July 2005

INTRODUCTION
There’s a lot in this one… so I’m keeping it as short as possible. That said, this is the first time the newsletter hasn’t gone out on the 1st of the month. Reason? Couldn’t be bothered… so, sue me! Actually, computer problems, but I wanted to sound cool... did it worK?

MY BOOK…
is still selling well, bringing me a host of lovely correspondence from around the globe. And it’s all thanks to the brain of Ian Rowland and the brawn of the distributor. Review copies have now been sent out to numerous magazines and Internet forum owners…. This’ll be interesting!

ARTICLES
Had a great 3-page spread in SHE magazine (now how many men can say THAT?!), which was flagged up with a double-page spread in the SUNDAY MAIL last month. Mind you, the newspaper used a terrible photograph in which, I’m certain, somebody (and I have my suspicions who!) had added hair with a felt-tipped marker! However, they made up for it by referring to me as Mind Master McAdam – which isn’t too bad. And "Guru Drew" – which has a certain ring to it, and would look particularly good on my business card, doncha’ think?

The result of recent coverage was a flurry of fascinating emails from readers. One in particular is from Claire, who sent me a gorgeous, naturally heart-shaped stone she found on a beach. How nice was that? Cheers m’ dears!

GIGS THIS MONTH
Always quiet, July and August. Even so, I was at Rosythe Naval Base. Faslane nuclear sub base, (I’m beginning to think that sailors like me!) Private party for Tod MacDonald in Ayr. A wedding at Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline, and a cabaret spot at the Apex International Hotel for a well-known Scottish beverage company. I must have "dun good" because they have asked me to do the "big one" in Windsor later this year.

A BOOK FROM ZENON
Interested in magic? Or do you know somebody who is interested in magic? Well, if that’s the case then I have some good news for you. Well-known magician and TV personality Paul Zenon kindly sent me a copy of his new book "Street Magic". It’s fantastic. It’s a real "coffee table" book, with superb colour plates. But the real news is that there are so many secrets in it that, he tells me, some members of the Magic Circle have taken umbrage at him! Whatever, get yourself a copy!

Here’s a copy of my review of the book, by the way: "This is what a REAL magic book looks like. Zenon, certainly one of the UK’s best known and best loved magicians, was the guy who started TV Street Magic. (Yes, before that Blaine chap!) And his book, by that name reflects somebody who knows what he’s talking about.

This is a hardback coffee-table book, beautifully produced on top grade paper, with superb colour plates.

If you’re already a magician, you’re going to hate this, because Zenon has not been shy about offering the best possible tricks. He tips everything. In fact, he’s tipped so much that, apparently, some of the members of the prestigious Magic Circle are up in arms.

A quick look through and you can see why! Some of the most closely guarded secrets of magic in general – and street magic in particular - are explained in full colour, with nothing missed out.

As a collector of magic books, this is the one most magicians will wish they’d got years ago, rather than the endless stream of low-grade card trick books. Quite simply, if you’ve seen it on TV – and only the very best is used there – then it’s in this book.

You simply cannot go wrong with this. Zenon may have upset some of his fellow professionals, but there’s little doubt that many aspiring magicians are going to take this on board and run with it. Out with the old, in with the new!"

TRIPS AWAY

A great trip was of the camping variety – no, a REAL camping trip, with wet matches, a tent and a wee fire in the woods at the side of the river Lyon in the shadow of towering mountains. Not satisfied with that, as a surprise, I found myself in more splendid accommodation on the island of Arran for a few days. Peace. Tranquillity. Beauty.

Worst part of the Arran trip was that we only just made it off the ferry and back onto the mainland before AB had to call the RAC. A Porsche engine? Haaa! A £4 rotor arm… whatever one of THEM is. Oh, and talking about that sort of thing… have you ever tried getting in and out of the bucket seats of a roadster? Jeez, guaranteed you’re going to do yourself a mischief. There is NO way it can be done without huffing and puffing. It is impossible to exit the vehicle with ANY dignity! All I can say is: thank God I wasn’t wearing my kilt!

Best part of the island trip (besides the beauty of the place, stunning weather, and munching on a fish supper at the harbour) was meeting up with top after-dinner speaker, and ex-governor of Glasgow’s Barlinnie Prison, Robbie Glen and his wife, Elspeth. They have a gorgeous holiday home on the island, with a commanding view over the Clyde. They also have ten wonderful dogs – King Charles’ – of which my favourite (sorry, Robbie) is Alice. So there.

FILM NIGHTS
Took in two films this month – War of the Worlds, with its nightmarish cinematography, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Both, I thought, were great… though I did go to see WOTW twice - a thing I rarely do. Anybody know where I can buy one of those tripods? Or, failing that, Willie Wonka glasses?

GUID NIGHT OOT
Had a "Scribblers Night Oot". (That’s the reviewer’s for the Edinburgh Evening News.) Great fun, and exactly what I needed, with some hilarious banter around the table. I, of course, was the sensible one. Some of the others went on to Diane’s Pool Hall, and then blagged their way into The Liquid Rooms. The story goes that one of their number – you know who you are, GF – arrived home at 4am minus his trousers, and with no recollection as to what had happened.

TALKING ABOOT GUID NIGHTS OOT...
Some of you will have already heard me rave about Romany, the Diva of Magic (she was one of the fortunate few who made it to the Island of Sark). Flamboyant and funny. Well, I’ll be meeting up with her later, because she is appearing in FABARET 10-25th Aug – as part of the Edinburgh Festival. You can catch the show at Midnight, Wed-Sat, The City Cafe, Blair Street.

SAD TIMES
Thoughts are with Uri Geller, who’s mum died this month, and with Len (the Silver Fox) Murray, who lost his wife Elizabeth. There’s not really a lot you can say, is there?

AND IN CLOSING
This from Donald at Diagnostic Instruments. I really liked this, and I hope you like it, too...
Take a break from your grown up life… Just for a minute, forget everything stressful and readthis.
Close your eyes and go back in time... Before the Internet or the Apple Mac. Before semi-automatics, joyriders and crack... Before SEGA or Super Nintendo...Way back...I'm talking about Hide and Seek in the park.
The corner shop. Hopscotch. Butterscotch. Skipping. Handstands. Fingerbob. Beano, Dandy, Buster, Twinkle and Dennis the Menace. Roly Poly. Hula Hoops, jumping the stream, building dams.The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass. Bazooka Joe bubble gum.Opal Fruits. An ice cream cone on a warm summer night from the van that plays a tune.
Chocolate or vanilla or strawberry ormaybe Neapolitan or perhaps a screwball. Wait......Watching Saturday morning cartoons... Short commercials. Road Runner, He-Man, Zeebedee, Crackerjack. Tiswas or Swapshop? and 'Why Don't You'? - or staying up for Doctor Who. When around the corner seemed far away, and going into town seemed like going somewhere. Earwigs, wasps, stinging nettles and bee stings. Sticky fingers. Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and Zorro.Climbing trees.Building igloos out of snow banks. Walking to school, no matter what the weather. Running till you were out of breath, laughing so hard that your stomach hurt. Jumping on the bed. Pillow fights. Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.Being tired from playing... remember THAT? The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. Water balloons were the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Football cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle. I'm not finished just yet.....Eating raw jelly. Orange squash. Ice pops. Remember when...There were two types of trainers - girls and boys, and Dunlop Green Flash - and the only time you wore them at school was for P.E. You knew everyone in your street -and so did your parents. It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas Eve.When nobody owned a pure-bred dog. When 25p was decent pocket money. When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.When nearly everyone's mum was at home when the kids got there.It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents. When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries - and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.When being sent to the head's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving pupil at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs etc. Parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat!…and some of us are still afraid of them!!Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, Yeah, I remember that! Remember when....Important decisions were made by going " Ip Dip Dog Sh*t ""Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly". The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was germs. And the worst thing in your day was having to sit next to one. It was unbelievable that 'British Bulldog 123' wasn't an Olympic event. Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a catapult. Nobody was prettier than Mum. Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better. Taking drugs meant orange-flavoured chewable aspirin. Ice cream was considered a basic food group. Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true. Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors. If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED. So why not pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown up" life...I DOUBLE-DOUBLE DARE YOU!

Have A GREAT August, and I’ll see you on the other side!

Drew
www.drewmcadam.co.uk