Cold up here in Withering Heights!

Coming up to solstice/ Christmas time and it’s very cold out there. Too cold for me to venture out unless it’s absolutely urgent. Staying warm though inside with fleece blanket and fire on. Off to hospital today for them to have a look at my leg and toe wounds and off to GP’s tomorrow to see about an irregular heart beat that has come on over this past few days and the numbness and weakness on my right side that isn’t getting any better. This weakness, a result of a stroke, means I am having to learn my instruments all over again, and it’s been almost like having to start all over again at least where my right side is concerned, I am seeing some improvement though it’s slow going. Had some tests done recently and the good news is that my lungs are clearing up but the bad news it’s my weak heart that appears to be rendering me breathless. I still have a chronic chest infection though it’s much better than it was. Anyroad, enough about my health issues, what’s been happening around ‘Withering Heights’ these past few months? Moved some of my studio up to my bedroom as its too cold down in the studio at the mo. Been playing about with a few ideas mainly to try and get comfortable with the software, (Reaper). Still got an aversion to consulting the manual but I’m bodging my way around as usual. Getting the inspiration now to compose some tunes maybe of an ethnic folky Celtic kind, though my singing and playing are still quite weak, at least I can have a go at some demo’s and even if I never get to perform them at least having a go will keep my spirits up and improve my techniques.. Getting well into some research mainly about alt-history and the possibility of pre historic advanced civilisations, and the history and meaning of the Tarot cards. I’ve decided to focus on just a few things that interest me and go in more depth rather than reading all about the conspiracies and skulduggery going on in the big wide world. Another topic I want to focus on again soon is Tree Lore, all the concern about fungal infections of trees and the invasion of developments on green spaces is prompting me to learn some protective magic to try and do my bit. We lost a recent battle to developers wanting to build a golf resort around ancient local woodland but I notice the farmer renting the land has ploughed it ready for next year’s crop so there’s no rush there then! I suspect that the developers are having difficulty getting prospective clients interested in taking it on, such is the hair brained viability of the revised plans, and so we may be winning a little after all. One of our protest group has just made a calendar of the land and woodland under threat that we are selling for a local charity so we are still trying to increase local awareness, something that has been hard to influence up to now. I must confess to having watched X Factor for the past 17 weeks and I’m happy to note that the Great British Public ended up voting for the most creative artist, James Arthur. Unfortunately by winning he has tied himself to one of the most exploitative contracts ever devised, let’s see if he can wiggle his way out of that and get to a place where he can be free to express his own music, I suspect it may take some time though. I’ve decided to grow my hair long, mainly because it’s so bloody cold but also because I came across an old Native American legend that long hair increases one’s psychic awareness and I’m all for that! Been reading the Tao Te Ching before my morning meditation. So much good stuff in there. Today’s verses have to do with knowing where to stop, of letting go of old ways and embracing the new. This comes at a time when I appear to be reinventing myself and doing stuff that is close to my heart and less compromising. Saw a vid yesterday of an old Pastor of mine, Barry Killick who spoke on how hardship is designed to make your character grow in Christ Consciousness. Shame he didn’t make more of that idea rather that going off about the literal truth of ye olde bible and what have you. Lovely guy though despite that, and it only served to remind me why I got out of the fundie Christian scene all those years ago. Anyroad, enough for now, better get ready for my trip to the clinic... Bless you all who reached the end of this winter wrap! May you have a wonderful Yuletide and a blessed new year..