johan | LP retrieval booked

I posted a plea for help (a driver and someone to help us carry the LPs) to the local Tolkien Society mailing list and was a bit disappointed. Apparently I have not been very helpful myself helping others the last few years, because only one person responded with a yes. Well, it's true; I know I haven't. I've spent the free time I have largely on fandom, putting the Tolkien thing on the back burner, so I shouldn't be surprised. People help you if you help them. (I'm very grateful that Johan H. volunteered, of course - he's a grand guy!)

However, when my plea reached the Upsalafandom list, with just a third as many members, I had five offers of help within 25 minutes. I love you, guys.

Now, we really need to buy a new stereo set, because the old one (22 years old) is crumbling and not good enough to merit repairing. On a suggestion from Axel B. I talked to an audiophile here at work, and his suggestions range from SEK 12,000 / US$1,650 - if we're cheapskates on a tight budget - to SEK 26,000 / US$3,500 if we want something which is quite good but still a beginner's set, not being too extreme. Uh-oh! I suspected it would be expensive, but... Sigh. However, if we're buying a new set, we want a quality one. No use buying crap, not with so much glorious music to listen to. (We went down to have a look at the collection last week. Aahh.)

Still it's bizarre, that the playing equipment should cost three times as much (at least!) as the music. We'll see what happens.