Welcome to Altopia

I haven't learned all that much in my life but I do know this: We all inhabit our own universe - which is just slightly different than the universe of anyone else. I have no idea how all these millions of universes fit together but somehow they do. What makes matters more complicated is that even our own, personal universe has a habit of changing, even on a daily basis. In other words the universe you went to sleep in last night is not necessarily the same one you will wake up in today.

My universe - at least the one I seem to be in at the present time, is called Altopia. On the whole I really like it, but it is a little odd. For example, the established laws of physics don't always apply here. Strange and inexplicable happenings are frequent - and in addtion to some amazing people it also seems to contain a great many idiots who pretend to know what they are doing, when in fact they are just making it up as they go along. Some of these people call themselves politicians, others refer to themselves as 'experts' and a few even claim to know God personally.

I'd like to share my particular universe with you, and tell you a little more about it. I do feel somewhat qualified to comment. Whilst other people have been busy collecting stamps, running marathons, playing on Nintendo DS's or whatever, I have been spending at least some of my time watching and taking note.

I've also been busy in other ways. In my life I have been an engineer, a musician, a town crier, an astrologer and a professional writer. I've lived in many different places and I once even spent two years travelling round the canal system of Britain on a 40ft narrow boat. As a writer I have produced quite a number of books on a range of topics. For the sake of my writing career I have become a proficient astronomer, something of a specialist in certain periods of history and I have produced not only books but also countless articles, many plays and a wealth of poetry, some of which can be found on my various web sites.

Sad to say I have sometimes been accused of being slightly mad, though fortunately I'm in good company because I am married to Kate, who is far madder than me and I am fortunate to have a wealth of friends and associates from around the world, most of whom would also be considered to be two sandwiches short of a picnic.

I'm happy to admit that Altopia is not quite as stressful as many other people's universes. (or some picnics in my experience) On the whole people here don't tend to worry as much as they do elsewhere. It's not that Altopia has any less tragedy or worry than any other universe but the general philosophy here-abouts is that things are likely to go wrong wether we worry about them or not, so the worrying is somewhat immaterial in the long-run and wastes a lot of energy that could be used up on good things - like picnics for example.

Altopia also tends to be a fairly humorous place. Let's face it, it has to be because you can't take anything here for granted and I keep being told that it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown.

And that's about it. I can't offer you longevity, excellent health, a religious panacea or anything much at all apart from words and the books I write, but Altopia could make you smile - which is more than can be said for the newspapers or the television news.

In closing I would just like to say how happy I am that you asked me here today to launch this ship - sorry, it looks as though reality has flipped again. Just for a moment I thought I was the Queen but I'm sure I can't be. She would never wear a dress this colour.

www.whobuiltthemoon.com
http://www.fromblogstobooks.com/
http://www.getweebling.com/
http://www.washingtondcschamberofsecrets.com/
http://www.mysteriesman.com/
http://www.cityofthegoddess.com/
http://www.astrologymanor.com/