Unprecedented changes are afoot at PhonepayPlus. A key plank of a raft of innovations is a new public register for premium line operators. There will be big changes to the PPP Code as well and PRS providers will need to have robust and effective complaint handling procedures firmly in place. Anna Williams reports.
PhonepayPlus (PPP), the regulator of premium-rate service (PRS), intends that its new Code of Practice shall be published during the first quarter of 2011. Before this is possible, Ofcom and the European Commission must first approve the Code. Two of the major changes to appear within the next Code shall be the imposition of responsibility for Code compliance onto the party that controls a PRS and a new registration scheme that should lead to greater transparency as to the parties involved in the provision of PRS.
Back in April 2010, PPP published a consultation document discussing its proposed new registration scheme. It was clear that the scheme would involve the creation of a database of PRS providers and it was intended to assist the PRS industry to carry out due diligence on parties within the value chain to assess their Code compliance and assess the risks of doing business with them. Of course such a database shall also enable PPP and Ofcom to keep an eye on frequent infringers and enforce regulatory compliance. PPP wants it to also be easier for consumers to contact the customer services team of the provider of their PRS. PPP has therefore been spending a lot of time thinking about how the registration scheme shall function effectively and in January it issued an update to inform the PRS market how it intends to establish the registration scheme.
1. When will the scheme become active?
It is intended that the new scheme will commence with a 'pre-registration' phase during which time the bulk of the new database of PRS providers shall be populated. It is PPP's intention that the scheme shall be fully operational from the first day on which the new Code of Practice is effective. There are no clear dates provided yet but PPP intends to co-ordinate the publication of the new Code, its date of enforcement and the pre-registration period for the registration scheme so that players in the PRS market will have "every reasonable opportunity" to register with the scheme when it comes into play. PPP hopes the new Code would have received approval from Ofcom and the European Commission by the end of March 2011 and so hopes to provide more definite timelines when it publishes its next update.
2. Who will be required to register?
PPP's new Code of Practice shall state that nobody is to operate a PRS without being registered. Furthermore, nobody must do PRS business of any kind with any other organisation unless that organisation is registered with PPP. The whole of the PRS value chain will therefore be affected in one way or another by the new registration scheme. By way of example of what registration is likely to involve, companies shall have to provide information relating to their registered name and number, their country of incorporation, the date they were incorporated, their trading names (past and present), an address for receiving instructions and a contact number and email for regulatory matters. Similar requirements also exist for sole traders and partnerships.
Each and every PRS service will need to be registered with the new scheme within 48 hours of being activated. The provider responsible for customer service will have the responsibility for ensuring a particular service is registered and all information relating to that service is up-to-date. The access number for the service shall have to be provided, together with a link to the registration of the organisation providing customer care for that service and a customer care number. PPP has recognised that some organisations will also want to go one step further to provide consumers with information about their services so as to reduce the need for them to approach the PRS provider for information. PPP shall therefore enable registering organisations to provide further service information on a voluntary basis and this shall include information concerning the charging mechanic associated with the service, the type of service concerned and information describing the service and how further enquiries can be made. Any party involved with a service can register information about it and each time the database is updated where an individual service is concerned, an email will be sent to the regulatory contact at the relevant provider for that service and they shall have the opportunity to amend or dispute the changes to the database if they are not correct.
PPP received a large number of responses as part of its consultation process when it queried whether any particular services or entities should be made exempt from the registration requirements in any way. It has indicated it is now considering such submissions and it will update the industry in due course as to whether any services or entities are either exempt from registration in its entirety or shall be required to register but shall not need to pay the registration fee.
3. What shall happen in the event of breaches of the Code of Practice?
PPP has indicated that one of its key objectives is to raise awareness within the industry of those who "consistently cause harm in the PRS market". PPP shall therefore match information of individuals who are behind breaches of the Code to their new organisation's records so that future potential business partners will be aware of their previous track record for Code compliance. During the registration process, details shall therefore have to be provided as to the full names, dates of birth and email addresses of directors. It is easy to see how third parties could be put off from doing business with a company who employs a director who previously breached the Code. Individuals could therefore also find their job-hunting activities are affected if they have ever been responsible for a Code breach in a previous professional life. Perhaps more of an incentive to ensure Code compliance going forward!
4. Who can use the new scheme database?
Concerns were raised to PPP that the new registration scheme could be used by third parties as a tool to gather marketing data about the PRS industry. Although the database is likely to only hold information that is publically available, it is now intended that only entities who register as part of the scheme can use the database to search its records. PPP shall also keep one eye on the database to ensure it is not abused and any improper use of the database shall constitute a breach of the Code of Practice.
Registrants shall also be able to conduct due diligence searches and have reports created within the database regarding their filing history and the history of others they are considering doing business with. However, PPP has warned that this function of the database shall not act as a "get out of jail free" card for players in the PRS market. In the face of a Code breach allegation, companies must be able to show that they not only checked whether their partners were registered with the scheme but that they also "…took a risk-based response using information from their due diligence search and have ongoing reasonable risk and control measures in place".
5. How much will registration cost?
The new registration scheme will initially be funded from cash reserves held by PPP. It is PPP's aim that the scheme will then become self-funding over time through the registration fees that shall be charged. Once PPP recovers the initial set-up costs of the scheme (expected to be around £650,000), from the registration fees to be charged, the benefit of other fees received shall then be "returned to industry". However, PPP isn't yet clear how this shall be achieved and so it is consulting on this point with stakeholders and funders at present.
Based on current forecasts as to the likely number of companies that shall have to be registrants of the new scheme, PPP predicts that the registration fees payable for the first year of the scheme shall be £100 plus VAT. This fee shall be collected online using major debit and credit cards. It is possible that the registration fee may then change in subsequent years dependant upon the number of companies that will need to register with the scheme and the outcome of annual PPP Business Plan consultations.


Need some company in the form of a furry friend? Adopting a dog has proven health benefits and can make great companions, but what breed is right for you?
Through selective breeding over the course of thousands of years, dog breeds have evolved to meet the needs of humans. Shepherds helped herd sheep, terriers kept the farm clear of mice, and Tibetan Mastiffs protected monks from threats at Monasteries. Centuries of thoughtful, selective breeding has led to a wide range of dogs with traits that can accomplish a countless number of tasks for humans.
Studies show that owning a pet keeps your blood pressure low and allows you to be more active, which also helps you lose or maintain a healthy weight. Dogs can also improve your social life, because owners are likely to talk to one another when out on a walk. Studies also show that owning a pet reduces anxiety and stress, as well as making you less prone to depression. All these health benefits keep you out of the doctor's office!
It's important to do your research prior to adopting so that you can find the right dog for you. We're all different, and some adoptees are looking for specific characteristics in their dog.
If you're looking for a pet to hang out wth on the couch while you binge-watch Netflix, then you want to adopt a dog whose personality is calmer. Or maybe you'll want to adopt an older dog.
If you're looking to adopt a dog as a walking buddy, then you'll want to adopt a dog with more energy.
If you're looking to adopt a dog for security and to keep you safe at home, then you might want to adopt a larger dog that's naturally protective of their family.
You want to find a dog that complements your lifestyle and personality. They are going to be your longtime companion and best friend. As you age, you want them to age with you. So keeping them healthy, just like they are keeping you healthy, is key.
Let's explore each trait a little further.
When adopting a dog, nothing takes a higher priority than their health. Adopting a new dog or puppy requires knowing any potential genetic issues that could arise.
Fortunately, there are tests available for breeders that allow them to detect genetic abnormalities in adult dogs in order to avoid breeding dogs that risk passing on genetic illnesses. To obtain a list of recommended tests and to learn more about genetic disorders of the breed you wish to adopt, visit the Orthopedic Foundation.
It is no surprise that large dogs are extremely strong. What can be surprising is how strong some of their smaller counterparts are. For example, breeds such as Jack Russel Terriers and Schipperkes weigh under 15 pounds, but both breeds were bred for power and extreme energy levels.
Choosing a dog while considering its size, strength, and energy level will ensure that you have a longtime companion who is your ideal pet.
What if Your Newly Adopted Dog Bites?


The Chaplet of St. Jude is used for those who need strength with desperate cases and lost causes. St. Jude is the Saint to go to when all else fails.
* Desperate situations that dire emergency and unfortunate events seemingly will occur without Divine intervention..
* For those who have tried everything and nothing seems to work.
* For those who feel that they "just can't go on" and need spiritual strength to continue their life.


The implementation of authentication methods follows the specification given in the etcd authentication and security API. etcd permits the use of authentication only on authentication and key-value methods.
There are three types of authentication resources in etcd. Users, roles and permissions.
A user is an identity to be authenticated and under which one can get access to different resources in etcd. A user has a list of permissions and a list of roles.
A role is basically a list of permissions that can be granted to a number of users.
A permission grants access to resources in etcd. It can be either read access, write access, or both.
With the help of authentication methods, a system administrator can enable or disable authentication. It is also possible to create, update or delete users and roles with different levels of access to etcd. Once authentication is enabled, users must get authorization in order to get or set data in etcd.
Implemented according to etcd Auth and Security API: "API endpoints ".
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdGetAuthenticationStatusResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdGetAuthenticationStatusResult.
In order to enable authentication, the root user must be created first using addUpdateUser. After authentication only the root user or users with root rights (for example, with the root role) can access and modify permission resources.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdConfirmationResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdConfirmationResult.
In order to add a new user, one must fill a EtcdUserRequestForm and pass it as an argument to this method.
user: EtcdUserRequestForm containing the details (login, password, granted and revoked permissions, and roles) to be updated for a given user.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdAddUpdateUserResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdAddUpdateUserResult.
user: EtcdUserRequestForm containing the details of a given user.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdGetUsersResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdGetUsersResult.
In this case, it suffices to provide the user field in the EtcdUserRequestForm.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdGetUserDetailsResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdGetUserDetailsResult.
role: EtcdRole with details of the role to be created or updated.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdAddUpdateRoleResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdAddUpdateRoleResult.
In this case, it suffices to provide the role field in the EtcdRole.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdGetRolesResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdGetRolesResult.
Returns a Future wrapped around either EtcdGetRoleDetailsResponse or EtcdStandardError extending EtcdGetRoleDetailsResult.
The following snippets of code are meant to be read linearly. Each depends on the previous one. They present subsequent operations using EtcdClient's authentication methods.
// should be "auth: No root user available, please create one"
// should be "Insufficient credentials"
Notice that there is a role named "guest". The guest role defines what users can do without authentication.
// should be "The request requires user authentication"


text:
Q: Wikipedia style article, how should I design my database? I need to make article that cannot be edited, but it can be saved as a new version and only the newest version is shown to users. How should I implement this kind of database design?

A: The database can have a version number or timestamp on each version of the article, and you just serve up the most recent article (highest version number or most recent timestamp).
For best results, use a reverse proxy cache to avoid touching the database on every hit.

A: There are a couple of ways to handle this.  I think the most straight forward way is to have a table, "article", with whatever data is set in stone when the article is created (id for example) and a second table with each edited version, "articleVersion".  article would have a one to many relationship with articleVersion.
You could set a bit, "currentVersion", and toggle it off on old version and on for the new version.  You could also just use a datetime, "dateCreated", to get the newest version since you never plan on editing them.

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Replace the gas tank regularly before your engine is ready to fail. The fuel tank that you opt for will have to cope and contend with road salt, damaging road debris, and several other threats. Wear and tear will begin to manifest itself and rust and other problems will start to show. It is vital to deal with this before the tank starts to leak as not only is this wastage of valuable gas but it is also very dangerous as the fuel is highly flammable and should always be handled with care.
Once a leak in your fuel tank is identified promptly take care of it as it can be a very serious hazard to both you and your vehicle. The possibility of a fire or a real explosion caused by the heat generated by the exhaust is very much likely. Never hesitate when it comes to changing your gas tank as the consequences can be dire in terms of the risk of explosion. This is no joking matter and must be worked on immediately. In order to locate the best gas tank for your vehicle then you are at the perfect location.
Available for the installation of your new gas tank we also have braces and other accessory tank parts. All these are reasonably priced and are available in our hassle free catalogue shopping. You are able to easily navigate the site and locate the parts that you require. These parts that are on sale are all quality parts that can last you the lifetime of your vehicle.
We back this claim with the provision of one of the best warranties on the market. This covers the materials and the workmanship of the parts as well as metal rust through. It is vital that we back our statements of quality parts and for this reason the warranty we provide is so comprehensive. There are few exceptions to the warranty but if harm is caused by you we will be unable to replace the particular part.
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Long term improvements in oral health, but some concerns emerging
The oral health and dental care of Australians has improved over the long term; however some of the positive trends since the 1970s may be reversing, according to a new report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Oral health and dental care in Australia: key facts and figures trends 2014, highlights key trends in the oral health and dental care of the Australian population using the most recently available national data.
It shows there are some areas where improvements made in the past have either plateaued or have begun to head in a negative direction.
For example, from 1977 to 1995, there was a steady drop in the average number of children's baby teeth affected by decay. This trend had now reversed, with a gradual rise from 1996.
'Similarly, since the late 1990s there has been a gradual increase in decay of children's permanent teeth,' said AIHW spokesperson Dr Adrian Webster.
And for people aged 15 and over, from 1994 to 2010 the proportion of people reporting any adverse oral health impact (such as toothache, feeling uncomfortable about dental appearance or avoiding certain foods because of problems with their teeth) generally rose. The proportion ranged between 31.4% (1994) and 39.9% (2008).
'In contrast to these recent negative trends in oral health, the trends in dental visiting patterns have generally been more positive,' Dr Webster said.
'The proportion of people aged 15 and over who made a dental visit in the previous 12 months rose from 56% to 62% between 1994 and 2010.
'But despite this, the cost of dental care remains a barrier for some. From 1994 to 2010 there was a rise in the proportion of adults avoiding visits to a dentist due to costs, from about 25% to 30%.'
Dr Webster said total spending on dental services in Australia had increased from $6,133 million to $8,336 million (adjusted for inflation) between 2005-06 and 2011-12.
The AIHW is a major national agency set up by the Australian Government to provide reliable, regular and relevant information and statistics on Australia's health and welfare.
Oral health and dental care in Australia: key facts and figures trends 2014 18 Aug 2014
Last updated 13/11/2019 v5.0
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Congress May Go After Con Artists Who Offer "Help" In Immigration Cases
Congress is planning to extend protections for immigrants who might fall victim to scammers. Many times, crooked lawyers or con artists overstate their ability to help with immigration work and end up causing problems for immigrants while stealing their money. In an attempt to curb these occurrences, new legislation aims to raise the penalties for these offenses.
Lawmakers aim to prevent future immigration fraud
Bills in both chambers are attempting to address the spike in fraud aimed at immigrants. If Congress approves a path to citizenship under the comprehensive immigration reform, lawmakers fear that more immigrants could be approached by unqualified individuals and taken advantage of. Representative Bill Foster introduced a House bill calling for a fine of up to 10 to 15 years in federal prison for offering fraudulent immigration legal services. He calls this "a foreseeable problem" and he aims to address it before scammers do.
Immigration fraud on the rise
In Tatiana Jimenez's case, she left her native Guatemala to escape an abusive relationship and begin a new life in America. Unfortunately, she fell into the wrong hands when she sought legal help on her immigration status with a deceitful attorney who asked her to sign a contract which promises payment of $2800 and then proceeded to charge her hundreds of dollars for immigration documents which are offered free online by the federal government. Several months later, Jimenez sought help from an immigrant advocacy group and realized that she had indeed been duped. Most of her paperwork had not been filled out and no progress had been made with her case.
"They assured me this wasn't the way things are, that I wasn't filling out the right documents and the amount of money (I paid) wasn't right, either," Jimenez said. Many fraud cases such as Jimenez's have been occurring more frequently as talks of the immigration bill and a possible path to citizenship have immigrants trying to get in ahead of the line. There is no federal statute that addresses the unauthorized practice of immigration law currently, but lawmakers say that putting an effective federal law in place would serve as a great deterrent where local authorities do not have resources to handle the extra workload.
If you are looking for a licensed immigration attorney, have questions regarding immigration reform, applying for a visa or attaining legal status, contact us at 314-961-8200 or visit our contact page.


The makers have released the FIRST song of Fukrey Returns, Mehbooba, starring Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Ali Fazal and Manjot Singh.
Set in a club, the track brings back Dharam Veer's O Meri Mehbooba which showcased Dharmendra and Zeenat with a contemporary touch.
The song has been rendered by Neha Kakkar and Yasser Desai, while lyrics have been penned by Kumaar. The number also incorporates rap by Raftaar.
To talk of the teaser, the Fukrey gang left us splits with their antics. The 2- minute video begins with 'Chucha' Varun Sharma's character being termed the predictor of the century. The plot takes a turn when Richa Chadda aka Bholi returns to seek revenge from the four guys.
Coming back to Mehbooba, what are your thoughts on the song? Tell us in the 'Comments' section below.


On the 4th of September the Japan Classic Day was held at Classic Park, Boxtel, the Netherlands. Despite the name of the event there were also plenty of recent and brand new Japanese cars. All brands from the Land of the Rising Sun were present, starring rotary engined Mazdas as special guests. Enjoy the tour.
We start with a 1965 Toyota Crown Deluxe, powered by Toyota's 1.9 liter 4-cylinder 3R engine.
1983 Mazda RX-7 with the 1,146 cc rotary engine.
2003 Toyota MR2. Mid-engine (1.8 liter 4-cylinder), rear wheel drive.
1970 Datsun 1000 de Luxe.
2004 Mazda RX-8. Power from Mazda's 1,308 cc rotary engine.
1986 Toyota Starlet 1.3 DX. Great stance !
1979 Mazda RX-7, wearing a sporty outfit.
Now this is fun, a 1994 Daihatsu Charade GTti. Under its hood a turbocharged 993 cc 3-cylinder DOHC 12v engine, good for 101 hp in factory trim. Keep in mind that the registered weight of this go-kart is only 844 kg (1,861 lbs).
Splendid, this two-tone 1985 Daihatsu Charade TX Turbo. Also powered by Daihatsu's famous 993 cc 3-cylinder. SOHC 6v in this case, no fuel injection though. With the help of the turbocharger its maximum power output is 68 hp. Nothing to worry about, given the little hatchback's weight of 725 kg (1,598 lbs). Carry on, put the pedal to the metal.
Reality check. 1987 Daihatsu Charmant 1300 LC.
1995 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.
1982 Suzuki SC100 GX with a 970 cc 4-cylinder rear engine.
1986 Mazda RX-7 with a 1,308 cc rotary engine.
1995 Subaru Legacy 1.8 DL. Far, far away from its spiritual hometown Eugene.
1991 Toyota MR2 2.0 Turbo.
1975 Mazda 818 wagon, powered by a 1,272 cc 4-cylinder.
1982 Toyota Crown Super Saloon 2.8, its 6-cylinder engine is running on LPG.
Spoiler Alert ! 1998 Subaru Impreza 2.0 GT Turbo AWD, ready to rumble.
More of these in part two.
All these cars are so juicy and fresh. I'll take the 82 Crown and the little Suzuki for squirting around the inner suburbs.
I don't like the red color on the 82 Crown. White, black, or navy blue for me.
My last Crown was avocado green, so fire engine red is a step in the right direction.
Those little "fins" on the quarter panels of the '65 Toyota Crown Deluxe make me think the designer was a fan of the '61 Dodge Polara.
The cars are all very well preserved. I can not imagine seeing such an array of seemingly stock, non-restored but pristine vintage Japanese cars anywhere in the USA. Nice photo shoot; I would like to attend that event too (in addition to the French car show).
I like the resolution of the fins on the front fenders of the Crown too. Somehow it never really stood out to me when the cars were new and common.
I wonder why so many trailer hitches?
A trailer hitch is almost standard equipment on Dutch cars, no matter the car's size. Plenty of B- and C-segment cars (sub-compacts and compacts) drive around with a hitch. But Mercedes-Benz diesels (W115, W123, W124, W210 and further) have always been the undisputed Trailer Tow Kings. Mostly driven professionally, like by contractors and such.
1. We love travel trailers very much.
2. We love trailers in general.
Here's the normal procedure when there's some cargo to haul: You go to the local gas station and rent a single- or tandem axle trailer, like the one below. You pay the guy a few Euros, do your hauling job, and at the end of the day you bring the thing back to its owner. And that's that.
Even a VW Golf with a trailer hitch has a big cargo bed, if you know what I mean. More trailer hitches in part two.
If you need to haul something here you have to rent a van or pickup. It's not too pricey though—needing to move a dresser we purchased, I recently rented a Ford Transit cargo van from U-Haul. $20 USD plus some nominal cost per mile (my trip was less than 10 miles so I don't recall).
Unsurprisingly, the Toyota Crown Super Saloon has the highest registered towing capacity of this article's collection: 1,500 kg / 3,307 lbs.
Renting a panel van or a light box truck is also quite common if you have to transport something / some things. Up to 3,500 kg GVM, otherwise you need a commercial driver's license. But in that case you can always rent a 3,500 kg panel van plus a trailer, then a BE-driver's license will do. B for vehicle's up to 3,500 kg GVM, E for trailers towed by such vehicles. It's getting a bit complicated….
Trailer rentals are a hassle in the U.S. As Chris M said, they get picky about the vehicle. As far as I know, U-Haul still won't rent to any vehicle with the Ford Explorer name, based on the Firestone tire / Explorer fiasco from two generations back.
Also, the paperwork, waivers, deposits, etc., reflect our litigious ways.
NL seems similar to Australia – when I lived in WA I felt like most cars had towbars, especially the RWD Aussie sedans, and I saw trailer rental places for the first time in my life.
The only rented trailers I ever see here are big rigs.
There is no more joy in an European summer then being behind a Dutch family pulling his camping trailer slowly, slowly on the road. Up a hill, on a two lane road…kill, kill, kill. Do the bastards ever pull over to the right?
I was unaware of the existence of the Daihatsu Charmant. Homegrown, or based on somebody else's design?
That '82 Crown has more than a touch of Brougham to it. Also looks like they were going for a "Japanese Silver Spirit" vibe.
It was certainly brougham-ish in idiom, although Toyota used the "Super Saloon" and "Royal Saloon" names, as the rival Nissan Cedric actually had a Brougham trim series.
The Charmant disguises its size very well. At first I thought someone had slipped an eighties Cressida into the lineup.
Luxo version of the Corona rather than the slightly larger Cresta Cressida size body.
The Daihatsu Charmant was based on a Corrolla I think.
I've wanted a Suzuki SC100 for years, LJK Setright loved his and he was a very tough critic.
I think I'd much rather have that '65 Crown, than the Rolls parked in the background!
Enjoy the tour I did. Love those rotary wheels on the 83 RX-7, don't think we got them here in the US. Never knew Suzuki made any rear engined cars, I like it. The owner of the boat shop I worked at (the guy with the R5 Turbo2 and Testarossa) bought himself a new Daihatsu Charade to play with. It was funny watching him drive it, as he was about 6′ 5″ and about 260 lbs.
Nice photo collection of Japanese Classic Cars I would have to say and I sure can't wait for the Part Two of this story. I am very much surprised to find out as shown on your posted photos that the 1982 Suzuki SC100 GX had a rear engine location where at first thought could be mistaken for a front engine location much like the Mitsubishi Minica shown here on my attached photo. I would say I like the Orange Mazda GLC since that's the last GLC with a RWD especially they converted to FWD beginning in 1981.
These cars do look mint! Perhaps the dutch roads and the hospitable conditions of the country in terms of geography and climate make cars last long and well?
No mountains, excellent roads, a mild climate, good vehicle maintenance, legally required vehicle inspection (general condition and safety).
Dutch used cars are "desirable" and are exported to other countries in large numbers. Mostly to Central and Eastern Europe. And ship loads (literally) of used Japanese cars ended up in Africa.
Wonderful collection, including some real gems not often seen, like the little Suzuki.
They copied the British who used De luxe and Super on anything remotely upscale.
I can't wait to see a Datsun 1000 Van den Plas / Vandenplas / VanDenPlas etc.
That was equally customary in the U.S.: Deluxe (or De Luxe, if you prefer), Super, Custom. A fair number of Japanese automakers used Deluxe and Hi-Deluxe as well.
For the Crown, as mentioned, the upper series were Super Saloon and Royal Saloon, although there were a bunch of lesser trim levels below that.
The Super Crown is boxy, but at least it looks right.
These ZILs come across cartoonish and amateurishly styled. Sort of a Mercedes crossed with some American '80s boxy styling. It's just not appealing.
Nah, I feel like the Toyota just looks awkward, whereas the ZIL is delberately upright, striking…terrifying?
Menacing is what it is, menacing.
Ignoring the obvious desirables, I'll take either of the Daihatsus or the Suzuki. They all look like the right kind of fun.
The '65 Crown is very appealing. It's like a high quality four cylinder American Rambler.
Imagine if AMC had brought a car like that to market in '65, and had a solid second gen car ready in 1970. They'd have been the darling of the entire malaise era.
Nice '65 Crown Deluxe, the rear reminds me of a certain Ford though! I like the Datsun 1000 de Luxe, but I don't think we got those in the States. That '78 Cressida is pretty sweet too. Always love your show coverage and variety Johannes!
We didn't get the early Sunny, I don't think, but we got its successor, the LB110 (1200).
Thanks for this, Johannes! I'd really like to get behind the wheel of that Charade GTti to see what it's like. Has to have relatively good pace, and being so light it must handle like it's on rails. I am partial to it's unique style, as well. I'm guessing it's a very stealthy sleeper.
My favorite is the Suzuki SC100 GX. It is like the Hillman Imp made it into the eighties, right down to the rear window.
Least favorite is the 82 Crown. The bright red does not suit it and it is just too boxy and over decorated.
Nice display the girl who ran the caravan park I used to stay at Mooroopna had one of those early Toyota Crowns it had overdrive and a 186 Holden motor went really well, an ex GFs father had a 68hp turbo Charade in Sydney he traded it on a TX3 Laser featured recently, most of these cars are still a reasonably common sight here hundreds of thousands of cars arrived ex JDM and stayed NZ has the second highest car ownership per head on the planet and cheap Japanese cars are part of the reason, By the way that Subaru DL ended its sales life here in 93/94, I had one of the last NZ assembled Legacy wagons that shape, that one must have been a leftover.
I keep seeing upscale Studebaker in that '65 Crown.
Very nice examples – kudos to the owners for keeping them in such great condition.
If I had to pick one, it'd probably be the old Crown… Mazda estate would be a close second though. But I'll wait for part 2 to make that call.
Datsun, when Nissan were Datsun.
Dirk always started and needed to jumpstart Dad's Princess and the neighbour's in wintertine.
Dirk akways started, never let me down hauled Mini gearboxes Jaguar engines, everybody drove Dirk the Datsun to haul stuff.
For years I am on the lookout for a Dirk replacement, the 1200cc humming, the gearbox smooth as silk, the Japs really showed the world how to make a decent car!
I cannot think of ANY better car then a seventies Japanese car with a traditional RWD lay out, a live axle and rear drumbrakes.
Simple, copied but improved, really improved !
Dunnow, the engine hum of that 1200cc engine always made me happy …….
Fantastic assortment Johannes – most used to be common here, but are all rare or gone now. The Datsun 1000 de luxe is interesting though, I don't remember that body shape variation. The Crown is my favourite – very unusual in that colour, looks fab!


We invited a delegation from Israel, Hod Ben Zvi, Prof. Glaubach and his wife for a week tour in San Marino and several Italian cities. My wife and I went around with them.
The Delegation has been received officially by the representatives of all political Parties presents in the Parliament. The talk went very well. They agreed to support some of our initiatives for promoting peace in the Middle East.
The San Marino TV was there and made an interview with us and reported the event in the evening news. The newspapers reported about the event as well. On the evening, we organized a dinner with 15 of our AFP and it was very successful.


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28 February 2017 at 2:57pm
Tunisia attack: Why are some of the relatives suing TUI?
The 30 Britons killed in the Sousse beach attack. Credit: ITV News
Families of some of the 30 British victims of the Tunisia terror attack are preparing to sue tour operator TUI after an inquest ruled they were unlawfully killed.
During the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, TUI was criticised for the advice it gave to customers ahead of the June 26, 2015, attack by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui.
However, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith rejected calls from some relatives to rule that neglect by TUI or the owners of the Rui Imperial Merhaba Hotel in Sousse played a role in the deaths.
He ruled that the victims were "unlawfully killed" and that "the simple but tragic truth in this case is that a gunman armed with a gun and grenades went to that hotel intending to kill as many tourists as he could".
Yet some of the families believe TUI failed to ensure adequate security at the hotel where the attack took place and did not do enough to warn holidaymakers about the dangers in Tunisia, which had suffered a fatal terrorist attack in the capital Tunis just three months earlier.
Tunisian police officers guard the Rui Imperial Merhaba Hotel during a visit by security officials after the deadly attack. Credit: AP
What was the Foreign Office advice on travelling to Tunisia before the attack?
Prior to the beach attack which left 38 people dead there had been other terror attacks in Tunisia.
In October 2013 a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of another Sousse beach hotel, the Riadh Palm. However, no one else was injured in this attack.
Security forces also foiled another attack nearby.
In March 2015, just three months before the deadly attack in Sousse, gunmen stormed the Bardo National Museum, killing 23 people.
During the inquest into the deaths of the 30 Britons killed by Rezgui, a Foreign Office official told how the UK's travel advice to Tunisia was discussed the day after the attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis in March 2015, but it was left unchanged.
Jane Marriott, a former director of the Foreign Office's Middle East North Africa Directorate, said FCO officials and minister Tobias Ellwood met in London to discuss the travel advice.
Ms Marriott said it was decided to keep the advice at the same level, and not to advise Britons against any travel to tourist areas of Tunisia, but the phrase "further attacks are possible" was added to the Government's travel advice website.
She added that countries who also lost nationals in the first attack, including France, Japan, Spain and Russia, had also kept their tourist travel advice at the same level as before the attack.
The only country to alter its travel advice was Poland.
Floral tributes for the victims of the attack. Credit: AP
What did TUI do?
Tour operator TUI also did not alter its Tunisia travel advice, but provided its employees with a crib sheet on the Bardo attack if potential holidaymakers asked for information.
However, TUI did cancel some organised trips in Tunisia.
What was security at the Rui Imperial Merhaba Hotel like?
Three months before the Sousse beach attack, a security check at the Rui Imperial Merhaba Hotel by the British Embassy in Tunisia found that there "seemed to be little in the way of security to respond to an attack".
While the number of security guards increased from seven or eight, to 10 or 11, following the Bardo Museum attack, none of the guards had walkie-talkies and only six CCTV cameras in the hotel worked, Judge Loraine-Smith told the inquest.
On the day of the shooting there were only three guards on duty at the hotel, two of who did not have mobile phones.
According to the inquest coroner, the security guard on the beach "ran and hid" when he saw the gunman shooting tourists.
Gunman Seifeddine Rezgui killed 38 people in the terror attack. Credit: AP
What do the families say?
Lawyer Kylie Hutchinson read a statement on behalf of the families outside of the Royal Courts of Justice in London in which they lamented the "shocking... level of security precautions" at the hotel at the time of the attack.
Ms Hutchinson continued: "The level of terrorist threat in Tunisia had been escalating for some time prior to June 2015.
"This includes the failed suicide bomb attack at a beach in Sousse.
"Then, following the terrifying events at the Bardo Museum in March 2015, the Tunisian minister of tourism issued a letter requiring all hotels to improve security measures. "Tragically these steps were not implemented at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel."
She said tour operator TUI had said it was "unaware" of the letter.
Is Tunisia travel advice different now?
The Foreign Office advises against "all but essential travel" to the majority of Tunisia, and "against all travel" to the remaining parts.
TUI is not now offering any holidays to Tunisia.
Speaking outside court following the conclusion of the inquest, TUI UK Managing Director, Nick Longman, said the company has " taken steps to raise awareness of the FCO's Travel Aware campaign".
Mr Longman added the tour operator now includes links "on almost every page" of its website and travel brochures to the FCO advice, and that its employees are trained on how to give advice.
Last updated Tue 28 Feb 2017
Tunisia attack: Families of British victims to take legal action against TUI
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A helmet made in the Elemental Workshop.
A cosmic helmet is an elemental helmet that can be made after completion of Elemental Workshop IV. Forging the helmet requires 38 Smithing, and it may be made with one cosmic bar and a hammer on the first floor of the elemental workshop. It requires 40 Defence to wear.
Equipping the helmet triggers a unique animation where a burst of cosmic energy surges from the helmet.


"The first link in a chain of evils... the loss of America" is how Sir Henry Clinton, Britain's commander-in-chief in the Colonies, described the battle of Kings Mountain. Joe Epley's fact-based novel brings the events leading to the battle into sharp focus through the highly personal experiences of those who shaped its outcome.
Gripping, visceral, and full of intensity, A Passel of Hate is as historically fascinating as it is emotionally satisfying, capturing the heartache of a war that often pits brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor. This saga of the Kings Mountain campaign in 1780 is a powder keg of highly charged personal feelings and military significance.
Through the eyes of Jacob Godley, A Passel of Hate brings to life the hardships and challenges of frontier living where there is a constant threat from Indians, partisan raiders and British invaders. Without government orders or formal training, mountain and piedmont patriots join together with their own weapons and horses to expel a Loyalist army plundering the western Carolina countryside and delivering harsh retribution to those supporting the rebellion.
A Passel of Hate received a Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society in 2012 and was named "Editor's Choice" by the Historical Fiction Society.


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"Like Karan-Arjun": 2 "Inseparable" Wild Elephants Released In UP Tiger Reserve
HomeCities"Like Karan-Arjun": 2 "Inseparable" Wild Elephants Released In UP Tiger Reserve
The two bull elephants share a close bonding and they are never more than 10 metres apart, said forest officials, who have now named them as 'Karan' and 'Arjun'.
CitiesIndo-Asian News ServiceUpdated: July 19, 2019 7:01 pm IST
The 2 elephants share a close bond and have been named as 'Karan' and 'Arjun'
Bareilly:
The two wild tuskers, who have been released in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve were staying 'inseparable' like brother, said an official.
The two tuskers were tranquilized on Wednesday, and released into Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) late on Thursday after a gruelling process.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Jhansi, and in-charge of elephant rescue operations, P P Singh said, "Both tuskers moved together. We never saw them apart. Even when we first tranquillized one of the tuskers on Wednesday, any other elephant would have tried to escape to save his life.
"However, here it was very different. The other elephant remained in the same area and did not flee. In fact, the tusker moved in about 50-metre radius from the spot."
Experts said it was suspected that the matriarch (eldest cow elephant who leads the herd) may have forced the two adult elephants to leave the herd to "stop inbreeding".
"It is believed that when the two bull elephants may have tried to mate with another cow elephant, the matriarch may have thrown them out of the herd.
"Even in a few cases, when male elephants turn adults, the matriarch makes them leave so that they can mate with cow elephants of another herd.
"Genetic inbreeding within the herd is not considered good among animals," said the official. The tuskers are around 20 years old.
These two wild elephants were separated from their herd in probably Nepal and were first spotted in agricultural belt of Pilibhit's Amaria block on June 24.
As they strayed into the villages of Bareilly and Rampur and parts of Rudrapur, the two tuskers drew large crowds, who might not have ever seen such adult male elephants in their lives.
The two elephants were tranquillized and tied to a tree in Rampur on Wednesday night. They were again given "booster sedation" to load them into a vehicle on Thursday when they were finally transported to Pilibhit.
With the help of JCB machines, hydra vehicle and three cow elephants from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, the two elephant brothers were loaded in separate vehicles and taken to their destination.
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Dan Radel
LONG BRANCH - While the city's beachfront redevelopment of million-dollar condos and luxury hotels has been grabbing headlines, the West End is in the midst of its own transformation.
On Ocean Boulevard where the former West End movie theater once stood, workers are far along on the masonry work of a two-story synagogue with first-floor retail.
Across from the synagogue on Brighton Avenue, new construction is also filling a big gap where a fire seven years ago left a large void in the quaint business district. Three buildings lost in the blaze housed 10 businesses and 14 apartments.
The theater was not part of the Feb. 13, 2012, fire, but, rather, the focal point of a long, contentious public hearing period that started that same year. The synagogue was first rejected because houses of worship were not a permitted use in the West End.
The plan won approval in 2016 after the city created the West End Design Overlay, which allowed religious institutions as a conditional use.
More: Chabad wins OK to build in Long Branch's West End
"I think it (West End) has turned the corner," said Chris Brigandi, a part-owner of 55 Brighton Ave., a four-story mixed-use building with a red brick facade, first-floor retail and apartments on top.
Brigandi's group bought one of the three lots left vacant by the fire and was the first to complete construction of a new building. Bagel Guys Deli, the restaurant on the building's first floor, has been open for business since August and four of the six apartments have leases, he said.
More: 5 years after Long Branch's West End fire, building starts
Brigandi's neighbor is Martin Grubman, who lost one of the buildings in the fire. He's building a four-story mixed-use building he hopes to conclude construction on by the end of April. Hear Grubman talk about the fire in the above video.
Grubman said the West End, which is one block in from the beach and was once the stomping ground of Bruce Springsteen, can hold its own in the face of Pier Village, the city's biggest oceanfront draw.
"The people who want something different will come to the West End. Once the stores come in at the bottom of the Chabad it will be a critical mass of retail," Grubman said.
Dan Radel: @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com


India is excited for the FIFA World Cup as the country's football hubs paint themselves in the colours of Russia 2018 to continue a long-distance love affair with the 'beautiful game'.
It's long-distance because India themselves are nowhere close to being at the big stage at this point. But that is not coming in the way of fans' eagerness for the event starting today.
The football-mad pockets of the otherwise cricket crazy country are all ready and decked up to be the best cheerleaders for their favourite teams in what has been described as the 'greatest show on earth' on more than one occasion.
So, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal has Goa's near unanimous backing, Neymar's Brazil and Lionel Messi's Argentina have the fans divided for them in the east and south.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony, also has substantial support for Brazil.
Huge screens have been put up even at village level sports clubs by fans, who would be spending their nights there to catch the action in Russia.
"There are huge screens set up to watch World Cup football matches across the coastal state. The football fever will be high for one month," claimed Elvis Gomes, President, Goa Football Association (GFA).
While Portugal flags would be a common site in the coastal belt, Gomes' heart is with Nigeria, clubbed with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.
"I am supporting underdogs, Nigeria. I want that for once the World Cup should come to Africa," he said.
Former Indian captain Bruno Coutinho said "atmosphere in Goa is very hot for the World Cup Football."
"Almost every fan would be watching matches at his favourite place. The club houses have set up indoor screens as due to rains, they can't install them in the open spaces," he said.
Scenes are as colourful down south with Kerala fans, especially in Malabar (north Kerala) region, showing their love for the game by lining the streets with life-size cutouts of their favourite players.
Messi seems to be a particular fan favourite and his face dominates Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kasaragod.
Large LCD TV screens have already been put up in many cities and towns for the broadcast of World Cup matches.


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Q: long long int in C, Mac OS X, Xcode 3.2.5, field width In this sample:
long long int x = 1<<38;
NSLog(@"Hello, World!, %qi", x);

I got "warning: left shift count >= width of type", and the value zero for x.
The length of a long long int is 8, so we should be able to shift up 63.
I'se puzzled....And would sho' 'preciate some help.

A: It's not x that's the problem, it's the 1, which is a signed integer literal constant.
Try this instead:
long long int x = 1LL << 38;


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HOME	NEWS	BUSINESS	OPINION	SPORTS	FEATURE	LIFESTYLE	ENTERTAINMENT	SUPERBALITA
Mendoza: Why stay in school?
LORENZO E. MENDOZA
The Scribe's Corner
NOW that the Department of Education (DepEd) is implementing early registration for all public school enrollees of incoming Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 7 and Grade 11 starting on January 27, 2019, it is now a challenge for our educators through the leadership of their school heads to let them stay in school.
In an article written by Chris Blake published on Seattle Pi (education.seattlepi.com), he enumerated the benefits of staying in school and emphasized that dropping out of school affects the ability of the dropout to get a job, its social standing and even its personal health.
Blake cited that staying in school produces less unemployment because according to the study conducted by the National Dropout Prevention Center, people who drop out of high school are "four times as likely to be unemployed as those who have completed four or more years of college."
The author added that by staying in school, one will have better earning potential because dropping out of school puts you at a disadvantage when compared to your degree-earning peers as proven by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Staying in school according to the article written by Blake allows one to hone and perfect basic skills. He further said that being able to complete one's education not only shows one's comprehension of communication, math and problem-solving skills, but also shows potential employers that one is capable of sticking with a job until it is done.
Lastly, blake emphasized that staying in school will add more to social benefits of the constituents because according to data compiled by the Alliance for Excellent Education, dropouts are also 3.5 times more likely to be arrested than their peers who have graduated and avoid needing public assistance.
On the other hand, the website http://ndpc.sites.clemson.edu/family-student-resources/top-5-reasons-stay-school enumerated top 5 reasons to stay in school. The following are: a) High school dropouts are four times as likely to be unemployed as those who have completed four or more years of college; b) Graduating from high school will determine how well you live for the next 50 years of your life c) Dropouts are more likely to apply for and receive public assistance than graduates of high school; d) Dropouts comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation's prison and death row inmates and 5) Schools and learning centers all over the country provide alternative programs for students who are not successful in the usual school setting.
Asia Foundation in its report said that while there is a long way to go in addressing school congestion nationwide, the DepEd is now equipped with the policy, knowledge, and financial resources to expand existing schools or build new schools, thus improving the learning environment for elementary and high school students in urban areas of the Philippines thereby contributing for students to stay in school.
This Corner hopes that the initiatives of the schools to attract students and let them stay in school will really prosper to achieve zero dropout rate in the country.
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4th December 2021 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
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Author News – Year End Reflections
Apologies for the lateness of my monthly book blog/newsletter. It has slipped a few days from the 1st of the month to accommodate the review of Guardians at the Wall by busy book blogger, Juliet Butler, on her excellent Book Literati Book Reviews blog. Juliet is also a pillar of the top Facebook group for fiction readers and all things books, The Book Club (TBC). Guardians at the Wall was published in June 2021, after nine months of research, writing and editing.
Here's her review: "When Tim Walker contacted me about a review for his new book Guardians at the Wall I agreed straight away as I live in the North East and have visited Vindolanda on many occasions. Tim has set this in both the present day where Noah, an archaeology student is working and hoping for inspiration for his final dissertation, and in 180CE when Centurion Gaius Atticianus is stationed at Vindolanda. Both timelines have their own thrills and drama as the world of Noah and Gaius cross 2000 years apart.
"I was completely enthralled by this book, and the alternate chapters had me compelled to continue reading. In the present Noah is studying for his Archaeology degree from Durham University and is using his time at Vindolanda to get inspiration for his final dissertation. It his translating of some of the tablets found that he first sees the name Gaius Atticianus that sends him on a journey to find out more about him and his time at the fort. I was quite envious of Noah's work at Vindolanda as it was fascinating to think of finding objects that have been there for over two thousand years, touched and used by the inhabitants of the forts and those living there. Noah's dedication to his work is only complicated by his love life and his love triangle with two academics that he has to try and keep secret, which is difficult in such a small community.
"In 1800 CE Gaius Atticianus is a Centurion at Vindolanda on a night when they are attacked by tribes from the North, setting off a chain of events that threaten more of the forts and surrounding dwellings. Through Gaius I felt the peril and danger of those living along Hadrian's Wall, the constant threat of attack not just on the soldiers but on those who live their lives there, workers, bakers, and those who run the temples. I have always been in awe at how advanced the Romans were with their temples, bath houses, underfloor heating and little luxuries. Gaius's story is one of bravery, fearlessness and danger, all set against him being a husband and father.
"Tim Walker has obviously done a lot of research for this book, both historical and for the present day in how the archaeological sites are run and funded. There is plenty of historical detail that I loved, so it's not a book you can rush through, and I really appreciated all that detail as it added authenticity to the story. It is a pretty action packed read with romance, battles, buried treasure and subterfuge to keep your attention and make this such an immersive read.
"Guardians at the Wall is a riveting read, with a lot packed into its pages. Full of historical detail and with interesting characters who draw you in to their lives. I loved the split timeline, each feeding off each other that keeps me turning the pages wanting to know more about Noah and Gaius, who were both Guardians at the Wall in their own way. A brilliantly written and plotted read that I highly recommend." Juliet Butler 03/12/2021 in Bookliteratibookblog
On the Origins of December
Articles abound about the origins of Christmas, but what is the origin of December? December got its name from the Latin word decem, meaning tenth, as it was the tenth month of the year in the old Roman calendar that dates from 750 BC. The Roman year began in March, and the winter days that followed December were not included as part of any month.
Saturnalia, held in mid-December, is an ancient Roman pagan festival honouring the agricultural god Saturn. Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas. Saturnalia, the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, derived from older farming-related rituals of midwinter and the winter solstice, especially the practice of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter sowing season.
Roman feast
The pagan celebration of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, began as a single day, but by the late Republic (133-31 B.C.) it had expanded to a week-long festival beginning December 17. On the Julian calendar, which the Romans used at the time, the winter solstice fell on December 25. During Saturnalia, work and business came to a halt. Schools and courts of law closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended. Citizens made sacrifice to Saturn and other gods for the bounty of the harvest that would see them through winter, and give thanks for another year.
People decorated their homes with wreaths and other greenery, and shed their traditional togas in favour of colourful clothes known as synthesis. Even slaves did not have to work during Saturnalia, but were allowed to participate in the festivities; in some cases, they sat at the head of the table while their masters served them. (source: www.history.com)
The Saturnalia holiday week included the day of Saturn – the god of seeds and sowing – which was the Saturnalia itself. The holiday began as a farmers' festival to mark the end of autumn planting and at first, it was held just after the last wheat crop of the year was sown.
A Roman Feast by Roberto Bompiani (1821-1908), Italian painter and sculptor. In the J. Paul Getty Museum gallery.
This painting, by the Italian artist Roberto Bompiani (c. 1821 – 1908), strives to depict what it might have looked like to witness a luxurious feast thrown by a wealthy host at the height of ancient Roman prosperity. Bompiani relied on artifacts, archaeology and descriptions from Roman, Etruscan and Greek sources to create his convincing scene. One such vivid, lively and humorous description of an ancient Roman feast came from the preserved letters of Pliny the Younger (c. BC 61-113), a prolific pen pal with various Roman lawyers, statesmen, military men and intellectuals. In a message sent to a certain Septicius Clarus (who was a no-show at a banquet he had promised to attend), Pliny the Younger lavishly described everything that Septicius had missed out on at the feast. Pliny wrote:
"Who are you, to accept my invitation to dinner and never come? Here's your sentence and you shall pay my costs in full, no small sum either. It was all laid out, one lettuce each, three snails, two eggs, barley-cake, and wine with honey chilled with snow (you will reckon this too please, and as an expensive item, seeing that it disappears in the dish), besides olives, beetroots, gherkins, onions, and any number of similar delicacies. You would have heard a comic play, a reader or singer, or all three if I felt generous" (Pliny the Younger, Letters, 1.15).
Roberto Bompiani's artwork paints a similar scene as Pliny the Younger's descriptive letter. In both, the host of the feast spared no expense to please and impress his guests. Roberto Bompiani, however, seemed to leave out Pliny's suggestion of actors, orators or musicians. Nevertheless, a lyre can be seen lying on the floor for anyone brave enough to strike a tune. That aside, the crowd looks content with the food, drink and conversation.
Source: C. Keith Hansley
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The fifth issue of Historical Times online magazine came out on 1st December. This issue focusses on the Regency period in the 19th century and once again has attracted articles from many of the top historical fiction authors of that period.
If you haven't already, why not sign up for FREE to the monthly Historical Times magazine.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas (hic!) and a happy and healthy new year!
1st September 2021 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
Are you an author or a poet? If so, then please contact me for a guest author or poet's corner slot in a future newsletter: timwalker1666@gmail.com SOCIAL MEDIA
In my news, Guardians at the Wall continues to sell moderately well since its June launch, attracting a good number of page reads on Kindle Unlimited.
My first attempt at dual timeline, it tells the story of student archaeologist, Noah Jessop, and his investigation into the life of Roman centurion, Gaius Atticianus. Both stories, although separated by 1,800 years, share the same locations – Vindolanda, Corbridge and Epiacum forts near Hadrian's Wall.
It will be the subject of a second Kindle Countdown Deal when the e-book will be just 99p/c from 14th to 19th September, the perfect time to download your copy at the link below if you haven't done so already… enjoy, and please leave a review!
This month's guest author is Dominic Fielder. Tell us about yourself, Dominic…
I've held a variety of working posts, some I've been good at, and others appalling. Before the world of Marvel and DC became popular, I ran a comic book store and worked for my parents' family book business (which ran for 61 years and only recently closed). Either side of that, I worked in the Banking and Insurance sector, when such jobs seemed glamourous, but really weren't, and as a telephone sales and alarm services clerk, which never seemed glamourous but allowed me to meet some interesting characters.
I undertook a History degree and after achieving First class honours had a change of direction in life. For the past ten years, I've become a tutor, specialising in Maths and English for students between years 5 and 11 (10 to 16 in old money). During lockdown, I moved my tuition to an on-line delivery whilst training to become a Secondary school Maths teacher. When I'm not doing those things, I try my best to be a reasonable father, and whatever free time is spare from those commitments, I give to writing.
The King's Germans series that I'm now working on, is a twenty book and twenty plus year commitment. Fingers crossed, I will stay the course.
Queen of the Citadels (King's Germans Book 3) blurb
The new series for readers who enjoy Sharpe, Flashman or The Three Musketeers – discover the third book in the King's Germans series which will take you from 1793 and the war in Flanders, to the Field of Waterloo in 1815.
October 1793: The French border.
Dunkirk was a disaster for the Duke of York's army. The French, sensing victory before the winter, launch attacks along the length of the border. Menen is captured and the French now hold the whip hand. Nieuport and Ostend are threatened, and Sebastian Krombach finds himself involved in a desperate plan to stop the Black Lions as they spearhead the French advance. Werner Brandt and the men of 2nd Battalion race to Menen to counterattack and rescue Erich von Bomm and the 1st Grenadiers, whilst von Bomm struggles to save himself from his infatuation with a mysterious French vivandière. Meanwhile, dark and brooding, the citadel of Lille dominates the border. The Queen of the Citadels has never been captured by force. The allies must now keep Menen, which guards Flanders, and seize Lille to open the road to Paris. All of this must be done under the watchful eyes of a spy in the Austrian camp. Juliette of Marboré is fighting her own secret war to free Julian Beauvais, languishing in the Conciergerie prison, and waiting for his appointment with the guillotine, as the Terror rages in Paris.
Some of the reactions to the series so far…
"The first good series on the wars of the French Revolution that I have read since Alexandre Dumas..." 5*
"If you are looking for your next action-packed historical military series, this is it!" 5*
"A great series, full of colourful, often unsavoury, characters set in a neglected period of warfare" 5*
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Check out books one and two in the series:
BOOK ONE BUY LINK BOOK TWO BUY LINK
International Literacy Day, 8th September 2021
Since 1967, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has celebrated an International Literacy Day around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 773 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today.
I took the opportunity to participate in a literacy promotion project in Zambia from 1995 to 1996 through the British overseas aid organisation, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). My role was marketing and book distribution adviser and trainer attached to the Booksellers and Publishers Association of Zambia. I ran workshops for indigenous publishers, organised the annual book fair, and delivered one-to-one consultancy, to help give association members the skills to promote their own school curriculum books and materials and so reduce the reliance on international companies like MacMillan and Oxford University Press. I was one of a team of five volunteers with different aspects of publishing skills and experience. One promotion we worked on together was the publishing and launch of Zambian President, Frederick Chiluba's book, Democracy: The Challenge of Change at the 1996 Zambia Book Fair.
In February 1995 I took my laptop with me, did what research I could in country, and produced my presentation slides in PowerPoint – something relatively new in Zambia. The only Internet Service Provider at the time was a University of Zambia project called ZAMNET, and their flaky dial-up service only had a one-mile radius from campus! This involved physically going there to dial in to receive and send emails, and to do a bit of internet surfing. Part of my presentation and follow-on consultancy was setting up small publishers with internet accounts and email, and introducing them to information sources for their sales and marketing activities. Ground breaking stuff that was both enjoyable and rewarding.
But the work of the developed world in supporting people in developing country is, and must be, ongoing. Narrowing the divide through information and skills sharing must be the long-term solution to reducing the appeal of widespread economic migration to Europe. The Zambian economy has leapt forward in the new millennium, with a new professional class emerging to work for regional and international companies and organisations, or setting up their own businesses. Education, literacy and access to resources are vital to emerging economies who can become, in time, self-supporting nation states.
International Literacy Day (ILD) 2021 will be celebrated on 8th September under the theme, "Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide".
The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the learning of children, young people and adults at an unprecedented scale. It has also magnified the pre-existing inequalities in access to meaningful literacy learning opportunities, disproportionally affecting 773 million non-literate young people and adults. Youth and adult literacy were absent in many initial national response plans, while numerous literacy programmes have been forced to halt their usual modes of operation.
Tim (far right) and his publishing workshop group
Even in the times of global crisis, efforts have been made to find alternative ways to ensure the continuity of learning, including distance learning, often in combination with in-person learning. Access to literacy learning opportunities, however, has not been evenly distributed. The rapid shift to distance learning also highlighted the persistent digital divide in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, and the ability to engage with technology, as well as disparities in other services such as access to electricity, which has limited learning options.
The pandemic, however, was a reminder of the critical importance of literacy. Beyond its intrinsic importance as part of the right to education, literacy empowers individuals and improves their lives by expanding their capabilities to choose a kind of life they can value. It is also a driver for sustainable development. Literacy is an integral part of education and lifelong learning premised on humanism as defined by the Sustainable Development Goal 4. Literacy, therefore, is central to a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. ILD 2021 will explore how literacy can contribute to building a solid foundation for a human-centred recovery, with a special focus on the interplay of literacy and digital skills required by non-literate youth and adults. It will also explore what makes technology-enabled literacy learning inclusive and meaningful to leave no one behind. By doing so, ILD2021 will be an opportunity to reimagine future literacy teaching and learning, within and beyond the context of the pandemic.
Newsletter – Oct 2019
1st October 2019 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
I briefly emerged from my cave to take part in Slough Libraries' Local Author Showcase at The Curve on Wednesday 25th September. Five authors took part (pictured) – Sudhana Singh; Isabel Rogers; Sovel Cunningham; Naima Rashid and myself. It was well attended with over 50 eager book enthusiasts and many questions were answered by the panel after each had introduced themselves and their latest book. More of these please!
Also, I was invited to take part in a Sky (UK)Television programme called Round Table to discuss the subject of 'Legends'. I couldn't make it to the studio so appeared via Skype… here's the YouTube link… https://youtu.be/qF5CwnLLvVU
Are you up-to-date with my historical series, A Light in the Dark Ages? Book four, Arthur Dux Bellorum, was published in March this year, and I am currently working on its follow-up, part two of my Arthur story, Arthur Rex Britonnum…
Tim Walker's A Light in the Dark Ages book series starts with…
Abandoned:-
Kindle/Paperback: http://mybook.to/Abandoned
i-books/Kobo/other: https://books2read.com/Abandoned
Ambrosius: Last of the Romans:-
Kindle/Paperback: http://mybook.to/Ambrosius
i-books/Kobo/other: https://books2read.com/Ambrosius
Uther's Destiny:-
Kindle/Paperback: http://mybook.to/Uther
i-books/Kobo/other: https://books2read.com/Uther
Arthur Dux Bellorum:-
Kindle/Paperback: http://mybook.to/Arthur
i-books/Kobo/other: https://books2read.com/ArthurDuxBellorum
I'm a member of a FaceBook Group for independent authors around the World called Sparkly Badgers. From time to time the group produce a themed anthology of short stories and poems. As October is the month of Halloween, the group have produced the following collection, Haunted, now available as a FREE download from Amazon Kindle and other online stores… check it out and help them with a review… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XXHRS21
The Sparkly Badgers' are a writing group thriving on Facebook made up of an eclectic mixture of writers from all backgrounds, writing in different genres and with different styles. We all have a passion for writing and for sharing our work with others and so I am delighted to be able to bring you this spooky anthology of spine tingling, goosebumpling and hide behind the sofa stories and poems.
If you are a writer who needs more sparkle in their lives then please, come join us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1720960814878512
we'd love to badger you.
Claire Buss, Chief Sparkler & Editor
Newsletter – Sept 2019
AUTHOR NEWS… I have enjoyed my summer break (beneath a wide-brimmed hat) with family and am now poised over the keyboard to plot my next fiction books. During the holidays my daughter Cathy and I discussed the storyline for Charly in Space, and I will devote this month to writing up a first draft of what will be book three in our Adventures of Charly Holmes series.
I have also read two historical novels, both different and excellent in their own way. The first, The Head in the Ice, is a gripping Victorian crime thriller from debut author, Richard James. I attended his book launch in the small bookshop in Cookham some months ago, and am pleased to see from his reviews that the book has been well received.
Richard James (left) with Tim Walker
The second was recommended to me as an example of expert historical fiction writing, and it has not disappointed. The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick is sweeping epic set in 12th century when the Norman legacy is splintering through civil wars and family feuds, non more intriguing than in the court of King Henry II and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. It is the story of English knight, William Marshal, and his rise to royal favour as the guardian of the king-to-be, Henry. The author's superb grasp of historical detail and expert storytelling, particularly her use of metaphor to conjure up detail in beautifully constructed scenes, is something I hope I can learn from.
My own autumn and winter project will be to plot and write the follow-up to Arthur Dux Bellorum, and hope I can do justice to the second half of my King Arthur story. Working title – Arthur Rex Britonnum (if you have any better suggestions please let me know!)
Also… I've been invited by Slough Libraries to take part in their Local Author Showcase at The Curve on Wednesday 25th September from 7.30pm. Come along if you can!
For more information: https://www.slough.gov.uk/libraries
I'm pleased to welcome fellow indie author, Colin Garrow, to my newsletter/blog this month. I have read a couple of Colin's books and have thoroughly enjoyed his easy style and wry Northern humour. Over to you, Colin – tell us a bit about yourself…
I grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and have worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor. I've also occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. As well as several stage plays, I've written eleven novels, all of which are available as eBooks and paperbacks on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble etc.
My short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. These days I live in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where I write novels, stories. poems and the occasional song.
I've been interested in murder/mysteries since I was a kid, and grew up reading series like The Hardy Boys, and The Three Investigators, before moving on to grown-up novels by Agatha Christie and Stephen King. Initially, I wrote stage plays but started writing novels for children back in 2013, beginning with my first book The Devil's Porridge Gang. Since then I've penned another five books for middle grade readers and my books for adults include the Watson Letters (a spoof Sherlock Holmes adventure series) and the Terry Bell Mysteries. I've just released the second of these, A Long Cool Glass of Murder and the next one, Taxi for a Dead Man should be out by Christmas.
A Long Cool Glass of Murder (The Terry Bell Mysteries Book 2)
When taxi driver and amateur sleuth Terry takes on a new client, he doesn't expect her to turn up dead. With echoes of his recent past coming back to haunt him, can he work out what's going on before someone else gets killed?
'Charis Brown's elfin-like smile was, like the footsteps on the stairs, noticeably absent. She looked at me, looked at the dead woman and let out the sort of sigh I knew from experience meant it was going to be a long night.'
'A Long Cool Glass of Murder' is book #2 in the Terry Bell Mystery series.
If you love mysteries and amateur sleuthing, ski-mask-wearing villains and the occasional bent copper, this'll be right up your everyday seaside-town street.
You can find my books on Amazon and Smashwords, and links and more info about my writing are on my websites:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colin-Garrow/e/B014Z5DZD4
https://www.smashwords.com/
https://colingarrow.org/ (for Adult readers)
https://colingarrowbooks.com/ (for middle grade, teens and YA)
https://thewatsonletters.com/ (The Watson Letters Blog)
3rd October 2018 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
Please click the picture for the link to my October newsletter featuring female superheroes…
Wonder Woman; Supergirl; Elektra; Agents of SHIELD; Charly & The Superheroes
Link: https://mailchi.mp/d3c9a2f553a3/ybgvmk9rt7
Book Blog Newsletter – April 2018
8th April 2018 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
This is the newsletter of UK author Tim Walker. It aims to be monthly and typically includes: book news and offers, guest author profiles, book reviews, flash fiction and poetry.
Readers of this newsletter are invited to volunteer for the guest author slot, submit a book review, flash fiction story (up to 250 words) or poem to timwalker1666@gmail.com for future issues.
The third and final book in Tim Walker's A Light in the Dark Ages series, Uther's Destiny, was published on 9th March. The primary focus of the launch awareness campaign was a book blog tour that involved author interviews, book blurbs, Q&As and links on a dozen well-known blogs, realising over 6,000 views/reads. This has helped support favourable March e-book and paperback sales (and KU page reads) for all three titles in the series. Here's a list of the blogs…
Mary Anne Yarde Blog – 1st March (Background to Uther)
http://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com
Linda's Book Bag (Linda Hill) – 2nd March (Blurb, profile)
http://lindasbookbag.wordpress.com
Historical-fiction.com (Arleigh Ordoyne) – 3rd March (In Search of the Elusive Arthur)
http://historical-fiction.com
Books n' All Promotions (Susan Hampshire) – 6th March (Book review and links)
http://booksfromdusktilldawn.wordpress.com
English Historical Fiction Authors (Debra Brown) – 6th March (In Search of King Arthur)
http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com
EM Swift-Hook & Jane Jago Blog – 9th March (Uther Q&A)
http://workingtitleblogsport.wordpress.com
Grace's Book Review – 13th March (Book review by hubby John)
http://reviewerbookladygoodnready.wordpress.com
Jane Risdon – 17th March (Arthurian article)
http://janerisdon.wordpress.com
Elizabeth-gates.com book blog – 22nd March (Author interview)
http://elizabeth-gates.com/blog
Rosie Amber Book Review Blog – 29th March (Arthurian article)
https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/your-book-reviewed/
Mary Anne Yarde Book Blog – 29th March (book review)
Jenny Kane Blog – 4th April
http://jennykane.co.uk/blog
Uther's Destiny is the third book in A Light in the Dark Ages series, and can be read as a standalone (although readers who enjoy it may want to seek out book one – Abandoned (http://myBook.to/Abandoned) – and book two – Ambrosius: Last of the Romans (http://myBook.to/Ambrosius).
Buy the e-book or paperback or read on Kindle Unlimited: UTHER'S DESTINY
This month our guest author is British historical author, Elizabeth Gates…
Who is Elizabeth Gates?
Between reading English Language & Literature at Bedford College, University of London, and acquiring an MA in Linguistics at the University of Essex, ELIZABETH GATES explored Europe as a teacher of English and Creative Writing. She then went on to work as a freelance journalist for 25 years, published in national, regional and local magazines and newspapers and specialising in Public Health Issues. These issues ranged widely including – among many others – stories about suicide among farmers, health & safety on theatrical stage and filmset, bird flu and PTSD in returning service personnel. But eventually, she retired from journalism and turned to fiction.
The Wolf of Dalriada is the first novel in a series and Elizabeth is currently writing a sequel set again in 18th Century Scotland but also in Robespierre's Paris. Staining the Soul will be published in Autumn 2018. A third novel in the series, focusing even more deeply on the Clearances, is at the planning stage. With more ideas to come. She also writes, publishes and broadcasts short stories and poetry.
When she s not writing, Elizabeth enjoys time with her friends, family and animals. She also loves history and travelling. And she is director of the writing for wellbeing consultancy, Lonely Furrow Company.
The Wolf of Dalriada – the story
'Gaelic calls spin a web through the mist in arcs of soft sound. Fear unsteadies the unseen flocks on the scrub heather hillside as men and dogs weave a trap around them in the darkling night. Once the flocks are penned, then the lanterns are turned towards the south. The watchers wait in silence.'
The Wolf of Dalriada Chapter One.
It is 1793… As Europe watches the French Revolution's bloody progress, uneasy Scottish landowners struggle to secure their wealth and power and, in Dalriada – the ancient Kingdom of Scotland, now known as Argyll – fractured truths, torn loyalties and bloody atrocities are rife. Can the Laird of the Craig Lowries – the Wolf of Dalriada – safeguard his people?
At the same time, the sad and beautiful Frenchwoman, Adelaide de Fontenoy – who was staked as a child in Versailles on the turn of a card – is now living in thrall to her debauched captor, the English lawyer, Sir William Robinson. Can the laird Malcolm Craig Lowrie save the woman he loves?
And can the Wolf of Dalriada defeat enemies who, like the spirit of Argyll' s Corryvreckan Whirlpool, threaten to engulf them all?
Written with a blend of mysticism, intrigue and psychological realism, The Wolf of Dalriada is an historical adventure novel, with a rich cavalcade of characters – mystic, heroic or comic –progressing through its pages. Inspired by the historical writing of Phillipa Gregory and Hilary Mantel, the novel challenges any pre-conceptions of 'romance' and has been described in review as 'A great read'!
What moments in the novel do you like best?
I love the moment when we first meet Malcolm Craig Lowrie, the Wolf of Dalriada – when he pauses between attacks to allow the enemy to collect their dead. Although he says little, he feels much. And, when we first meet Adelaide de Fontenoy, questions about her mysterious life crackle in the air above her beautiful head. I also enjoy the moment when rich, urbane and witty lawyer Sir William Robinson finds himself drawn into dangers he would have avoided, had he known they were coming. The triangle set up by these characters is, of course, the eternal one.
What moments do you like least?
I found the massacre at Ardnackaig difficult to write (although it flowed from the pen). This event illustrates how closely violent death stalks people perched on the edge of subsistence and this is a timeless message. The death of the loyal sheepdog, Bess, is sad enough but then the massacre of shepherds by a rogue war-band follows, and the scene ends devastatingly with the discovery of the hanging of two Craig Lowrie boys. The impact of this on the clan is terrible and the intended message is 'No one is safe.' Everyone then placed their trust in their clan chief, Malcolm Craig Lowrie – a heavy burden for a young man to carry. Small wonder the name 'Ardnackaig' became the clan war-cry.
Is there an important theme (or themes) that this story illustrates?
How did women in the 18th Century 'survive' when they were so dependent on male patronage and has survival become any easier in the intervening centuries? I also explored the role of men. Their burdens could be almost intolerable, involving conflicts of 'love' and 'duty'. And this begs the questions: Are the values of 'duty' and 'loyalty' outmoded? And what can replace them to keep society functional? Of course, society may undergo huge change – such as the change prompted by the waves of revolutionary thought emanating from 18th Century France – but you still need to survive. In short, you still need lunch.
What is the role of superstition and tradition in this story?
In The Wolf of Dalriada, superstition and tradition underpin the Highland way of life – respect for the ancestors, for example, was a common spiritual bond – but both superstition and tradition are ruthlessly manipulated by those who wish to control the situation. Even so, whatever the venal believe about their own power, the supernatural glimmers in the Scottish air so you never quite know which world you're living in. And this story veers between a fairy tale going back to the dawn of time and an18th Century comedy of manners.
What role have the senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, smell -– in the writing of this book?
Phillip Pullman, in his wonderful book, 'Daemon Voices', says novels have more in common with film than theatre. I would agree – to a certain extent. 'Sight' is the predominant sense involved in the first draft of a novel and in film. You are describing a 'rolling' scene so that the reader can 'see' it. But theatre and subsequent drafts of a novel, I find, can appeal to the other sense too. As I was writing I found the 'recall' of other sensations help me describe a scene, reaching out to shared experiences with readers, helping them to relive the moment. The Scottish landscape is described, using all the senses. Scotland is sensual. And Versailles. And Fashion – which meant so much to the heroine, Adelaide de Fontenoy – also demands blatantly sensual description. So although the sense of sight is very important, the reader uses the other senses too. The author is working with the reader's capacity to recall.
Which character would you most like to invite to dinner and why?
Sir William Robinson would be my go-to dinner guest. Even if it was in danger of becoming emotionally mired, he would know how to keep the conversation entertaining,. And he – like the Duke of Argyll and Malcolm Craig Lowrie – is a collector of useful information. Because he knows a lot but is also prepared to chat about it, he would be well worth an invitation. The trick would be to encourage him to think that your dinner table is worth opening up sufficiently to gossip.
Where did your research take you? How is research best handled? Historical fiction relies on accurate detail to build up a 'world' in which a story can believably take place but, even so, for the reader, the story remains more important than the research. And – even though we may teach through our parables – novelists must not be purely educators. Novelists must remember they are entertainers. As an historical novelist, I love research – people, places, times, customs – but it is better not to dump too much fact in any single scene. You lose your reader.
People say all fiction is autobiographical. Is there a formative experience in your life is the basis for this book?
I suppose this is asking how literature works. Readers can identify with what the author is saying or the characters are experiencing in a story. This encourages a capacity for empathy. Because of their empathic response, readers may also experience catharsis (a release of pent up emotions they struggle with). And readers may – through gaining insights into the problems explored in the story – gain insights into the problems in their own lives. Historical fiction has an extra benefit. It removes the 'issue' from the familiar everyday and any new perspective can throw up new insights. One formative experience in my life – which led me to explore the issues in this story – has been a conflict between love, survival and duty. I'm not prepared to say more. But yes, to a degree, The Wolf of Dalriada is autobiographical. I also love Argyll!
Contact and connect with Elizabeth Gates:-
Email: egates3@gmail.com
Author Website: https://www.elizabeth-gates.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com
FB Pages: https://www.facebook.com/TheWolfofDalriada/
https://www.facebook.com/LizzieGatesasNovelist/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizzieGates
Blogger: https://lizziegates.blogspot.co.uk
The Wolf of Dalriada is available to buy from:
Amazon.co.uk : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785899902
Available from all good bookshops and also available to borrow in the UK and Ireland through Public Libraries.
My Vedic Hymn To You
By Michael La Vin
You came to me from Kerala,
Purple and white, your Portuguese
Beauty illuminated me day and night
I wrapped my arms around you, and you grew within my core
I felt your trembling arms reach up,
Caressing my epiphytic roots,
I towered over you as your beauty blossomed.
With each tender caress,
I knew you would be mine forever more.
Rest your sweet head upon my arms,
As Krishna did
So many years, so many eons ago.
He has sent you now,
As a reminder of His power and beauty
As you blossom forever protected within my frame
As you lie within , caressing,
Loving and sharing , My roots ever stronger, strengthening,
As you blossom and flower,
Engorged and radiant,
Your scent transcends, a perfumed heady diaspora
Your sweet nectar flowing, feeding my soul
Your Karma washes over and through me
Intricately entwined,
Enwrapped, entrapped
Infinitely and endlessly interwoven.
Enlightenment achieved,
A oneness, a togetherness,
Rooted in, sharing and growing from the same earth
You came to me,
A material reflection of the spiritual domain,
A shadow of perfected reality,
Slowly unfolding your secrets,
In an intertwined rapturous eternal love
Come amongst us – declared as one of the perfect beings.
Book Blog Newsletter – March 2018
4th March 2018 / timwalker1666 / 0 Comments
The third and final book in Tim Walker's A Light in the Dark Ages series, Uther's Destiny, is set to launch on 9th March. This novel completes the series he began writing in July 2015 with the novella, Abandoned!, inspired by a visit to the site of former Roman town, Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester in Hampshire). It was Tim's intention with this series to create an 'alternative history' of life in Britannia in the Fifth Century. This is the time immediately after the Roman occupation ended (in 410 AD) and his narrative incorporates elements of the Arthurian legend, as described by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his History of the Kings of Britain, published in 1136.
UTHER'S DESTINY – Pre-order now!
Fifth century Britannia is in shock at the murder of charismatic High King, Ambrosius Aurelianus, and looks to his brother and successor, Uther, to continue his work in leading the resistance to barbarian invaders.
Uther's destiny as a warrior king seems set until his world is turned on its head when his burning desire to possess the beautiful Ygerne leads to conflict. Could the fate of his kingdom hang in the balance as a consequence?
The court healer, and schemer, Merlyn, sees an opportunity in Uther's lustful obsession to fulfil the prophetic visions that guide him. He is encouraged on his mission by druids who align their desire for a return to ancient ways with his urge to protect the one destined to save the Britons from foreign invaders and lead them to a time of peace and prosperity. Merlyn must use his wisdom and guile to thwart the machinations of an enemy intent on foiling his plans.
Uther's Destiny is an historical fiction novel set in the Fifth century, a time known as the Dark Ages – a time of myths and legends that builds to the greatest legend of all – King Arthur and his knights.
This month we welcome British dystopian novelist, Stuart Kenyon. Stuart prefers to write in public places, tapping away as the world passes by, and he plots his stories whilst out walking the dog. He has always enjoyed reading disturbing tales which explore the darkness at the heart of the human condition, and his characters are devised with this in mind.
As the father of a severely autistic son, the author has pledged to donate a fifth of all royalties from the SUBNORMAL series to his local Special Educational Needs school. They are raising money to provide much-needed sensory equipment for the children. The treatment of disabled people in Britain – in particular the cuts in welfare benefits for society's most vulnerable – provided Stuart with the inspiration for his original trilogy. The Brexit vote, and the lurch to the right in politics across the Western World, prompted him to write SWIFTLY SHARPENS THE FANG.
Stuart lives in Greater Manchester, England with his wife and two young children. Despite wanting to pen a novel since reading English Literature at the University of Salford, he didn't start writing until 2014. He released the final part of the SUBNORMAL series in May 2016, and has recently written a new novel, SWIFTLY SHARPENS THE FANG, which released 30th January 2017. Currently, he is writing a post-apocalyptic science fiction series, which should be finished by the end of 2018.
@StuartKenyon81 (Twitter)
Stuart Kenyon – Author of Dystopian Novels (Facebook)
stuartkenyon.wordpress.com (website)
bit.ly/subnormal1 (Subnormal)
bit.ly/subnormal2 (Supernormal)
bit.ly/subnormal3 (Postnormal)
bit.ly/swiftlybk (Swiftly Sharpens the Fang)
David Bowie: Star Man
A personal reminiscence by Linnet Lane
1973. Enter David Bowie, my first musical idol…
Not a hand-me-down crush.
Not copy-cat crooner nor harmonising hoofer.
Boys and girls, we all wanted to BE Bowie, not to bed Bowie. Or so we said.
In a suffocation of affiliates – stick with, stick to, stick in the bubble -gum bovver boys and soul sisters – Bowie stuck out.
He struck out, struck up, struck US, and lightning-struck Ziggy Stardust.
Bowie's cosmic visionary, ungendered by grease paint, whined in the key of light,
Crashing and lapping like a lover on the shore of our sensibilities.
We Major Tommed and Jean Genied all our sixteenth summer long,
Took the songs to our hearts and the genius for granted.
John, I'm Only Dancing.
Dancing out loud in dazzling colours.
Yesterday a grey locked, death locked, grave garbed image
Shared the only vision the rest of us ever had, one of parting.
Didn't rage against the dying of the light, but bent its last rays to a spot for his thorn-bird song,
Effortlessly in tune at last.
Major Tim, floating in his 'tin can', twixt a new earth and a new heaven, mourns.
His life trailed by art.
The tide is far out. And the stars look very different tonight.
By Linnet
It's customary to list partners, offspring and pets as a breastplate against literary rejection… I live with a supportive collection of houseplants in a nineteen-sixties semi within a Yorkshire village that tries hard. The pen name Linnet (the storyteller in Lucy M Boston's 'Children of Green Knowe') wakes my imagination. I wrote my first complete story in 2014, forty years after study got in the way of writing for its own sake, and have begun to build a collection.
This poem is a one-off.