My books are now being transferred over to Payhip, where customers can now pay by PAYPAL.
Go check me out- https://payhip.com/Tomimmins
Sunday, 26 July 2015
Saturday, 25 July 2015
George Carlin 1937-2008
We are all guilty of this, or has life become so fast, so stressful and so materialistic, that without realising, we don't really have a choice! What a very wise man George was.
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
ALZHEIMERS AND THE INSURANCE MAN.
I have not personally had any dealings with sufferers of Alzheimer's. Nobody in my family has ever contracted this terrible disease nor any personal friends that I am aware of. So I am not writing this post with any degree of expertise or like I said experience, but I have come into contact with people who have been affected by it. On two separate occasions and both work related. I will start with my most recent engagement, which came about through my job and hobby as a gardener. (Yes I am not only a brilliant writer, I also cut lawns!)
Now firstly, may I add that I do tend to inject humour into most of my ramblings, but assure you that I am not being flippant in any way, it is just the way I am and I mean no offence or bad taste what so ever. So I would just like to apologise beforehand if I say something untoward.
Anyway in my capacity as a gardener, alot of my customers are elderly, which I always find quite sad in itself. Most of them are very proud of their gardens, have tended them for years and because of age or illness or forms of incapacitation, cannot do now what they have done most of their lives. The look of helplessness and frustration on their faces can be most upsetting. Before I tar every geriatric with the same brush, may I add that I do have 3 customers who are well into their nineties and are still very able bodied and possess wit as sharp as a tack, so I hope you can see that I am not generalising here.
My first story centres on a client called Janet, who is not elderly at all. She is in her mid-fifties and works as a school-teacher. She has a very small garden and rings me maybe twice a year to come and basically give her tiny patch a spring/autumn cut-back. In my role as a garden tidier, it is written in the handbook that I must drink copious amounts of tea and chomp on as many biscuits as is physically possible. Not my rules, it is clearly written in black and white in the 'Gardeners Handbook' by Ivor Mower, page 8, chapter 3, paragraph 4, subsection 2.
So when Janet brought out said tray with tea and biscuit items a plenty, I had to stop and partake. Including the usual passing of the time via meaningless conversation, which included the weather, (we are so English) work related topics, how well the garden looks and the price of bread. (it's shocking).
During our workman/customer ramblings we touched on the subject of families, to which Janet mentioned that her mother had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Now as I have gotten older, I have become the typical male, that thinks every time I get an ache or a pain anywhere about my person, I am due to keel over, be struck down by an incurable or rush to the nearest solicitors (spit), to make out my last will and testament. So when she mentioned that her mother had suddenly been affected by severe memory loss. My ears pricked up and I tried to remember everything that had happened to me during my life, becoming increasingly more worried when I could not remember anything before last Wednesday.
Now on a more serious note, Janet's mother lived in Dorset, a round trip of approximately 6 hours every weekend, which was taking its toll on the poor woman. She had no other family and the sole responsibility of care, had suddenly been thrust upon her. She had enlisted the help of local social services to go into her mother's house three times a day to make sure she was ok, eating and taking care of herself. Just because she had suddenly been struck down by Alzheimer's, it didn't ultimately mean that she had become an invalid overnight. On the contrary, the woman still kept a nice clean home, looked after herself and even still maintained her own garden. The worrying aspect of it all according to Janet, was the short term memory loss which occurred on a daily basis. Things like, leaving saucepans on gas rings, putting objects in the wrong place, example being, she would fold towels and tea towels and place them in the oven. Newspapers piled up in the fridge. Television remote control found in the garden. The next problem which occurred only days later was the confusion with money. Too much and not enough. After the window cleaner had cleaned the windows, he was offered £100 for his trouble in £20 notes. Luckily he had been a family friend for many years and after declining the offer, got straight on the phone to Janet to report the incident. The poor woman had also had a conversation on the phone with Janet and was convinced that her house was being sold from under her and that an offer of £200 would be fair and she wouldn't accept a penny less. In context farcical and sadly comical examples, but the real hurt came when she began to forget members of her own family.
The previous weekend Janet had gone to see her mother as usual and arrived around lunchtime. She let herself in and looked around the house. There was no sign of the old woman. She searched every room and took a saucepan, which had been boiling off the stove; incident number one. She wandered out to the garden and looked around. Walking down the path she headed for the potting shed at the bottom of the garden. The door was slightly open. Peering inside she was alarmed to see her mother sitting in her nightdress on an old stool. The old woman looked at her vacantly.
"I'm not coming out," she said indignantly. "not 'til Graham gets home."
Graham was Janet's late father. He had been dead over 20 years. Janet stood in silence for a second. The shock leaving her numb.
She started talking to her mother in a soothing manner and managed to walk her back to the house. Janet sat down with her and they talked. Her long term memory was fine, she recalled her childhood, brothers, sisters and her life with Janet's father, but yesterday was a blur. She eventually recognised her daughter but according to Janet, a few minutes out of her sight and she was forgotten once more.
I found this to be an incredibly sad story and felt deep sympathy for Janet. She is the person who is having to cope with her mother's illness, more so in a way than her mother is. Physically the old woman is fine, apart from thinking it's 1950. The woman is not a danger to anyone else, only to herself. She needs constant care in case she forgets things, boiling pans, naked flames. It is often said not to grieve for the ones who are gone, but to grieve for the ones who are left. I can see the relevance in this statement now.
This was some weeks ago and I have not spoken to Janet since and so I don't know what her next course of action was. She did mention to me at the time, that a nursing home seemed to be the only option and I would hazard a guess that was the route she took. I believe that medical solutions are limited in the case of Alzheimer's and very rarely, if at all patients recover or get any better, which unfortunately doesn't make it any easier for the people they mentally leave behind.
My second meeting with Alzheimer's happened many years ago, in fact more years than I care to remember (no pun intended). I had taken on a job as an insurance collections man. Now before technology took over and everybody paid things with direct debits, credit cards and the Internet, alot of Insurance companies would send agents out door to door to collect premiums. I remember as a child, every Friday night around the same time, two knocks on the door, one from the rent man and another from the insurance man. The only other knock came on a Tuesday night and that was from the catalogue man. Even as a child, I couldn't work out why he came on a Tuesday, it was obvious to me then that everyone got paid on Friday and people were always skint by Monday, no wonder he never got paid. I quickly understood when my mother used to shout,
'Everybody get behind the settee and be quiet,"
How I fell into my collections job now, I can't really recall, I think it may have been through a friend of a friend or a neighbour. I only remember turning up one wet Monday morning, wearing an ill-fitting suit outside a big glass office in the centre of town. The training was sparse, basically here's a book, go to these addresses, ask for money and write it down again on a card. How times have changed. The first few occasions, I was not allowed to go out alone. I was accompanied by an older man called Bernie. A good Company man who had been with the firm thirty-five years man and boy.
"Be strong with them, young man," he would say, "no excuses, Friday is payday."
Even at that age, I didn't understand the concept of life insurance, but when your 18, you think that you are going to live forever anyway.
Whilst out with Bernie, I was not allowed to speak,
"Watch and learn, young man." He would be forever saying. Watch and learn! What I thought? Knock on the door, say your lines, collect the money and write it on the card. That seemed to be the whole job in a nutshell. After a couple of weeks I was allowed out on my own. I was given a list of clients and told to go and collect their premiums. It was a completely new round to the one I had accompanied Bernie on. The first two collections were fine, money taken, card signed. The third door I knocked on was a bit different. After a short wait, I decided to walk away and on to the next. I opened my book and was about to write down, no answer. When the door creaked open, a little old man stood there, unshaven and dressed in pyjamas.
"Mr Davis?" I enquired.
"Yes!" he whispered
"Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your Insurance premiums?"
He rubbed his chin and scratched his head before inviting me into his front room.
"Wait here young man," he said, "I will go and get the money."
With that he disappeared into the next room. I stood tapping my book on my leg and looking aimlessly around.
A few seconds later, he walked back into the room, looked at me and gave an almighty scream..."Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
I looked at him, bewilderment written all over my face, "Mr Davis, I am from Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your Insurance premiums?"
His expression changed, he reached over and took my hand tapping it slowly, "I know, wait here young man, I will go and get the money."
A few seconds later, he returned again, "Aaahhh!" he screamed "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
By this time, I knew things weren't quite right. He stared at me with a vacant look, as if he was trying to picture who I was. I thought I would try once more.
"Mr Davis, Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your premiums?" This time I showed him my book with the Company logo on.
"I know who you are!" he smiled, "I have been with you for years, now wait here, I will go and get your money."
He walked to the door and stopped, turning back around he looked at me hard for a second. "Who did you say you were again?" he quizzed.
I took him by the hand and walked him through the door, "I'm from Alliance Victoria," I kept repeating. "Come to collect your Insurance premiums for Alliance Victoria."
"Yes, I know..." he whispered.
I eventually collected his money and signed his card, leaving the old man sitting in his chair. I was just left with a feeling of sadness. Back at the office, various enquiries about Mr Davis just fell on deaf ears. Nobody seemed to know or care about the old man just as long as he paid his £1.04 every week. It left me thinking that maybe the £1.04 he spent should be used now to look after him rather than when he was dead.
The next week, Mr Davis house was in darkness and his curtains were closed. I gave a feeble knock to his door, not really wanting or expecting him to answer...he didn't.
I left the Company the following week, I felt I needed a reason to do a job and for the life of me, I could not think of one for this.
I know care for this particular illness is alot better now and I applaud that, it just reminds me of something my father used to say, "Son look after the young and the old and let the ones in the middle take care of themselves."
Maybe they should teach that in schools.
Now firstly, may I add that I do tend to inject humour into most of my ramblings, but assure you that I am not being flippant in any way, it is just the way I am and I mean no offence or bad taste what so ever. So I would just like to apologise beforehand if I say something untoward.
Anyway in my capacity as a gardener, alot of my customers are elderly, which I always find quite sad in itself. Most of them are very proud of their gardens, have tended them for years and because of age or illness or forms of incapacitation, cannot do now what they have done most of their lives. The look of helplessness and frustration on their faces can be most upsetting. Before I tar every geriatric with the same brush, may I add that I do have 3 customers who are well into their nineties and are still very able bodied and possess wit as sharp as a tack, so I hope you can see that I am not generalising here.
My first story centres on a client called Janet, who is not elderly at all. She is in her mid-fifties and works as a school-teacher. She has a very small garden and rings me maybe twice a year to come and basically give her tiny patch a spring/autumn cut-back. In my role as a garden tidier, it is written in the handbook that I must drink copious amounts of tea and chomp on as many biscuits as is physically possible. Not my rules, it is clearly written in black and white in the 'Gardeners Handbook' by Ivor Mower, page 8, chapter 3, paragraph 4, subsection 2.
So when Janet brought out said tray with tea and biscuit items a plenty, I had to stop and partake. Including the usual passing of the time via meaningless conversation, which included the weather, (we are so English) work related topics, how well the garden looks and the price of bread. (it's shocking).
During our workman/customer ramblings we touched on the subject of families, to which Janet mentioned that her mother had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Now as I have gotten older, I have become the typical male, that thinks every time I get an ache or a pain anywhere about my person, I am due to keel over, be struck down by an incurable or rush to the nearest solicitors (spit), to make out my last will and testament. So when she mentioned that her mother had suddenly been affected by severe memory loss. My ears pricked up and I tried to remember everything that had happened to me during my life, becoming increasingly more worried when I could not remember anything before last Wednesday.
Now on a more serious note, Janet's mother lived in Dorset, a round trip of approximately 6 hours every weekend, which was taking its toll on the poor woman. She had no other family and the sole responsibility of care, had suddenly been thrust upon her. She had enlisted the help of local social services to go into her mother's house three times a day to make sure she was ok, eating and taking care of herself. Just because she had suddenly been struck down by Alzheimer's, it didn't ultimately mean that she had become an invalid overnight. On the contrary, the woman still kept a nice clean home, looked after herself and even still maintained her own garden. The worrying aspect of it all according to Janet, was the short term memory loss which occurred on a daily basis. Things like, leaving saucepans on gas rings, putting objects in the wrong place, example being, she would fold towels and tea towels and place them in the oven. Newspapers piled up in the fridge. Television remote control found in the garden. The next problem which occurred only days later was the confusion with money. Too much and not enough. After the window cleaner had cleaned the windows, he was offered £100 for his trouble in £20 notes. Luckily he had been a family friend for many years and after declining the offer, got straight on the phone to Janet to report the incident. The poor woman had also had a conversation on the phone with Janet and was convinced that her house was being sold from under her and that an offer of £200 would be fair and she wouldn't accept a penny less. In context farcical and sadly comical examples, but the real hurt came when she began to forget members of her own family.
The previous weekend Janet had gone to see her mother as usual and arrived around lunchtime. She let herself in and looked around the house. There was no sign of the old woman. She searched every room and took a saucepan, which had been boiling off the stove; incident number one. She wandered out to the garden and looked around. Walking down the path she headed for the potting shed at the bottom of the garden. The door was slightly open. Peering inside she was alarmed to see her mother sitting in her nightdress on an old stool. The old woman looked at her vacantly.
"I'm not coming out," she said indignantly. "not 'til Graham gets home."
Graham was Janet's late father. He had been dead over 20 years. Janet stood in silence for a second. The shock leaving her numb.
She started talking to her mother in a soothing manner and managed to walk her back to the house. Janet sat down with her and they talked. Her long term memory was fine, she recalled her childhood, brothers, sisters and her life with Janet's father, but yesterday was a blur. She eventually recognised her daughter but according to Janet, a few minutes out of her sight and she was forgotten once more.
I found this to be an incredibly sad story and felt deep sympathy for Janet. She is the person who is having to cope with her mother's illness, more so in a way than her mother is. Physically the old woman is fine, apart from thinking it's 1950. The woman is not a danger to anyone else, only to herself. She needs constant care in case she forgets things, boiling pans, naked flames. It is often said not to grieve for the ones who are gone, but to grieve for the ones who are left. I can see the relevance in this statement now.
This was some weeks ago and I have not spoken to Janet since and so I don't know what her next course of action was. She did mention to me at the time, that a nursing home seemed to be the only option and I would hazard a guess that was the route she took. I believe that medical solutions are limited in the case of Alzheimer's and very rarely, if at all patients recover or get any better, which unfortunately doesn't make it any easier for the people they mentally leave behind.
My second meeting with Alzheimer's happened many years ago, in fact more years than I care to remember (no pun intended). I had taken on a job as an insurance collections man. Now before technology took over and everybody paid things with direct debits, credit cards and the Internet, alot of Insurance companies would send agents out door to door to collect premiums. I remember as a child, every Friday night around the same time, two knocks on the door, one from the rent man and another from the insurance man. The only other knock came on a Tuesday night and that was from the catalogue man. Even as a child, I couldn't work out why he came on a Tuesday, it was obvious to me then that everyone got paid on Friday and people were always skint by Monday, no wonder he never got paid. I quickly understood when my mother used to shout,
'Everybody get behind the settee and be quiet,"
How I fell into my collections job now, I can't really recall, I think it may have been through a friend of a friend or a neighbour. I only remember turning up one wet Monday morning, wearing an ill-fitting suit outside a big glass office in the centre of town. The training was sparse, basically here's a book, go to these addresses, ask for money and write it down again on a card. How times have changed. The first few occasions, I was not allowed to go out alone. I was accompanied by an older man called Bernie. A good Company man who had been with the firm thirty-five years man and boy.
"Be strong with them, young man," he would say, "no excuses, Friday is payday."
Even at that age, I didn't understand the concept of life insurance, but when your 18, you think that you are going to live forever anyway.
Whilst out with Bernie, I was not allowed to speak,
"Watch and learn, young man." He would be forever saying. Watch and learn! What I thought? Knock on the door, say your lines, collect the money and write it on the card. That seemed to be the whole job in a nutshell. After a couple of weeks I was allowed out on my own. I was given a list of clients and told to go and collect their premiums. It was a completely new round to the one I had accompanied Bernie on. The first two collections were fine, money taken, card signed. The third door I knocked on was a bit different. After a short wait, I decided to walk away and on to the next. I opened my book and was about to write down, no answer. When the door creaked open, a little old man stood there, unshaven and dressed in pyjamas.
"Mr Davis?" I enquired.
"Yes!" he whispered
"Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your Insurance premiums?"
He rubbed his chin and scratched his head before inviting me into his front room.
"Wait here young man," he said, "I will go and get the money."
With that he disappeared into the next room. I stood tapping my book on my leg and looking aimlessly around.
A few seconds later, he walked back into the room, looked at me and gave an almighty scream..."Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
I looked at him, bewilderment written all over my face, "Mr Davis, I am from Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your Insurance premiums?"
His expression changed, he reached over and took my hand tapping it slowly, "I know, wait here young man, I will go and get the money."
A few seconds later, he returned again, "Aaahhh!" he screamed "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
By this time, I knew things weren't quite right. He stared at me with a vacant look, as if he was trying to picture who I was. I thought I would try once more.
"Mr Davis, Alliance Victoria, I have come to collect your premiums?" This time I showed him my book with the Company logo on.
"I know who you are!" he smiled, "I have been with you for years, now wait here, I will go and get your money."
He walked to the door and stopped, turning back around he looked at me hard for a second. "Who did you say you were again?" he quizzed.
I took him by the hand and walked him through the door, "I'm from Alliance Victoria," I kept repeating. "Come to collect your Insurance premiums for Alliance Victoria."
"Yes, I know..." he whispered.
I eventually collected his money and signed his card, leaving the old man sitting in his chair. I was just left with a feeling of sadness. Back at the office, various enquiries about Mr Davis just fell on deaf ears. Nobody seemed to know or care about the old man just as long as he paid his £1.04 every week. It left me thinking that maybe the £1.04 he spent should be used now to look after him rather than when he was dead.
The next week, Mr Davis house was in darkness and his curtains were closed. I gave a feeble knock to his door, not really wanting or expecting him to answer...he didn't.
I left the Company the following week, I felt I needed a reason to do a job and for the life of me, I could not think of one for this.
I know care for this particular illness is alot better now and I applaud that, it just reminds me of something my father used to say, "Son look after the young and the old and let the ones in the middle take care of themselves."
Maybe they should teach that in schools.
Monday, 20 July 2015
'Dance of Death' via Paypal
My latest book 'Dance of Death' can now be purchased via paypal via the following link, https://payhip.com/b/2i7t
'Dance of Death' synopsis!
The French call it ‘Les Morts Dansant’ The Dancing Death. It is also the title of a song made famous by British Rock band ‘Magnum’ which tells the story of the death by firing squad of British boy soldiers during World War 1. A total in excess of 300 men and boys were shot at dawn by their own. Soldiers were blameless because it was severe psychological trauma, not cowardice that rendered them physically unable to cope with the shocking scenes they had witnessed. Dance of Death tells the fictional story of Jack Webster, a 15-year-old boy who enlists because of certain peer pressures he faces from the community he lives in. The bravado he feels soon fades when he comes face to face with the horrors of trench warfare and it is not long before he starts to lose his mind.
Sunday, 19 July 2015
My new novella 'Dance of Death' now available for download on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0120EMB82
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Saturday, 15 February 2014
Author Interview with Jeremy Ritch.
Welcome to my Author Interview and many thanks to Jeremy Ritch
Author - Jeremy Ritch
1/ Can you tell us a little about yourself? I am a poet/writer living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvainia. As a writer I contribute to a few local websites and have written articles for several publications and blog sites. I am a former pastor that has been involved with several underground churches and outreaches all over the Eastern US. Along with writing I write music and am a avid vinyl record collector. I have been married for 12 years and my wife is a huge support for my work.
2/ When and what made you decide you wanted to be a writer? I started writing in my early teens as a way to express myself I guess. I just found some paper and started to write down things I thought mattered. By 15 or so I was writing poetry and song lyrics, mostly about girls I never met. Then around the end of high school I had been published a few times and just kept going from there.
3/ Can you tell us something about your books, genre? My first book “My Beautiful Mess: A Journey Through faith, Hope, and Love” was a memoir of sorts about my spiritual journey from High School through my late twenties. It covered a lot of my ministry life and the ins and outs of that vocation. It was self-published so it is a bit raw and needed a serious editor.
My new book comes out in Spring 2014 and it is a collection of poems. I wrote the book, which is named “Sidewalk Stories and Other Poems”, over a 15 year period in which I lived in several US cities. The poems are about city living, social justice, and my experiences. I try to write honestly as both an observer and a participant in life so there are many poems written from the outside as well as in.
4/ Where do you get your ideas from? My ideas come from various sources. It could be nature or a city. People I have met or that I wish I knew. Then there are ideas I draw from my faith or my beliefs. I find myself writing a lot about social justice issues as well as telling stories of people that I think need to be told.
5/ Are you working on a new book at the moment? I just finished “Sidewalk Stories and Other poems” and I am working on a follow up poetry collection that is tentatively titled “Rock n Roll Tiger”. These poems focus more on my rowdier past as a heavy drinker and my involvement in the punk rock and hardcore subcultures.
6/ What are your ambitions concerning your writing career? I want to keep writing and having a platform to release books. I also love doing readings and traveling as a speaker so that would be awesome to do as well. It would be nice to make some money doing what I love for a change.
7/ Which writers inspire you? The Beat Generation heavily influences me, specifically Kerouac and Burroughs. Charles Bukowski has also had a large impact on my writing over the years though we are not quite the same I always found his works inspiring. I love classic writers like Poe and Oscare Wilde too. Honestly I read a lot of non-fiction books. I have a bunch of books on American crime and cities, sociology, and music. Being that I was a pastor I have read many Christian authors of which I love. Writers like Pete Rollins Tony Campolo have inspired me throughout the years. Music however is my main influence as a poet as I draw from artists that I listen to. Everything from hip-hop to punk rock has influenced me greatly.
8/ What book are you reading at present? Right now I am working my way through Burroughs’s “Naked Lunch” just for nostalgia sake. I need to get more books and some newer authors. I often steal ideas from my wife who reads much more than I do. I got to read more. Haha
9/ What are your thoughts on reviews, good and bad? Reviews are good because they mean someone read your book. I mean good or bad your book was in someone’s hands. I tend to not read much of the reviews or the comments I get on articles I write because there is so much negativity out there online anymore. I do however appreciate a good honest critical review because it helps make me a better writer.
10/ What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Write! Write as much as you can everyday. Write poems, stories, articles, music reviews, and all that. Also read books, magazines, newspapers and listen to good music that is lyrical. Surround yourself with artists, musicians and writers to draw inspiration from. Most of all keep hustling your work. It takes a long time to get noticed but once you do it becomes a lot easier. Remember to be humble but have confidence in your work always. Also be kind to people and always take the high road when dealing with rejection, it will happen a lot. In the end you have to just write and do it because it is who you are.
11/ Do you have any advice on how to market your books? Find a publisher and if you can’t then hustle. Get on social media and post it everywhere. Set up readings in your town and try to get people to review it. It is not easy because like myself, many writers are introverted and not really god at marketing but it is something you need to do.
12/ What would you consider to be the worst thing about being an indie author? The financial toll it takes and the desire to have your work read by people. We write to be heard, to have a voice, so when that doesn’t happen we become frustrated and that can hinder our creative process. I often get down because I have done so much work for free or paid for things out of pocket but I also have gotten paid before so it comes and goes. I guess the biggest frustration is there is no consistency to it.
13/ What do you like to do when your not writing, hobbies etc? I collect vinyl LPs. I love record shopping and collecting. It is my greatest passion outside of writing. I probably have about 500 LPs ranging from old country to punk rock and everything in between. I also love to cook and make most of the meals we eat at home. Cooking for me is therapeutic.
14/ How long on average does it take you to write a book, what is your schedule? My first book took me about 3-4 months and I was hammering away at it. I wrote upwards of 9 hours a day and just flew through it. My poetry books are written over time so the hard part is collecting them into a book which takes a few months to arrange, rewrite and edit them.
15/ What is your favourite positive saying? “Find what you love and let it kill you.” ― Charles Bukowski
16/ Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your books? Oh I have no idea, my first book was about me so that is weird to think about a. My poetry books have no main character. If I could write a script for an specific actor it would probably be for Jason Lee.
17/ Who did your fabulous book covers? My first book was designed by a friend named Sean Akers who took a photo I captured and made the cover. My new book cover was made by a local Harrisburg artist named John Saurman.
18/ What is your favourite movie and why? My favorite movie is probably The Big Lebowski. It is hilarious, a great story and has amazing characters in it. To me it is a perfect film that I culd watch over and over. It is comedy gold and so quotable.
19/ Where can you see yourself in 5 years time? In five years I will be 43 years old and hopefully writing books and touring around doing speaking and readings. That is my goal.
20/ Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? I would love to meet Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters fame. He is a inspiration to me as a song writer, musican and just a super cool dude. I think we would have a lot to talk about.
21/ What is your favourite takeaway food? I love Thai food but I also love some good old Southern Fried Chicken.
Where can you be reached? On Twitter at @Jeremyritch or at www.jeremyritch.com
Blog/Website: www.jeremyritch.com
Facebook page: facebook/jeremyritch
Twitter: @Jeremyritch
Many thanks for your wonderful interview.
Thursday, 13 February 2014
ARSENAL, ARSENE AND COUNTING DOWN THE GAMES!
Well we are
now coming to the business end of the season, where one loss can be
catastrophic and another piece of silverware is cut adrift. From the start of
the campaign the expectations were not high especially after the disappointment
of the first game against Aston Villa, but we started to confound the critics who
just like in previous seasons had completely written us off, but this team
started to beat everything put in front of them. Not all world-beating
performances but a few scrappy wins, last minute goals, backs to the wall nail
biting defensive displays, performances that would-be champions get away with,
Manchester United have been doing that for years and have been highly praised for
it. The lows so far have been few and far between, the Capital one-cup exit to
Chelsea was poor, but as we all know that has never been very high on Arsene’s
priority list. The defeat at Old Trafford was a particular low point especially
as this Moyes team of 2013-14 are mediocre and not a patch on the fighters of
previous Mancs teams. It wasn’t so much the defeat it was the scorer that hurt
the most and the very unnecessary RVP celebration afterwards, alas Adebayor
springs to mind. My mind turns to Nic Anelka, who still never celebrates any
goal he scores against Arsenal, respect for that. Manchester City was a lesson
learnt, they work on the principle of the old Newcastle side managed by Kevin
Keegan, you score 2 we will score 3. Even though the score line of 6-3 looked
heavy that day, we could have matched that and Wengers comments after of ‘It
could have quite easily been 6-6’ was not far off the mark. They do have an
awesome strike force and to still keep up an average of 4 goals a game even
without Aguero, shows the benefits of a very strong squad.
So what about our squad?
To win any title these days, you must, must have a strong
squad from the goalkeeper down to the bench. Over previous seasons our
goalkeeping position has been mentioned on numerous occasions. Unfortunately it
is the one position where time is on a player’s side but patience is not.
Szczesny will be world class, he is still very young in goalkeeping terms and
is prone to the odd error and lack of concentration, but overall he has had a
very good season and deserves the number 1 spot. Fabianski has stated that he
will be looking for a move in the summer and that means we will need another
keeper. I have read today that Hugo Lloris is interested in a move to Arsenal
from our rivals Spurs, it may just be paper talk and hopefully it is, I rate
him average at best, Spurs can keep him. A lot of teams have a number 1 and an older
keeper as back up, this just might be a good idea at Arsenal, Szczesny has an
experienced keeper to learn from and we have an experienced keeper as back up.
Our defence have received a lot of plaudits so far this
season, especially the central pairing of Koscielny and Mertesacker, and yes
they have been fantastic against the lesser teams. I still worry about Per’s
lack of pace, which brings me to Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1. Sterling, Suarez and
Sturridge tore them apart. You cannot paper over the cracks here; they were
made to look very average. Hopefully it was just a blip, when you go 2 goals
down after 10 minutes from two set pieces, it is bound to shake you but 5 goals
against, flattered us, it could have been 10. The full back positions I feel
are nicely taken care of, assuming Sagna comes to his senses and signs the
contract offered. Jenkinson will only get better and one facet of his game that
seems to be over-looked is what a wonderful crosser of the ball he is. In the
modern game it is now a necessity for all the top teams to have raiding full
backs, the formations most teams play require the backs to get forwards and
Jenkinson does this very well. The left back position is another area in which
we are fine, Monreal and especially
Gibbs are both very good players and I like the way in which Wenger rotates
them, which means they are both usually fresh. Gibbs for once has had a near
injury free season and maybe the acquisition of Monreal took a bit of pressure
off him and gave him a bit of healthy competition. Vermaelen has been the
forgotten man, still club captain but with hardly a kick all season, I fully
expect him to leave in the summer.
When everyone is fit, the midfield must be a real headache
for Arsene, it is the one area where we are head and shoulders above the rest
of the premier league, but I feel that Wenger may have to do some soul
searching in the summer and make a few hard decisions. Lets take Mesut Ozil
first, the man with the 42 million pound price tag. After a decent start to his
Arsenal career, he has since been nothing but average at best and in a few
games he has been Arsenals worst player. Against Liverpool he was poor and a
liability and was at fault for two of the oppositions goals, forcing Wenger to
substitute him half way through the 2nd half. So what is wrong with
a player that Jose Mourinho once called the best number 10 in the world, is it
the weight of expectation? Does the size of the price tag feel like a millstone?
Has he not settled in London? Is he not happy with Wenger’s training methods or
could it be something as simple as just being too lazy. He has been accused of
strolling around the pitch sometimes; giving square 5 yard passes instead of
penetrating the opposition. Maybe he has lost his passion or is he just too
arrogant? He was adored when he first arrived but a love affair can soon fizzle
out, we all remember him turning his back on the fans after the Man city
mauling and walking off the pitch without acknowledging or applauding the very
people who pay his wages. As supporters we want to see passion, Per Mertesacker
for all his lack of pace shows passion in abundance and that is why he is quickly
becoming an Arsenal favourite. If we had paid 10 million for Ozil I think the
worm would have turned by now and the fans would be calling for his omission
from the team especially when we have such an abundance of good players in that
position, luxury players we don’t need. As far as I am concerned the jury is
out, I think he needs a rest, drop him for a couple of games and hopefully he
will change his attitude and recharge his batteries for bigger battles to come.
Aaron Ramsey has been a massive loss; he was injured just at
a time when he was on fire, a bigger asset than Ozil. Arsenals best player by a
mile, unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the game and we have had to
make do without him, lets just hope he is back soon for the final push. Jack
Wilshire is the epitome of Arsenal Football club, another player with passion
and drive and when fit should always be the first name on the team sheet. His
performances this season have been indifferent and that may well be down to his
lingering fitness problems. One facet of his game he does need to improve on is
goals; in the position Jack plays he should be scoring at least 15 goals a
season. If he is fully fit and scoring regularly, Wilshire is a 50 million
pound player.
Sante Cazorla is class, I always breathe a sigh of relief
when I see his name on the team sheet, he has recently added more goals to the
team and is a player who never stops running and who always adds more
dimensions to the side, just look at the opposition sometimes when he has the
ball, they don’t know what to do, our best player by far.
Another player who gets my high praise is Flamini, Wenger’s
best signing of the summer. One thing we lacked last season was leadership,
unlike Ozil he looks like a player who wants to be there, he runs his heart out
and never stops shouting and directing his teammates. He is prone to the odd
bad tackle and mistake but Arsenal fans can forgive that because of his obvious
effort and commitment he shows. His position just in front of the back four is a
problem position for us when he is not in the team. I doubt if Liverpool would
have scored 5 if Flamini had been playing. His opposition in that position is
Mikael Arteta, I have said before that this is not the best position for
Arteta, he is not a natural defensive midfielder and this is an area where I
think Arsene has got it wrong. Tomas Rosicky, you have got to love him, he
knows he is not an automatic choice anymore but what a great servant. Whenever
he is called upon, you can guarantee he will always put a shift in and
invariably will come up with the odd goal. His forward play from the centre of
midfield is always direct and it is rare that you will see him waste the ball
or stroll about giving silly short passes. Keep him on for another couple of years
and give him a deserved testimonial.
The biggest debate of the season so far has been the lack of
forward options at the club. This was highlighted more in January when we lost
Theo Walcott for the rest of the season. Theo had just hit form and was almost
guaranteed to get you goals as well as being the much needed pace up front. His
injury without a doubt left a big hole. Luckily enough we had Alex Oxlade
Chamberlain returning from injury. Maybe not as gifted or as quick as Theo but
an option and a player always likely to get you a goal as shown with his two
against Crystal Palace. I think the jury is still very much out on Olivier
Giroud now one thing you cannot complain about is his commitment he never stops
running. He reminds me of Alan Smith, not technically gifted but holds the ball
up well and although not prolific, he will get you a good ratio of goals over
the campaign. He started the season on fire, scoring in nearly every game but
since has struggled to find the net on a regular basis. The weight of expectation
does seem to be on his shoulders, we are constantly hearing, ‘If Giroud gets
injured we are in trouble,’ When you look at the alternatives maybe there is a
case, Nic Bendtner has had nothing but a troubled career at Arsenal, he is
always being tarred with ‘He is not as good as he thinks he is’ brush, but for
a player who literally only plays a bit part in the team, what is the actual
expectation, an hat trick every time he comes on for the last 10 minutes. I
think of the two crucial goals he has scored so far this season against Hull
and in the last 5 minutes against Cardiff. You must put his attributes into
perspective; he is a big lump that puts him-self about and he is very good with
his head. Another interesting fact about Mr Bendtner, just look at his
international record for Denmark, his goal per game ratio is phenomenal. Lets
not be too hard on him, I think he will have a bigger part to play this season
then any of us expects. This brings me to another bit part player so far in
2013-14, Lucas Podolski, now I do find his lack of playing time extraordinary,
I have always been a big fan of Podolski, he is probably the deadliest finisher
at the club. He has a remarkable tally of appearances and goals for his
country, but not an automatic choice for Arsenal. He has been mentioned in
transfer speculation and swap deals almost since he joined the club, but
Podolski comes across as a real character, a team player and a happy soul in
the changing room, you never seem to hear a disgruntled moan or any negative
gossip about the player. Wenger for some reason doesn’t seem to favour him but
I would always fancy him to get a goal before the likes of Giroud.
Much of the criticism this season has centred on our
transfer policy or the lack of it. Lots of names were banded about during
January headed by Julian Draxler of Schalke. All the right noises were being
made, at one point we were told it was a done deal, the clubs were in deep
discussions, thrashing out the details, the player was eager to come, even his
shirt number was being leaked. Wenger’s plan for the player was all over the
net, he was going to be the new Thierry Henry converted from an attacking
midfielder to the goal getting centre forward we desperately needed. As the
month advanced and the transfer window narrowed, the likelihood of Draxler
joining diminished. A figure of 37 million was quoted, his clubs release clause
and maybe not a bad figure considering Draxler was being touted as one of the
best young players in Europe. Stories started to emerge that Arsenal had
offered 30 million and had been rejected out of sight by Schalke, if this was
indeed true, then Wenger and the board failed to deliver again, the player
would have probably signed at the very least a 5 year contract and if and it is
a big if the player is as good as has been touted then that 7 million extra
would easily have been recouped over 5 years. The problem now is if we were to
go back in for him in the summer, then we will probably have the likes of Real
Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City to compete with for his
signature. Apart from Draxler another name strongly linked with us on the final
day was Miraslav Klose, one of the deadliest finishers in the game over the
last 10 years. Some people point to his age of 35 but for a loan signing for 6
months he would have been ideal. We should have pushed the boat out to get him,
apparently his club Lazio didn’t want to let him go, in my opinion money talks
and everybody is available at the right price. So the one signing we did make
was Kim Kallstrom from Spartak Moscow, the 31 years old Swede was signed on
loan on deadline day to bolster our midfield, a department we are hardly short
in but nevertheless we welcomed him with open arms. It then emerges a couple of
days later that Kallstrom had been signed with a broken bone in his back and
was on the injury list for up to 6 weeks. It beggared belief that we could sign
a player with a known injury. Arsene
Wenger admitted that he knew about the injury and still insisted on signing him,
why?
So lets look at the positives, it is nearly half way through
February and we are still in 3 competitions, what are our chances? Well what
with football being a funny old game, who knows, a bad refereeing decision
here, a freak sending off there, an injury to one or two of our rival teams
might help. I could add my own predictions here but I don’t want to be the
prophet of doom and gloom and risk the wrath of my own fans. I think the only
certain thing is that we will finish in the top 4, but that is not really an
improvement on the past few seasons. We may win the F.A Cup but first we have
to face Liverpool who ran us ragged and gave us a real pasting a week earlier,
the difference this time is that it is at the Emirates at least. The Champions
League pits us against Bayern Munich, the Champions of Europe, on paper it
cannot get more difficult, but lets just say I have a sneaky feeling this time
especially with the news that Franck Ribery is out with a buttock injury, you
couldn’t make it up. So that just leaves the Premier League, which we have
topped for most of the season now we are just behind Chelsea and points will be
dropped by everyone, even Manchester City who a couple of weeks ago looked
unbeatable. The chief concern from an Arsenal fans point of view is the
strength in depth of our rivals; on paper we do still seem a bit lightweight
especially compared to City but hope that the momentum might just carry us over
the line. After the recent 0-0 draw with Manchester United, the stadium was
filled with a chorus of boos, maybe we ought to put things into perspective,
the majority of the derision was aimed at Olivier Giroud, who admittedly had a
very poor game, but he has played over 40 times this season so far for club and
country and if anyone is to blame it should be Wenger. He had 3 strikers on the
bench, Podolski, Bendtner and Sanogo and decided not to use any of them. In my
opinion Giroud needs a rest, he looks tired, the failure to not sign a forward
in January could easily come back to haunt us. The position of 2nd in
the league, we currently sit is remarkable with the squad that we have.
Manchester City are 3rd and have a 100 million pound a year wage
bill more than us, Chelsea are a point clear at the top and have a 50 million
pounds a year wage bill more than us, I think it’s time to get behind the team,
not send them off the pitch with a chorus of boos.
So finally that brings me to Arsene Wenger, a few months ago
there was a lot of division amongst fans, Gazidis has recently stated that
Arsene will sign a new 3-year contract after this season. The biggest bug-bear
for fans has been our lack of silverware over the last few years and quite
rightly a club the size and stature of Arsenal should not have gone this long
without a trophy. The competition has got stronger not only in this country but
throughout Europe, we can boast a fantastic new stadium, but I liken it to a
chocolate box, beautiful on the outside but that doesn’t mean a thing if there
is nothing tasty inside. But I do believe in continuity and nobody has
continued in the premier league longer than Arsene Wenger, he loves the club
and has put his heart and soul in the place, like the old adage states, ‘be
careful what you wish for’ he is still a very highly respected manager and
would have offers from all over the world if he left or was pushed. I sincerely
hope he stays and signs his new contract and has a say in the appointment of a
new coach when he does finally step down or as I think we all know moves
upstairs. A certain Mr Henry is bringing his playing career to an end at the
conclusion of the present MLS season and has stated his desire to coach. He
couldn’t wish for a better teacher than Arsene Wenger.
So there is my take on the season so far. All opinions are
purely my own. I would very much appreciate any feedback good or bad.
Tom Immins
http://samlucas-thriller.blogspot.co.uk
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
ENSLAVED BY THE CORPORATE BULLIES!
I wrote an article some time ago about my first wage packet and how far money used to stretch and how great life used to be back in the eighties. I suppose our parents could relate to that in some way by saying how great life used to be back in the sixties. Will the present younger generation be saying the same thing in thirty years time and remarking how great life was back in the noughties. When I was younger I didn't take a lot of notice of politics, economics or banking crises. I worked, I earned and I spent, without any worry about where the next pound was coming from. Youth was a blessing indeed and taking things for granted was par for the ever green course. Now I am in the midst of middle-age and everything seems blurry and every under-handed politician, corporate trick and erosion of the pound in my pocket seems to nark me even more and whereas before I didn't give a flying what they did, I now want to ask why and question there very existence.
Whatever your politics might be and mine is stuck in the 'I don't care what party you represent, I don't trust any of you' corner, it seems we are all being taken for a giant ride here. My father was a two pints of beer and a fag after work man, when he finished his shift he would go to the local pub or club and relax with a drink before coming home, kissing my mother on the cheek, throwing us kids a treat of a bag of crisps and watch Bruce Forsyth on the television. How many men can actually afford to do that these days?
Our pubs and clubs, which were hubs of many societies years ago, are all but gone. Alienated in government rhetoric, wrapped up in the pretence of 'We know what is right for you' civil servants creating laws and more taxation usually in a effort to justify made up jobs and using the health card to warn us of the dangers. So there is one element of our society taken care of, basically 'Don't socialise, because we have made it near enough impossible for you to afford to.'
So we finish work and have very little choice but to go straight home, which brings us to the cost of living. Over the last twenty years, prices have steadily increased especially on the basics of life like food, heating and fuel. Anybody that has a car will be able to testify to this, five years ago my little Vauxhall Corsa cost me £100 a year to road tax, now it is nearly £200, I could fill up the tank for £20.00 and now it costs me over £50.00. So it sits on the drive more and more and gets a clean on a sunday for a treat. I must admit that the food bill is something I leave to my wife but her constant complaining about how much more it is costing to feed us, is evidence enough that food prices are rising on an almost weekly basis. So we come to the biggest bug-bear for everyone, heating bills. Maybe I am stupid but the justification to put up gas and electricity prices by 8,9 and 10% is beyond me especially when these companies announce huge profits before hand. In a civilised country when we are struggling to keep the vulnerable of society warm, i.e. our elderly, disabled and less fortunate, then we certainly have a problem. So on the one hand we cannot afford to go out and it is getting to the point where we cannot afford to stay in.
So this brings me to the detrimental effect this organised chaos is having on society. A recent article I read stated that the financial breakdown we steadily face in our society has not only affected the working class but also the middle class, the majority of wealth in this country is owned by just 1% and so is not evenly distributed. The rich really are getting richer and the poor are getting very poorer. The increased cost of living over the last few years has affected more people than at any other time in history. It is not only the three issues I mentioned earlier but it is other things that have crept into our way of life, we now pay more fines for things than ever before, speed cameras, parking fines etc, it is said that almost 1 in 2 people pay a fine in this country for one reason or another. Local councils now top up there budgets with millions of pounds taken in fines. We are all enslaved by the banks and offers of credit, 90% of salaries are now paid into bank accounts, without one we are screwed, credit card debts are on average responsible for £15.000 of debt per person. A recent statement released by one of the big banks stated that anyone with a credit card debt of £4.000 or more, in the banks opinion will never pay it off. Maybe they should change the name to a 'Debt card,' and then see how many people will apply for one.
But we are all responsible for our own actions, I hear you say and I totally agree, but our conditioning over the last few years have made us susceptible to the clever marketing and the greedy corporate marketeers behind it. It is a modern form of enslaving the people and keeping them in debt. We also live in a want-it-now society, any modern house is now fully equipped and what was once viewed as luxuries are now classed as essentials, televisions, washing machines, microwaves, dish-washers and of course flabaloss machines.
Lets move on to the 'carrot-danglers' as I like to call them, Amazon and Ebay. Basically what started off as good ideas have now slowly manifested into corporate bullying and fee snatching.
Amazon had this wonderful concept not so long ago to give creative and maybe not so creative individuals myself included the chance to compete with other well established authors on a level playing field. Write it and publish it as a download on the Amazon Kindle site. Bring in a few bells and whistles, KDP select, lending libraries etc and away you go. Now from my own point of view I write for pleasure and for myself, most of it rantie granted, now and again I may knock out a good story or a readable book and if it is liked and appreciated by the wonderful public that is a massive bonus and I thank you for that. The only problem though is that Amazon decided to, for the want of a better word, 'piss about' with the formula. Changing algorithms, downloads. In essence making it far more difficult for any decent author to get recognised or be propelled to the top of the best-sellers list. Was this because the big publishing houses weren't happy about having a bit of competition from some housewife from Tunbridge Wells who had written an absolute blockbuster and it may just eat into there vast profits. I don't know?
I used to stress about Amazon and why my books were not selling and why I wasn't climbing the list and getting rave reviews and blah blah blah, but now I just realise the bleeding obvious, either they are not that good, I don't market enough or my vast competition is just working harder and better than I am.
I love writing but have many other hobbies, I also buy, collect and sell vinyl records, check me out here all you vinyl collectors, http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
Which brings me to Ebay, every review or forum I read concerning them is not very good, but they now have what they set out to get and that is a monopoly. The competition in auction online sites is non-existent, only Ebid comes to mind but they do not have the buyers and as we all know auctions are a two way street, you need buyers as well as sellers. So over the course of the last few short years Ebay have made a few changes, from seller restrictions to a vast increase in fees, the most recent being, taking a percentage on the cost of posting, in my opinion the biggest 'piss take' ever. So now any amateur or professional seller on Ebay has to pay a listing fee, a final value fee, a percentage on the cost of postage and not forgetting a PAYPAL fee, a company that is now owned by Ebay. This in my opinion is a way of squeezing out the small seller. Only the big power sellers can make enough to justify the increases and the volume of sales and price per unit will swallow up the extra cost. Until another competitor enters the market place to challenge Ebay, they will only get bigger and the small traders will suffer. I know people personally who have turned there back on Ebay because they simply stopped making any money, one a good friend of mine who used to sell items to afford luxuries for her three kids, she wasn't greedy, just wanted a bit extra, a few quid here and there to treat her little ones. When she had the audacity to ring and complain to Ebay customer service, they froze her account, obviously the small amount they were getting from her in fees wasn't enough to justify giving her a break. Corporate big brother strikes again.
Okay rant over for today, please keep an eye on my blog for future book releases and definite future rants.
Thanks for reading.
Whatever your politics might be and mine is stuck in the 'I don't care what party you represent, I don't trust any of you' corner, it seems we are all being taken for a giant ride here. My father was a two pints of beer and a fag after work man, when he finished his shift he would go to the local pub or club and relax with a drink before coming home, kissing my mother on the cheek, throwing us kids a treat of a bag of crisps and watch Bruce Forsyth on the television. How many men can actually afford to do that these days?
Our pubs and clubs, which were hubs of many societies years ago, are all but gone. Alienated in government rhetoric, wrapped up in the pretence of 'We know what is right for you' civil servants creating laws and more taxation usually in a effort to justify made up jobs and using the health card to warn us of the dangers. So there is one element of our society taken care of, basically 'Don't socialise, because we have made it near enough impossible for you to afford to.'
So we finish work and have very little choice but to go straight home, which brings us to the cost of living. Over the last twenty years, prices have steadily increased especially on the basics of life like food, heating and fuel. Anybody that has a car will be able to testify to this, five years ago my little Vauxhall Corsa cost me £100 a year to road tax, now it is nearly £200, I could fill up the tank for £20.00 and now it costs me over £50.00. So it sits on the drive more and more and gets a clean on a sunday for a treat. I must admit that the food bill is something I leave to my wife but her constant complaining about how much more it is costing to feed us, is evidence enough that food prices are rising on an almost weekly basis. So we come to the biggest bug-bear for everyone, heating bills. Maybe I am stupid but the justification to put up gas and electricity prices by 8,9 and 10% is beyond me especially when these companies announce huge profits before hand. In a civilised country when we are struggling to keep the vulnerable of society warm, i.e. our elderly, disabled and less fortunate, then we certainly have a problem. So on the one hand we cannot afford to go out and it is getting to the point where we cannot afford to stay in.
So this brings me to the detrimental effect this organised chaos is having on society. A recent article I read stated that the financial breakdown we steadily face in our society has not only affected the working class but also the middle class, the majority of wealth in this country is owned by just 1% and so is not evenly distributed. The rich really are getting richer and the poor are getting very poorer. The increased cost of living over the last few years has affected more people than at any other time in history. It is not only the three issues I mentioned earlier but it is other things that have crept into our way of life, we now pay more fines for things than ever before, speed cameras, parking fines etc, it is said that almost 1 in 2 people pay a fine in this country for one reason or another. Local councils now top up there budgets with millions of pounds taken in fines. We are all enslaved by the banks and offers of credit, 90% of salaries are now paid into bank accounts, without one we are screwed, credit card debts are on average responsible for £15.000 of debt per person. A recent statement released by one of the big banks stated that anyone with a credit card debt of £4.000 or more, in the banks opinion will never pay it off. Maybe they should change the name to a 'Debt card,' and then see how many people will apply for one.
But we are all responsible for our own actions, I hear you say and I totally agree, but our conditioning over the last few years have made us susceptible to the clever marketing and the greedy corporate marketeers behind it. It is a modern form of enslaving the people and keeping them in debt. We also live in a want-it-now society, any modern house is now fully equipped and what was once viewed as luxuries are now classed as essentials, televisions, washing machines, microwaves, dish-washers and of course flabaloss machines.
Lets move on to the 'carrot-danglers' as I like to call them, Amazon and Ebay. Basically what started off as good ideas have now slowly manifested into corporate bullying and fee snatching.
Amazon had this wonderful concept not so long ago to give creative and maybe not so creative individuals myself included the chance to compete with other well established authors on a level playing field. Write it and publish it as a download on the Amazon Kindle site. Bring in a few bells and whistles, KDP select, lending libraries etc and away you go. Now from my own point of view I write for pleasure and for myself, most of it rantie granted, now and again I may knock out a good story or a readable book and if it is liked and appreciated by the wonderful public that is a massive bonus and I thank you for that. The only problem though is that Amazon decided to, for the want of a better word, 'piss about' with the formula. Changing algorithms, downloads. In essence making it far more difficult for any decent author to get recognised or be propelled to the top of the best-sellers list. Was this because the big publishing houses weren't happy about having a bit of competition from some housewife from Tunbridge Wells who had written an absolute blockbuster and it may just eat into there vast profits. I don't know?
I used to stress about Amazon and why my books were not selling and why I wasn't climbing the list and getting rave reviews and blah blah blah, but now I just realise the bleeding obvious, either they are not that good, I don't market enough or my vast competition is just working harder and better than I am.
I love writing but have many other hobbies, I also buy, collect and sell vinyl records, check me out here all you vinyl collectors, http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
Which brings me to Ebay, every review or forum I read concerning them is not very good, but they now have what they set out to get and that is a monopoly. The competition in auction online sites is non-existent, only Ebid comes to mind but they do not have the buyers and as we all know auctions are a two way street, you need buyers as well as sellers. So over the course of the last few short years Ebay have made a few changes, from seller restrictions to a vast increase in fees, the most recent being, taking a percentage on the cost of posting, in my opinion the biggest 'piss take' ever. So now any amateur or professional seller on Ebay has to pay a listing fee, a final value fee, a percentage on the cost of postage and not forgetting a PAYPAL fee, a company that is now owned by Ebay. This in my opinion is a way of squeezing out the small seller. Only the big power sellers can make enough to justify the increases and the volume of sales and price per unit will swallow up the extra cost. Until another competitor enters the market place to challenge Ebay, they will only get bigger and the small traders will suffer. I know people personally who have turned there back on Ebay because they simply stopped making any money, one a good friend of mine who used to sell items to afford luxuries for her three kids, she wasn't greedy, just wanted a bit extra, a few quid here and there to treat her little ones. When she had the audacity to ring and complain to Ebay customer service, they froze her account, obviously the small amount they were getting from her in fees wasn't enough to justify giving her a break. Corporate big brother strikes again.
Okay rant over for today, please keep an eye on my blog for future book releases and definite future rants.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, 23 May 2013
MY CATALOGUE OF VINYL RECORDS & CD's FOR SALE ON DISCOGS.
Hi everybody
I am pleased to announce my catalogue of Vinyl Records and CD's for sale on DISCOGS.
please pay me a visit..
http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
Many thanks
Happy Browsing.
I am pleased to announce my catalogue of Vinyl Records and CD's for sale on DISCOGS.
please pay me a visit..
http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
Many thanks
Happy Browsing.
Saturday, 18 May 2013
MAKING ENDS MEET!
When I left school many years ago, okay 30 to be exact. I remember the excitement of collecting my first wage packet. Friday lunchtime a little brown square packet with my name and clocking-in number on the front. The thrill of opening it and finding real cash inside and a paper wage slip telling you how much you had been stopped in tax. Not that I took any notice at that age, all I was interested in was the new crisp notes inside. I think if I recall my first wages were £35.00. A fortune to a spotty 16 year old. I would give my parents £10.00 for my board, which actually made them happy to be getting something back after all those years of spending a small fortune on bringing me up. I'd also discovered a whole new world of independence, pubs, smoking and shopping. Suddenly I was a man, pubs served me, I could buy records, clothes and concert tickets. The world was my oyster, I readily indulged in this newly found hedonistic life. I would smoke, go to the pub at least four times a week, every Friday I would go to a rock disco, buy a couple of vinyl LP's every saturday and take in every concert that readily came around. I was having driving lessons and managed to keep a succession of girlfriends happy. All this on 35 quid a week. So have things changed so radically in thirty years? Maybe I was just at the back end of a golden generation. Things seemed to have crumpled around our ears without really noticing. I am old fashioned in my outlook to such things, I believe that the working man is entitled to a pint and a fag after work, it seems to have been the main stay of society for dozens of years, but not any more. Pubs and clubs are not the hub of any community anymore. Where once it was a God given right, now it is a luxury. The present generation are nannied and instead of given that freedom to decide are being told what they can and can't do. All wrapped up in scare tactics and propaganda, we don't hear you can anymore, that has been replaced with you can't! or even worse don't!
Don't drink!
Don't smoke!
Don't socialise!
Don't be young and learn from your mistakes!
Let us decide what you should or shouldn't do, better still lets tell you how to live your life, because we know better!
Over the years, the pound in your pocket is worth less and less, prices have increased ten-fold, every day living expenses, food, housing costs, heating, concert tickets lol. Very few people now work to live most people live to work. 1984 has become 2013 as people work longer and earn just enough to live. The topic of most conversations are 'What's on telly tonight' So most people sit around glued to their ever increasing in size televisions watching even more channels and being brainwashed by subliminal images in more and more soap operas. Just one interesting thought, the government knows where 20 million people are at 7.30 most evenings watching Coronation Street or Eastenders. Be careful of those subliminal images, if Derren Brown can do it then the government certainly can.
Education has taken a huge swing over the years, are we really any brighter now than we were thirty years ago?
When I left school, 75% of kids got a job and 25% went to University, nowadays the figures have reversed. We had careers teachers and apprenticeships. We sat down one to one and were asked what do you want to do when you leave school? My mates became mechanics, engineers, bricklayers, plasterers, electricians, the girls wanted to be nurses, secretaries, nannies.
Ask the majority of kids today what they want to do when they leave school and the answers will probably range from singer and dancer to Simon Cowell and Justin Bieber. Thank you the X-Factor.
Maybe its because the jobs just aren't there anymore. I wanted to be a builder, I remember my careers teacher setting up interviews with building firms, who were offering apprenticeships. I actually ended up in a shoe factory but it was a start I guess.
Now I am not against higher education in the least, I am probably an advocate of it but in the right context. Today our Universities are spilling kids out into the world with degrees in Social Science, psychology and Physiothingymebob. Just a footnote there are actually more students studying Psychology at University then there are actual Psychologists in the country. Makes you think! Maybe that is why we are building so many shopping malls and McDonalds to employ them all.
So where is all this leading? I hear you ask. Well it is a bit of a semi Autobiography I guess, mainly brought about from the fact that as I have gotten older my job opportunities and the money in my pocket have diminished. At my age now which is well in my forties and with no formal qualifications to speak off, my chances of getting any type of a job are really next to zero. Here are a few examples, when I did actually decide to go to University, well into my twenties. I studied and achieved City and Guild qualifications in 'Computer Aided Design' Well done me! I then worked for a few years at various companies on a contract basis producing top notch drawings and designs. My contracts were always short term, maximum 3 months. Then it would be off again to another Company and another short term fix. The last company I was at was great, I loved it, I was there 11 months and one day the boss called me in his office and said that work was short and he was terminating my contract. I was devastated and so on the spot I decided I didn't want to do this any more. I actually did try and get back into it a few years later but by then I was competing against 20 year old fresh from college kids who could tie me in knots, the stress was just too much. I explored various options in the jobs market and came to some pretty startling conclusions. It is near on impossible these days to get any type of job without some kind of qualification or experience, but how do you gain experience if nobody will employ you in the first place. This includes such jobs as shelf stackers, labourers, drivers and anything to do with the care industry. NVQ's are the new by word even for waiting tables in a restaurant.
So over the years the choice of our kids going to University or not isn't actually a choice anymore, if they don't study something or other until they are 20 something means that they will probably get left well behind or end up behind the counter at McDonalds. The small matter of the cost which on average is about £9,000 a year doesn't seem to have been taken into consideration by the law makers at all. At a time when most people are struggling to make ends meet, is it just me or what was once a God given right now seems to be just a luxury.
So anyway back to me. I am probably one of the lucky ones, I work for myself doing what I want to do, I managed to turn my hobbies into my job. I started gardening about 10 years ago and kept it going to the degree that I now maintain a few gardens and cut my elderly neighbours grass for free. (Nice to give something back) I am a habitual writer if such a thing exists, I write novels, short stories and blog posts and now and again get paid for it. I am also an avid collector of books and Vinyl records to the degree that I now buy and sell them in my own online shop, check me out,
http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
The main reason for this post was to highlight how we take so much for granted even when it seems wrong and the figures don't add up.
How I wish for those happy £35.00 a week days again.
Don't drink!
Don't smoke!
Don't socialise!
Don't be young and learn from your mistakes!
Let us decide what you should or shouldn't do, better still lets tell you how to live your life, because we know better!
Over the years, the pound in your pocket is worth less and less, prices have increased ten-fold, every day living expenses, food, housing costs, heating, concert tickets lol. Very few people now work to live most people live to work. 1984 has become 2013 as people work longer and earn just enough to live. The topic of most conversations are 'What's on telly tonight' So most people sit around glued to their ever increasing in size televisions watching even more channels and being brainwashed by subliminal images in more and more soap operas. Just one interesting thought, the government knows where 20 million people are at 7.30 most evenings watching Coronation Street or Eastenders. Be careful of those subliminal images, if Derren Brown can do it then the government certainly can.
Education has taken a huge swing over the years, are we really any brighter now than we were thirty years ago?
When I left school, 75% of kids got a job and 25% went to University, nowadays the figures have reversed. We had careers teachers and apprenticeships. We sat down one to one and were asked what do you want to do when you leave school? My mates became mechanics, engineers, bricklayers, plasterers, electricians, the girls wanted to be nurses, secretaries, nannies.
Ask the majority of kids today what they want to do when they leave school and the answers will probably range from singer and dancer to Simon Cowell and Justin Bieber. Thank you the X-Factor.
Maybe its because the jobs just aren't there anymore. I wanted to be a builder, I remember my careers teacher setting up interviews with building firms, who were offering apprenticeships. I actually ended up in a shoe factory but it was a start I guess.
Now I am not against higher education in the least, I am probably an advocate of it but in the right context. Today our Universities are spilling kids out into the world with degrees in Social Science, psychology and Physiothingymebob. Just a footnote there are actually more students studying Psychology at University then there are actual Psychologists in the country. Makes you think! Maybe that is why we are building so many shopping malls and McDonalds to employ them all.
So where is all this leading? I hear you ask. Well it is a bit of a semi Autobiography I guess, mainly brought about from the fact that as I have gotten older my job opportunities and the money in my pocket have diminished. At my age now which is well in my forties and with no formal qualifications to speak off, my chances of getting any type of a job are really next to zero. Here are a few examples, when I did actually decide to go to University, well into my twenties. I studied and achieved City and Guild qualifications in 'Computer Aided Design' Well done me! I then worked for a few years at various companies on a contract basis producing top notch drawings and designs. My contracts were always short term, maximum 3 months. Then it would be off again to another Company and another short term fix. The last company I was at was great, I loved it, I was there 11 months and one day the boss called me in his office and said that work was short and he was terminating my contract. I was devastated and so on the spot I decided I didn't want to do this any more. I actually did try and get back into it a few years later but by then I was competing against 20 year old fresh from college kids who could tie me in knots, the stress was just too much. I explored various options in the jobs market and came to some pretty startling conclusions. It is near on impossible these days to get any type of job without some kind of qualification or experience, but how do you gain experience if nobody will employ you in the first place. This includes such jobs as shelf stackers, labourers, drivers and anything to do with the care industry. NVQ's are the new by word even for waiting tables in a restaurant.
So over the years the choice of our kids going to University or not isn't actually a choice anymore, if they don't study something or other until they are 20 something means that they will probably get left well behind or end up behind the counter at McDonalds. The small matter of the cost which on average is about £9,000 a year doesn't seem to have been taken into consideration by the law makers at all. At a time when most people are struggling to make ends meet, is it just me or what was once a God given right now seems to be just a luxury.
So anyway back to me. I am probably one of the lucky ones, I work for myself doing what I want to do, I managed to turn my hobbies into my job. I started gardening about 10 years ago and kept it going to the degree that I now maintain a few gardens and cut my elderly neighbours grass for free. (Nice to give something back) I am a habitual writer if such a thing exists, I write novels, short stories and blog posts and now and again get paid for it. I am also an avid collector of books and Vinyl records to the degree that I now buy and sell them in my own online shop, check me out,
http://www.discogs.com/seller/Booktimes
The main reason for this post was to highlight how we take so much for granted even when it seems wrong and the figures don't add up.
How I wish for those happy £35.00 a week days again.
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Author Interview with Barbie Sue Johnson
Welcome to my Author interview and many thanks to Barbie Sue.
Author - (B.S. Johnson)
1/ Can you tell us a little about yourself?
B.S. Johnson (affectionately known to friends as Barbie Sue) was raised up in rural towns in North Georgia. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was very young. It wasn't until her forties that she finally decided to start doing something with her writing and started submitting some of her work.
2/ When and what made you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I was raised an only child. My parents adopted me at the age of eleven months old. I was told about his at the age of eight or so. Hearing something of that caliber when you're so young is a difficult thing to deal with. I didn't understand it, and thought it was a bad thing. I turned to poetry as an outlet for my feelings and frustrations.
3/ Can you tell us something about your books, genre?
As of right now, I have several poems that have been published in magazines. As far as my books, I have two non-fictions out. The first one is a free e-book available on Smashwords.com called Being Kind In An Unkind World. It is more of a compilation, really. It's about doing random acts of kindness for people, whether directly or indirectly. My most recent book, Maters, Taters & Grits, is available in print format, and on Kindle, through Amazon, B&N.com, and many more. It is about life in the South, from mud runs and Southern Hospitality to Traditions and how to treat your mama.
4/ Where do you get your ideas from?
The voices in my head! Actually, my poems mostly stem from experiences in my life that were painful. My books have just been about my life so far. I am currently working on a fiction novel, and those ideas are based on the Southern lifestyle and things that happen around me.
5/ Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Three, actually. I have one almost completed that is a collection of my poems. The other two are completely new genres for me- one is a murder mystery, the other is an adventure series. I'm not sure the direction it's going to take yet. It's surprising me at the moment!
6/ What are your ambitions concerning your writing career?
I just want to entertain and inspire. If I change someone's life for the better, or encourage someone to write, or become someone's inspiration, I've done what I set out to do.
7/ Which writers inspire you?
J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Clive Barker, John Grisham
8/ What book are you reading at present?
Honestly, my schoolbooks! I have homework and studies pretty regular, as I'm taking Animal Behavior classes and Dog Obedience Training. It takes up a lot of time at the moment.
9/ What are your thoughts on reviews, good and bad?
If they are honest, fine. I've heard people say they review books and they never even picked up the book. You are not doing the Author any favors- good or bad- by doing that. Be honest. Not everyone is going to like your book. But don't put a bad review because someone commented something you didn't like on your Facebook status, either.
10/ What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Believe in yourself. Above all. Do not let anything or anyone get in the way of your dreams.
11/ Do you have any advice on how to market your books?
Use any and all of the Social Media available to you. Talk about it. A lot.
12/ What would you consider to be the worst thing about being an indie author?
Trying to get the word out about your book among the zillion others. Marketing is key. Being different and standing out is important.
13/ What do you like to do when your not writing, hobbies etc?
Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, gardening, four-wheeling, and cooking out with friends and family.
14/ How long on average does it take you to write a book, what is your schedule?
Since I have so much going on, I don't really have a schedule. I should, but I don't. I have a Windows Phone, so anytime I get the urge to write, I use the Microsoft Office feature on my phone to jot down ideas, paragraphs or poems. Maters, Taters & Grits was written using mostly my phone. It really comes in handy.
15/ What is your favourite positive saying?
Stop telling God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big God is!
16/ Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your books?
Sandra Bullock. She has natural beauty. She's real.
17/ Who did your fabulous book covers?
On Being Kind, it was Tatiana Villa. For Maters, it was the wonderful design team at Sweatshoppe Publications and the talented Paul Brand.
18/ What is your favourite movie and why?
Twister. I don't really know why. I have watched it a thousand times if I've watched it once, and it never gets old, I can quote it, and it just remains my favorite.
19/ Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?
Running a farm where we host a number of programs for special needs children to come out and learn about animals and take part in caring for horses, riding them, and earning certificates for their participation.
20/ Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
Billy the Kid. I'd love to sit down and have a beer with him and get inside that head of his.
21/ What is your favourite takeaway food?
That would have to be Pizza!
Where can you be reached?
Blog/Website: www.bsjohnson.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
Twitter: B_SJohnson
Linkedin:
Goodreads: http://www.
Smashwords: smashwords.com/books/view/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
My thanks to Barbie Sue for a wonderful and insightful interview.
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