenson. On your system I presumed you knew but clearly you didnt - my mistake! I assumed you were in on the gag but you werent. No cause for offence please

 

Sorry, being serious for a minute, I have no idea what you are on about. You don't mean Ian's CD that caused S&M and I to leave the room?

 

Well I think it was Tensons CD but yes thats probably the one.

The cd you did for rob was quite good though. Very trippy.