An Excerpt from The Last Observer
Edward looked into Stan’s face. There was expectancy about the look he gave Stan. “I am sure that you have many questions Stanley but take your time. I have as long as we need.” Somehow, Stan didn’t like this feeling that he had around Edward sometimes. It was a feeling that Edward was entirely in control and knew exactly how Stanley felt. “Well,” he began, “I have been doing some research along the lines that you had suggested.” He paused to think. “And, I have reviewed the files that you left with me as well.” Stanley could feel Edwards gaze. “What do you mean by the term observer?” he asked. “Well, an observer is someone who has the power to create reality,” replied Edward. “But, everyone creates their own reality
Read More »Learning to Ski After Age 50
Learning to ski later in life is an experience. Just getting the ski boots on is an almighty struggle and by the time those boots are on, I am exhausted. Then off you tromp as best you can with immoveable ankles and carting what seems to be two tons of skis over the shoulder. All around others from the age of three all the way to pension age move with effortless ease while you feel like an elephant on ice. Next, you carefully put on the skis. A balancing act in of itself as the damn things slip and slide making you look like something out of a cartoon whose legs are whirling frantically but there is no forward progress. Now, with huge attachments to your legs making it nigh
Read More »The Topless Skier
I think politicians are the scum of the earth. I have made this statement before and I will say it again. They are usually hypocrites, liars, cheats and eminently buyable. They use politics to polarize opinion, cause disruptions and sometimes war. Politicians work endlessly and tirelessly to find ways to be divisive. By being divisive, they gain a following and cynically they hope that the issues they divide us on are popular enough to give them a majority. I think the best strategy is to ignore them and certainly never to vote. The topless skier from The Lebanon emphasizes my point today. Here we have a country polarized by religion (another crock of polarizing crap) and politics with seemingly endless violence (just as the politicians and religious zealots like it).
Read More »The Anatomy of a Bad Review
If you take a look over on Amazon.com at the reviews for The Last Observer, you will discover a couple of 1-star reviews there. I’m not sure if these two people know each other but they sound remarkably similar. There is nothing wrong with bad reviews. We don’t all like the same things and constructive bad reviews are useful in growing as a writer or whatever it is we do. In fact, go to any book on Amazon with several reviews and you will find a range of reviews from bad to great. I was just reading Anthony Peake discussing a bad review he got for one of his books too. Sometimes, people are not just critical but personal and its then that I feel things cross the line to
Read More »Trial by Social Media
There used to be a time when family matters were kept private. Perhaps that wasn’t a healthy attitude – sweeping things under the carpet and keeping it within the family but there were and still are appropriate channels via which people can get assistance and make complaints. Of course, there has always been gossip and gossip newspaper and magazines but by and large, people chose whether they wished to consume this type of frivolous nonsense by actually buying the magazine. Mainstream media, wary of legal action or a slap on the wrist from regulators, also (usually) maintained some element of restraint. Like many things, social media and the internet has changed all of that. Today, we see various ways in which accusations may be made, sides taken and people’s reputations
Read More »People….
You have to wonder sometimes exactly how people think. We own (well the bank does actually but that’s by the by) an apartment in Brno. We will be moving back there in a couple of months. It’s the ground floor flat in a four story building meaning that we have three neighbors above us. Various services are shared between the tenants and accounted for at the end of each year such as common power, water and a cleaning. Really, the building is a microcosm of the world I should think. It’s like a bloody soap opera as well. The people who live at the top of our nice building seem to believe that the common funds are there to pay for their improvements. In the hallway outside of our front
Read More »London and the Brits – Observations
I had a quick trip to London this week and I have decided that London is almost unrecognizable to me these days. So much development work and a real shift in eating habits over the last 20-years means that I really am lost there. I started my career as a Geologist with BP and after moving down from Aberdeen and a spell at the BP Research Center, I was moved to Britannic House – the tower block on the edge of the City of London. Being in the City, I retraced my steps from the Bank tube station as I would have walked to work some 20+ years ago and not only did I recognize very little but I couldn’t find Britannic House at all! I came home thinking it
Read More »All at Sea
See, I have this dream We are all at sea Wet, cold bloody misery Massive waves throw us From side-to-side It’s simply a hellish ride But when the Sun shines We can dry out on the deck Singing what the heck Cos it’s a fine old day Sailing through our allotted time Seeking meaning or sign What a wonderful ride Following a golden sunbeam Tumbling through life’s dream If you enjoy my poems you may like to purchase one of my three books of poetry?
Read More »Taking Responsibility
Last night I saw someone had shared an “Occupy Democrat” post on Facebook. I find it quiet interesting how such political propaganda (from all sides) like this gets air time and even more interesting are the comments. However, these things are lies designed to manipulate, polarize and alienate. I will use the words of someone else to describe what I mean… Lies and Deception are the enemy of the Truth. They are put forward into the minds and hearts of the people of Earth by those who rage against what is. They are spoken, propagated and acted upon by those with a vested interest in keeping the understanding of the Truth from reaching the Consciousness of each individual. Lies and deception are insidious, for once they have been believed and
Read More »Thrilling, Enjoyable, Classy, Fun, Fast-paced….
There is a common theme to the reviews of The Last Observer – see if you can spot it! Here are a selection of snippets – to read more please visit the publisher’s page. ..script-writers alert; this would make a cracking film! I enjoyed it immensely ..if you just want a great ride, this book will thrill you.. Really enjoyed the book.. The Last Observer is a classy, well crafted novella which leaves the reader satisfied and hooked. Great read. ..a small part of me would love to see the dialogue in Chapter Twenty – Zeltan Speaks performed by Al Pacino just as he did his famous defense of the human condition as Satan in the movie version of The Devil’s Advocate. If you liked that scene, you’ll enjoy this
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