Tom Rob Smith: Refuse Matters: Musing

"The safest way to write a diary was to imagine Stalin reading every word.
 Even exercising this degree of caution there was the risk of a slipped phrase, accidental ambiguity- a misunderstood sentence. "

 So starts "Agent 6 " by  Tom Rob Smith. This being the third book in his Russian trilogy which began with "Child 44 "  followed by " The Secret Speech. "








These books have been literary delights, ensuring rapid page turning. The subject matter is grim and stark; namely life under the rule of Stalin and later his successor Khrushchev in communist Russia.

Our 'hero'  Leo Demidov who has periods working for the MGB and KGB has targets to meet. They are the number of state 'traitors ' he has found and denounced. Nobody, including families are safe from being convicted for crimes, which usually meant execution or labour intensive imprisonment in the harsh realities of the Gulags

 Once this fear of exposure was realised, it became endemic throughout society. Who was friend? Who was Foe?  An uncertain life indeed.

Reading these books made you thankful for our democracy and a rule of law which thankfully contains checks and balances.

Tom Rob Smith is an excellent writer. You may have seen his work in the recent BBC2 mini- television series " London Spy " ( 2015 ). A film was also made of  "Child 44 ".
Clicking the web-link below will give more info and let you to see a trailer of the film.
Tom Rob Smith

 Rarely have I enjoyed a series as much as the above books, The plots twist and turn and shocks happen, against a background of snowy, cold and at the very least, dismal conditions. But as usual, however dire events may appear to be, the human spirit shines through.

An inspiring and engrossing read.

5*****

TtttttttttttRrrrrrrS

D. and I visited the recycling centre " Wingmoor Farm" at Stock Orchard, near Bishops Cleve.
We took plant material, wood and bags of polystyrene  in our car there.

It always gives me great satisfaction to rid ourselves of this unwanted stuff and know that much of what we have carried there over the years has been usefully recycled to start the circle again.

One must mention how well this site is maintained. It is clean and clearly marked skips show where your refuse should go. The operatives are friendly and helpful and because of its situation away from suburbia, even the journey there is pleasant .





Always thought some of my photos were rubbish; well here's your proof!


TtttttttttttRrrrrrrS

Muses

When can we have a rule whereby if England/Britain reach a World Final. it should be shown on terrestrial television?
We learn today that England's cricket team will play West Indies in the T20 World Final. I accept that those who have subscribed to Sky should have preference, but  non-subscribers could still view the match,  time- delayed . This scenario is not going to happen very often is it?

My two supported football teams have major games ahead. Cheltenham Town ( The Robins ) play Grimsby tonight ( 01 / 04 / '16 ) They badly need to win this match to consolidate their position at the top of the table, where they lead their neighbouring rivals Forest Green
Rovers by two points.
 Sorry to labour the point, but in this league only the top team gets automatic promotion, the others must battle in those nervous play-offs  at the end of the season for the second spot.

We, Robins don't want this.


My Premier team Newcastle United has a ' six-pointer ' relegation battle  away against Norwich at three o'clock tomorrow (2/4).
 Having had a woeful season, further bad news came this week with the injury of our goalkeeper Rob Elliot, sustained in a friendly International match.Step forward 25 year old Karl Darlow, who has some champion league experience.
 With only eight games to go, we badly need to make a positive statement against relegation rivals Norwich. Now is the time for new manager Rafa Benitez to make his mark!

TtttttttttttRrrrrrrS


I think it was Paul Simon  who sang ' April come she may; ' well she has and goodness me what a tonic to see those lighter nights. With only moderate rainfall predicted in the week ahead, will we see good going for the Grand National on Saturday?
Time will tell.
Cheerio for now,
Ck.

Comments

Post a Comment

please feel free to comment and point out faults.
glad to have you aboard .

Curlykale.

Popular posts from this blog

Further along the way: spot of cricket.

Image
On Tuesday D. and I went from Buckle Street ( Jackdaws Castle )  back along the Gloucestershire Way  to our last finish point in the woods near Condicote. "Jackdaws Castle" is the  horse racing establishment, run by Jonjo O'Neill. Read more at: Jonjo The Way  continues opposite these gates along a metalled bridle path/track leading,  after a  half mile to Ford Hill Farm. The path loops around the farm and soon emerges on a pleasant bridleway. This is a very quiet stretch and I agree with our guide writer Gerry Stewart, who describes it thus: "  This open ridge-top provides a great sense of kinship with the early people who once traversed these tracks." ( p.91) After this bridleway, the path continued  through a field of yellow rape seed, until turning left,  we espied our former end position amongst the woods of Hinchwick. Another link in the  Way  had been made. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ...
Read more

Jimmy Uttley: God's Spring Blessing

Image
  Saturday 16th February Hi All, I want to start with a bold statement: we are all selfish. The more we age, the more we want to cling onto life. It's the old survival instinct. That's why it's important to pause at each Valentine Day and realise how important our family and friends are. The love and support they give us and hopefully we return; slows down that selfish gene and makes us glad to be human.  To love and be loved; makes us humble, content and lucky. VvvvvvvvVvvvvv My synapses, as you have probably figured, fire strangely.  Example: lucky made me think of gambling- having a bet - favourite jockeys; which led me  to Jimmy Uttley . Jimmy As  you can tell, if you clicked on the above link, jockey Jimmy Uttley, as far as I know,  only rode over hurdles, rather than fences. He will always be associated with the great Persian War, on whom he won three champion hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival 1968 - 1970  I have tried to l...
Read more

In The Smoke with Turner: Lest We Forget: Curlyfit to Drop.

Image
Last Tuesday ( 11/ 11 ) D. and I visited London to see our daughter L. and to view the " Late Turner " art exhibition at Tate Britain. In a jokey fashion, I have always referred to London as " Up The Smoke "  in celebration of its industrial past. It was therefore interesting to note that the artist Joseph Mallord William Turner ( 1775 - 1851) not only lived in  this industrial period, but also used it frequently in his paintings. He was, for example,  the first major artist to use the steam train as a subject and delighted in smoke, fog and mists through which he could express the properties of light so effectively. The exhibition marked the last period of his life from 1835 when he was sixty years of age. He constantly travelled widely in Europe drawing sketches at all points on his journey. He was drawn to water and therefore especially loved Venice, with its natural mists and shadows. He was famous for his sea views and in fact developed the idea...
Read more