Enjoyed weekend in Birmingham. The camera became red hot taking photos of the pretty countryside around the Midlands. Had always fancied visiting Tamworth Castle and managed this on Saturday. It's all ready for Halloween. Cobwebs and spooks everywhere - lots of fun coming up. Short Youtube will follow later. This is aimed at my Vancouver based on line magazine www.suite101.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
OFF TO VISIT TAMWORTH CASTLE IN STAFFORDSHIRE
Enjoyed weekend in Birmingham. The camera became red hot taking photos of the pretty countryside around the Midlands. Had always fancied visiting Tamworth Castle and managed this on Saturday. It's all ready for Halloween. Cobwebs and spooks everywhere - lots of fun coming up. Short Youtube will follow later. This is aimed at my Vancouver based on line magazine www.suite101.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
MUSIC FEST FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Just a reminder for Saturday 27 October to come along to what promises to be a great evening for all the family in Billericay's Emmanuel Church. There may be some tickets left and so many friends will be there, too. Have a super time!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
MY FAVOURITE WRITERS
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Yours truly and Baroness James of Holland Park |
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Hilary Mantel when she visited Billericay |
Saturday, October 20, 2012
SHOWCASING SOUTHEND BOOK & ARTS FAIR 2012
The Hadleigh based writer Simon Woodward organised today's successful Book & Arts Fair www.srwoodward.co.uk |
Sarah Banham with her best selling books. Sarah is linked with Gateway Radio and is a full time writer .www.loveofbooks.co.uk |
Nick Ardley's books are super - check the index on this weblog to find reviews of three of his books www.nickardley.com |
Poets Shirley Baker and Derek Adams with Shirley's newly published Anthology and Derek's new book |
Ian Yearsley with his wife today at the Fair publicising his latest book THE CURSE OF CANNOW'S END. Ian has written numerous books linked to Essex which are highly recommended. |
Marc Grimston with his new book |
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
BILLERICAY ROTARIANS PLAN GREAT MUSICAL EVENING
This is going to be a wonderful evening at Emmanuel Church, Tickets are selling well. Further details from Rotarian Norman Bishop 01277 630344
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Reginald Haynes: Among Life's Ups and Downs
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Reginald Haynes and Phoenix 98FM Presenter Alan Johnson |
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Reg during a recent radio broadcast on Phoenix 98FM |
Reginald Haynes: Among Life's Ups and Downs: This is Reg's latest project that he has based on his life story and memories. His charity registered in Barbados "Tasks for Peace" was set up to educate people in his philosophy.
Monday, October 15, 2012
ALL THINGS RUSSIAN - COURTESY OF OXYGEN BOOKS
Come October, on goes the pinny and the kitchen is awash with food and wine. I ferment my own mead and wines of all types; some recipes manage to win prizes, but basically they are used for my food and wine on-line columns and, of course, my dinner guests. Today, I was making Russian style food like Krasnye Blinis and Borscht soup, which I think were appreciated by my guests.
While working on Russian style foods, I began reading a new book from Oxygen Books edited by Heather Reyes, Marina Samsonova and James Rann. Whether you are travelling to Russia soon or at another time, do read their anthology ST PETERSBURG under the city-pick imprint.
Heather Reyes reckoned the very first book she ever read about St Petersburg was Gladys Malvern's children's biography of Anna Pavlova Dancing Star and within she found such words as Nijinsky, Karsavina, Ballets Russes among many others and this whole new world inspired her with all things Russian.
The founding of St Petersburg in 1703 was Peter the Great's 'I have a dream' moment. He obviously had a clear visition of the elegant European style city on the Rive Neva which would displace Moscow as the capital of a reformed Russia. The book gives vignettes from sixty of the world's best writers including Malcolm Bradbury, Dmitry Shostakovich, Truman Capote and so many more.
The Times reviewer reckoned 'It's like having your own iPad loaded with different tomes.' The anthology's ISBN 978-0-9567876-2-0 price £9.99. More detail at www.oxygenbooks.co.uk
While working on Russian style foods, I began reading a new book from Oxygen Books edited by Heather Reyes, Marina Samsonova and James Rann. Whether you are travelling to Russia soon or at another time, do read their anthology ST PETERSBURG under the city-pick imprint.
Heather Reyes reckoned the very first book she ever read about St Petersburg was Gladys Malvern's children's biography of Anna Pavlova Dancing Star and within she found such words as Nijinsky, Karsavina, Ballets Russes among many others and this whole new world inspired her with all things Russian.
The founding of St Petersburg in 1703 was Peter the Great's 'I have a dream' moment. He obviously had a clear visition of the elegant European style city on the Rive Neva which would displace Moscow as the capital of a reformed Russia. The book gives vignettes from sixty of the world's best writers including Malcolm Bradbury, Dmitry Shostakovich, Truman Capote and so many more.
The Times reviewer reckoned 'It's like having your own iPad loaded with different tomes.' The anthology's ISBN 978-0-9567876-2-0 price £9.99. More detail at www.oxygenbooks.co.uk
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Self, Malcolm Burgess and Heather Reyes at Phoenix Radio 98FM |
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
BILLERICAY NHW POLICE TEAM BRINGS US UP TO DATE ON CRIME FIGURES
http://www.essex.police.uk/my_neighbourhood/basildon_district/billericay_east/billericay_east.aspx
Monday, October 08, 2012
MONDAY MORNING MEETING WITH KEITH BARKER
Really early start this Monday morning to reach Reginald Haynes' home where he had a lesson with a super computer engineer/trainer KEITH BARKER. Keith was able to explain the advantages of creating one's own weblog and linking it to (what I call FLIT) acronym meaning FACEBOOK, LINKED-IN AND TWITTER. Really not rocket science at all, but an ability to reach more people with your advertising message and ultimately, more sales. It truly does work - check out my traffic, currently 86,500 and growing.
Friday, October 05, 2012
OCTOBER BUSINESS BISCOTTI WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
Excellent business gathering at Marygreen Manor, Brentwood, Essex this morning with a great speaker advising and helping on handling business events. She is Sarada Chaudhuri of Event Detective and it was well worth attending her lecture. We invariably learn a lot at these meetings and enjoy networking with new people from around the South East who want to increase their clientele and make friends. I'm busily filing a new crop of business cards into my index. If an opportunity comes up to attend a Business Biscotti gathering, in Brentwood, do come along. For details check them out at http://www.businessbiscotti.co.uk/
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A line-up from recent Biscotti function at Marygreen Manor, London Road, Brentwood |
Thursday, October 04, 2012
4 OCTOBER IS NATIONAL POETRY DAY
As a celebration of National Poetry Day, Billericay folk enjoyed a special gathering of word lovers at our local library on Tuesday. We listened to the work of Denis Ahern, not only a gifted poet, but a good novelist, too. Denis is a member of the Brentwood Writers' Circle that meets monthly at the Ursuline Convent in Brentwood.
Denis presented a selection of his work which his audience certainly enjoyed and which was poignnt, humorous and often a little irreverant - a little naughty - a great afternoon! His collection of work is available from Denis on his website.
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Graham Herbing Library Manager with poets Denis Ahern and Tim Cunningham on Tuesday at Billericay Library |
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