David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 81

Poetry Thursday 162 - Summer balls and speaking in tongues

A strange collection this week but in many ways truly reflective of this week. In sport there are lots of competitions coming to a climax and being replaced by summer sports and the church is coming to the end of Easter and there is the feast of pentecost at hand.



Balls
There are cricket balls,rugby balls,golf ballsand footballs.
We use tennis balls,air balls,medicine ballsand Pilates balls.
We have beach balls,squash balls,hockey balls,and snooker balls.
We kick the ball,we hit the ball,we throw the balland pass the ball.
We catch the ball,we spin the ball,we play the balland we punch the ball.
We watch the ball,we square the ball,we fire the balland save the ball.
We punt the ball,we belt the ball,we hold the balland we drop the ball.
Its summer again!© David L Atkinson May 2015

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I read in church this morning from ACTS 2:1 - 21. This is the reading in which the disciples of Jesus are imbued with the Holy Spirit and are able to 'speak in tongues'. The poem is written in Latin, English, Japanese and French.




Speaking in Tongues
In nomine Patristhe name of the FatherChichiau nom du Pere.
Et Filiand the Sonto Koet du Fils
Et Spiritu Sancteand the Holy Spiritto Seireiet du Saint Esprit
© David L Atkinson May 2015

I believe if the English was removed from each verse the sense would still come through.In the passage that I read the disciples were cynically described as having been drinking 'new wine'.

Filled with new wine
Every year this season raises questionsof the faith and the belief and the truth.Over two thousand years of tryinghasn’t clarified for elder or youth.Clergy speak of dread in trying to delivera message which makes their faith quiver,so how are we ordinary folk in our simplicity, expected to cope?Filled with new wine at nine o’clock,rather than pulpit, but more of a dock,which words can they chooseso the expectant audience don’t lose?The depth of the meaning of speaking in tonguesis just as confusing, whether whispered,or bellowed from ecclesiastical lungs,at the faithful crowd faith enlisted.Perhaps that’s the answer, to not look too deep,but accept the magic like dreams while asleep.Believe in a spirit all-encompassing from above,that bestows on its followers the feeling of love.
© David L Atkinson May 2015
God Bless

Writing - Why does anyone write?

I haven't started another book! This is a first for me. Usually, when I come to the end of one story, in this case Grace and Favour, I have the next one ready to go and begin as soon as I have the time.
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It is good to stop on occasion and reflect on what you are doing and where you are travelling in your life. I have been writing almost continually for six years, oh I know that some folk have written for ten times that length of time, but I was one of those who always wanted to write a book and left it until I'd retired from my career to begin. I have the next book in mind and like the quote above, from F Scott Fitzgerald, there are elements to my writing that make commentary on the world as we know it today. I have covered such topics as the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK; global warming; the control of corporations over the lives of ordinary people and more. However, I am at a turning point or threshold of some type that I'm unsure about. I don't want to stop writing, I don't think that I could, but I have drivers in me that seem to be pointing me in different directions.

The portfolio of books above is dominated by seven Steele novels but there are also 2 poetry collections and a dystopian novel. Currently, I have another Steele novel in mind, but I'm also being tempted by a couple of historical stories and an autobiography. The autobiography is a temptation because I want my children and grandchild to know where I came from and so a little of their own history. That daunting prospect, for it could be a beast of a book, a tome if you like, could take a while to produce and it feels like it should be my final book.
The historical stories represent a danger in the respect that I have so far started a book and continued to its conclusion, but I am doubting my ability to make a historical story work. I have a couple of ideas in mind. One would be based in the 13th century and around the lives of ordinary people and the other is later, probably late 19th or early 20th century, and based in my original home area of Sunderland.
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The 13th century novel would be linked to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 but from the point of view of the ordinary people of that time. This is a reflection of my own feeling that this so-called amazing document had little relevance to the lives of ordinary people for hundreds of years after its signing. Even now it is possible to argue that it suits the upper classes rather than ordinary working people. 
[image error]Victoria Hall disaster of 1883
The Victorian novel would be centred round the disaster that occurred in the Victoria Hall, Sunderland in 1883 when 183 children were killed under tragic circumstances.
You could argue that I should write all four books and perhaps that will happen but the question is what to write next. In the case of the Steele novel I have the first chapter in my mind and the ending so perhaps that is where I will begin, but for once I may have more than one project on the go simultaneously.
If you are wondering whether to write beware that once you begin you may find it difficult to stop. There is an element of addiction in the art and once the urge to expand an idea into a story has been given its head the ideas flow like water from a tap, but there are still only 24 hours in a day.
God Bless

Tuesday Food Blog - Chicken marengo

Legend has it that chicken marengo was a dish hastily invented by Napoleon's cook from whatever ingredients he could gather together after the French leader's narrow victory in the battle of Marengo in 1800.
Chicken Marengo
The battle was fought against the Austrians in Italy at Marengo on June 14th and perhaps there is no coincidence that this meal is quite Italian in style. It is rich in tomatoes, garlic and onions and would serve well with pasta as well as the rice that I chose. The garnish of a fried egg actually goes better with the rice than the chicken, but it was suggested in the BBC History magazine from whence I obtained this simple version of the dish.
The recipe can be found on the TAB above.
This was a single meal which I rarely do over the weekend. Being a single person I tend to prepare meals that will serve over three or four days. This is quite often because supermarkets don't always cater for the single person. The remainder of the multi-pack of chicken went into a similarly Italian style casserole which has elements of the Jewish cholent I have featured previously.


chicken casserole
The elements of cholent is principally putting the new potatoes in the casserole as opposed to cooking and serving them separately. There are a few additions which I have picked up from a variety of chicken casserole recipes of which there are a great number. For flavour I added a rasher of bacon and mushrooms. There should really be celery in there as well but as I can't stand the stuff the substitute was a leek. Like all casseroles you can add in your preferred ingredients and serve it as you will but by including the potatoes this is really a one pot dish.
God Bless

Writing - Libraries

Books are a part of life. This is a fact that goes back hundreds of years and collections of books are personal libraries. I've been looking at a part of my library along with those of others.

This is a variation on a mobile library and could be described as carrying your own comfort zone around with you.

I always take books on holiday but this could be going a bit far - and thank goodness for e-readers.

You just have to love this from the point of view of concept, style and innovation.

and this!

Finally, making a user friendly for future readers is essential.
I photographed a little of my current library. I find that my collection changes and moves around almost constantly and this is part of my current reading and concerns.


Reading is an important part of my life to the extent that I can't remember a time, boy or man, when I haven't been a reader. Now that I'm retired from going out to work I read even more than in my early years.Above you see two books that are part of my current coffee table library. I am coming to the end of Stephen Hawking's book and have had a glance at 'Sunderland - Building a city' which is the history of my home city. I have this library because when the TV has bored me and I want to continue my education, there is something to stimulate the old grey matter.




The above is a tiny section of my bookcases but it encapsulates much of my favourite reading as well as my efforts as an author. It ranges from the Bible to Charles Dickens and even includes some children's books bought for use in school when I taught.The two shown are 'Sid the Mosquito' and 'Attila the Bluebottle' by Colin Thompson who began life as an illustrator then took to writing these stories about life in a suburban garden. The third book is 'Venus the Caterpillar' which seems to have disappeared - it will probably be languishing on some classroom bookcase. Well worth a read.The point is that libraries are dynamic, attractive and informative but they have a life of their own and continue to grow. They also have a trait which is causing concerns in British society these days and that is a tendency towards obesity. They keep getting bigger and rarely do the owners take the time to slim them down. However, unlike the human condition, they offer better health and enhanced education. 
So my message is to look after your library it could turn out to be more valuable than you realised was possible.
God Bless

Writing - More news clips

Writers keep their eyes and ears open all of the time to pick up snippets of information that may be useful in their production of stories. Some of the 'snippets' this week may be useful and some not so. I wonder how many wives of the not so rich would appreciate rewards for doing what they expect to be able to do on a daily basis?
Read on!
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1. Tom Cruise advised Nasa on how to design their website.


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2. Drug dealers in Marseille offer loyalty cards.


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3.Police at the US Capitol receive training to prevent them leaving their guns behind when they go to the toilet.

Wow!The number of questions this raises is legion.
Who does the training?
How many guns have been left in the toilets in the past?
Why have they taken their guns in there in the first place?
Why do the officers unship their guns while in the toilet?


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4. "Cazh", meaning casual, is now acceptable in Scrabble - as well as "lolz","shizzle" and "bezzy".

Slang has always been a part of language and is particularly prevalent amongst teenagers, but why use gibberish when there are plenty of proper words in English?


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5. It's possible to brew morphine using a home-made beer kit.

I missed a trick through college and the early years of adulthood!


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6. Young blood can mend old broken bones.


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7. Crows are protective of their tools - they tuck them under their toes or hide them in holes - even more so when higher up a tree.

An orifice for every tool!


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8. The modern strawberry was born after a French spy brought back a South American species from Chile in 1712.

That was a good move.


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9. Wives of the super-rich in New York sometimes earn bonuses from their husbands for getting the children into prestigious schools or managing the home budget well.

Not that I'm saying the wives of the super-rich are donkeys but!!!!!


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10. Stone tools existed before the earliest humans.

Many animals use tools so this is hardly surprising.


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God Bless

Writing - Who is Patrick A Steele?

In the run up to publishing Grace and Favour I thought that it may be relevant to refresh the readers' memories as to who Patrick Steele is. The fullest explanation of why he's turned out as he did is in the 5th Steele novel 'Inceptus' and there is a longer section on the Extract Tab at the top of this page. 

So why is Steele the self-appointed purveyor of justice to the ill-treated? I will try and give you some pointers.

Patrick Steele had a fairly normal childhood in the north east of England until the age of twelve. He was brought up on the outskirts of Sunderland, the only son of a colliery mechanic and a civil servant. Then one day, attending school in the nearby town of Houghton-le-Spring things changed.

(Steele continues)
There was no difference between this day and any other when I set off and the morning lessons were as they should be without any surprises or undue stresses although the Geography teacher was a bit hard on our self-confessed class fool. Lunchtime was the usually rapidly consumed tasteless fayre and then outside for a kick around before the afternoon of learning re-commenced. It was quite a shock for me when one of the prefects, a favoured sixth former, called me away from the game in which I was involved to tell me that the deputy head wanted to speak to me urgently. I was worried immediately because when you had to see Norman, his name was Norman Moss; it was inevitably bad news and usually involved punishment of some type.
“Come in Patrick,” instructed the deputy kindly which was unusual. Normally boys were addressed by their surnames. “Close the door.”            I did as I was asked but then became aware that Moss was not alone. My class teacher, Mrs Skews was there also and looked rather flushed in the face.“Sit down please Patrick,” asked Mr Moss quietly.
“Patrick,” began Mr Moss with a sigh. “There is no easy way to tell you this.”            He’d stopped again and was looking down at a pen he was fiddling with between his large, red hands. Norman had been a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Royal Marines during World War II a fact of which he was rightly proud but today he just seemed to be an old man.“There’s been an accident,” he went on. “A car accident and unfortunately your mum and dad were involved.”            He paused and looked at me for the first time since I’d sat down but his eyes seemed more rheumy than usual and Mrs Skews sniffed slightly and dabbed at her nose with a handkerchief. I didn’t know whether they were waiting for me to say something but I seemed to have lost the power of speech. Looking back all I could remember were the words ‘There’s been an accident’ and they whirled round and round inside my head. Norman Moss seemed to have given up and had gone back to contemplating his biro.“Patrick I’m really sorry,” began my class teacher in the local accent. “Your Mam and Dad have been killed.”
So tragedy had struck in his early life but the fates weren't done with the lad.


Another day at school, another call to the head teacher’s and more long faces but this time there was a person from social services, local government mafia, in place to ensure the stupidest rules created by man could be put into practise. I don’t remember her name but she was to be a central point of reference for me for some time. This time it wasn’t Norman Moss, he’d retired as had the head, they just all seemed like grey people to me, no relationships, rule followers frightened of stepping into humanity.“Your Uncle died in an accident at home this morning Patrick. I’m really sorry,” stated the head.
“We’ve arranged for you to go and live with a family not far from here…..,” the social services woman’s voice drifted over my head as the shock of losing my nearest relative hit me for the second time in my short life.  Listening to the submissions by various people at the inquest a policeman stated that the house had been broken into on the day of the fire. When asked if that fact could have brought about my Uncle’s stroke a pathologist just stated that it couldn’t be ruled out. 
The above factors would be enough to disturb the balance of any person and Steele was no exception. He began acquiring skills and a temper that were to lead to trouble and revenge.
There is a lot more detail on the Extracts page and of course every aspect is brought together in the story. To buy the book in either paperback £3.12, or for Kindle £2.99, click on the link at the top of this page.

God Bless

Writing - On tenterhooks

I am becoming quite excited as I've received an email yesterday from my online publisher saying that the proof copies of Grace and Favour will be with me in a couple of days.


[image error]tenterhooks
Always wanted to know what they looked like? There you go! We can all probably describe how we feel when 'on tenterhooks'. It's that butterflies in the tummy, expectation, adrenaline fuelled feeling of a pleasurable occurrence. It is even more exciting when the expectation is fulfilled a day early.

Here is the proof copy. Getting the story from your mind, on to the page and then out for consumption is rather like giving birth - not that I eat many babies! Well I can't eat a whole one.

As the process is so significant then it is little wonder that the nay sayers who carp and criticise get short shrift. Imagine complaining to Michaelangelo that the Sistine chapel roof is a little dull! It isn't - trust me! Or perhaps to have Dickens spinning in his grave because you think Great Expectations is dour and drab. Writers put a part of themselves in between the covers of the books they produce and as such should be treated with a degree of respect. Obviously, these copies are intended for criticism and improvement, and I'm fortunate that I have two friends whom I trust to proof read them. The day they become available is going to be very close to June 1st. I think.To whet your appetite here is all of my portfolio.

My 10 books as of December 2014
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

Poetry Thursday 161 - Universal questions

An interesting week in the grand scheme of things. I am reading Professor Stephen Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time' and our church held a Question Time session on all subjects religious.These two events spawned  the poems below. The first is in the format of a sonnet - who would write a poem on such a weighty matter and not use an equally significant style?

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Is there a God?
The universe expands every moment.Is it pushed outwards by God’s unseen hand,or is the smooth motion by accident,an unbidden signal lacking command?
Do smooth universes mean there’ll be life,or had God planted the vigorous seed,in an area of space without strife,so vitality could progress at speed?
Without God’s creative interventionwould this galaxy be just a dark space,life never a choice or an intention,of intelligence or beauty no trace.
If there is a God why is there evil? If there’s a God would creatures be sinful?© David L Atkinson May 2015

The haiku below emerged while I was considering Stephen Hawking's book and in many ways demonstrates the usefulness of this Japanese format.
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Hawking Haiku
Professor HawkingExpounds on the universeQuestions God’s presence© David L Atkinson May 2015
And the source of inspiration came in part from the following section,
Science seems to have uncovered a set of laws that, within the limits set by the uncertainty principle, tell us how the universe will develop with time, if we know its state at any one time. These laws may have originally been decreed by God, but it appears that he has since left the universe to evolve according to them and does not now intervene in it. But how did he choose the initial state or configuration of the universe?One possible answer is to say that God chose the initial configuration of the universe for reasons that we cannot hope to understand.
Stephen Hawking obviously struggles in some measure with the nature and existence of God but repeatedly refers to a possible role of a superior being in the nature and development of our universe. In the early years of his career he denied that there is a God but the more he delved into the mathematical nature of the universe, the less sure of that position he seems to have become.
God Bless

Writing - What else have I got?

Apologies to Caleb Pirtle for 'borrowing' his blog title but I'm sure he won't mind. He is writing about Nashville and the music seen as well as writing but as I've started the process of publishing my 8th Steele novel what else have I got? is a reasonable question.
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Historically, I always wanted to write a book and it seems a long time ago that I actually put pen to paper for the first time and began for real. With the publication of Grace and Favour I will have written 9 novels (8 are featuring Steele) and produced 2 collections of poetry. More this time than when I've finished earlier work, I have been asking myself the question at the top of this page.When the Malaysian airliner MH370 disappeared I thought I would investigate the possibility of writing that story and over the last few nights I've fitted the basic idea into a Steele novel. My interest was piqued recently by tales surrounding the 9/11 disaster in New York and that is something to consider also. In short what else I have is another book.
For those of you who aspire to write beware. Once drawn into this world you will never find your way out. As Caleb describes, when you write then you sleep, and write, sleep and write again and continue that routine daily. If asked when I will rest it will be when I'm laid in my casket. You're a long time dead.Also to achieve success it is important to have an answer to the question above. So write a book, sell a book and write another. Continue until you have a portfolio that will pique the interest of the wealth of readers out there. According to Caleb and his partner Stephen Woodfin it is better to write three books of 60 000 than one epic of 150 000. Most of my books are between 60 000 and 70 000 words because it feels to work for me.
Hopefully the cover for Grace and Favour
Below is the cover information for the new Steele novel.
Steele’s life has changed markedly and yet he is required to once again to tackle a situation of injustice, but has concerns that he is being commissioned to act by the authorities. Patrick is working alone trying to recover a youngster kidnapped from parents with a high profile role in the UK establishment. He is without the support of former allies, the Gurentai, and yet feels that the police and National Crime Agency, who have requested his involvement, have another agenda that isn’t necessarily in Steele’s interest.The action is shared mostly between the UK and Canada. In the early stages of the case Patrick is chasing kidnappers across the continent of North America when disaster occurs and he is forced to return to the UK. While in Canmore, Alberta, Steele seeks solace from the apparent loss of his long-time partner and fiancée Naomi Kobayashi, in the arms of a local girl. However, Steele becomes aware that he himself seems to be being kept in the dark regarding the whole truth of the case and returns home.Eventually Patrick’s home situation is threatened and it becomes necessary for him to take steps to protect himself and his team. All the while Steele has the feeling that he is not under control and in fact is being played like a pawn. In the end he takes steps to protect his and his team’s safety.Has Steele bitten off more than he can chew? Where is his love life going? Are former allies, the Gurentai, targeting Steele? Will he recover the kidnapped child or will he fail and become subject of retribution by the authorities? Read the latest adventures of Patrick A Steele.

I actually like the moment when I set a book out on the unsuspecting world and tell my friends that it is here and available and for Grace and Favour that day isn't too far away.
God Bless

Tuesday Food Blog - Beef stew and black pudding

I like beef stew and since discovering the Jewish dish Cholent, I've adapted the recipe and that is an indicator of growing confidence with cooking.
David's Beef stew
It seems to me that the overriding principle behind cholent is taking time. Yes there are beef, onions, vegetables and garlic but you have the choice of what you put in the pot, but then you cook it for a very long time. In the most authentic versions pearl barley and butter beans are a common theme but the one above is without either of those ingredients.
In the above stew, it isn't really cholent, there are baked beans, tomatoes, beef, onions, sweet potato and black pudding as well as new potatoes. It is seasoned and flavoured with black pepper, mustard, garlic, tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce.  
I can see that a stick of celery (yuck!!!) carrots and pulses of many types would go well. In some ways what is missing from the standard stew are wine, bay leaves, turnip or swede, bacon and green beans.
What is interesting for me is that I have had the confidence to step away from a written recipe and created something that suits my palate. In fact one addition that will not be everyone's cup of tea is black pudding. It adds flavour to the beef and thickens the sauce.
Black Pudding
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Black pudding seems to have the same influence on people as Marmite - either love it or hate it! So perhaps a little education may be of value to those who are uncertain about the product.To get the 'nasty' bit out of the way, black pudding is made from pork blood, minced onions, diced fat and oats, plus flavourings that produce local variations such as Stornaway Black Pudding.It can be eaten cold, fried, boiled or baked and is an essential part of a full English breakfast, particularly in the North. Blood sausage or pudding is not exclusive to the UK, there are versions across most of Europe.

The history of black pudding is long and varied. Romans produced black pudding and the recipes lingered in various conquered countries across Europe long after the Roman Empire had fallen. It was particularly popular in medieval England around pig killing time in the autumn. Pig's were very cheap to rear as they forage for their own food and are quite hardy, so the peasants had pigs rather than the more expensive beasts. When they were slaughtered the whole animal could be used for food including the blood, hence the black pudding. When the puddings had been produced they were shared in the villages and small communities.As this tends to be a recipe blog I will include such for black pudding dating back to 1615
Take the blood of a whole hog whilst it is warm, and steep it in a quart, or more, or great oatmeal grits, and at the end of three days with your hands take the grits out of the blood, and drain them clean; then put to those grits more than a quart of the best cream warmed on the fire; then take mother of thyme, parsley, spinach, succory, endive, sorrel, and strawberry leaves, of each a few chopped exceeding small, and mix them with the grits, and also a little fennel seed finely beaten; then add a little pepper, cloves and mace, salt, and great store of suet finely shred, and well beaten; then therewith fill your farmes, and foil them, as hath been before described.
Finally, eat black pudding cold with wholemeal bread, or fry it with bacon, or in a salad made from diced potatoes, apple and black pudding which you see below with a pork chop.

God Bless