"Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead."

-- Old Scottish Proverb

Benjamin Franklin said, "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Well I wouldn't be dead for Quids (dollars) and I am pretty bloody sure that if I was dead someone would have their grotty little hands in my pocket scrounging up some death duty. I have had my fill of Taxes ... alright I am a pensioner or as some of my detractors would have you believe a "Dole" Bludger and bludging off society ... and since my violent assault and subsequent accident which left me disabled haven't paid income taxes for over ten years. It's not that I am unwilling to work ... it is just I can't work an ordinary, regular eight hour day at the beck and call of a person who usually lacks any people skills and treats you like an inferior and I have seen, known, worked with and for a fair few of these type of people. I HAD friends actually who were these kind of people ... you know the type ... A***holes.

I was a little taken aback watching the (Australian) ABC News last night (6th October), when I heard the Australian Treasurer, Mr. Wayne Swan, refer to the Federal Reserve Governor as some one who "Lives in an ivory tower" as the Reserve Bank raised interest rates. Excuse me ... but isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? After all, Mr. Swan and his Federal Collegues are doing all right at the end of the day (and so are the politicians and senators and governors in many countries) because after they finish their term in office and retire from politics, many of them are sitting on a $200,000.00 plus a year pension. Not like us poor bloody battlers and especially those who do pay taxes ... because it is your bloody taxes that pay their pensions. Perhaps I should go into politics and then wear the mantle of "Bludger" with pride.

Here I am, willing to work but not a 35 hour week because physically I can't. Here I am, willing to put in the hours I can as MY OWN Boss, if I could. Here I am, struggling on a mere $12,000.00 a year disability pension and those blasted politicians want to tax me? How so you ask ... and why am I so dirty on politicians ... well ... here I am coming up with diversed ideas and channeling my own resources into them. Working a 15 hour day sometimes for no pay just to achieve a result only to have government red tape and bureaucrats and public servants throwing spanners in the works and also try to get money out of me! When applying for Grants and funding for The Druid's Dreaming, do you know how many hurdles they made Dragonfly and I leap over ... ONLY to be told at the end of submitting all the relevant documents, that "you" have been unsuccessful for this year but try again next year ... and then, asked why ... the only reason given is that we did not meet the criteria because this was a NEW event.

... and when approached do you think any of our local, whether or not they where Local, State or Federal politicians offered any assistance? I was actually told by one politician who shall go nameless, that he wouldn't be accepting my invitation to attend The Druid's Dreaming, as his religious beliefs dissaude him from associating with ...wait for it ..."Pagans" ... What the F**k?

For some strange reason, it has been assumed and circulated that The Druid's Dreaming was SOLELY a "Pagan " Festival and Event ... HELLO ... this Event has never been designated a Pagan ONLY Event ...

To be honest with you one of the reasons I had a fall out with The Foundry is because they were of the opinion that The Druid's Dreaming was a Pagan Event and they felt that they did not wish to be "tarnished with the same brush" ... "as their spirituality was personal and private".

Let's face it, it is not as if the Pagan Community has been extremely supportive of it ... if anything most of them are boycotting it because I am the one running it and those in the heirarachy have their noses out of joint because they aren't in control of it.

I feel like a man without a Country ... but not without a Community ... thankfully there are those out their who are believers in what can be done and achieved and are tolerant, supportive and caring of others. And they come from all faiths including Catholic, Buddhist and Wiccan to name a few.

Now, as you know, my editorial is usually considered as the "Wayfinder's Whinge" ... and you know what? ...it is ...This is my Soap-box ... I put all the hard yakka into building it and I will drive it around until the wheels fall off. Anyway it keeps me off the streets if not out of trouble.

With the HELP of theTRUE Believers and those who actually give a Shit, The Druid's Dreaming is going to be a HUGE Success ..and 2010 will be even bigger ... hopefully, we can get Witch's Mark out here and Beltane from New Zealand and a few other notable people involved.

My detractors can wait to see if I fall on my face ...but at the end of the day ... let me tell you, I am certain of a few things:

1/ They will be Waiting a bloody long time

2/ The Druid's Dreaming will be a SUCCESS

3/Some of those "Pagans" out there who have boycotted the event because of a perceived dislike of me when they don't even know me, will be rushing out to buy tickets for the following year.

4/The Taxman will most definitely have his grotty little hands in my pocket for their huge share of any profit made

Finally, to those good readers who like a chortle with me or at my expense, I need to firmly assert the following information. I have no Religion, I am as much Pagan as I am Christian. I AM Not A Pagan! I AM Not A Christian because to be so means that I would have a religion. I worship the Earth (My Mother/ Goddess) and Time (My Father/ God) ... because ONE thing is certain, ONE Day (like YOU) I will DIE and then Time will have measured my worth and moved on and I have became one with the Earth. "Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead."

Addtitional Notes: I apologise for any spelling errors as I rush to get this up and the Newsletter is running late because I have been terribly busy trying to organise an event for YOU!

Speaking of which I did mention "Special" Deals with the Ole Wayfinder concerning tickets to Druid's Dreaming. Venue*Tix has from today taken over the sales of the tickets so now rather than dealing with Dragonfly and I you can purchase tickets directly from them. However now you are stuck with paying the full fees with only 10 % discounts given to concessions.

A few months ago a few people contacted me in regards to deals on tickets one such was a little old grandma from Perth who wanted to bring her grand-daugter (mainly to see Damh the Bard) ... well I would like to assure these people and anyone else who contacts me direct on 0401 972 302 that I will adhere to these deals and am prepared to make others if you contact me within the Week ending Midnight Wednesday 14th October 2009.

After that you will have to deal with Venue*Tix

If you want to change the world my friends change your thinking first.