Reading II

Dear readers,

I promised to let you know what I had managed to read over the last few weeks. If you remember, I have purposely said that I will try to avoid TV for one day of the week, so that I can read something. Otherwise, I'll never get round to it!

Here are some of the books that I've read (and I've even included a number out of ten to help with some recommendation!). Each book has a link to Amazon, so you can get one yourselves (if anyone reads this!!):

The Sword of Shannara: Shannara 1 (Shannara Series) : this is a really excellent book by Terry Brooks, and is the beginning of an AMAZING set of books. I've read this before, but I had to read it again, and I am so glad I did. 10/10. If you want to start these fantasy books, please start with the Sword of Shannara. Simply the best.

A Christmas Carol (Puffin Classics) : As I was reading lots over the Christmas period, I decided that I had to finally read this classic. And it really is a classic and a lot more detailed that those Disney or Muppet movies!! Well worth reading - whatever the time of year. 8/10.

QI The Book of the Dead : If you love QI and a bit of history, you'll love this book. I did. It was full of great well-known people; and the not so well-known people of times gone by. Well recommended. 9/10.

Whatshisname: The Life and Death of Charles Hawtrey : I really enjoy the Carry On films, and I am always curious about the stars long since dead. Here's one of the stars who had a very sad life, and one who is often forgotten by biographers. Charles Hawtrey was an enigma and this book shows there was more to Mr Hawtrey than getting drunk and liking young men - read it if you like the Carry On films. 8/10.

I think I did pretty well this month, I am now reading another Shannara book (The Elfstones of Shannara: Book Two of the Shannara Trilogy (Shannara Series)) , but I'll leave my thoughts till next month. I've also got another couple of books I want to read too. Until next time, enjoy these books!!

JJW Griffiths

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends and readers (though I don't doubt I have friends, I do doubt I have readers! C'est la vie!). 2011, hey? Who would have thought it possible during the Cold War or during the World Wars, but here we are.

As I write this, it is totally tipping it down in rain, but I am much happier about that than the recent snow we have had. Even in London. Rain isn't too cold; rain doesn't make you slip up (well, not if you're careful); rain doesn't stop services (well, not in England); and rain is what this country needs sometimes - freshen up the trees and plants.

I'll try and blog a bit more over the forthcoming year, but may I wish you a very happy new year.

JJWG

Reading

Sorry for the slight delay in writing another blog, but I have been busy, busy, busy – and more besides. As I grow older, I have begun to realise that perhaps I won’t read all the books I own, or all the books I want to – which is a shame.

My father used to always tell me to read Dickens, Dickens, and more Dickens – but I’ve only read one of his books. However, I have read many classics in literature – including books from the Brönte family, Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, and many others – but not enough. However, we can’t forget that there are many years of modern literature out there too! I have loads of Agatha Christie and PD James, but I never have time to read them.

However in addition, I want to read about my favourite subject – history. I love the Tudor and Stuart period; and ancient civilisations throughout the world. And, these kind of books take longer to read too.

All this lack of reading (my favourite past-time) is starting to drive me mad, so I’ve come to a conclusion: I am now going to ban TV for one night a week, so I can just read. Let’s see how that goes – I’ll update you in my next blog, including details of what I’ve read. Bye for now.

June - Half Way

We're all half way into 2010, and I've no idea where my path is leading. I've been so terribly busy with so many silly and pointless things - so I've no idea where the time went. I'm nearing 70 this year, and I want it to slow down. Men don't last very long and women completely outlive us, so our time is more precious.

Talking of time - have you looked at your family tree any time soon? See here - amazing service. I can't tell you how much they showed me about my ancestors history. I was so impressed.

Finally, I was starting to like Gordon Brown (our former Prime Minister), but now we have this strange government that no one voted for. I heard someone yesterday call them the ConDem government. How potentially apt. Unfortunately, they are a populist movement at the moment, so it'll be a couple of years yet, till we see how rubbish they are. But, then maybe that's all politicians? I mean, we all know Blair was rubbish now, don't we? Terrible person.

See you soon!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone around the world. 2010! It seems strange that we're now at this milestone of a year - it seems only yesterday that we were celebrating 2000! Ah well. As usual there seems to be a debate about whether we have started a new decade (which I believe we haven't). In the end though - who cares?! Have a look at one such debate here. This guy makes a very valid point, but I still don't care!

Grumpy Old Man has returned.

70 years since the start of WWII

I promise to write more interesting things in the near future, but my son has recently got married, and I've been very busy with organising it with him, and his new wife! However, I thought it was important that I mentioned this sad anniversary - 70 years since the start of WWII. My favourite blog has written about it, and so I thought I would let you go and have a look there....

The Gurkhas win their rights to settle in the UK

I am very pleased with the news that the brave Gurkhas (pre 1997) who fought for our country are to be granted the opportunity to settle here. This started because Gordon Brown LOST a Commons vote on the matter (the first for a long time in Parliament) and has now finally granted them this wonderful justice.

The Government's response was as follows: "For many years, the Brigade of Gurkhas have shown bravery, commitment and dedication in serving this country, and continue to do so on operations today.

This Government has done more for Gurkhas than any other. It was the first Government to grant settlement to Gurkhas and the first to equalise pay and pensions, with over 6,000 former Gurkhas and their families already given the right to live in the UK. In April we took steps to increase the number of Gurkhas eligible to come to this country by 4,000 or, including families, 10,000 people.

The House of Commons has now expressed a clear view that all Gurkhas should be entitled to settle in the United Kingdom if that is what they wish.

This Government respects the will of the House of Commons and recognises the strong feeling and public support for this cause. Consequently, we have announced today that all former Gurkhas who served for longer than four years will be eligible to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom. They will also be entitled to bring their spouses and dependent minor children. There will be no time limit on applications.

This scheme recognises the unique nature of the service given to the UK by the Brigade of Gurkhas and is offered to them on an exceptional basis.

We believe that in announcing the new policy today, we have met their concerns and those of Parliament." See here.

Whether we can believe their statement about doing more for the Gurkhas than any other government or not, we know that common sense has finally prevailed.