I haven't been active on the forum for quite some time, so I thought it would be proper to re-introduce myself: I am Dries from Pretoria, South Africa, and my interest in calligraphy started in my early twenties – I'm in my mid-fifties now.
The reason for my prolonged absence was a serious motorcycle accident a year and a half ago, in which I broke three vertebrae, several ribs and suffered a collapsed right lung and a little spinal chord damage. Over the past 18 months I've progressed from being paralyzed, through walking with a Zimmer frame and later a cane, to walking unsupported.
It took some time before I could sit for long enough to do calligraphy, but for the last month or two I have been able to spend several hours at a time practicing (albeit with a break every 40 minutes or so). I am extremely grateful for not not having to give up my favourite pass-time.
It is good so see that so many of the people I knew before are still here, and that there are so many "new"people who have joined since. I look forward to spending a lot of time on this forum again.
And yes, I am riding bikes again 
