2007, and all that....!

2007! One of the best, AND, one of the worst years of the 38 or so of which I have a memory.
I have enjoyed the company of some wonderful people, heard the most amazing music I could imagine, and shared some truly enlightening experiences with those I love the most.
Finally seeking help with regard to my mental health this year, has made it possible for me to explain my unacceptable behaviour in the years before, without giving me any reason to excuse it. Large chunks of the jigsaw puzzle fell into place. I learned that there were physiological causes of some of my anger, my frustration, and above all, my sadness. An epiphany of sorts, I suppose.
I could spend most of 2008 apologising to lots of folks for my prevuious treatment of them. I am confident, however, that they might have already picked up on the fact that I may not have been entirely healthy at the time of my lack of reason and understanding.
Despite of improvements in my psychological condition, I'll still be ranting about the world's ills, in my usual anti-capitalist fashion. My overall philosophy is NOT a symptom of clinical depression, and most of you will be relieved that my personality still resides under the cosy blanket of medication!
So, all things considered, I'll be very glad to see the back of 2007. The highlights shone brilliantly and were invigorating, but were just brief moments on the planet's surface, which punctuated 12 months viewed from the darkness of a deep pit of despair.
With all my education, therapy, and treatment, I am working my way back to the sunlight. I hope to continue on this path.
As for the coming new year, I'll be taking further steps to recovery. You might even see it in my blog. I've reignited some long-forgotten projects, and renewed some old associations, and the tone of these little notes is sure to change. I may have touched on that point before, but it now seems certain.

So, I'm closing the book on 2007.

I wish you all a happy new year for 2008.

I'll return, refreshed, in January..........



PLUR.

Ahoy!

Saturday 17th November saw some very lucky folks heading to a windswept "Walk the Plank" vessel, moored near Albert Dock in Liverpool, for the Karmic Rhythms Psy-Party. This event was a fund-raiser for the READ Int charity, and saw a great team of volunteers come together to launch what I hope will be a series of such gatherings to take place over the next few years!

It was wonderful to be involved in this event! Mr. Hedges and I were there to provide sounds for the chillout room. We had a ball spinnin' some tunes to a sparsely populated, and very cold room, and along with the now legendary Astrodruid, we bravely kept the noise going for the shivering souls who ventured to the top deck of the boat to take a break from the awesome dancefloor scene that was rockin' away downstairs!

I was overwhelmed by the quality of the music in both rooms! Absolutely top stuff from all the DJs and live artists, and I need to thank all those involved in the party, from the bottom of my heart! Well done to my good friend Lee for his organization, and vision!

I'll try to give you all a heads-up for the next Karmic Rhythms event. Great entertainment, for a cwl cause!

Samhain and Beyond!

OK! Firstly.......... Apologies for the disgraceful gap since my last post here. I've been stupidly busy. Too many fingers in too many pies, as usual!
Our Samhain party, FrightNight went really well, on 27th October. 600 aliens tuning in to a vibe that only FN can provide!
Working with my good friends on this project is one of my greatest sessions of therapy, and always leaves me with a restored faith in Human Nature. The core team of Stevie, Vashti, Dwarfy and I have been putting on this event for six years now, and we seem to operate on an almost telepathic basis now. Not much need for continuous communication in the physical sense, just four like-minds in perfect sync. An over-riding common goal that is automatically switched on as we approach Halloween each year. My connection with these people will last forever!
On the night, I was, in some ways, confined to the Psychedelic Room, and I only caught short moments of the madness of the Main Hall. However, my appetite for life-affirming music was fully satisfied. Dwarfy LunarBaby, Ghostley Hedges, and our good friend Henrik fed my mind with some amazing sounds. Once again, I'm in their debt...!
It was wonderful to be working with my old friend El Campino again. He made a very welcome return as our VJ, after a long break from the scene. He is an invaluable friend, and a true Star!
As to the 40+ other members of the FrightNight crew...... I offer them my sincerest of thanks, and guide them to look to FN7, in 2008!
I will endeavour to post some photos from the event, along with some useful links, as soon as I get into an suitable state of mind.

PLUR.

Sleep...

Ok. Sleep rules! Just got through a nasty period of insomnia. It was keeping my mind focused on those automatic negative thoughts that I'm trying so hard to fight. breaking free to some peaceful slumber has been wonderful! Keeping physically busy has helped a lot. Been out playing and listening to some great music over the last few weeks, and chucking a shed-load of equipment around too. The Painted Chariot Autumn Equinox event has been a definite highlight. We were drastically short-staffed, the live act cancelled at the last minute, and there were a few moments of panic, but when you get a great little team into action with such a cool common goal, anything can be rescued. The night went really well, and we made another good contribution to the Red Cross Darfur Appeal.

I'll be concentrating on our Halloween party for the next month or so. Another great team-effort. More details soon....

PLUR.

Busy...

Now that we've stumbled past the August bank-holiday weekend, and staggered into September, it's a quiet hope for an Indian summer that's occupying minds.
I had the pleasure of helping a good friend celebrate his 31st birthday last night, and it was a wonderful party! Lots of smiling faces on folks in varying degrees of intoxication, vibrant conversation (not JUST about the weather either!), cool sounds, and no stupid ego-games! A great way to welcome this busy month.
Despite the ongoing issues that haunt me, I'm actually enjoying being busy (This is where you briefly yawn!)!
September holds a handful of gigs for both the CidFloss Corporation, and RedStripe, and our annual Halloween party-preparation is also in full swing now!
So, I'm hoping that will result in more positive posts here. I bet you're all relieved to hear that...!



PLUR

"...big ball..."

Well, a big ball of light has appeared in the sky, a few times, since my last visit here. I continue to be astounded by it's therapeutic value! I've been grabbing as much sunshine as possible, and it's been wonderful!
Of course, reading through my previous posts, there is a direct connection between the weather and my mood. I wish the entire story was that simple!
Anyway, I'm restricted to up's and downs which are much less extreme than in the recent past. I'm grateful for that.
When I look back on this summer, probably on a rainy November Tuesday, I WILL be taken back to a world of great music, and great friends. The downs are all fading away.....slowly.


PLUR

Where...?

Where is the summer?
In the year when I REALLY need some sunshine, the rains continue! I'm surprised the whole population isn't depressed (...Hold on! Maybe it is!)
Anyway, I must apologise for the lack of posts on this blog. I've been occupied with interesting work, frustrating people, the funeral of a friend, and the general maintenance of my mood.
All of the above have helped (?) to keep my paranoia levels up. The same humans that have had an affect on these symptoms in the past, still seem to have a hand in my condition now. A lot of this is actually born out of my concern for their welfare, but I am saddened to report that a few folks seem to have really taken a dislike to me. Distance is my current treatment. I really don't know how people can be bothered to put in considerable effort to alienate someone who is actually their ally. I suppose I'm over-sensitive to this stuff right now, but it's all too obvious to ignore.
So... I hope to be back soon, with something a little brighter to report (and not just the weather!).





PLUR