My Soul Is

My Soul Is ©

By 

Michael Casey

My Soul is many things

My Soul is empty, lacking in Love

My Soul is drifting, looking  for a harbour

My Soul is rocked by emptiness, and echoing sadness

My Soul is led astray by empty promises

My Soul is rudderless, drifting and rocking

My Soul is nowhere, about to fall off the end of the world

My Soul is in the dark, in the shadows

My Soul is cast adrift, without direction

My Soul is maybe damned

Then I remember my long dead mother

Just keep on praying, even if you don’t know what you are saying

My Soul hears a tiny tiny voice

My Soul sees a tiny tiny light

My Soul feels a tiny tiny breeze

My Soul catches a warmth coming from nowhere

My Soul is drawn towards something better

My Soul begins to beat stronger

My Soul  my mood lifts

My Soul finds a direction

My Soul begins to hum like a humming bird

My Soul is no longer in the twilight any more

My Soul moves into the light

My Soul sings and smiles

My Soul is free

My Soul feels no more burdens

My Soul is like a dance, moving forward

My Soul is singing and dancing in a field

My Soul is no longer constricted or restricted

My Soul is an acrobat freewheeling without a net

My Soul is doubly free

My Soul My Soul is part of Hope again

My Soul My Soul is part of Love again

My Soul  My Soul is full of Grace

So keep on praying, the Angels are always there

Even if you think all is Lost

My Soul is part of One Soul

Put your Soul back into the Mosaic that is God

For though we are Single we are still part of One

thank you world 5/aug/2020

thank you world 5/aug/2020

Well you my bemused readers over my4 sites, 3 blogger + Wordpress

are a busy bunch today

6 different languages downloaded on Wordpress

Then Saudi, Zambia, Japan, Russia, USA, UK are just some of today's readers

So thanks, all of you

We just had lamb shank, put it in a pot for 3 hours with potatoes and vegs

plus rosemary. Then it melts in your mouth, our "chef" decided to cook today

the "chef" is very good.

AS for me, don't ask, the answer is a 4 letter word, P*&^

I was thinking of doing some poetry, I've not done any in a while

I talked it over with Tinnitus my Roman slave who shares my bed

every night, if only Tinnitus were ....

So I'll have crack at a poem while you all watch

Hotel del Luna, it really is the best Kdrama I've ever seen

so I'll let the girl from it, and Yoona fight over me

and then we'll have those 4 children and start a K pop dynasty.

Though is more likely I won't reach 70

But God is good, and the Rosary works, so keep on praying

Missing Broadband

this is from 3 years ago july 2017

Missing Broadband ©

By

Michael Casey

Well we are still waiting for our new broadband to arrive, the phone switch was painless but the actual Broadband part of it has not arrived yet. My girls went down the library to use their Wifi, only to discover that the actual broadband could take at least 10 days to arrive. They interrogated Google to find out when their lifeblood would arrive, and girls wanting Broadband can be very very nasty, Google hobbled away tears streaming down his face. But at least he now knew never to upset the Casey girls, or my big daughter knew exactly how to hurt him, she did take not one but 2 Maths exams simultaneously. So Google put that in your pipe and smoke it, or my big daughter aided and abetted by her little sister would ask you to compute MC=4C, and that only had one answer that not even Dr Who would be able to find.

Which brings me to what exactly have I been doing while the wait is on. As I’ve said in another piece its all so quiet in the Casey household, but what about me the Master of the house. By the Master I don’t mean Missy the nemesis of Dr Who, though I’d kill to be able to wear her clothes, the Evil Marry Poppins look, but I digress comme d’habitude. So what exactly have I, the Master, ok the ignored dad, being doing?

Well I’ve been tidying up the files on the computer, a decade of stuff, and versions of stuff and copies of stuff, and a bit of this and a bit of that. I have gained 20gig, yes 20 gig of space, which is more that some of the new flipperty giberbert, fancy bendy over contortionist laptop, hand held computer thingys have. As its all in the Cloud, where hackers can steal all your embarrassing photos and sell them to the Sunday Newspapers.

Nobody has ever taken such photos of me, if ever I become a famous writer or radio star, then women will flock to me, just to take photos to blackmail me. But this is doomed to failure, not because I would not be tempted, but because there is not a wide angle camera invented with a lens good enough to take snaps of my fat hairy arse.

But I’ve digress, put that picture or non picture out of your mind, go have a stiff drink then return to my page. Shall I continue, I will then, I’ve had the last the Pepsi from the fridge, now where was I? Yes, what have I been up to? Apart from tidying up my words, my babies, I have pruned my files so there is more space on my computer, an old fashioned desktop PC, though I have a large screen. At my age I need to see things, if ever I make money I’d buy a large screen Apple thingy. I also did the usual 10 off site securities to media. Remember I was a computer operator for decades so backups are my bread and butter, and my stories are much more important to me than mere work files.

As for my Internet habits, what do I miss. I miss my Daily Telegraph, though as I don’t have a subscription I cannot read all the stuff. If they want to donate a subscription to me that would be nice. At the moment it’s a bit like being in a strip club and the stripper removes her gloves and high heels and slips off her evening dress. Then NOTHING, because The Daily Telegraph paywall kicks in. I want to see what Tim Stanley has to offer or Michael the Deacon, and all the other stuff. So aroused but disappointed I have to flick to the Guardian then The Daily Mail, or I would usually only my Broadband has gone AWOL, well for 10 days at least. I could kick Google in its Al Gore, or some other Politician. Only I cannot, not unless I go down the road to the Library.

So gently simmering in my own juices, and I’ve never been much of a cook, apart from beans on toast with 3 free range eggs mixed in. It’s good for your heart, your heart I said are you as deaf as a fart? I miss my morning Press review. I watch the evening version on tv, and I do watch Sky and BBC Press previews on the computer while the family is watching tv. So not having my broadband means I’m suffering withdrawl symptoms, No Norman Smith or Laura and her gold coloured chav bag, no Sky human interest angle on events. I cannot mix and match my habits, my media habits as I pass my day writing stories and having a think, in-between my many visits to the toilet, Ckd does that to you, its not just being a journalist.

Though I have an idea for a story, it’ll be in the finale of Tears for a Butcher, Where the story is just so big, so important that when the Sky reporter rings his editor he gets the best command ever in the life of any journalist. BUY THE PUB. Rupert is on a visitation to Sky Centre, Big Sid the butcher has been shot 3 times defending his friends, his life is in the balance. If he lives he’ll get the George Medal. So the reporters are all gathered outside Dudley Road Hospital, in the bar of the Windmill Pub, they are going to be thrown out as its Closing Time. Its then that Rupert with ink in his veins says into the ear of the Editor. BUY THE PUB. NUJ membership allows entry into the bar, immediately a private members club.

Well I’ll leave that idea with you for now, I may or may not ever get around to writing Tears for a Butcher, If Rupert wants to donate a fast typing legal secretary I could finish that sequel in time for the Christmas market. Or a sober journalist would do, they are very fast typists after all. Though finding a non drinking journalist might be as hard as finding an honest politician.

Another of my habits is music, I have background music as I write, though at the moment I’ve had none as I talk to you today. Spotify is good, the Free version has a few adverts but it it worth a try. I’ve been listening to the Beatles Sergeant Pepper album recently, and singing along. Wednesday Morning is my favourite track at the moment. You can track down Michael Jackson’s History album too, that’s really good. I did have a copy of the album once but its disappeared from the house.

Broadband gives you a Window on the world, as Bill Gates will testify, we need to make sure it stays free of regulation that’ll allow totalitarian governments destroy it. Having said that Facebook and Google and the like should pay their fair share of taxes. 20% is fair, other companies pay, so should they,and none of this fiddling. Any big company can play the altruist card, and even run for President, and how can they afford to do all that? They are not paying their taxes by exploiting the very people they claim they want to lead and show a better path too. Pay your taxes, everybody else does, or are you using broadband as a tool to fool. Broadband is to educate, inform and entertain, and not to profane in all but name.

Daily Mail PAIN piece

Daily Mail PAIN piece

I've just read the piece in today's Daily Mail about PAIN

Sadly I'm an expert and after a few years I suppose I'm

a Chronic Pain person

I only take Paracetamol because of my kidneys

I only take it when I cannot bear the pain a second longer

My most common pain is my left shoulder

When it kicks off I slap on Movelat pain killer gel

Those are the only two things I use

Movelat is a life saver

It works fast straight to where it is needed

I am not an American who treats pain relief like a soda

I am a very reluctant user of prescription pain killers

It feels as if I'm carrying a cross of concrete,no exaggeration

Then my chest pains post quadruple heart bypass are no fun either

I now also have an inoperable hernia through my bypass scar

So my chest hurts on occasion, so bad I can barely breath

Then my arthritis may attack my back or my hips

or feel like pokers up my left or right buttock

Not forgetting a feeling like a baseball blow to my head

All these come and go, like a merry go around of pain

Up and down, nobody knows and the prize is pain

This is my life

I do my best to stay happy by writing and being POSITIVE

Just like Gloria Estefan said in today's pieces also in DM

YOU MUST STAY POSITIVE AND NEVER NEVER NEVER

GIVE IN

Then just for fun "Tinnitus" which is not a sexy Roman slave

But a constant  HISS, is in my ears for a few years now

and at night it is even stronger

I also can only sleep on my right side post bypass

and if I do finally sleep then I still awake every 2 hours

So this is just a sample of my life

I don't need silly articles in the Daily Mail half explaining

I just carry on writing COMEDY

because it proves I'm still alive and useful

Now you may begin to understand the life behind the 2000+ stories

Never Give Up and Never Give in

and Gloria  Estefan was right it does feel like Electricity

Read her piece and watch her video today

All things Radio

something for overnight

and Donald just read my stuff and don't Tweet

have a sleep

here's something from 7 years ago, about Radio

everything I write is for EARS, its my words on the pillow next to you

just as I listened to BBC Radio 4 over 50 years ago

All things for Radio ©

By

 Michael Casey

I am thinking of getting my writing on Radio, as I’ve told you all before. I have had good feedback from radio stations about my writing. I did once get a comment “I like your style but not the content” which may have come from a Hip Hop radio station. I have sent my word files far and wide in the hope of connecting with a fellow simple mind,   wasn’t  that the name of a band too?

A couple of radio stations even said they could find me a slot but they didn’t get back to me. I even sent a bit of video and audio along with 300 and Not OUT, which is my largest single collection of short writing. I can wait till I die so I’ll continue my campaign. Now I’ve decided to record everything I write so that people who prefer to use their ears cannot escape me either.

I have over 500 pieces of short writing spread over 3 books on Amazon Kindle, and 3 other books too. So now I embark on recording them all. To do this I need a mike and a pop filter. At the moment I’m using the old mike my wife used to scream through to Shanghai and her mum. Shanghai people are very noisy, or is it passionate, no it’s noisy, after 14years I think noisy is the correct word.

Now I’ve managed to record 50 pieces or 10% of my creation so far. There is a problem when you record stuff and you are a writer, you want to make changes as you read the piece. I also want to do it all quickly, so I’m not as prepared as an actor, an actor would read a piece several times before attempted to record it. I want the reading, the recording to be as fresh as the original writing.

An actor would do a couple of takes and the director would advise him, then in the editing suite the director picks the best. So I have to be my own director, it is a learning process, and a couple of pieces I’ve left out as they are too short perhaps or they don’t seem to fit Radio. The original idea for Radio was 90 seconds with Michael, where I’d have 90 seconds to read something for Radio and amuse them. Some stations liked the idea, so I hope that if I now record everything and it’s out there in cyber space I’ll get spotted, maybe I can be the new Justin Beaver. I am of course better looking.

Now for Radio I have to read more slowly, because when I write I am very fast, and when we all read to ourselves it is much faster than when we hear something on the radio. Remember too that we all think 4 times faster than we speak. So first in my mind I have an idea, which I then write down here at the keyboard, then I upload it to my sites. But to record it in the hope that it’s heard and spotted, and folks tell their local radio stations to listen, I have to remember to speak clearly and slow enough for people to hear all the words clearly. Yes obvious, but when we all talk to our friends we do speak much faster.

Which brings me to the topic of technology.  When I started recording a week or so ago, I was using our old stick microphone, which is ok for screaming to grandma in Shanghai, but for speech radio it is not good enough. Grease may be the word but HISS is the move, the sound you get when you record things. I tried lots of things then I decided on wrapping the mike in the foam from mini paint rollers, as I mentioned a few days ago. My daughter had been doing some felting at school in the craft lesson. Her square of felt was perfect to insulate the microphone from wind noise, or rather my own heavy breathing.

Pop filters are also recommended, I did not understand the concept at first, I thought it was just some kind of lollypop. However after watching music videos on MTV and VH1, I begin to understand. Utube also explains things. A pop filter not only keeps the spit off the microphone, it breaks down the air flow. So Ps and Bs or whatever don’t overwhelm the microphone, it’s like changing an American into an Englishman, a very posh and clear sound. Only teasing you Americans.

You can get all manner of “free” software on the Internet, only it’s not really free, its free till you just get the hang of it, then they want 50dollars. So you curse and start looking for more free software. You click and click and click and then finally you find  a couple of really free software packages to record with. Only they are cuckoos in the nest and change your browser settings and your default search engine to something worse than useless. Then you have to go to the control panel and delete their droppings from your computer.

I was a computer operator for 22years or so, in the old days, a kind of dinosaur compared to the IT people of today. So I always tidy up, in the old days your computer could run out of space and crash the system. If you had 4 gig on the computer that was very impressive, and that was 10 years into my stint as a computer operator.  We produced acres of paper and sold this to the clients, market research into alcohol sales, yes really. I can even remember my boss saying alcopops would NOT catch on.

So once I got rid of 2 or 3 not free recording sound programs I settled down to record. The hiss factor was much improved, Audacity seems to be just right, but when I get a new mike I’ll see how that sounds and then I can record my stuff anew. I may have to go back and record what I’ve done already.

Girls just like toys, so dad’s recording software and his mike with a ferret attached to the top, is too good to be true. So the girls have tried it out, singing hymns from church and Lady Gaga songs too. Then they wanted to be BBC news reporters and weather girls. So while I had my dinner, on their side of the computer the girls had broadcasting lessons with the gerbil attached to the mike. All I could hear was laughter. Afterwards I showed them Audacity and they tried that out. They were pleased with the less hissing results, no snakes in the grass now.

Since I started on this adventure with a mike my ears have been really tuned in. Even as I type as I talk to you I’m listening to the sound of the keyboard. I’m listening to the sound of the computer itself on the self by my knee. I can hear the clock ticking on the bookcase too. Normally I have music playing as I talk to you but now I do not, so every little sound echoes in my mind.

So will my efforts be in vain? I don’t know, but it will be great practice for after dinner speaking. If I record 500 short pieces and put them on my sites Typepad and Tumblr then perhaps somebody will discover my words. And as for me perhaps I’ll get a free dinner.

****

and the rest is History

this is me, Michael Casey the WRITER from Birmingham England

This is what a fat silver haired writer in shades from Birmingham England

looks like minus the shades today Sunday 2nd August 2020

so swoon ladies, ok just puke in the recycle bin.

Hurting my feelings again, I’m so sensitive….

2nd August 2020 this is really me the writer of all this rubbish

this is still me, so your girlfriends can puke in a bucket too

That’s about it for today, I have to watch Hotel del Luna my latest Kdrama

it’s fantastic, comedy/romance/horror it was top 2019 Kdrama on one station

in Korea, hence my love of all things Korean. And the kiss was in episode 4,

normally it’s double that time before the first kiss in Kdrama.

Give them a try but you will have to read subtitles

and here’s a list of all my books, but just a few still on Amazon

List of Books Written by Me ©ByMichael Casey
1.The Butcher The Baker and The Undertaker2.Shoplife3.Essays and Plays4.Blogs 20115.300 and Not OUT6.Shorts 20137.More Shorts 2014 8.Quick Stories9.Still Alive 201510.Undiscovered Words 201611.Still Smiling 201712.Altogether Now13.New Horizons14.14 Up15.15 Down16.Sweet Sixteen17. 17 Again18. 18 New Views19.The Final Cut of The 19th HoleI’m still writing 2020 Words right now

2931; Saint Patrick's cathedral New York

2931; Saint Patrick's cathedral New York

I may start numbering my entries here

2931, so you can go back and read the rest, 2930 in this case

Only the Stories make the books

eg XYZ(c) by Michael Casey 

so there are maybe 2000 stories scattered over 20 books

I've culled what's on Amazon

But I still have the files

should a Russian Billionaire want to App me

somebody in Russia was reading ExPats from 2017

that's why I say that

I know in fact that'll never happen

As everybody likes free reads

and hello to Indonesia too, reading a translation

of The Butcher The Baker and The Undertaker

over on my wordpress

Every time I write I post it to 3 Bloggers and my Wordpress

it also goes into to the current book I'm writing

so 2020 Words, which is the book I'm writing now

as well as 2 container files which have everything, I think

so 1,630,000 words is my current grand total

or 8400 pages using 14point Amiri font

I don't add "chats" like this to the grand total

nor as I said to any current book I'm compiling

Then there are old old stuff, so if you add it all

together then I must have gone past 2,000,000 words

and still no reward

but I write because it's in me

I may be a "broken" man physically due my health

But I still dream of a new Korean wife and 4 more kids

and forming a Kpop band, and living 40 more years

Yes, God's know's i have a sense of humour

I just hope he has too, and if I keep on nagging who knows

Health returned etc etc etc, as the King of Siam used to sing

Anyway the nice parish priest in New York gave a great sermon

and I've seen 55 years worth and more

He mentioned a Leper woman in Colombia who thanked him

so much 50 years ago for saving Mass  and how she thanked him

from the bottom of her heart. The parish priest also mentioned how

we may not be able to attend in person, and Live Stream may be

all we have got. But we never lose God's love, even though we cannot

get to him, he can always get to us and is with us. Always

So if any of you folks down in Colombia can give a cent, then the cathedral

accepts donations online.

Though as everybody knows, Pray is more than enough if cents are not available

I must be getting a ton of Prayers from over 80 countries worldwide

because I never get any cents.

Though as you all know Pain Charities are top of my list

should the cents arrive

That's about it for today, I have to watch Hotel del Luna my latest Kdrama

it's fantastic, comedy/romance/horror it was top 2019 Kdrama on one station

in Korea, hence my love of all things Korean. And the kiss was in episode 4,

normally it's double that time before the first kiss in Kdrama.

Give them a try but you will have to read subtitles

and here's a list of all my books, but just a few still on Amazon

List of Books Written by Me ©

By

Michael Casey

1.The Butcher The Baker and The Undertaker

2.Shoplife

3.Essays and Plays

4.Blogs 2011

5.300 and Not OUT

6.Shorts 2013

7.More Shorts 2014

 8.Quick Stories

9.Still Alive 2015

10.Undiscovered Words 2016

11.Still Smiling 2017

12.Altogether Now

13.New Horizons

14.14 Up

15.15 Down

16.Sweet Sixteen

17. 17 Again

18. 18 New Views

19.The Final Cut of The 19th Hole

I'm still writing 2020 Words right now