The illness has taken up much of my spare time over the years, not to mention a considerable sum of money spent on concerts, books, LPs, and CDs. The disease is now at an advanced stage, and I have recently taken to writing about Mahler in an attempt at self-therapy.

There are many sufferers in the world, and we share at least one thing in common - we have absolutely no desire to find a cure.

I am a member of the International Gustav Mahler Society in Vienna.

As an h2g2 Scout, I am always on the lookout for interesting new Entries that can be added to the Edited Guide. As the lovely green badge over to the right indicates, I write a regular column, Musical Notes, for The Post. You do read The Post don't you? If you don't, shame on you; get yourself over there toute de suite, schnell, PDQ.

Hashing

Why the name h5ringer? Well, I also belong to an organisation known as the Hash House Harriers. The club's activity is best summed up by our slogan: 'A drinking club with a running problem'. There are local groups all over the world - wherever you find ex-Brits, you'll find Hashers (as we are known). My local group is Hare and Hounds Hash House Harriers (hence H5). All Hashers have a Hash name by which they call each other - mine is Ringer - hence my h2g2 name, h5ringer.

For full and unexpurgated details, see my Hashing Entry, but on your head be it - you have been warned!

The H2G2 University Mahler Project

I am an h2g2 Field Researcher working on a project to create Guide Entries on the life and works of the composer Gustav Mahler. When completed it wil cover all of his symphonies, plus the symphonic song cycle Das Lied von der Erde. The project will also include Entries on other topics of Mahler-connected interest.

Currently completed Entries are:

• First Symphony
• Second Symphony
• Third Symphony
• Fourth Symphony
• Fifth Symphony
• The Adagietto from the Fifth Symphony
• Sixth Symphony
• The Order of the Middle Movements in the Sixth Symphony
• Mahler only visit to England - 1892
• Alma Mahler-Werfel - Part 1: 1879 to 1911
• Alma Mahler-Werfel - Part 2: from 1911
• Seventh Symphony
• Das Lied von der Erde
• Ninth Symphony

Other Edited Guide Entries

A set of Entries on Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle:

• Introduction
• Das Rheingold
• Die Walküre
• Siegfried
• Götterdämmerung

I am also writing an occasional series that will (hopefully) keep alight the memory of some musical figures of yesteryear that are in danger of slipping below the radar.

Completed Entries to date are:

• Conductor Eduard van Beinum
• Conductor Ataulfo Argenta
• Conductor Basil Cameron
• Contralto Kathleen Ferrier
• Conductor Anton Seidl

Oh, and the 42 thingy:
Researcher 3386111 = ((3 + 3) x 8 - 6 + 1) x 1 - 1 = 42