Banjo Crisis

Added on 28 October 2008

I’m waiting on a banjo. I could say sweating on a banjo, but that might be overstating it. For most of the last forty-four years I’ve had the same view of the banjo as everyone else. They’re ok in very small doses and when Billy Connolly plays one, but otherwise, best left unheard....

Hallowe'en Nightmare

Added on 27 October 2008

Since spending an enjoyable evening three autumn’s ago walking down Pleasant Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea on 31st October, the kids have been infatuated with the idea of the American Hallowe'en. (Consequently, I’ve never taken them back...) Last Friday evening in Warsaw, the United Stat...

Proof

Added on 24 October 2008

Finished, at last, with the text for the reprint of The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson, and now the file has been sent off to the printers. In my last read-through I found a gap of one letter width where it shouldn’t have been, and a full-stop after a question mark. It was time to let go. As ...

63 Days Until Christmas

Added on 23 October 2008

Yesterday, for the first time this year, I used Christmas as a threat with the kids. Not too bad, waiting until 3:34pm on the 22nd October to invoke the annual sloberfest in the words, "If you don't come now/stop hitting your sister/get off the crocodile/take your finger off the nuclear device ...

Gratuitous Eagle Eye Spolier

Added on 22 October 2008

I'm getting to the finishing stages of sorting out the new edition of The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson. I need to put it to bed and let go. Stop making minute changes to sentence structure that no one else will notice except me. Nevertheless, time for a quick word on the movie Eagle Eye. This, as...