@Socio @Stuartw Thank you for your good wishes, very appreciated!
@domi7 Thank you so much Dominique! Like @Lisa_S, you’ve been one of those virtual friends, who wrote so many nice messages, thanks for that! I’m hoping you both have a good time during the next BLIM course!
@CATMAN62 Thank you for your heartwarming reply, Tod! I’ve been really touched by your words! I’ll do my best to stay strong and brave and I’m feeling so much hope for the future! There are so many things left on my list to do! That’s the only thing I can do.
Indeed, my guitars always have been relief during those long periods of health struggles, but suddenly, I’ve lost my connection a few month ago. Sure, I picked them up every once in a while, but without motivation or any satisfaction.
I even lost contact to music itself for a few weeks, but this has totally changed meanwhile, music is back in my life and same will happen with guitar playing, once I’m able to focus on it again!
January 15th, 2026
After only 24h in hospital, I came back home yesterday. Surgery went well, I feel good and I’m very happy, that I’ve taken the first big step ahead. No waiting for the lab results and further therapy.
After the surgery, in the evening, this: https://youtu.be/8jiDZeJcgLQ?si=BSFJgoyyuHLoijWl popped up on YT and I loved it!
It’s time for the Blues, isn’t it? He’s singing about “six string souls” and I guess, I’m one of them 
.
Picked up my guitar as soon as I was home, not very successful, but at least I did!
Hey Andrea!
Good for you to be in & out of hospital quickly with surgery behind you! I hope that you recover quickly & that lab results are positive.
Just finished listening to the mini concert from the link you shared!!! Such a great listen!!! I loved it!!! I’m a relative newbie to Blues… wasn’t one of my “go to” genres until Justin’s Blues Module in Grade 2… still not crazy about a lot of the lyrics but the songs you shared really connected… I love “Six Stringed Soul” & “Guitars at Midnight”!!! So cool!!!
Thanks!!! 
Tod
Oh… I had missed your response to my earlier post, so sorry! I think I was in a hurry to click on the link…
I meant what I said - if there’s anything I can do to help you, please ask! Someone to cry on their shoulder, either in person or virtually can truly help & I understand that need so well!!!
Wishing you the best of luck & health in your recovery 
!!!
Keep positive & keep playing!!!
Tod
February 2026
Hello my dear guitar friends, the first half of February is already over, time for a new update of this log.
Healthwise, everything is going it’s way and I’m pretty satisfied how things turned out so far. So I’m thankful and humble at this point and hope, things will stay as positive as they are now.
I haven’t found my way back to structured practice yet, I just can’t keep up with a routine at the moment and I don’t really care about that.
Nevertheless, I’m coming back to songs I have on my rotating practice list from time to time, because I have to improve or just because I like them or I keep them for trying out new approaches on them.
I thought, I would post this one take from two weeks ago.
It’s a song that’s a companion for me since ages, one of those songs I have a real connection with and at a point in the past, I gave it a try, first only chords, then strumming and singing, then applying a simple finger picking pattern together with singing and so on. It’s still a work in progress, I’m still practicing a certain very fast picking pattern that picks up the “sparkling” mood of the original, but my concentration isn’t sufficient to keep up the speed and singing at the same time.
It’s originally Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talking”, a beautiful cover also has been done by The Beautiful South.
I simply like the message of this beautiful song and how it relates to my current situation and I guess, it was the main reason, to dust it off a few weeks ago.
After many months of a major inability to sing, I was kind of surprised, that suddenly something came out of my mouth !
I decided to add this recording to my log, just as a reminder, that I actually have learnt something within the last months.
It sounds beautiful, very nicely played and sung, it’s fun to listen to.
Hi Andrea,
glad to hear you! 
I can only echo Withold here: that was beautiful. If that’s how you sound being a little rusty, I am keen on hearing how it will sound once you dusted off your voice a little more. You have something that hardly can be learned: you put yourself and your feelings into your voice. It sounds true, pure and authentic. And it’s very pleasant to listen to. 
Your picking sounded sweet, too. It clearly shows you put in some work in the past months, sounded flawless and relaxed. All in all, it’s a beautiful tune and your performance did it justice.
If I may, I would say don’t worry too much about structures and routines. If this is what comes out of your current way of practice and play plus you enjoy it, it already sounds like a good way to go on. Or to quote David P: keep on keeping on. 
Hi Andrea, that was a beautiful cover. Singing and picking at the same time is not easy. You made it sound effortless in your work in progress cover. I’m glad that you shared it with us.
I wouldn’t worry about structured progress at the moment as you’re really laying down those solid foundations and developing further through the joys of learning songs that you enjoy.
I’ m so happy to read your update Andrea, I’ve been thinking of you lately and crossing my fingers you were recovering well from the surgery with a positive outcome 
Finding a recording too was a wonderful surprise and tells me that your guitar is keeping you good company…I can tell from the level of accomplishment you reached with this one, so enjoyable to listen to and so full of emotion…I hear clear and strong the connection between you and the instrument…my sincerest congratulations!
As for structure and routine I can only echo what Lisa and James already wrote.
Haven’t heard that song in ages Andrea. That was lovely. Super fingerstyle play and what a great voice you’ve got too. You can really hit those lower notes.
Well done. Great to hear that things are positive health wise with you.
Structured practise….whats that? 
If that’s how you come out of a time without playing and singing I should have a break too!
That was really beautiful!
Both - playing and singing!
I feel the same about this song and looked at it quite some time ago, when it still felt too difficult for me!
I am so glad about this song and all your news above and hope that you will continue on a positive path! 
beautiffuly played
That was lovely Helen! I listened to it twice. Then a third, and since the song is on my playlist, I strummed along as quietly as possible to accompany you. I haven’t tried it fingerstyle yet, so thanks for the inspiration. Some day, maybe, I’ll sing it. Cheers!
Holy cow … 
Well Andrea, I said a while ago about your voice that there is a warmth and feeling in it that I like and with the right songs (or adapting them) that will be very nice for me as a listener…
Here it all comes together nicely… try not to throw out superlatives because I’m afraid I won’t stop anymore… 
…
I am very very very impressed that you did this like this, 
keep this song close to you forever 
and make sure that in a while you can play it at every campfire or other fire place , and there you can draw tears from the listeners… and then in a while I will set the community center on fire here
Dear Andrea ,We were just listening together and Hermine was also impressed 
… she is staying at home for a nice long time today , I was behind the computer again for a while( feels long 3,5 days not 1 full hour …should be enough still 
.)… I had a break from the guitar and sitting behind the table … just scrolled away a bit on the phone … Friday I fell out of the chair in the lobby of a restaurant 
… in public so full of (unnecessary but anyway) shame … the big advantage, there is always someone there who can help … but the ‘break’ is a bit literal in the foot and a few other things bruised and strained in the body …
this was a nice break to listen to … 
…
Greetings and Thanks 
@witkatz Thank you Withold for stopping by and thanks for the nice comment!
@Lisa_S I’m happy you liked it. We talked about the limitations of my voice, or at least the limitation I feel when singing and I’m very happy to read, that you felt the emotions come through! Be assured, there are verry few songs that fit my voice, mostly my impression is, that my singing ruins everything !
For the picking: I experimented with different patterns and it is astonishing how much the pattern affects the mood of the song. Whilst this pattern gives it a melancholic touch, the pattern I currently work on, brings out something , that’s more like the original version. Fun to experiment with!
That’s my daily mantra these days with everything 
!
@Socio James! How nice to see you here and many thanks for the nice words. Haven’t found the time yet to listen to your latest original.
Concerning the solid foundations, there’s still a lot to learn and my steps seem to be shorter than other’s 
.
@Silvia80 Thank you very much, Silvia!
Indeed, I recovered very well from the surgery, I left hospital only 24h after the medical intervention. I’m currently waiting to get the information how further therapy will be “composed”. I’m getting a master degree in patience, puhhhh…
Yes, I found my way back to the guitars, my trusty friends. What makes me really happy, is that obviously, the emotional aspect came through, although it’s only audio. That’s one of those abilities, I hope to get with time… getting technically “perfect” in playing is something to aim for, but what is all that, when there’s no feeling behind?
@sairfingers Your nice comment made me very happy, Gordon! I think, I said it before, your one takes always have been, from my early days on, great examples for solid and lovely performances, and I let me tell you again: I’m missing them a bit and this is a not so subtle hint towards your direction 
!!!
@mfeeney0110 I feel honoured, that you listened several times and motivated you to strum along! This song, apart from being really beautiful, is a good practice item.
Firstly, I started just to practice several C chord variations and then one thing led to another and I’m still not there. Definitely a keeper for me! Wish you lots of fun!
@domi7 Thank you Dominique! Actually, I had that song at that level long before I got interrupted by life struggles, so I just had to dust it off a bit.
Inspired by Michael, I’m just asking myself, how this song would sound as a duet or with a second guitar…maybe something to try. Wasn’t there a lesson on duetting with yourself? That’s a point, where a jam buddy would be handy…as duetting with me is a bit boring!
@GrumpyMac Thanks, Deborah! I’m currently trying to read through your log. I’ve missed a lot! BLIM!!! Wow!!!
@roger_holland Hi Rogier! Many thanks for your comment!
You’ve hit the nail on the hat, unfortunately it only works with very few songs. I had another one in the pipeline, but I simply can’t sing it confidently, although it’s a very easy one 
. Maybe I should take Chris Liepe’s lessons, but I don’t have enough motivation right now.
I’m very upset about this, it’s not what I expected from a friend !
I surely will!
Oh my godness, Rogier! I’m very sorry to read that! Don’t tell me you suffer serious damages ???
“A few other things bruised”, oh no! Please tell me, that you didn’t break your bones??? That sounds horrible and I hope, I simply missunderstood and your blessings aren’t that bad?
Please give us more information!
just hit me up if you need a partner for a duet
but there should be better singers and players around.
Ein.
Fach.
Super!
Hope to remedy that soon Andrea. Got to fit guitar in between holidays. I’m currently in Lanzarote… without guitar!
Hope the only thing broken is your pride Rogier! 