Notes of a Furious Badger

i have resigned myself to the fac that I am not going to be a regular poster at livejournal.  I've also decided that this doesnt really matter.  It is my journal after all.  Who really cares how often I write in it or what i write about?  Or whether i capitalise my 'i's'!?

Life has been pretty busy with horses and college and family and friends.  Yes people, i said friends!  That initial sociability when we moved has not worn off and all in all things are going great.

I'm even getting another horse! (I hope)

The only downside is that I havent written for ages.  I dont mean journal writing, I mean fiction, poetry ANYTHING.

But i do feel better now that i have an update this month. :)

I may come back later and write something more... interesting.

An 800+ page epic I wasn't sure about even starting this one.  Then I discovered it was a translation and my enthusiasm waned further.  However, it had been leant to a friend and she wanted a second opinion before she decided to read it and so I Included the novel in my holiday reads.  I am so glad I did.  It took a couple of (fairly short) chapters but then I was hooked.

The book begins by introducing characters and a number of bizarre marine occurrances.  Scientists and biologists and even oil companies are trying to solve the mystery.  Schatzing does back up his fiction with science and while i'm not sure how far this is actually supportable it does go a long way to helping suspend disbelief.  The characters are diverse with a healthy mix of the loveable, likeable and detestable.  I did have to sacrifice a good day and a half to this novel, but boy, was it worth it!

Another storming good read although of a completely different nature.  This is the first Crichton book I have actually read having enjoyed a number of his efforts on the big screen and more recently, listened to some of his bestsellers released in audio-book format.  I thought I might find the actual books a little too scientific.  I'm a science teacher but certainly no expert in gene technology, nano-technology or indeed any other ground-breaking research area.  A science background definitely helped with this one although Crichton does his best to explain things as the book unfolds.  

In some ways, I didn't feel like this book had one, easy to grab onto plot.   Instead there were a number of threads which occasionally came into contact with one another but the main cohesive factor was that each storyline came under the biotechnology umbrella.  Crichton used a variety of styles throughout the book and the wide variety of people involved was engaging and meant that there is someone for everyone to identify with.

It's difficult to sum up "what happens" but issues tackled are: the patenting of genes; human-primate hybrids; the use of an individual's cells for research and more.  Biology isn't my field, but this book had me googling for more information... I know, i know, I'm a geek.  But aren't those back in?

I read this having already enjoyed Twining's first offering "Double Eagle".  It's not a particularly erodite read although it does at least include some interesting fact to give the storylines some meat. - plus, it's a great entertaining page-turner.  I love the way Twining writes.  The chapters are short and snappy and usually leave you on edge waiting for the next penny to drop, and Twining keeps you hanging by having different character focuses for the chapters and therefore you might hear about Tom in Ch.1 but you won't hear about him again until Ch.4 as Ch.s 2&3 are about Dick and Harry.

The first two novels centre around Tom Kirk, an (ex) art thief mixed up in all sorts of trouble.  "The Black Sun" involves some of the characters from "Double Eagle" but, although references to his previous exploits are made and the events definitely follow on chronologically from the first, "The Black Sun" can most definitely stand alone.  Enough information is given to update the reader on key facts without providing any spoilers should you want to go back and read the first.

A thoroughly enjoyable read - I can't wait for the "The Gilded Seal" in the autumn.

We moved in on Tuesday and so far don't seem to be able to step out of the door without bumping into someone we know. 

We popped round to fix the grandparents' freezer (unsuccessfully as it turned out) and before we knew it they dropped by with all sorts of goodies from their vegetable garden.  It's great.  We were lamenting the loss of our rather handy and very good market, but now we have family grown stuff and it even brings itself!  Auntie Jane dropped by on their way back from holiday and the inlaws are coming to see us next week.   We went to the village fete and saw a friend from years ago (his baby is now a six-year old with a four-year old sister who didnt even exist!) and some friends have come to stay for the weekend.

My point is, for the last 9 months we have been the most unsociable couple ever.  Work has been busy and we've both been surviving rather than living.  Thankfully, things have changed and we're both thoroughly looking forward to rediscovering life.  We might actually make friends as well as re-aquaint ourselves with some old ones.  My horse will remember what it feels like to be fit and able to canter for further than 100 yards, the Bongo will go further than Tesco.

In our efforts to complete mission: Get-A-Life we have been to the cinema for the first time in years to see Harry Potter (hey, I never claimed to be sophisticated), established ourselves at the local pub and had friends over for some all-important F1 GP watching.  And all this in less than a week.  I can only wonder what next week will bring...

I saw Tom in the coffee shop this weekend.  It was wierd.  I just wanted to grab the nearest pen and paper and draw him with words.  I wanted to take his photograh, hear his voice, ask him questions.  Of course, it wasn't really Tom, it was some poor sod who looked just like him.  But it was still an awesome experience.  To look at someone and think oh. my. god.  you are one of my characters.  One of my characters is walking around town.  Its happened before to a lesser extent.  I've seen someone and thought,  oh yeah, x might look a bit like her.  But this was an almost physical, visceral experience.  I cant help but wonder if I had seen this guy before and subconsciously rendered Tom in his likeness.  Maybe.  But still, I now feel like i know a little bit more about him, his walk, his clothes, the dog-eared paperback novel stuffed into the back pocket of his jeans.  Fab.