People tend to say that they don't believe in any god because they haven't seen one.

 People tend to say that they don't believe in any god because they haven't seen one. 

Yet they tend to believe in love, peace, contentment although those are not seen either 

until we actually FEEL or experience them, then we KNOW.

 

Those experiences are within us, not in the world outside. that world merely sparks off the experience, often for a short while, but after that it is no longer a question of belief or disbelief, it is about knowing.

 

So what about God?

 

Scriptures say that God is everywhere including within us, that God is love, God is light and God is a spirit (which comes down from the word meaning breath).

 

God is an "experience" within, which we have either felt or not.

 

And if God is light within us, how can we see it, or him or her?

 

Maybe it's like much in life, we NEED to be shown.  

 

Maybe we just need to find someone to show us, to spark off that experience, to be able to look within, and if we find it, we will know, and we can hope that it will last so we can turn within and FEEL love and peace until our final breath.

 

That is the "Spirit of God."

 

I was so fortunate to have been shown in 1972.

 

 

On Amazon 

 

If Only Suomi by Alun Buffry, what's it about?

 

On Amazon and Kindle

Some stories touch your heart, some change your prospective. If Only Suomi is a story that does both.

What if one choice could change everything?

Discover an unforgettable journey back in time in this tale that questions reality itself.

Open If Only Suomi, turn to the first page and let yourself get lost and entangled in dreams and you may find it hard to put the book down.

The heart of the story: If Only Suomi is a love story built around time travel. The premise is that Al, coming from 2028, travels back to 1972 for just three days. While there, he falls in love with Suomi. He then has to return to his own time, leaving the woman he loves in the past. The central emotional question is therefore not just "Can you travel through time?" but "What would you do if you found the love of your life in the wrong time?"

That gives the novel a strong feeling of longing and regret. The phrase If Only becomes almost a philosophy: If only I could go back. If only I had made a different choice. If only I could see that person again.

The really unusual part: is it fiction? This is where the book gets much more intriguing.

Buffry describes it as containing elements of memories, dreams, prophecy and wishful thinking, and suggests that it is "some sort of time travel"—even if that travel takes place only in the mind.

So you can read it on at least two levels:

1. As science fiction:
Al literally travels from 2028 to 1972, creating the classic problems of time travel—paradoxes, changing the past, and potentially altering or erasing one's own future.

2. As a psychological story:
The time travel can be understood metaphorically. Human beings constantly travel through time in their minds. We remember the past, dream about it, imagine alternative versions of our lives, and wonder what might have happened if we had made different decisions.

Buffry explicitly plays with this idea of "dreams within dreams" and asks where the boundary lies between dreams, memories, imagination and reality.

Buffry's description specifically raises the possibility of someone travelling back and changing their own past—and even the possibility of "wiping oneself out of time altogether."

That makes the book less about scientific explanations of time travel and more about the philosophical consequences of it.

Why 1972 matters

The choice of 1972 is particularly interesting because it connects the fictional premise with Buffry's own life and interests. His bibliography includes autobiographical and travel works connected with the 1970s, including All About My Hat: The Hippy Trail 1972.

The book's combination of romance + time travel + dreams + autobiography is more significant than the straightforward plot summary suggests. Buffry describes the book as involving memories, dreams, prophecies and wishful thinking, and says it contains a kind of time travel "if only in the mind." He asks whether there is a meaningful difference between dreams and memories and talks about "dreams within dreams."

This means that the book may be deliberately making us question whether literal time travel is even the most important kind of time travel.

Based on the author's own framing, I would interpret the ending less as a conventional "the time machine worked and here's exactly what happened" resolution and more as a deliberately blurred boundary between reality, memory, dreams and alternate possibilities.

The book's premise of Al returning to 1972 and falling in love with Suomi is so powerful.

Buffry's own description strongly suggests that the book intentionally refuses to draw a firm line between what happened, what was remembered, what was dreamed and what was wished for.

Lucky Lucky - a Prem Rawat song - beautiful

La La Land, a song with words by Sarah Dougan from the book Words of Weed and Wisdom (on Amazon)

 

La La Land Is where most people live. La La land Is that safe place. That safe place where you don’t have to do anything, La La Land Is where you convince yourself its all alright La La Land, Where you can watch people be battered, Where you can watch people get hurt And do nothing ‘cause. La La Land Is that safe place Where you convince yourself its OK to stand by And do nothing. La La Land, Where its OK to do nothing. I bet you don’t want to be woken up from Your La La Land, That nice safe place where you don’t have to do anything. La La Land, That nice safe place Where BANG YOU ARE NOW FUCKED! YOU ARE NOW IN REALITY It’s hit you like a ton of bricks. Oh yeah, you really did stand by and do nothing. Yes the world is a fucked-up place! But its better than La La Land, That nice safe place where you cant hide for ever.

At the End of Your Nose

 Most, if not all, of us are looking for a missing ingredient in our lives.

Whether we call it peace, love, joy, fulfilment, understanding, clarity o even God, we hope and look for it in the world. But when we find it, whether it be the peace of a beautiful sunset, the love of a dear one, the joy of a child, the sudden understanding and clarity of a difficult concept, the contentment of eating our favourite food, the pleasure in hearing our favourite music, the company of our closest friend, or the faith in a Divine Being, it most often doesn’t last, it fades away and repetition does not always bring it on again.

But we should ask ourselves, where did we FEEL it?

We felt it inside ourselves, not actually out there in the world. It was those things in the world that may have brought us closer to the feeling but it was not those things that created the feeling itself.

That feeling is always there as if just waiting to be felt, within. And when we feel it, we feel gratitude and that gratitude brings greater peace and joy.

If only we could tune in to that place and turn in to that feeling again, without having to adjust or find the world that suits us best at any given moment called now.

If only it was easy, if only we could find someone to show us how!

Like almost everything in ones life, we need to be taught. But who can teach us how to look within – at the end of the nose, not the end that sticks out, the other end, in there not in o thoughts, beliefs or philosophy, but in the truth of experience called knowing or self-knowledge.

For me that person was Prem Rawat, over fifty years ago

Jewels of the East

HIDDEN BY THE SMOKE - a song by Alun Buffry

LYRICS

Between Two Walls and And I Was There - reggae song with words by Alun Buffry

I laughed a lot and shed a tear,
Turning from dreaded fear,
Felt some anger, felt some joy,
Looking back to me the boy.

Never had an earthly wife,
Felt the bliss and felt the strife,
Yet for some I felt the Love,
Down below and up above.

Walked some roads,
Sailed on Norfolk’s Broads
Went underground,
And listened to nature’s sweet sounds.

I climbed some mountains,
Bathed in fountains,
Kissed the sky,
And got high.

Drank some wine and Holy Water,
When I thought I oughta,
Took some drugs,
Had some bumps and caught some bugs.

Gotten old and lost my teeth,
Daily seeking inner peace,
Slowing down upon the streets,
Look inside the thoughts to beat.

Life lies between two sturdy walls,
Listening as divine light me calls,
That breath keeps apart through grace,
As I rest within my space.

And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
As to my breath I humbly bow.

And There I Was With no because.
I travelled on, to sing my song,
To soar up high, to seek and try
To find my Self, beyond earthly wealth,
Within inside, the changing tides,

Through cities close and distant lands,
Mountains, rivers, desert sands.
Towards life’s end,
My Tale I send,

And here within,
My Tale begins.
For there I was,
With no because.

Life lies between two sturdy walls,
Listening as divine light me calls,
That breath keeps apart through grace,
As I rest within my space.

And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
As to my breath I humbly bow.

And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
And to my breath I humbly bow.

And to my breath I humbly bow.

PUT IT RIGHT YOURSELF - REMAKE - Blues song - words by Alun Buffry

 

LYRICS

UK: How UK cannabis laws have shifted since Alun Buffry first began campaigning?

 UK: How UK cannabis laws have shifted since Alun Buffry first began campaigning?

Google

Saturday 10 Oct 2026

Since Alun Buffry and his contemporaries began campaigning in the early 1990s, the UK’s legal landscape for cannabis has shifted from absolute prohibition to a multi-tiered framework. While recreational use remains strictly illegal, the introduction of a thriving private medical market and changes in police enforcement represent massive departures from the era when Buffry faced a 10-year prison sentence.

The key legislative and enforcement shifts over the last few decades break down as follows:

1. The Medical Breakthrough (2018)

The most significant legislative shift occurred on 1 November 2018, when the UK government officially legalised cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs).
• The Change: Cannabis was moved from Schedule 1 (drugs with no perceived medical value) to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
• The Reality: Specialist doctors (on the GMC Specialist Register) are legally allowed to prescribe cannabis for conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, MS, and anxiety.
• The Modern Market: While NHS access remains incredibly restricted, the private medical cannabis market has exploded. Over the past year alone, private clinics in England issued nearly two million unlicensed medical cannabis prescriptions.

2. The Class B vs. Class C Yo-Yo (2004–2009)

During the height of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance’s political campaigns, the UK government experimented with reclassification under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
• 2004: The Labour government downgraded cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug, significantly lowering maximum penalties for possession.
• 2009: Following political pushback and media concern over high-potency "skunk," the government reversed its decision, moving cannabis back to Class B, where it remains.

3. De-escalation of Policing (Discretionary Enforcement)

When Buffry was arrested in 1992, police enforcement was severe and custodial sentences for cannabis offences were common. Today, while the letter of the law technically threatens up to 5 years in prison for possession, everyday policing has quietly shifted toward decriminalisation by stealth:
• Cannabis Warnings & PNDs: Police across the UK rely heavily on a tiered system for minor personal possession: a verbal "Cannabis Warning" for a first offence, a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) fine for a second, and arrest only on the third.
• Diversion Schemes: Many local police forces (such as those in Bristol, Thames Valley, and parts of London) operate formal "diversion schemes". If caught with small amounts, individuals are directed to educational or support programs rather than receiving a criminal record.

4. The Rise of the Legal CBD Market

Another massive shift since the 1990s is the emergence of consumer Cannabidiol (CBD). Provided a CBD product contains less than 0.2% THC and is sourced from approved industrial hemp, it is completely legal to buy over the counter in UK high streets, pharmacies, and supermarkets. This has effectively normalised the non-psychoactive commercial sale of the plant.

The Political Outlook

Despite high public support—with 56% of the British public backing some form of cannabis decriminalisation or legalisation—Westminster remains firmly opposed to adult recreational use. The Home Office consistently maintains it has "no intention" of full legalisation, choosing instead to protect the highly regulated medical

Alun Buffry is a prominent, long-standing UK cannabis activist, author, and political campaigner based in Norwich. He is widely recognised for co-founding the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA), a single-issue political party registered in the UK in 1999.
His involvement aligns directly with your previous question, as he is also a key figure behind the [Cannabis Campaigners' Guide (CCGUIDE)].

1. Activism & Political Career

• The LCA: After initially co-founding the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association (CLCIA) in 1992, Buffry and other activists registered the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) as an official political party in 1999. He served as its National Coordinator and Nominating Officer.
• Electoral Campaigns: In the 2001 General Election, Buffry stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Norwich South constituency. He contested the seat against the then-Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke, securing over 720 votes.
• High-Level Advocacy: Buffry has represented the cannabis law reform movement in major public and political arenas. He gave evidence directly to the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament and spoke at the Oxford Union.

2. Arrest and Imprisonment

In 1992, Buffry was sentenced to two concurrent ten-year prison sentences for conspiracy to import and supply cannabis. He served nearly five years across HMP Norwich, HMP Whitemoor, and HMP Blantyre House before being released on parole in 1995. He has frequently noted that his time in prison cemented his full-time dedication to reforming UK drug policies.

3. Writing and Later Life

Buffry is an author who has written extensively about his travels, his spiritual journey, and his activism. Some of his notable published books available on marketplaces like [Amazon UK] include:
• Out of Joint: Twenty Years Campaigning for Cannabis
• Time For Cannabis - The Prison Years: 1991-1995
• All About My Hat: The Hippy Trail 1972 (detailing his travels across Europe and Asia to India)
• Legalise and Utilise

He continues to be recognized as a veteran voice in retrospective discussions about the history of UK cannabis activism.

Alun Buffry's books cover a diverse range of topics, stemming from his cannabis legalisation campaigns, his experiences in prison, his spiritual journey, and his travels through India and Egypt.

The primary titles authored or published by Buffry include:

Cannabis Advocacy & Prison Memoirs

• Out of Joint: 20 Years of Campaigning for Cannabis – A chronicle combining his personal history with the backdrop of the UK cannabis law reform movement from 1991 to 2011.
• Time For Cannabis - The Prison Years: 1991 to 1995 – A direct memoir tracking his experiences serving concurrent sentences across several UK prisons.
• Legalise and Utilise – A focused look into the benefits, utilizes, and arguments surrounding the legalisation of cannabis and hemp.
• Damage and Humanity in Custody – Reflections on the prison infrastructure and the human cost of incarceration.

Travel Memoirs & Egyptology

• All About My Hat: The Hippy Trail 1972 – His most widely read travelogue detailing his overland trek from Europe through Asia to India.
• Heads, Hats and Tall Tales: Travels in India, Nepal and Egypt – Extended reflections on his eastern and African travels.
• Back To The East: India, Nepal, Kashmir – A deeper dive into his early Asian expeditions.
• From Dot to Cleopatra: A Concise History of Ancient Egypt – A historical survey born out of his frequent travels to Egypt and study of its monuments.
• My Hat in Egypt: Through the Eyes of a God – A fictionalised account blended with personal memories of his Egyptian journeys.
• Life on the Brim: The Autobiography of a Hat – A unique, creative perspective recounting his travels through the metaphorical "eyes" of his headwear.

Poetry, Philosophy & Spirituality

• THE UNSPELLING OF WORDS: Random Thoughts and Poems – A 2026 collection gathering fifty years of personal poetry, observations, and reflections on language.
• My Piece of Peace – A memoir highlighting his spiritual path following his receipt of "Self-Knowledge" techniques under Guru Maharaji (Prem Rawat).
• If Only Suomi
• The Effie Enigma: The Motherless Mothers
• An Alliance of Eyes
• The Autobiography of a Head
• And There I Was

(Note: Buffry has also published curated collections via ABeFree Publishing, featuring poetry and contributions from others, such as Words of Weed and Wisdom and Inside My Hat and Other Heads)

see also Alun Buffry's Bio

ABEFREE PUBLISHING SITE