A New Writing Game
Over the past few weeks I have been preoccupied with the new adventure in writing, becoming a crime novelist. As many of you know, A Madras Miasma was taken up by Tom Vater and Hans Kemp of Crime Wave Press – many thanks, guys – and appeared first in e-version then quickly in paperback on … Continue reading
Scotland The Brave
Janet Street-Porter, the occasionally controversial and always visible British writer, broadcaster and panel game member has launched an interesting documentary on the Scottish independence referendum that is now less than one hundred days away. Combining her broadcasting talents with her well known love for walking she has, like many others at present, tried to assess … Continue reading
Introducing Chris Le Fanu
After a professional lifetime’s production of non-fiction work (sixteen books and umpteen “scholarly” articles) I have finally turned to crime, fiction that is, and thanks to Crime Wave Press. http://www.crimewavepress.com/ A Madras Miasma has just appeared on Amazon in Kindle e-form initially, with a print on demand version to follow soon, the new mode of … Continue reading
Brilliant Botswana
Like many other words and expressions (“awesome” springs immediately to mind), the concept of the “bucket list” is now overdone to the point where for some people it includes just about everything that might conceivably be packed into a lifetime. For that we can probably thank Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and one of those … Continue reading
Haast To High Seas
Once again the blog has lapsed, blame resting with the exit from Haast on New Zealand’s West Coast into the rapid transition that saw this new post begin life on board ship approaching Capetown at the end of a voyage from Hong Kong. Even for us, that is a shift. Leaving Haast was hard. In … Continue reading
Haastaway
For the moment, Sandi and I are running a friend’s splendid B&B at Okuru, near Haast in deep South Westland, New Zealand, a wonderful change of scenery and task at the same time. http://www.collyerhouse.co.nz/ This part of the world is all about the natural environment, containing as it does some of New Zealand’s most outstanding … Continue reading
Monaco to Haast
From time to time there comes a point when I realise just how lucky I have been to do and see some wonderful things. One of those times has just arrived, and struck me on the road between Wanaka and Haast amidst the spectacular scenery of New Zealand’s southern lakes and mountain country. That road … Continue reading
Words Flying High
One of the few advantages to contemporary long distance air travel is that you can catch up on reading. It helps pass the time during the inevitable delays, hanging about at departure gates and long hours actually aloft. I have been reminded of this during two recent international journeys. The first was to Kuala Lumpur … Continue reading
Syria Agonistes
There was, from the outset, a predictability about how the Syrian crisis would come to this, a global strategist’s calculation versus the terrible suffering happening on the ground. At present there are over 1.8 million refugees from Syria registered with UNHCR, with another 186,000 awaiting registration. In total, then, approximately 2 million Syrians have left … Continue reading
Where To From Here?
There was a surreal touch to watching Rupert on the same night as the results came through for Australia’s 2013 federal election. http://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/2013-mainstage/rupert/ . On the one hand there was a frustration at not watching the minute by minute unfolding of events, but on the other a relief over the very same thing. That was … Continue reading
Brian Stoddart 