holiday

Was most most enjoyable. Stayed in a different apratment this year, was nicer than one from previous years, which had nothing wrong with it. Air conditioning in both bedroom and living area was a huge bonus. Though for first day or two it did seem a bit odd and little bit longer to totally relax and feel comfortable, though not to long as it was really good.

Apartments had a shared pool but for all any other guests used it bar last couple of days was as good as private. Hard to say what the highlight was. Boat trip day out is always good, though got a little burnt. Fortunately noticed it quickly enough and covered up a bit but was nippy for a day or two, though nothing to bad and didn't peel. Got a fairly healthy tan, though for some reason upper arms just don't tan that well.

Also the food is rather magnificent, from fairly simple if large and delicious rolls filled with salami, cheese, onion, mayonnaise for lunch to king prawns, steaks, a whole host of chicken lanb and more traditional turkish dishes. Though with exception of one restaurent there was a strange chocolate pudding shortage. Something of a mystery and becamse something of a mission to get one as in five restaurents I ordered one but they didn't have any. Fortunately the one I did have was outstanding.

I'm not a huge sun worshipper but it hard to beat sitting reading in the sun before cooling down with a dip in the pool. And while it's not really that healthy for you you do tend to look a bit healthier with a wee bit of a tan than peely wally Scottish complexion. Though I should add a natural tan not Jimmy Calderwood/Tommy Sheridan orange permatan from constant sunbed usage. A route I won't be going down.

I read all but two of the books I took, I finished Reasons to be Cheerful, A Hat Full of Sky, Chomsky on Anarchism, A Little History of the World, No War: Americas real business in Iraq and two late additions Peter Marinellos autobiography and Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast. All of which I enjoyed immensely though often for different reasons. I started The Prince but after what I'd already read I wasn't really in the mood for it, could have used a bit of lighter reading by end of holiday. Though I did then get onto Power: A new social analysis and despite not really qualifying as light reading it again has been an interesting read so far.

Also on the way home I bought House of Bush/House of Saud by Craig Unger largely because well I had heard of it and sounds interesting and in top right of the cover it said banned by amazon.co.uk which may or may not be true but I was tired and it was bit of an impulse buy in that regard. Still looking forward to reading it once I finished Power. Though I'll probably read naother Terry Pratchett book I have that I not read yet first.

Anyway to sum up, I had a good time, it was relaxing and fun as well. Look forward to going back.

Back from holiday

Just a short post to say I had a good time. I had meant to post whilst out in Turkey but I couldn't remember my username and password. It was to hot for me to faff around putting together my usual combinations until I came to the right one.

Holiday reading

Here is a list of books I have purchased to read on holiday. I'll also give a brief synopsis or reason for purchase.

Reasons to be Cheerful by Mark Steel - A book about one comedians life involved in left wing politics over 25 years or so. Basicaly I am buying this book because I happened to watch his programme the Mark Steel lectures which are generally brilliant. Someone also emails me his Independent columns which are usually pretty good. Indeed I've copied and posted a few here in the past. Also saw him live, funny and insightful I'm quite happy to listen to anything he has to say, even if he does like cricket.

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett - You can't go to far wrong with a bit of Pratchett. His Discworld novels are consistently good even if this one is strickly speaking aimed at a younger reader. but what the hell it'll still be a decent read and well I am on holiday so not to demanding(hopefully). I think the only Discworld novel I don't yet have is this one and the last one featuring the Rincewind character who is my least favourite in the series.

Chomsky on Anarchism by Noam Chomsky - Chomsky is brilliant, so far anything I've read by him has been rather good. Slightly more challenging than junior Pratchett he tears away at official lies and manipulations like an aggresive ferret enraged that you've tried to stuff it down your trousers. He matter of factly punctures offical lies and 'truths' and shows you the world as it really is. That said as the review on the link to amazon said 'We all know what Noam chomsky is against,' I couldn't tell you exactly what he stands for and believes in other than by inference and presumption having read what he is agianst and has attacked. I've bought this book to get a better understanding of his guiding principles and ideas for how he thinks we maybe should be doing things.

Power: A New Social Analysis by Betrand Russell - Ok so not that new it was written in the 1930's but I've taken this on reccomendation from Robert Newmans website. "This should be a much more influential book. In it Russell argues that redistribution of power ("as far as practically applicable") should be the central project of social justice, whereas we tend to act as if redistribution of wealth was the thing. He argues that understanding the drive for power tells us more about the world than the sex or capital-based ideologies of Freud and Marx. Power should be the central concept of social theory as well as of social justice." Sounds good enough for me.

A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich - Also off Robert Newmans reading list, well I'm interested in the history of the world but there is rather a lot of it so by including the word little in it, well that sealed the deal really. Again aimed at a younger audience but hopefully an easy, enjoyable and informative read.

No War: America's Real Business in Iraq by Naomi Klein - Well sounds a bit more contempary and having read No Logo and Fences and Windows by the same author I think she tends to know what she is talking about. I think the title probably tells you enough as to what it's about.

and finally The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli - Well the word Machiavellian has become a byword for unscrupulous cunning particularly in world of politics. the book is considered a classic and quite relavent today. So thought I might as well read it, broaden historical knowledge base at the same time.

That should see me through the holiday, I might need to find a science fiction epic to add to the list, that is something of a gaping hole for me there. Trouble is only ones I have a real interest in just now aren't out at all yet or still in hard back format, which isn't ideal for poolside reading. Nevermind the added weight if you started lumping big tomes into your suitcase.

2 year anniversary more or less

Time has a habit of popping out in front of you and going "woo hoo, forgot about me didn't you," just noticed that it is about two years since I first set up this blog. The original intention was that I'd try and get into the habit of thinking about issues in the news or close to my heart and write about them for the purpose of getting some practice of putting my thoughts into words before thinking about applying to do a post grad in journalism. That didn't really come to fruition and for the past 18 months or I've tried to put creative energies into writing a book.

The book project is almost over. It's given me a certain level of satisfaction and irrespective of any publishing success I aim to continue writing for a good while yet. So I definately post less on things happening in the world and is there really a point to this blog? Not hugely no, but I've no plans to end it. For one thing I've grown attached to it and I like hopping blogs and seeing what other randoms feel worth writing about.

I do still like to put my thoughts down in written word and publish them now and again. If anyone reads htem then great and if they don't well so what.

I should finish editing on my book before I go on holiday at end of the month. I looking forward to reading books in the sun in particular and not feeling like I should be working. As opposed to now where I spent far to much time browsing the internet, playing games and feeling guilty about not working. I'll have achieved a goal however meaningful it is and I have another goal to start when I get back. Two really, putting some effort into trying to get book published and finishing screenplay I started during a novel writing haitus at beginning of last year.

I am going to take a notepad with me, just to note down any ideas that might come to me and possibly flesh out some ideas I've already had but not put to much thought into due to being busy elsewhere.

I ordered seven books today. I'll post shortly waht they are and why I chose them.

No I'm not dead

It's been a while since I posted. Still grinding away on the novel editing, about half done. Trying to pick up the pace and get it completed by end of next month at the latest. I really should have had it finished by now but it's such a picky process due to earlier schoolboy error I mentioned in several earlier posts.

I'll be off on holiday end of June, so it would be good if it was really finished. Then I can look forward to new challenges when I get back, not least pimping the book.

I shortlisted about 30 odd books I'd like to read on holiday. A half dozen or so I'll order via amazon most likely to take and then try not to lose the list with rest of them on it as I'll likely forget that I want to read half the rest.

Anyway It's 20 past 10 in hte morning just now, I've been working since before 9 and had no breakfast yet so I'm off to remedy that.