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Have You Heard of the New Lockdown Currency? BUTTCOIN!

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Have You Heard of the New Lockdown Currency? BUTTCOIN! February 2021 Have you heard of the new Lockdown currency? BUTTCOIN! Use it to buy all those bum magic tricks you never really needed anyway! ………. BREAKING NEWS ……… The Government has just announced the lockdown will continue to May 3rd. When asked for a comment, all CMO Prof Christopher Whitty could add was: - “May the 4th be with you.” Happy birthday to you! Mark Raffles Was 99 years young on Friday 22nd January We all hope you had a very happy birthday - and by now had first vaccination jab as well! The world famous pickpocket and magician has recently been honoured with a wonderful portrait by Maltese magician and artist, Vanni Pulé. LATEST CHART No idea what it’s a chart of - but every news publication has a chart these days! Thought I’d better follow suit! THE EDITOR’S BIT Well, here we are again. Since last issue we’ve had some awful Covid figures, but the 2nd Wave is, as I write, slowing down and vaccinations speeding up. Room for a little optimism. Myself and the Missus have had the first jab. Good in one sense, but reminds me I must be old! Below I’ve included a letter received from Mr Jack Lloyd. He was our President in 1984—85 and whilst he has not attended meetings for some considerable time he is still a Honorary Member. I Decided to include it for 3 reasons: - 1 It is only right that we thank Jack for his kind donation. 2 There are a few kind words about the Griffin! 3 We should also say thanks to Bob for reminding us all that we should keep in touch with each other, and in particular with elderly / more isolated members. PS the redacted line was a personal comment which Bob asked me to blank out. POLITICALLY INCORRECT CORNER LOCKDOWN SLEIGHTS During lockdown I’ve perfected my double lift! THE GREAT COVIDO Oh, darling! Grovelling to the wife after a French drop! Tuesday 2nd February 2021 - NWMC Mini-Lectures Some 14/15 members were treated to two great On-Line presentations by our own members. Firstly, Christopher Baglin GoDA introduced himself with a wonderfully illustrated insight into his long and extremely interesting Professional Career culminating in a Degree from the Guild of Dramatic Adjudicators. Chris has also a BA (Hons) in Drama, a LAMDA Medal in Acting, Script Writing and Puppet and Model Theatre Guild recognition plus a PGCE in the Welsh Medium. Chris gave a precis of his long and varied theatre career following with an illuminated insight into his vast knowledge of all aspects of modern Stagecraft. Even t o those of us who have long since retired from stage performances, it was a thoroughly spellbinding presentation. Thank you, Chris. Our second offering was from another Chris, Christopher Williams who has worked so hard to bring a second venue for the NWMC at the Magic Bar Live at the Alexandra Hotel, Llandudno. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 Pandemic put paid to that experiment but Chris, whilst suffering from the Lockdown, like many in the Performing Arts fraternity, has been obliged to diversify and Chris spent some time researching the Magic Art from many sources and practicing several different effects. It was indeed great that Chris was able to hone his selected effects sufficient to enthral those present, many of whom were fantastic Cardsharps themselves. That is apart from holding the interest of our non-card members. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating event rounded off by some members displaying their favourite routines and dexterity. Thanks to both Chris’s and to Mike Harris for organising the Webex session, ably interjected by Nick Marshall. Stay safe everyone, Bob Scott EXTRACT FROM MY LOCKDOWN DIARY Thursday 28th January I think the lockdown is really starting to get to me …………. There was a nurse in the porno film tonight - so I stood up and clapped! Sad News Siegfried & Roy: Magician Siegfried Fischbacher dies aged 81 The illusionist died at his home in the Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, after suffering with pancreatic cancer, his publicist Dave Kirvin of Kirvin Doak Communications said. His death comes less than a year after that of showbusiness partner Roy Horn, who suffered complications from COVID-19 in 2020. Fischbacher and his illusionist partner Horn, who were both born in Germany, co-founded their stage act after meeting on a cruise ship in the late 1950s. They took the show to Las Vegas in 1967 and went on to perform for nearly four decades, becoming a Vegas institution, famed for their act built around white tigers and lions. Horn was critically injured on his 59th birthday in 2003, when he was mauled by a tiger during a performance at the Mirage hotel, putting an end to the duo's regular shows. After Horn's death in Las Vegas in May 2020, at the age of 75, Fischbacher said: "From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. "There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried." R.I.P. - you will both be missed, but not forgotten (Ed) SAWING A WOMAN IN HALF - HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY! P T Seibit performing the trick in 1937 Whilst there is still some debate as to where the sawing trick originated, it is generally agreed that the first ever public performance of sawing a woman in half took place on the 17th January 1921 at the Finsbury Park Empire theatre in London. The feat was achieved by British magician P. T. Selbit. In fact Selbit had previously performed the illusion in December 1920 before a select audience of promoters and theatrical agents at the St. George's Hall, London, to try to persuade one of them to book his new act for public shows. His trick, which he billed as "Sawing Through A Woman", was significantly different from what a modern audience would see. Several volunteers are recruited from the audience. One or more of these people are invited to tie ropes around the assistant's wrists, ankles and neck. The assistant then steps into a wooden crate or box, which is similar in proportion to but slightly larger than a coffin. The ropes are threaded through holes in the box and the ends are given to volunteers, who are instructed to pull them tight and keep hold of them (the neck rope has an added knot to prevent the assistant being strangled). The assistant is thus secured in a standing spreadeagle position in the box. The box is then closed and lifted into a horizontal position on a set of trestles. The magician then slides glass plates through the crate (and apparently through his assistant). The magician then saws right through the centre of the box, dividing it into two. The sections are pulled slightly apart and the assistant's torso is visible. The impression is that the saw blade must have passed through the assistant's midriff. The assistant is then released from the box and is revealed to be unharmed. EXTRACT FROM MY LOCKDOWN DIARY February 2nd . I’ve started cutting bread into a hand shape .. So when it pops up from the toaster it feels like someone is giving me a high 5. MAGICIAN WORDSEARCH Hidden in the grid is the name of a famous magician. I will ask Bob to send £50 to the first NWMC member who sends me the correct answer. There is no guarantee Bob will agree! Z A G X E R M O U T W R S L K D P I B Y C N A Y V M L H T G E V R N E J U K M C V F L O U L S W H N D A J R Z N S A S D B Q U R W E O M T K L U I A F K N I L L U I S P H L T B Y E K L T S I R F C D Y WHAT ARE WE UP TO? Having a celebration during Lockdown? Let us help!. As per the website blog:- “Professor Llusern has been running online shows for schools and other organisations over Zoom and Teams during this difficult time. Now we are bringing that knowledge to you to help bring family and friends together to celebrate in uniquely tailored ways! These are Professor Llusern’s Socially Distanced Parties for the Big People!” Great mix of ideas, Chris! (Ed) What's the difference between COVID-19 and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? One's a coronavirus and the other is a Verona crisis. Self Isolation Top Tips - No 11 Always make sure your loved ones are buckled up. FOOT MAGIC! I’m a psychic ….. Try this test! 1 Take your shoe size (no 1/2 sizes, round up) 2 Multiply it by 5 3 Add 50 4 Multiply by 20 THE 5 Add 1020 GREAT 6 Subtract year you were born COVIDO The last two digits are your age and the first digit(s) is / are your shoe size. Was I right? Boy, 8, now has 'magic legs' like twin sister Whilst not strictly our form of magic, this story from the Daily Mirror is just so heart warming that I had to include it. The twins have cerebral palsy but while Ava was given surgery during a three-year NHS pilot in January 2016, Louie’s case was considered too complicated. But Louie, 8, from Hull, flew to St Louis in Missouri, USA for treatment last October after Daily Mirror readers and Variety, the Children’s Charity, stepped in to help by raising £70,000.
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