tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64472428035417453152024-03-05T20:34:53.054+00:00The Lost Diaries of Richard Buchanan and other booksAny Means to an End & Protective Craft are now joined by Maiden's Voyage and an as yet untitled second book of Hannah Croft's Journey, making up the as yet incomplete trilogy of The Lost Diaries of Richard Buchanan.
There's also:
Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide.
Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout.
White Sands, Green Trees is Kindle only.
Beaver Creek Christmas is a romantic seasonal novel in paperback.Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-14201760869268491492023-11-19T21:30:00.006+00:002023-11-19T21:30:56.340+00:00Pirate merchandise<p> New merchandise is available at <a href="https://polarisnivis.etsy.com/">https://polarisnivis.etsy.com/</a></p>Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-50745404416760455522021-06-21T06:26:00.002+01:002021-06-21T06:26:33.307+01:00Maiden’s Enchantment <p> The new novel is available as a paperback at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09774R17V/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_b09774r17v">https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09774R17V/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_b09774r17v</a></p><p>And as a kindle version at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B097KLQXR8/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_b097klqxr8">https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B097KLQXR8/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_b097klqxr8</a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Her magickal skills growing daily, the witch, Hannah Crofts, has taken her sloop ,The Flighty Heart, from Saint Martin and reached the Turks and Caicos Islands where she intends to settle for a while. She sets down her old coven's rites so she can rebuild it from scratch and recruits a new initiate, while an old adversary makes a surprise visit.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is the second part of the adventures she had before coming back into Richard Buchanan's life in Protective Craft.</span></p><p><br /></p>Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-91420197299219488292021-05-23T07:01:00.000+01:002021-05-23T07:01:30.319+01:00New Kindle links for books and story development<p> Yesterday I came across the fact that Amazon have been rearranging things and links from author pages and even the author page and KDP pages had changed.</p><p>After a bit of sorting and moaning to amazon I got these links back to the kindle books that seemed to have disappeared.</p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">The new <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00APR1TNK?_encoding=UTF8&node=492564011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">UK Author page link</a> with all formats </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">The new <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00APR1TNK?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">US Author page link</a> to all formats</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, apart from that now being sorted, I'm getting towards the end of the 2nd book in Hannah Croft's journey between being dropped off in Tobago (in Any Means to an End) and then being found again (in Protective Craft) thus filling in the gap in here story. The side story in South Shields also develops in chronology to the books (ie diaries) and stories being read and told by the modern day characters.</span></span></p>Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-5997002151407206152019-04-20T05:15:00.001+01:002019-07-10T15:56:00.080+01:00Beaver Creek Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Beaver Creek Christmas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Kindle Cover for Beaver Creek Christmas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;">ISBN: 9781095233702</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;">Released 22-4-19</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Andrew R Welsh <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B00APR1TNK/262-2380295-1830560?_encoding=UTF8&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true&ref_=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1&rfkd=1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Author Page</a> with all book links.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><b>The Query Letter </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
am pleased to be able to introduce my novel “Beaver Creek Christmas”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a 65,170 word Christmas romance about a
widowed Englishman Robin Whittaker and his daughter Holly, who take a holiday
in Beaver Creek and Neve Avery, a sergeant in the 10<sup>th</sup> Mountain
Division, who has taken a post as Manager of The Nordic Center in the resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They
bump in to each other on the way and spend the vacation taking part in outdoor
and festive activities, getting to know each other further. The relationship
blossoms and by the end of the story, Neve accepts Robin’s engagement proposal
and he has accepted a job offer at a local high school and plans to move back
in the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile,
Neve has engaged Holly to become more outgoing and exuberant and they also grow
to care for each other after initial protective behaviour by Holly of her
father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Over
the course of the story, Robin becomes more expressive, though the
transformation is still incomplete.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
sees an opportunity with Neve helping him, to allow his creativity to blossom,
not only as a writer, but as a cook and a wood worker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Neve,
like the others, allows herself after many years to let love into her life, as
well as seeing the possibility of change beyond that that she had already
decided on when leaving the army to become the outdoor activity manager.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Robin Whittaker and his daughter Holly, decide to take a holiday in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Meanwhile, Neve Avery, a sergeant in the 10th Mountain Division is leaving the US Army to take up a post as Manager of The Nordic Center at the resort. They bump in to each other on the way and spend the vacation taking part in outdoor and festive activities, getting to know each other further. A relationship develops as shy Robin slowly is drawn out of his shell, through various family Christmas traditions.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Synopsis</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Robin
Whittaker and his daughter leave England at about the same time as Neve Avery
is leaving Kuwait. They both fly via
Amsterdam where they bump into each other and then again in Denver they meet accidentally
again before sharing transport to Beaver Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">En
route they discover a shared appreciation of the music of Michael Bubl</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">é</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and as
the Whittakers are dropped at the hotel, they find out that Neve’s Aunt Judith
is the concierge at the hotel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Neve
continues her journey to Camp Hale to finalise her discharge papers and returns
the next day (22<sup>nd</sup> December) to assist on a nature snowshoe trail
activity as a way of saying thank you for the lift the previous night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Robin
and Holly have various planned activities for their Christmas week vacation
which was intended to get them out of a rut in England and for them both, but
Holly mainly, to experience a really snowy Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">After
the nature trail, they spend time in the Candy Cabin and in the evening Robin
and Holly return the favour with a meal for Neve at a hearthside grill in the
hotel. They get to know each other
further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On
the 23<sup>rd</sup>, Neve is shown around her new work place by the previous
manager Hurit, while Holly and Robin go cross-country skiing with the same
member of staff Ross, who took them out the previous day. They enjoy sausages at a mountain grill
at the end of the skiing. In the
afternoon Robin shows off his hot chocolate making skills with Neve (and
Judith) at the log house Neve inherited from her parents, just to the north of
the village and choose a tree in the afternoon.
There, Robin cuts his hand and they get a ride to the Emergency Room in
Hurit’s husband (Sheriff’s Deputy) Berry Jackson’s cruiser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
the evening, after some time at the hotel’s pool and hot tub to relax, Robin,
Neve and Holly meet Hurit at the local theatre to catch a performance of A
Christmas Carol and Robin is introduced to a superintendent and an assistant
principal from the local high school, who think he could be what they need as a
substitute teacher with a speciality in science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Robin
shows off some poor cookie decorating skills on Monday 24th, before he takes a
phone call at Neve’s house in the barn, that is his interview for the substitute
teacher job. In the evening, he and Neve
go, with Holly, to the skating rink to meet up with some of the some teachers
and students prior to every heading off to the high school Snow Ball. At the rink Holly makes friend with some
middle schoolers who have older siblings at the high school Robin will
attend. Robin excels himself with some
dancing at the Snow Ball and is greeted by the students with enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On
Christmas day, Neve arises first in her house and opens a few presents. Holly and Robin sleep in accidentally and
have to be rushed around to Neve’s by taxi.
They receive and give gifts and using their new snowshoes, Holly and
Robin go with Neve on a hike up towards the Candy Cabin before heading back
down on the ski lift to the hotel.
On the walk, Robin loses the engagement rings, earrings and other pieces
of jewellery he was planning to give to Neve.
Holly finds these on the way as Robin loses them and so saves the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
the late afternoon on Christmas Day, Judith takes the trio to her house for a
large meal and to meet her family of husband John, son and chef Nathan and his
wife, Vanessa and daughter, Scout who is also Holly’s age (10). The two young girls get on well and play with
the family’ rescue dog, Star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Returning
to the Hotel, a squally blizzard whips up which calls into question the
suitability of Robin’s choice of final activity he has set up - the sleigh ride
at about 9pm in the evening. Luckily the
weather breaks and a perfect layer of snow is left for the ride around the
village.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Back
up in the hotel room, Robin finally gets the opportunity to propose, Neve
accepts, they have their big kiss, before they all settle down to watch a film
from a Christmas movie marathon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-11871396993382401582019-04-16T15:39:00.001+01:002019-04-17T17:08:47.714+01:00Why did I write the first novel?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Why did I write the first novel?</div>
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Honestly, I was bored in the long afternoons after finishing teaching at Gulf English School in Qatar in 2004.</div>
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I assigned 1 hour each day to write a diary piece on the fictional character, Richard Buchanan. I had some really badly behaved boys in a science class and I allowed Richard to vent my anger and rage at the people he met on his voyages.</div>
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It was a catharsis, and I also took images and drawings and adjusted them to illustrate each chapter heading. The dates were the actual dates I was writing, all I did was change the year. It was later on that I had to readjust the days of the week to match the real calendar of the time.</div>
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The one hour writing slowly drifted into 2 or more as I became more embroiled in the story. I spent more time researching the locations and then using Google Earth to worth out distances between locations, the currents and prevailing winds so as to see how long it was between landfalls.</div>
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Diagrams and pictures took longer and longer to complete and the story started to take over. Each day I had to find out what had happened historically to see if it could be used or would affect the story. Was there an alliance between England and France or England and Spain at the time. England being the catch-all term for Britain as the crowns were unified but not the parliaments yet.</div>
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Being the time of great scientific discovery with Newton and others around at the time. I discovered that pocket watches were available at the time of good quality and could have been used to work out longitude by an enterprising sailor with some genius. Just because the actual use of chronometers came 100 years later, didn't preclude the experimentation into their use in this story.</div>
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Likewise, a game of football, although not following association rules, could still occur as villages played against each other in medieval times.</div>
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In that respect, the story was historical and fictional with a bit of science fiction.</div>
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The writing continued from October 2005 through to April and May 2006.</div>
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I wrapped the story up, edited it and let a few colleagues read it to see what they thought. I've always been pleased that history teachers I have met have liked it.</div>
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Two people who gave early encouraging words were Rachel Green- Roche and Linda Bonnar (nee Cunniffe). </div>
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The following year (2006) I met and then married my wife (2007) and so the writing with on hold and was forgotten about completely.</div>
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By the time I got to Abu Dhabi in 2009, the book was a file buried in a hard drive. One on my colleagues in the CfBT school improvement team working for the Abu Dhabi Education Council was an American Wayne Brown who had his on publishing company. I mentioned the story, " Any Means to an End" and he encouraged me to dig it out polish it off. He wanted me to pay him money to vanity press the book, but that didn't seem sensible given I was leaving the UAE in the summer of 2011. What would I do with 1000 copies of a book? Excess baggage? I don't think so.</div>
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I sat on the idea again fir a few months until I heard again from a chap Peter Malone would had been at GES and was then in AD at the AD British International School. He told me about FeedaRead.com a self publishing group. Again I sat on the information while I had a brief foray into Alexandria to teach for a month before returning to the UK. </div>
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I was face with the prospect of not working for a while. The benefits system was going to be 13 weeks delayed. The book had to be published.</div>
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I went through it again, came up with a parchment looking cover and published it. The family say the cover and objected. Suggestions arrived and eventually my mother used an image of the Wasa warship (as a basis of her painting for the cover) going past Tynemouth priory.</div>
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It was not going to save the family from starvation. I had to contact the mortgage company to freeze the payments for a few months. I got a job through CfBT to work for the Mongolian government and Cambridge University international examinations, to go to Ulaan Baatoor for three months to improve the scores of the first cohort of students there doing IGCSE chemistry.</div>
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That gave me time to write. I cheekily submitted a chapter of the book to the Rosetta Press 2012 literary competition as a short story and got 2nd prize. </div>
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The prize was to have a cover done. But I didn't have a book needing one. I therefore wrote the follow-up, Protective Craft and it also got edited at the Rosetta Press. </div>
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Being in Mongolia became a prolific writing period. I finished Protective Craft. I got angry at some of the other UK staff moaning about working overseas, so I wrote the ebook version of Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide. I then wrote Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Trout and Fly Fishing.</div>
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Protective Craft went off to FeedaRead and the following summer I used Photobox.co.uk to make a glossy version of the fishing book to give to my daughter. It may well still be available there.</div>
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Sales were spotty to say the least. The next year 2012-13 I was in Kazakhstan and tried to use Twitter and Pinterest to boost sales, to no effect. </div>
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Only free giveaways on Amazon in 2013-14 (after I'd moved to Kuwait) seemed to shift copies and no reviews were forthcoming.</div>
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I did get a request to make the teaching guide a paperback which I did in 2014 using FeedaRead. The content of those paperbacks was all black and white, an I was loathe to waste the fishing book on anything other than colour.</div>
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After shifting schools in Kuwait in 2014, another history teacher came to my rescue. He like the rights of man parts and the anti-slavery stance of the protagonist and decided to use the book in his teaching. The students took to the book, made reviews as they bought ebooks and read on Kindle unlimited.</div>
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Income started to arrive. £18 a month, then 23 then 27, 43 and now it's £75/ month on ebooks costing £0.75 each. The royalty is £0.33 per book. It's taken a while but things are moving along now. It all started in 2005. It's now 2019, but return on the time invested is occurring.</div>
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I started watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel in 2018. The was a note about unagented submissions for novels in February 2019. My wide encouraged me to write one. So I did. I submitted it and am awaiting the outcome. </div>
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I've seen my pension plans decompose over the years. E books seem to be a possible solution. A steady income while you sleep once written.</div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-47114184345646568942019-04-04T09:22:00.001+01:002019-04-04T09:35:38.258+01:00Mild Manic - depression / bi-polar<p dir="ltr">Ever since I was in secondary school, aged about 13, I noticed that, when essays and projects were concerned, I was able to do large creative bodies of work only once every 3 weeks. <br>
The fourth week was tremendous. I would be keen and have no bother coming up with ideas for paintings, stories and getting really high scores. The peak would then tail off to a slump of lethagy and despondency 2 weeks later and then build up again.<br>
This wasn't such a problem with a project that could be delayed to a time when I could deal with it on a high point, but it meant that if exams coincided with a low point, I was in trouble.<br>
Now, if I'm to do planning for teaching, I leave it until I'm on an uptick of the wave. Same for coming up with ideas for novels. Once they have been started I can keep going. If I have a break from them it's really hard to get back on board in a trough of the wave. The words per day follows the wave too. I can get 10k done on a non-working day at the crest of the creativity wave, tailing off to 250-400 on a trough day.<br>
At the moment I'm in a trough, but coming out of it.</p>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-11383100587058588802019-03-14T15:43:00.000+00:002019-03-30T05:49:27.533+00:00New Novel MS completed - Beaver Creek Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have completed the new novel. Dispatched it to Hallmark Publishing for their unagented submission month of February. I followed the guidelines and, in spite of sickness in January, got it submitted three days before the end of Feb. deadline.<br />
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Now all I'm doing is doing another edit while I wait. Apparently I'll find out by the start of May whether they will pursue it as a book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrVdPpEyd43jXAPJvKKlvWeE1Xzx8KG8TZu3LpKr03V5NPaPNHxJQb0GJ3x2IIEQL-Nsg466SiubcQ9uLjIw0N0tRtCvzDvnkpTQx6NVseafNeQBJK_DWXZhvBqjxCu_8LkddGBBpITg/s1600/beaver+creek+christmas+c+cover+v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrVdPpEyd43jXAPJvKKlvWeE1Xzx8KG8TZu3LpKr03V5NPaPNHxJQb0GJ3x2IIEQL-Nsg466SiubcQ9uLjIw0N0tRtCvzDvnkpTQx6NVseafNeQBJK_DWXZhvBqjxCu_8LkddGBBpITg/s320/beaver+creek+christmas+c+cover+v3.jpg" width="200" /></a>C</div>
I had been watching a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies with my wife and it was her challenge to me in October, when she saw about the February submissions, to write a Christmas romantic novel.<br />
I actually think it turned out rather well.<br />
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Other cover ideas include:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N2AfzUwwD3nP06eOVoohw-EwZHah9KTQ5FLItJ2nHEOFFFV27jtBNWaZqPsbuUq80cv2LmfH9RyME3dMFS-AUI_XYpd8U2JeH2ngJSLYVn9NPJosucQ87q5d3FdTpvVlToTXBVQ00VM/s1600/beaver+creek+christmas+cover+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N2AfzUwwD3nP06eOVoohw-EwZHah9KTQ5FLItJ2nHEOFFFV27jtBNWaZqPsbuUq80cv2LmfH9RyME3dMFS-AUI_XYpd8U2JeH2ngJSLYVn9NPJosucQ87q5d3FdTpvVlToTXBVQ00VM/s320/beaver+creek+christmas+cover+v2.jpg" width="200" /></a>A</div>
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Any preferences?</div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-35166396375405495532018-12-16T12:57:00.001+00:002018-12-16T12:57:32.075+00:00Fed up with Brexit<p dir="ltr">I'll begin with the fact that I did not get a vote and had no say either way on Brexit.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mark Twain said something about " if voting ever made a difference, they wouldn't let us do it." </p>
<p dir="ltr"><u>Brexit</u> is that case in point. UK establishment didn't want it to go that way, neither did EU. What's the point of a parliament now? Scrap it, cut the pretence of democracy and appoint the major generals (or more likely EU commissioners) to run the country. They might actually divert some money away from London to where it's needed.<br>
</p>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-90831953547644443292018-11-05T17:42:00.001+00:002018-11-05T17:42:26.872+00:00Bonfire Night<p dir="ltr">The books that need to be in paperback are now in that format. It's been a long time since Fishing Trip came out in ebook form, but it has been with the wait for the colour plates.<br>
The nice thing is that the Amazon publishing is truly a free service. Printing on demand seems so sensible. There's no wastage and books unsold being buried or sold at some discount store just to offload them.<br>
The next novel is in the process of being written. It's a romantic novel. Well, that's the plan. I'm trying to adhere to the guidelines of the Hallmark channel and publishing house, which should be a feel-good book that anyone can read without offence.<br>
The idea is to have it ready for submission in February.  If it doesn't get accepted then it can be reworked and relaunched with all the bile added that is being pent up without a pirate story to vent it into.<br>
I'm not sure I want to do another pirate story. I thought that Protective Craft was ended permanently.<br>
The Amazon paperback route is nice if there are colour plates inside. I may redo Teaching Overseas with them after I leave Kuwait and do another update.  The world of teaching and working around the Middle East has changed rapidly in recent years, and I'm not sure if education itself doesn't need a complete overhaul to fit with the modern world. <br>
That sounds like the rant deserving of the bile building up. <br>
And so, gentle reader, what has this all got to do with Bonfire Night?<br>
Not much, apart from the date of writing, and the desire to throw things on to a bonfire, but as it's chucking it down with rain, it wouldn't burn anyway. There is some lightning to make up for the lack of fireworks, but that's it.</p>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-76976417644996778242018-10-22T12:50:00.000+01:002018-10-23T07:40:30.859+01:00Back to Chatton - Fishing Trip 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another summer vacation and Holly and I head up to <a href="http://www.chattontroutfishery.com/">Chatton Trout Fishery</a> again for some fly fishing with <a href="http://bobsmithflyfishing.co.uk/">Bob Smith</a>. She caught the sole fish on our last and her first visit and experience of trout fishing with a fly rod. This time it was my turn. It was a return to the adventure of the book Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout (<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Fly-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30">Kindle</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Fly-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank">ebook</a> and now 5"x 8"glossy paperback ISBN 9781729146149 for £6.35, and <a href="https://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/2015752398">hardback</a>). However, this was no early morning session. It was a civilised drive in the late morning for a post-lunch start.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixukRrwfMwW1h8gfR1PX_MHzo-zZ9BysKOLiCLEwgVEbPaqrik8gkpL61Y-7p7mu89DvUlwKQZ6VmnEV7Zv6zcBfZsqgzU8DpmoC9MAhvQ9a-HzjT-mD7Fh5UzNUTmBnBFeLKOwK5-40U/s1600/IMG_20180710_162705%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixukRrwfMwW1h8gfR1PX_MHzo-zZ9BysKOLiCLEwgVEbPaqrik8gkpL61Y-7p7mu89DvUlwKQZ6VmnEV7Zv6zcBfZsqgzU8DpmoC9MAhvQ9a-HzjT-mD7Fh5UzNUTmBnBFeLKOwK5-40U/s320/IMG_20180710_162705%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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View from the car park</div>
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Bob was a little delayed in his arrival at the venue so Holly and I had lunch before doing about 15 minutes unsuccessful fishing before Bob arrived. We saw a tiger trout swim past our feet a few times while we waited. </div>
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This was the first Rainbow caught</div>
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The Fritz patterns I usually start with were not attracting anything. </div>
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Bob arrived and we walked over to the upper lake at its far end where the spring enters into deep water. This was local knowledge coming through. It had been a low hot dry summer to that point (as evidenced by the parched soil in the photo above), and the fish were deep in the cool fresh spring water.</div>
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Bob suggested a small hook wrapped around with copper wire. Bang! First cast and as the intermediate line began to sink past a count of 20, the fish hit.</div>
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So it continued, the line sinking deep with various pheasant tail nymphs, wire nymphs and olive nymph lures all sinking close to the reeds where the spring fed in. All in all I had about 7 on and allowed them to come off the hook prior to landing to speed the catch and release process, (and avoid getting the hire car smelling of fish from my hands).</div>
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Holly had one on and lost it with Bob's help but he had a floating line and the leader wasn't really long enough to get down to the depth of the feeding fish.</div>
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We had a good session and all too quickly had to get back to home and farewell to a lovely spot where NO English (Environment Agency) rod licence (available <a href="https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences">online</a> or at local post offices) is required as its part of the River Till catchment area feeding into the Tweed.</div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-8826701271328777422017-07-25T09:10:00.000+01:002017-07-25T09:50:55.924+01:00Paperbacks on Amazon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The final editions and revisions are done for the 2 novels. They available with free kindle downloads from Amazon.co.uk when you order the paperback. <br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-R-Welsh/e/B00APR1TNK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1">From 26-30 July 2017 the Amazon Kindle versions are all free!</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Any-Means-End-Andrew-Welsh/dp/1781760047" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6RR1DqrRJxAZJ2g-Q3HbGhWn6pYYkRSXe25tSd51Rm5kALJwtQtVqkkxNHs4huLaNbCFMpjtJyw8KT1xOMRlRIMYqqyKnn17OM3K_EPeRw5kZXnbL_ZocA34zf2AAXjHohb2KPNrI5g/s320/Book+AMTAE+Galleon+Title+text+5x8+200dpi.JPG" width="222" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Any Means to an End</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">By Andrew R Welsh</span></div>
Diaries are uncovered detailing the life and times of Richard Buchanan. He is an English Navy officer leading a gang of sailors through the blue water Caribbean to the grey of the Baltic. They wreak havoc on enemy shipping, pirates and those who act outside the law. Donating their prizes to the Crown they are welcomed back to the fold and entrusted with more missions. Finding intrigue, murder and romance along the way, will Richard ever settle down in his beloved South Shields?<br />
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ISBN: 9781781760048</div>
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Total Pages: 248</div>
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Published: 10 February 2012</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Any-Means-End-Andrew-Welsh/dp/1781760047">http://www.amazon.com/Any-Means-End-Andrew-Welsh/dp/1781760047</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Craft-Andrew-R-Welsh/dp/1781766576" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrlSEDQKeVvs2UBhamDg2HSyerTiPvyP-Uaqc4njliA-QwCqKGa0Dp5azaXol5HGde5LvFwop5twHkIigFu4lxpfRL9pxG0qQbfRLebUtAKYapqkIACcVAygxOSA_ycS72o1DCn22bWw/s320/Front+PC+LDORB+a+5x8.JPG" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Protective Craft</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">By Andrew R Welsh</span></div>
The Commodore's adventure continues, in this, the follow-up to "Any Means to an End". He must return to the New World, where surprises abound, and loyalties are stretched to breaking, while an abandoned love resurfaces to change everything...<br />
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ISBN: 9781781766576</div>
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Total Pages: 169</div>
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Published: 24 July 2013 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Craft-Andrew-R-Welsh/dp/1781766576">http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Craft-Andrew-R-Welsh/dp/1781766576</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Overseas-A-Short-Guide/dp/1782997555" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRYaoN5o3f8u7r-RRC2bwa_1GCqcvvutxheHNaTseuzeDl8kK_9vbdg_9hwIeA0gNi3mKCH6o6A5HxR-G2WejzUR2gY4qrVprEZYG1rkgOCXOjaAdPXPGGrfZ_NWHShpmBKq2XvsSoWY/s320/front+cover+toasg+sunset.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">By Andrew R Welsh</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_41_1375262870512_82">
The e-book "Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide" is now also a paperback guide to teaching overseas, with the second part being the description of the first 2 years of my time overseas in Philippines and Malaysia. This was due to a request from a colleague now in Zambia who, after reading the electronic version of "Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide", thought a hard copy would be useful. <br />
"Just
about everything you need to work through if you're considering
applying for an overseas post. This is not just about the dream, but
also what can go wrong and how to avoid pitfalls. It should enable
someone to decide whether the overseas life is for them. The second part
of the book contains a description of the first two years of my
overseas experience in the Philippines and Malaysia. It has to be an
essential for anyone thinking about or currently teaching overseas.
Written by a teacher and educational consultant with 18 years experience
overseas in Europe, Africa and across Asia, there's not much that isn't
covered. This book could save you heartache and money."</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_41_1375262870512_82">
<div style="text-align: center;">
ISBN: 9781782997559</div>
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Now available through Amazon.com</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Overseas-A-Short-Guide/dp/1782997555">http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Overseas-A-Short-Guide/dp/1782997555</a></div>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_41_1375262870512_99" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal;">
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-2004740467947086842017-07-25T09:09:00.001+01:002018-10-22T13:03:11.690+01:00Fishing Trip - Glossy Coffee Table Book <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/2015752398">Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/2015752398"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh4F1dZ-GjDGljvSzAx0XyINsvrfvy9WlcFTklKJqZpb1rYc2Fz3vDLMOHLKFXcLErM5HqPB85TKODUQ4vgyIkVFMgqUG39FHPEiAyT7MLSx6amUGu8sQARn9gCGP7rC8OcuqnH-oQ2o/s320/19+Front+Cover+Fishing+Trip.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd been wondering how to made a tangible version of the book currently available as e-book on Kindle available for its original purpose as a gift to my daughter. I didn't use <a href="http://feedaread.com/">FeedARead.com</a> as the internal images with that publisher are black and white/greyscale. That was why Kindle was chosen as medium to show the trout in full colour. However, the images had to be reduced in resolution for the book to be uploaded.<br />
<br />
Visiting Weardale Studios (<a href="http://www.weardalestudios.com/">http://www.weardalestudios.com</a>), at the Dales Centre in Stanhope, I mentioned my dilemma to the photographer (Liz Laidler) while waiting for my ID pictures for Kuwait to be printed. She suggested <a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/">http://www.photobox.co.uk</a> and this morning I logged on, chose the A4 Portrait format and started adding the text and images one page at a time. The formats are designed really to people to create albums of images from digital photography/scans, but text is allowed so I was able to have text pages and image pages along with mixed media pages of text and image.<br />
<br />
It is not cheap, but then colour printing never is. It is £65 (GBP) with 46 pages including the options - HQ premium paper or glossy paper, matt laminated cover finish, box sleeve cover, but if you order another copy there's a discount. Its on Photobox at <a href="http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/2015752398">http://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/2015752398</a><br />
<br />
I do get messages from Photobox.co.uk suggesting the facility for the photobook was going to go in August 2016, but all seems to be well so far.<br />
<br />
Consequently, two copies were ordered; Holly got her personal copy, as did the illustrator. That was two Christmas presents sorted!<br />
<br />
Incidentally, a resent search of the internet came up with this <a href="http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/4767259-9-fishing-trip-an-introduction-to-fly-fishing-and-trout/">at Angler'sNet.co.uk</a> the kindle version got to #9 in the Fly Fishing top 10 on Amazon.co.uk which is very pleasing to see.</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-53008543568871188152017-07-25T09:09:00.000+01:002017-07-28T07:30:54.036+01:00Protective Craft - Synopsis and Excerpt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_618656146"><br /></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.feedaread.com/books/Protective-Craft-9781781766576.aspx" target="_blank"><b><u>Protective Craft - The Lost Diaries of Richard Buchanan </u></b></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.feedaread.com/books/Protective-Craft-9781781766576.aspx" target="_blank"><b><u>Volume Two</u></b></a></div>
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<b>ISBN 9781781766576</b></div>
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<b style="color: blue;">Publisher <a href="http://www.feedaread.com/books/Protective-Craft-9781781766576.aspx" target="_blank">FeedARead</a></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Craft-Andrew-R-Welsh/dp/1781766576</span></div>
<div style="color: red;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>(as of 29 July 2017)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Synopsis</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Commodore's adventure continues, in this, the follow-up to "Any Means to an End". He must return to the New World, where surprises abound, and loyalties are stretched to breaking, while an abandoned love resurfaces to change everything .....</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;">Excerpt</span> </b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Friday 9th July 1680</div>
The three ships stood proud by the north side of what according to the charts, could be Ocracoke Island. We certainly seemed, in the light of day, to be on one of the barrier islands off the coast of the mainland. Longboats were launched and parties landed to explore the island. These were led by Tyrell, Longbottom and myself from the Retribution, each taking three marines and three gunners. One group, led by Longbottom was to stay with the longboats, and the other two groups were to head in opposite directions around the island to see what could be seen, note it down and report back. Dauntless was sent north to find the mainland and get some repairs done using native forest wood.<br />
Sails on the frigates were patched by the crews remaining on board, but since there was just sand dune and thick grass on the islands, it was just as well they had no damaged masts or spars.<br />
The exploration continued for several hours. The southern team under Tyrell, after finding the end of the island, looped back on the ocean coast and then cut back across the island. There, they assisted Longbottom in his fishing and cooking efforts.<br />
My team had progressed northwards and eventually walked along the central dunes to view both sides of this long sand bar. <br />
With me I had Tranter, Buttons and Fish along with the marines Staithes, Lord and Waltham. These were all from the original expedition last autumn to the Caribbean. As we walked in the sand and sharp grasses the sailors began to talk.<br />
“If this is part of Virginia, why can’t we see evidence of any colonists Sir?” Buttons led the questions.<br />
“I can only suppose that movement beyond James Towne is very difficult. The land is occupied by natives who, like most people, get upset when someone comes along and squats on their land. Put it this way, if the Swedish king decided that after an explorer landed on an empty piece of Northumberland coast that the land was Terra Incognita, it would therefore be available for claim by Sweden. The locals might be a little upset later when a Swedish fleet arrived and deposited enough people and materials to build a complete town with fort and stockade. Then, to top off the insult they found they haven’t quite brought enough of the right materials or food and then went to the locals and demanded that they help them survive until the next fleet arrives. This fleet then arrives and deposits troops and weapons to destroy the locals and expand the settlement further.”<br />
Fish piped up, “I see your point Sir, but aren’t the locals here savages.”<br />
‘If you have someone break into your bedroom in the night and try to rob you, wouldn’t your behaviour become savage, especially if they wouldn’t leave? More to the point, who told us that they were savages? Only the very people who wish us to put our lives in danger so that their company can make a profit as they sit back in safe houses in England, most probably in London or big manors on large estates.”<br />
‘But Sir,” pressed Lord, “Some of the people in Virginia are indentured servants who will get land for themselves at the end of their service. Isn’t that worth coming for?”<br />
“Think about it, Lord. In this heat in the summer months and the bitter cold we had described to us back in James Towne, who are the masters going to send out to do the work and fight off any Indian raids? The indentured labourers. They are the ones who will die off first, well before anyone has to worry about which parcel of land they are to receive.”<br />
I continued to ram the point home to my audience. “Think about this. We have been to James Towne and we will visit Charles Towne. The colonies are called Virginia and Carolina. It is all about kingship and power. These aren’t set up for the benefit of the common man. It’s about royalty allowing a company to make money with a slice going to the crown. We as agent of the crown have to back that support up with force if need be. I wouldn’t mind if the crown had asked the natives for an agent to be placed in a tribe to organise goods for ships to arrive, do some trading and then leave, just like the merchants do in the Baltic and other ports around Europe. But not here. The Spanish and Portuguese set the precedent by getting the Pope to allow the carving up of the world between them and then everyone else had played catch-up slowly and turned on whatever is left. We missed an opportunity, lads, in the forties and fifties to have a true change in society where land belonged to all and every man had a say in how the country was run. In England, the problem is that those in power are greedy whether they be Lord Protectors or sovereigns. They all want to keep what they have and take more, and it’s always at someone else’s expense.”<br />
“But you have a farm, a shipping company and are paid by the crown sir!”<br />
“I know!” I admitted. “I am a vested interest, and I too intend to hold on to what I have got. If we stay together we’ll try to get some more to line our pockets with too!” I laughed. “I at least will try to bring some wealth to those with me.”<br />
My decision to go back to the ship along the ocean coast was made after seeing more dark clouds on the southern horizon. The group finally returned to the ships as the sun was setting. This was only after agreeing on a sketch map of the island and approximate distances.<br />
On board the Retribution, Crabtree brought in to the cabin a pleasant stew made from the fish Longbottom had caught with his team off the island beach earlier in the day.<br />
“I think you will enjoy this soup Sir. I think that the flatfish used in making it is similar in flavour to a flounder from our shores.”<br />
“Let us hope it didn’t follow the ship all the way over here, because it would have become rather tired!”<br />
<br />
Saturday 10th July 1680<br />
I awoke still anchored off Ocracoke. The dawn broke a fiery red with high clouds glowing as if they were burning. Dauntless appeared from over the other side of Pamlico Sound and Master Christian Johnson sent the signal that repairs had been made and they were ready to proceed. <br />
The Kent and Retribution began to pick their routes carefully out of the sound, towards the break in the offshore sand bars.<br />
The ships all sallied forth through the gap in the barrier islands (to the east of the smaller islands) before heading south again.<br />
The sun continued to shine brightly and fry those on deck. I spoke to Longbottom. ‘I think we should reduce the length of time the men are on deck in this heat. They seem to be wilting rapidly!”<br />
“You may be right Sir, however, you may change you mind if you go below deck. I would prefer to be up on top.”<br />
“Point taken Fred. I shall leave things as they are.” The breeze was quite cooling in the open and there was the occasional splash of spray that cooled those on deck. I did go below to the lower gun deck and it was stiflingly hot down there.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sunday 11th July 1680</div>
Following the barrier islands south to Cape Lookout, Captain Joshua Bibb of the Kent was the first to steer west again to follow the coast and more offshore islands that go all the way along this coast. <br />
I was not happy about that, I decide where this flotilla goes. I will let the action go for now, but note it for use later.<br />
Dauntless followed and Retribution brought up the rear. At eleven o’clock the ships moved close enough to shore to anchor and raise the church pennants.<br />
Afterwards, the ships’ boats took those who wanted, to the beach for swimming, washing of clothes and a hunting party set forth into the dunes to get some seabirds.<br />
I went with Crabtree in the gig with a couple of rods and line to do some angling between the ships and the shore.<br />
“Tell me Sir, if you don’t mind, why we are heading further south. I thought that the colonies were in the north.”<br />
“Mostly they are. The latest one is Carolina, which we are probably in now. I know I can trust you to keep this to yourself. We are heading to Charles Towne next. That is the main settlement in Carolina at the moment. Along with that large section of this new world,” I motioned towards the land, “The new owners, for that is what they are, also hold the title to some abandoned Spanish lands the Islas Lucaya, that are also called the Bahamas. It seems that the Spanish removed all of the native Lucayans from those islands for slavery or by disease and, as they were pretty well useless for farming, left them devoid of inhabitants. It seems that a few people have moved in from England and the colonies and have set themselves up there.”<br />
“And we go to claim it for England?”<br />
“Not quite. We go to enforce the will of the Lords Proprietor of Carolina who have been given title to the islands by King Charles. That was nice of him wasn’t it?”<br />
“Indeed it was Sir. It must be nice to be a friend of a king. Do they have an assembly to run their affairs like in Virginia?”<br />
“Again, not quite. You need to remember we’re talking about Stuart kings here. They, the Lords Proprietor have been given what Charles himself hasn’t got. That is to say, a feudal fiefdom.”<br />
<br />
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-51256761226882927982017-07-25T09:08:00.001+01:002017-07-28T07:23:35.398+01:00Any Means To An End - Synopsis & Excerpt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.feedaread.com/books/Any-Means-to-an-End-9781781760048.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Any Means to and End - The Lost Diaries of Richard Buchanan</b></span></a></div>
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<b>ISBN 9781781760048 </b></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Publisher </span><b><a href="http://www.feedaread.com/books/Any-Means-to-an-End-9781781760048.aspx%20" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">FeedARead</span></a></b></div>
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<li class="zg_hrsr_item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="zg_hrsr_ladder"><b><span class="zg_hrsr_rank" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; text-align: right; width: auto;">#264</span> <span class="zg_hrsr_ladder" style="box-sizing: border-box;">in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_3_1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/341689031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_3_2" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Books</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362270031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_3_3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Literature & Fiction</a> > <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/4542673031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_3_4_last" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Genre Fiction</a></span></span></b></span></li>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder"><b> Free Kindle results as of 29 July 2017</b></span>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Synopsis</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In this prize winning novel (Rosetta Press 2012), diaries are uncovered detailing the life and times of Richard Buchanan. He is an English Navy officer leading a gang of sailors through the blue water Caribbean to the grey of the Baltic. They wreak havoc on enemy shipping, pirates and those who act outside the law. Donating their prizes to the Crown they are welcomed back to the fold and entrusted with more missions. Finding intrigue, murder and romance along the way, will Richard ever settle down in his beloved South Shields?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="color: red;">An Excerpt</b><span style="color: red;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thursday
8<sup>th</sup> January 1680</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s about time we were back sailing
under our true colours. When we left
Tortuga back in October we went under a French Letter of Commission. After the debacle in Guadeloupe, we have
mainly been pretending to be Dutch. Now we’re
back as part of the blue squadron. Not
that the real blue squadron would recognise us officially, but I’ve a naval
commission and I’m sure they wouldn’t turn down an offer of help if it were
needed, just like when Morgan took Port Royal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Anyway, that’s enough idle dreaming. I’m sure the French have got a bounty on our
heads now for the death of Monsieur Riviere.
With any luck we’ll be able to slip out of the Caribbean along the South
American coast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The day started cloudy and then darkened.
Another storm was blowing up. White
horses charged across the ocean from behind us.
We have been able to run in front of the storm so far, but I’m not sure
if we’ll be able to keep the two ships together overnight. The Siren is bobbing up and down like a cork in
these waves. It feels bad enough in this
ship, which is almost double the size of the sloop. Bess knows where we’re headed. I just hope that she can follow us through
the night or rejoin us at La Blanquilla.
The standing order is this, “If you can, make it to the rendezvous. If you can’t wait there, move to the next one
and repeat that process until we meet up again”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’ve been along to see Hannah in her
quarters this afternoon to see if she can calm the waves down a bit, but she
assures me they’d be even worse than what they were already if she wasn’t doing
her chants and candle magic. Her cabin
has a sword laid out on what appeared to be an altar with candles, goblets
burning incense, and pentacle drawn out.
She asked for more space and so shifted her accoutrements into my larger
cabin space. She then started moving the furniture about to her needs. I left her to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Going out on deck, this looked like it
was going to be worse than the storm that swept Charles Walters away on the
eleventh of November. What light had
been available went at sunset, leaving just the lanterns swinging violently
around their mountings on the Delft. Off
in the distance, unable to keep up with us as we ran before the wind, the
Siren’s lights got further behind us.
After two more hours into the night, with most of the sails reefed and
everything battened down, the storm seemed to swallow them up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Amid all the shouting on deck, the
lashing of wind, rain and sea, I’d quite forgotten what was afoot in my cabin
and just went in as normal, blithely turning to hang my soaked sea coat on a
peg by the door. Spinning around to
cross the room, I was confronted by the image of a tanned imp, calmly sat in
the centre of a circle and pentagram marked in chalk on the floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Close the door please,” Hannah commanded
me and then, “You may observe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I sat down and watched in wonder as an
eerie lavender glow appeared around this young lady and then bursts of light
seemed to shoot out from her through the ships sides and into the night. A lot of the rays seemed to go aft, as if
after the Siren. It was as if she was
trying to pull the other ship towards us and at the same time calm the waves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">“I shall keep this up until the storm has
abated,” she interrupted herself. It was
clear that I couldn’t help her and that she didn’t want to be stopped, so I sat
down to write.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Friday
9<sup>th</sup> January 1680</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I awoke this morning to glorious
sunshine, shining in through the cabin window.
Hannah was still in the room tidying up.
Looking out of the glass, I could see the Siren sailing along just
behind us, none the worse for the storm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Up on deck, Dutch was using the astrolabe
to check our position. We’d gone about
50 miles overnight but had been blown past Orchilla towards La Tortuga. He then corrected the course back to the
northeast, towards La Blanquilla.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Albert Scott prepared a hearty breakfast
to warm the crew up after such an arduous night, and also get them set up for a
day of maintenance and repairs to the battered ship. Signals from the Siren confirmed that they
had survived and were starting repairs also.
The heavy swell continued in the aftermath of the storm. That continued
to slow the progress of our journey. In
many respects, the storm and the repairs it caused are useful, as it kept an
otherwise idle crew busy.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Saturday
10<sup>th</sup> January 1680</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The wind continued to blow, but less
strongly than yesterday. Both ships
moved along quickly, running at about ten to fifteen knots. At this rate, we should be at La Blanquilla
by tomorrow morning. A couple of sails
have been seen on the horizon but no attempt was made to chase and neither did
they turn towards us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">More drilling took place to practice
firing the guns, whereby first the Siren towed a target and then we on the
Delft towed one. The gun crews with the
most accurate shooting were given extra grog with their evening meal. The repairs to sails, rigging and spars are
complete now.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Sunday
11<sup>th</sup> January 1680</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">As expected, not long after dawn, clouds
on the horizon signalled the approaching island. Not long after that, La Blanquilla came into
view and both ships slipped through the waves towards it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Delft anchored a bit further off the
shore than the Siren with its shallower draught. On this side of the island there was just a
shelving beach, though we could see over to the east, that there was a rocky
outcropping and reefs breaking up the waves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Being only forty yards off the beach, and the
Siren even closer, all the boats were quickly launched and those not in them
were jumping overboard and swimming to the shore. From his high point atop the main mast,
Tranter called down that we were, it seemed, the only ones on the island.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tyrell and Pierce were sent off with an
armed party of ten to scour the island for any hidden supply or people hiding
out here. The remaining men on the beach
were sent to hunt out driftwood and wildlife that might do for food and a
fire. After that, the crew divided into
two teams, and had a game of football before the sun reached its zenith. The fire was lit; birds and fish were
prepared and roasted. Those who could swam in the warm water and the rest just
splashed about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I had decided to swim to the shore and,
after hanging up my kit to dry out, I took a walk with Bess along the beach to
discuss plans for the coming few days, as well as how I’d like attacks on
shipping to proceed using both boats to full advantage. Rather than putting anything down in writing,
we sat down and drew the plans in the sand where the waves would soon wash away
any evidence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Returning to the main group, I noticed
that Hannah had come ashore but slipped away from the main group into the scrub
behind the beach. Back with the others
and helping myself to some snapper, the rest of the afternoon was spent on the
beach, with the men practicing swordplay with each other and then races along
the beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Eventually, the search party returned
with a small chest of gold coins. These
were counted and recorded and sent on to the Siren. It made sense to divide the prize monies into
being stored on board both ships, just in case we lost one, but in proportion
related to the numbers of crew on each ship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Packing up and clearing the beach of
clues to our presence, we departed before sunset to the east to head for our
next stop at Los Testigos.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Monday
12<sup>th</sup> January 1680</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The wind picked up from about midnight,
and the Siren started to edge out in front of the Delft, as our tacks were
longer. By dawn, they were well ahead of
us when a sail came over the horizon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Siren turned towards it, and
signalled that it was going to have a meeting.
Through the telescope I could make out that the other ship had agreed to
the meeting, but as in all instances in these waters, it could just be a ruse. I hoped that Bess knew how to deal with this,
and whether she was going to let Tyrell appear on deck and do the
negotiations. Her normal appearance may
raise eyebrows on the other ship and cause them to think “Pirate!” straight
away. I was prepared to see how this
all played out. After all, I had all of the plunder on board the Delft apart
from the single chest put on the Siren yesterday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The distance between the two ships shrank
quickly. Closing on them slowly, I could
see that the other ship was an English corvette and that discussions were
proceeding amicably. Tyrell had kept the
flags flying all the time. Through the
spyglass, I’d not seen Bess on deck at all, which was probably best. An English naval commander would be surprised
to see her in charge of what was supposed to be an English armed merchantman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having said that, I was surprised to see
it so far south, on its own! It had to
be a trap!</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">We were only a couple of hundred yards
away when I saw Tyrell look at me through the telescope and I ran up the black
flags.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">He had a stroke of brilliance telling the
other ship’s officers he was being chased by pirates. They, playing their part well, decided to
take us on first and leave the smaller ship until later. Moving back to their ship, and edging away
towards us, Bess then appeared on deck barking orders to the Siren crew to open
fire. The other ship, “The Falcon” then
had ships on either side of its hull start firing at close range; two guns from
the Siren, five from the Delft.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Falcon raised a black flag too. No one would be taking prisoners. This was
going to be a fight to the death. Chain
and canister shot raked the decks of all three ships. Hopefully, being lower, the Siren was
following agreed orders and firing ball and explosive shot into the Falcon’s
side. The Falcon seemed to be under
strength in its gunnery teams, as only four of its ten possible guns were
firing after the first broadside had gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Circling around the Falcon, the Delft was
given an unprotected side to fire at, as they were reloading on the other
side. Bess hadn’t been following orders,
the hull was untouched. The canister
shot kept firing and the Delft took a hit below the waterline. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">“We’re taking on water, Captain!” called
Smith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Falcon got closer, so rather than
stay on board a sinking ship, I yelled out “It’s time to board”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Grapples were thrown, connected and the
crew stopped firing. The Siren came
around, saw what was happening and thankfully stopped firing its main guns
too. They then went around the other
side and joined in the boarding from their boat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Once on board, it didn’t take too long to
subdue the crew, the parley with the Siren had drawn most of them onto their
deck and they had been cut down by the first few volleys of canister shot. The deck was a mess, slippery with guts and
blood.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RJ8UUB6I8OKRA/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1781760047&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=" target="_blank">A 5 Star customer review on Amazon</a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Literary Contest Prize references </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://rosettapress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Rosetta Press </a>and also <a href="http://rosettapress.blogspot.com/2012/03/winners-of-rosetta-literary-contest.html" target="_blank">here</a></b></div>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">World-wide book store links:</span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Type in the ISBN on Google for availability in your country or go straight to Amazon.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /><b>Australia</b> at <a href="http://www.betterread.com.au/book/any-means-to-an-end.do" target="_blank">Betterread</a>, <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Any-Means-End-Andrew-R-Welsh-NEW-/290718676842" target="_blank">Ebay</a>, <a href="https://unishop.uow.edu.au/book/any-means-to-an-end.do" target="_blank">Wollongong Unishop</a>, <a href="http://www.abbeys.com.au/book/any-means-to-an-end.do" target="_blank">Abbeys</a>, <a href="http://www.betweenreads.com.au/book/any-means-to-an-end.do" target="_blank">Betweenreads</a>, <a href="http://berkelouw.com.au/catalogue/books/9781781760048/any-means-to-an-end" target="_blank">Berkelouw</a>.<b><span lang="EN-GB"><b> </b></span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Belgium</b> at <a href="http://www.proxisazur.be/nl/catalog/detail/engelse-boeken/9004497/any-means-to-an-end-welsh-andrew-r-250-p/ean/9781781760048" target="_blank">Proxisazur</a>.</span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Czech Republic</b> at <a href="http://www.bookfayre.cz/item/9781781760048.html.cs" target="_blank">Bookfayre</a>.</span><b><span lang="EN-GB"><b> </b></span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Denmark</b> at <a href="http://www.adlibris.com/dk/searchresult.aspx?search=advanced&author=Andrew+R.+Welsh&fromproduct=true" target="_blank">Adlibris</a>.</span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Estonia</b> <span lang="EN-GB">at <a href="http://www.kriso.ee/means-end-db-9781781760048.html" target="_blank">Kriso</a>.</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Finland</b> at <a href="http://www.adlibris.com/fi/product.aspx?isbn=1781760047" target="_blank">Adlibris</a>, <a href="https://www.booky.fi/group_order_calculate.php?isbn=9781781760048" target="_blank">Booky</a>.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Germany</b> at <a href="https://www.schweitzer-online.de/buch/Welsh-Andrew-R./Any-Means-to-an-End/9781781760048/?ip=url_stack_id_prevaa1bbcwoaalibri:11791879" target="_blank">Schweitzer</a>, <a href="http://www.buecher.de/shop/historische-romane/any-means-to-an-end/welsh-andrew-r-/products_products/detail/prod_id/35430646/" target="_blank">Buecher</a>, <a href="http://www.libri.de/shop/action/productDetails/18897193/andrew_r_welsh_any_means_to_an_end_1781760047.html" target="_blank">Libri</a>, <a href="http://www.bol.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/any_means_to_an_end/andrew_r_welsh/ISBN1-78176-004-7/ID31703252.html;jsessionid=3263526BBF7BE9F8D6F2873CBA38705C.tc5" target="_blank">Bol</a>.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>HongKong</b> at <a href="http://www.paddyfield.com/mainstore2/details.php?prod=9781781760048&PHPSESSID=8cjs2psabupoa98l5obtdloir4" target="_blank">Paddyfield</a>.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Hungary</b> at <a href="http://www.superbookshop.net/index.php?page=book&ean=9781781760048" target="_blank">Superbookshop</a>.<br /><b>India</b> at <a href="http://www.uread.com/book/any-means-end-andrew-r/9781781760048" target="_blank">Uread</a>, <a href="http://www.nbcindia.com/books/1-means-end-andrew-r-welsh/1781760047" target="_blank">nbcindia</a>, <a href="http://www.naaptol.com/religious---spiritual-fiction/any-means-to-an-end/P/3646400.html" target="_blank">naaptol</a>, <a href="http://www.bookadda.com/books/means-end-andrew-r-1781760047-9781781760048" target="_blank">bookadda</a>, <a href="http://www.junglee.com/Any-Means-End-Andrew-Welsh/dp/1781760047" target="_blank">Junglee</a>.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Italy </b>at <a href="http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/any-means-to-an-end/book/9781781760048" target="_blank">Libreriauniversitaria</a>, <a href="http://www.ibs.it/libro+inglese/welsh-andrew-r/any-means-end/9781781760048.html" target="_blank">ibs</a>, <a href="http://www.deastore.com/book/any-means-to-an-end-andrew-r-welsh-feedareadcom/9781781760048.html" target="_blank">deastore</a>, <a href="http://www.bol.it/books/Any-Means-to-an-End/Andrew-R-Welsh/ea978178176004/" target="_blank">Bol</a>.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Japan</b> at <a href="http://www.junkudo.co.jp/y_search.jsp?%98a%97m=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.junkudo.co.jp%2Fy_index.html&ARGS=9781781760048&VIEW=word" target="_blank">Junkudo</a>.<b> </b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Lithuania</b> <span lang="EN-GB">at <a href="http://www.kriso.ee/means-end-db-9781781760048.html" target="_blank">Kriso</a>.</span></span><br />
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</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-48282384356225715152017-07-25T09:08:00.000+01:002017-07-28T07:35:57.884+01:00Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwla0UXiyyqBQzm4sYq7EkyKrbe6OlL-XwQiM5P2191Yp-FTc7ELI_Ek2z2k_bqTkB9I9VdvntGlZEoidGIgFL1AEXLpHAdS328jfEepXuXjaRNbVuANuyuJYeV9j5emPj2-qwfZx0pI/s320/19+Front+Cover+Fishing+Trip.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><b>Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout</b></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><b>by Andrew R. Welsh</b></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><b>Illustrations by Vivien M. Welsh</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: lime;"><span style="background-color: red;"></span><span style="color: red;">Written as a poem with some prose.</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><b>Now on Amazon Kindle</b></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_digital-text_1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Top 100 Free in Kindle Store</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"> <b>(as of 29th July 2017)</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I first went fishing (as my daughter Holly
has done), with a jar and a small net attached to the end of a bamboo pole for
sticklebacks and other fry.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It wasn’t until I was about nine years old
that I actually got a small fishing rod with a fixed spool reel for casting the
baited hook a little bit further away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At about the same time my father got a fly rod from “Durham Anglers”
when it was situated on Claypath in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The proprietor ran casting classes for those who wanted them to go with
their new fly rod, so I went along with my Dad and was shown the ropes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home I decided to practise casting on the
large Rectory lawns aiming for targets with a feather ties to the end of the
line.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60CvE8_y_ExfxG36Cnihz0YZrN4u4rOi44ACidL7iSrl2h_39LVLSG2aIWO9W55jAhzhoRDTlBOxL2RZEgBZMQ0zR57qxSknegWxiCut-VXrocFwITbO7ObzUkVSX-zR33bI9apSojcA/s320/20+back+cover+a.JPG" width="243" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">I did get quite good at casting, but when
it was time to go to the river, I ended up back with my five feet long rod and
fixed spool reel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get to fish
with the fly rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My other friends seem
to enjoy ledgering, spinning and floating fishing for coarse fish, and every
now and then a trout would take the bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I carried on an amassed a selection of tackle and rods and represented
Newcastle Polytechnic in the National Colleges match fishing competition on the
Grand Union Canal near Warwick University in 1984.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did manage to borrow the rod on a few
occasions to fly-fish in the River Wear at “The Sands” in Durham City, but always
ended up catching chub, dace and roach; never a trout on the fly.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It was only while working at the Royal
Infirmary in Sunderland that I inherited some fly making equipment from my
grandfather that I started making flies for Mr. R Warne (the Senior Chief at the
time in the Histopathology Department) and getting my father’s old fly rod, that
I was able to go with my father and his new rod to practice fly-fishing for
trout<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in actuality at Witton Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was their that I caught my first trout on
an artificial fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was exciting to
think that a fish would take a piece of material wrapped around a hook that
looked nothing like anything in its natural diet.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It wasn’t just the fish that was hooked
that day but me, although it wasn’t until I met Bob Smith from Morpeth (while
teaching in Ashington), that I really started to become obsessed as well as <span lang="EN-GB">proficient
at catching trout and making flies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had previously been thinking always about the cast and hadn’t actually
understood what the fishing books had been describing for the process of
retrieval of the line and hooking the fish.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">I picked up the tips quickly and since then
have generally managed to return home with a couple of trout from every
trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average is that I never return
empty handed, and one July day in 2005, even managed to get a TroutMasters award
for a 14lb 6oz Rainbow Trout at Jubilee Lakes in County Durham.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_huSs9Ya1ogC6yLdLxoEVWA0J2JvHgeADVlFFhiENcjqLMSgbpiIKFvOfMGpvAREmK31zUy3BPv34dsD-XHsNSbSbXYu-Uu8CPjnYE5-NqXkiiJn2moeRgWA4xJ7hoqQaIf3Gi94QpU/s320/02+Brook+Trout+vmw+058+AR+Welsh+edged+shrunk.JPG" width="233" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">I have to say also, that I am not actually
interested in pulling out every fish in the river or lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to catch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a fish that I will eat with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t wish to have a fish suffer the trauma
of being caught and released either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I have what I need, I pack up and go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to tailor my flies to hooks that will
fulfil this purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When working in
Qatar, I would fly fish in the shallow waters around the pier in the bay at
Simaisima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fishing was good for four
years, until net fishermen removed all the fish in about one month during the
fifth year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much for my Friday
morning relaxation!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Fly fishing is a skill; an art if you
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each cast I like to be as smooth a
roll as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get embarrassed when
the fly makes a splash on the water. In Qatar I remember being filmed casting
by people from the pier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have
been an unusual sight, waist deep and casting across the waves in the baking
sun.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Regretfully, I didn’t do my research into
Mongolia particularly well before arriving for a three month teaching
stint, though in my defence, I only had four days to get ready!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left my rod at home and only
last week discovered that the country has the world’s largest trout species
about 700km from where I was in Ulaanbaatar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, given that the Taimen can be up to two metres long and 90kg, my
light tackle might have been hard pushed to cope with something more deserving
of heavy salmon equipment.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Many
fisheries are importing trout species from around the globe, so it may be
useful to anglers young and experienced, to see the many varied forms and colours of fish we call
“trout” included in the guide.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">The e-book got into amazon.co.uk's top ten for fly fishing books according to <a href="http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/4767259-9-fishing-trip-an-introduction-to-fly-fishing-and-trout/">Angler's Net</a> website in April 2013.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">Now at the end of July 2014, the action in the book is about to become reality as Holly and I head to <a href="http://www.chattontroutfishery.com/">Chatton Trout Fishery</a> in Northumberland to meet up with <a href="http://bobsmithflyfishing.co.uk/">Bob Smith</a> who has indicated he will be able to assist in the fly fishing tuition of Holly. I have no doubt that she will do well with his expert tutelage. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-66783726903805989652017-07-25T09:07:00.000+01:002017-07-25T09:07:48.926+01:00Teaching Overseas - Synopsis and Excerpt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "papyrus";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Overseas-A-Short-Guide/dp/1782997555" target="_blank">Teaching Overseas - A Short Guide</a></span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Synopsis</span></b></div>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> Just about everything you need to work through if you're considering applying for an overseas post. This is not a pamphlet from an agency trying to sell you a dream with nice images, but tells you of what can go wrong and how to get out of a situation. It should enable someone to decide whether the overseas life is for them.<br />It has to be an essential for anyone thinking about or currently teaching overseas. Written by a teacher and educational consultant with 1<b>8</b> years experience overseas in Europe, Africa and across Asia, there's not much that isn't covered. This book could save you heartache and money.<br /><br /><b>Excerpt</b><br /><br />Why move? </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ask yourself
these questions:</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Can I secure a post in my home country?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Is that post a promotion or a sideways
move?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have I completed my initial probationary
period successfully?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do I see others moving to promoted
positions or having to leave the teaching profession to work?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">5)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you really want to teach as a career
after completing your probation?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">6)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you enjoy what you do?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">7)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you feel that you can save enough
money each month to take care of savings and getting a mortgage?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">8)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you like your holidays and conditions
of service?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">These questions
are designed to start off you critical analysis of your home country
position. If you can see that you are
heading up the promotional ladder, you may need to start looking at a different
set of questions. These should
re-examine your reasons for entering the teaching profession.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Also you need to
be aware that your promotion (if you have had them) could have been to get you
out of the classroom and doing damage there.
Be honest with yourself. Are you
really a teacher or a manager? If you
are a manager then should you really be telling good practitioners how they
should be teaching? Never forget that
many classroom teachers elect to stay at that level because they love their job
and actually are good at it. Some school
managers have kept them in the classroom because they don’t want to lose the
good practice they have.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When you have
looked at your options about what to do next, stop.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> THINK!</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Will this move
from my current post impact on future retirement plans, pensions, health care
and other benefits you may have in my home country?”</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example,
will you be viewed as a “wanderer” who will not be happy in a permanent post
when you have returned from this purportedly exciting world of working abroad?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Look at staff in
your school. Are they all young, newly
qualified or within a few years of qualifying?
When they leave do they get teaching posts in your home country?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Can you see a
gradually diminishing in the average age of the teaching staff in schools?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you can spot
the patterns, you will be starting to realise that the government’s (in the UK)
claim of there being a shortage of teachers is a fallacy.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There are, in
the UK apparently, more teachers not working in schools than there are teachers
working in schools.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Think about
that, and then think about why that might be.
School budgets perhaps?
Headmasters and Principals who are possibly on bonus systems for saving
money? Possibly more concerned with
balancing the books than providing their students with experienced teachers
(those who are on the top of the pay scale).
Have any teachers you know been “moved on” or “edged out” of post once
they started to get too expensive to keep?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately,
it is far too easy for an unscrupulous school leader to create a situation that
could cast aspersions on a teacher’s behaviour or character that are difficult
to walk away from without some of the mud that has been slung, sticking.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So, before you
start applying for overseas posts, think very carefully about your needs in the
present and in the future. Some people
do find work again in the UK when they return, but many don’t. When they do find work again, it probably
won’t be at the same level, but lower than when they left, and they may have to
accept lower salary. Some schools do not
count service overseas towards pay scale increments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "papyrus";">Looking for the Post</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The internet is a wonderful thing isn’t
it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">There are many sources of information
about where to find posts overseas online.
Too many probably, and several advertising the same role perhaps?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">There are recruiters out there who wish
you to sign up with them first, hand over your money and then they will try to
find you a job. There are others who
will take out adverts on behalf of the school and get paid their money by the
school or organisation when they have supplied a teacher who successfully
completes the probation period.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Which of those types of recruiter wants
to make sure they supply a teacher who will fit into the school and stay there? Redundant question, I know, with the answer
being the one who has to wait for their money.
They also have your best interest at heart too, because they shouldn’t
be aiming to try to fit you (our square peg) into a school (the round hole)
that wouldn’t suit you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">How do you spot the difference between
these recruiters?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The recruiters who are in the game for
the long haul generally will advertise on behalf of the school in the Times
Educational Supplement online and paper version. These days the paper version of the TES will
carry less overseas adverts and most are in the international jobs section
online. There are other newspapers worldwide that carry teaching posts along
with organisations such as VSO, Aus Aid etc that have volunteer posts on their websites.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Some schools will not use recruitment
specialists and take out their own adverts and interview using their own senior
management people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I did mention the TES for a reason,
however. You must start browsing the
overseas posts well in advance of when you want to apply for a post.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The first reason for browsing is to note
down those schools that are advertising all the time. There are schools (especially from Spain),
who are running adverts in the TES almost every week. Clearly, you should avoid such places as
people are not staying there very long!</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">There are others, who will always place
an advert in the TES every November/December that covers all subjects and
positions in the school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">In those cases they are “fishing” for
applications. It’s a bit naughty
really. They will have asked their
current staff on one year contracts whether or not they wish to have they
contracts extended. While the replies
are being processed, the school is receiving resumes and curriculum vitae from
those responding the advert.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">If someone applies for a position who
seems more well qualified (on paper at least) than the current post holder,
then the incumbent teacher may well have a letter saying that the school has
decided not to renew their contract for the following year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">The school is also at the same time
collecting a database of many qualified teachers who, if needed, could be
contacted at short notice and drafted in to replace current staff if needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">So, you have realised now that many of
the better overseas school put out their adverts in the October or November
proceeding the September for which they want to recruit. The question now is “Which part of the world
do I want to target?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">This is very much where you actually get
some control in the process, though it depends on your reasons for the overseas
move.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">These questions should help focus your
decision:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Do you want a post with:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">a)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Annual return flights?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">b)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Initial and final resettlement
baggage allowance (minimum 500 USD)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">c)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Accommodation provided?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">d)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Utilities paid for by
school/company?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">e)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Tax free salary (see
explanation after list)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">f)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Private medical insurance?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">g)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Employer organises in country
work visas and residency?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> Are your qualifications portable to particular
countries?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Do you have medical problem
that would be exacerbated by the climate or would you be able to get the
medication you need in that country?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Are you after sightseeing or
further travel opportunities that would be benefited by working close to an
international travel hub?</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">5)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Are you able to get to the
country’s embassy/consulate easily for visa processing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">6)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Are you HIV positive? If you know the answer to this is in the
affirmative, then (if an EU citizen) you should give up the process of
application outside the EU as every non-EU country will test you. On finding a
positive blood test they will put you on the next plane home (probably without
counselling).</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">7)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">There are weather and
geological factors you should note. Are
you of a nervous disposition? Frequent
earth tremors may freak you out and strong tremors could have you on the next
plane home (if the airport is still working).
Parts of the world do suffer from extreme weather. In the Philippines the school had three
warning sirens – fire, earthquake and typhoon.
If you thought hurricanes in the Caribbean were bad, try a typhoon for
size! Cyclones wreak havoc in Western
Oceania. The opposite is also a problem,
such as drought in Africa. I find
volcanoes interesting, but don’t want to live next to one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">8)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Your personal hobbies and
interests. You may be wishing to learn
or continue with scuba diving or some other activity out of school hours. Look at what the different countries have to
offer in those areas. I am an angler so
I like to see the fishing opportunities in a country. Mongolia, for example has the world’s largest
trout species, the Taimen, with specimens up to two metres long and 100kg in
some rivers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The questions given in part “1” above should be your
starting point in the search for a school and these can all be found in some
schools (the better ones). </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">There is a catch with the words
“tax-free”. For some schools it means
that you get the equivalent UK salary but don’t have any tax or other
contributions deducted. This is fine,
just remember that you may wish to top-up you NI contributions on a regular basis
should you like a state pension or at least some social security benefits
should you return and need them.
Pensions may need topping up too, just remember that the employer won’t
be adding their contributions as in the UK.
You will have to top up the full amount should you wish too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Other schools will pay you a salary which
is equivalent to the UK salary that has had the tax deducted. You just won’t be paying tax on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I like to look at a country’s cost of
living (which a good school should offer links to on their website for
prospective staff) and calculate how much I can save when working there,
compared to other job offers and the UK situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">Schools within Europe will often not
offer flights or accommodation. Ask
yourself why not? Given the age of cheap
flights, how much good-will would be achieved by organising the flights for the
staff and sourcing accommodation? Let’s
face it. You are going to give up your
life in the UK or elsewhere and move it to a new country. Sorting out flights, baggage and
accommodation should be best accomplished in bulk and by local school staff who
speak the local language and have local contacts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">As a UK, Irish, Aussie, Kiwi or US
teacher working overseas, you are generally going to be at a school delivering
a curriculum in English, even if the students aren’t native speakers. You are not generally going to have studied
the local language for every country you could be heading too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-GB">I have visited twenty six countries in my
life to date and have only spoken the local language well in three places
outside of the UK – Eire, US and France (and the latter level is not
fluent). When I do try to learn a local
language, the only real repetition and learning occurs when using taxis.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Your
language skills could send you heading towards a particular country to
work. A great many of the overseas
teachers are teaching English, especially with the voluntary
organisations. Even within the overseas
schools, often the English departments are large to cope with developing
English skills amongst the student body.
Some of the teachers are not necessarily of Qualified Teacher Status,
but have qualifications for TOEFL or TOESL and may be in an adult education
centre.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-25395665036052149752013-06-09T03:43:00.000+01:002013-06-09T09:19:52.848+01:00Villages for a Sustainable Future?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was just reading that in Todmorden they were having a <a href="http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/blogs/every-egg-matters">chicken map</a> on the internet - where eggs were available for sale around the
town, but not just that, all the nooks and crannies of council land and many gardens
were being turned over to the growing of fruits and vegetables. Even the
herbs in planters on the railway station platforms can be picked for use
for free.<br />
In these times of credit crunch, just think about how much available land in
villages that is public (parish council responsibility), and could be
divided up for use as allotments for groups of houses for the growing of fruit,
vegetables and chickens? Why do the trees on the recreation areas and parks have to be
copper beech or other grand ornamental specimens? Why not pear, apple cherry or plum, along with strawberries and raspberries? I have seen many plain wooden fences or wire ones that could have soft fruits growing over them.<br />
The whole village (or other area) could become a vast orchard and vegetable plot. Itc ould also stop/reduce the unnecessary and pointless grass cutting by the council workers or the private operators, as the locals would be
tending it for free and cut the parish councils bills. Manicured areas of grass are unproductive and expensive, especially in a time of financial hardship and of increasing food prices world-wide. It could also
improve the local shops' turn-over as people would not need to drive out as often
to stock up on frozen fruit/vegetables that are available locally. They would be less likely to drive to
shop when they only needed a few extra items that wouldn't justify the expense of fuel usage. The local butcher would
certainly improve his business.<br />
If the patches/ plots were leased to groups of houses with the same post codes on the basis that any food grown was available for anyone to pick in quantities required for their immediate family's needs for that day, it could improve community spirit and neighbourly awareness, sharing, and give the long-term unemployed something to use as work experience or a reason for the social security department to continue paying the money instead of insisting on evidence of reading newspapers and making job applications when they don't produce results. These people could eventually (with the parish council) be employed as permanent agricultural workers at probably less cost to the exchequer than the current grass cutters, because the overall bills to the country for fuel would be reduced, even if the food is available for free.<br />
What about theft and greedy people? If this occurs all over the country the point of theft would be reduced. There are those who like others to do the work and they reap the benefits, but the embarrassment of taking excess today when it is still free tomorrow should be enough to make the culprits social pariahs and a source of mocking down the pub.<br />
Speaking of pubs why not <a href="http://www.tastingbeers.com/school/beer_production/12007681.html">set up a microbrewery </a>there and reduce the transport costs for beer? I like the idea of the courses being run at by <a href="http://www.brewlab.co.uk/trainingcourses.asp">Brewlab at Sunderland University</a>. The only things a parish should import are things it can't produce.<br />
I think we should rebuild the villages of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and reinvent them for a sustainable future as co-operatives, making the parish councils relevant to the villagers, and the places of worship (and pubs) the places for social activities and celebrating the passing of the seasons and great events. In fact, it should be an integrated system. We shouldn't have to struggle along as individuals, but succeed together.</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-50951051081567437482013-05-26T02:46:00.000+01:002014-03-21T07:03:02.571+00:00Fly Fishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDuQsXxbwM4yqGGpDQUEEa4UQE9AKs70A58eqHXTr21fPY5seWv9uU6H4APLvSoX6xC7i13CsAhhZ1ouD3zckbh2vTpeXoiPQ8MYr7r3z0oSb-IttbZekPzXBvADstITyTWAMXb88UeU/s1600/14lb6ozRainbow+AWb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDuQsXxbwM4yqGGpDQUEEa4UQE9AKs70A58eqHXTr21fPY5seWv9uU6H4APLvSoX6xC7i13CsAhhZ1ouD3zckbh2vTpeXoiPQ8MYr7r3z0oSb-IttbZekPzXBvADstITyTWAMXb88UeU/s200/14lb6ozRainbow+AWb.jpg" height="200" width="182" /></a></div>
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A <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b>new book</b></span></a> on fly fishing has come through the pipeline. The trout and instructional pictures are complete. Its based on a poem I wrote to my daughter about her first fishing trip (which is hopefully to happen in the summer when I return home). It gives brief instructions on the equipment to use and how to cast the line.<br />
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The one secret to fly fishing, however, is the method of retrieve of the line. All the books and magazine articles assume understanding of jargon and never pass the information on correctly. I stell in the book (in the simplest possible terms) the real method that allows you a fish (if one is there) almost every cast.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpz2QnZFMnff1Lm7Nh7tIgWrjYvzM-rq7i-Ce4rv6JtMJQchA8dGckAQb16tuShqtyAyPhSsTDxesZ7FLiJAWyXf8TF2BuuZG-sRxl52w58A6hI5Nl7mf-GlId0RuQ8dsdNhyphenhyphenPwRG8w4/s320/Brook+Trout+vmw+058+AR+Welsh+edged+Specimen.JPG" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Brook Trout</b></span></div>
She appears to be fascinated by the fish I return home with to gut and prepare for eating. She will hopefully will take up fly fishing when older and land plenty of trout<span style="font-size: small;">. Until that time, I shall show her<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">th</span>e</span> knots she will need, and also play and land fish. Casting might take a while for her to master, but I'll not stop her trying. Maybe she will better</span> the 14lb 6oz lump of Rainbow Trout I'm holding <span style="font-size: small;">in the picture </span>after catching it in County Durham. This one earned me a 2005 TroutMaster award.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZfE_KNauazwENbEJgRMvRuHbkqJMybR6BodiukzOBF3eDUDrRQ6SOPdSSOXdLI7cJKwCkr81kA0IzIxj_dVbwKCQC0DcTHMAh2NZAm11hz3pECmeIruqY5fCKctlDn5ovesHvzB07bk/s320/Californian+Golden+Trout+vmw+061+AR+Welsh+edged+specimen.JPG" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Californian Golden Trout</b></span></div>
The book has been typed up, the last few pieces of artwork, such as the images on this page have been added and it was uploaded to <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle</a> on the 14th April 2013. Copies have been selling well so far.</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-74519653120784554472013-05-18T10:46:00.002+01:002013-05-18T10:46:35.475+01:00Pleasantly surprised.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh4F1dZ-GjDGljvSzAx0XyINsvrfvy9WlcFTklKJqZpb1rYc2Fz3vDLMOHLKFXcLErM5HqPB85TKODUQ4vgyIkVFMgqUG39FHPEiAyT7MLSx6amUGu8sQARn9gCGP7rC8OcuqnH-oQ2o/s320/19+Front+Cover+Fishing+Trip.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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When I first wrote the poem "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30">Fishing Trip</a>", it was done while I was working away from home in Abu Dhabi just for something to read to my then 2 year-old daughter. By the time she had arrived to stay, so many other things happened, I forgot about it and only found it again while writing the second novel "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Protective-Craft-Diaries-Buchanan-ebook/dp/B008M9TJH6">Protective Craft- The Lost Diaries of Richard Buchanan</a>".<br />
By that point, Holly was 4 and I was in Mongolia and had published 3 books on Kindle. I decided to polish up the poem and add images of trout to make it more interesting for her now she was able to read simple books and was showing an interest in my fishing "exploits", especially the catches of trout. <br />
I needed an illustrator so my mum was again roped in for artist duties. This had the benefit of "free artwork", but the problem of the paintings only becoming available when she had had the time to complete them.<br />
Effectively, the main text of the book was completed by September 2012, but the illustrations weren't. While waiting I decided to add the simple casting and fishing instructions too which I could draw on my own.<br />
Eventually, almost a year after since accepting the "commission", the final picture was delivered and the book could be uploaded on to Kindle as "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Trip-Introduction-Trout-ebook/dp/B00CC65C30">Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout</a>".<br />
This was not the original hope. I had hoped that I would be able to find a publisher capable of turning it into a colour plate hardback for children to read, or for others to read to them to get them interested in fishing in general and fly fishing of trout in particular. The nice thing about Kindle format is that the machine will read the book to the child and Holly has already done this, fascinated by being "in a book" where her father helps her catch a fish. The really surprising thing about the whole affair is that, after writing it with a target audience of one, copies are being whisked of the electronic shelves at a rapid rate.<br />
Not long now Holly. I'll be home soon and we'll really catch one together.<br />
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-56331508840708212692013-03-16T07:41:00.000+00:002017-07-28T07:43:02.030+01:00White Sands, Green Trees - Excerpt & Synopsis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Sands-Green-Trees-ebook/dp/B0070B3J28" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWL8LMih49HnsgWbEnfTewUAmPZ1CalRezzneKSbUDVivbTGUnguXHKE-z3yf-rTjiF6jdD6YhG9S-NnmjUqBwyt5X-x9VtsmXiTyIGUFTsMp2pZExBi4AziEOUVql1EnYqypzUcZU3U/s200/White+Sans+Green+Trees+cover.JPG" width="169" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>White Sands, Green Trees</b></div>
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_digital-text_1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Top 100 Free in Kindle Store</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"> <b>(as of 29th July 2017)</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br />
<ul class="zg_hrsr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="zg_hrsr_item" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="zg_hrsr_rank" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; text-align: right; width: auto;">#9</span> <span class="zg_hrsr_ladder" style="box-sizing: border-box;">in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/341689031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_2" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Books</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362410031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Nonfiction</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362900031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_4" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Travel</a> > <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362902031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_5_last" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Asia</a></span></span></li>
<li class="zg_hrsr_item" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="zg_hrsr_rank" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; text-align: right; width: auto;">#12</span> <span class="zg_hrsr_ladder" style="box-sizing: border-box;">in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/341689031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_2" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Books</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362410031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_3" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Nonfiction</a> > <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362900031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_4" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Travel</a> > <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362905031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_5_last" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration-line: none;">Essays & Travelogues</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<b style="color: red;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: red;">Synopsis</b><br />
Humorous and true description of my travels and adventures around the Philippines and Malaysia during 1996-98.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">An Excerpt</b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ta'al Volcano</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">About two
Sundays after arriving in Manila, a trip was organised by Bob Keen for the new
staff of the school to visit the Ta’al volcano in Batangas. This is about an hour’s drive south of Manila
on an easy traffic day (but there aren’t many of those).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The driver we
had for the minibus was Alfredo, with his gnarly hands and crumpled face. It is obligatory for Alfredo to toot the horn
after every gear change, a hangover from his days driving the indomitable
jeepneys around Makati and Manila. He’d
been banned from driving once (no mean feat in the Philippines, and had to
retake his test). However, this meant
that he’d passed his driving test twice more than an awful lot of other Fil
drivers. Off we set and soon we were
passing out of the concrete of Manila and seeing a lot more greenery as we
reached the outskirts of Ayala Alabang.
It was a sunny morning (aren’t they all), and we soon cut through what
Sunday traffic there was to reach the Ta’al Vista Hotel. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This resort is
perched on the rim of what was the side of the original volcano that had
collapsed in on itself to form Lake Ta’al.
It was in the middle of this lake that the present day volcano was
situated. It was rather cool up in the
Tagaytay heights and thick mists obscured the view of the volcano in the lake
for a few minutes after we arrived at 1030.
All that could be seen were the tall grasses and palms disappearing down
on precipitous slopes below us.
Obviously some fast food was required to kill the time, and so the
nearby Jollibee outlet sufficed.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Once a few
snaps of the scene had been achieved, we all bundled into the van for the drive
down the crater sides to the lakeshore.
At the oddly named Yacht Club (?), we hired the services of a local
banca (long narrow boat with outriggers) operator. Here I learnt one of the first lessons for
life in the Philippines – don’t pay up front.
Wait until you have been safely delivered before paying. As it was a return journey, the boatman was
going to wait at the volcano shore while we climbed it and came back.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It took about 20 minutes to cross the lake to the volcano and the
village near the landing point. Here we
discovered we would each be charged for the use of the jetty (20 pesos), and
were immediately accosted by women and children aiming to sell souvenirs and
horse rides up to the top. Judging by
the condition of the horses, carrying someone was about the last thing they could
be capable of. Thin and emaciated, I
thought they would be
better off spending the time feeding and resting.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Working our way
through the huddle of houses, we found the path up the volcano and proceeded at
a reasonable pace. The going was easy if
only a little warm, and we soon found ourselves being passed at a rest point by
some Oriental tourists on the sad horses.
Their riders were middle aged and overweight. The horses must have suffered, as they were
encouraged up the hill by the operators with their sticks. Photos were taken as we marched up the hill
amongst some rather curious plants. Many
of the surrounding slopes seemed to be cultivating these, although other ridges
were devoid of vegetation, appearing whitish on pale green. Within about an hour of setting off we were
at the rim of the crater, having skidded up the last steep section over a few
small smoking cracks.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">At the top,
locals selling water and coconuts from a stall greeted us. This was when we discovered that we were glad
we’d brought our own sealed mineral water bottles. The ones these people were flogging had no
seal. The barrier to stop folks falling
into the crater was a flimsy bamboo fence, but even though I’m terrified of
heights, I did venture a peek over the edge to see the lake inside the volcano
and the steaming vents around the sides and from the stack in the middle.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> Ta’al
Volcano is the world’s smallest active volcano, and on the path up to the top
several small fissures leaking smoke had been stepped over. We hung around eating lunch for about an hour
and then set off back to the banca. It
only took about half an hour to get back down to the waters edge, where again
the vendors swooped and we had to pay to use the jetty again. The boatman then wanted more money. On the return journey on the banca, the rain
started to fall and things started to turn miserable. Undaunted by this, Bob’s filipina wife Lisa,
was able to negotiate the price to what it had been and we were deposited only
200 metres along the palm-fronded shore from where we had started.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Trudging along
the shore, I eventually espied Alfredo and the van, to which we duly
hurried. Climbing aboard, we found out
that the boatman wasn’t one of the Yacht Club ones and as we hadn’t hired one
of theirs, Alfredo shouldn’t have been parked there, so a fast exit was
required. ‘Fredo provided one, which was
rather scary, being as it was up the precipitous sides of the old crater around
some windy hairpins, with the road covering missing in places.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The visit was
finished with a view back from the Dunkin’ Donuts just beside the Tagaytay
roundabout (another rarity in the Philippines).
Plants were purchased for twice what the locals would pay at various “gardens”
(nurseries) on the road out of Tagaytay towards the South Super Highway.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This was the
real experience of the visit. Being
stuck in traffic returning to Manila after a weekend away. It was a complete nightmare and took 3 hours
to do. However, this was by no means the
worst traffic or even the usual for what I was yet to experience.</span></div>
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<b>Boracay</b> - <b>dry season</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A couple of
weeks after my return to Manila, there were a group of teachers from the
school, who announced they were off to Boracay.
I had heard of this place earlier in the year whilst still in Surrey, as
my landlord had just returned from his world trip/year off and had said it was
something to see.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The flight was
arranged with Pacific Air. To describe
Pacific Air as cowboys would be unfair to unscrupulous operators the world
over. Most of the group of 13 went on a
reasonably sized turboprop. I, along
with three teachers, was squashed into a six-seat single prop with the others’
and our luggage. I was seated in the
co-pilot’s seat and the view of Manila and Ta’al was good. It was after that that I got nervous. The pilot pulled out a map, and I assumed he
was going to point out places below. But
no. He unfolded it across the front
window to “keep the sun out”. He flew
blind across the rest of Batangas and over the islands towards Boracay. Nervously, I tried to see around the edge of
the map hoping that no other Pacific Air planes were doing the same flying in
the opposite direction.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">About five
miles out of Catlican airport the map was put away, much to the relief of all
the passengers, as the air was getting disturbed as we got lower. Dropping down along the coast of Panay, we
descended parallel to beach and paddy, approaching the airstrip. At the last minute the pilot bent down to
fiddle with something on the floor, and only looked up seconds before
touchdown. This didn’t help overcome
any worries I have about flying.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">After a quick
exit we joined with the teachers already landed and waiting for us to bring
their luggage. Sorting it out, and three
or four to a tricycle, a race then ensued to the banca departure point down the
road at Catlican. First one and then
another took the lead, bouncing in and out of potholes, all arriving safely at
the quay. The trikes were 40 pesos to
hire and the banca cost about 15 pesos per person.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Bundling on to
a banca, with what seems like the world and his dog, is another
experience. The only worry is that the
boats are loaded down and go through the waves rather than over them. Letting the driver know where you want to get
off on the island helps, especially if there are a number of you wanting to get
off at the same point. It saves on lugging
kit along in sand in searing temperatures.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This duly
happened and I had to find a hotel to check into. All the others had been booked into Nigi Nigi
Nu Nu’s previously, but as I work at a different site I’d only found out a day
before departure. I went around the
corner (so to speak) for the night to sleep (250 pesos), and checked into
Nigi’s the next day when a room came available.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This was low
season (November), so rooms were available all over the island, and the White
Beach (in front of Nigi’s) was very quiet indeed. I again only had a short time (the Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of this
break generated by All Saint’s Holiday on the Friday. Hunting around I decided to get a haircut, do
a boat ride around the island and go on ride in a glass-bottomed boat. The latter I found out about on the Friday
while having the haircut, and was set for Saturday afternoon. The circuit of the island was set for Sunday
morning, with the company of Ian and Catherine.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">MTV were in
town that weekend, with their <i>Beach Craze</i>, of volleyball, and fashion
parades at the Cocomangas Bar at the northern end of the White Beach. Friday night was spent at the Sandcastles
Thai restaurant and the cuisine was excellent.
Saturday night involved an Indian restaurant where the service was
incredibly slow, and the food, when some of what was ordered arrived, was
mediocre to say the least. While
waiting, however, conversations were being oiled with plenty of San Miguel and
wine. This may have had something to do
with Richard idly flicking a cigarette butt away, that then landed on the next
door neighbour’s roof still glowing. The
roof, being dry palm leaves posed a slight fire risk. I thought my aim with his glass of red wine
was quite superb, neatly extinguishing the stub and saving the building a
surprise. After that and the annoyance
with the food it was time to leave. The
group left en-mass, paying for the drink and the food that had been eaten, only
to find ourselves being pursued by an irate owner claiming non-payment. As armed guards are an ever-present trigger
happy group in the Philippines, his ire was quickly soothed with explanation by
one or two of the girls in the party and the rest of us hurried of to
Beachcomber and Cocomangas bars, just as on the previous nights.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are two
bars to visit on Boracay, and these are they.
Cocomangas also has rooms that are cheap, but is probably more famous
for its shot drinking competition for those fool enough to try to down 30 and
keep them in their stomach, as well as stay standing. It is also to be noted for the method of
serving drinks in jam jars, now copied by other bars on the island. With the presence of MTV for a fashion show a
catwalk had been constructed inside the bar and various models had walked down
it the previous night. On the Saturday,
it was the turn of the tribal costumes and local Ati-Atihan dancers. These were duly filmed and then the crowd was
invited to dance around and on the catwalk.</span><br />
<br />
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-40392475667712985702013-03-16T07:40:00.000+00:002013-03-16T07:40:34.437+00:00Yurt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With the approaching Turkic New Year and "spring holiday", the school erected its yurt in the atrium. During the last week, classes have been held inside it, plus other meetings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5Zr6Dz3aPWL23V5xYUDhDMVZs45-cwE0Y0mCno2gZjJa0-9ZxZH9m-Bl1L6KFkd9XTpzuM6dbLphFALBS0hWuIzuiVNdJ2sBmIlwiD7dF1vbCqiAl-WP4Puc0zIpqs3YcIadiLn9AiQ/s1600/DSCF0624++110313+school+yurt+in+atrium-foyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5Zr6Dz3aPWL23V5xYUDhDMVZs45-cwE0Y0mCno2gZjJa0-9ZxZH9m-Bl1L6KFkd9XTpzuM6dbLphFALBS0hWuIzuiVNdJ2sBmIlwiD7dF1vbCqiAl-WP4Puc0zIpqs3YcIadiLn9AiQ/s320/DSCF0624++110313+school+yurt+in+atrium-foyer.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>The Yurt</b></span></div>
It is surprising spacious; accommodating nearly 30 adults sitting inside. Clearly, that would be fine for temporary shelter for a short meal or gathering, but that number would be a tight fit if they were to lie down and try to sleep in the yurt in the countryside.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>The Area for Women in the Yurt</b></span></div>
This was a "show" yurt not designed for the weather and rigours of outdoor life in the steppe. Its function is to educate the students and the visiting overseas teaching staff about the heritage and culture of Kazakhstan.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>The Area for the men in the Yurt</b></span></div>
The items are laid out as they should be in a true "working" yurt which do still exist and get used further away from the urban centres. The shape is supposed to represent the universe, the links in the ceiling linking the people of the world together.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">The bed and Cradle in the Yurt</span></b></div>
<br />
The Mongolian ger is similar in structure if not the same apart from its name. The Mongolians, however do not like the word yurt, which they said was the Russian for tent, and their ger was nothing like a tent! Semantics aside, both habitations are very similar in construction and purpose and have served the nomads well for generations in the steppes and mountains of central Asia.</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-51657917086165693522013-03-15T07:51:00.000+00:002013-03-21T07:52:16.433+00:00Leadership and PiratesThe novels "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Any-Means-End-Andrew-Welsh/dp/1781760047" target="_blank">Any Means to an End</a>" and "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Protective-Craft-Andrew-R-Welsh/dp/1781766576" target="_blank">Protective Craft</a>" describe the life of a ship's master from mid-1679 to late 1680. He is in absolute command and only during the second book does he show a semblance of allegiance to the naval authorities. He is a leader whom his men follow.<br />
Over this past year especially I have attended several meetings designed to lay out what leadership is and contrast that with managerial offices. There are many instances where people are labelled "captains of industry" and lauded for their roles of leadership. There are many who would, in my opinion, fit that description, but they are few compared to the total given that description in the press and other media.<br />
My reasons are this. The boss of a utility company is really the manager appointed by the state. Heads of banks usually fit the same bill, where the banks and institutions have a long history and the appointments are made. In those situations, the company has probably grown as much as it can and is in a monopoly position or is part of a cartel of interests that cannot really fail.<br />
The real "captains" of industry build up from scratch and face failure on a daily basis at the beginning or they take over a company in serious decline and turn it around.<br />
I believe those who think leadership can be taught, should turn their ideas into an algorithm and program a robot to be a leader, and see if that works!<br />
How can one learn to inspire? Neville Chamberlain couldn't learn to inspire! Managers with vested interests will rarely see true leadership or will seek to suppress the people would who surpass them. Churchill was willing to think bold thoughts and take chances. Radical ideas do threaten the <i>status quo</i> but that doesn't mean they should be suppressed or excluded. Leaders are born, not made. The view about learning to become a leader, should be modified. Managers should learn to recognise and promote the leaders from within. Delegation of the leadership roles is part of this process, allowing the true leaders to shine.<br />
But who gets to be a leader these days? In Europe it seems to be appointed, unelected beaurocrats. Often they have been de-selected in their home countries. Now we find them trying to dip into the savings accounts of the elderly, the children and the poor. Their poor historical regulation and management of financial institutions has lead to this attempted robbery. Bank accounts already taxed, full of currency losing value, in an inflationary climate are to be taxed again. The governments and banks were complicit in the financial collapse. The time for fining banks and financial companies has passed. All they do is get the government to use the tax-payers money to bail them out. If fined, they charge the customer (tax-payer) more. Its time for criminal responsibility and prison sentences instead of fines.<br />
The pirates on the sea today are small beer compared to those who wear suits in the financial districts. There are leaders around today, but not much morale leadership.Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-83265875418856889872013-03-08T05:24:00.000+00:002013-03-10T05:27:23.845+00:00Messy Spring!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It was exciting at first. I hadn't seen a decent fall of snow for years while living either in the UK or elsewhere around the globe. Even in Mongolia last year it had just been cold with light dusting of snow that evaporated quickly. Here in Eastern Kazakhstan the snow fell and remained.<br />
The first falls were in early October, but after 24th of that month the snow continued to lie as the temperatures plummeted to the -40sC in mid-December. Generally, the trend in temperatures has been upward, but as soon as the thermometer gets to the 0 to -12C range, the snow falls and the drifts and banks get deeper and thicker.<br />
Now, the temperatures are breaking through zero every now and then and the melt-water is causing the base layers of ice to be exposed, polished and lubricated for maximum slipperiness. Metal spikes/ crampons/studs in boots are essential for pavement walking. The softening snow allows cars and trucks to sink deeper and create huge trenches that during the day fill with water and then freeze overnight. There is no salt being spread to assist the melting, for if it was repeated for every town and city along the Irtysh and Ob rivers the amount of salt would kill all the wildlife therein all the way to the Arctic Ocean. Thus, great care is required when walking, and, given the number of people on crutches I have seen, not everyone gets it right all of the time. Old folks in particular do not seem to dare to venture out and who can blame them. The rain earlier in the week has stopped and the freezing nights and snow have returned. This new snow layer gives a bit more grip on the ice but has just prolonged the time to wait for the final thaw. That will bring its own problems.<br />
Earlier this week when snow did melt to soil level, all that was produced was a quagmire and with it the season of bad roads (распутица). It seems odd that buses and cars easily coped with the temperatures below -20C, but the wet snow around zero caused them to slide and not get up steep roads. Dry cold Winter isn't a problem. Water is the problem - slippy ice, slippy mud. Roll on a dry hot Summer! Wet Autumns and wet Springs - not nice when there are few paved paths and roads.</div>
Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-69067391056752514672013-02-12T01:49:00.000+00:002013-02-12T05:04:05.747+00:00Snow Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I left work early yesterday to go to the bank. I was a fortuitous move as the weather was closing in further. The snow had started to fall as I arrived at the school in the morning and fell steadily such that about 20+ cm had built up against the window by the time this picture was taken about 1030 later that morning.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Oskemen Street Scene</span></b></div>
Heading in the town, it was difficult to see far ahead through the bus windscreen and stepping off, I encountered first hand the drifts that the traffic had been bursting through. The snow was light and dry and, even though the drifts were thigh deep in places across pavements, it was easy to walk through. The difficulty was in making out where to go. Park benches and road edges could not be seen and the surface was a uniform smooth white. Looking at the entrance covers over doors to apartment blocks, I could see that by 4pm almost two feet or 50cm had built up in the day on flat surfaces sheltered by the trees from the wind blasts.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Blizzard at Irtysh Hotel</span></b></div>
After finalising preparations for the next school day, I received a text at 9pm while the storm still continued, telling me that the schools would be shut today in the city and not to bother turning up to work. Snow Day!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Snow piled up!</span></b></div>
The clearing of snow has started this morning. There is a lot of the white stuff to move. Down by the River Irtysh, the promenade is covered in drifts and the river bed has white ice on it and little ice flows on the surface.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Icy River Irtysh</span></b></div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6447242803541745315.post-16424323338908226782012-12-23T08:03:00.001+00:002013-01-26T03:17:39.349+00:00Amazing Place - Ust' Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red;">Trees at Kirov Park</span></b></div>
A few years ago, my future plans for jobs were fairly clear cut. An over-riding priority was to work in a warm country. Then China happened. Well, more specifically, the rapid development of chinese industry and the demand for raw metals in particular has led to the sudden wealth of several countries which supply those materials. That wealth has allowed the governments of previously less economocially developed states to invest in their education systems.<br />
I ended up in one such programme for 3 months earlier this year in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. There the government has bought into the Cambridge International Examination board's IGCSE and AS/A-Level system so that all their students across the country will have access to a portable qualification accepted by universities world-wide. Arriving in early March the temperatures started for me at -30C at night. The last snowfall was on the 1st of June.<br />
Returning home in mid- June I then was accepted into another nationwide educational project in Kazakhstan, namely the Nazarbayev Intellectual schools. Cambridge are involved with this reform project too. Getting ready to go I visited the LD Mountain Centre in Newcastle (UK) where they were having a summer sale. They had equiped folks before for Altai mountain expeditions so, being aware that my location for the next year was close (Ust' Kamenogorsk) I took advantage of the sale and bought a North Face "Vostok" 700g/litre goose down jacket and some Sorrel Caribou snow boots (rated to -40C). I thought that that would be it for temperatures. In August in Astana it was in the +30s C and then in Oskemen (a.k.a Ust' Kamenogorsk) it was similarly warm and then very wet.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Winter Sunset </span></b></div>
I was beginning to think that perhaps I had overdone the cold weather gear. After all, the latitude was similar to Cherbourg in Normandy and the city altitude was only 300m above sea-level. Stories of the weather over the previous winter from teacher who had been here a year suggested little snow and not too cold.<br />
I was convinced by my research. It would get cold and there would be snow. The last year had to have been an anomaly.<br />
I consulted with locals. What bad weather had their parents and grandparents seen in the past? The stories came back of cold and snow. What was the average start of the first snow? First week in November cmae the reply.<br />
This year the first snow fell in October. The 24th to be exact and hasn't melted since then. The temperatures have dropped and the lowest was on the night of the 19/20th December at -44C. We have taken delivery of a marvellous new set of atlases on Kazakhstan at school and Oskemen comes top of the lowest winter temperatures for a city for the whole of the country at -49C. We're not that low yet, but, it is only December and the area has been cooled already.<br />
The river water in the Irtysh is relatively hot and steam is contantly rising and blanketing the surroundings in fog which then freezes as a frosty coating on street signs, trees and the bridges. The latter have the appearance of a ship that has spent a trip in the high Arctic where the rigging is layered with ice.<br />
So here I am, enjoying the chill air, the snowfall and the frozen landscape. The opportunity for photos is huge. Icicles on old buildings, log cabins, fir trees, misty rivers and silver birch. For a place that will give the perfect Christmas card image, this could take some beating, even when you get the mosque in the shot!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Frosted Trees</span></b><br />
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Just out of curiosity, I took a picture of snow building up on the balcony roof on 9th December and took the second one on 26th December and the third on the 7th January for comparison. The whole thing came off on 9th January as the wind picked up and temperatures rose.</div>
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<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">The balcony cornice</span></b></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Most of the extra snow accumulated on the 25th December. </span></div>
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And then it was gone on January 8th. Snow did return with temperatures also going back into the minus teens and twenties but by the 24th January the thermometers were reading over zero and up to +5C on 25th at lunchtime with some rain. The compacted snow and ice now have a wet, slippery, smooth and very dangerous surface. The sooner it melts completely, the better and safer it will be.</div>
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Andrew R Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00758930264723251807noreply@blogger.com0