I am changing how and who can comment on my blog. Anyone who has blogged in the past… no change. Anyone new trying to post a comment… it will be held until I approve it. Just trying to cut down on the spam posts that keep appearing.
I wish wordpress would come up with that verification program that is availlable with some other blogs like blogger. That would really cut down on the spam.
Get Rommel by Michael Asher
Cassel Publishing
Historical
My wife bought me a box set of three books. The author is Michael Asher, ex-paratrooper and special forces in the British Army. One of the books I will be reading is a best seller. This book, Get Rommel, isn’t a best seller. At least not by what I have read.
The book covers the creation of special forces during the second world war. They mention their first attempt at using the forces… or should I say the mis-use of forces. He only included this story so that he could introduce some of the players in the “Get Rommel” mission.
Some characters? My gosh, no such luck. It seems to me that anyone who may of had even a small part to play in the mission had their brief history given. I don’t mind getting some background on the major characters but Asher gave little histories on dozens. So much so that I was wondering at points was this supposed to be an exciting historical novel or some dry thesis for a masters diploma. In the end I would say it was a thesis not a novel.
When you think of special forces you think of highly trained, highly motivated professional soldiers. Perhaps in the future they have become that model. In this book it was more like the mis-adventures of Spanky and the Gang.
After reading this book I was tempted to shelve the other two books in some dark corner of the basement. I guess I will try one more book to see if his delivery of a story improves. Though I have to admit, after that first one it has been weeks since I even wanted to read anything at all. If I had to rate this book, one star is bad and five stars was excellent, I would be hard pressed to give it a half star.
Here is my sketch of Rommel.
Commander of the Africa Corps - General Erwin Rommel
Ah, that is a familiar phrase when wanting to sell products, from ice-cream cones on a city corner to estate homes on well treed lots in the suburbs.
So I was taking my late night walk one evening and came across a lady of the night looking for her next white knight to come along and whisk her away for a ten minute engagement. Alas, we all do what we have to do to survive. Keeping in mind that location is king when “advertising” a product I found it a little funny and a little sad where this woman stood to show her wares. Perhaps it was to make the next “John” believe that she was really ok. A person safe to be with. Or perhaps just bad placement? Here… you decide for yourself. Here is a drawing of what I saw:
Now for you women out there with wandering husbands? There was another sign across the street to her right. It was an animal hospital and the sign outside said: “Have your pets neutered.” I am quite certain there are a few of you who would like to bring their husbands in for a consult.
😉
I like my country. I like what it use to stand for in a world going crazy. Yet over the years I have watched as my country leapt to the front of the line. Follow us, my country cried, to the other nations as we blazed the back-sliding trail away from God. There used to be a sweet fragrance coming from our political flower. The flower has changed and so too the aroma. The seeds we sow now are for our own eventual destruction. When a person like Dr Henry Morgentaler can be given the Order of Canada medal and inducted into their ranks something has gone awfully wrong. Perhaps it is time to change the direction and name of the medal. Here is my idea of what it could be now…
Too harsh? Give it another twenty years and you may not think so.
This has been the strangest 24 hrs on my website. I upgraded my WordPress blog and then couldn’t get it to work. Tried all kinds of things… no luck. Today I came back and nada… not a thing. So I decided to take a drastic step and dump the database and see if I can re-install. Then somehow, someway, something happened and I got my site back… upgraded and ready to go with the database intact. Mysterious happenings…
So, thanks for your patience.
As I commented in the last topic I have been undergoing some changes. I wrote that I am waiting for God to breathe something new into my life rather than trying to fill it myself. Thanks Doug for your comment. In the past two weeks I have spent less than eight hours on the computer. I use to spend eight hours a day. I don’t quite understand what I am going through. Perhaps God has been priming the pump. It isn’t a good place where I am at… except when I go out and talk to God. This is the reason for the lengthening silence on my blog.
I ask for your prayers, though I don’t know what particularly to request. All I do know is that your prayers will help. Thanks.
Seems like clockwork… on a seasonal scale. The sun is shinning more each day. The weather is getting warmer. More walks about the neighbourhood. Yet it appears that everytime there is a seasonal weather change I get a cold or flu. So I now have a spring cold. Throat is somewhat sore, lungs slightly filled and a bit of a wheeze in my breathing. Snuffed, puffed and roughed up.
Peculiar that I get one cold or flu with each passing season. I wonder sometimes if it is a cold or if my body just has a hard time adjusting to the climate change? Regardless, cough cough I is sick. Once again I come to you and ask for prayer to minimize the symptoms and help me get through this bug quickly.
So, if I don’t give out hugs on Sunday you will know that I am still fighting with the bug. Oh, I do hope this bug breaks quickly, the Sunday hugs is my favorite part of going to church. cough, sniff, wheeze
The Children of Hurin
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
This book is rather a quick read. Slow to start but the action picks up nicely and then carries you along. Images have been included to give you a visual perspective.
The story itself? If you have read The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien you would know that they take place in the third (?) age. Other of his books cover the same period while others give you an overview of the history of middle earth. The Children of Hurin goes back to the days of antiquity. The first age when the great evil first took a permanent body and, as always, was striving to crush middle earth in his hand.
It begins with a battle between good and evil. Turin, one of the human leaders, joins forces with some of the elves to throw back the hand from Angband. The battle is lost and Turin is taken captive. The story then turns to his home where his pregnant wife and infant son Hurin wait for Turin’s return. If you are expecting a happy tale don’t pick-up the book. The story is a dark one and tradgeties abound. A curse placed upon the family of Turin by Morgoth exacts a terrible price. Hunted and haunted heros and heroins. There are moments of victory mind you but the twists in the story may be found disturbing by some readers.
As I came down to the last couple of chapters the reading became too familiar. I knew the outcome before the chapter ended. Perhaps having read many of the other books this story was covered in part and my mind filled in the rest. Either that or my longterm memory is on the fritz and I have read the book before. I doubt that but just incase you are an avid reader of Tolkien’s work you should know that the ending may not be too surprising. If you haven’t read any of Tolkien’s works before there is a good primer at the beginning of the book to help the novice understand the overall storyline of middle earth.
For the past couple of weeks I have been going out for a drive around the harbour. Sometimes with Linda and have a good talk. Sometimes alone with God for a good talk. On several occassions there would be a stop or two in route. One night Linda and I watched some stalwart people with dip nets fishing for smelt off the canal piers. A walk along the pedestrian path watching the waves. One time it was to stop and share a plate of french fires. It was never quite the same and always good for the soul.
Tonight, after being cooped up in the house all day, I got in the car and went for a drive. Down Cannon, pass Dundurn Park, Plains road to Mapleview mall, right turn down to Joseph Brant hospital. Now comes the part I like the most. Keep driving along the beach strip road.
There is a point where you turn to the right to pass under the big bridges. Tonight the road was blocked by pylons with a cruiser parked behind them, headlihgts dimmed. No choice, turn right onto the highway access route and take the North shore cut-off. Left onto the road and then right onto the QEW Niagara access route. Oops, the bridge over the QEW south bound was closed… take the side access. You guessed it… more pylons and I pass the cruiser that was parked under the bridge. This time I see his tail-lights. Why send me all the way around?
So I go over the lift bridge and enter the parking lot on the east shore. Now I forgot my jacket and the breeze off the lake sent a chill through my body. Guess I won’t be visiting the dipnet fishermen this evening.
Back in the car I drive south to get onto beach road. Yep, the access is blocked by pylons. Why? I haven’t got the faintest idea. Inquisitive and a bit stubborn I take the west service road and drive down to Centennial. Left turn down to the beach. Pass Hutches but no fries tonight. Then a right turn onto the beach strip. Drove all the way to the end. You know what I saw. Yep, the pylons I passed going the other way. No reason for the pylons to block access. So I turn around and go home via Tim’s to pick-up a coffee for Linda.
Tonight my drive was interupted by pylons. Most of which seemed to have been placed for no purpose. It made for an interesting drive. Sigh… I wouldn’t want to do that again.
Woke up and had my breakfast. Finished watching the 700 club. Ah well, time to go upstairs and check the email etc. Stepped into the office…
My senses are reeling. Something has changed and I grope for reality. Mental confusion as my mind tries to sort out the great changes that have taken place. Finally my eyes rest on the office window. Something strange is happening. I feel a slight breeze moving through the room. Earthy sents fill my nostrils. Birds chirping while I hear the hum of traffic in the back ground.
Aha! Now I understand. The window is OPEN. I stare at it for some moments. I try to grasp the importance of what I see. Another sign that it is not only warmer outside… It must be spring too.