13 Dec 07

I'm free!

This is Jon/Shaun.
I can't thank you enough for all of your comments and support over the years. My prison journey is finally at an end! I'm at my sister's flat in Fulham, London. Tomorrow, I'm heading for my parents' house in Cheshire. Tonight I'm being treated to Indian food with my family, and I hope to get a good night's sleep after several harrowing days spent in transportation by ICE (no food, sleep, showers, etc).
Soon I intend to post the blogs On Shanks, and Two Tonys On Jesus Christ.
Much love. Talk to you soon.
Shaun

54 comments:

Don said...

WOO HOO! Welcome home friend!

Anonymous said...

hi jon,

it's fun reading today that you've arrived back in the UK? i'm happy for you that you made it back, and good luck on your life, hope to read a lot more from you

Anonymous said...

Wonderful amazing news. Hug yourself and everyone else for us! :)

- Mary in NC

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and welcome home!

From a long time lurker making his first comment.

Wonder what the future holds for this blog?

All the best
Andi

Anonymous said...

I've been reading your blog for over two years, and I can't begin to explain the rush I felt when reading words that you actually typed yourself!

I'm so happy to know that you are home and safe.

-Maggie in IN

Kettil said...

I'm so very happy to read this! Have a great time settling into your new life!

/Kettil in Sweden

ad14456456 said...

What great new to hear you're back home at long last! I've been reading your blog for several years and I feel as if I share in you triumph and joy after being a dedicated reader for so long.

Anonymous said...

I've been reading for a few years as well and it is nice to read words actually typed by Shaun. Good luck, mate, keep ya head up.

What do you think of the internet?

Anonymous said...

Andi,
Here's what's in store for this blog
http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/10-october-07-future-of-jons-jail.html

Anonymous said...

welcome home, this is great news, and hope you enjoy a wonderfull christmass, and all the best for the new year :) xx

Anonymous said...

After reading this blog since you were in the Maricopa hellhole, I too felt the rush of excitement of reading the words of Shaun typed in his own hand.

Welcome back Shaun. Take your time. :) Hope everything turns out to be fantastic for you.

Anonymous said...

I think I may be sappy but Im fighting back the tears of joy in my cube right now

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your release after all this time! I look forward to hearing about your experiences of England 16+ years on.

Esther said...

Welcome to the internets!

Esther in Scotland

Enox said...

Woot! Great news.
Merry Xmas, Jon!!
Woot again :-)

Sue O. (aka Joannie, SS) said...

Hey stranger-great to know you made it safe and sound more or less! If a conair adventure was involved, it must have been something. Breathing sighs of relief, take care, be in touch. Sue O.

Anonymous said...

I am soo excited! Enjoy your Christmas with the family. Keep in touch. Denise

Anonymous said...

***Woo Hoo***Happy Dance**

Long time reader here. I'm so excited to be seeing you post your own blog!! It's about time!!

I look forward to reading many many many more blogs from you and how your adjusting to life outside the 7 gates of hell in AZ!

Your blogs do so much for not only us on the outside but for our family and friends on the inside. Thank you and I wish you nothing but the best in life Shaun!

Happy posting!

Jess
N' AZ

Tim McLoughlin said...

Wow. I've been reading your thoughts for years and to think that you are suddenly a few miles away is amazing. Obviously, you don't really care about that, it is great you are with your family and loved ones at last. Good luck!

Lisa said...

Jon,
Welcome Home. I've been a LONG time reader and this is my first comment. I'm glad you are safe and sound. I look forward to seeing your posts writen by your hands.
Yours Truly,
Lisa in NJ
www.cornerofmyworld.com/blog

Jonesy said...

Jon,
You rascal! There you are, in that there London!!

Welcome home friend. I am so happy for all of you.

Now get an email address!! lol

Rach xxx

Anonymous said...

Great news that you're home!

Your blog was the first I ever read and I've been checking it religiously for the last 3 years.

Never posted a comment before, but now seems as good a time as any!

Welcome back to Blighty. I look forward to continuing to read your posts as you settle in.

Best wishes,

Nick

Anonymous said...

Heartfelt Congratulations! I bet that Indian dinner was the best you ever had. So happy for you, and I am really looking forward to reading your "freeworld" blog!

Anonymous said...

Jon, I have been reading this Blog for 2 years now, and I am so Happy to Hear you are FINALLY HOME!! Congradulations!!!

Anonymous said...

Good to see you made it! Goo is excited about future phone conversations. BTW, Keoki gave me his phone number to give to you. He wants you to get in touch. Didn't want to send that via snail mail.

Much love!

Anonymous said...

Welcome home,
Living abroad I know what it feels like to come home after long periods away, I always love it. I cannot begin to imagine how it must be for you. I am sure that you are loving every minute of it. I look forward to hearing on here how things are going.

Anonymous said...

Yaya!!!!
Welcome home Shaun! I hope it was a happy homecoming for you - even my husband who doesn't follow your blog is stoked :D

Next time I'm in Hull I'll look you up and buy you a pint (I live in the OC).

Take it easy and hugs to you and your family
xxx

Anonymous said...

Yep, me too - long time reader, first post.

First thing I checked this morning was whether you'd left us a note about getting back here to the UK.

Congratulations. Your blog has been revealing, moving and fascinating, and I wish you well with your new life. If anyone can make it, you can.

Anonymous said...

Mate, I've been following you for years through your blog. Feels like a friend's come home!

My advice for the next while: take it easy. Hold back from experiencing everything all at once. Take it in small doses. Keep up the blogging please!

Anonymous said...

I've been following your story since the begining and it's amazing to see words on your blog you personally typed. Great to have you safe back in the UK.

fukubukuro said...

This is my first time posting. I'm really happy for you. I've been reading your blog for years. Thanks for all the good reading and hope to see many many more.

Steve in Nagoya, Japan

Anonymous said...

Jon,

Like many others I have been reading this blog for years without commenting on the the madness contained within.

However I now feel complelled to write and wish you all the very best for all your future endeavours. Good luck matey and I hope you have a great Christmas back in the UK.

Nathan, London

Anonymous said...

well done Shaun! I've been reading for, what, 3 years? It's been consistently entertaining and interesting, I'm looking forward to reading some of the more uncensored posts now. Welcome back to the UK, you'll probably enjoy it, the cockroaches aren't as big here.
Richard/Dirtos

Anonymous said...

From Jon:
I deeply appreciate all of your comments.
There's been some filming going on in London (more on that later) and I'm off to the BBC shortly.
I'll be at my parents' house tonight, and able to respond more fully.
Thanks everyone.
p.s. Tonya, letter received thanks

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Shaun... now to start the next chapter of your life. I hope it will continue to be blogged!

I've been reading your blog for 2 years at least now. It's the only blog I read as I'm not really a 'blog person', whatever one of those is. I've often thought of writing you a proper letter (but been too damn lazy).

Best of luck settling in at home.

AndyC

Chris H said...

Welcome home bigdawg!

From you're peanut loving friend,

ChrisH

I love you man!

Anonymous said...

WOW....i cant wait for the new stories shawn....and a huge CONGRATS on your new found freedom


Good luck with everything

-Sham, NY

Anonymous said...

Welcome home! Like a zillion other people, I've been reading for years. I'll be especially interested in seeing what you think of England. I left 17 years ago for North America and am about the same age as you, and going back is always weird. I can't imagine the strangeness of going back for you. The very, very best of luck, and thanks for an amazing read. I look forward to your writings in the future.

Gledwood said...

Wow! Congratulations on getting out of that ****hole.

I'd never heard of your blog till you came on PM just now, wish I had ...

ne'er mind I will put a link on mine it's called Hamsters and Heroin Gledwood Vol 2 my main blog

OK Massive Congratulations
Take it EZ

Jamie said...

Hi Shaun,

I am so pleased for you from the bottom of my heart. I'm sure is a massive shock as much as anything else. You should definitely keep writing the blog.

All the best,

Jamie

TN said...

Welcome home, dude. Glad to hear you made it safe and sound...

Anonymous said...

dude - glad the con air thing didnt come true and welcome back to these fair isles.

if your in brum any time theres a pint/coffee here for you

steved - a long term reader

Anonymous said...

Shaun, I have cared for you since the first day when I you and Amber came over to our house.You have been through so much, yet you were never down.I wish there would have been something I could have done so you didn't have to go through what you did. After all the time we shared on the phone over the years, I was so happy to get your call from England. We wish we could have given you a BIG HUG last week, but you know.
Love you my friend.

Barry-Lori-Jazmyne

p.s. And we will see you again.

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS MAN!!!! Thats awesome they finally let ya out, I thought they might red tape and paperwork ya to death on the release. I bet that must have been one of the best moments of your life, stepping off that plane. Good luck with adjusting back to life on the outside, I still need to send you those CDs I promised. Congrats again, also on the BBC interview!

John said...

Welcome home!

Anonymous said...

Welcome home Shaun. Knowing you are free represents that our life has now come full circle. We missed you, and are now looking forward in offering you our support. Like Dr. King said many years ago “We shall overcome” and your family will be holding you to that dream. Free at last. Thank GOD almighty, free at last. Mr. D

Anonymous said...

Welcome home sir!

Hope everything works out well for you...when is the book happening?

Anonymous said...

It's quite strange, feeling such an overwhelming sense of relief/happiness for you, but I have been checking this site religiously for what must be 2+ years now.

I'm really genuinely happy for you Shaun, not that that means a whole lot coming from a teenager on the other side of the world (Melbourne).

Quick question, how long all up did you spend in prison?

Also, will you be updating this blog with day to day stuff, as well as prison stuff? I found myself (almost) disappointed that the latest update (the shank thing) was about prison life as opposed to how you're going. (Although prison life fascinates me to no end)

Unknown said...

It's great to see that you're home, Shaun! I'm thrilled that part of your life has come to an end. What an amazing family you have, and what incredible strength you displayed through your sentence. I listened to part of your interview - no doubt there will be many more. What a great way to leverage your communication skills - I think you'll end up being a great writer, and more!

Anonymous said...

Never commented before, but I've been reading since 2005. I'm very happy for you and for your family and I hope that a few years from know I can pop down to the local Barnes and Noble and read your latest work. Best of luck and Happy Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Nice work mate, look forward to seeing you in Surrey for that pint some time soon.

Cheers

Gareth

rockmother said...

Blimey! I've been reading for the last 3 years and have posted before. Welcome to the freezing freedom of rip-off England! I hope you get the help you need to live your life they way you want it.

Congratulations.

Rockmother.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Jon!

You made it. Good to see you a free man. Been reading your blog since your cucarachas days in Mariposa county.

Are you planning on coming out with a book. You've certainly got a flair for writing.

MyStory said...

Everyone reading

I had lunch with Shaun Thursday last.

If any of you are within reach I strongly suggest you meet Shaun and if possible buy him a pint or pie (vegge one mind).

He is an amazing chap to chat to and as you'll know through reading his missives he has a good and quite unique story to tell. If you are a teacher I can only hope you put him forward to speak to your charges as he will move, inspire, educate and stun them.

Shaun, you're a great person and I hope you every success in your future.

Yours

Gareth