Sword in the Stone

It's hard to imagine when you're there that this could be the backdrop for the movie "Excalibur" based on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, with Nigel Terry in the role of Arthur and Nicol Williamson as Merlin, with Helen Mirren as Morgana.  In early roles were Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart in a movie not short on stars nor on scenery.  The waterfall (opposite) can be found in Powerscourt, Ireland and I suspect most of the background scenery was Irish.  The waterfall is where Arthur confronts Sir Lancelot who appears to be no pushover when it comes to a good scrap.

Beaches in Ireland also provided the setting for the World War II movie "Saving Private Ryan" set against the Normandy landings.  The Normandy beaches had become rather developed when the film makers were seeking a site, then they discovered the rather unspoiled beaches of Ireland.

Although the beaches of Connemara were not included in this particular movie, the west of Ireland did not escape the attention of Hollywood.  Cong, between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, in Co. Mayo and just over the border from Co. Galway, became the setting for "The Quiet Man", starring John Wayne.

Although Ireland has seen considerable development over the years, like any country in Europe, there are still plenty of places that remain unspoiled, many protected by law from development and others with stone works older than the pyramids of Egypt, such as Newgrange.

This is representative of ancient bone-yards found throughout the British Isles, places that still attract the curiosity of the scientist and the tourist alike.  Whether it's Stonehenge, Newgrange or the equally ancient sites dotted around the landscape, there plenty to fire the imagination.  But on a more serious note, it is always a good idea to make sure you know where the nearest pub is - not only for the beer, but for food, rest and a pee!  Again, don't forget to visit our web site: Click Here

Man in Hole

No, it's not a manhole.  It is a hole in the road and there is a man in it!  There's also a ladder poking out of the hole in the road and a few other workmen orbiting - doing whatever workmen do when they're orbiting a hole with a man in it.  I hope that isn't too confusing for you - it is for me and I just wrote it!

Like most people in the neighbourhood, I've no idea of what's going on outside.  All I do know is that we've got a patch of mud by the Stop sign, no road outside, and a hole with a man in it!  Maybe after last night's storm the earth opened and swallowed 'Flying Eagles Band' or whatever they're called.

There's one guy outside who looks like he wouldn't fit down the hole, the other looks like a pipe cleaner, maybe they're holding him in reserve.  Usually these folk wear a hard-hat, but these boys must have a hard head that falling debris bounces off.  Given the size of the pipes to the left of the Stop sign, only a pipe cleaner would fit down that hole!  I have to wonder though, what will they run into down there?  Bugs Bunny or perhaps the Hunchback of La Crosse.  Then again, they may even find a stray Brontosaurus down there - you never know, something has to be causing all these earthquakes!

The main question that has us, and no doubt our neighbours wondering is when are we going to get our road completed.  It would be nice for everyone to have access to their property and for car owners to park their cars in their garage.  Conspiracy theorists think that it's all a nasty plot by the council to get their paws on extra loot by charging for parking on surrounding streets.  Yeah, like they're going to raise the millions they need to get out of the red by doing that... there are more refined ways of highway robbery!

Well, if you're planning to go down any holes today. Stay safe and have a nice day.  Please don't forget our web site: Click Here

The Book by Cook

Karin Ficke Cook, that is.  Seven Doors of Time has so far had twenty four downloads but only a few sales, this isn't really surprising since we haven't paid for any advertising of the book.  It would be nice if we could afford advertising and I don't think we would go with the News of the World if we could.  Come to think of it I don't think anyone is advertising with the News of the World, certainly not Ford, Virgin and Coca Cola.  The loss of advertising revenue and the comment by one reader of the Oldham Evening Chronicle that anyone buying the News of the World would have to be nuts, appears to have done the trick - the rag is closing down - for good.

Back to Karin's writing.  It seems she can't stop and good for her!  I have just read her latest effort, based on a dream and featuring a character based on yours truly.  No you can't read it!  At least not yet, we'll just have to let you know when this new book of yarns becomes available.  What I can tell you is that one of the bad guys in the story pees his pants when he gets a load of me when I'm really pissed off!  And I'm really pissed off at the bunch of idiots!  You'll just have to wait for the ebook to be published.

Seven Doors of Time is not very expensive and will not break any one's bank account, unless their name is Buggs Bunny - he does not appear to have a bank account even though he seems to have a good supply of carrots on hand.  Those who have invested in a nice kindle (or any e-reader) would do well to make the purchase. So go on, be a devil and treat yourself to a book of short stories.

The Question...!

To be violent or not to be violent, that is the question.  Whether it is nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous slander... bla de bla bla.  Sorry Bill!

Slap your ex day advertised on Facebook... Oh yeah, what a great idea...NOT!  Not only is he or she your ex, you are his or her ex.  If you are entitled to slap your ex then your ex is entitled to slap you... fight begins cops are called and you're both arrested for disturbing the peace (or for being idiots).  Why this propensity for violence?  What makes people think that violent acts solve problems when very often they create them?

The argument "But you have to see it from my point of view!" raises the question, why?  There are two sides to a coin and two different views to consider, why should your view be more important?  It isn't and it's that simple.  More often than not both parties are at fault for one reason or another; both have erred.  Is it becoming part of our way of thinking that we should express our anger, vent our feelings and turn to violence to get what we want?

For those of us who purport to be Christian, it can be worse.  In Matthew 5: 38-48 he tells us not to retaliate,  to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek.  It may be more easily said than done, especially in todays' violent world, but this is the instruction of Jesus Christ and not my express point of view.  It applies to me as much as it applies to anyone else.  I have one or two ex's but rather than slap them I'm going to pray for them... it'll achieve more in my view.  Either that or I could join Mr. Bean as a gunslinger!

Books, books and more books.

Writing a book, so I have discovered, isn't easy but the writing part appears to be the easiest part of getting the sod published.  If it is to be an ebook it first it has to be formatted and edited correctly, according to the requirements of the publisher, and this means going through the book carefully.  Then it can be uploaded and still you're not done.  There are other pains in the bum to deal with.  It's a darn sight easier to read the bugger than write and publish it!

Karin's Book "Seven Doors of Time" consists of seven short stories ranging from disasters (such as splitting America in half - nice one there) to Crime, Murder and Time Travel, with a bit of Romance thrown in for good measure.  It cost her $9.99 to get the ISBN number.  To find Karin's Book on line: Click Here the ebook costs just $2.99 but 30% of the book can be downloaded free.

If my own effort ever gets published I for one will be surprised, even so, my first is perhaps just over two thirds complete.  I suppose I just need to get settled in and start bashing away at writing.  I should warn you, while my effort is a bone crunching adventure with lots of bad guys, I can't help sticking humour in it - given that it is partly set in my home town of Oldham.  As I keep telling people, the town once exported cotton but today it exports comedians; you don't have to be a comedian to live there - but it helps.

Missing my pencils

I thought I'd do a sketch of Gabrielle Gifford, now on the road to recovery - but can I find my sketching pencils? No!  I've the sketch pads - different sizes of pad with the right kind of paper, but not even a HB, BB or 4H in sight. I took out the colour and adjusted the contrast to produce this black and white image, then after adjusting the size, printed it out.  Of course I could use Photoshop to produce a sketch, but in my book that would be cheating.

I'll just have to wait until I can purchase a new set of sketching pencils and that means waiting until I can get to the right store that sells them.  Development closed one store in the neighbourhood, a tornado closed another - what next?  Let me guess, a redneck going on the rampage shotgun in hand after being stabbed in the arse (ass) by a super-mosquito developed in stagnant water left over from the Mississippi flood!  That's the problem with mossies here, they can be tiny things that creep under the radar or whoppers that come with full armour and 27mm cannon (or that's what it feels like).  No matter what their size, it sure ain't no pin-prick that they leave.  Well I suppose we have the rest of the summer to fight 'em off.  What puzzles me though are the young things at the Uni just up the road.  They stretch out on the laws like offerings to the gods and not a mossie in sight!

I think I'll go on another hunt and see if I can find my pencils.  When I'm quietly sketching I'm as quiet as a lamb and not my usual nutty self.  And if you don't believe I'm nuts - ask Karin.  She knows.  By the way don't forget to visit our web site.  The links for all Karin's books are there - including the ebook.

Saturday and it's back to the grind!

For someone who is supposed to be unemployed, I'm kept busy.  If it isn't housework, it's something else.  The something else on this occasion I'm certainly not complaining about. Karin managed to get her ebook, "Seven Doors of Time" (ISBN 978-1-4524-9424-1) uploaded and published, and believe it or not she's even had her first sale!  A few more wouldn't hurt (heavy hint, heavy hint), Click Here for the site.

Yeah, okay so the ebook has a cover... well kind of!  The book is a collection of seven stories and I'm sure that Karin will outline them in her blog.

Of course while Karin was uploading I was busy on my laptop updating Facebook and our web site.  Of course I also sent out the appropriate information on Yahoo Groups as well, not that it will reach many, but it's a start.

Karin's first published novels had quite a price tag, but we both feel that the charge of $2.99 for the ebook is not too bad (there is a decimal point in there, so it's just short of three bucks).  I suppose we'll have to wait and see how well the book does, or doesn't do. Our advertising budget is at the moment $0 and that's about it.  Nevertheless, God is good and kind to us.