Andy Letcher

Having been very sniffy about myspace I now find myself a myspace addict, lost in this strange virtual world of comments and friends. Bizarre. Tearing myself away I thought I might say what I've been up to of late.

There's a widespread assumption that anyone who writes about psychedelics must be permanently surfing the astral. I hate to disappoint, but writers of all hues spend most of their time reading, writing, or faffing about intending to read or write (mostly the latter). Indeed, my iboga experience last year (see earlier blog post) has noticably diminished my craving for transcendence. Well, for the time being at least.

So I've spent the last year working on the 'difficult second book' (not getting very far); distracting myself by writing songs, composing tunes and playing lots of music in various bands; and reading loads. Currently finishing James' 'Varieties of Religious Experience' (yeah, yeah, I know I should have done this years ago) and thoroughly enjoying walking awhile with a truly great thinker. Sooner or later all this introspection will pay off and the new book will take shape - I'll keep you posted.

I read an obituary for Robert Anton Wilson today in the Guardian (sorry, can't find a link). It made me remember what an influence Wilson was on me in my university days, particularly when I found (somewhat synchronicitously) copies of the Illuminatus Trilogy in a charity shop. It was good to be reminded of Wilson's scepticism and radical agnosticism - "by not believing anything he was free to examine everything" - a position not at all dissimilar to my own. He will be much missed.

Found this on myspace today - as a sworn cyclophile this seems something worth supporting.

www.myspace.com/bicyclefilmfestival

Now it has been pointed out to me that on the wider scheme of things, 100 hits a month is nothing to write home about, but as it is about 100 times more than expected, I'm happy.

Have finally got Google Analytics up and working and much to my surprise it seems that people are actually visiting this site (so far about 100 hits a month), many from across the pond. So, a belated 'hello, thanks for visiting'. I'll try and keep the site updated more often. Meantime, happy new year to one and all.