Problem ? What Problem? Plus other seasonal ding-dongs

Firstly...
A hello and a big thank you to those who have folllowed and even responded to my 1st blog, I hope you'll stick around and we can all get to know and understand one another and have fun along the way :)

The Xmas 'Sling a Ding-Dong' :

Well, It's nearly xmas and already the traditonal stress fest has begun in earnest!
There has , to date, already been a few good ding-dongs with my family and girfriend over Xmas, all concerning money & that pressure to buy, buy, buy!! X-mas, should, I feel, be for KIDS ONLY and not for adults who are always seemingly overdoing it on the pressie front .
Don't get me wrong, I am def not a scrooge as I love the build up to it and the excitment children get from it..as well as some 'adults' like me.... Only this weekend, I was up at 7 in the morning making paper chain snowmen with my girlfriends kids which was major fun. No , My point is the overwhelming pressure cooker pot of stress that mothers , and I mean mothers, feel at xmas.

I understand 100% there are many things to consider. from where to go or whom is coming & all the money that seems to go down the drain on splashing out on presents that would be dumped without a second thought the very next day ( or hour with some kids). So, I say this to mothers who are always feeling the pinch and , to combat it, are taking it out on their nearest and dearest (i.e.-me) , Stop!!!! Buy the buggers 1 or 2 presents that you KNOW they will cherish and respect instead of splashing out on small, medium side presents to match what the other kids in their life. Have them respect what they have and they may pass this onto their children later on in life

I still think it's the adults to blame sometimes as they are probably guilty themselves when they unleash their inner kid in toyshops and go on a mad shopping frenzy only to regret it afterwards or worry what their child would say if they don't get what they want !! Never spoil them in that case-make them respect and understand that what they have is something they should love as it came from folks that love them......I think we should all take a step back, be rational sometimes, plan in advance and don't build everything up as it nearly always deflates on Christmas day !!! I think that's me off the sock and soap list this year lol

That's now off my chest (lol) but I will return with a more light hearted round up later today or this week! Please feel free to comment or make suggestions. It would be nice to get to know you all and vice versa!

Until then,
Be good

Mark

My 1st ever blog: A New Hope

Hi there,

This is my first ever proper attempt at blogging so forgive me for mishaps on the way!

Well, where oh where do I start?

ok, It's been a strange few weeks along with a very strange and controversial year, with seemingly never ending drama's and those proverbial lessons to be learn't on the way! I've discovered that communication is never a 2 way street and those who wish to be antagonistic will wish to stay antagonistic as long as they are getting some strange kick out of it !! Anyway, moan over....

I'm currently deep in recording for my debut album, which to date, has taken over 2-3 years, re-re-re recording and honing. It's nearly there thank god and is beginning to sound like I had envisioned. I'm never been desperate to have that 'big break' , only to try and create a fine sounding album full of killers and no fillers! I'm not qualified to say if it'll be a classic album though that's my intention to make it sound & come accross that way!

It's cost thousands upon thousands of my own money which has resulted in me going broke and losing a few girfriends along the way. It really has the blood , sweat and tears during the making of it but hopefully, the results of this thing once it's finished and released may be worth all the agony and long long nights. However, the real work starts once it's complete.

Come Feb 15th 2009, A plaque dedicated to the legendary late saturist and comedian 'Peter Cook' will be going up outside his old club 'The Establishment' in Soho, London.

I'm pretty pleased as I had the idea originally about doing this and approached The Heritage Foundation to help me out. Having got in touch with some of his family and friends, the plaque (with the help of Westminster Council) will be going up.

It's the 1st plaque dedicated to the man which was long overdue. Along the way in getting this arranged, I've had to encounter a couple of deranged (so-called) 'Peter Cook fans' who were trying to steal my idea and work and thought they'd create trouble along the way, (cyber-stalking/bullying/libelling/you name it). In the end, I was forced to pull out of the whole planning and organising of the day as some of the companies I was dealing with began to get cold feet over the problem understandably plus I became pretty irratated that something that was meant to be a fun and exciting thing turned out to be a battle of other people ego's and their 'exposure' on the day. In the end, the day is about Peter Cook and I think some folk forgot that. Thankfully, it's still going on thanks the Heritage and Westminster Councils determination. In hindsight, It was a blessed relief to be out of that madness as in the end of the day. my main objective has been completed! I hope that everyone involved and the fans most importantly, have a brilliant day to remember!!

Anyway, that's all for now. If you wish to leave comments, explaining how I should write better & interesting blogs then please feel free to put me in my place :)

Until then folks,

Be good!

See you soon!