Other | Guy Portman's Blog

Time For A Change.

Oct 22 2021

I started this blog on March 12th, 2012. The first ever post was about my recent trip to Miami – Miami: Day One. For the past nine-and-a-half years, I have written a blog post every Friday without fail, with the exception of one occasion due to technical issues.

The plan was to keep blogging until the end of my days. However, this week I made the decision to take a break. I’ve just had enough. The thing feels stale, stagnant, listless, and of little use in promoting my titles. I have no inclination to try and increase my presence on WordPress, as I feel that my energies could be put to better use elsewhere.

The blog will still be online. As for the book reviews section, I will continue to update this with reviews of books I’ve read. There are currently over 130 reviews. But, until I have a change of heart, or big news to bring you, I will not be writing blog posts.

The plan is get on with other stuff. I have written two books this year. Both of which need editing, and won’t be released for quite some time yet. In other news, The Necropolis Trilogy is poised to be remastered. #1 Necropolis will be removed from sale, rewritten and then put back up as a new title. A new cover may be necessary and a reworded blurb too. Hopefully, parts #2 and #3 just need a bit of work and won’t require uploading as new books. This way, I can keep the sterling reviews, which #1 Necropolis never achieved. Perhaps this was inevitable, as it was only the second book I ever wrote.

This is what I tell myself every morning when I wake up – The world will embrace the new and improved Dyson Devereux. Readers will be engrossed from the beginning and eager to read the entire trilogy.

It’s called positive visualisation. OIympic athletes do it all the time. And I’m talking about the successful ones, not Eddie The Eagle, or that swimmer from The Guinea.

I also have plans to write another two books in the near future. By this time next year, I aim to have twelve books out.

It is time for a reset. I will still be visiting your blogs; the few of you who still visit mine regularly that is.

Have a good weekend.

Squid, Siamese, Sweets, Staropramen & Swifts.

Oct 08 2021

I do like alliteration, at least when it comes to blog posts. The Squid in the title refers to the Korean Netflix series ‘Squid Game’. Half the world is watching the show at present, as am I. The most memorable part for me was the cookie cutting game. Never would have thought cookie cutting could be so fraught.

‘Siamese Twins’ is the book I am poised to start, but just haven’t quite got around to yet. 2021 has not been a prolific reading year thus far.

Now for the sweets. Are you a fan of cheesecake? For some reason I was under the impression I couldn’t stand the stuff. That all changed when I tucked into this specimen complete with icing.

Starting the day with a nougat pastry is not the norm. However, last Saturday was an exception.

Staropramen is a Czech beer, which is often sold quite cheaply in the supermarket despite it being what could be described as a premium beer. You’ve probably had it before. It’s pretty good.

Time for the swifts. These swifts stopped off by my house on their migration south. At least I think they are swifts, they’re not swallows. They were here last year too. It surprises me that they spend so much time flying about. One would have thought they’d use the time to rest, unless of course they are training for the long journey ahead.

Have a good weekend.

Feasts, Fiction, Fall & Football.

Sep 17 2021

What with the endless Covid-19 related restrictions, I hadn’t eaten out in ages. That all changed this past week. I have eaten out twice. Both meals were of a similar ilk. Here are the pictures. As you can see, I am a carnivore at heart. Vegetarians, please avert your gaze.

I also went into London for the first time since 2019. The place was inundated with people. I sought refuge in a bookshop.

Here’s another bookshop I came across. It was a throwback to the bookstores of yesteryear.

The first football match in a long time. Chelsea vs Aston Villa.

Beers drunk after the game.

Autumn has arrived.

The grass is still growing and there is a lot of gardening to catch up on.

Hope you have been reading some good books. Here are two books that I read recently. American Dirt and The Crossing. Click on the links to read my reviews.

Have a good weekend.

It’s That Friday Feeling

Sep 10 2021

The week has flown by, can’t believe it is the weekend already. We’ve had something of an Indian summer here in southern England. It’s over now, but was nice while it lasted.

With the lack of rain, my pond has become covered in toxic green coloured algae again. Looks like something out of Ghost Busters.

Trigga waiting for his afternoon walk.

Another day, another green tea served in my Italian 90′ Panini mug.

I am still reading Razor Girl. Looking forward to finishing it and moving on to my next read, which will be this.

Wednesday was the final day of the Indian summer. It seemed the perfect time to sweat off the cornettos and Haagen-Dazs I’ve been consuming of late. So we went for a run.

I was recently given this piece of gym equipment. It fits perfectly in the corner of the garage.

In other news, I have a new headline for my book, Tomorrow’s World.

The Future Is Here. And It’s Absurd.

Links: Amazon US, Amazon UK.

Have a good weekend

Cafes, Calamities, Catnaps & Creepy Crawlies

Jul 30 2021

It had been a long time since I’d been in a cafe. I guess I’m not alone in that regard.

No sooner had I started on the brush cutting than I discovered the metal plate had buckled. This resulted in a forty minute round trip to the garden tool repair shop.

En route I took to thinking about what it would be like living in rural Alberta when something like this happened. The garden tool shop could be two or three hours away.

Here is a picture of the kebab I had last weekend.

Trigga enjoying a catnap.

Yet another photo of a deer.

One would expect to find a creepy crawly this size in the tropics, not in West Sussex. It is a crane fly I am told, also known as a mosquito hawk. I’m pleased that I didn’t squash it, as they hunt mosquitos.

Currently, I am writing reviews of books I have read recently. They have been good, bad and ugly. Here are some of the good ones. Reviews to follow.

Have a good weekend.

Games, Grub & Gardening Galore

Jul 23 2021

By ‘Games’, I’m referring to The Olympic Games. The opening ceremony is today. Can’t say I’ll be watching. Maybe it’s just me, but there is something unappealing about an Olympics with no spectators.

Synchronised swimming isn’t particularly exciting at the best of times, and without a vociferous crowd in attendance it is tantamount to watching paint dry. Same goes for a lot of other events I’m thinking. However, one suspects a significant proportion of the world’s population will still tune in to see the men’s 100 metres final. I know I will. Wonder who the sprinters to watch are now Bolt and the ‘anti-christ’ Gatlin are gone.

Anyone else a fan of watermelon. There is no more refreshing way to kick off a hot summer’s day.

This proved to be a healthy dinner. Good thing I like the colour green.

Another day, another green tea. If you haven’t seen it before, this is my Italia 90 Panini mug.

Trigga, having his siesta.

What with the all the rain and now sun, the garden has been growing like mad. I got two hours of help last week, but otherwise I’ve been fighting with it alone. Not to complain – gardening is a cathartic activity and good exercise etc.

Admittedly, most of what I do is just cutting stuff. I’ve had neither the time or inclination to create beds brimming with an abundance of colourful flora. Maybe one of these days.

Just when I thought it was all done, I realised I’d forgotten this section. It looks like the Amazon Rainforest pre-Bolsonaro.

Better get it cleared right away before the rain comes.

Fauna, Feasts, Feathers, Fiction & Flora

Jul 16 2021

I’m really getting into this whole alliteration thing. Not sure titles of this ilk are effective in driving traffic to my blog, but c’est la vie. Let’s begin with the fauna. Yes, it’s another photo of a deer. The best to date in my opinion.

Anyone else like vegetable samosa? They’re one of my favourites, and this is coming from a carnivore. Consumed the rest of the Indian takeaway before taking any photos, so this shot of the samosas will have to suffice.

I was surprised to find this gargantuan feather in my garden. There are no birds sporting feathers that big to be found here, unless there’s an ostrich hiding somewhere. I assume it was shed from a passing heron, or was carried in by crows, who have a habit of collecting random things. The trainer is included as a point of comparison.

Here is Trigga inspecting our new bit of garden. It was only sown recently. It has grown quickly what with all the rain there’s been. It’s a bit patchy though and will need some more seed after its first mow.

Of late, I have had the misfortune of reading some rather poor books. However, I am poised to begin this controversial novel. It has received praise and condemnation in equal measure. You’ve probably heard of American Dirt.

Time to baptise the new lawn. Have a good weekend.

Football, Food & Fauna

Jul 09 2021

The big news this week is that England have reached their first football final since 1966. It has been a somewhat fortuitous journey. Ukraine in the quarters and Denmark in the semis is a pretty easy draw all things considered.

On Sunday, they face the Azzurri in the European Championship Final. I have been thoroughly enjoying the games. At the beginning of the tournament I had a punt on Italy, so even if disaster strikes the cloud will have a silver lining, albeit a meagre one.

In other news, I made this omelette. It took me ninety seven attempts to reach perfection. With the depth of knowledge and experience at my disposal, I feel confident that I will be able to repeat the feat several more times over my lifetime.

Got this ice cream by the sea last weekend. This seaside staple used to be called ’99 Flake’ back in the day. These days they go by the name ‘Mr Whippy’. We can thank Americanisation for that.

Well, that’s the exciting news out of the way.

Here are two pictures of deer taken this week.

Right, time to get some of the grass cut before it starts raining again.

Partying, Partaking, Pastries & Problems

Jul 02 2021

The partying in the title refers to the wedding I attended last Saturday. It had been a very long time since I had been in a large gathering of people. I managed to successfully avoid all physical contact. It came naturally to me.

Some lessons had to be relearned however. Lesson One: Make eye contact with people. Lesson Two: Don’t maintain eye contact 100% of the time (or one will appear psychotic). Lesson Three: Don’t drink to excess, or one will suffer the consequences.

It took me until I was around thirty to learn the first two lessons, but I learnt the latter when I was fifteen. Unfortunately, I had forgotten it. I have since been reminded.

The dining marquee

My place. There’s nothing quite like seeing one’s name in print.

That’s the wine done with. Anyone else a fan of Limoncello?

The two metre plus best man striding away from what was a successful speech.

A Scottish cousin and his other half in celebratory mood. No, it wasn’t England failing to beat Scotland in the football that was the cause of their jubilation.

Now for the pastries. They’re Baklava. I ate the entire box last night.

Finally, a break from the rain. It was time to get some gardening done. The problem was I couldn’t remember which oil the flymow takes.

Could have sworn it was this one.

I was wrong.

It’s A Dog’s Life

Jun 25 2021

Nothing of significance has happened this past week. Usually, I have some exciting news to share, such as pictures of yummy tidbits I’ve consumed. The only news to report is that a green tinge has appeared on what is going to be the new lawn. However, it is not yet in a photogenic state, so I’ll save the lawn pic for another week.

Therefore the dog is going to be the centre of attention this week. Firstly however, here is a picture of a deer. Back when wolves roamed the countryside, I doubt deer were so audacious. I can get almost close enough to touch them.

Two comfy chairs available yet Trigga opts for the floor. It gets hot in here in the summer and the wooden floor is the coolest place. He does have a mat to lie on. Latches for the windows are supposed to be arriving soon.

Trigga leading the way on a walk.

Relaxing in the garden post-walk.

Staring at things on the floor is so much more interesting than watching The Euros.

Will this tedious football tournament ever end? Guy is watching it practically every day and it’s so boring. Surely men should have evolved beyond watching a ball being kicked about. Dogs have.

The Germany vs Hungary game on Wednesday was a fascinating spectacle and undoubtedly the highlight of the week thus far. England are playing Germany next Tuesday in the last sixteen. Can’t say I’m feeling particularly optimistic. Like most of my nation, I am still haunted by the memories of ’90 and ’96.

When was the last time you saw loads of people at once? I am going to a wedding this Saturday. It will be the first time I have seen more than a handful of people in one go in a very long time. I guess most of you have faced the same Covid-related predicament/blessing in disguise.

Category - Other

Time For A Change.

Like this:

Squid, Siamese, Sweets, Staropramen & Swifts.

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Feasts, Fiction, Fall & Football.

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It’s That Friday Feeling

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Cafes, Calamities, Catnaps & Creepy Crawlies

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Games, Grub & Gardening Galore

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Fauna, Feasts, Feathers, Fiction & Flora

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Football, Food & Fauna

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Partying, Partaking, Pastries & Problems

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It’s A Dog’s Life

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