thanks wims but that is giving me:

[22:37:29] <firefox> #chan test1
[22:37:30] <firefox> #chan test2
[22:37:31] <firefox> #chan test3

in colour - I don't want the word #chan to show in the msg

if I change it to msg 9 $+ $1-

it shows to others

[22:38:49] <firefox> test1
[22:38:50] <firefox> test2
[22:38:51] <firefox> test3

but not in colour

and gives me

[22:38:49] -> *#chan* test1
[22:38:50] -> *#chan* test2
[22:38:51] -> *#chan* test3

msg 9 $1-
gives me:

[22:41:36] -> ** #chan test1
[22:41:37] -> ** #chan test2
[22:41:38] -> ** #chan test3

which then leads to in status:

No such nick/channel
-
No such nick/channel
-
No such nick/channel
- (in colour)