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Covid-19 & The Great Outdoors

Apr 24 2020

The future has shifted from a promise to a threat. Who knows when this Covid-19 situation is going to blow over. It has to be soon, or the global economy is going to be a train wreck. Well, it is already come to think of it. As for me, I’ve been fortunate in that I can get outside, as I live in the countryside. Not that it’s all been enjoyment. Removing this stump was a living hell. It has been replaced with a hedging plant.

What with the Covid-19 situation, there are some good deals around, especially when it comes to hedging plants and gardening supplies in general it seems.

We’ve been fortunate to have had such glorious weather during lockdown, something you can’t take for granted here in the UK. Walking and unwinding in the woods has been a pleasure.

This tranquil setting (see below) proved to be the ideal place to ease coronavirus-related stress.

There is nothing quite as cathartic as water. Well opiates perhaps. But water is better for one’s health, and wallet.

What with all the gardening and writing I’ve been doing, I haven’t got as much reading done as I hoped. These two books will be devoured soon.

I’ve never considered myself a fan of sake, but this bottle was delicious.

As for book sales, it’s been a torrid period of late though there was a welcome smattering of sales of Necropolis (#1 Necropolis Trilogy) on UK Amazon this week.

Have a good weekend. Take care and stay safe.

Virtual Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Coronavirus Bunnies & More.

Apr 10 2020

Lent officially ended yesterday, but what with the coronavirus lockdown being extended it is going to run for a little while longer yet.

In other news, the Easter Bunny has had a makeover.

Kinder eggs are great, but I for one have had enough surprises this year.

Self-isolation and Easter eggs hunts aren’t an ideal combination, unless one has amnesia. Fortunately there is a solution – virtual Easter egg hunts. Presumably, the fun is all in the hunt. A bit like fox hunting when the fox bit was banned. After all virtual Easter eggs can’t be that appetising though I hear anorexics love them.

If you’re interested in setting up your own virtual Easter egg hunt, you can find instructions through this link. (Tip: Unless you want to get egg on your face do not use FaceTime for hunts involving more than ten people. Use Skype).

And the Easter fun doesn’t end with virtual Easter egg hunts. For the first time this Easter, virtual church services are taking place. Here in the UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury is due to lead the first virtual Church of England service. Combining church with a Sunday sleep-in certainly appeals more than turning up in person. None the less I think I’ll give it a miss.

And then there’s the virtual church service slash virtual Easter egg hunt. One has to locate the hidden eggs in various places in the church – (cloisters, congregations’ handbags etc.) in a clandestine manner, so as not to incur the wrath of the pastor, parishioners and God himself who will not hesitate in vanquishing you with a lightening bolt, if he notices you disrespecting his special day by scurrying around looking for eggs. I made that up; but it’s got promise.

Jokes aside, there seems little doubt that the coronavirus pandemic is giving us a sneak preview of the future. Everything will be going virtual in due course. That is my prediction in Tomorrow’s World: Darkly Humorous Tales From The Future (99c/99p on Amazon). If you’re not too busy with your virtual shenanigans this Easter, you might enjoy it.

‘This book will certainly have you turning the pages to see what happens next …’ – The Daily Squib

Tomorrow’s World is … a plea to put down the VR headset and experience life directly. Because nothing lasts forever.

Coronavirus: Weathering The Storm

Apr 03 2020

Much of the world is in coronavirus lockdown. Over the course of the last week, matters have only got worse. America is now being ravaged by the virus, and in India migrant workers have been controversially sprayed with disinfectant in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19. We’re all hoping matters improve quickly, or many of us will be facing destitution.

One of my blog visitors has asked me to share his infographic (see link below) – ‘Weathering The Storm’. It contains useful tips on how to deal with lockdown, and some ideas on how to spend one’s time – many of us have a lot more of it after all. Prior to familiarising myself with this infographic, I was not aware that famous museums the world over are offering virtual tours. If you’ve ever wanted to visit Seoul’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, you can now do so from the comfort of your living room. It’s the only way in fact.

Infograpic-1 Download

As for me, I’ve been using the opportunity to clear the garden. Exhausting, satisfying, never-ending toil is how it could best be described.

Some of the ground is covered in these rope like vines. Ripping them out of the ground is a great way to release Covid-19 lockdown-related angst.

There’s always something cathartic about a fire.

This seems like appropriate reading matter at a time like this.

I look forward to reviewing the book in due course.

I can never resist a serial killer. This keeps popping up everywhere. It’s next on my TBR.

After that it will be … (recommended by my mother).

Let’s hope this Covid-19 nightmare blows over soon. Normality may not be ideal, but it beats this.

Living With Covid-19

Mar 27 2020

I don’t have Covid-19, but Boris Johnson does. He’s suffering mild symptoms and is working from home. Tomorrow he might even be well enough to pop out to the supermarket for some ‘essential’ shopping.

It’s been a grim week for near on all of us. For me personally the magnitude of the coronavirus hit home when I heard that 3.3m Americans had filed for unemployment last week, and that 769 people had died in a single day in Spain from the disease.

As is the case with most people, I am concerned about finances. I’ve taken so much for granted, and now it may be gone. There’s a fair bit of work going on in my garden. Once it’s done, I’m battening down the hatches. The extension will have to wait – perhaps indefinitely.

How’s your self-isolation working out? I’ve been doing a fair bit of reading. I need my transgressive fiction at a time like this.

Gardening has also been on the agenda. The weather has been glorious here in the UK – sunny days and cold nights.

What a find …

Today, at lunchtime I went to the extortionately priced farm shop to get something for tea. It took nearly half an hour to gain entry due to only five people being allowed in at a time.

We are constantly being told that only ‘essential’ shopping should be taking place. Inside the farm shop, I found myself pondering whether octopus can be classified as essential.

Well, if you’re poised to perish from Covid-19, and don’t fancy being ransacked by the state for death-duties, £16.95 packs of octopus could be deemed ‘essential’.

One can’t have enough of the stuff.

Doggy has been enjoying some sunbathing. He’s been stoically coping with the Covid-19 lockdown, though he has not been impressed with the 20% picture quality reduction on Netflix. He has embarked on barking tirades whenever I switch it on.

There are far worse places to be for a stint of self-isolation than the countryside. I am really grateful to be able to get outdoors at a time like this.

As if searing heat, abysmal hygiene and grinding poverty aren’t bad enough at the best of times … Just imagine being in lockdown in a cramped Delhi hovel with three generations of your hand-to-mouth earning family. If you venture outside, you’ll face the wrath of the cane-wielding Delhi Police. I’ve only ever spent a few days in the city, but for some reason I keep imagining what the Covid-19 lockdown is like there, and other similar places.

I’ve sold a handful of my darkly humorous offerings this week, all on Amazon US for some reason.

Have a good weekend. And if that isn’t possible under the current conditions, have a tolerable one.

Click Here To See My Goodreads Author Page

Covid-19: The Escalating Situation

Mar 20 2020

This week’s been all downhill as far as the Covid-19 situation is concerned. Well, perhaps that’s not entirely true. China are claiming they have no new cases of the virus; but other than that it’s all pretty bleak. It wasn’t so many weeks ago that an Italian was telling me that her country was being their usual overly-dramatic selves in their response to the coronavirus problem. Italy’s body count now exceeds China’s.

As for me, I made another trip to the supermarket this week.

I guess many of you have been facing a similar situation. On the bright side, I did manage to get some (non-supermarket) loo roll. 85p a roll – it’s designer.

And the good news didn’t end there. Another shop even had eggs. Happy days.

This weekend, I was supposed to be working at a sporting event (UFC at the O2) but it has since been cancelled – the latest victim in this post-Apocalyptic sporting landscape. The question is, will the Olympics go ahead? This made me laugh:

My dog’s life hasn’t changed much. He still goes for walks, sleeps, eats, and watches Netflix.

I haven’t been hoarding dog food deliberately; it just comes in 15kg bags.

My fellow humans are meant to be reading more now they, or many of them anyway, are in self-isolation. Well if they are, they’re not reading my darkly humorous offerings. Or perhaps this is just the calm before the storm.

Click here to view my Goodreads Author Page.

Coronavirus: It’s Here and It’s Here To Stay.

Mar 13 2020

It was only weeks ago that coronavirus (COVID-19) was a distant threat, and now Tom Hanks and his wife have it. The shadow of COVID-19 looms everywhere. I went to the supermarket earlier this week. These shelves are usually brimming with toilet paper and kitchen roll, but they now resemble something out of North Korea.

This was my first personal taste of the ongoing crisis. Then I found out that the large sporting event that I was supposed to be working at next weekend, may not go ahead. It could be worse; I could be dead. There are only 10 Covid-19 related deaths here in the UK, but that will presumably increase many fold.

As for self-isolating, I’ve been doing it for years so it shouldn’t be a problem should I get the virus. I’ve just been reading the National Health System’s advice concerning self-isolating.

1). Sleep alone if possible – Tick, that’s a given.

2). Try to keep at least 2 metres (3 steps) from other people in your home – Tick. There are no other people …

While much of the population and many businesses are starting to feel the cost of the outbreak, every cloud has a silver lining, at least for some. The coronavirus is proving to be a gold rush for mask manufacturers, and some hedge funds too. Boaz Weinstein’s primary fund ‘gained 25.5% in the year’s first two months as he bet against companies exposed to the coronavirus …’

Will the crisis also prove to be lucrative for some authors, one wonders, what with self-isolators and off work workers having more time to devote to reading. Only time will tell.

Culinary Delights & Reading Plans

Jan 31 2020

I’ve read two books so far this year. The first was a pleasure, the second a chore. Here are the next books on the list. The genres will come as no surprise to those familiar with this blog. The first is dark fiction, the second Transgressive fiction. I am a big fan of McCormac and Welsh (the majority of his stuff).

And now for the culinary delights. Sunday roasts are something of a staple for us English. This beef was exceptional.

And here is a French staple I had at a café. Croque monsieur proved to be an inspired choice.

Green tea and chocolate brownies – the perfect combination for reading time.

If our world has a better dessert on offer than baklava, I am yet to try it.

Thank you America. Our nation is all the better for the introduction of Five Guys.

Vegetable samosas – my all-time favourite starter. And this is coming from a carnivore.

See you next Friday …

Black Comedies, Book Reviews & More Besides

Dec 13 2019

It’s been nearly a week and a half since Golgotha, the final instalment in The Necropolis Trilogy, was unleashed on the world. The reviews have been impressive. Sales have not. But, on a positive note the release appears to have generated some interest in the first instalment in the darkly humorous trilogy – Necropolis. Early next year, I am planning to bring out a box set. There are already 10 glowing testimonials for Golgotha on Goodreads. Click here to read them.

On another subject, how’s your Christmas shopping going? It is said there are two types of people in this world – those who buy their Xmas presents early, and those who do it last minute. I fall into the former category. Before you say anything, this Pokemon duvet cover set isn’t for me, it’s for a young relative.

I have one more book to read in order to complete my modest Goodreads 2019 challenge of twenty books. This is it.

This weekend I’ll be catching up with my book reviews. It’s a real labour of love writing them, as it is a time-consuming business. However, I am of the firm belief that forcing myself to write succinct book reviews has improved my writing in general.

It hasn’t all been hard work. Here is a Five Guys I had earlier this week.

The below is called breakfast hash. Highly recommended, and a pleasant change from the standard English Breakfast.

I haven’t been the only one spoiling myself.

Have a good weekend.

Another Week Bites The Dust

Nov 15 2019

Well, it’s Friday again. The week has had its up and downs like all weeks. The down has been a lingering cold; the ups have been several delicious meals, reading some good books and acceptance for a ‘BookBub New Release’ promotion for my forthcoming darkly humorous crime novel – Golgotha (release date: Dec. 03). Unlike with some of their other promotions, this type is for full price titles, and only runs in North America. If you haven’t read Golgotha’s excerpt yet, here is the link (467 words, <2 mins).

It has been cold here in West Sussex. Below is a photograph I took on my dog walk early one morning of a frost-covered field with a couple of deer in it.

Here is my dog stationed in the warmest spot in the house.

I had these scallops and chorizo at one of my local pubs on Wednesday.

And for dessert this. One never tires of chocolate brownies.

On another subject, I wrote a couple of book reviews this week. Click on the links to see my reviews of Papillon by Henri Charriere and Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut.

Next up is Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.

Have a good weekend.

Torrential Rain, Black Comedy & Comfort Food

Jun 21 2019

The UK has been deluged with torrential rain for the best part of the last two weeks. We needed it I am told, as the ground was very dry. The good news for me is that with all the rain my lawn has finally started growing, the bad news is that it resembles a swamp.

Due to the wet conditions Trigga has been spending much of his time on the sofa. But now with dryer weather forecast, he will be able to while away his days in the garden once more.

As for me, I have been dealing with the monsoon by eating a lot of comfort food including a substantial amount of salted fudge aka ‘Dentist’s Nightmare’.

I have also been watching some of the latest episodes of Black Mirror on Netflix. I am flattered that some readers have compared the show to my darkly humorous book of snippets about the future – Tomorrow’s World.

The unremitting deluge has done wonders for my reading. Next Friday I will be sharing the reviews of the books I have read thus far this year. Perhaps you will discover something that interests you.

I am currently polishing off the third draft of Golgotha, the third instalment in the Necropolis Trilogy. The books feature darkly humorous sociopath and sometime public sector worker Dyson Devereux. This is the ad on BookBub for Part 1. It has proven appealing to potential readers.

Have a good weekend.

A sociopath can only keep up a façade for so long.

Category - Other

Covid-19 & The Great Outdoors

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Virtual Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Coronavirus Bunnies & More.

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Coronavirus: Weathering The Storm

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Living With Covid-19

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Covid-19: The Escalating Situation

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Coronavirus: It’s Here and It’s Here To Stay.

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Culinary Delights & Reading Plans

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Black Comedies, Book Reviews & More Besides

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Another Week Bites The Dust

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Torrential Rain, Black Comedy & Comfort Food

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