Sun is shining weather is sweet, make you want to jiggle a bit.

At last summer has appeared and the cold wind has abated, and in the words of St Bob Marley, ‘the sun is shining, the weather is sweet, make you want to move your dancing feet’- or in my case a bit of a jiggle around at least. Been trying to get out in the garden most days, still not able to do a lot but I’ve got a row of potatoes in and some beans and one sunflower that didn’t get eaten by the slugs. There’s lavender and lots of berries on the blueberry bushes and plenty of Roses but still lots of wilderness which has been great for the cats and for the wildlife if not so easy on the eye. Bees, Butterflies, frogs and horny toads, 5 inch killer slugs, insect loving birds, have all been visiting and it’s lovely just to be able to sit out in the sun and appreciate it all.

Also I’ve been getting out and about a bit more since I got a free bus pass courtesy of Notts County Council. Among other things there have been lots of free local festivals in the area like ‘Emerge’ at Shipley Park, and ‘Furthest from the Sea’ in Derby City Centre and it’s great to see local talent both young and old getting a proper chance to perform and do it for themselves. There’s so much X factor and Voice type shows around that seem to convince people that they are not good enough or that they can only write and perform within certain parameters, so it’s great to see people still shining through and doing their own thing. Last week I went to Sutton Lawn festival, and it was a lovely day and there was a great turn out but mainly to see a load of cover bands doing Jesse J and Coldplay tributes (Coolplay). I performed there several years ago with the Cajun Roosters but it siled it down with rain and we ended up playing to 4 men and a dog! Seems like the council have now abandoned any attempt at bringing culture and originality to the Suttonians but at least it brings the punters in which is I’m sure their thinking behind it. Talking of originality, I really enjoyed the Glastonbury footage on BBC i Player if only to witness 200 000 people opening their minds up to such a variety of weird and wonderful performing arts, I would have loved to have been there but the BBC did their best to convey the atmosphere of the event, though quite honestly I think there ought to be a part of the website that just focuses on all the fringe stuff. I would have probably spent most of my time watching that rather than the Stones and the Arctic Monkeys. Chic and Seasick Steve were great though, and I am a convert to Swedish voodoo rockers ‘Goat’ – awesome!

I’ve been having a bit of a breakthrough with my musical endeavours and I have decided to focus on recording and playing for the fun of it rather than trying to get back into live work in a serious way. I have finally conceded that my days of professional performing are well and truly over as I’m not physically capable of lasting out a gig and the insurance I need to get abroad to work is too expensive anyway. As well as the Mighty Dogheads recording project I’m working on with Phil Holmes I have started to work on a new venture with the working title of ‘Segomo’, thought by some to have been a Celtic deity but in fact was more likely to have been an epithet signifying the victorious and triumphant aspects of the gods. It’s also a groovy funky name that may be familiar to gamers who have played Super Stardust HD as being the final planet, and it also corresponds to the Tarot card the 6 of Wands that I drew the other day in relation to my future musical direction.

I’m still writing the book and the end appears to be in sight at last. I’ve also been thinking a lot about working on some kind of screenplay using all the various dreams and visions that I had when I was in a coma last year. I have bought a sketch book and some pencils and I’m going to try and draw some of the things I saw as it is too much for me to try and describe them using words alone. What I need really is a strong narrative to draw everything together and I am thinking of something along the lines of Life on Mars or The Singing Detective but I doubt if I am any good at that kind of story telling though I’m hoping these illustrations might eventually be some good to someone who is.

Finally, I have recently discovered the grave of my great Grandfather George Taylor who was a miner at Sutton Colliery who died in a roof fall there in 1915 at the age of 40 years. I have had it on my mind to go and look for it as my late mother had found out quite a bit about him including a newspaper cutting of the incident in the local paper. Armed with just enough information I set off in the rain to search for his grave at Skegby Church though I wasnot even sure that there would be any memorial stone or where about in the churchyard it might be. Within about 10 minutes I had found what was actually a very impressive grave though it appeared at first that it had been vandalised. It was quite an emotional experience for me sitting there in the rain but also very satisfying to have found it so easily. Subsequent research has revealed that the stone was actually laid down by the council as it was considered to be an ‘Elf & Safety’ risk some years ago and that at today’s prices it would have probably cost around £4000 to purchase. As George was a ‘Day taller’ -a miner payed by the day- our family would not have been able to afford such a magnificent grave at the time, and it is more than likely that the mine owners as well as a collection among his fellow mineworkers payed for the stonework. I am currently trying to raise the funds to have the stone re-erected and secured both as a physical memorial to our family heritage, but also as a small tribute to all the miners of the region who gave their blood for the coal that contributed so much to the prosperity of these Isles and its people, (though we can argue about who actually profited the most from their blood).

Les Flammes d’Enfer

April blog didn’t happen but here’s a 2000 word bumper sized May edition to make up for it.

I’m writing this after the recent machete murder incident in Woolwich. So much anti-immigration and Islamophobic gobshite on my facebook wall means I can’t stand by and say nothing about this but I’ll try and keep it succinct and to the point.

Firstly what happened was truly horrific and should be absolutely condemned as an atrocious act of pure evil, nothing else can describe it. But I would say the same about the acts of war and genocide taking place throughout the world by both corporate governments and idealistic terrorists. Imagine what we and the British news media would say if we were being bombed by a hostile government or suicide bomber on a daily basis like they are being in many other countries?

Sure, Islam can be perceived to have an agenda that wants the whole world to become Muslims, but Christianity or the corporate UN Agenda 21 can be seen to have a similar plan of action. We must see through and resist all forms of totalitarian control and celebrate the sovereignty of the people that insists that our leaders are representatives rather than rulers.

It is one of the primary tenets of corporate state craft that it furthers one to have an evil enemy. In my younger years this was the Soviet ‘iron curtain’ and the Chinese ‘yellow peril’ but when the trade barriers came down we were sore pressed to find a worthy opponent until Islam extremists stepped up to the plate. Do not be deceived, the corporate powers that be are seeking to control the mineral and land resources of the world for their own gain and profit and that is one of the real reasons behind the global war on terrorism. ‘War on terror’ is a contradiction of terms and both terms are wrong. What we all need to realise is that we’re being played off against each other. Divide and rule is another classic tactic of state craft to control a people.

Problem, reaction, solution is still another tactic. Create a problem and make it look like your enemy has caused it and even if they have then ‘big it up’ into a huge global incident. History shows us however that governments are quite capable of staging their own ‘False Flag’ events if the enemy fail to deliver. Look a little deeper into the Woolwich incident and ‘machetes’ have been involved in two other incidents currently in the news - the attack by a Chechen Muslim in Florida thought to be with a machete and the riots in Sweden linked to unrest among Muslim communities after a machete wielding man was killed by the police. These kinds of memes are used time and again in government propaganda efforts and by extremists willingly play up to the stereotype as well.

The issue of immigration in general is an interesting one. It can be seen as an attempt to de-stabilise a society by filling it with people that have no other concern but to increase their economic wealth while having no concern for the society and land that is their host. We should be suspicious of Agenda 21 and EU directives that encourage this destabilisation and seek to develop ways of integrating genuine migrants into society and discouraging pure economic workers from other countries who just want to make a quick buck at the expense of our own workers and our health and education resources. Immigration has always been a fact of life in this country that has previously made a massive contribution to the material, cultural, and spiritual health of these Isles but we desperately need to develop ways to ensure that as a people whether black, white, yellow, pink, or blue we continue to work together to create a just society of the people for the people.

Anyroad enough of this political diatribe, I could go on but I won’t. All I can say to those who have posted knee jerk reactions on my wall is do your research, connect the dots, and don’t allow yourself to be ‘played off’ by the media propaganda but be sure of your facts before you spout off. Enough said.

Meanwhile life here at Withering Heights goes on. Spring didn’t so much as arrive as creep in like a naughty spouse after a sordid night out. I have come to the conclusion that the default weather setting for these Isles is cloudy, wet, and cold. If we get anything resembling nice weather it is a wonderful bonus that should result in all but essential workers given instant time off to make the most of it. I’m sure this would contribute mightily to the health and true wealth of the nation.

I’ve reached a few milestones this month. It’s been over a year now since my heart attack and stroke and I still appear to be making progress. I’m about 15% up to my previous level of fitness but believe me that is quite a long way from waking up after a month in a coma unable to move, walk, or talk. The nurses in intensive care called me the ‘miracle man’ and this year has been nothing short of miraculous and every day I wake up is a miracle and a blessing, I’m so thankful for my life now.

It’s also a year since I stopped drinking alcohol and smoking weed. I drank literally every day for 25 years or more and although I am allowed a small amount of alcohol I prefer not to bother with it now. I find when I’m out I’m even more unruly than I ever was on drink and much as I would still like the occasional toke of weed for my emotional and spiritual edification the state of my lungs forbids its use and I’ve never liked eating it anyway, too much of a commitment.

I appear to have taken to attending my local parish church of a Sunday in recent times. As a recovering Christian fundamentalist with Pagan leanings this has been somewhat of a challenge but it is proving to be a most agreeable experience. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to sing a song in aid of Christian aid week and I came up with the idea of performing the old Copper family classic, ‘Hard Times in Old England’ with some lyrical changes to reflect the current times. ‘ You go to the Job Centre to look for a job, they answer you there with a shake and a nod, some folks will do anything just for a bob’ – and – ‘The soldiers and sailors come back from the war, been fighting for Queen and for country for sure, post traumatic stress and they can’t get a cure’- anyroad, I delivered a little homely on charity beginning at home based around the old saying that ‘the Blacksmiths mare and the Shoemakers wife are oft the worse shod’ before realising that was putting the kibosh on the whole proceedings while we were looking at films of communities in Africa and South America that the charity is working with. What struck me most though was how happy these indigenous people appeared compared to the lines of shopper zombies I encountered in Morrison’s after the service. I wonder what we’re doing wrong?

Connecting with the Parish Church with its rich legacy of the past has been an enriching experience on many levels. On my first visit to evensong I saw a Robin in the church yard and felt that it meant something but I wasn’t sure what. The last hymn in the service happened to be the same one that my mother chose for her own funeral a couple of years ago. I thought that it was quite a sync moment seeing as there were over 3000 hymns they could have chosen from for my first visit. When I got home and back on facebook the first thing I saw was a picture of a Robin that said, ‘If a Robin crosses your path or visits you it’s a sign that someone in heaven is with you and is thinking of you’.. Good start to my church going experience and a true sync indeed – (sync = synchronicity, a term adopted by C J Jung the psychologist and mystic to denote meaningful coincidences). I’ve figured out that having been to hell this past year, there must be a corresponding heaven and here was a sign indeed!

Talking of Les Flammes d’Enfer I recently took up an invite from Jo van Strein and the organisers of the Zydeco Zity festival in Raamsdonksveer Holland to come to their great music bash. I first played at this festival in 1996 with R Cajun & the Zydeco Bros from Derby and I have probably played about a dozen other times with various bands. My Cajun performing days are pretty much over now but I thought that a little visit and a cameo spot with my old Dutch band ‘ZydeGoNutZ’ was in order. This was made even more poignant on finding that the accordion player Wolfert has just been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Although I was down to sing a couple of songs I ended up staying up for most of the set playing percussion and guitar. The weather was gorgeous for the whole weekend and I ended up swapping my hotel room for a bed in a van on the camping field. So wonderful to connect with so many Dutch, and other friends on the Cajun & Zydeco scene and special thanks to my ‘nurses’ Becca & Suze for looking after me on the epic road trip. Link to some of that performance can be found here:

http://youtu.be/Mx_EIkXlYFg

Been busy in the woodshed writing new songs and recording demos with the eventual aim of putting together my own solo live project. It’s a long shot but if you don’t ask you don’t get and it’s something I am enjoying working on regardless of the outcome. My immediate aim is to be able to perform a few songs solo at folk clubs and open mic nights etc and then maybe put together a band to do longer performances and it’s all coming along nicely so far.

Recent weeks have seen me hobbling to our nearest bus stop and to freedom! I recently purchased a shooting stick with a seat on it that means I can rest up and get my breath back when I’m walking. This has increased my walking range considerably and apart from Holland I have embarked on several bus trips to Mansfield and even once to Sutton in Ashfield as well as Derby. The more I walk the stronger I am getting, it’s slow but steady progress so far and long may it continue.

One good thing that has come from this illness has been the way I have become closer to my family and my many friends. My sons Bill & Tom have visited recently and although along with my sister Jo they have been going through various problems in the area of love relationships the bond between us continues to grow.

Despite the lack of nice weather the garden inevitably grows and today I have taken delivery of a new strimmer to keep the weeds on the paths in control. On a recent visit from my son Bill he has cleared out the garage and weeded a large border for us, lots of work still to do though in the yard and I keep enjoying doing a bit when I can.

Work on my book continues apace and I have a clear idea of what is left to do now and most of the research is in so it just needs writing up now..Still a lot of work left to do and I’m trying to work a regular writing time into my schedule, which means I haven’t been, but I will..I will..I will.. I will. And already the idea of a second book looms large in my mind.. A daunting task but it’s nice to have plenty to do I guess.

Anyroad, enough for now, hope the summer is a good one for you all.

Revd. H.T. Elsecott –aka Sam Murray

Cosmic Gaviscon and Ras Nyabinghi Bong

Rather late blog this month (Feb) as I've been quite busy with various music and writing activities, and visits to the hospital and what have you. I still feel like I’m improving health wise though I still have my 'up' days and 'down' days. My ‘heart failure nurse’ as he is called, tells me this normal and that I should be gentle with myself during the fallow days. These tend to come after I’ve been busy so it’s just a matter of learning to go with the energy flow.

February began with a private celebration of Imbolc/Candlemass where, right on cue, a bunch of Snowdrops appeared in the garden. This has become quite a meaningful little celebration for me in recent years focusing my appreciation of the first stirrings of spring and this event has become even more poignant over the course of this year. I so much need the milder weather and energy of spring, the Sun, and the Green Man to heal my body and sooth my mind. Although I have been able to sit well wrapped up in the garden a few times this month when the sun has shone, the cold weather has been all pervading and the relentless wind has been in sore need of some Cosmic Gaviscon to settle itself down.

This month I have made two important musical purchases, a huge Djembe and an old Irish Bouzouki with some surprise money that came my way. Although I am still weak on my right side it’s getting better all the time and all the drumming and strumming seems to be helping me get back to normal. I am also trying to sing and chant again and my capacity to breath is slowly improving. Last week, thanks to my friend Nell Brooker who took me to a music showcase at the Palace Theatre in Mansfield, I met an old friend from my 1990’s drum circle days, Biant Singh, who is still running workshops around and about. Meeting him again has inspired me to think that maybe I’ve still got something to offer even if I’m not fit enough to teach whole classes and run workshops myself any more. Bought the Djembe from Mickey at Sabar Sound in Nottingham who is also very active in the local Drum Circle scene and we had a great chat about drums and coma dreams. I slowly seem to be connecting with a whole new group of drummers/musicians/shamans which is amazing..More power to ‘em!

Did an awful thing last week on facebook. A young lady from Wales who shall remain anonymous (but her first name is Sioned), put up a post inviting us to discover our Reggae names based on the first letters of our real names. As I used to play in various Reggae bands many years ago I thought I was more or less entitled to give it a try and came up with the wonderful moniker of ‘Ras Nyabinghi Bong’. Apologies to any Rasta folk who may be reading this but I couldn’t resist going for it.. A punishment of 10 hail Haile Selassie’s for me.. Sorry, but I shall wish to be called by this name if I ever get to play in a Reggae band again.

Local resident Martin Bell, who has done some sterling work trying to save our local wood ‘the Shrubbery’ from being turned into a golf resort, has recently published a calendar of photos of the area. Good news is he has raised over £1500 for a scanner at our local hospital. I have still got one left if anyone wants it for free. It’s nice to have such nice pics of the fields and woods hanging on the wall throughout the season, especially when you’re unable to get out there often yourself.

Just before my heart attack last spring I was due to go to a ‘Romper Reggae Party’ hosted by my good friends DJ Andy McAllister and his partner Candice. Unfortunately I never made it but I was pleased to hear that the party went on and was a great success. I have recently discovered while researching my book that wearing animal rompers or ‘Kigurumi Onesies’ has a long history going back to the old stone age days when shaman hunters would get down to Primeval Primark and buy Lion and Camel suits to wear at parties and the odd hunting trip. It seems that they have a long and illustrious career in the history of the Pagan religions of North West Europe.. I guess the old gods never really disappeared but live on through our unconscious promptings and deep primaeval urges.

Got a new music genre to add to my collection of descriptions – ‘No Boundaries Music’ – unfortunately not been doing a great deal of composing lately but I can feel an outpouring coming on before long.

Finally, just heard about the death of an old friend Malcolm Bennett from Belper who also harks me back to the old Drum Circle days. He came to the project I was working at in Derby in the mid 1980’s to do a series of drum making workshops and he taught me how to cure goat skins and string up drums using plastic containers and everyday items. I would like to think some of the great drums we made are still around somewhere even though it was almost 30 years ago that we produced them. He was known affectionately as the ‘Man from the Hills’ something he never let me forget especially when I ended up living in ‘them there same hills’ many years later. I taught his sons Henry and Colin at Belper School who have both appeared to survive their forced educational ordeal intact, Henry becoming a fine blues guitar player to boot. One thing I have learned through my recent illness and coma experiences is that our souls cannot die and I trust that Malcolm has found himself a nice ‘real ale’ pub in the sky with bands playing every night to hang out in while he sorts himself out. Rest in Peace Mate.

Revd. Magic Sam Murray Feb. 2013

'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

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..

The Tao Tao'd is not the Tao

Major changes happening as I continue to slowly improve health wise. One of the main things is that I’ve given up on the idea of a book as such. I no longer have the urge for it and there are so many other creative things I want to do and it’s got everything to do with realising that ‘the Tao Tao’d is not the Tao’! In other words putting names and identities on one’s spiritual path has nothing to do with the path itself that must be walked rather than described. My literary output will now be confined to the less formal art of blogging, something I hope to be doing more of in the near future. Although my energy levels are still very limited I want to try and do more stuff rather than describe and teach it. ‘Those that can, do and those that can’t teach’ and all that malarkey. That being my intent from now on I want to focus more on my current state of brain and not spend too much time away from activities like composing and recording music, learning to play my instruments again since my stroke, my woodcraft business that hopefully will take off in the spring, learning the Tarot and Tree lore, meditating, gardening, and what have you. Over the past few weeks I’ve become seriously concerned with all this paedophile reports coming up in the media and how it appears to be contributing to the gagging of truth and our freedom to comment and criticise. I can’t understand for example why the BBC and ITV are having to pay compensation to a person they didn’t actually name in their programs though individuals connected with the shows did tweet his name, fair enough. My concerns are several; People are being tried, accused, and acquitted by the media before a true investigation is done. Attention is drawn towards the accused perpetrators rather than the victims, who I imagine have become somewhat intimidated by Establishment muscle seemingly at work, highlighting the dead and small fry entertainers and clergymen rather than some of the powerful political figures, very much alive, who have been named by many of the victims. Many ordinary Twits and Bloggers are now afraid to speak their minds on the web for fear of being sued and yet characters like David Icke continue to goad these establishment figures with very public accusations and no one dares to take him to court because he would seem to have so much info on them that it would definitely get messy! All this child abuse and litigation added to the upcoming Leveson report would appear to pose a real threat to any freedom that may be left in the Mainstream, lamestream, media that will probably result in even more of us getting our news from the alternative online media and making our minds up with that mess of info. Meanwhile young people continue to be sexually and violently exploited by people often protected by their elite status and also continue to be tried in secret courts and removed from their parents who may be drug addled, impoverished, and inadequate but who would nevertheless mostly kill to protect their offspring from exploitation by the elite. Children’s homes have been proved time and again to not be safe places for children yet the politicians continue to cry out for more ‘Looked after’ kids – why? Anyroad that’s enough of this rant for now. Just spent a wonderful week with my family and friends. My son Bill and his wife Jacquiline came over from Sweden where they are studying and my youngest son Tom came up from Plymouth for the weekend. Highlights include: Having a big meal out for the first time since my heart attack and stroke 7 months ago; being wheeled by Tom up Silverhill with the sun setting over the miles and miles of countryside at the top of the world; and spending a great day at the East Coast with the sun shining, chips to be had, and a hobble down the beach to watch Bill swim in the sea! Last night we had a major storm that has blown down the fence at the bottom of the garden, leaving us somewhat exposed at the back. Sun is shining again now but there is the promise of more wind and rain over the next few days. Only 4 weeks before the light nights start to return though and a few more before the first scent of spring arrives, let’s hope it’s a better year in 2013. Revd. Magic Sam Murray. Nov. 2012.

Holby City

My life is getting more like Holby City every minute..only 4 weeks out of Notts City hospital,(to the day!) and back in again at Mansfield Kings Mill Hospital (for the first time) with fluid on the chest and a chest infection. After a night in A&E I got moved to my own single room with en suite shower & toilet and great views over the town..last time I had that luxury was at the Hilton in Basel Switzerland back in the 1990's. Spent 8 days in altogether and thankfully they decided not to drain one of my lungs which they had been threatening to do but increased my diuretics and put me on super strength IV Anti-biotics and now a similar oral dose to take for 3 more weeks, then I guess we'll see. My chest is now much better with not so many coughing fits and more productive gubbins coming up. One of my post op wounds has now healed and the other wound has started granulating a bit for the first time, (the tissue nurse found a metal staple in there when she was cutting away the necrotic flesh!). Also the necrotic tissue on the ends of my my right big and second toe is gradually dropping off. Otherwise most of my other post op symptoms are clearing up well and although still quite breathless I can look after myself pretty well with the continued help of my long suffering sister Jo who shops for me and often cooks an evening meal for us.. Half way through the week met two auxillery staff that turned out to be ex class mates at my old secondary school. This is the first time in decades that I've contacted anyone from my school years and it was great to know that we can still have a laugh and interesting to find out what has happened to everyone. That really made my week the bulk of which I spent fleshing out a new book in my head and notebook. The book I've been working on for the past 8 years seems quite redundant after my near death experience... too tight and theological and not fun enough. I will be using some of the stuff from the old book so it certainly hasn't been all a waste and as the main purpose of it was to study in more depth and clarify my beliefs anyway. Post NDE I realise how simple it all is really and there's no need to complicate things with too much technical data and theological speculations. Just got a new book by David Byrne from 'Talking Heads' fame called 'How Music Works' based mainly on the realisation that set and setting, musical mediums, technology etc are crucially important to the enjoyment of music. This ties in with one of the topics in my new book that is dealing with the digital 80's. Hopefully I'll have some new writings on my updated website before long and I'm working on posting some new Mighty Doghead tracks up pretty soon so don't forget to visit and download anything you like. I am currently setting up a small studio in my bedroom as I figure the shed is going to be a bit too draughty for my chest over the winter and this and my writing/study and also my woodcarving business is keeping me plenty busy enough though I'm treading carefully and getting plenty of rest in between tasks basically cos I have too. Quite a few people have asked if they can visit me but I am having to limit the amount of people I can see as I get easily exhausted at the moment by social encounters. So please do not be offended if I say no to your requests. I really appreciate the level of support, prayers, and positive vibes you have all given me, I don't think I would be here writing this now without that to be truthful. Hopefully I'll get strong enough over the next few months to start participating once again in a fuller social life, though I must warn you that I am fully tea total and asexual these days so I don't know how much fun I'm going to be! Take care everyone and strive for pure consciousness. xx