Stephen King's Revival

I bought Revival, and Mr Mercedes, at the same time. They are not even remotely connected except for the writer, and whereas I tuned into the latter immediately the opposite was true of Revival. After thirty-seven pages I wonder where the hell this book was taking me. The 'gob-speak' between the Morton family members of which there are four children and two 'God-loving' parents is interesting, but what was this about? Okay it moves on, past religion, through adolescence, into music and whatever else. He uses music to help carry it along and that world is locked into some of the story. Dope is there on the sidelines seemingly skated over, but fills in part of this saga of life. It is just a segment that gets woven into the patchwork.

Two main characters carry it on, James Morton, and the Reverend Daniel C Jacobs. The former is the narrator and Jacobs is what some of it is about.

King writes in emotion. He plays the 'feelings game' very well. One minute you are in the story and then in the next minute or so you are wrapped up in your past. Memories float by and there are lumps in the throat. That's what good story tellers do, of course.

But what is it all about? I could say that it is about a 'crack-pot guy' who is on a mission whether it is to 'con' or 'cure' which does yield him untold wealth. For me it is some of both however unlikely the reality actually is. Of course it is all well told and well written, but I did not find it that enjoyable.
If you don't want to know any more of the story don't read the front fly sheet and get the surprises as they come. You may find it 'electrifying' and 'reviving', but.....

Anti-austerity Demonstration

ANTI-AUSTERITY DEMONSTRATION,
WHITEHALL, JUNE 20th

On the eve of the Solstice
they felt a need
to protect the Cenotaph,
to block images and memories
of 'The Glorious Dead'.

Those that gave us freedom
now have to hide behind cheap boards
while others scream, blow whistles,
waggle placards over heads,
blaming the blue Tory band.

Cosseted fresh faces, hair immaculate,
supported by Jimmy Choo,
designer jeans and consumer
rhetoric to forget the past,
and the idea of value.

Spend what can be borrowed.
To hell with restraint or constraint.
Consume. Consume. Presume
it will be alright in the end and
the deficit will simply disappear.

Oh no it won't! The political divide
pulls two ways. Red in opposition
to t'other way. It's the way it is
as people die in our darkening world
when the sun comes up at 4.52am

21st June, 2015 John Edwards (C)

NB. Written for the day and not for
later events. I saw the photo of the
marchers on the news and decided to
write this piece.
The only ISIL connection
is probably the term 'darkening world'.
Obviously since then we have had the
Tunisian killings on Friday 26th June.

Party in the Paddock

THE NAME CHANGERS OF TARRINGTON
What will they do this Saturday, at 2?
Village Fetes are on the go, you know;
you knew where, by following the walkers,
the straggling talkers, and those Range Rovers.

Annually they occurred,
almost like summer rain they came.
Bring-and-buy stalls; hues in fruity jams,
jars of chutney, clear honey
with people I know standing guard
with demanding eyes, perhaps.

Confusingly, that old name transpired,
it had to go, re-brand that idea of a 'Fete'.
What sleight of hand has consigned it
to a past? Can you still look for a
'Red Phone Box' and find one?
Has Dr Who snaffled them all
and whipped them away in a sham
Police Box re-branded as a 'Tardis?'

I like the past, but like me, like it's
definition, it moves away inexorably.
Now, we have to call it 'Party in the Paddock'.
Green grass under slippy sandals, even flip-flops,
but bring the psychedelic wellies, and
Estate Agents umbrellas, just in case.

It's a fresh day. There's the freshness in
freshly mown grass - it's like an aphrodisiac.
They come in droves to this new event.
This re-branded-giving-event where the idea
is still the same.
'Git yer 'ands inta your pockets'; small change will
do as a starter and then the notes. Don't flinch,
it is only money.
Thinking of austerity will not help
the ailing in St. Michael's Hospice.
May the funds be enhanced.
I say well done.

John Edwards (C) 10th July, 2015
NB. TARRINGTON is a village in
Herefordshire and it is where I
was born and spent my first
seventeen years.

Hereford FC

RE-BORN AND STILL UNITED

It is so good when the unexpected happens. Sometimes a community, or even a part of one, comes together and the effect of it creates a wonderful feeling. This is so when there is a recovery of an institution that has been an important part of a city. If I had mentioned in my first line that I was referring to a football club then I would have lost some readers immediately, but please read on for this is about people focussing on what can be achieved after having recognized a loss.

This does show that communities can connect in times of trouble.

In December 2014 Hereford United FC (1939) Ltd was wound up in The Law Courts in far away London and that was that. They were not even able to complete their fixtures in the Premier Division of the Conference League

Since last week they are actively back in business.

They only had seven contracted players last week (now eleven) and with others are able to form a team. Somehow they found finance, 'tarted' up Edgar Street Athletic Ground because it had been neglected, made it safe and fit for purpose after securing a five year lease from Hereford City Council and now they are back. Officially 'United' are not in business and the new club have the title FC Hereford (Forever United) to take them forward into the fairly recently formed Midland League where those attending maybe no more than a hundred or so spectators. A country mile away from days of former glory and league status.

Now, this is where I start to feel very good for in their first pre-season friendly at Malvern Town over two thousand people went to support their team. There had never been a gate that large there before and 'United' had never had pre-season friendly with numbers of that magnitude. This was only last Tuesday and in the next few days they were able to acquire a safety certificate for the Hereford ground for almost five thousand spectators and that meant they could play their first home game last Saturday. They did not have a capacity gate, but we're only 708 short. They sold 2000 programmes at £2.50 and could have sold more. They must have extended the print run because there will be more on sale for the next home game. I want one.

In recent years their has been objections to the 'big money' clubs and their 'big money' owners. Such clubs, in some cases, have lost their local identity and that is where the real supporters take on the huge task and the risks of putting their club back into their community where it belongs. FC United of Manchester are one of those clubs and they, with 600 hundred traveling supporters, were in Hereford last Saturday. A club and 600 supporters with large hearts. Wonderful for myself as I was brought up on non-league football, the glory of the FA Cup and big dreams. Now more kids can dream on. The "Bulls are running again" with a head of a Hereford Bull as part of the clubs motif on all their shirts. Keep on Running!

Book Review of Mr Mercedes

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King.

Feeling the need for a change in style, for something different I browsed the book shelves and found in a prime position two books by Stephen King. I flipped through a few pages of Mr Mercedes, liked what I had quickly read and added it to the basket. Previously I had been unable to finish or never even started some of his work. This one I liked from the start. Brady Hartfield is our killing-man and Bill Hodges is our retired detective.
The fly sheet will tell you that Brady drives a Mercedes into a waiting line of the jobless and people die. The killer escapes, but he is no ordinary being. Later he taunts our 'Det-Ret' and the competition gets underway. King puts so much into the building of his characters and his plots are never simple. There are details to absorb and there is suspense in considering who is the next one for the morgue. Along the way he introduces some very unlikely characters who get caught up in the evil and aid the ex-cop to win - of course, but winning does have its own price! I like the way that he does 'flawed people'.
There is even more suspense introduced when Bill needs help from the inside. An ex-cop requiring official help, but not allowing all the truth to be revealed. It just adds to the story.
But what of the ending and how do our solvers-of-crime come out of it. Well, if you read this riveting novel you can come to your conclusions. Enjoy as I have done. Now for King's, 'Revival' apparently it is spectacularly dark and electrifying. It should be good then.

A BOOK LIST!

WHAT I LIKE TO READ

The on-going challenge of reading excellent writing, locating new authors, finding inspiration for my own scribblings and making new friends and meeting people is what drives my book list.

This time last year I was in Ledbury for their Poetry Festival and amongst those 10 days I unearthed a gem. I had signed up for an-all-night-poetry event at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, but in the evening there were two separate events with one entitled At Maldon. The story starts with an event in the year 991 when a rag-tag army of local Anglo-Saxons faced a marauding army of Vikings. J.O Morgan, the author, takes a piece of old writing where the beginning and ending had been 'mislaid' and adds his understanding to what could have been said. He made it so rhythmical, alliterative and sound so true as though he had been there all those years ago. And he recited it, all sixty pages! (ISBN 978-0-957-3266-5-1)

Following on from Ledbury was the Harrogate Crime Writers Festival and where you can indulge yourself in the world of crime books and rub shoulders with the writers and publishers. Here we encountered Mari Hannah and her four published books, The Murder Wall, Settled Blood, Deadly Deceit, and Monument to Murder. If you enjoy English crime stories then these are a 'must read' and to add to the list there is Killing for Keeps also.

I could include many other authors that I have met at Harrogate. Writers that I have bought their books, read, enjoyed and reviewed in my blog. (http://spanishjohnedwards-je.blogspot.com.) I had the pleasure of meeting J K Rowling and her crime stories written under the name of Robert Galbraith. Again stories set in England and to be enjoyed.

In January we were browsing in a book shop on Sanibel Island, Florida when I saw a book written by Jonathan Hayes. His first book, A Hard Death, involving cruelty, torture, sex of course, and plenty of deaths which was all set in the Everglades Natural Park. I think that it is an added extra to be able to have some personal knowledge or an idea, or at least, of the location or locations that are included in any story. For me, it seems to add to the enjoyment. I have reviewed all of the above books and they are all on my blog.

I also read more serious 'stuff' and this has included some of the stories in The Dubliners by James Joyce and I have dabbled in several others of similar ilk. Currently I am reading (slowly) The Rainbow by D H Lawrence and interspersed with small chunks of a factual account of the efforts of the Maquisands on the Vercors plateau (near Grenoble) attempting to resist the German occupiers from a book entitled The Cruel Victory by Paddy Ashdown.

History fascinates me and so with serious historical accounts I read a novel during the time of that reading. This was not the case with Hilary Mantel's two books Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies that demanded all of my attention, but worth it.

Recently I have read Mr Mercedes by Stephen King upon which I will write a review for my blog and I still have his later book The Revival to read next.

Having just returned from England The Sunday Times has given me some more to add to my list. There are diverse writings such as Medieval Graffiti by Dan Jones, Under Storms Wing which is about the love of Helen Thomas and her husband and prolific writer Edward Thomas, Closet Queens: Some 20th Century British Politicians by Michael Bloch and The Last English Poachers by Bob & Brian Tovey. It seems endless this list and if I add in my research on Herefordshire Gypsies then the list is bound to grow even more.

I also read wildlife magazines and those written on the environment and of course poems of friends and published authors.
John Edwards July 2015.

Estepas de Yecla in July

Another early morning saw us heading north from Gran Alacant towards the Estepas de Yecla to again concentrate on this wonderful location. We did anticipate a hot day, but when we arrived at 8am it was only 21 degrees and with a fairly strong breeze. Swallows were flying low through the almond trees, but strangely with no Martins or Swifts to be seen.

We did not expect too much or anything unusual this being the hottest time of the year. However, as we have always seen something good what we did see was very good. We saw three Greater Spotted Cuckoos on the ground, presumably fledglings, being fed by a Magpie. Thus proving the fact of which nest the eggs had been laid. We were able to watch them for about ten minutes as they moved around, but at a distance.

Lesser Kestrels were flying around the farm buildings and over the fields. This drew our attention to other birds and when we focused on one we found, what we thought could have been Peregrine, but was undoubtedly a Hobby. It was never close enough to photograph and we had to make do with some good, but fairly distant sightings of it. This was my third sighting of this species this year and Bryan's first.

Two Golden Eagles had been seen by Bryan on a previous visit, but today we had to make do with a Buzzard.

I have previously mentioned that this is a very good area for Larks with Short-toed showing well together with Crested and some Thekla. We were pleased to see several flocks of Calendra which must have numbered over 200 in total.

Many of the fields of corn had now been cut although further in towards Caudette there were fields still waiting to be harvested. Other fields were being worked with machinery and as such there was a good variety of habitat. I won't list all the birds and again we heard Black-bellied Sandgrouse, and Crows, Jackdaws and Chough flew for us. To finish with, we had good views, of Tree Sparrows.

We intend to do this yet again and next time to enter this valley via Caudette and pay particular attention to that area first.

Another great day out with Bryan Thomas.

TORREVIEJA WRITERS CIRCLE

One more Wednesday morning at The Olympia Restaurant, Mil Palmeras saw the writers of TORREVIEJA WRITERS GROUP members make their offerings on the theme of 'Fate'. Of the seventeen members only nine read on this, it seems, not so popular subject. I declined on the meagre grounds of 'I didn't want to write' on it. I felt that it was a subdued gathering and all being well the heat of this Spanish summer will not suppress inspiration and the need to write on future occasions.

It is important to put the morning into perspective and say that there is always some golden words to be found. We had time in the second half for 'a hot pen'. The intention is simply to put people 'on-the-spot' and bloody well write something because this is a writing group.

One or two of us agreed to put our words, with only a minimum of time and thought, as a story or poem on the given word of 'jewel' on the blog. I was amazed how some wrote so easily with rhyme, although not all.

Here is my effort - Barry Jewel

'It's an odd name to have. I remember him, not as clearly, as I would have liked. Yes, Barry Jewel at seventeen or eighteen so, with black wiry hair, a squarish face, large dark eyes that could have hinted at his character.

I can visualize him now, the memory is coming back. A being with not a nice face, in fact, ugly. He never made it. No one liked him and that is why he never did make it.

They said that he put his head on the line, perhaps, when the tracks began to tremble and sing.

The curve of the line and the Permanent Way workers hut his body from view.

The driver could do nothing to stop the waste of another young life.

A headstone records the bare details.'