What would have happened in South Africa if Mandela had died in 1990?
…Read More…: What would have happened in South Africa if Mandela had died in 1990?I am delighted to inform you that my latest novel AZANIA FAREWELL is (likely to be) published before the end of the year. This is big stuff. You may have read two thirds of this book already if you’ve read Umfaan’s Heroes and Laszlo’s Millions. The big news is, finally, the third part of what…
THE NHS AND ME – ROUND 23
…Read More…: THE NHS AND ME – ROUND 23Discharged from hospital for the 3rd time in a week. This time the rampant infection which was possibly caused by an operation and subsequent treatment may be under control. It’s shocking that an elderly man with a life-threatening condition can be discharged before he’s well. The desperate straits the NHS is in is to blame.…
Handel and Hendrix
…Read More…: Handel and HendrixBaroque & Roll? Book by Susan WokomaDirected by Paul RosebyMusic and lyrics by Naomi Hammerton Advertised as a musical, the National Youth Theatre performed their production of Handel and Hendrix at St James’ Piccadilly this week. So, titillated by the title and the connection with the marvellous Handel/Hendrix house and museum in Brook St London, I…
Testing a theory
…Read More…: Testing a theoryHave people who live cruel nasty lives ever enjoyed good fiction? I have been going through an existential writer crisis around this question: what the hell is fiction for? Why invent people, put them into situations, when it’s all lies? It’s Fiction for fucksake. ‘Novel’ means ‘new’. So when I write a fictional novel I…
Cursemiss and Nudeyear Greetings!
…Read More…: Cursemiss and Nudeyear Greetings!Dear fellow ephemera 2,026 years ago, Christian founding myth has it, the ‘Saviour of the World’ was born. (Still waiting for this Dead Guy to do some saving).According to the origins myth, using the genealogies in Genesis the Earth was created 10,000 – 6,000 years ago by God who, in a rash moment – possibly…
Partenope at ENO
…Read More…: Partenope at ENOHandel’s RomCom at the Colosseum It’s hard not to go to any production of a Handel Opera for me. Obviously, Mr Mrs Ms and Master Public don’t seem to have a similar problem. They often stay away in droves. And yet! Not tonight. The glorious Colosseum, a Victorian Palace laden with curlicues of plaster and…
BAROQUE IS ON A ROLL!
…Read More…: BAROQUE IS ON A ROLL!And I’ve been rolling with it! Frankly, I can’t take credit for it much as I would like to. My Ragazzo was published last Autumn, so the blossoming and blooming of Baroque in Britain was planned way before Guido stepped onto the literary stage, dagger dripping and a grin plastered over his beautiful face. Having…
5* REVIEWS FOR RAGAZZO
…Read More…: 5* REVIEWS FOR RAGAZZOSo far, all the reviews of RAGAZZO have been 5 star. This is fine by me – I would unhesitatingly give the novel a 5 star review, not because I wrote it – I just enjoy re-reading it – I think it was written by Georg Fridrich Handel, after he deleted the umlaut. Then died. Here are…
A BONKERS BOY OF A BOOK
…Read More…: A BONKERS BOY OF A BOOKRAGAZZO – PUBLISHED AT LAST! TEN YEARS AGO I was knocked on the head by a dead composer. It was like a knock on the door – ‘Let me in’ he said and I had to. Fine, I thought, what harm can he do? ‘Herr Händel’, I said, ‘how fine. Great wig.’ He smells of…
so far so long..so?
…Read More…: so far so long..so?It really is months since I’ve blogged. Actually, the last blog was last year. And now, possibly my last year. Ahead, probably my last summer. I have been scrolling my way through the almost ten years of this website – so many words! Some of them relevant. Many of them written by others. I suppose…