James Battersby


    Gender: Male
    Location: The north coast of Ireland
    Relationship: Single
    Orientation: Straight
    Children: Maybe Someday
    Body Type: Some extra baggage
    Height: 5'8"
    Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
    About Me: I am from the North coast of Ireland about 3 miles from the sea. My artworks are inspired mostly by walking out in nature.
    Music: Ryan Adams, Jesse Malin, Bruce Springsteen, Counting crows, Lacuna coil, Flamenco music, Tom Petty, the eagles, celtic inspired music, Type O negative. Now and again i listen to my own songs and cringe!
    Movies: Outlander, Tristan and Isolde, 2012, the day after tomorrow, Braveheart, Punisher Warzone, Death Sentence, Lord of the rings, 1492, What dreams may come, Along came polly, Sponge bob square pants
    TV: LOST, Heroes,oz
    Books: Old maps from 1600's, Ancient civilisation books, Mythologies.
    Likes: Burritos, reading about strange things, Aliens, photography, walking beside the sea, Native American teachings of various tribes. I particularly like the Hopi prophecies. I also like the idea that i will find my princess out walking in the woods somewhere and we will recognize each other instantly. I am sure hollywood and it's fictitious ways have cursed my poor poor mind.
    Dislikes: People who are very critical without any thought of building you up or encouraging you with doing better. People with too much negative energy without any desire of letting some of it go. I also dislike hypocrisy such as blaming humans for global warming. The Sun is heating up and there's nothing we can do about it!!
    Hobbies: Songwriting, playing guitar, singing, writing poetry and short stories. Helping people when i can and being a good ear for people when they aren't nessesarily wanting anything other than to just have someone listen to them.
    Vices: Alcohol.....The past few months i've really been trying to live a healthy life though. A good friend to me is teaching me a lot about assertion, confidence and my own worth. She is my own private rehab! When you begin to look into why you do something you can find a way of changing.
    Virtues: Loyalty, optimism, creativity, love, solitude
    Heroes: All the people in my life who make me feel like my life matters. You're my heroes :).

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    ……And yet you couldn’t

    Friday, March 12, 2010, 05:54 AM EST [General]

     

    Were my precise words after hearing Chief Superintendent Zoe Hamilton, of Greater Manchester Police defend the Force’s involvement with the Askew family, insisting that the Force had done “everything possible to protect David Askew”

     

    David Askew, 64, was found dead outside his home in Greater Manchester on Wednesday night after police were told youngsters were causing an "annoyance" at his property.

    It finally all came out in the wash when it was revealed that police and authorities were warned years ago that he was being targeted by gangs.

    One neighbour said he had been "tormented to death”

    Earlier, Mr Askew's mother, Rose, paid tribute to her son, saying he "wouldn't hurt a fly".

    Mrs Askew said: "Throughout the day I have seen and heard different reports by the Press about my son and about what has happened. I just want to say that David was a very happy person. He was kind and thoughtful. He was a true gentleman and would often help me around the house and with shopping."

    Police were called to his home in Melandra Crescent, but the youngsters said to be causing a nuisance had fled. Officers found Mr Askew, who lived with his brother, Brian, and wheelchair-bound mother, collapsed outside the property. He had not been attacked and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

    Mr Askew's neighbour, Avona Davies, 49, said his torment had been going on for some time: "This has been going on for about 10 years. We have complained to the police and council and they put cameras in their back garden about three years ago. They tormented David for money and cigarettes. They harassed him every night without fail."

    Here is what I have trouble understanding though. By putting camera’s in the backyard for over three years they must have amassed some amount of footage of these scum bags. But apparently not enough for the Police to act on? What were they? Ninjas? Shapeshifters? Let’s even assume that the cameras were not always switched on. I would imagine that if they were used even half the time there would have been sufficient footage of these scum bags. But no no no, for years the police and council knew about this mans suffering and they sat back and did nothing. Why you might ask? Because David Askew was not going to profit them. That seems to be the cold hard truth of the matter. In Britain we’ve probably all seen the commercials about how the law will come down on you like a tonne of bricks if you haven’t paid for your television licence (licence for a television? I know…insane. Thanks dystopian Britain, appreciate it). We hear about how they can track us down from anywhere. We cannot hide, the eye of the law is watching, and all these other horrible threats.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt-hcIPgYt8

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uIpbpSU3XA

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHS951iYvV4&feat...

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQbz8auH4mY

     

     David Askew was not going to profit them. I personally believe it was as simple as that. Don’t get me wrong, I think that some police forces do a genuinely good job but when we hear of heinous crimes against the elderly, the rape of women, the abuse of children there is the vigilante heart that rises up in most all of us. We hear about all of these injustices and the natural good in each of us can’t stand hearing about injustices knowing that the criminals go free and we can’t do a thing about it

     

    I have yet to see a commercial on television reminding us of how criminal it is to murder and rape. More often than not we’re reminded that criminals are either car tax evaders, tv licence evaders and benefit cheats. Notice the link in all of these “crimes”? they all involve money. David Askew’s case did not involve money. Here was a man with learning difficulties, good hearted and caring. The man was hounded to death. This case was not going to profit the police force or the government. The police were warned years ago about his case but all they could come up with was a few cameras. Now David Askew is dead. Give it a week and the sad zombified desensitised masses including myself will have forgotten about it. We’ll move on to some other thing that distracts us from the injustices of the world around us.

     

    David Askew’s torment was going on for about 10 years according to reports and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Now if David had done what would probably have come second nature to most people before we were conditioned into being scared of the very government that was sworn in to govern us, David would have possibly defended himself with a gun and this in my view would have only been right and good. But it appears to me that the government knowingly or unknowingly have become a gang, a hinderence in which a man cannot even protect his house without fear of being branded a criminal too. It always amazes me that those who defend themselves end up branded the criminal. But if you’re underage you are called a youth, a vandal, a hood.

     

    Tony Martin had the right idea when he defended his home. But of course the government is against anyone who wields any kind of real power. They don’t want you to be strong all by yourself otherwise you might begin to see that really, you have no use for their kind of government.

     

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Martin_(farmer)

     

    So when reading about David Askew’s case and what Chief Superintendent Zoe Hamilton, of Greater Manchester Police said in regards to helping him, The Force did “everything possible” they could to help. But he’s dead!!!!! Is this to say that Mr Askew’s only true foreseeable fate was death? I mean, if you did everything possible to help the poor man and he still ends up dying I can’t put that much faith in the Greater Manchester Police. All I can say is thank Jesus the Greater Manchester Police isn’t our sole defence against international terrorism otherwise Britain would be a landscape of ash and radioactivity. They hadn’t the intelligence or manpower to stop a few teenagers that had been tormenting a man for over 10 years. Wow!!!

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Oh James such cases also make me mad! Here in Denmark it's the same. A week ago two parents were arrested for child molesting. Local people had called the policy many times, but nothing was done until one of the children was nearly killed.



    Marianne
    March 14, 2010
    10:12 AM EST

    Advice for those who need more confidence in their work

    Thursday, February 18, 2010, 08:09 AM EST [General]

     

    I was inspired to write this article this morning after reading a few emails that Chanel sent me concerning comments on her tarot deck “A king’s journey”.

     

     For a long period of time i had been struggling to show my art online for fear that people would critique it to death, to pick it apart and tell me where i went wrong in designing it. But there came a time when i realised to myself that chances are i will always feel that my art could be better. I think that is what it comes down to though. you are always learning and getting better as the years go on. But when do you say " it is good enough to show someone"?. If you hold back for fear of critizism then perhaps it will never be shown. It was then i realized that although i lacked a lot of self confidence, i couldn't let it rule my creativity. i created my art after all as a means of communicating things i had no words for but also to present to people nice visions.

     

    I knew i had to overcome my fears of how my art would be percieved. Here is what i would suggest to anyone wanting to see their work in a better(and probably more realistic) light.

     Write down all the compliments you receive on your artwork. I would suggest this especially when starting out with your artwork (or other business). This may seem vain or egotistical to some people but the truth is it is a good way of remembering your worth. When you feel inadequate you should refer to your file of compliments. The human mind seems to hold on most tightly to negative criticism and tells itself “ I’m not good enough” or “he/she is better”. For a lot of us, I would say especially artists and musicians, we create from the heart and when someone picks apart your work the confusion starts in you and you feel they are pointing the finger at you personally. It is not the easiest thing to separate yourself from the thing you created (ask any mother)

     

     Keeping a file is a bit like giving yourself a CV or Resume. You give these to others to tell of your self worth just like Artists have their portfolios to say “ here I am”. But with a file of all your compliments you are reminding yourself that you are good enough and that your artwork must be doing something right. Some of the most talented people around have self esteem issues and I have met a few in my time. I wondered to myself “ how can they struggle with self belief when they are fantastic and everyone thinks they are great”. The problem is they either do not believe the compliments they receive or their mind has been running a negative programme for far too long and has decided that the compliments were not worth remembering. We then must consider negative thoughts. What makes them so special that we hold onto them? I believe that we hold onto negative thoughts of this nature out of caution. This is after all low self esteem, a lack of confidence. So naturally we don’t want our confidence shaken any more as perhaps there have been traumatic events in the past where our confidence has been undermined so much. Perhaps you have been called a failure by parents or teachers or by a dear loved one, or maybe you’ve been compared to someone else who was wiser or more talented or more of whatever it is that you feel you are not. Rather than your mind encouraging you and silently letting you know “we are all at different levels of experience” or “ this man has more experience because he has led a different life with different people, different paths, different opportunities, encouragement, love” it can say things like “ I will never be as good as that” or “ I will never achieve all of this”.

     

     But I have learned that people do not need to say anything. No one owes you anything. They don’t even have to acknowledge your presence. So for someone to say to you “ I like this” or “I like the way you have drawn that” or “ I love the mood of this artwork”, these are compliments that you should keep in your mind, and if you can’t bring them to your mind every so often then write them down and put them in the file. And if you know no one who is willing to say anything nice ever about your creations then you have to take the responsibility of asking yourself. “ is this person any good to my self esteem” or “ is this person jealous”. Most people may not feel the need to comment on an artwork and that is fine. We don’t need people to always remind us if a particular artwork is good. If you find it pleasing even to yourself then isn’t that good enough? However, everyone likes to be recognised for their efforts, and we especially see this in children when they want their work plastered all over the refrigerator. Adults still have that desire to have their work recognised and rewarded, if only with a compliment.

     

    If you find that you have no one who is willing to build you up, then you must seek them out, preferably offline but online is fine. Join communities and seek like minded people. Simply put we all need to feel we belong and are accepted. But most importantly keep a file of all the compliments you receive. I started doing this when the first images of A King’s Journey were shown online. I put my best work into that and the compliments are starting to give my artwork the recognition that I feel it deserves. I have now amassed many many compliments and on the times I worry about its success or reception I remind myself of the compliments. The thing about a compliment is, it only takes a few seconds to say it vocally, but when the moment passes you may soon forget, it’s like a little high that goes away. But negative comments take seconds to say also. But they can last so much longer. That is why we have to counteract them with the positive.

     

     Your cynical mind might be saying to you now “ but their compliments aren’t their real thoughts, they were just trying to be nice and supportive” but how do you know that? You will never know the real thoughts of someone but you have to allow yourself to trust and take someone at face value. I’ve learned that people are sometimes cruel, sometimes intentional and sometimes not. You are always going to have opposition and not able to please everyone, so when someone says or does something nice to show appreciation for you or your creativity, you should accept it as it is.

     

    If you find that keeping a note of all the compliments will remind you of why you should believe in your art, then I would recommend that.

     

     Sometimes I compare it to a mirror. We sometimes assume that a person who looks at themselves a lot in the mirror must love themselves. They must be so vain to look at themselves for so long. But I would hazard a guess that most of them are not looking in the mirror to admire themselves. No, they are wanting something better to stare back at them, they want what they see in front of them to change into someone nicer, more pretty. They spend long amounts of time wishing they could change themselves. So keeping a file and looking at it now and again may be that mirror that you look at hoping to see something better about yourself. i hope you find it and see the value of your creative efforts staring back at you in the form of compliments. You are not looking at the file for ego, you are looking at it to help your self esteem. I believe it works. I'm not sure but it's probably been done by others long before now.

     

    So if you fear it would be too egotistical to keep a file of compliments on your creativity, even on yourself for that matter, I would ask that you ask yourself a question. Do you think it would help? Chances are if you are positive and upbeat and completely believe in yourself then you don’t need reminding. But this suggestion is for those who struggle with self confidence and I would like to encourage you to keep doing what you love and be the best you can be.

     

     James Battersby

    jamesbattersby.webs.com/apps/blog/

    0 (0 Ratings)

    I say just don't give a damn about what others think of your art or actions, as long as you're not being disrespectful of anyone. I grew up with many adults calling me names and putting me down because I didn't live up to their expectations. Well ya know what? *They* were the jerks: insecure low-lifes. After all, who else would do that to a child?

    I'm glad to say I grew up and out of my low self esteem, and now I support and help kids to see their self worth, without looking down on others. Respect. It's all respect. With that attitude aglow, your talent will flow, and you'll love your work not only for itself, but for what it brings others.

    I love your work James. It's a river of beauty that just keeps on flowing and flowing. No matter what anyone may presume of your actions, I know you do them out of wonder, curiousity, and pure honest need. Those who presume "ego" most likely are only wrapped up in it themselves, too insecure to see beyond the limited colors in their vision, too insecure to see the beauty in something like this...





    Tommy
    February 18, 2010
    03:00 PM EST

    Let my honour return to me

    Monday, February 8, 2010, 08:11 AM EST [General]

    a poem i wrote in 2007 after ruining a friend's trust in me. Many of us have either been there,or been the victim.

     

     

    Let my honour return to me

    Like a kingly robe wrapped around me

    To hide a body broken by sorrows

    To cover a multitude of regrets

     

    And time like a river

    Sweeps me ever onwards

    Ceaseless in it’s delivery of me

    To a sea of uncertainty

    But certainly I am wracked with sorrows

     

    I cannot go back to make things right

    The currents of time cannot

    be fought against and won

    there is only ever forward

     

    so let my honour return to me

    that I do and say things

    the things that nobility demands

    let my heart be strong with courage

    protecting as a loving brother

    protecting as a loving son

    to all men and women

    until the memory of my existence fades

    with the fading of my bones

     

    J Battersby 2007

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Somebody recently blogged their Tarot deck, and I couldn't help wonder how yours is doing... Hope all's well.

    Tommy
    February 08, 2010
    09:41 AM EST

    Thanks for sharing!

    Marianne
    February 08, 2010
    04:30 PM EST

    Waiting by the sea

    Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 03:33 PM EST [General]

    A song by me :)

    0 (0 Ratings)

    I am not able to be on the computer everyday (I get too many headaches) so I often miss things that are posted here, but I am so glad I found this....I very much enjoy the calm and serenity of your song and the film is a perfect accompaniment.
    I played it just after I read your FaeZine column...it's too bad Be can't put videos in the articles as this would have been nice at the end of it.
    Thank you for sharing this here...

    Susan Schroder
    February 18, 2010
    04:26 PM EST

    On the making of "A King's Journey Tarot" Video

    Sunday, November 29, 2009, 01:42 PM EST [General]

    Although i am not a good public speaker, i did decide to make this video and in it discuss what it was like to illustrate "A King's Journey Tarot" for Chanel Bayless. It has taken about a year to complete it and i think it may appeal to not only tarot readers but also those interested in artwork with a medieval magikal fantasy theme. I hope if you watch the video, or even my artworks here on enchantedfolk, you will see that this is some of my best ever work. I originally was going to start this project When i was in America about 5 years ago but i am glad that i declined then as my artwork, and also my technical knowledge of print/file types was not as good. Years later i feel a lot more confident that my artwork is good enough to be incorporated into the tarot world.

    0 (0 Ratings)

    First of all I want to tell how much I admire people like you, who take on a huge project like creating a set of Tarot cards.
    I love you illustrations and I have put it on my wish list:)

    I don't know much about reading Tarot cards, but I have 5 set I think. Some day I will have to read a book on how to use them :)

    Marianne
    December 01, 2009
    04:10 AM EST

    Jimmy, I was just logged out when I saw this and quickly logged back in to leave you a message.

    I remember seeing what you had done up to a certain point with the deck and it looked awesome but now I have seen more cards and it looks even more amazing!! You should be so proud of this you have done an incredible job and I think the deck will be very successful. Wishing you all the best with it James.
    Hugs xo
    Susan :)

    Susan
    December 14, 2009
    07:42 PM EST
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Latest Comments


    Leave a Comment | View All Comments

    Thanks for the lovely comment :)
    If you liked Etsy then look at FOLKSY and MISI which are similar UK sites.
    You could have some of your art on there!!

    Sarah
    March 08, 2010
    03:49 PM EST

    Hey James, thanks for your comments on the poem. I was starting to wonder if I'd gotten too sappy with it or something (I really would like Jane to know we care).
    I only recently read back into her blogs, only then realizing her situation more fully. I really hope she can stay with us, sharing her love amongst others here where she's needed, instead of our losing her to the fae on the other side.

    Tommy
    November 02, 2009
    09:03 PM EST

    Hello James :)
    I added u in myspace already. Thanx for ur comment in my blog and your very right in that, many ppl never leave their towns in their whole life and I already did, as I said it wasn't easy but was a good experience, learnt of it and now I'm a better person.
    I hope you have a great weekend :)
    Yhany x

    Yhanina
    September 18, 2009
    03:54 PM EST

    Hello James!
    Thanx for the add again, I had to open another EF account, is a great place.
    Anyways, hope u have a great day :))
    Yhany

    Yhanina
    September 17, 2009
    03:20 PM EST

    Thanks for the comments Jimmy. I am still suspicious about that door and what kind of irish fairies dwell there. For sure there was a party, i agree. :D
    Hope all is well up there (i live downstairs in Cork).

    Michele
    August 06, 2009
    06:24 AM EST

    you're welcome jimmy :)
    well the summer here hasn't been better :( we have rain almost every other day and our veggies that we planted come out all dry and look sick :( i found a red tomato today it was yummy but most of them once they bloom they become rotten underneath or stay green :(
    I'm really disappointed but what can we do? we cant fight with nature, but i don't remember experiencing a wet rainy summer like this one before.

    Good for you for taking the opportunity and going swimming..it has been a couple of years for me too...i was just saying the other day i would like to go for one day before summer is gone..it went by pretty quick.

    Your nephew sound adorable is he the youngest one or the little red hair one you shared a pic with my once?

    I send most of my summer...reading if you can believe it, i got into the twilight books..lol..and couldn't let them down and also kept myself busy with my art..I'm worrying about some things mostly family stuff but I'm hopeful everything will turn out ok.

    I forgot to ask you or maybe you replied already and i forgot sorry about that i keep forgetting a lot lately..dont think my memory is that good...but did you get the chance to watch the LOST season finale??
    i cant wait for 2010 and the last season. :)

    There is this new show set to debut this coming fall called Flashforward and it's from the same creators of LOST it looks really bizzare and interesting, i think i may get hooked on it..lol..it's about the world stopping for a few seconds and people get flashes in their future and a lot of them are not that nice and for others it is...and i guess some cant wait for their future to happen and others dont want it.

    I wouldn't want to know either..lol

    have a god weekend ahead
    it was good to catch up with you :)
    ~Katerina~

    Katerina
    August 05, 2009
    06:39 PM EST

    I forgot to ask ... are u in facebook or myspace? I barely come to this site hun :) ---- Hope to hear from u soon, Yhany XxXx

    *Yhany ~ Shortie Spice*
    July 03, 2009
    08:31 PM EST

    Hello Friend! Thanks for the friendship! Keep up the great writing!

    Ruby~V.
    June 24, 2009
    02:57 AM EST

    Thanx for the add! You write good things as well :) ... Hope u have a great week.
    Yhany x

    *Yhany ~ Shortie Spice*
    June 22, 2009
    01:53 PM EST



    Thanks so much for your kind words.



    It's always nice to get to meet new ple no matter how far they might live :D.



    I wish you a very beautiful day ;)



    Laila

    Luna'sMom
    April 11, 2008
    02:55 PM EST

    thank you jimmy so much !!! :):):)

    That would be so cool to see you play the pipes :):):) why not? i think you would make a wonderful elf!!

    thank you so much for all your kind words, if you like it since you're Irish then it means i did a good job ;)

    Katerina
    March 09, 2008
    09:20 PM EST

    Thanks again :)

    Sarah
    March 05, 2008
    01:20 PM EST

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