WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN

Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

Search This Blog

WATCH OUR WEEKLY WEBtv SHOW

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON
Click on this logo to find out more about helping CFZtv and getting some smashing rewards...

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER



Unlike some of our competitors we are not going to try and blackmail you into donating by saying that we won't continue if you don't. That would just be vulgar, but our lives, and those of the animals which we look after, would be a damn sight easier if we receive more donations to our fighting fund. Donate via Paypal today...




Saturday, April 04, 2009

WEIRD BUT TOUCHING DAY

Since yesterday's posting made when I was ill in bed, I have had so many people write to me I am overwhelmed. Despite the fact that I have always been careful NOT to appeal for money, except for specific projects, two people - Richard Muirhead and Steve Jones - have made financial donations to the CFZ, and two others have offered to lend me significant sums of money to tide us over until times get better. I have also received dozens of messages of support, some from complete strangers, and I am completely overwhelmed.

Thank you my dears

I am not going to borrow money from my friends unless there truly is no other alternative. Friends shouldn't really get involved with each other financially, and if I had followed that sage advice then we wouldn't be in the position that we are now. Simon Wolstencroft died owing me thousands of pounds that I can never recover, and as I alluded in a previous bloggo, we have £50k stuck in a business venture run by erstwhile friends, that we seem unlikely to be able to recover. So I shall try to follow Shakespeare's advice about neither lending nor borrowing, and we shall soldier on.

However, whilst on the subject of being totally overwhelmed, Gavin Lloyd Wilson emailed me last night:

Hi Jon

I'm not trying to bother you when you're not feeling well, but just wanted to share with you the fact that I've just posted the 500th entry on the CFZ news blog. That's not bad in just 2 months. At this rate we'll have over 3,000 entries by the end of the year!

I know you're not well so I'm not expecting a reply.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

Gavin

Bloody Hell Gavin - 500 in two months. That's going it some! Well done mate. I am really not sure what to say. I never thought that this bloggo would become anywhere near as succesful as it has, and although I hate to overuse words, I cannot think of anything more apposite to say than that I am overwhelmed by it all, and eternally grateful to people like Gavin for all that they do.

Finally, you might be wondering why there is a 1999 picture of a short-haired me, with a clergyman and an elderly lady at the top of this posting. The clergyman is my brother, and the lady is my late mother. Today would have been my mother's 87th Birthday, and I miss her very much.

2 comments:

Tony Lucas - Citizen Scientist said...

Jon
its at times liek these when you find out who your true friends are.
When trouble appears you true friends are the ones walking through the door as everone else is walking out.
We have learned that the hard way - Life has not been kind to us and ours, I may elaborate on that some time.
But we have discovered a few very very good friends.
Im sorry on the passing of your Mum. I do know she would be proud of you and what you have achieved Jon.
Take care hang in there and get well you are in our thoughts and prayers.
I know Suzy (The Nurse dog if you read her tale) would love to be there to make things better.
You just get well im not on top of the workd but will throw a few blogs your way so stop worrying about the big things they are not in your hands and the little things will sort themselves in their time - sorry felt compelled to write that dont know why.
Be Well.
Rest my friend 0 I too have a heart condition, why is it us serious researchers that devote our selves to such things are always depraved in the health department.
take care
Tony Lucas

Naomi said...

Happy Birthday to your mother! May you be comforted at this time by the support of all us friends and strangers.