Since we have got a new PVR we have been recording various TV programs instead of watching them live. We are currently into a few shows such as:
Shameless
This is a wonderful tragic comedy about no-hope families living in a dead-end council estate world as they struggle with life. Superbly scripted and acted the often poignant storylines that tug at the heart even as you laugh out loud.
Jericho
This is a bit of a sleeper series that I caught by accident and am now hooked on. A small-town America backwater is spared from nuclear apocalypse and must now struggle to come to terms with what happened as it struggles for survival. Refugees, villains, heroes and mystery and intrigue all drift towards the town with dramatic results.
Torchwood
More adult than it’s parent show Dr Who and with more than a hint of cheese this show is not every bodies cup of tea, but I think it is a nice turn in escapism with a slightly risqué edge.
30 Rock
A good sit-com from the US set in a film studio located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It has a sharp and bouncy script with wonderfully quirky characters that rattle along from gag to gag.
The Last Enemy
A gritty and dark mystery that plays on the fears of many a British citizen in this current climate of terror where it sometime feels like it is hard to identify the good guys from the bad and everybody is out to get you.
Dexter
An odd-ball show that makes you think about your own perceptions between right and wrong as you find yourself becoming sympathetic with the serial killer title character.
Ashes to Ashes
Having missed the boat with the previous Life on Mars show we were intrigued at the hype surrounding this latest incarnation and found that we were not disappointed. Nostalgic and ironic the show is lively and entertaining with some great over-the-top acting that suits it perfectly.
Lark Rise to Candleford
You know you are getting to an age when you enjoy a costume drama where nothing much happens. Great costumes, sets and delightful acting make this show a pleasant breath of fresh country air.
and now for something completely different...
The Palace
What were they think of as they made this series? In a bizarre alternative world where the British monarchy is full of corny stereotypes this so-called drama is a bit of a train-wreck and as such we found it morbidly fascinating viewing. I just can’t believe they were being serious.
Monday, March 10, 2008
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.’
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Year Resolutions 2008…
The plan is that if I write my New Year resolutions down then perhaps I will do something about them.
Learn Guitar: I bought an acoustic guitar nearly two years ago and had planned to take lessons, but that never happened, so this year I want to rectify this and would like to be able to play at least one song by Christmas.
Continue Writing: I was discouraged by the rejection letters I received for my first story I submitted when we were in NZ. This year I want to re-work that children’s novel and have it submitted to different publishers here in the UK by Christmas and I also hope to start developing other ideas.
Do more Artwork: I would like to spend more time painting and drawing and I hope to have a picture done that is suitable for display in our lounge by the end of the year.
Exercise and Diet: We have been on a new diet for a couple of months now and it seems to be going quite well, so we want to continue with this and add more exercise to our daily life. I will try to have a walk each day, and get out into the countryside and out on the allotment more often as the weather improves.
The Garden: Now that we have a new shed and the space and equipment to grow our own plants I hope to develop the front garden by digging up the lawn, replacing it with a hard path between beds of home-grown English country garden flowers and installing a bench for us to sit and admire the view. This needs to be done by summertime along with developing the vegetable plot at the back of the rear garden and continuing with the development of the allotment.
Looking at these objectives now makes me worried about where I am going to get the all time as we already seem to be busy with other things. I guess it will mean I will also need to be more efficient with my time and try to avoid ‘wasting’ it with less productive activities such as watching TV.
I will let you know of my progress (or lack thereof) during the year.
Learn Guitar: I bought an acoustic guitar nearly two years ago and had planned to take lessons, but that never happened, so this year I want to rectify this and would like to be able to play at least one song by Christmas.
Continue Writing: I was discouraged by the rejection letters I received for my first story I submitted when we were in NZ. This year I want to re-work that children’s novel and have it submitted to different publishers here in the UK by Christmas and I also hope to start developing other ideas.
Do more Artwork: I would like to spend more time painting and drawing and I hope to have a picture done that is suitable for display in our lounge by the end of the year.
Exercise and Diet: We have been on a new diet for a couple of months now and it seems to be going quite well, so we want to continue with this and add more exercise to our daily life. I will try to have a walk each day, and get out into the countryside and out on the allotment more often as the weather improves.
The Garden: Now that we have a new shed and the space and equipment to grow our own plants I hope to develop the front garden by digging up the lawn, replacing it with a hard path between beds of home-grown English country garden flowers and installing a bench for us to sit and admire the view. This needs to be done by summertime along with developing the vegetable plot at the back of the rear garden and continuing with the development of the allotment.
Looking at these objectives now makes me worried about where I am going to get the all time as we already seem to be busy with other things. I guess it will mean I will also need to be more efficient with my time and try to avoid ‘wasting’ it with less productive activities such as watching TV.
I will let you know of my progress (or lack thereof) during the year.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Xmas and New Year…
We had a busy festive break focused on family and friends where we visited my Aunt and Uncle across Christmas and then hosted Sue’s family and our friends at our home. Jamie came down and spent a few days with us and also jetted off to Spain for a visit. We did manage to have a couple of days just to ourselves to relax and recover and to walk in the countryside but as usual it went all too quickly and we are now back into the work groove again, looking forward to our next break.
More of wot I have read…
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall-Smith
This was an interesting book mostly for the author’s ability to portray the characters voice in such a convincing way. I felt that I had been exposed to a culture and world that I knew little of in such a way that I believe I have now learned something about it and can better appreciate it. It is a short and gentle read that is sweet and witty that makes me want to read the rest of the books in the series. I first became aware of the author several years ago from his Scotland Road stories which are also quirky and interesting.
‘In this instalment of the charmingly entertaining adventures of Botswana’s premier female detective, it’s going to take all Precious Ramotswe’s intuition and eminent sensibility to crack her toughest case yet: the decade-old disappearance of an American on the edge of the Kalahari.
What’s more, she must attend to concerns closer to home: the promotion of her secretary Mma Makutsi to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective; her impending marriage to the wonderful Mr J. L. B. Matekoni; the trouble caused by his unscrupulous maid; and the unexpected arrival of not one but two additions to the Matekoni family.’
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
This is the first book by this author that I have read as it was given to me by a colleague at work and would not necessarily have been my choice of reading material. It is also the last of the Rebus series which has been going for some time spawning a TV series which I have also managed to miss. As it was I found myself being drawn into the story and enjoying the detailed and lovingly portrayed description of the city as the engaging characters moved around it.
‘It's late autumn in Edinburgh and late autumn in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he tries to tie up some loose ends before retirement, a murder case intrudes. A dissident Russian poet has been found dead in what looks like a mugging gone wrong. By apparent coincidence a high-level delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, keen to bring business to Scotland. The politicians and bankers who run Edinburgh are determined that the case should be closed quickly and clinically.
But the further they dig, the more Rebus and his colleague DS Siobhan Clarke become convinced that they are dealing with something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Meantime, a brutal and premeditated assault on local gangster 'Big Ger' Cafferty sees Rebus in the frame. Has the Inspector taken a step too far in tying up those loose ends? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, inglorious career, will Rebus even make it that far?’
This was an interesting book mostly for the author’s ability to portray the characters voice in such a convincing way. I felt that I had been exposed to a culture and world that I knew little of in such a way that I believe I have now learned something about it and can better appreciate it. It is a short and gentle read that is sweet and witty that makes me want to read the rest of the books in the series. I first became aware of the author several years ago from his Scotland Road stories which are also quirky and interesting.
‘In this instalment of the charmingly entertaining adventures of Botswana’s premier female detective, it’s going to take all Precious Ramotswe’s intuition and eminent sensibility to crack her toughest case yet: the decade-old disappearance of an American on the edge of the Kalahari.
What’s more, she must attend to concerns closer to home: the promotion of her secretary Mma Makutsi to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective; her impending marriage to the wonderful Mr J. L. B. Matekoni; the trouble caused by his unscrupulous maid; and the unexpected arrival of not one but two additions to the Matekoni family.’
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
This is the first book by this author that I have read as it was given to me by a colleague at work and would not necessarily have been my choice of reading material. It is also the last of the Rebus series which has been going for some time spawning a TV series which I have also managed to miss. As it was I found myself being drawn into the story and enjoying the detailed and lovingly portrayed description of the city as the engaging characters moved around it.
‘It's late autumn in Edinburgh and late autumn in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he tries to tie up some loose ends before retirement, a murder case intrudes. A dissident Russian poet has been found dead in what looks like a mugging gone wrong. By apparent coincidence a high-level delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, keen to bring business to Scotland. The politicians and bankers who run Edinburgh are determined that the case should be closed quickly and clinically.
But the further they dig, the more Rebus and his colleague DS Siobhan Clarke become convinced that they are dealing with something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Meantime, a brutal and premeditated assault on local gangster 'Big Ger' Cafferty sees Rebus in the frame. Has the Inspector taken a step too far in tying up those loose ends? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, inglorious career, will Rebus even make it that far?’
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A ruby with the lads…
Following my work’s do I had another outing. This time it was with a dozen guys from down the street. One of our neighbours arranged the gathering where we met at one of our locals for a quick drink before going on to the village curry house for a slap-up meal, some more drinks and a chance to meet and find out more about the other people in the street. It was a brilliant idea and we are all very keen to do this again and to expand it to a family get together with wives and kids too.
Mistletoe and wine…
We were a bit hesitant about going along to my company’s Christmas party as we had missed the one last year, the first after I joined the company, but we were pleasantly surprised. The food was very good for mass-catering and we were at a table of people that we knew from previous jobs for quite some time. It didn’t take much encouragement for Sue to get out onto the dance floor but it was much harder to convince her to take a break. The wine was not so great and on the expensive side and the room was just fine, but the cooked breakfast was an absolute necessity the following morning. The do was in a hotel near work and we had decided to stay over as it is a good distance from home and it would either be an expensive taxi ride or a boring and sober evening.
Shop till you drop…
Recently we took a day off work and went into our nearest large town to try and do all of our Christmas shopping in one hit. The day was pretty much a success with us getting near enough 90% of our presents sorted out. Just about everything else was bought via the internet. We have almost wrapped them all, have sent the overseas package to my family, written and posted most of the cards and have the decorations up around home. So we are nearly ready for the festive season.
More of wot I have read…
Stark by Ben Elton
In Ben Elton’s first novel the author lays out his stall for environmentalism from the stand point of a comfortably off middle class professional in the UK. As such many elements of the story have resonances with a reader of a similar background. I have read several of his books and find them entertaining and clever (apart from the tendency for the occasional ‘farty’ reference) and this was no exception.
“Stark has more money than God and the social conscience of a dog on a croquet lawn. What's more, they know the Earth is dying. Deep in Western Australia where the Aboriginals used to milk the trees, a planet-sized plot takes shape. Some green freaks pick up the scent. A Pommie Poseur, a brain-fried Vietnam Vet, Aboriginals who lost their land... …not much against a conspiracy that controls society. But EcoAction isn't in society; it just lives in the same place, along with the cockroaches. If you're facing the richest and most disgusting conspiracy in history, you have to do more than stick up two fingers and say 'peace'.”
In Ben Elton’s first novel the author lays out his stall for environmentalism from the stand point of a comfortably off middle class professional in the UK. As such many elements of the story have resonances with a reader of a similar background. I have read several of his books and find them entertaining and clever (apart from the tendency for the occasional ‘farty’ reference) and this was no exception.
“Stark has more money than God and the social conscience of a dog on a croquet lawn. What's more, they know the Earth is dying. Deep in Western Australia where the Aboriginals used to milk the trees, a planet-sized plot takes shape. Some green freaks pick up the scent. A Pommie Poseur, a brain-fried Vietnam Vet, Aboriginals who lost their land... …not much against a conspiracy that controls society. But EcoAction isn't in society; it just lives in the same place, along with the cockroaches. If you're facing the richest and most disgusting conspiracy in history, you have to do more than stick up two fingers and say 'peace'.”
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
An emotional time…
We visited my Aunt and Uncle on the weekend for my Uncle’s 60th birthday which nearly didn’t happen. They recently received some very bad news about my Aunt’s illness and my Uncle couldn’t face having a celebration under the circumstances, but my Aunt insisted with her usual stoic manner and we gathered with friends at an Italian restaurant where we all enjoyed ourselves in each others company. The indoor firework on the birthday cake nearly removed eyebrows with its display and ended the evening on a bang.
A man and his shed…
We have just taken receipt of a new shed at home. The old one had been there fore at least 20 years and although well built was suffering rot and borer damage. Also we wanted something that was more suitable to our growing of plants, so we went for a ‘potting’ shed, which includes a large glass window with a bench under it for starting seedlings earlier and for growing tender plants under glass.
First of all I had to take down the old shed and make sure there was a solid base underneath for the new one to be built upon (the delivery included assembly). It soon became clear why the old shed was still standing after such a long time as it took ages to pull it down, break it up and dispose of it (the concrete-asbestos roof had to be taken to a special dump to deal with).
The building had been built on concrete pillars straight on the ground so I needed to lay a base. It just so happened that we had a front path of plain slabs that we didn’t like so I took these up and cleaned the old concrete off them and laid a new path. Then with the old slabs and a couple of additional ones I laid the base for the new shed. Not something I had done before and apart from a couple of broken slabs and a slight dip at one corner, it was not too bad.
We had a couple of delays to the expected delivery date and had to rearrange work and holidays to accommodate them but eventually it came and the two guys had it up in less than an hour in the rain. We then spent another couple of hours filling it back up with the soaking wet stuff that had been sitting out on the deck for weeks. We will need to sort it out better, but for now it is undercover.
First of all I had to take down the old shed and make sure there was a solid base underneath for the new one to be built upon (the delivery included assembly). It soon became clear why the old shed was still standing after such a long time as it took ages to pull it down, break it up and dispose of it (the concrete-asbestos roof had to be taken to a special dump to deal with).
The building had been built on concrete pillars straight on the ground so I needed to lay a base. It just so happened that we had a front path of plain slabs that we didn’t like so I took these up and cleaned the old concrete off them and laid a new path. Then with the old slabs and a couple of additional ones I laid the base for the new shed. Not something I had done before and apart from a couple of broken slabs and a slight dip at one corner, it was not too bad.
We had a couple of delays to the expected delivery date and had to rearrange work and holidays to accommodate them but eventually it came and the two guys had it up in less than an hour in the rain. We then spent another couple of hours filling it back up with the soaking wet stuff that had been sitting out on the deck for weeks. We will need to sort it out better, but for now it is undercover.
More of wot I have heard…
Yo La Tengo – I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass
This was an impulse buy for me as I needed to add something to my Amazon order to get free delivery (good sales tactic by them). I had heard several of their tracks before and I found this Indie-rock styled band interesting .Admittedly it is not to every bodies taste, and I don’t think it will get ‘high rotation’ at our home.
The band has been around for about twenty years but they have never really made it in the mainstream media (not that I hold that against them – most of the bands I like are not part of the mainstream pap).
When it comes to music, don’t be afraid to try something new.
Various Artists – Songs of America
I heard of this album on a late night BBC Radio 2 program by Stuart Maconie and thought it would be an interesting collection of songs. It is probably more for someone who wants to see the progress of American folk and is an intriguing documentary of the genre than for an evening of easy listening but there are some wonderful re-interpretations of classic standards in this collection and I am glad I bought it even if the motivation for creating it does appear to be a bit on the ‘worthy’ side.
Song Of America is a 50-song, 3-disc album that traces the history of the United States through its folk and popular musical traditions. The idea was the brainchild of President's Clinton's former Attorney General Janet Reno, whose premise was that music can be used as a great tool to teach the ideals and mores of the American peoples. Enlisting her nephew, producer Ed Pettersen and teaming up with David Macias of 31 Tigers (who won a Grammy for Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs Of Stephen Foster), this set has been nine years in the making. The result is an incredible musical journey.
Disc 1 extends from the famous date of 1492 up to 1860, a broad sweep including John Wesley Harding's version of 'God Save The King' through to Beth Nielsen Chapman's spine tingling negro spiritual 'Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child.'
Disc 2 from 1861 to 1945 sees songs from the Civil War in the anti-war song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye' (Janis Ian) through to the Depression and then to war again, this time on foreign soil with the lament of 'Over There' (Jen Chapin).
Disc 3 brings us up to date from post war optimism, with the science will save us 'The Great Atomic Power' (Elizabeth Cook & Grascals), the civil rights protest inspired pride of 'Say It Loud' (The Dynamites), the affirmation of 'I Am Woman' (Martha Wainwright), and ends with John Mellancamp singing 'This Land Is Your Land'.
This seemingly impossible project has turned out to be not just about fantastic musicians and songs, it’s a living representation of the story of the most powerful nation on earth. And its relevance to today? This is answered with a final word from Janet Reno, who notes in her introduction: "It is important to know history to understand the importance our own actions have in shaping our future".
This was an impulse buy for me as I needed to add something to my Amazon order to get free delivery (good sales tactic by them). I had heard several of their tracks before and I found this Indie-rock styled band interesting .Admittedly it is not to every bodies taste, and I don’t think it will get ‘high rotation’ at our home.
The band has been around for about twenty years but they have never really made it in the mainstream media (not that I hold that against them – most of the bands I like are not part of the mainstream pap).
When it comes to music, don’t be afraid to try something new.
Various Artists – Songs of America
I heard of this album on a late night BBC Radio 2 program by Stuart Maconie and thought it would be an interesting collection of songs. It is probably more for someone who wants to see the progress of American folk and is an intriguing documentary of the genre than for an evening of easy listening but there are some wonderful re-interpretations of classic standards in this collection and I am glad I bought it even if the motivation for creating it does appear to be a bit on the ‘worthy’ side.
Song Of America is a 50-song, 3-disc album that traces the history of the United States through its folk and popular musical traditions. The idea was the brainchild of President's Clinton's former Attorney General Janet Reno, whose premise was that music can be used as a great tool to teach the ideals and mores of the American peoples. Enlisting her nephew, producer Ed Pettersen and teaming up with David Macias of 31 Tigers (who won a Grammy for Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs Of Stephen Foster), this set has been nine years in the making. The result is an incredible musical journey.
Disc 1 extends from the famous date of 1492 up to 1860, a broad sweep including John Wesley Harding's version of 'God Save The King' through to Beth Nielsen Chapman's spine tingling negro spiritual 'Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child.'
Disc 2 from 1861 to 1945 sees songs from the Civil War in the anti-war song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye' (Janis Ian) through to the Depression and then to war again, this time on foreign soil with the lament of 'Over There' (Jen Chapin).
Disc 3 brings us up to date from post war optimism, with the science will save us 'The Great Atomic Power' (Elizabeth Cook & Grascals), the civil rights protest inspired pride of 'Say It Loud' (The Dynamites), the affirmation of 'I Am Woman' (Martha Wainwright), and ends with John Mellancamp singing 'This Land Is Your Land'.
This seemingly impossible project has turned out to be not just about fantastic musicians and songs, it’s a living representation of the story of the most powerful nation on earth. And its relevance to today? This is answered with a final word from Janet Reno, who notes in her introduction: "It is important to know history to understand the importance our own actions have in shaping our future".
Back and forth…
Travelling to and from Brussels with work
I have had a couple of week long trips to Brussels to attend the company’s New Hire Training (even though I have been employed for over 18 months). It was interesting and informative, but I am not one to enjoy trips away with work.
Up to Manchester
I also had a short trip up to Manchester to attend a course on Six Sigma – a collection of tools and methodologies design to improve efficiencies and quality in an organisation. The name takes itself from the sigma deviation on a standard distribution curve.
I have had a couple of week long trips to Brussels to attend the company’s New Hire Training (even though I have been employed for over 18 months). It was interesting and informative, but I am not one to enjoy trips away with work.
Up to Manchester
I also had a short trip up to Manchester to attend a course on Six Sigma – a collection of tools and methodologies design to improve efficiencies and quality in an organisation. The name takes itself from the sigma deviation on a standard distribution curve.
More of wot I have read…
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
What can I say, I am a fan of Terry Pratchett and even though this is part of his teen series, I still enjoyed reading it. It is a good book for the younger readers to introduce them to the weird and wonderful Discworld and some of its more well known inhabitants… …the witches.
“At 9, Tiffany Aching defeated the cruel Queen of Fairyland.
At 11, she battled an ancient body-stealing evil.
At 13, Tiffany faces a new challenge: a boy. And boys can be a bit of a problem when you're thirteen. . . .
But the Wintersmith isn't exactly a boy. He is Winter itself—snow, gales, icicles—all of it. When he has a crush on Tiffany, he may make her roses out of ice, but his nature is blizzards and avalanches. And he wants Tiffany to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever.
Tiffany will need all her cunning to make it to Spring. She'll also need her friends, from junior witches to the legendary Granny Weatherwax. They—
Crivens! Tiffany will need the Wee Free Men too! She'll have the help of the bravest, toughest, smelliest pictsies ever to be banished from Fairyland—whether she wants it or not.
It's going to be a cold, cold season, because if Tiffany doesn't survive until Spring—
—Spring won't come.”
The Rama series by Arthur C Clarke
I found the middle two books in a charity shop and bought them on a whim. I found I had the last at home, but it had been so long that I couldn’t remember reading it. The first book I don’t think I have ever read. Arthur C Clarke’s books can be a bit difficult to read in that he does detail everything in a way that must be logical to him, but unfortunately I don’t get all of his gadgets or aliens and I find they can irritate and detract from the story. I guess though trying to explain alien life forms and advanced technology is always going to be a risk. I also have a difficulty with the possibility that we could have any common ground with another race, or even be able to recognise them should we come across one – humans are not my idea of a constitutes superior species. Nevertheless some leaps of faith are required if a story is to be told, and the overall idea is very interesting and explores some of these issues in a controlled environment.
1972 Rendezvous With Rama
In 2130, a new celestial body is discovered heading toward the Sun. Earthlings name this object 'Rama' -- a vast cylinder, about 31 miles long and 12 miles across, with a mass of at least ten trillion tons. The spaceship Endeavor, directed by Commander Bill Norton, lands on Rama and has three weeks to explore its hollow interior. Inside the vessel they discover a completely self-contained world -- a world that has been cruising through space for perhaps more than a million years.
1989 Rama II
Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.
1991 The Garden Of Rama
By the twenty-third century Earth has already had two encounters with massive, mysterious robotic spacecraft from beyond our solar system--the incontestable proof of an alien technology that far exceeds our own. Now three human cosmonauts are trapped aboard a labyrinthine Raman vessel, where it will take all of their physical and mental resources to survive. Only twelve years into their journey do these intrepid travelers learn their destination and face their ultimate challenge: a rendevous with a Raman base--and the unseen architects of their galactic home. The cosmonauts have given up family, friends, and possessions to live a new kind of life. But the answers that await them at the Raman Node will require an even greater sacrifice--if humanity is indeed ready to learn the awe-inspiring truth.
1993 Rama Revealed
After the appearance of a spaceship, Rama, a second craft arrives, destined to house a group of colonists. But, the colony has become a dictatorship. Nicole Wakefield, condemned to death, escapes to an island called New York, and is forced to flee to the corridors inhabited by octospiders.
What can I say, I am a fan of Terry Pratchett and even though this is part of his teen series, I still enjoyed reading it. It is a good book for the younger readers to introduce them to the weird and wonderful Discworld and some of its more well known inhabitants… …the witches.
“At 9, Tiffany Aching defeated the cruel Queen of Fairyland.
At 11, she battled an ancient body-stealing evil.
At 13, Tiffany faces a new challenge: a boy. And boys can be a bit of a problem when you're thirteen. . . .
But the Wintersmith isn't exactly a boy. He is Winter itself—snow, gales, icicles—all of it. When he has a crush on Tiffany, he may make her roses out of ice, but his nature is blizzards and avalanches. And he wants Tiffany to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever.
Tiffany will need all her cunning to make it to Spring. She'll also need her friends, from junior witches to the legendary Granny Weatherwax. They—
Crivens! Tiffany will need the Wee Free Men too! She'll have the help of the bravest, toughest, smelliest pictsies ever to be banished from Fairyland—whether she wants it or not.
It's going to be a cold, cold season, because if Tiffany doesn't survive until Spring—
—Spring won't come.”
The Rama series by Arthur C Clarke
I found the middle two books in a charity shop and bought them on a whim. I found I had the last at home, but it had been so long that I couldn’t remember reading it. The first book I don’t think I have ever read. Arthur C Clarke’s books can be a bit difficult to read in that he does detail everything in a way that must be logical to him, but unfortunately I don’t get all of his gadgets or aliens and I find they can irritate and detract from the story. I guess though trying to explain alien life forms and advanced technology is always going to be a risk. I also have a difficulty with the possibility that we could have any common ground with another race, or even be able to recognise them should we come across one – humans are not my idea of a constitutes superior species. Nevertheless some leaps of faith are required if a story is to be told, and the overall idea is very interesting and explores some of these issues in a controlled environment.
1972 Rendezvous With Rama
In 2130, a new celestial body is discovered heading toward the Sun. Earthlings name this object 'Rama' -- a vast cylinder, about 31 miles long and 12 miles across, with a mass of at least ten trillion tons. The spaceship Endeavor, directed by Commander Bill Norton, lands on Rama and has three weeks to explore its hollow interior. Inside the vessel they discover a completely self-contained world -- a world that has been cruising through space for perhaps more than a million years.
1989 Rama II
Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.
1991 The Garden Of Rama
By the twenty-third century Earth has already had two encounters with massive, mysterious robotic spacecraft from beyond our solar system--the incontestable proof of an alien technology that far exceeds our own. Now three human cosmonauts are trapped aboard a labyrinthine Raman vessel, where it will take all of their physical and mental resources to survive. Only twelve years into their journey do these intrepid travelers learn their destination and face their ultimate challenge: a rendevous with a Raman base--and the unseen architects of their galactic home. The cosmonauts have given up family, friends, and possessions to live a new kind of life. But the answers that await them at the Raman Node will require an even greater sacrifice--if humanity is indeed ready to learn the awe-inspiring truth.
1993 Rama Revealed
After the appearance of a spaceship, Rama, a second craft arrives, destined to house a group of colonists. But, the colony has become a dictatorship. Nicole Wakefield, condemned to death, escapes to an island called New York, and is forced to flee to the corridors inhabited by octospiders.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The vision…
We have recently had BT Vision installed at home, which is a combined Freeview, Recorder and On Demand service from BT. We are an existing BT Broadband customer and as our contract term was coming to an end I think BT are rolling out their new services free to customers who sign up for another 18 months.
The Vision box itself is a hand device with two tuners (for recording two programmes or watching one while recording another) and a hard disc with 80 hours of capacity which also allows you to pause and rewind ‘live’ TV.
A dedicated BT Vision engineer had to come to our home to install the Wireless BT Hub (needed for the On Demand download service – and now giving us wireless broadband through the house) and the Vision box.
We have had it for about a week now and it is pretty good, freeing us up from any desire to be in front of the TV at a particular time to watch our favourite programmes. We are recording more stuff where we would just resign ourselves to missing before, so we might end up watching more or at least more of what we want too. Also I now have to modify my hand crafted TV unit as the new box is bigger than the old free view one it replaces.
More of wot I have read…
The Triumph of the Sun by Wilbur Smith
Another book picked up at a fair from an author I have read a few books of before. As it turns out this is a book which ties up two of his book series; the Ballantyne and Courtney series – although this did not seem too obvious or to detract from the narrative.
The book has a particular feel about it and the reactions of the major female and male characters can be uncomfortable to an enlightened man. I am not sure if this is the way the author actually feels or if it is his attempt to replicate the sensibilities of the time or if he is writing for a particular audience – I prefer to think it is the later, as the whole book has that ‘boys own’ feel about it.
The story has an unusual pace to it, which might be due to its position in the series and having to tie up loose threads, still it is an entertaining read for the adventurous chap.
‘From one of the world’s most celebrated and bestselling novelists comes an epic adventure in the spirit and tradition of Monsoon and Blue Horizon.
It is 1884, and in the Sudan, decades of brutal misgovernment by the ruling Egyptian Khedive in Cairo precipitates a bloody rebellion and Holy War. The charismatic new religious leader, the Mahdi or 'Expected One', has gathered his forces of Arab warlords in preparation for a siege on the city of Khartoum. The British are forced to intervene to protect their national interests and to attempt to rescue the hundreds of British subjects stranded in the city.
British trader and businessman Ryder Courtney is trapped in the capital city of Khartoum under the orders of the infamously iron-willed General Charles George Gordon. It is here that he meets skilled soldier and swordsman Captain Penrod Ballantyne of the 10th Hussars and the British Consul, David Benbrook, as well as Benbrook’s three beautiful daughters. Against the vivid and bloody backdrop of the Arabs’ fierce and merciless siege these three powerful men must fight to survive.’
Another book picked up at a fair from an author I have read a few books of before. As it turns out this is a book which ties up two of his book series; the Ballantyne and Courtney series – although this did not seem too obvious or to detract from the narrative.
The book has a particular feel about it and the reactions of the major female and male characters can be uncomfortable to an enlightened man. I am not sure if this is the way the author actually feels or if it is his attempt to replicate the sensibilities of the time or if he is writing for a particular audience – I prefer to think it is the later, as the whole book has that ‘boys own’ feel about it.
The story has an unusual pace to it, which might be due to its position in the series and having to tie up loose threads, still it is an entertaining read for the adventurous chap.
‘From one of the world’s most celebrated and bestselling novelists comes an epic adventure in the spirit and tradition of Monsoon and Blue Horizon.
It is 1884, and in the Sudan, decades of brutal misgovernment by the ruling Egyptian Khedive in Cairo precipitates a bloody rebellion and Holy War. The charismatic new religious leader, the Mahdi or 'Expected One', has gathered his forces of Arab warlords in preparation for a siege on the city of Khartoum. The British are forced to intervene to protect their national interests and to attempt to rescue the hundreds of British subjects stranded in the city.
British trader and businessman Ryder Courtney is trapped in the capital city of Khartoum under the orders of the infamously iron-willed General Charles George Gordon. It is here that he meets skilled soldier and swordsman Captain Penrod Ballantyne of the 10th Hussars and the British Consul, David Benbrook, as well as Benbrook’s three beautiful daughters. Against the vivid and bloody backdrop of the Arabs’ fierce and merciless siege these three powerful men must fight to survive.’
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