All that glitters is not gold?

The Vanity Game - HJ Hampson

A great read during which I almost felt I was reading a Jackie Collins novel initially. The reader feels like a voyeur, glimpsing the lives of the rich and famous whose good looks or talent allow them to have lifestyles where they can do anything with no penalty to pay. Is that true?

I really don't want to say much more! Read this book. It's so dark and quite terrifying, not like I initially thought at all. Hampson tells the story so well that you drift from outrage to almost sympathy and back again seamlessly. It's a very clever book and makes you wonder if this could ever happen.

I was going to call my review 'Horrific Brilliance' and that is equally true.

Loved it. Excellent. 5 stars are well deserved here.

Speech for Dad

I was going to stand here today and read one of the many poems which are traditional on these occasions; you know the sort of thing, 'Do not stand at my grave and weep.......' but weeping is exactly what I would have done before I'd reached the end of the first verse.


Instead, I'd like to start by thanking you so much for coming here today. We really appreciate it and I know dad does too. Dad loved his golf! It was one of the main reasons my parents retired here to beautiful Ayr, away from the stresses and strains associated with city life in Birmingham. Dad never took anything here for granted. He would never tire of looking out of the living room window enjoying the emerging spring flowers or the squirrels and birds in the trees. Of course, he would rant at the television - he had strong views on many things - or he'd wave my umbrella at the seagulls getting a little too close for comfort, but he loved his life and saw the best in everything and everyone. It's a pity it's taken his passing for me to fully realise that.


If there is one lesson I have learned over the past few days, it's to stop being so negative! So, I'm telling you!
Appreciate everything and don't ruin the present worrying about the future or regretting the past. These are things you cannot change. There is nothing wrong with making plans, but please don't spend too much time looking forward (or back).


Above all, don't forget to tell people you love them. Life is a gift. Make the most of it. Let's try to be glad for my dad's wonderful life as he tees off on that great golf course in the sky.

The Violin Man's Legacy by Seumas Gallacher

Right from the start, you know Seumas Gallacher means business! This book is not for the faint hearted. The Violin Man's Legacy is a fast paced,  no nonsense thriller which has all the ingredients you could possibly want from an action story. No complicated plot here. The main character - ex SAS man Jack Calder - is instantly likeable and you get to know more about him and his formative years quickly, described with surprising gentleness given the tough introduction.

In a James Bond style plot,  the action doesn't let up for a moment. There are plenty of merciless executions, jetting around the globe on the trail of the villains - marvellous scenery descriptions particularly of Hong Kong - and of course there is time for a bit of passion too.

This was a very satisfying first book. I look forward to the next one!

Some of the Most Sexy Chicks in the World!

Dead Money by Ray Banks

Even if Mr. Banks decided to write a book about the joys of studying carpet fibres, I would relish it now. Why do I say that? Well, I must be honest. I really struggled with Dead Money to start with and was very slow reading the first 20%. As someone who rarely even bothers to buy a lottery ticket and who has a father who used to have a terrible one-armed bandit addiction, the subject was not appealing to me and the title said it all. How glad I am I persevered!

Alan Slater and his sort of friend and colleague Les Beale are window salesmen with a penchant for gambling. To be fair to Alan, he initially acts more as a bodyguard/minder to Beale, although Alan constantly gambles with both his marriage and his soul. When Beale gets involved in a fixed game that goes horribly wrong and loses everything, he turns to the only person he feels can help get him out of a dire situation.  Alan reluctantly goes to his aid with disastrous results.

It’s the sort of tale where you cringe, clutch your head and wail ‘Oh no!’ as things seem to go from bad to worse. The author keeps you glued right to the end with skilful portrayal of the events which overtake Alan and Les. Gamblers need luck more than skill. Who was the most successful gambler? Who was lucky? I’m not telling you! I daren’t say another thing.

The grisly humour did it for me and the author’s wonderful descriptions which had me feeling chilled to the bone as if I was out in the pouring rain, watching. A cracking read.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Here are just a few pictures from Saturday 10th of December at Ayr Citadel. It was a cracking night. I really enjoyed it and so did my parents. There were 12 band members! These pictures barely convey the wonderful atmosphere but here we are.... The support act was Jill Jackson, a fine blues/folk/rock singer songwriter. A great start to a terrific evening.      

https://picasaweb.google.com/rozwood1970/RedHotChilliPipers?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKCPvtH9zcL3dw&feat=directlink

Choke On Your Lies - Anthony Neil Smith

I really enjoyed this book! It's unusual in that there is nothing endearing about any of the characters initially. I had the urge to slap poor Mick Thooft, as he appeared downtrodden and manipulated by everyone he came into contact with. That expression "Grow a pair!" so often used these days seemed perfect for him.

Mick turns to Octavia, the power crazy, omnipotent and physically enormous lawyer for help to save his house from the claws of his treacherous wife, Frances who has decided their relationship is over.
Octavia is fearsome! She uses her power, wealth and intelligence to outwit her adversaries and manipulate her employees and anyone close to her. This includes Mick who is perhaps her one real friend; it's a friendship that has survived the years even though he sometimes fears Octavia too. Does she have a softer side to her complex personality?

You need to read this fantastic book where the characters are as cleverly constructed as the storyline which takes you through filth and sleaze all brilliantly described with the most wonderful humour. There are parts which are downright hilarious! Also there is an amazingly touching speech from Jennings (Octavia's right hand man and another of her captives) which nearly had me in tears. This book takes the reader through so many emotions - frustration, annoyance, sadness and happiness. It's so well done.

Read it. It was a real surprise and a pleasure to read. Loved it!!!