The Last Observer Available for Pre-Order
I accidentally just discovered that my new novel is available for pre-order on all Amazon sites. For me this is quite exciting as, for the first time, the product of love, sweat and tears, is available albeit in August….. Check out the Amazon page on the UK website and you can actually look inside the book. You can also ‘like’ the book’s facebook page and stay up to date with developments there. You can also take a peek at the promo video I made; Or, better still, pre-order it. You won’t regret it. Its a good yarn.
Read More »A Spot of Colon Navigation???
Just under 2-years ago, a routine colonoscopy discovered a 5cm tumor in my colon. Although benign, the tumor was growing rapidly and would soon result in a large internal explosion. Apparently not good for life support. Much to my trepidation, it had to come out. Can you imagine major surgery in a foreign country where your language skills rank maybe a 4 for comprehension and a 2.5 for speaking? Actually, the facility I had the surgery in was very good and it was keyhole surgery too performed especially by the top Doctor there. I recall being wheeled in for the surgery. The operating theater was huge and had an amazing view of Brno castle at least until they put the shades down. There must have been about 8 doctors and
Read More »I Used to be able to fly…..
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan I posted this quote on Facebook last night on the Last Observer page. For a novel about the nature of reality and magic, it struck me as a darn fine quote. Magic really does involve belief or faith. Faith really can move mountains. Magic rituals, far from being some evil activity performed naked with the lights out, are simply a very traditional human activity designed to help act out and therefore convince the subconscious and other areas of the psyche, that something is so. That, if you like, we can still fly. I discuss this in Inner Journeys where I use the example of projecting success and
Read More »Sex Sells II
One of my first posts here was a tongue-in-cheek discussion of writing and publishing books – I used the title sex sells because it does – just look at that category erotica and you will understand that these books sell. Well, tonight, I posted an article to my Czech Republic travel blog. I thought I would check out the stats while there….. First the good news. The blog is getting a hell of a lot of visits. So all my hard work and photographs of Czech castles and landscapes, witty posts about Czech lifestyle, culture and politics was actually generating interest? Of course not. No. One post was generating 95% of that traffic and the stats tell the entire story. Google is bringing in a lot of that traffic on
Read More »What Happened to Music?
OK – now I am going to sound like my parents but, can anyone explain to me what happened to music? Am I the only one that thinks that what passes for ‘popular’ music these days is complete and utter sh*one*t? Not only that but what happened to self respect? Much of the ‘music’ I hear on the radio is not just mono-tonal and monotonous crap but the lyrics leave a lot to be desired too. One song that gets played a lot over here has some guy singing about how he is gonna have a lazy day and get him some ‘nice’ sex. Lucky him but – it that a topic for a song? There are several songs that simply seem to use the F word at every opportunity
Read More »The Cycle of Life
At this time of the year I am struck by the colours of spring. The lush greens of the grass and trees with new leaves and then the dustings of purple, yellow, pink, and white of wild flowers and of the blossoms. It is as if the world has been created anew and it is wonderous. Everything is in its youth or infancy in the cycle of the year. The vitality and the strength of the life force is there and is both plain to be seen but can also be felt. The days of course, are getting longer and more light-filled and the air is warmer. Spring has sprung. As I think about the endless cycle of birth and death – the orouboros of life – the eternal return,
Read More »Changes II
Yes. Hull City AFC (The Tigers) are once again a Premier League team. Mad celebrations took place after a very weird and stressful afternoon which you may have read about in the media. Me, I knew it would be rough so I went swimming and only checked after the game was over. Yep – I am a coward. However, I did a dance just like this….
Read More »The Word I Like to Hate
Standing on the metro here in Prague a couple of days ago, a crowd of young female Americans were nearby. I knew they were American because they exhibited two definitive American traits; Loudness and a problem with speaking English. No, I’m sorry to my American friends (and I am a naturalized American myself), but this is true. Americans in Prague speak as if they want everyone to hear them. They speak at such a volume, they are audible 1km away. It is as if they consider themselves so important that they know everyone just must hear what they have to say. By the way, its not just me that thinks this. In the office, my colleagues routinely joke about it. Americans, they say, shout. It’s embarrassing to be honest especially
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