Comments for Mark Johnson http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk news, interviews and features on Mark Johnson, author of Wasted Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:13:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Read an extract from Wasted by cathy doyle http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/04/04/read-an-extract-from-wasted/comment-page-1/#comment-399 cathy doyle Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:13:15 +0000 http://www.demon.darrenturpin.co.uk/johnson/?p=8#comment-399 through out my life, i have experienced many types of addiction and struggled to understand why and how this happens to certain people! my mother is an alchoholic and was abusive throughout my childhood. my three older brothers are heroin/crack/alcohol addicts in various states of recovery/relapse. i myself am struggling to contain my alcohol dependency! and then i was given this book! i have been able to relate to so many things and feel i have gained a certain level of understanding towards my brothers. it feels like someone has opened a window just a little and i can feel the tinyest breath of freash air. i dont yet know how this book will change my life, but i know it will! what an inspiration mark is & yet what an incredable burden he has to bear in trying to keep giong and keep spreading his message of hope! if there is a god, may he bless this man! through out my life, i have experienced many types of addiction and struggled to understand why and how this happens to certain people! my mother is an alchoholic and was abusive throughout my childhood. my three older brothers are heroin/crack/alcohol addicts in various states of recovery/relapse. i myself am struggling to contain my alcohol dependency!
and then i was given this book!
i have been able to relate to so many things and feel i have gained a certain level of understanding towards my brothers. it feels like someone has opened a window just a little and i can feel the tinyest breath of freash air.
i dont yet know how this book will change my life, but i know it will!
what an inspiration mark is & yet what an incredable burden he has to bear in trying to keep giong and keep spreading his message of hope!
if there is a god, may he bless this man!

]]> Comment on Ex-offenders should be our secret weapon, not outcasts by Mohammed http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/01/26/ex-offenders-should-be-our-secret-weapon-not-outcasts/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Mohammed Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:41:01 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=64#comment-392 How so true this is. I could never put it in better words myself other than the ones that have described it above. How can anyone say "i understand exactly what you going through" when they have been nowhere near there. Of course i am in no way disregarding the tremendous work and effort the social workers and probation officers and those involved in this type of work. They are doing an excellent job, but being an ex offeneder gives that extra how can i put it, other than mentioned above the powerful weapon that we so need from those who have been there and fortunate enough to come out on the other side. How so true this is. I could never put it in better words myself other than the ones that have described it above.
How can anyone say “i understand exactly what you going through” when they have been nowhere near there.
Of course i am in no way disregarding the tremendous work and effort the social workers and probation officers and those involved in this type of work. They are doing an excellent job, but being an ex offeneder gives that extra how can i put it, other than mentioned above the powerful weapon that we so need from those who have been there and fortunate enough to come out on the other side.

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by Tanya Peers http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Tanya Peers Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:48:10 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-381 Hi Mark, just finished reading your book, Wasted. I was born a year after you and share the same following of music which is just a bit strange to read, feeling old! But really want to say You Did It! One day at a time gives so much hope. I could relate to so many different parts of your book in my own life. Thank you for all your hard work. Much love Tanya Hi Mark, just finished reading your book, Wasted. I was born a year after you and share the same following of music which is just a bit strange to read, feeling old! But really want to say You Did It! One day at a time gives so much hope. I could relate to so many different parts of your book in my own life. Thank you for all your hard work. Much love Tanya

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by paula binns http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-377 paula binns Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:18:28 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-377 what an amazing journey,your book is an inspiration to those who get tangled up in the vicious drugs scene and also your childhood memories,how hard this must of been for you.a lesson learnt through some tough and rough times but the light shone for you at the end of the tunnel and here you are to tell the tale.good luck in your life you only live once. what an amazing journey,your book is an inspiration to those who get tangled up in the vicious drugs scene and also your childhood memories,how hard this must of been for you.a lesson learnt through some tough and rough times but the light shone for you at the end of the tunnel and here you are to tell the tale.good luck in your life you only live once.

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by nic http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-376 nic Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:17:56 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-376 waw i've got goose bumps after reading that! it was my 1st glastonbury experience this year, i was amazed by it all, sounds like the hippy days were even more amazing though, wish i'd been around for them! best wishes! waw i’ve got goose bumps after reading that! it was my 1st glastonbury experience this year, i was amazed by it all, sounds like the hippy days were even more amazing though, wish i’d been around for them!
best wishes!

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by Ross Hornal http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Ross Hornal Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:36:24 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-375 Hi Mark my name is ross and i am an ex addict on the start of my second year of recovery and reality was really scary to start with but i'm enjoying life now. I found myself at MY rock bottom at a dark place and i thought i would'nt find my way back but i did with the help of some remarkable people. I now volunteer with Aberdeen Foyer helping young people to find some purpose and pride in thereselves. Aberdeen Foyer is a delivery partner for Prince's Trust. I have only read your article on Glastonbury and i'm on my way to buy your book and i can clearly see why young people see tou as an inspiration. god bless Hi Mark my name is ross and i am an ex addict on the start of my second year of recovery and reality was really scary to start with but i’m enjoying life now. I found myself at MY rock bottom at a dark place and i thought i would’nt find my way back but i did with the help of some remarkable people. I now volunteer with Aberdeen Foyer helping young people to find some purpose and pride in thereselves. Aberdeen Foyer is a delivery partner for Prince’s Trust. I have only read your article on Glastonbury and i’m on my way to buy your book and i can clearly see why young people see tou as an inspiration. god bless

]]> Comment on 2,500 copies of Wasted donated to prisons by Michelle http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/04/28/2500-copies-of-wasted-donated-to-prisons/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Michelle Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:17:11 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=24#comment-374 I started this book yesterday, and I have just finished it. I have never taken drugs in my life but have spent a number of years working with addicts and users. Reading this allowed me a true and gritty insight ito the spiral that is addiction. This book is amazing, I was gripped from page one and feel that Mark should be an inspiration to each and every one of us. Well done, you are truly amazing. I started this book yesterday, and I have just finished it. I have never taken drugs in my life but have spent a number of years working with addicts and users. Reading this allowed me a true and gritty insight ito the spiral that is addiction. This book is amazing, I was gripped from page one and feel that Mark should be an inspiration to each and every one of us. Well done, you are truly amazing.

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by Jo G http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Jo G Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:46:34 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-373 Mark what a great piece of writing, i have also read your book, i am great fan of what you do. You really have inspired people to make their lives worth while and not throw them away. Mark what a great piece of writing, i have also read your book, i am great fan of what you do. You really have inspired people to make their lives worth while and not throw them away.

]]> Comment on The Big Issue article: memories of Glastonbury by Anjuna http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2009/08/25/the-big-issue-article-memories-of-glastonbury/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Anjuna Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:09:35 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=110#comment-372 I was into the trance scene and 18 years ago came to Goa for full-moon parties. Endless days and nights rolled into one of trips, weed and booze. And the eternal 4x4 beat you mention in your story. Shiva is the lord of the dance, but he is also the destroyer of the world. It's a cliche, but your brain starts writing cheques that your body cannot pay! Glastonbury and free UK parties! The beat would ricochet in my head after those parties , 2-3 days without sleep, and I would hear music in anything afterwards, the washing machine rumbled the bass notes, the pelican crossing beep beep beep be beep beep peep the tweeter. Steam from the kettle if I summoned up enough will and want to put it on would form like mystical god-like steam shapes, and I would stare transfixed while it boiled, looking at the steam. Hey! I found your website listed in the last page of your book, Wasted. The web address is wrong in the book though (get your publishers to sort it out!) it has it as mark.johnson.org.uk when in fact is should be a dash and not a dot between the mark and the johnson. I really admire you and how you have turned your life around. I myself, married a Goan man who I met at one of those parties, and we now have three children. We lived in the UK for the past ten years and have just moved back to Goa. In fact I bought your book in tesco as some 'holiday reading' to take on the plane! Certainly made a change from chick lit! What a story you have and so many people with similar stories do not make it out the other side. Best of luck and love Mark. I don't know you but feel I do from your amazing story. You certainly have a gift and are very generous in giving it. Love Anjuna x I was into the trance scene and 18 years ago came to Goa for full-moon parties. Endless days and nights rolled into one of trips, weed and booze. And the eternal 4×4 beat you mention in your story. Shiva is the lord of the dance, but he is also the destroyer of the world. It’s a cliche, but your brain starts writing cheques that your body cannot pay!

Glastonbury and free UK parties!

The beat would ricochet in my head after those parties , 2-3 days without sleep, and I would hear music in anything afterwards, the washing machine rumbled the bass notes, the pelican crossing beep beep beep be beep beep peep the tweeter. Steam from the kettle if I summoned up enough will and want to put it on would form like mystical god-like steam shapes, and I would stare transfixed while it boiled, looking at the steam.

Hey! I found your website listed in the last page of your book, Wasted. The web address is wrong in the book though (get your publishers to sort it out!) it has it as mark.johnson.org.uk when in fact is should be a dash and not a dot between the mark and the johnson. I really admire you and how you have turned your life around.

I myself, married a Goan man who I met at one of those parties, and we now have three children. We lived in the UK for the past ten years and have just moved back to Goa. In fact I bought your book in tesco as some ‘holiday reading’ to take on the plane! Certainly made a change from chick lit!

What a story you have and so many people with similar stories do not make it out the other side. Best of luck and love Mark. I don’t know you but feel I do from your amazing story. You certainly have a gift and are very generous in giving it.

Love Anjuna x

]]> Comment on Read an extract from Wasted by buster http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/04/04/read-an-extract-from-wasted/comment-page-1/#comment-371 buster Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:36:17 +0000 http://www.demon.darrenturpin.co.uk/johnson/?p=8#comment-371 I have just finished this book and, as an ex junkie and struggling alcoholic with a history of violence, prison, homelessness and depresion, I have to say it is the most inspiring piece of writng I have read in a long long time. Thank you Mark, you are an incredible individual and have given me hope. I love you for that and wish you the best of everything you encounter. I have just finished this book and, as an ex junkie and struggling alcoholic with a history of violence, prison, homelessness and depresion, I have to say it is the most inspiring piece of writng I have read in a long long time. Thank you Mark, you are an incredible individual and have given me hope. I love you for that and wish you the best of everything you encounter.

]]>