Christmas Partes

I have attended my first Christmas party of the week on Tuesday night. This was my work night out to celebrate with team members past and present our hard work over the past year.

We started with the pre-meal drinks at All Bar One, here is a picture taken from this venue showing me and the other silly blokes on the team! What a lovely group we make!!

The proceeded to the meal at Slug and Lettuce, just across the way from our drinks. The food was OK, not amazing but mass produced for the many parties they have. Soup, followed by Salmon and Profiteroles, all full of flavour but the steamed veggies that came with the mains, were tasteless and watery!

I am sure that this gentleman wont mind his picture being taken! Haha!
The menu, we went to Birmingham: http://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk/christmas (not too sure if this will work after Crimbo!)

Many people left at this point and it was down to the hardcore!! Here we are!



Tonight, I am off to my second Crimbo Party. Wish me luck, it could get messy!!!!

Bangkok Eight- John Burdett

Synopsis:
When a US Marine is killed in Bangkok, the task of finding the murderer falls to Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, seemingly the only member of the Royal Thai Police Force whose idea of justice excludes the habitual bribe-taking practised by his fellow officers. This assignment is especially important to the devout detective because during the investigation of the murder scene, the methamphetamine-stoked snakes that bit the marine also kill Sonchai's police partner, best friend and Buddhist soul-mate Pichai. Sonchai's pursuit of revenge will team him with a sexually frustrated FBI agent and leave them at the mercy of yaa-baa-fuelled motorcycle-taxi drivers as they hurtle through neon-lit Bangkok and into the labyrinthine and deadly machinations of the international jade and drug trades in search of the killer.

Review:
This is the worst book I have read for crime fiction in years. The description of Bangkok and the night life, sex trade and social disadvantages of some of the population of Thailand is probably the best thing about this book.
The crime side of things, somewhere to be found in a congested book full of other fiction and facts. Book is not fast moving, the plot is boring and I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Read more reviews at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bangkok-Eight-John-Burdett/dp/0552153567

The Wild Zone - Joy Fielding

Synopsis:
In this compelling novel, Fielding introduces two brothers, Will and Jeff, and their friend Tom, a trio of playboys out to make something happen in the hot sands of South Beach. One night at their favorite watering hole, they make a bet on who will be the first to seduce a mysterious young woman they’ve never seen before. Dark-haired and blue-eyed, Suzy has a disarming, girl-next-door aura about her. She seems like an easy mark, “just waiting for Prince Charming to hit on her,” says Jeff. But these players have no idea what they’re dealing with. A woman filled with secrets, Suzy is hunting for the right man to kill her abusive husband. In the end, the real competition will be to see which Prince Charming is tough enough to slay the dragon and rescue this damsel in distress. And he may not come out alive.

Review:
I had read this book in quick succession to another Joy Fielding - Still Life and had hoped for more from this installment. I began the book and I was instantly hooked by the plot of three friends and a female playing them all off against each other to kill her husband. Throughout the book, I kept feeling one more chapter and then before I knew it within a day I had read the whole book! Page turner, most definitely. Fantastic plot and the ending is a little expected from a seasoned thriller/crime reader but still very good.

False Details: Update

I have now got to the point where all things are good, ticking along very nicely and a brickwall has now hit the free flowing narrative and creative word count.



I have written up all the ideas and now I trapising through the words to find things I have missed, does the story flow, does it make sense?!
Well it does to me, I keep saying but when I read it as non-writer, no it does not!!!

PROBLEM!

Here is an extract of my latest chapter written for False Details:

“M12, are you free for an immediate”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“It has come through as “The Inn”, which looking does not look like it is anywhere we know. We are trying to find out, consulting Google”

“Local knowledge it is the youth club at St Martins Church” shouted up someone with some information.

“Thank you that officer, then according to mapping shows to be part of St Martins Church, Stanton Green off the Highway close to Princes School.”

“All received. What is the job please?”

“There has been a party this evening, well not a party as such but a group of youths have gone to the youth club for the memorial of Natalie Woodman, killed a few days ago. And it looks like it has got out of hand and criminal damage has occurred, large groups are now spilling into the surroundings.”

Kenny had sat and listened to the whole exchange on his radio. His ears pricked up from the calming melodies and rifts of Joe Bonamasa streaming from his computer terminal. He spoke to intelligence this afternoon after his visit to the school and receiving such information from the teaching staff and students. He wanted to find out how he could best distribute the information across the force in case of any issues that spilled out of Birmingham South into other police areas. They suggested using the Intelligence Management System otherwise known to the officers as IMS. IMS is good for long term issues that need to be collated for a one off event that is happening that same evening not so good.

He called the Service desk, logged the conversation and asked it to be brought to the attention of the local Neighbourhood Team. Which would have been fine but they booked off duty at 10pm according to the shift pattern, it is now nearly half past 10. It was now up to response and the units to deal with.

“M12 arrived at the scene. More units required. Approximately 30 youths standing outside the premise. Very intoxicated and I don’t think the Police arriving has calmed them down.”

“Thank you for update. Other units are one minute away.”

“Blue lights and sirens may need to be switched off, silent approach.” Sergeant Blake barking orders from the comfort of his office. “I repeat no tones; do not want hostility to rise.”

Suddenly, the air was clear of two tones and the crowd moved away from the centre.

Deflated

I have now had my Cycle to Work scheme bike for 12 months and I think i has run its course in terms of having no problems with it!



I have had 3 punctures in as many days and I am not happy!! Talking about bad things coming in threes...

I could not be bothered with puncture repair kits and as I had a supply of inner tubes I changed the first on Monday for a lovely new one and it was a pain to get off. Always the way with a the first time you have to change a tyre. Once it was sorted, I thought that there would be no more problems, Oh No. How wrong could I be?!

Following morning, I wake up to a flat! Inflated it as I was going to be late for work and sorted it there. For another new inner tube, that old (new) one could have been faulty, I hear you say! So did I!

 Lets hope I don't get to this stage!!

No, No, No (A little alternative Christmas). Yesterday morning, I got to the first of the two hills on my journey, halfway between home and work. I realise I am riding on the rim! So I had a few options:

1) Walk Home - I was halfway so it would take me 15 minutes to walk with the bike. I had less than 45 minutes to get to work. Not a good idea
2) Chain the bike up - Good idea in principle but not a good area to leave it and I only had a loop lock as I was not expecting to leave it anywhere. So not a good idea
3) Walk to work and sort it out later - Yes, I think I would do this but it would take a while pushing a bike! I was in luck, a very kind workmate helped a friend in need! I had a lift the rest of the way and still arrived in time.

Now I still have the problem of a flat, I am going to do some exploring of the issue. Tyre checks and wheel checks to be done. Something must be causing the puncture.

 Me Tomorrow Later Hopefully!!!!

The Soul Catcher - Alex Kava

Synopsis:
FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell and her partner Tully investigate two cases--the murder of a senator's daughter in Washington, D.C., and a deadly shootout in Massachusetts, both of which are linked to Reverend Joseph Everett, who is dating Maggie's mother.

Review:
This is my second attempt at reading an Alex Kava novel, my first book was 'A Necessary Evil' which I believe is later in the series and found it very clunky and did not really get into the story due to that.
Soul Catcher is pretty much the same as Necessary Evil, I could not get into it. There is too much chapter changing, I lost my way and found I was losing half the story and could not remember what happened at the beginning. So way too many short chapters, I personally would not like to write anything over 40 chapters at a push but this was way beyond that. The writing again, I found very robotic and clunky, it did not seem to flow and the short sentences, yes good for effect and fast pace but for me with the short chapters, I do not like it!

Rose West: The Making of a Monster

Description:
Although it's hard to believe now, Rose West was an exceptionally beautiful little girl with long, glossy dark hair and big brown eyes. Strangers would stop and stare at her in the street and she could entrance people from an early age. Looking at photos of young Rosie as a child, it is almost impossible to comprehend that she would grow up to become one of Britain's most notorious female murderers.
What happened to that little girl to make her capable of such violence? Or was there something wrong - a predisposition to cruelty - which she was born with?
Crime writer Jane Carter Woodrow goes back to the start of Rose's life to piece together what it was that turned her into a monster. In doing so, she presents us with a profile of the young Rose West and a fascinating insight into the mind of a killer.
Rose's early life made her the perfect partner for Fred West when they met just before her sixteenth birthday. But the young teenager would kill for the first time a few months later, alone and unaided, while Fred was in prison. Her part in the killings is very different to that which many people believe even today.

Review:
Having read, FRED&ROSE by Howard Sounes last year I received this book for my birthday this one and got straight into it. Jane Carter Woodrow describes how Rose took a more leading role in the murders than original thought, Charmaine for example was killed just a few weeks after her 16th birthday and while Fred was in prison.
Rose and Fred has similar childhoods, both abused and sexual active at a young age. This book covers all the history of Rose and her upbringing and describes all the murders in good detail but it is not really about them its about Rose and how she became the infamous and worse female serial killer and sex offender of all time.

Oysterband

After reminiscing over the past few weeks about the bands we saw at Towersey this year, we have decideded to take some action to ensure that we are not waiting until next year to see these amazing bands again.

First off, we are to see Oysterband tomorrow in Leamington Spa. Here is the miro-bio from their website:
Oysterband make a modern, folk-based British music, acoustic at heart, sometimes intense, sometimes rocking. Since 1978 they've toured in 35 countries  -  festivals, concerts, bars, rallies, jails, bring 'em on!  -  and made 12 studio albums.
Music for the head, the heart & the trousers. And still improving in the bottle.

I have trawled through the videos we took at Towersey 2011 and here is Oysterband Live. (It was taking too long to load our video so I have cheated): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBxvDNmaMX8


So, we thought about what can we do next and have come up with a summer itinery (well, Meg can go to all these I have to work over these dates, something called the Olympics are on!)

Cropedy Folk Festival - 9-11th August 2012 http://www.fairportconvention.com/
Towersey 2012 - August Bank Holiday Weekend. http://www.towerseyfestival.com/

Here is a picture from last years festivals that keeps us all laughing:

Twilight

The time has come again when the next installment of Twilight has arrived at our local cinema. Breaking Dawn Part 1 is premieres at 12.05am (GMT) Friday morning after the first three films shown back to back from 4.30pm (GMT).




Here is the showtimes from Empire Cinema, Rubery:

The Twi-athlon begins at 4.30pm with 'Twilight' (2008, 122 mins). The story continues at 7pm with 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' (2009, 131 mins), the third instalment at 9.30 is 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' (2010, 124 mins) culminating in 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' (2011)  at 0.05.

It will be a tiring night and will not get back until 3am but....it will be worth it but will I will a....

   or     

WAIT AND SEE!!!

Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum

Description:

Broadmoor Revealed gives the reader a glimpse behind the walls of England’s first Criminal Lunatic Asylum. Focused on the Victorian period, the book tells the stories of some of the hospital’s best-known patients. There is Edward Oxford, who shot at Queen Victoria, and Richard Dadd, the brilliant artist and murderer of his father. There is also William Chester Minor, the surgeon from America who killed a stranger in London, and then played a key part in creating the world's finest dictionary. Finally, there is Christiana Edmunds, ‘The Chocolate Cream Poisoner’ and frustrated lover. To these four tales are added new ones, previously unknown. There were five women who went on to become mothers in Broadmoor, giving birth to life when three of them had previously taken it. Then there were the numerous escapes, actual and attempted, as the first doctors tried to assert control over their residents. These are stories from the edge of where true crime meets mental illness. Broadmoor Revealed recounts what life was like for the criminally insane, over one hundred years ago.

Review:
This was my first Ebook read in its entirety (I have recently brought a Kindle). And whilst looking at recommended reads this was suggested and due to it being free I thought i would be worth a try.
I am a bit fanatical about British history and history of crime in particular so to find out about the history of the most famous prison in Britain was brilliant, I read this book cover to cover including the references in one day, I could not put it down. All aspects of the history was covered, why it was built, the first doctors who ran the prison and the infamous escapes! Recommend to everyone that would be interested in this piece of history.

A friend in need

The sudden rush of blood, the quick flashes of what if and whys fly through the mind. Your body starts into almost like a programmed response, a learnt skill. Adrenaline makes the muscles tense, the flush of heat as it makes the muscles work faster (Fight or Flight)

The cry for help as it hits your ears, makes all the emotions run wild does not matter who the person is, but when that person is a friend, all the emotions are doubled, tripled and you start to rush to the rescue to do your bit.

That happened to me today, that person was a work colleague, a friend. Myself and the rest of the people who were also working heard the call for help and began our ascent onto the scene. I got there but the situation had been mostly dealt with.



Friends are there to watch your back, get you back on your feet. Friends are important to everyone, and seeing them in situations like today make you see that bond is strong not matter what the problem.

I think this picture shows the help that is needed from friends to get to a common goal!

False Details - My Novel

Here is a post about my writing for a change instead of my feelings on the world we live in!

Well, whilst on holiday a few weeks ago (Check out the post on my blog) I was writing every day. The writing was consistant and was determined to keep up routine even if it was making notes and changing the manuscript I had printing.
I have since the holiday made all the changes that I jotted down and written up all the paragraphs and ideas that I thought of.

Now, I sit here in front of the computer having not written a word for nearly a week on my novel. I have lost the momentum that I gained whilst having my writing hour before holiday, I am out of sync.



I set myself a target of finishing at Christmas, this target is still 40 odd days away but I have reached only 35,000 words.

Can i finish in time for my deadline, I can only try but I need to buck up my ideas and quickly I should think.

Check out Lulu.com for an extract of my novel (the prologue and first two chapters can be downloaded)

http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/false-details/18545321

The Winter Ghosts - Kate Mosse

Synopsis:

The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. Unable to cope with his grief, Freddie has spent much of the time since in a sanatorium. In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the French Pyrenees - another region that has seen too much bloodshed over the years. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Shaken, he stumbles into the woods, emerging by a tiny village. There he meets Fabrissa, a beautiful local woman, also mourning a lost generation. Over the course of one night, Fabrissa and Freddie share their stories of remembrance and loss. By the time dawn breaks, he will have stumbled across a tragic mystery that goes back through the centuries. By turns thrilling, poignant and haunting, this is a story of two lives touched by war and transformed by courage.

Review:

Pros:
I am not a lover of historical fiction, I think that the market has been flooded with the historical thriller since the Da Vinci Code.
I keep coming back to Kate Mosse though for one reason, her stories are gripping and they keep me turning the pages to find the conclusion to the mystery.
The Winter Ghosts a very good read, the description of another small town in France, the atmospheric writing of the tension locked up in the past and the undercurrent story of Freddie who needs this trip away from his life in England and the troubles he has faced, finding the salvation from Fabrissa and her story has unlocked the emotions from Freddie.

Cons:
Two things that disappointed me, the text was quite large (not always a bad thing when reading in bed before you fall asleep) this meant it felt like a short story stretched over 200+ pages and adding to this the other downfall personally was the pictures, added nothing but expanding the number of pages. 

Fireworks Night

With the weekend now approaching fast and therefore people will be having their firework displays tonight and tomorrow, with diwali last week the fireworks have really been going off sporadically over the past few days really.



When shopping in Harborne yesterday, i saw that Waitrose had put an offer on their firework cabinet, BUY ONE GET ONE FREE. Yes, i understand that they need to make money and this will encourage more sales by getting people in the store.

What I do not understand is there is no restriction for personal allowance, I watched a shopper buy £100 pounds worth of fireworks and then he got another £100 free, that meant that his entire collection was 20 large rockets, and two large boxes of fireworks and sparklers.
How can this be used for personal firework display and unless he lives on a large plot of land, people are going to be too close to the display as the rockets need minimum of 25 metres from the display!



HAPPY GUY FAWKES NIGHT TO ALL, REMEMBER BE CAREFUL....

Lots of work this autumn on the Allotments

After many weeks of picking all the vegetables from the plot, it has now become bare and all that remains is the last few strands of a once tall runner bean plant and some potato sprouts.

We have just spent the weekend at the plot tidying up the areas that have been overtaken by weeds and planting for the new growing seasons, onions, garlic have already been put in and will be put in one row a month to ensure that there is continuous growth and then after a trip to Notcutts bright and early on Saturday morning, we brought three blueberry bushes which will fruit in July, August and September and one loganberry plant (which we realised is a cross between raspberry and blackberry!).

 Loganberries (Can't wait to pick them)

On Monday, I had the unenviable task of creating the fencing and putting chicken wire across the fencing to hold the new fruit bushes and the existing fruit to encourage growth in the correct directions, upwards and along instead of along the floor as happened this year as we forgot to put some up!

City Council Parks and kids using them

Do the parents of Birmingham feel that their local parks are a fantastic free resource over the summer holidays/half term?
Are the kids and the local residents making the most of the open space?
Do you people feel safe in their local parks?


This is an old piece of writing, an email i did to someone about the summer ativities...

After spending the afternoon in Grove Park, Harborne, for Grove Park family Fun day and Sports day run by Birmingham City Council Youth Services and ASB team. I spoke to a number of people in the park to ascertain whether they were enjoying their afternoon in the glorious sunshine and all the resources that had been put on by Birmingham City Council.

The answer to question one is yes, the parents that I spoke to said that the Grove Park that was on most peoples doorstep was a fantastic resource for kids. Most people lived on the estates and roads around the park and after receiving an invite or saw the posters advertising the event. Residents went on to tell me that it was the first time since the last major events 3 years ago that they had been to the park.
To say I was flabbergasted was an understatement, I practically lived in my park when I was growing up. So the answer to Q2, NO people are not making the most the facilities available.
When I delved further, I answered Q3, because of 2/3 events that have happened over the past few years in the park, they do not want their kids coming there or they are afraid of the youths that congregate in the park around the play area.

What can be done to improve the perceptions of individuals in area?

• Being educated that they were random attacks, communication from relevant personnel, more events like fun days and sports days to get people in the parks....

Is it just isolated to Harborne and Grove Park?

• No, I don't think it is unfortunately, perceptions of the incidents has overcome people common sense

Feedback was given to the organisers, so lets hope for more days as it was a fantastic success!

Karin Slaughter - Kisscut

BOOK REVIEW



Synopsis:

Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember. But when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton - the town's paediatrician and medical examiner - finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy. What seemed at first to be a terrible but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self-mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn. The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. But when a young girl is abducted, it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. And unless Sara and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again...

Personal Review:

I am a big fan of Karin Slaughter and have read a lot of her more recent books and when I spotted this book at the local charity shop I knew I was going to buy it.

Quick entry in the first scene and the beginning of the twists and turns in the first chapter, very typical Karin Slaughter, the action is quick fire and the storytelling is made for the page turner that develops.

The story itself was very detailed and the content of domestic abuse unravels and you start to suspect it is maybe the usual suspects then the twist that all is not as it seems, false identities, friends and families working together. All this makes for a very good read and a brilliant read that last me all of a day of reading!

Aldi, Lidl, Netto. Money Saving Experts!

Cutting down on the weekly shopping budget in these tough times is easy as far as i can see, that's what Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Home Bargains, Iceland and other low cost stores are for! Aren't they?
   

The first and only low cost food store was in Selly Oak (Aldi) and has been for approx 10 years primarily for students but more recently we have had a new Aldi built in Northfield and Edgbaston, does this mean more people are using them or are Aldi getting wise before the rush starts?

We do a weekly shop at Sainsbury's for the more hard to get items, items that the low cost, high turnaround shops can't and won't stock as this would mean items having a longer shelf life.
Food is increasing in price, i was reading the other day an article on food prices and was shocked to see basic items and how much the price has risen:

Baking Potatoes up 60%
Cereal Crops up 40%
Baked Beans up 64%

I was totally shocked but we have not really see these because we started using Aldi, at the turn of 2011, anfd due to the basics all coming from here we have not seen the price increase in fact we have seen out weekly shopping bill decrease by nearly £20 per week and we seem to buying more items compared to before.
Experts warn that the prices will keep rising over the next 10 years and with all the other bills increasing too, the pinch is really starting to hit home.

We are veggies, therefore our diets not consist of all the more expensive meat products that most of the population buy and I am constantly hearing that meat is more expensive. Instead of complaining about the cost, do something about it, do you really need the best cut?
No you don't make the change, get a less expensive cut or less expensive meat and do something different with it! Simple!

But is not just food though, discount stores are everywhere...groupon, wilkinsons, home bargains. The list goes on!