[kj] Jaz's Blog Nov 2021

[Paul]

https://jazcoleman.com/deep-gratitude-and-love/

[image: 1.jpg]

November 2, 2021 9:35 am


*DEEP GRATITUDE AND LOVE*
I am currently sitting outside a Kavarna Café in an art deco building
favored by liberal intellectuals. Inside, the wood paneling, light fittings
and array of newspapers and magazines create an ambience clearly aligned
with the eccentric clientele.  There is a stairway downstairs to a rabbit
warren of old wine cellars where alternative film premieres and hermetic
lectures are held. Eventually one arrives at a small, windowless recording
studio and a band rehearsal room which is strictly no smoking so we tend to
spend the least amount of time there as possible. In fact, we’ll move when
Youth gets here. Initial sessions have thus been short and intensive and
MIND-BLOWING!

Well, it was beyond words to see Geordie Walker again as I really didn’t
think I would survive Mexico at one point. The thing is, the longer you
leave Geordie with his guitar, the better it becomes and I haven’t seen him
for two years or so.  Youth arrives shortly and I’m looking forward to
seeing him. Paul is on the other side of the pond ready to go. Got to get a
new EP out before the forthcoming British tour!

There is a bright blue sky overhead and a slight chill in the air. My blood
sugar is fortunately in single digits.

To be honest, I find myself blocking out much of the last year. It is
difficult to adequately express the events that have taken place since I
fell off the boat in a remote part of Mexico, followed by a diabetes crash
exactly one week later.  Before a diabetes coma fully kicks in there is a
cognitive breakdown, which is how I found myself forcibly strapped onto a
stretcher and on my way to a private psychiatric hospital. Impressions
after this are fleeting and abstract at best.  When the doctors realised
this crash was occurring, I was then put in an ambulance for a nine-hour
ambulance ride to Mexico City. I was still in my beach clothes, freezing
and utterly thirsty. My requests were ignored; whether on medical grounds –
I am still not sure. Even in my semi-conscious state arriving at Mexico
City General Hospital A&E, the entrance was an unforgettable scene. People
praying fervently, others coming in from the countryside carrying the sick
on their backs; an alcohol-fueled couple fighting – the woman’s face badly
beaten. The sounds and noises fading into oblivion as I fell into darkness.

Leaving Mexico was immeasurably sad and traumatic.

On arrival into the UK, I was spirited to Bristol. I could see in the eyes
of people who saw me that they were shocked by my condition, which worsened
over the next 10-day quarantine process. Sadly, I was misdiagnosed as
Diabetes 2 in Mexico when I was Diabetes 1. This resulted in further
sickness and I ended up back in hospital. Finally, I was given the correct
diagnosis and right medication and I have been struggling with stabilising
my blood sugars ever since.

I was moved by the way many of my dear friends showed much kindness and
compassion during this dark period of my life – my brother Piers, my
daughters, family, Diamond Dave, Nicky, Dean, Angela, Eddie & Debbie,
Armando, Salvador, Nick and Carla, I thank you.

Arriving back in Prague after such turbulence was overwhelming. A film
director kindly lent me his apartment and I’m now working on a routine,
which includes going to the gym if the blood sugars are in single digits. I
am also following an eating plan and am putting on weight and muscle.

I realized after a while that people (and places) have been dramatically
affected by the pandemic. I also found out one of my close family members
had been through a huge health challenge during this time, and didn’t want
to distress me. A deep sadness and a period of depression followed this
news.

I have been away from Prague for almost three years in the Americas and one
cannot help but notice psychological pain, spike in sickness, death and
homelessness.

[image: 2.jpg]

The weather here is turning cold. It’s below zero at night but can be as
much as thirty below during really cold winters, resulting in high death
toll amongst the homeless community. Take Spina the DJ who sleeps rough in
the Zizkov area of Prague. He is much loved by the alternative community.
Anyway I always give him 200cz whenever I see him, which was four or five
days ago. He said he was sick. Yesterday they found Spina dead.

When I saw Geordie, I said I believe we have not wasted our lives, to which
he agreed. We have created a global community whose prayers, good wishes
and directed consciousness saved me from the brink of certain death.

So, I would like to thank everyone who helped in anyway – especially my
manageress Carla, to whom I owe so much.

I am starting a new life.

Deep gratitude and love,

Jaz
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