Love in the Time of Cholera

What a drag. I could tell straight away that I'd read a similar tale just by the style of the prose. Marquez's  narrative is just so boring and presses on relentlessly without passion or change. The reference to his characters is just so formal with the insistence of using their full names each and every time they are mentioned. And the names themselves are so similar, even though they are completely unrelated. The idea of a man waiting for his true love is an interesting one, yet the cold harsh and indifferent reception of the dull narrative drones on about mundane activities without referring in detail to the action within. Not once do we learn of the full contents of a letter; we merely learn what happens to its physical presence of it afterwards. It is too much a tale of hopes and dreams. I hope that I shall never have to open a work by this author ever again.  

Fat Bottomed Girls

I saw a huge elderly woman today giving swimming lessons to children in the learner pool. She was properly obese in the sense that each buttock would hang off either side of a chair. She wasn't in the pool with the children, but standing on the edge in a zebra stripped top waving her hands behind her in an attempt to teach the back stroke. And why is a woman that big being allowed to teach physical education? It’s definitely not the best of setting the example  when it comes to demonstrating how to keep fit. It's simply stealing away jobs from other working people. I hoped that there was someone else in the pool hiding out of sight who was at least giving the main lesson or being responsible for the children’s safety. But I just couldn't see it. And so we have to reach the only conclusion that we can witness. 

Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years

Does the neurotic life of Adrian Mole finally reach a happy end? The unlucky diarist finds himself in another set of life-changing circumstances that he once again struggles to understand. As well as battling with personal tragedy in his comic way with his outspoken family attempting to assist him, his career is also under threat as his antiquarian bookstore owner battles to keep up with society. There is also his constant battle against the societal machine; whether it’s attempting to book a medical appointment, seek approval for the publication and performance of his latest script, or battling to assemble a trampoline. It’s about an everyday man who struggles to stand up for himself with devastating consequences for a man who tries to be terribly passive. But there’s still time to take in the modern changing world of today; with political issues such as the beginning of the financial crisis and the smoking ban all begin to make themselves known in this modern account of early twenty-first century Britain.

Pub of the Season

On a bright sunny Sunday in March, members of Redditch and Bromsgrove CAMRA got together to celebrate the end of a cold spell by presenting their Winter Pub of the Season Award. This season’s award was won by the Red Lion in Bromsgrove in recognition of the consistency of well kept real ale served in this one-roomed lounge pub in the centre of Bromsgrove’s high street. During the colder months licensee Jason Greenwood and his team ran a beer festival featuring regional ales from around the country; and the regular line-up of six Marstons beers was swapped for regional brewers from around the country such as Batemans and Everards.  On presenting the award, Redditch & Bromsgrove CAMRA Branch Chairman said that the Red Lion was a traditional community pub in the heart of Bromsgrove that local people are proud of; and that Jason and his team always give a warm welcome to everyone who comes through the door. 

An Adventure in Ombersley

I enjoyed another pleasant walk last week; this time it was around the village of Ombersley near

Droitwich. The weather was absolutely scorching so it was a great excuse to get outdoors and scout out a route for the next RambAle. After finding a nice quiet road to leave the car, my first task was to cross a busy duel carriageway with a large grass area on each side. A footbridge would have been very handy here; but I doubt that Wychavon District Council will have time to install one before I lead my rambAlers across the road. Luckily; they will barely be on their first pint. I soon found Dean’s Wood and a nice reflective pool for a first rest spot, then bore North to find the spring. Unfortunately I hit the road before the spring; and after backtracking across a footbridge it seems that the original footpath has been diverted. Nevertheless, I soon found the Honey Bee which will make an excellent rest stop for a bite to eat. The next footpath was clearly marked; and I soon found myself back on the main road where my guests will have an opportunity to partake of the Leaking Well in Dunhampton. Then we’re needed to cross another busy road and head down a busy side road to reach the village of Sythampton. The footpath here was again unclear as a new set of industrial buildings have been constructed to hide the way. Fortunately it was clearly marked at the other side, and once through the village I passed through a field of rhubarb then through another field full of sheep. There was a very grand house on top of the mound which was well protected by Dobermans; but luckily they decided not to jump the fence; though they clearly could if they wanted to. After passing through Northampton which consisted of yet more rhubarb; I reached the village of Uphampton with the Fruiterer’s Arms being just around the corner. Onto a narrow track next to reach the main road; then once crossed a series of footpaths led through a caravan site to the Wharf Inn in Holt’s Fleet. As this was not on CAMRA’s radar, it was necessary for a quick half of Otter Bright which was very refreshing. My final problem was to find the right footpath that would take me back to the village. After ending up in someone’s back garden who said that I could come on through;’I found myself at a crossroads way too early and had to backtrack through the river and into the next field. Fortunately the castle on the opposite side of the river made it quite clear where the correct path was; and I soon returned back to the south side of Ombersley. 

Soul Music

Soul Music is a very entertaining tale of death and music. It’s a heavy action novel with many of the Discworld’s popular characters all battling it out to get on top of one another for the supremacy of Ankh-Morpork, only this time with music! While the action is sometimes very fast-paced; all of the storylines blend in perfectly within and each character’s motive is original and unique which makes it a happy outcome for almost all at the end, leaving no social observers in between. It’s one of those books that you’ll want to read again, just to see the antics of a particular character. Very entertaining, and if you know your music then they’ll be some great references in there for you. It’s a great shame that this was written before the time of TV karaoke competitions; otherwise there would have been some great parodies (though that makes the story’s perspective even more unique). Don’t fear the reaper!

Wetherspoons Beer Round-up

What's the best way to spend a Bank Holiday Weekend? While working until Sunday, the first thing that I wanted to do in the evening was to hit the nearest bar. Sunday is usually a quiet time for pubs but I thought that there would be a few more people out than usual because of the extra day off. No such luck; however I did manage to try some new beers from the local Wetherspoons. The Royal Enfield featured the latest charity beer which was raising money for Help the Heroes; while just down the road the Rising Sun featured an excellent mild from the Wild Weather brewery in Hampshire. Not sure about the pump clip design of a Texan in a yellow suit; but it was a superb beer from a brewery that I’d never heard of before. This was then followed by Heli Hopper; another charity beer but from Sadler’s brewery and very refreshing. 

To Kill A Mocking Bird

Just finished reading Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. It's a heartwarming tale of the American South-west; when people were settling down into town life and were beginning to question the rights of colour. I loved the innocence of the story told through the eyes of Scout; but took me a while to realise that she was actually a little girl; having no mother to turn  to and only her brother and father to care for her. It’s a shame that the book ended so suddenly and a lot more could have been done for the main character, and could have been developed into a longer story. Will she continue to rebel against the established education system set out for her? Will Scout become a lawyer like her father or settle down into a more lady-like societal role? Will her interest with Dill develop into an adult relationship? Will she drift away from home or remain under Atticus’s and Jez’s care? Up next, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera. 

Two months later...

It's been two months since my last post. You might say that a lot has happened within those two months but it hasn't really. Sure, I'm now the editor of a magazine which I am trying to pass onto someone else, but at least it has got me writing more. But I'm still in the same old room wondering where to go or who to spend it with, and trying to find some more energy to get these project tasks done. I'm fed up of trying. It's time to win. It's time to get persistent. And it's a lot harder to take a cat nap when I'm back from work with a steady stream of sunlight coming through the window implying that you really should be somewhere else. So I really need to throw myself into things; stop getting distracted and get out there to do the things that I really want to do.