Friday, February 22, 2008
First hints of spring...
Here in the northern hemisphere we are starting to see the evidence that winter is on its way out as the days are getting longer and the spring bulbs are pushing their way through the cold ground. We now arrive and leave work in the light, though there is not much in it yet and it will be a while before we have the long hot days of summer. The snowdrops are out and in several place the crocus and early daffodils and tulips are too as trees start to show blossom and the bright green buds of new growth. When the difference between winter and summer is more marked it is a welcome sight to see these first hints of spring all full of new hope.
Working on the garden...
We have started to work on the front garden now by removing the turf and hard landscaping a path and beds ready for when we plant out. We are planning on having and English country garden and have already planted a couple of roses. Though we have also planted a rhododendron and have an olive tree and a couple of bamboos in pots we hope that most of the plants we will grow from seed in our new potting shed will be the more traditional type. We have a space set aside in front of the bay-window for a bench so that when the evening sun of summer reaches around we will be able to relax there with a glass of wine and admire our achievements.
A Valentines Ceilidh...
We have become regular attendees at the local Dorking Folk Club and as there are not many going to the sessions we almost feel compelled to go to help keep the club open. The programme alternates each week between guest acts, which are generally very good, and singer’s nights, where anyone can have a go.
Each year near Valentine’s Day the club has a ceilidh or ‘barn dance’ where participation in various traditional dances is encouraged. We went along with a couple of friends and had a very good time without a Gay Gordon or do-see-doe in sight. Even though we were some of the youngest there we found it difficult and exhausting trying to keep up with the older folk.
Each year near Valentine’s Day the club has a ceilidh or ‘barn dance’ where participation in various traditional dances is encouraged. We went along with a couple of friends and had a very good time without a Gay Gordon or do-see-doe in sight. Even though we were some of the youngest there we found it difficult and exhausting trying to keep up with the older folk.
Graffiti and confetti...
As has become a habit for us we went away this February for a long weekend break at my birthday. We have never been to Portugal before and so we based our destination on where BA flies to so that I could use up my air-miles. The biggest mistake I made was to try to maximise our time there without fully considering the implications of getting to the airport so early and not returning until so late.
The weather was very nice in the 20’s each day without a cloud in the sky. But even the bright light and comfortable temperatures could disguise the grey and decayed feel of the city. We had chosen a cheep hotel in the ‘bohemian’ part of town but we were not prepared for the level of graffiti that covered everything. It seems that there is a tradition of painting slogans and pasting posters on all surfaces to advertise or politicise something or another. The streets were other wise generally clean with the only litter being confetti – either they have many weddings or we had just missed some sort of festival.
There are some very nice historical monuments and the old electric tram was an enjoyable and more sedate way of travelling between them. We were lucky enough to catch the equivalent of the changing of the guard at Belem when we went to visit the lovely monastery and ornate tower.
We had hoped for some good food and drink while we were there, but that too just missed the mark as it was a little more expensive than we expected and a little less exciting. Nevertheless it was still a nice and very welcomed break after the long dark winter and we came back refreshed and read to go.
The weather was very nice in the 20’s each day without a cloud in the sky. But even the bright light and comfortable temperatures could disguise the grey and decayed feel of the city. We had chosen a cheep hotel in the ‘bohemian’ part of town but we were not prepared for the level of graffiti that covered everything. It seems that there is a tradition of painting slogans and pasting posters on all surfaces to advertise or politicise something or another. The streets were other wise generally clean with the only litter being confetti – either they have many weddings or we had just missed some sort of festival.
There are some very nice historical monuments and the old electric tram was an enjoyable and more sedate way of travelling between them. We were lucky enough to catch the equivalent of the changing of the guard at Belem when we went to visit the lovely monastery and ornate tower.
We had hoped for some good food and drink while we were there, but that too just missed the mark as it was a little more expensive than we expected and a little less exciting. Nevertheless it was still a nice and very welcomed break after the long dark winter and we came back refreshed and read to go.
More of wot I have read…
A hat full of sky by Terry Pratchett
Although this series of books is aimed at the teen market I am such a fan of this author that I tend to get everything he has published. I enjoy his sense of humour and writing style and I feel comfortable with his world and characters. If you have any youngsters who are into fantasy literature you could do worse than buy this for them.
‘Something is coming after Tiffany...
Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic -- not chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this!
What Tiffany doesn't know is that an insidious, disembodied creature is pursuing her. This time, neither Mistress Weatherwax (the greatest witch in the world) nor the fierce, six-inch-high Wee Free Men can protect her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffany's inner strength to save herself ... if it can be done at all.’
Exclusion Zone by John Nichol
I think we got this book from either a jumble sale or from a charity shop as it would not normally be a subject of choice. The author is one of the many ex-military types who have since retired from the services and have become very successful writers. He has the dubious reputation as one of the pilots that was shot down and paraded on Iraqi TV.
The story is what it is, a boys-own action story of daring do in the skies, and although some of it still has some Biggles elements it does have a good pace and the fight sequences have a good degree of tension and drama.
‘The Falklands, 1999 – a vital strategic stronghold in the South Atlantic, and a prize gem in the oil-rich Antarctic. For RAF pilot Sean Riever it is a place of ghosts. For Jane Clark, the only female in the squadron, a place of tough decisions.
An air of menace hangs over the desolate, battle-scarred landscape; present dangers and past mysteries lurk in the shadows on the skyline. And Sean’s compulsion to live up to a legendary hero leads him towards a woman whose loneliness matches his own.
Then a Royal Navy nuclear submarine disappears, and Argentine jet fighters penetrate the Exclusion Zone. As Sean and his companions stave off wave after wave of enemy attacks, their fight to protect the islands becomes an epic battle for survival – in which victory can only be achieved at a terrible price…’
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Although I have not seen any of the various cinematic adaptations of this story, one can’t fail to be aware of the Will Smith extravaganza that is its latest incarnation. The original book is more of a short-story and consequently is rather thin on detail and as is often the case with older sci-fi it is quite dated. As there is only one main character it is quite problematic that he is not very likable, but I guess that is deliberate to support the stories ultimate conclusions.
‘Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth… …but he is not alone. Every other man, Woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville’s blood.
By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn.
How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?’
The Storm by Boris Starling
Another author I was previously unaware of though he has had success with his Messiah story that in turn spawned the TV series, which also passed me by. I am not a great fan of the crime genre so it was up against it from the start. The writing was very cinematic and it would probably do well on the small screen, but as a novel it lacked some subtly and was a little too contrived and extreme for my tastes.
‘Elemental rage, bloody Greek myth, man's greed and capacity for cruelty, the insane imaginings of a killer, all intermingle in this stunning new thriller from the bestselling author of Messiah to create a novel of stunning ferocity.
A storm-tossed crossing on the North Sea; a catastrophic ferry accident; hundreds dead. Detective Chief Inspector Kate Beauchamp is one of the survivors but her ferocious fight to stay alive brings with it a high cost: a burden of guilt that she should live while some of her friends died; a terror of water; a frozen inner core that never seems to melt. When the body of a young female journalist is found in Aberdeen soon after the disaster, Kate insists on conducting the investigation -- partly to exorcize her own demons, partly because she feels a strange affinity with the victim. The killing is peculiarly brutal and the murderer has left a unique calling card: attached to the woman's neck is a poisonous snake.
Into this emotional cauldron steps the last man on earth Kate wants to see -- her estranged father, Frank, in Aberdeen to conduct the marine inquiry into the sinking. Was the disaster the result of a bomb, as claimed by the ferry-line's chairman, or is he trying to hide something? In a sweltering heatwave, Kate and Frank conduct their highly pressured investigations. But for both of them, danger is approaching fast -- a vortex of violence which will sweep them up and endanger their very lives’.
Traveller by Ron McLarty
I picked this book up in an airport after I had finished my holiday book and needed something for the journey home. I found myself getting sucked into this book and enjoyed the characterisations and general feel of the story very much. Apparently this author is an actor in America, though I can’t place him, and he has done a few books with mixed critical acclaim. I would recommend it for a quick read if you have nothing else on the go.
‘When Jono Riley receives a letter that a childhood friend, Marie, has died, the 50-something third-rate actor and bartender leaves New York to visit his hometown of Providence, R.I. His search for answers surrounding her death leads Riley on a long and winding trip through old memories to discover the person responsible.
Narrator-turned-author McLarty delivers a sophomore novel that is more than just a simple mystery. The suspense doesn't drive the story but rather Riley's recounting of his adolescent years from the death of his father to his return from Vietnam. These nostalgic flashbacks of street life in Providence in the 1960s capture certain universal aspects that all listeners can appreciate. McLarty voices this first-person story with all the adeptness one would expect from an experienced narrator and author. His vocal characterizations provide added presence to many of his colorful characters and he delivers exposition with great attention to detail. He shines best with emotional displays from Jono and the other characters.’
Although this series of books is aimed at the teen market I am such a fan of this author that I tend to get everything he has published. I enjoy his sense of humour and writing style and I feel comfortable with his world and characters. If you have any youngsters who are into fantasy literature you could do worse than buy this for them.
‘Something is coming after Tiffany...
Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic -- not chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this!
What Tiffany doesn't know is that an insidious, disembodied creature is pursuing her. This time, neither Mistress Weatherwax (the greatest witch in the world) nor the fierce, six-inch-high Wee Free Men can protect her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffany's inner strength to save herself ... if it can be done at all.’
Exclusion Zone by John Nichol
I think we got this book from either a jumble sale or from a charity shop as it would not normally be a subject of choice. The author is one of the many ex-military types who have since retired from the services and have become very successful writers. He has the dubious reputation as one of the pilots that was shot down and paraded on Iraqi TV.
The story is what it is, a boys-own action story of daring do in the skies, and although some of it still has some Biggles elements it does have a good pace and the fight sequences have a good degree of tension and drama.
‘The Falklands, 1999 – a vital strategic stronghold in the South Atlantic, and a prize gem in the oil-rich Antarctic. For RAF pilot Sean Riever it is a place of ghosts. For Jane Clark, the only female in the squadron, a place of tough decisions.
An air of menace hangs over the desolate, battle-scarred landscape; present dangers and past mysteries lurk in the shadows on the skyline. And Sean’s compulsion to live up to a legendary hero leads him towards a woman whose loneliness matches his own.
Then a Royal Navy nuclear submarine disappears, and Argentine jet fighters penetrate the Exclusion Zone. As Sean and his companions stave off wave after wave of enemy attacks, their fight to protect the islands becomes an epic battle for survival – in which victory can only be achieved at a terrible price…’
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Although I have not seen any of the various cinematic adaptations of this story, one can’t fail to be aware of the Will Smith extravaganza that is its latest incarnation. The original book is more of a short-story and consequently is rather thin on detail and as is often the case with older sci-fi it is quite dated. As there is only one main character it is quite problematic that he is not very likable, but I guess that is deliberate to support the stories ultimate conclusions.
‘Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth… …but he is not alone. Every other man, Woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville’s blood.
By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn.
How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?’
The Storm by Boris Starling
Another author I was previously unaware of though he has had success with his Messiah story that in turn spawned the TV series, which also passed me by. I am not a great fan of the crime genre so it was up against it from the start. The writing was very cinematic and it would probably do well on the small screen, but as a novel it lacked some subtly and was a little too contrived and extreme for my tastes.
‘Elemental rage, bloody Greek myth, man's greed and capacity for cruelty, the insane imaginings of a killer, all intermingle in this stunning new thriller from the bestselling author of Messiah to create a novel of stunning ferocity.
A storm-tossed crossing on the North Sea; a catastrophic ferry accident; hundreds dead. Detective Chief Inspector Kate Beauchamp is one of the survivors but her ferocious fight to stay alive brings with it a high cost: a burden of guilt that she should live while some of her friends died; a terror of water; a frozen inner core that never seems to melt. When the body of a young female journalist is found in Aberdeen soon after the disaster, Kate insists on conducting the investigation -- partly to exorcize her own demons, partly because she feels a strange affinity with the victim. The killing is peculiarly brutal and the murderer has left a unique calling card: attached to the woman's neck is a poisonous snake.
Into this emotional cauldron steps the last man on earth Kate wants to see -- her estranged father, Frank, in Aberdeen to conduct the marine inquiry into the sinking. Was the disaster the result of a bomb, as claimed by the ferry-line's chairman, or is he trying to hide something? In a sweltering heatwave, Kate and Frank conduct their highly pressured investigations. But for both of them, danger is approaching fast -- a vortex of violence which will sweep them up and endanger their very lives’.
Traveller by Ron McLarty
I picked this book up in an airport after I had finished my holiday book and needed something for the journey home. I found myself getting sucked into this book and enjoyed the characterisations and general feel of the story very much. Apparently this author is an actor in America, though I can’t place him, and he has done a few books with mixed critical acclaim. I would recommend it for a quick read if you have nothing else on the go.
‘When Jono Riley receives a letter that a childhood friend, Marie, has died, the 50-something third-rate actor and bartender leaves New York to visit his hometown of Providence, R.I. His search for answers surrounding her death leads Riley on a long and winding trip through old memories to discover the person responsible.
Narrator-turned-author McLarty delivers a sophomore novel that is more than just a simple mystery. The suspense doesn't drive the story but rather Riley's recounting of his adolescent years from the death of his father to his return from Vietnam. These nostalgic flashbacks of street life in Providence in the 1960s capture certain universal aspects that all listeners can appreciate. McLarty voices this first-person story with all the adeptness one would expect from an experienced narrator and author. His vocal characterizations provide added presence to many of his colorful characters and he delivers exposition with great attention to detail. He shines best with emotional displays from Jono and the other characters.’
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