'This is what man is intended to be; an expanding spiritual plant, not petrified wood.'

I bought a book yesterday, a new translation by Jonathan Star of Tao Te Ching. It's got little gems like this in it: 'Govern a nation as you would fry a small fish.' Or, how about this:

'The sun in all its glory
reveals but a passing world
only the inner light illuminates eternity
only that light can guide us back home.'


And this – which will resonate with all 12-Steppers, I’m sure:

‘The movement of Tao is to return
the way of Tao is to yield

Heaven, Earth, and all things
are born of the existent world
the existent world is born of the nothingness of Tao’

This is how a new friend of mine, James F. McGovern Jr. (great name!), who I met for the first time yesterday, has translated the same poem in his book, Twelve Steps to Change Your World (ISBN: b978-0-578-04126-1):

‘The movement of the Way is a return
In weakness lies its major usefulness
From What-is all the world of things were born
But What-is sprang from what is not’


I went to a meeting on Thursday night and shared some unimportant trivia about Recovery being about experiencing shitty days as well as joyous days. It so happened that there was a young man there on the verge of drinking that had just been released from prison the previous day - and it was just, he said, what he needed to hear.

Amazing how this programme works!


I’ve had a wonderful few days here experiencing at first hand how Philadelphia is transforming to a Recovery Focused System of Care.

But what does System Transformation mean? Isn’t ‘change’ a better word for what is happening here?

Well, a chameleon can change. Not surprisingly, it can also change back or revert to its previous state without much difficulty.

System Transformation, on the other hand, is much more than that. Take the butterfly as an example.

From the New Life represented in the Egg, to the growth of the Caterpillar, to the Transformation within the Chrysalis, to the rebirth that is the Butterfly we appreciate little of the process if we don’t understand the relationship each stage has to the next and owes to those before it.

System Transformation (and the “Egg”, in this context, is Recovery as an organising principle) requires that we appreciate each stage - regardless of how slow, painful and unpredictable - trusting that the end product is the foundation for a Community of Recovery. And, of course, once transformed, the butterfly can never revert to being a caterpillar!


Tragedy struck on Wednesday afternoon as I was about to film contributions from William Dinwiddle, CEO of the Mental Health Association and members of his executive team, I dropped the Sony Super Steady (sic!) camera and the battery shattered on the floor. Now it isn’t my camera and it’s rather old! So you can imagine my concern. Where would I find a new battery for this rather outdated piece of equipment? Thankfully, I found a replacement battery in only the second camera equipment shop we visited, and peace of mind was restored.

Earlier in the day I had visited Bev Haberle and her team at PRO-ACT

 PRO-ACT, (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization-Achieving Community Together), was formed in 1997, by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., which has been providing advocacy, prevention, intervention, and recovery support services in the community for 35 years.
 An affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
 Grassroots advocacy initiative founded to promote the rights of and ensure opportunities for those still suffering from the disease of addiction, members of the recovery community, and their family members who wish to advocate in Southeastern Pennsylvania.


PRO-ACT’s mission is to provide resources and opportunities to reduce the impact of addiction, trauma and other related health issues for the entire community. They do it, however, under an overarching atmosphere of love and with dedication, passion and commitment.

Here’s an initiative of theirs that you might like to replicate in your towns and cities: the Tree of Hope.

People are able to dedicate a Star on this Christmas Tree of Hope to Celebrate freedom from addiction, honouring persons successfully achieving recovery; to Dedicate rays of hope to those still struggling in their illness and those working in the field; and to Commemorate lives lost to this tragic and misunderstood disease.

This is an initiative celebrated in Philadelphia every Christmas. You too could arrange such an evening of hope and dignity in your own communities. It would be an opportunity, would it not, to enjoy fellowship, music, personal testimonials and light refreshments in the cause of Recovery. I’m certainly going to be cooperating with others on my return to Wales to establish this annual tradition in Cardiff.

Incidentally, I returned to the PRO-ACT Recovery Community Centre (one of 5 centres they operate within community settings) last night, Friday 5th October, to enjoy an evening of fun and games with other members of the community. (Remember, recovery is not all about working on yourself; it’s about creating ‘meaningful connections and roles in one’s community’ and having fun doing it.) I played Bingo for the first time since my childhood – and won two games!! I think people were quite pleased to see me leave with Jim, who had invited me out for a meal, because with all the luck I was having, I’m sure they thought I was going to win all the prizes!

And yes, I’m eating very well thank you! Bev Haberle invited me out for dinner on Wednesday night and we were able to continue our discussions from the morning session. Fred and Brooke accompanied Bev and a good time was had by all! I’m also indebted to the staff at the Down Home Diner for providing me with breakfast every morning and to Mr Stephen Shao, of the Shanghai Gourmet, for the two lovely meals I’ve so far enjoyed at his restaurant. Both these eateries are located in the Reading Terminal Market a few yards away from my hotel. And what a fascinating place it is!
Reading Terminal Market is filled with local produce, fresh eggs, milk, meats, poultry, seafood, handmade crafts, jewellery, and clothing. The Market is home to more than 80 merchants, two of whom are descendants of the original stand holders from a century before. On any given day one can find an eclectic array of fresh baked Amish goods, produce direct from the field, unusual spices, free range meats and poultry, flowers, ethnic foods, and much more. One hundred thousand Philadelphians and tourists pass through the Reading Terminal Market every week enjoying its exceptional products, history, and people.
I will, in future blogs, talk more about two projects in particular which excited me very much: the DBH Chronic Homeless Substance Abuse Treatment Project, where I met about 15 PIRs (People In Recovery) and was able to share with them about my own recovery. Interestingly, they told me what was different about this approach to previous failed attempts to recover. “Everything was imposed on us before. Counsellors told us what to do; we weren’t even allowed to stay in bed in the mornings, we had to do what we were told to do or else we’d be asked to leave. Here, nobody tells us what to do. We decide what works best for us, and it works.”

And the other project is STOP (Sobriety Through Out Patient). STOP’s programme design supports an integrated evidence-based treatment model that focuses on recovery, resilience and wellness for those with co-occurring issues (mental health and drug and alcohol). STOP offers help to persons 14 years of age and older, and is a state-of-the art quality outpatient (OP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) facility.

By the way, did you notice that all important word integrated? Because unless we adopt an integrated approach in dealing with diverse co-occurring issues then, I’m afraid, we’re condemning PIRs to an ongoing revolving-door situation whereby one untreated condition (whether a mental health or substance abuse issue) triggers relapse.

STOP is also keen to link up with Wales regarding Radio/TV internet transmissions. I’ll be returning to STOP on Thursday next to record a Radio interview and to discuss further these exciting possibilities.

Last night Jim collected me from my hotel and drove me down the 2.8 miles that is Kensington Avenue. At one time, hardworking blue-collar workers inhabited this rather proud suburb of Philadelphia. Now, however, it’s in poor repair and a haven for drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes. I witnessed the walking dead shuffling aimlessly along or congregating miserably on street corners. Most of them – the men, in particular - on heroin (there is good quality heroin on the streets of Philadelphia!) or on Crack (mainly the women) or Suboxone (both men and women).

However, where there is darkness there is also light. Indeed, without the darkness we’d be unable to identify the light. And there’s plenty of light and hope on Kensington Avenue.

There’s St Francis Inn, for example, where they feed the homeless every day, and there are loads of Recovery Houses on the Avenue. Jim took me to the Hope Outreach Ministries of the United Church of Christ, where the Reverend Savage, a woman pastor, had given over her church to house and feed the homeless. There I met Tommy Gallagher, a homeless man himself, who has assumed responsibility for organising the centre. 17 men would sleep there last night. I tell you, the love in that place was palpable.

Incidentally, the authorities tried to close the place down because it didn’t conform to safety regulation. But Tommy and his men rallied support and got the backing of TV stations and the religious community. The authorities finally relented and Tommy and his merry men are now making some structural alterations to the church so that they comply with building and safety regulations. Tommy told me, with justifiable pride, that they hope to be able to offer a home to 40 men by the time they’ve finished the work.

I then visited a Spanish NA meeting in Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Centre (who was archbishop of Philadelphia between 1988 and 2003), as Jim was trying to set up a Spanish speaking NA meeting for some of the PIRs who access his recovery facility.

I have a special interest in the language of treatment, as plenty of evidence suggests that treatment is more effective if delivered in the mother tongue. That’s why The Living Room Cardiff will offer help in both Welsh and English languages. The provision of treatment in other minority languages is our long-term goal.

Then it was off to a Fellowship Clubhouse (opposite St Francis Inn). The place was heaving. I was given a warm welcome and invited to return next Thursday night to share my story. All members were then served spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread. Oh, I so regretted having eaten earlier at Freddy and Tony’s on Allegheny Avenue! (Between you and me the food wasn’t very good there!)

As I departed, one member came up to me and gave me a hug. “There’s more love in this place than in the whole of Philadelphia” he said. Many would place mattresses on the floor and sleep in the clubhouse that night - after first of all, of course, enjoying their Movie of the Week.

So why is there all this fuss about Recovery?

Paramahansa Yogananda sums it up for me:

‘Some persons I have met, through the years have not changed at all. They remain always the same, like fossils. The difference between a fossil and a plant is that the fossil is the same now as it was millions of years ago, but the plant keeps on growing. You want to be a living seed. As soon as it is put in the ground, it begins pushing up and drawing sunlight and air, and it throws out branches and eventually it becomes a sturdy tree and covers itself with flowers.

This is what man is intended to be; an expanding spiritual plant, not petrified wood.’

Tonight I’m listening to ‘You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You’ sung by the superb Michael Bublé.

Goodnight everyone. And thanks for reading my blog from Philadelphia. Nos dawch pawb. Gobeithio y gwnewch chi faddau i mi am yr holl Saesneg ‘ma. Cysgwch yn dawel.

You can view pictures, etc on www.welshcouncil.org.uk

A video-diary of my Winston Churchill Fellowship ‘Recovery Tour’ will displayed on this website after my return to the U.K.