David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 44
June 8, 2016
Poetry Thursday 216 - Something old, something new
Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali died last week and will have his funeral on Friday and he wrote some poetry.
[image error]
Muhammad Ali Quotes Poems including 'Will they ever have another fighter who writes poems, predicts rounds, beats everybody, makes people laugh, makes people cry, and is as tall and extra pretty as me?'
He floated like a butterfly,
he stung like a bee,
the hand can't hit,
what the eye can't see.
His passing reminded me of an old radio programme that was
introduced with the words at the top of this blog. Friday Night is
Music Night. As a child I often fell asleep listening to the gentle,
pulsating, tones of music written by long dead composers. I
decided to look up some old stuff.
[image error]
The Heart
Taken very much for grantedthe mystical beating heart,throbbing, pulsating powerfullykeeping life and death apart.
Day and night working unsungfrom consciousness’s flow chartfour chambers – rooms of existencetravailed before real life did start.
Amazingly resilient to the abusethat tries to pierce as a dartit continues to pound life-giving useobesity, smoking, drinking to thwart.
As strong as it is there is a delicacyGod may have chosen to impartbefore birth and conscious malignityperhaps causing premature depart.
It holds all life in its chambershopefully healthy from the start.That pulsing, throbbing lovely organthe almost tireless human heart.© David L Atkinson July 2014
That one is something old, not that old really but in terms of 2
poems each week for two years - earlier.
I took ownership of a new car today and it inspired the poem below.
Something New
Periodically one notices aging,every created object suffers,there is no way of period avoiding,no way of stopping time at the buffers.
People can’t avoid the fact,no way of repairing odd bits,just become accustomed, use some tact,to those with botox and plastic tits
Look to the new and prepare the worldto be a better place,than the one that we unfurled,when entering the human race.© David L Atkinson June 2016
God Bless
[image error]
Muhammad Ali Quotes Poems including 'Will they ever have another fighter who writes poems, predicts rounds, beats everybody, makes people laugh, makes people cry, and is as tall and extra pretty as me?'
He floated like a butterfly,
he stung like a bee,
the hand can't hit,
what the eye can't see.
His passing reminded me of an old radio programme that was
introduced with the words at the top of this blog. Friday Night is
Music Night. As a child I often fell asleep listening to the gentle,
pulsating, tones of music written by long dead composers. I
decided to look up some old stuff.
[image error]
The Heart
Taken very much for grantedthe mystical beating heart,throbbing, pulsating powerfullykeeping life and death apart.
Day and night working unsungfrom consciousness’s flow chartfour chambers – rooms of existencetravailed before real life did start.
Amazingly resilient to the abusethat tries to pierce as a dartit continues to pound life-giving useobesity, smoking, drinking to thwart.
As strong as it is there is a delicacyGod may have chosen to impartbefore birth and conscious malignityperhaps causing premature depart.
It holds all life in its chambershopefully healthy from the start.That pulsing, throbbing lovely organthe almost tireless human heart.© David L Atkinson July 2014
That one is something old, not that old really but in terms of 2
poems each week for two years - earlier.
I took ownership of a new car today and it inspired the poem below.
Something New
Periodically one notices aging,every created object suffers,there is no way of period avoiding,no way of stopping time at the buffers.
People can’t avoid the fact,no way of repairing odd bits,just become accustomed, use some tact,to those with botox and plastic tits
Look to the new and prepare the worldto be a better place,than the one that we unfurled,when entering the human race.© David L Atkinson June 2016
God Bless
June 7, 2016
Writing - Context of stories
Interesting Presidential election in the states, a woman versus an extremist. Things are hotting up over the EU referendum in the UK and the Euros football competition begins in a few days. Wow what a June this is!
[image error]Flaming June
I have written about context on previous occasions but I thought that I'd share my current position in Building 7, my current Steele novel. Without divulging the plot my two central characters, Patrick Steele and Naomi Kobayashi are in New York looking for a protagonist. I could have left the information about being in New York at a minimum but I wanted to build the scene more fully.
At this point I must reiterate the need to empathise with the characters. Have you ever been in a situation where it was late at night, raining, yellow street lights reflecting on surfaces and how did you feel? The articulation of how you felt in that situation is of value in description of what the characters in your story are experiencing.
Steele and Kobayashi are looking for a specific place where they believe their enemy is housed. To enhance the context I have used the internet, specifically Google Earth, to put myself on the street on which my attention is fixed. I have been to New York and so have experienced the city in some degree. The computer has helped me to be specific about what my characters are seeing and therefore adds truth to what I am giving the readers. I believe that it is important to commit as much realism as is possible, even in fiction writing. It gives the recipient concrete ground on which to stand while observing the action of the story they are reading.
[image error]
As the two walk along Lexington, the wetness of the pavement and the reflection of street lights in the standing pools of water are both an advantage and a disadvantage to the couple. They are concerned about being observed and so the rain is an advantage but at the same time they are almost alone in the streets and therefore noticeable.
I leave it there as Patrick and Naomi approach the focus of their attention.
God Bless
[image error]Flaming June
I have written about context on previous occasions but I thought that I'd share my current position in Building 7, my current Steele novel. Without divulging the plot my two central characters, Patrick Steele and Naomi Kobayashi are in New York looking for a protagonist. I could have left the information about being in New York at a minimum but I wanted to build the scene more fully.
At this point I must reiterate the need to empathise with the characters. Have you ever been in a situation where it was late at night, raining, yellow street lights reflecting on surfaces and how did you feel? The articulation of how you felt in that situation is of value in description of what the characters in your story are experiencing.
Steele and Kobayashi are looking for a specific place where they believe their enemy is housed. To enhance the context I have used the internet, specifically Google Earth, to put myself on the street on which my attention is fixed. I have been to New York and so have experienced the city in some degree. The computer has helped me to be specific about what my characters are seeing and therefore adds truth to what I am giving the readers. I believe that it is important to commit as much realism as is possible, even in fiction writing. It gives the recipient concrete ground on which to stand while observing the action of the story they are reading.
[image error]
As the two walk along Lexington, the wetness of the pavement and the reflection of street lights in the standing pools of water are both an advantage and a disadvantage to the couple. They are concerned about being observed and so the rain is an advantage but at the same time they are almost alone in the streets and therefore noticeable.
I leave it there as Patrick and Naomi approach the focus of their attention.
God Bless
June 6, 2016
Writing - Weird Monday
I have been away this weekend and so I'm out of my usual routine. It is usually a food blog but I just thought that the news was worthy of note.
[image error]
Obviously the greatest stories are the death of Mohammed Ali and the forthcoming EU Referendum, but there was also another weird story which is also quite worrying from a moral standpoint. It is also the stuff that could form the basis of stories, if inspirational in a weird sense.
In America scientists are trying to grow human organs in pigs! Now we can pull that fact apart in all sorts of directions and here are a few.
[image error]
1. Simply should humans be playing God?
This is an argument that pertains in a number of scenarios ranging from organ transplant to assisted suicide. It is an emotive subject that tends to polarise opinion. Even the normally garrulous author of this blog is not willing to nail his flag to the mast on this one.
[image error]
2. Genetic engineering.
This applies to flaura and fauna of course. SciFi stories about nasty plants have been done, even cloning in The Sixth Day, and probably a deal more. Again there is a moral question.
[image error]
3. Animal exploitation.
There is a funding body in the USA that refused to back the experiments because of possible side-effects over which there seemed to be a lack of understanding even by those carrying out the experiments. Apparently, some of the human DNA could develop in other areas of the pig such as the brain which may allow the animals to develop human capabilities. That may explain the picture above from Orwell's Animal Farm. Could we stand a ruling pig like Napoleon? Let me share a little of the story with you.
One night, all the animals at Mr. Jones' Manor Farm assemble in a barn to hear old Major, a pig, describe a dream he had about a world where all animals live free from the tyranny of their human masters. old Major dies soon after the meeting, but the animals — inspired by his philosophy of Animalism — plot a rebellion against Jones. Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, prove themselves important figures and planners of this dangerous enterprise. When Jones forgets to feed the animals, the revolution occurs, and Jones and his men are chased off the farm. Manor Farm is renamed Animal Farm, and the Seven Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall.
A politically satire when it was written in 1945 but here we are seventy odd years later contemplating the possibility of a pig with human characteristics - for real.
Sleep well.
God Bless
[image error]
Obviously the greatest stories are the death of Mohammed Ali and the forthcoming EU Referendum, but there was also another weird story which is also quite worrying from a moral standpoint. It is also the stuff that could form the basis of stories, if inspirational in a weird sense.
In America scientists are trying to grow human organs in pigs! Now we can pull that fact apart in all sorts of directions and here are a few.
[image error]
1. Simply should humans be playing God?
This is an argument that pertains in a number of scenarios ranging from organ transplant to assisted suicide. It is an emotive subject that tends to polarise opinion. Even the normally garrulous author of this blog is not willing to nail his flag to the mast on this one.
[image error]
2. Genetic engineering.
This applies to flaura and fauna of course. SciFi stories about nasty plants have been done, even cloning in The Sixth Day, and probably a deal more. Again there is a moral question.
[image error]
3. Animal exploitation.
There is a funding body in the USA that refused to back the experiments because of possible side-effects over which there seemed to be a lack of understanding even by those carrying out the experiments. Apparently, some of the human DNA could develop in other areas of the pig such as the brain which may allow the animals to develop human capabilities. That may explain the picture above from Orwell's Animal Farm. Could we stand a ruling pig like Napoleon? Let me share a little of the story with you.
One night, all the animals at Mr. Jones' Manor Farm assemble in a barn to hear old Major, a pig, describe a dream he had about a world where all animals live free from the tyranny of their human masters. old Major dies soon after the meeting, but the animals — inspired by his philosophy of Animalism — plot a rebellion against Jones. Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, prove themselves important figures and planners of this dangerous enterprise. When Jones forgets to feed the animals, the revolution occurs, and Jones and his men are chased off the farm. Manor Farm is renamed Animal Farm, and the Seven Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall.
A politically satire when it was written in 1945 but here we are seventy odd years later contemplating the possibility of a pig with human characteristics - for real.
Sleep well.
God Bless
June 5, 2016
Writing - Feet of Clay
No I'm not having any kind of dig at Mohammed Ali (Cassius Clay) I'm reporting on how things have changed in my past. In fact Mohammed Ali was one of my early heroes as I'm sure he was for many young lads at that time. There had never been anything like him before and I believe there has never been anyone as good since. May he rest in peace.
[image error]Amateur cricket
My father played cricket and I followed him in the 1960s for our local team. It was a very different game from that which we see today.The first game in which I was involved was an away fixture for the third team. I was eleven years old. We were playing at Washington Chemical Works which was at a small ground, next to the road and close to the offices of WCW.
We fielded first, my father had taken me and was umpiring for our side, and I took a catch and received lots of plaudits from the men in the team. I was the only school-aged boy. It must have been early in the season as by the end of the match it was dark and we were relying on the lights from the offices behind the ground. We lost! I was not out 1 run. An inauspicious start to my cricketing career.
I mention this because in the amateur game there can be a struggle for kit - it isn't cheap. So some people don't have all white boots, socks, trousers, shirt and sweater; they may have to borrow bats or gloves; and, shades of white may vary. The game can look very different from the professional version, with their fancy kit and drinks breaks and so on. As a nostalgic glimpse into the past I visited the old ground where I spent seven happy seasons, practising and playing.
There was a game in progress. The actual standard of play didn't seem to be substantially different but there were a couple of aspects that caused me to smile. The first one was to see jugs of juice being brought out after an hours play.
[image error]
Drinks breaks have become fashionable all over the world but began, understandably enough in hotter climates where there is a danger of dehydration, however it has become universal. The circumstances at New Silksworth last Saturday were somewhat different. Remembering that the ground is around three miles from the coast and there had been three or four days of chilly sea fret, hot soup may have been more appropriate.
Another aspect of amateur sport, and it isn't confined to cricket, is the dearth of sylph-like, high speed protagonists and a leaning towards the slightly overweight player. I know, I was one of the latter! I admire the people who are like that because they are trying and they love the game.
Sadly, my enjoyment was marred by something I saw by a spectator. As is the case with these small grounds car parking is on the edge of the pitch - almost. I was parked up facing the pitch and enjoying the comfort of my car seat rather than a wooden bench, which was the alternative. A car pulled up a couple of spaces from me and three young men go out and went towards the bar. A little later a couple of them returned to their vehicle and I observed one of the men inhaling something. It could have been anything but I felt that it was a drug, it was certainly a powder. To me it is so sad that some folk can't manage to do something as pleasant as spending a few hours in the sun watching a gentle game without it being chemically enhanced. You could argue that there was a bar there so alcohol was available too and I would agree that it is unnecessary during the game. However, with the bar the idea was to try and attract more spectators and increase the revenue and there were a number of families with children enjoying drinks, but drugs such as cocaine bring it to a different level.
Suffice it to say that my afternoon was marred somewhat.
God Bless
[image error]Amateur cricket
My father played cricket and I followed him in the 1960s for our local team. It was a very different game from that which we see today.The first game in which I was involved was an away fixture for the third team. I was eleven years old. We were playing at Washington Chemical Works which was at a small ground, next to the road and close to the offices of WCW.
We fielded first, my father had taken me and was umpiring for our side, and I took a catch and received lots of plaudits from the men in the team. I was the only school-aged boy. It must have been early in the season as by the end of the match it was dark and we were relying on the lights from the offices behind the ground. We lost! I was not out 1 run. An inauspicious start to my cricketing career.
I mention this because in the amateur game there can be a struggle for kit - it isn't cheap. So some people don't have all white boots, socks, trousers, shirt and sweater; they may have to borrow bats or gloves; and, shades of white may vary. The game can look very different from the professional version, with their fancy kit and drinks breaks and so on. As a nostalgic glimpse into the past I visited the old ground where I spent seven happy seasons, practising and playing.
There was a game in progress. The actual standard of play didn't seem to be substantially different but there were a couple of aspects that caused me to smile. The first one was to see jugs of juice being brought out after an hours play.
[image error]
Drinks breaks have become fashionable all over the world but began, understandably enough in hotter climates where there is a danger of dehydration, however it has become universal. The circumstances at New Silksworth last Saturday were somewhat different. Remembering that the ground is around three miles from the coast and there had been three or four days of chilly sea fret, hot soup may have been more appropriate.
Another aspect of amateur sport, and it isn't confined to cricket, is the dearth of sylph-like, high speed protagonists and a leaning towards the slightly overweight player. I know, I was one of the latter! I admire the people who are like that because they are trying and they love the game.
Sadly, my enjoyment was marred by something I saw by a spectator. As is the case with these small grounds car parking is on the edge of the pitch - almost. I was parked up facing the pitch and enjoying the comfort of my car seat rather than a wooden bench, which was the alternative. A car pulled up a couple of spaces from me and three young men go out and went towards the bar. A little later a couple of them returned to their vehicle and I observed one of the men inhaling something. It could have been anything but I felt that it was a drug, it was certainly a powder. To me it is so sad that some folk can't manage to do something as pleasant as spending a few hours in the sun watching a gentle game without it being chemically enhanced. You could argue that there was a bar there so alcohol was available too and I would agree that it is unnecessary during the game. However, with the bar the idea was to try and attract more spectators and increase the revenue and there were a number of families with children enjoying drinks, but drugs such as cocaine bring it to a different level.
Suffice it to say that my afternoon was marred somewhat.
God Bless
June 2, 2016
Writing - Standing on shoulders
If I have seen further than others then it has been by standing on the shoulders of giants - Isaac Newton
[image error]
An interesting statement and indicative of the way we use other human beings to develop our own sight. We do not operate in isolation, most of the time, even when we are walking alone along a busy street we connect with other perfect strangers. If there is an obstruction that you can't see you react when the people in front start to change path to avoid whatever it is. In meetings we align our thoughts and ideas alongside those with which the majority seem to be comfortable, obviously depending upon the situation.When it comes to writing we familiarise our actions in line with the way others think and behave. We use social media to collect people around us whom we feel have similar attributes to ourselves. We share ideas, criticisms and advice.
If we see further by using the information received by our friends then we too are standing on the shoulders of others.
Read on
December 2015Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
June 1, 2016
Poetry Thursday 215 - Why me?
The word responsibility comes to mind midst this week's creative sources of inspiration. First there is the responsibility of the salesman taking your money to give a realistic set of delivery information.
[image error]
Why Lord?
Why Lord does it always happen to me?Others get stuff for nothing while I pay a fee.They order things which arrive and are fine,but the package that arrived broken and late, is mine.Some are promised exact delivery dates,while promises to me are broken and always late.
Then of course I was raised from nascence,by parents who made a virtue of patience. Perhaps they were teaching from experience,of their own purchasing history difference,from others who have known some success,of receiving goods on time spending less largesse.
What can I do to make a difference?Mother – ‘Possess your soul in patience’© David L Atkinson June 2016
Then there was the gorilla shot in a Cincinnati zoo because a woman failed in her responsibility as a parent. She took her eyes off her four year old who fell into the gorilla compound, the gorilla was shot.
[image error]Gorilla and child
Silverback II
Massive in both ego and size,being aggressive is no surprise.It falls short of following throughan attack – just as well for you.
The charging and dominance displaysare positional and personality traits,the success of the huge creature,is that thinking is an innate feature.
A gentle, giant, family beast,caring for each member large to least.An animal with power to be a thriller,the dominant silverback mountain gorilla.© David L Atkinson June 2016
God Bless
[image error]
Why Lord?
Why Lord does it always happen to me?Others get stuff for nothing while I pay a fee.They order things which arrive and are fine,but the package that arrived broken and late, is mine.Some are promised exact delivery dates,while promises to me are broken and always late.
Then of course I was raised from nascence,by parents who made a virtue of patience. Perhaps they were teaching from experience,of their own purchasing history difference,from others who have known some success,of receiving goods on time spending less largesse.
What can I do to make a difference?Mother – ‘Possess your soul in patience’© David L Atkinson June 2016
Then there was the gorilla shot in a Cincinnati zoo because a woman failed in her responsibility as a parent. She took her eyes off her four year old who fell into the gorilla compound, the gorilla was shot.
[image error]Gorilla and child
Silverback II
Massive in both ego and size,being aggressive is no surprise.It falls short of following throughan attack – just as well for you.
The charging and dominance displaysare positional and personality traits,the success of the huge creature,is that thinking is an innate feature.
A gentle, giant, family beast,caring for each member large to least.An animal with power to be a thriller,the dominant silverback mountain gorilla.© David L Atkinson June 2016
God Bless
May 31, 2016
Writing - War and stories
It is sad that someone who was born within ten years of the end of World War II and spent his life fighting against the development of nuclear weapons, was ridiculed when he came to a political place of influence. Such was the lot of Jeremy Corbyn when elected by the ordinary members of the Labour Party. This struck me today because it is 100 years since the Battle of Jutland during the First World War.
[image error]Battle of Jutland
Being three or four years older than Mr Corbyn I experienced some of what he may have experienced growing up soon after the war. A phrase that stuck in my mind was 'the war to end all wars' which was used to describe the first great war 1914 - 1918, and yet 21 years later we were at it again. Jutland was an example of why such a phrase was generated. 6000 British and 2500 German sailors lost their lives. Some of the British sailors were merely 16 years of age. Today they wouldn't be allowed out of the house in the dark unchaperoned. Jeremy, and the rest of our generation, were subject to the films and stories of the Second World War and so by the time musicians headed to Woodstock there wasn't just a peace movement but a very active ban the bomb movement.
[image error]
Of course Jeremy has been true to his feelings these forty or fifty years since. What I find sad is the lack of imagination shown by those who criticise the man for wanting to stop funding Trident missile submarines. The argument is that they are deterrent but in reality there aren't enough to deter any large country intending a nuclear holocaust and they just make us an American outpost and so a target. There is an argument that those decision makers need to revisit the newsreels of Nikita Kruschev removing his shoe and banging it on the table at the United Nations following the Bay of Pigs and blockade of Russian ships. Also the civil defence advice films on how to survive a nuclear attack and films such as On the Beach.
[image error]
This film was an attempt show life after a nuclear holocaust with all its attendant after effects. It was stark and depressing. On top of that there were umpteen war movies depicting the events of World War II, ranging from specific battles and single events to major assaults such as the D-Day landings. The film makers were doing what all money makers do in recreating stories that were uppermost in the public consciousness, in that they were attempting to make more money. However, what they were also doing, probably subconsciously, was reinforcing in the minds of the more sensitive audiences the fact that war is bad. Just watch the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan and you will never agree to allow people to go to war ever again.
On the other hand traumatic events such as wars, are a source of inspiration. There have been people who have developed successful careers in painting, writing stories and poetry, among many other aspects of art.
[image error]John Cornwell VC
One such inspiring story was that of sixteen year old John Cornwell who earned a Victoria Cross for his bravery.
On 31 May 1916, Chester was scouting ahead of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland when the ship turned to investigate gunfire in the distance. At 17:30 hours, the Chester soon came under intense fire from four Kaiserliche Marine cruisers each her own size which had suddenly emerged from the haze and increasing funnel smoke of the battlefield. The shielded 5.5-inch gun mounting where Cornwell was serving as a sight-setter was affected by at least four nearby hits. The Chester's gun mountings were open-backed shields and did not reach down to the deck. Splinters were thus able to pass under them or enter the open back when shells exploded nearby or behind. All the gun's crew were killed or mortally injured except Cornwell, who, although severely wounded, managed to stand up again and remain at his post for more than 15 minutes, After the action, ship medics arrived on deck to find Cornwell the sole survivor at his gun, shards of steel penetrating his chest, looking at the gun sights and still waiting for orders. He died on 2nd June 1916.
No one knows what the human body and mind are capable of until put under extreme duress - war creates such occasions.
God Bless
[image error]Battle of Jutland
Being three or four years older than Mr Corbyn I experienced some of what he may have experienced growing up soon after the war. A phrase that stuck in my mind was 'the war to end all wars' which was used to describe the first great war 1914 - 1918, and yet 21 years later we were at it again. Jutland was an example of why such a phrase was generated. 6000 British and 2500 German sailors lost their lives. Some of the British sailors were merely 16 years of age. Today they wouldn't be allowed out of the house in the dark unchaperoned. Jeremy, and the rest of our generation, were subject to the films and stories of the Second World War and so by the time musicians headed to Woodstock there wasn't just a peace movement but a very active ban the bomb movement.
[image error]
Of course Jeremy has been true to his feelings these forty or fifty years since. What I find sad is the lack of imagination shown by those who criticise the man for wanting to stop funding Trident missile submarines. The argument is that they are deterrent but in reality there aren't enough to deter any large country intending a nuclear holocaust and they just make us an American outpost and so a target. There is an argument that those decision makers need to revisit the newsreels of Nikita Kruschev removing his shoe and banging it on the table at the United Nations following the Bay of Pigs and blockade of Russian ships. Also the civil defence advice films on how to survive a nuclear attack and films such as On the Beach.
[image error]
This film was an attempt show life after a nuclear holocaust with all its attendant after effects. It was stark and depressing. On top of that there were umpteen war movies depicting the events of World War II, ranging from specific battles and single events to major assaults such as the D-Day landings. The film makers were doing what all money makers do in recreating stories that were uppermost in the public consciousness, in that they were attempting to make more money. However, what they were also doing, probably subconsciously, was reinforcing in the minds of the more sensitive audiences the fact that war is bad. Just watch the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan and you will never agree to allow people to go to war ever again.
On the other hand traumatic events such as wars, are a source of inspiration. There have been people who have developed successful careers in painting, writing stories and poetry, among many other aspects of art.
[image error]John Cornwell VC
One such inspiring story was that of sixteen year old John Cornwell who earned a Victoria Cross for his bravery.
On 31 May 1916, Chester was scouting ahead of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland when the ship turned to investigate gunfire in the distance. At 17:30 hours, the Chester soon came under intense fire from four Kaiserliche Marine cruisers each her own size which had suddenly emerged from the haze and increasing funnel smoke of the battlefield. The shielded 5.5-inch gun mounting where Cornwell was serving as a sight-setter was affected by at least four nearby hits. The Chester's gun mountings were open-backed shields and did not reach down to the deck. Splinters were thus able to pass under them or enter the open back when shells exploded nearby or behind. All the gun's crew were killed or mortally injured except Cornwell, who, although severely wounded, managed to stand up again and remain at his post for more than 15 minutes, After the action, ship medics arrived on deck to find Cornwell the sole survivor at his gun, shards of steel penetrating his chest, looking at the gun sights and still waiting for orders. He died on 2nd June 1916.
No one knows what the human body and mind are capable of until put under extreme duress - war creates such occasions.
God Bless
May 30, 2016
Tuesday Food Blog - Pork, chorizo and chick pea casserole
A rich meaty casserole with a touch of fire was what I required for the weekend. It also had to include vegetables but not so much in the way of carbohydrate. Not an easy aim but I think this casserole gets close.
P, C casserole
Not PC in terms of suiting the veggie luvvies who would have us grazing on the grass alongside cows and sheep, but in terms of a balanced diet. I mention carbohydrates because potatoes and bread I love but do me no good, so chick peas, carrots, tomatoes and red pepper with the onion. Undoubtedly good for you. My base for cooking was olive oil which is usually approved of by those who say they know!
On the plate with crushed new potatoes
I couldn't resist the crushed new potatoes but this meal would go well with tacos, chapatis, naan, crusty french bread or whichever bread you prefer. It could be served with rice or pasta but I don't think it would be as relevant.
As usual the full recipe, which is simple to follow, is on the Recipe Tab at the top of this page.
God Bless
P, C casseroleNot PC in terms of suiting the veggie luvvies who would have us grazing on the grass alongside cows and sheep, but in terms of a balanced diet. I mention carbohydrates because potatoes and bread I love but do me no good, so chick peas, carrots, tomatoes and red pepper with the onion. Undoubtedly good for you. My base for cooking was olive oil which is usually approved of by those who say they know!
On the plate with crushed new potatoes
I couldn't resist the crushed new potatoes but this meal would go well with tacos, chapatis, naan, crusty french bread or whichever bread you prefer. It could be served with rice or pasta but I don't think it would be as relevant.
As usual the full recipe, which is simple to follow, is on the Recipe Tab at the top of this page.
God Bless
May 29, 2016
Writing - Last 10 things for May
There are some strange examples of human behaviour in this week's collection.
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1. Paul McCartney used to get his girlfriend's mother to comb his leg hair.
There's something sexual about that which is rather weird.
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2. The oldest world title in sport is for real tennis and it dates back to 1740.
Probably held by some Lord or Count or Prince!
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3. The world's most dangerous school run may be in south-western China, where children have to climb down an 800m cliff.
In the UK sending kids to school unsupervised is as risky as it gets.
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4. The Mongol army probably gave up invading Europe in the 13th Century because of the wet weather.
Wish would-be immigrants would think along the same lines.
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5. US nuclear weapons are controlled using eight-inch floppy disks.
They're under control! Wow!
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6. The Russian Eurovision singer Sergey Lazarev has launched his own range of dog food.
Sounds a little rough to me.
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7. Gordon Brown is descended from Vikings.
Most of us were but not all Vikings were idiots.
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8. The Game Of Thrones character Hodor's name actually means "Hold the door".
A dialectic corruption.
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9. Half of all misogynistic tweets posted on Twitter come from women, a study suggested.
Doesn't surprise me as many women spend time moaning at themselves in the mirror.
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10. The monks of Mount Athos shun female animals - except for cats.
Do they shun all cats and not just the females?
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God Bless
[image error]
1. Paul McCartney used to get his girlfriend's mother to comb his leg hair.
There's something sexual about that which is rather weird.
------------------------------------
[image error]
2. The oldest world title in sport is for real tennis and it dates back to 1740.
Probably held by some Lord or Count or Prince!
------------------------------------
3. The world's most dangerous school run may be in south-western China, where children have to climb down an 800m cliff.
In the UK sending kids to school unsupervised is as risky as it gets.
------------------------------------
4. The Mongol army probably gave up invading Europe in the 13th Century because of the wet weather.
Wish would-be immigrants would think along the same lines.
------------------------------------
[image error]
5. US nuclear weapons are controlled using eight-inch floppy disks.
They're under control! Wow!
------------------------------------
[image error]
6. The Russian Eurovision singer Sergey Lazarev has launched his own range of dog food.
Sounds a little rough to me.
------------------------------------
[image error]
7. Gordon Brown is descended from Vikings.
Most of us were but not all Vikings were idiots.
------------------------------------
[image error]
8. The Game Of Thrones character Hodor's name actually means "Hold the door".
A dialectic corruption.
------------------------------------
9. Half of all misogynistic tweets posted on Twitter come from women, a study suggested.
Doesn't surprise me as many women spend time moaning at themselves in the mirror.
------------------------------------
[image error]
10. The monks of Mount Athos shun female animals - except for cats.
Do they shun all cats and not just the females?
------------------------------------
God Bless
May 28, 2016
Writing - Scrumdidlyumptious
It is 100 years ago today since the master of tongue-in-cheek children's writing was born.
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You just need to look at the eyes and you can see mischief. I never read Dahl's books as a child - born too early! However, I have enjoyed many of his stories as an adult as many other grown ups have, and as such laughed aloud at the way he took jabs at the adult world. Well now many of the words he made up are featured in a new dictionary.
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Gobblefunking is the art of creating words like gobblefunk! Dahl was full of them. Some of the words are created by spoonerising ordinary words. For example his word for some horrible tasting food is swigpill - pigswill. Other words are a combination of parts of existing words and onomatopoeic extensions - frobscottle (a nice drink with soft drink bubbles. There are no limits to what you can do with words. Dahl wasn't the first of course there was Edward Lear and even Charles Dickens created a number of words. It just seems that Dahl's are more fun, even whoopsy-splunkers (fantastic).
There is one thing for sure Dahl's words play havoc with spellchecker!
Read on
December 2015
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
[image error]
You just need to look at the eyes and you can see mischief. I never read Dahl's books as a child - born too early! However, I have enjoyed many of his stories as an adult as many other grown ups have, and as such laughed aloud at the way he took jabs at the adult world. Well now many of the words he made up are featured in a new dictionary.
[image error]
Gobblefunking is the art of creating words like gobblefunk! Dahl was full of them. Some of the words are created by spoonerising ordinary words. For example his word for some horrible tasting food is swigpill - pigswill. Other words are a combination of parts of existing words and onomatopoeic extensions - frobscottle (a nice drink with soft drink bubbles. There are no limits to what you can do with words. Dahl wasn't the first of course there was Edward Lear and even Charles Dickens created a number of words. It just seems that Dahl's are more fun, even whoopsy-splunkers (fantastic).
There is one thing for sure Dahl's words play havoc with spellchecker!
Read on
December 2015Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
