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Yesterday I had the interesting experience of listening to a day of presentations by Phillip Day on the subject of all that is corrupt and dishonest in the world and inviting us to become more aware and raise our consciousness. The meeting took place in the very relaxed and laid back atmosphere of the Holiday Inn in Taunton, just off the M5, and as soon as I walked into the place I felt a welcome.

We started by having breakfast which at 16 pound odd seemed bit over the top and it’s almost as if prices increase before your very eyes. Whether they are making more money is a question because everything is going up including staff costs, taxes, you name it.

Philip gave us talks of about one hour 15 minutes each based on the most enormous collection of relevant images I have ever seen and the delightful thing was that the facts were up to date. Philip is a rare bird in that he gives his email address and telephone number and believes in direct communication with those who have been to his workshops and seminars. I thought I was open but this is bringing this presentation is bringing openness to a new level.

SEE IN COMMENTS BELOW A LETTER FROM PHILLIP   I did write to him saying that I thought his presentation might frighten or put off the curious and fearful and indeed most of the people there were already familiar with so called alternative ways of thinking about the world. There were only about 30 people there which at £25  a head could not have been enormously profitable. I dread to think what a conference room would cost for the day, plus travel and overnight expenses for two. His assistant sold various vitamins and quite a few books which Philip had written himself.

During the breaks he was more than happy to speak to people individually and listened quietly while the points were made. This is the exact opposite of how governments work and hats off to him for going round the country at great personal expense ‘spreading the gospel’ so to speak.

Meanwhile, a month into my new writing project, I have nailed my first six interviews and aim to double it by the weekend. Being a journalist and reporter requires considerable concentration and focus. Similar to this diary, I know I’m writing not only for myself but for those who may read it and unlike this diary I hope to produce a book on Village Life which will be at my own expense, by the way, which people will read and find entertaining. My own diary is unpublishable because it has over 6500 photographs at 1.8 million words so unless people save a copy it will disappear into cyberspace at the end of its life whenever that is.

The aim of the book is to give a snapshot of what life is like in three places; Priddy, Westbury and Easton. I say to everyone that it’s a bit like the Doomsday Book of old but to do with people not about property. I would have gone via the normal publishing route but I’m too impatient to waste a year, which is probably the minimum it would take, to bring out a book except if you’re a very well-known publisher so I’ve chosen the KDP self-publishing route advertising in Amazon and so on. The difference between vanity publishing and ordinary publishing has changed somewhat. There are ‘hybrid’ publishers who will help you to get to the stage where you can present your material for printing and this is the route I’m taking. It will cost me a couple of £k but so what. 

I hope to publish February or March 2026 ; it looks like there will be around 40 personal accounts of  interestingly occupied residents; who does what and who thinks what and I’d be surprised if there was much change out of 60,000 words. I noticed that some people are shy about talking about themselves or their activities. If I’m interviewing an organiser of  a group it’s not what the group does, it’s how it was formed, and who expects what out of it.

Many people genuinely believe that they have nothing to offer but as I’ve said before if you ask them a question, half an hour later they’re talking and show no signs of stopping.