'Crimbo Limbo' Lord is over!

Well ‘Crimbo Limbo’ is over and here we are in a brand new year. Really happy to have made it through. New Years Eve was a blast even though I spent it on my own. Ended up recording a clip of me playing Auld Lang Syne and posting it up as an offering to the world, (see on my facebook if you’re curious), and watching Jools Holland which was great despite what looked like a pretty lack luster line-up. Still not had a drink of alcohol for over 8 months now and feeling much the better for it and lost over 3 stone (20k)! Main reasons are that it interferes with my medication, costs too much, and I don’t want to get back into the addiction of drinking every night, something I did for over 25 years.

Started working on a new book which is feeling very exciting, I’ve been doing a lot of research during these long winter nights and it’s resulted in a lot of new ideas and a lot more topics to look into. Been feeling a lot more creative generally in music, writing, and even some visual artwork, (a shelf for my shrine). Still can’t make it out far on my own yet but I have a nice calendar of the Shrubbery, the wood at the top of our road, courtesy of Martin Bell one of the team that has tried unsuccessfully to stop a golf resort being built on the site. Good news is that the farmer has planted crops so it looks like no-one has taken the project on yet. With the economy being the way it is at the moment I’m not surprised. Martin has contributed some lovely photos so facebook me if you want a copy.

I've just come up with a couple of new music genres - ‘Wyrdcore’ and ‘Sub Moby’ - that I think aptly describes the Mighty Dogheads project as well as my own Shamanic stuff I’m working on right now.

Tried growing my hair for the past couple of months but I’ve shaved it off again. Next day I found this poem in a book I was reading – ‘They Pollard the Willow until it looks, like the shaven head of a Dartmoor crook’! (Reginald Anknell). It’s from a book photos and poems about trees by Yorkshire artist Herbert Whore (1926-2011) called ‘Touch Wood’. I found the book a year or so ago when the Roosters were staying at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire, but the hotel wouldn’t let me buy it. I found it on Amazon when I got home and I’ve just discovered that it is signed by the author! ‘For Peter & Monica from the author Bert’ – awesome as he’s an artist I already feel a strong connection to.

Been discovering some great music lately via Songlines magazine and some great roots radio shows including BBC radio 3’s World Routes and World on 3, FRoots radio, and Mike Harding’s new internet show which seems better than ever. Listened to Mark Radcliffe’s’ new Folk Show on BBC radio 2 but I’m not sure what it’s going to be like we’ll have to see. I once played on the same bill as one of his bands in Audlem Cheshire. He offered me a toke on his spliff but as it was made with Tobacco I declined his offer, nice chap though.

Anyroad that’s it for another month, unless I get the urge. Hopefully we’ll start noticing the spring flowers and lighter days before long. All the best in 2013..

Revd Magic Sam Murray