Chris Levett is going home - back to Moore Capital!

All's well that ends well, eh? / Chris(tian) Levett was that creature at Clive Capital. But let's forgive and forget. It's all in the past.

In a statement, Chris said: "I'm more than just something, some THING, more than a creature. Yes, I was the dark force at Clive Capital. (And other places. I floated around in astral skies, you know. Even the physical skies, on occasion. However, those nights are over.) I want to be an ordinary Joe now - at Moore Capital. Sometimes in life you have to say Enough is enough. Man, I want to take it easy, you dig? I don't want the grief of running my own firm. Christ! Uh ... oh, the terrible nightmares. Let Louis Bacon face the horror! A genuine creature, a master monster, he's well-suited to it. I've worked at Moore Capital before. Jesus! (Yes, holy Jesus.) I should have stayed there, man. People always regret leaving. (Just ask Willy Tung. Go on!) I don't want any responsibilities. I'll say to Louis, er ... Louis, give me your money, or your clients' money, whatever, and I'll manage it for you. But don't ask any more of me. I've changed. You see, I wish ... the truth is, I haven't got the strength to get out of finance. Don't judge me. Please!"

Well, well, well ... interesting. (Is Willy Tung still there? I hope he hasn't run away again.) / And Chris actually wrote the "uh" and the "oh" and the "Jesus!" and the "man". For effect, probably. I don't know. Maybe he wants to be a writer.

...

And in other news ... I played my guitar for seven hours yesterday. I did a bit of recording too, which didn't work out.

By the way, there's a street cleaner outside, talking to his bin cart thing and making cat noises. WTF?! / I really need him ...

Writing songs isn't the problem, man. It's playing the guitar. I want to get out of this place. I want to live in Malibu!!!

Susan Ebenston is replacing Ian Davis who replaced John Hodgson who replaced ... Do we care?

And it just goes on. These firms never learn. They get a chief operating officer, and they think they're happy. Then they want a new one, oh, another one, and another one ... What are they trying to prove? One day, they will have to stop. One day, they will have to say This can't go on. Or ... / Think of the dinosaurs, dear reader(s). They didn't learn until a great big asteroid smashed the shit out of them. Is that the way it will be with Aviva Investors and all the other financial businesses I write about?

Well, Susie seems a nice girl, anyway. (She's been at Westpac Group, JP Morgan, and Scottish Weirdos.) I hope she can fit into the culture at Aviva Investors. I hope she knows about Schroders - those mugs! 'I hope she likes ice cream, boss.' Oh yeah. Lazy days in the park. Where's the sun, man? I could do with some of that.

And Ian Davis? I hope he has more sense than Paul Abberley. I hope he says to himself Right, enough is enough. I want my freedom! There's another life, another world, away from finance. I should know. I've seen it in my dreams.

I've seen all sorts of things in my dreams ... / I don't want to live in the dirt no more. I want to make life my dream, out of the horrible reality forever, and free forever! More than THREE? Not necessarily. There are different ways ... to escape. Even when you're trapped you can be free. / I think I understand why Jimi Hendrix wouldn't put his guitar down, and why John Coltrane wouldn't put his saxophone down. You rarely saw Picasso without a paintbrush or a pencil.

[I played my guitar for a few minutes earlier. I played as well straight off as I would normally do after three hours of practice.]

If you're not trapped in something nice, something you like, something you have chosen, then the world will trap you in its nonsense. That's the lesson for today, dear reader(s).

[No. 222] Hasn't Ian Hannam suffered enough?

Well ...

And / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![1], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[2], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![2], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![1], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[2], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[1], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![2], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![1], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[2], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![1], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![2], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[1], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![2], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[1], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[2], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[1], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[2], and do you feel ... better, man?[1], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[2], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[1], and do you feel ... better, man?[2], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[1], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[2], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[2], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![3], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[3], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![3], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[3], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![3], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![3], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[3], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[3], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[3], and do you feel ... better, man?[3], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[3], and

And / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![1], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[2], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![2], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![1], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[2], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[1], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![2], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![1], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[2], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![1], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![2], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[1], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![2], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[1], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[2], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[1], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[2], and do you feel ... better, man?[1], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[2], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[1], and do you feel ... better, man?[2], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[1], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[2], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[2], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![3], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[3], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![3], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[3], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![3], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![3], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[3], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[3], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[3], and do you feel ... better, man?[3], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[3], and

And / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![1], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[2], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[1], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![2], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![1], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[2], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[1], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![2], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![1], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[2], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![1], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![2], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[1], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![2], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[1], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[2], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[1], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[2], and do you feel ... better, man?[1], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[2], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[1], and do you feel ... better, man?[2], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[1], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[2], and / Oh, HELLO(!), Ian ... get on the floor, man, or - in your mind - get up in the sky, try to touch the sun[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[2], and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND, and a-ROUND ... roll away the pain, baby![3], and we don't need the world of your money ... no, just the world of our love[3], and suffering leads to ... more suffering? / Oh, I hope not! / Ian, I know you want (and need) the DIZZY shivers, son![3], and capital markets? / No, no, no ...[3], and your name ... you must forget it, and your past ... imagine you're an expert in ... transcendence![3], and / come on, come on ... COME ON!!![3], and who are you, Ian, really, when you're down here with me and the mystic kooks, rolling, rolling, rolling ... till the end of time?[3], and this is the only way, the only salvation ... for your sort[3], and you're smiling now, like a man with the DIZZY shivers ... like a man ... almost free[3], and do you feel ... better, man?[3], and if you want to feel much better ... there's always the ... more than THREE ... so, go for it, prove yourself[3], and this ... ... ... is as good as it gets[3], and

Ian Hannam should have gone into the desert years ago (when he had the chance)

Oh, all that FCA rubbish, man. I'm not going into the details. You probably know all the details anyway, dear reader(s), being so well-informed and that. All I'm saying is, Ian should have left it all behind years ago. I mean, rotten finance. It's a waste of time and energy. A waste of life. At least in the desert, astral and physical, in the old days, there was some protection. The FSA never went there. They were too scared of Big Herb and the ghosts of the dead financiers. / Of course, the desert was just the first stage in weaning these money-making lunatics off finance. Now I have my new, improved method, the conceptual stuff. And it works! / Obviously, I'll be taking Ian for a spin after lunch. I'll try to make him feel better. Yes, I'll make him forget the FCA. I'll make him forget everything, even his name.

And it might help me forget the Marc Bolan CD I'm listening to at the moment. We all know Bolan wrote seven or eight classics, songs like Hot Love and Get It On, but he wrote some utter shite as well ... like London Boys and New York City. For Christ's sake! While Bowie was going from strength to strength ... for a while, then he gave us Never Let Me Down, and that fucking glass spider, and Tin Ear Machine. Do all great music careers end in failure? Well, there was Beethoven ...

Not that I can talk. I'm having trouble even getting started! / But it will come good, you wait and see. My guitar playing is improving all the time. I played You're Lying and My Heart last night (without recording them, alas) and they sounded like ... massive songs, man. Each song would make a career. I've got two of them!

I'll probably be better off as a songwriter though, rather than a recording artist. I don't know. I'm confused about it. Do I really want fans chasing me down the street and screaming my name, at my age?

Let's see how it goes ... / I've got lunch to think of. Cheese sandwich, salt and vinegar crisps, peach yoghurt, and a can of Pepsi. This is how the other half live! The half that are sitting in the shit. I don't care. I like simple food. I don't wanna go to no fancy restaurant in Mayfair. Not even great wealth will change me. I'm sure of that.

[No. 221] You can lead a horse to water ...

But it won't get DIZZY unless it wants to!

And / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[1], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[2], and, er ...[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[2], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[1], and, er ...[2], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[1], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[2], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[1], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[2], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![1], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[2], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[1], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![2], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[1], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[2], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![1], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[2], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[1], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![2], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[1], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[2], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![1], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[2], and just one freak at a time, please[1], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![2], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![1], and just one freak at a time, please[2], and this ... is happiness ...[1], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![2], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[3], and this ... is happiness ...[2], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[3], and, er ...[3], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[3], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[3], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[3], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![3], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[3], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[3], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![3], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[3], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[3], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![3], and just one freak at a time, please[3], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![3], and this ... is happiness ...[3], and

And / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[1], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[2], and, er ...[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[2], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[1], and, er ...[2], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[1], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[2], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[1], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[2], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![1], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[2], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[1], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![2], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[1], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[2], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![1], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[2], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[1], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![2], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[1], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[2], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![1], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[2], and just one freak at a time, please[1], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![2], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![1], and just one freak at a time, please[2], and this ... is happiness ...[1], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![2], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[3], and this ... is happiness ...[2], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[3], and, er ...[3], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[3], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[3], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[3], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![3], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[3], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[3], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![3], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[3], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[3], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![3], and just one freak at a time, please[3], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![3], and this ... is happiness ...[3], and

And / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[1], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[2], and, er ...[1], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[2], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[1], and, er ...[2], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[1], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[2], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[1], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[2], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![1], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[2], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[1], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![2], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[1], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[2], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![1], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[2], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[1], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![2], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[1], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[2], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![1], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[2], and just one freak at a time, please[1], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![2], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![1], and just one freak at a time, please[2], and this ... is happiness ...[1], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![2], and / we must forget the evil fools ... who want no part of our love a-ROUND here[3], and this ... is happiness ...[2], and sometimes YOU(!) ... just have to think of yourself ... (And me! 'And me!' No, not you) / you can be a DIZZY horse - if you want to be[3], and, er ...[3], and where is Philip Gibbs, right now, while we're ... right here ... getting DIZZY?[3], and people ask me ... Can you see into the future?[3], and / I smile a bit, living it ... in my head, you dig?[3], and I'm thirsty, and you're thirsty, for the new shamanic way ... this is the FUTURE![3], and people ask me ... Are you the one?[3], and / I roll on the floor, roll hard ... until they leave me alone / squares can't have no part of our future[3], and / I WANT THE ROLLERS!!![3], and / how many thirsty, rolling ... mystic kooks ... do you need ... for a revolution? / 'Good question!'[3], and ... / I'm dreaming of something impossible[3], and here they come, and here they are ... O Lord, I've got the DIZZY shivers now![3], and just one freak at a time, please[3], and YOU(!) ... roll a-ROUND, baby / oh, roll a-ROUND, baby ... oh, roll a-ROUND!!![3], and this ... is happiness ...[3], and

Philip Gibbs has been having a go at Jupiter Asset Management again

You remember Philip Gibbs, yeah? Jesus. He used to be a fund manager at Jupiter, then he retired. Now he keeps criticizing the firm, saying crazy stuff, like ... well, at the recent AGM, he said that all the young dude fund managers are in danger from the older managers and financial shamans who want to suck the blood out of them. 'Ha!' It's absolutely ridiculous, of course. As you know, dear reader(s), Phil was always a cold earth wanderer, even though Keith Busby and I offered to train him up in the ways of the shaman, the astral plane, the desert, and all the rest of it. He turned us down flat. 'And me!' Yeah, and, er ... you, Voice. (Wasn't it the mystic child in those days? Oh, I can't remember ...) Phil was happy to be on the wrong side of history. Everyone else at Jupiter was mad for it. 'They couldn't get enough, boss.' No, they couldn't. As a result, the firm has a higher percentage of shamans than any other financial business today, including Goldman Sachs. 'Incredible!' That's my legacy.

Well, well, well ... / Anyway, I'm not going to lose any sleep over this nonsense. 'Life's too short, Mikey.' Phil should move on. / The funny thing is, the desert and old-school shamanism don't even exist no more. I mean, not in our hearts, and our souls. However, Phil wouldn't know this. He probably thinks we're still all running around naked in the moonlight every night of the week. 'Ha!' Times change, man. I doubt very much I'll open up the desert again until ... I become a rock and roll shaman like the late great Jim Morrison. Maybe not even then ...

...

This is 2014! / In 2014 we get a-ROUND! 'Yeah!' Conceptual shit is the new shamanism, financial and non-financial. / So, after lunch ... No. 221! The afternoon, and into the night!!!

Who's this Daniel Plunkett then?

Isn't it amazing some of the stuff that goes on?! Apparently, there was this Barclays trader, Daniel Plunkett, who fixed some gold and cheated a customer out of millions of pounds (and made a million for his own trading book) just one day after Barclays was fined £290 million for the Libor shit, man. 'Amazing, boss!' Yeah. And now Barclays has been fined £26 million by the FCA, and Danny has been fined and banned by the FCA. (Just £95,600 though.)

Not that any of this bothers me. 'No?' No. I expect it. Human beings are ... dodgy. 'Yeah.' Put them in a situation where there's loads of money and gold flying around and anything is possible. 'Diamonds.' What, Voice? 'Diamonds, too.' What are you going on about? 'Nothing.' I'm talking about hard cash, idiot, and gold bars - like in Kelly's Heroes, not diamonds. If you haven't got anything sensible to say, be quiet. Please. 'Fine wines.' Shut up! You're not Withnail!

Sorry. You can't get the staff, dear reader(s). It's a good job I'm not paying him/it.

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Oh, it's a special day today, my reader(s). Today, I've reached the one million word mark on this blog (including the 428,000 words of my 220 conceptual posts). 'Congratulations!' Oh, thanks ...

I could have reached it sooner. I've deleted forty thousand or so words over the years.

Is there an end to it? Well ... my music will decide. / I woke up at three this morning, worrying about my music. It's taking so long, man. But I want a demo that can't be rejected ...

...

Where has the goddamn summer gone?! The Aviva Investors mob will be in the pub again. This is no weather for ice creams in the park.

Lunch? Oh, nothing too wonderful. I've got a basic cheese sandwich, and a yoghurt. I might have a mug of tea, for a change. I think I should cut down on all the fizzy drinks, you know?

No, I've got a Coke in the fridge ... / I'll change everything ... soon. My whole life is messed up, chaotic. A can of Coke won't matter.

...

Anything else? / It's outrageous the number of smug fools Piketty has to put up with. Jealousy is a terrible thing, of course ...

NOTHING ELSE!

Another bank holiday, so no finance - thank God, eh?!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, NO(!) ... finance, man ... / Finance tomorrow, for my sins, and yours ... dear reader(s). / I'm listening to Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. I might put some Rolling Stones on in the minute, some Gimme Shelter and that.

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Just some aimless waffle ... / Guitar? I'm getting pretty good on the blues scale, man. I mean, improvising lead guitar riffs. Simple stuff like the lead on Gimme Shelter. I mean, my stuff ... as simple as that. It sounds good though. / And it makes me wonder why someone like John Lennon wasn't a better lead guitarist BECAUSE(!) ... I've only known about the blues scale for two weeks. Ian MacDonald reckons he was lazy. Maybe ...

I still haven't recorded You're Lying and My Heart yet. But it's not laziness, more like fear ... I keep putting it off, man. I'll record them soon, real soon. You wait and see ...

Oh, and I'm trying to learn the opening to AC/DC's Back in Black. I've almost got it ...

That's enough Davis. / Let's have some Stones!

...

Anything ... else ... in the news ... maybe? / Well ... er, uh, only boring politics. 'Ha!' I don't give a shit about politics, man! 'Go on, Mikey!' No, Voice! Christ! Am I some fucked-up zombie, some half-alive slag, some shithead slave? 'Of course not.' So don't ask me about politics ...

I'm talkin' 'bout the midnight rambler ... the one you never seen before. 'I've seen him, boss.' Shut up!

...

Oh, news ...

A little finance ... / The Guardian says Piketty has hit back. Oh, I do hope so ... with his fucking fists. Smash! Smash! Have some of that! You fascist fat cat lovers!

Oh, news ...

Michael Gove wants to do away with American literature in favour of bland English literature. 'Ha!' / Jesus H. Christ! What we need are some French mofos! 'Yeah, man!' Celine! Rimbaud! I mean ... Austen? Dickens? Is some joker having a laugh? 'Gove, Mikey. He's having a laugh.' Yeah ...

That's enough!!! No more news.

[No. 220] Liontrust's John Husselbee is as light as a butterfly (a-ROUND)

That's the way I like it.

And yeah! / a butterfly![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[1], and yeah! / a butterfly![2], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[2], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[1], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![2], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![1], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[2], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[1], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![2], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[1], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[2], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[1], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[2], and / oh, I think we have company ...[1], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[2], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![1], and / oh, I think we have company ...[2], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![1], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![2], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![1], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![2], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[1], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![2], and this ... is better than the desert![1], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[2], and yeah! / a butterfly![3], and this ... is better than the desert![2], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[3], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![3], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[3], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![3], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[3], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[3], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[3], and / oh, I think we have company ...[3], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![3], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![3], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![3], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[3], and this ... is better than the desert![3], and

And yeah! / a butterfly![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[1], and yeah! / a butterfly![2], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[2], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[1], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![2], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![1], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[2], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[1], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![2], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[1], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[2], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[1], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[2], and / oh, I think we have company ...[1], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[2], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![1], and / oh, I think we have company ...[2], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![1], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![2], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![1], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![2], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[1], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![2], and this ... is better than the desert![1], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[2], and yeah! / a butterfly![3], and this ... is better than the desert![2], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[3], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![3], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[3], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![3], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[3], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[3], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[3], and / oh, I think we have company ...[3], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![3], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![3], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![3], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[3], and this ... is better than the desert![3], and

And yeah! / a butterfly![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[1], and yeah! / a butterfly![2], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![1], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[2], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[1], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![2], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![1], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[2], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[1], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![2], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[1], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[2], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[1], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[2], and / oh, I think we have company ...[1], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[2], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![1], and / oh, I think we have company ...[2], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![1], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![2], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![1], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![2], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[1], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![2], and this ... is better than the desert![1], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[2], and yeah! / a butterfly![3], and this ... is better than the desert![2], and is anyone surprised? / anything I say is the way things are in my reality / that's the power of shamanism[3], and we can forget about the multi asset stuff - who cares? / I've got the whole world in my hands![3], and I'm changing the things I don't like ...[3], and I hope you're getting involved, my friend(s) / Don't be passive! / This is your chance![3], and YOU(!) ... can take a man like John Husselbee, spin him a-ROUND, and make him DIZZY / he'll forget himself ... and you[3], and have no fear! / John will never be able to remember your face / you'll be all right, man[3], and it's horse racing, golf, football ... / we'll change all that / I don't approve of anything too physical[3], and / oh, I think we have company ...[3], and / here he is, a-ROUND, and DIZZY, in his mind, in his soul / no movement of the body, silent! / very fast![3], and the beautiful thing is, at this speed, there are no thoughts, no opinions - the world is gone? / We are gone![3], and John can learn a lot from us ... / We're teaching him ... how to really live![3], and when a finance character gets DIZZY ... that's when you know the world has changed[3], and this ... is better than the desert![3], and

John Husselbee ain't heavy, he's my brother

Liontrust's John Husselbee ain't heavy at all, you'll be pleased to hear. He is my brother though. Not literally. But I feel very close to him, in spirit. 'You like to follow him around, don't you, Mikey?' No, Voice, it's nothing like that. You follow me around, and that's stalking. 'What?! I'm your intern.' Oh, when it suits you. Whatever, man. Whatever. / Anyway, John is the head of multi asset at Liontrust Asset Management - if you can believe that. And do you know what he says, dear reader(s)? Well, he says ... I am responsible for the investment management of multi asset funds and portfolios. As a team we look to add value from strategic asset allocation, tactical asset allocation and mystic kook selection. The investment process has been developed over a twenty year period. It is robust and is consistently applied to all assets so that all clients benefit from all our knowledge, research and expertise. Yeah, he's a great guy. A guy like me. He's a bit crazy. He reads Warren Buffett shareholder reports when he should be concentrating on driving. Or maybe he gets the train. I don't know. That's not important. He likes horses. He goes to the races when he's not working. He likes to relax. He needs to relax. His life is very stressful. I can tell you, his welfare is my concern. Some people have said to me ... Mikey, this John Husselbee nutjob must be a burden. He must cucumber you. Why don't you cut loose of him? Ha! No, no, no. They don't understand the bond we have. He's my brother. MY BROTHER! The fact is, if I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness that everyone's heart isn't filled with the gladness of love for one another. 'Yeah.' But I believe it's a choice you make, you know? How to live your life. A lot of people are cold, cynical, heartless ... They're the ones I need to cut loose of.

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Lunch? Er ... Luxury egg sandwich, luxury yoghurt, ordinary crisps, ordinary Pepsi. The luxury stuff? I didn't get much sleep last night, man. So I want a bit of luxury. You've got to treat yourself every now and then, ain't ya? Well, that's what I think.

I'll be working on a conceptual later, No. 220. Yeah, I'm going to take John for a spin. He'll be real light - like a feather! Or a butterfly ...