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

Short Youtube clip here showing the lovely Yeti  the Tamworth Executioner (with permission) Just click on the arrow.  Promised to pay another visit when we next visit the West Midlands.

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!

MY FAVOURITE WRITERS

Enjoyed listening to Woman's Hour this morning with P D James who has won Lifetime Award at the Woman of the Year lunch yesterday (should have attended!) as this author is one of my favourites.  Her latest book is Death Comes to Pemberley Currently reading this.   Also enjoy Hilary Mantel - her new Man Booker prize-winning book Bring Up the Bodies is on order.  Lucky to meet and interview so many superb English writers.  Do keep inviting me.

Yours truly and Baroness James of Holland Park
 

Hilary Mantel when she visited Billericay

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

 

Just some of the members of the popular Writers Anonymous - all great writers

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
 

Today, enjoyed a well organised Book and Arts Fair at Southend Victoria Circus - many talented author friends were there with new books recently published and a whole host of poets who read out work from their anthologies.  Lovely to see so much talent in this part of Essex.  Also paid a visit to Southend Museum & Planetarium - helpful staff and the famous library which will be moving within a year or so.  Superb day and excellent networking. 

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

Reginald Haynes: Among Life's Ups and Downs

Reginald Haynes and Phoenix 98FM Presenter Alan Johnson
 

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.



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

Self, Malcolm Burgess and Heather Reyes at Phoenix Radio 98FM
 

BILLERICAY NHW POLICE TEAM BRINGS US UP TO DATE ON CRIME FIGURES

Just returned from tonight's evening meeting with local police linked to Neighbourhood Watch in Billericay.  Our super policewoman WPC Julie Dawes and NHW Liaison Officer Fred Good and his team do their best to inform us of the latest information from Essex Police. We would like more residents to come along and learn more about fighting crime. CRIME CANNOT FLOURISH IN A  COMMUNITY THAT CARES  Phone Fred Good on 01277 633090 for details of next meeting.
http://www.essex.police.uk/my_neighbourhood/basildon_district/billericay_east/billericay_east.aspx

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.  

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/

A line-up from recent Biscotti function at Marygreen Manor, London Road, Brentwood
 

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.



Graham Herbing Library Manager with poets Denis Ahern and Tim Cunningham on Tuesday at Billericay Library
 

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.