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Patrick Taggart's avatar

Thanks Joe.

I enjoyed listening to this. It's the first of your posts - the first substack post - I've listened to rather than read. Your voice is well suited to the task and it did cross my mind that you would have made a lovely priest. 😉

I can relate to your heart troubles. I was found to have a right coronary artery that is being squeezed between the pulmonary artery and aorta, after I collapsed after a sea swim in 2018. Having had prostate cancer and now also myelofibrosis I retired early from the Civil Service in the North. Retirement is such a relief. Funnily, I reacted very differently from you to my heart troubles. Surgery was considered and then dismissed. I resumed sea swimming and put it (mostly) to the back of my mind. Is that courage or stupidity.

Since retiring, I have got involved in choirs, having had virtually no musical background. I still don't read music, so I must check out musica.com.

Thanks again!

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Joe Armstrong's avatar

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for your welcome, considered and interesting comment. Yup, I have often got that about I would have made a lovely priest! Even from someone who suggested it didn't matter if I didn't believe in the creed! Of course, I know priests who don't!

Thanks for liking my voice reading aloud my substack. It does add a bit of work and time but I personally prefer listening than reading, and the often personal nature of my substack makes it appropriate.

Sorry to hear of your health challenges. Wishing you good health and many more joys.

Happy days, Joe

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Tina Storey's avatar

Choral singing is so good , mentally, physically, socially.

Keep it up! Basses and tenors are hard to find.

Check out Choralia and Cyberbass for easy to listen to recordings of Common works.

YouTube is your friend too!

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Joe Armstrong's avatar

Thanks Tiny, Yup I love listening to a choir and I can see how it's good for body, mind and spirit. My short-term goal is to complete the sheet music 🎼 for our song and persuade a choir to perform and record it. Happy days, Joe

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Michael McCann's avatar

thanks Joe , I don’t feel blue anymore too

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Joe Armstrong's avatar

I'm glad to hear it, my friend.

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Tina Storey's avatar

Lots of personal insight, there, Joe. Glad that you are not feeling as blue by the end of the piece! Creativity and using your body and gifts is great. Thanks for the tip on the Polar monitor.

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Joe Armstrong's avatar

Thanks Tina. Yeah, writing usually shifts any blue mood too, for me. Hope you're well and thriving!

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Tina Storey's avatar

Living the dream, Joe!

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