Tears in Tripoli by Paul Rice

I loved this book, i was fast paced, exciting and a great read.

Tears in Tripoli - is an action-packed tale featuring a man named Jake Collins. Jake is ex-military, and having left the forces now earns his money in providing security services to all manner of international clients. 'JC', as he's known, is a rough diamond and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. He doesn't mind a beer or two, either - perhaps once too often.

Jake knows that time is running out for him, and during this tale we can see that he is still haunted by some of the things from his past. However, as is usual with JC, he just sucks his gut in and looks the world straight in the eye. He's old-school, is Jake - as tough as old boots and quite happy to mix it up when the need arises.

Unlike many others of his ilk, Jake doesn't have a very high opinion of himself, he knows that he's full of faults, and he's trying to get himself a real life, one that doesn't involve him being trapped in the 'machine', which is how he refers to the industry he works in.
He's also trying to find himself a woman, one he can hold onto for longer than a few weeks...

Providing security for international media teams is old-hat for Jake Collins. He's been there and he's done that. However, his latest little jaunt, one that sees him travelling right into the heart of Libya, soon turns out to be the trip of a lifetime.

The day after Jake arrives in Libya, the rebel assault upon the heart of Tripoli begins.

The destruction of Colonel Gadaffi's compound, a giant, walled village in the heart of the troubled city, is the Rebels' only goal, and they will not be stopped. Jake soon finds himself in the thick of the fighting, racing through the war-torn streets of Tripoli with a camera crew under the gaze of his watchful eye.

It's never easy trying to stay alive in a world ripped-apart by revolution and madness, especially when some of Jake's crew seem absolutely determined to get themselves killed.

Finding himself surrounded by death and love, sadness and joy, it seems to JC that there are enough tears in Tripoli for a man to drown in. Jake Collins doesn't do tears, and he's not that keen on drowning. All he needs to do is try and get the crew out of Libya alive...

A brief resume of how we reached this point

In January 1986 due to the lack of work in Norfolk my husband Bob started working in London as a Freelance Computer Programmer.

In 1988 we bought our first home, which was a huge mistake, as it left us in Negative Equity for many years.  Also within a year of buying the house the mortgage rate went sky high.

In November 2005, after nearly 20 years of working away, Bob decided to give up working in London, for several reasons, he was very close to the London Bombings of 7^th July 2005 which upset him, he was tired and worn out with the rat race in London, and he also missed being involved daily with our family life.

After giving up working in London, Bob had difficulty getting a job, and for 9 months was unemployed but too proud to claim benefits, however, he never expected to be unemployed for as long as he was, and during this time all our reserves dwindled and debts started creeping up, leading to another mistake, which was getting a consolidation loan using the house as collateral.

Bob got a few casual jobs, which barely kept the wolf from the door, and was not enough to clear our debts. Until in September 2009 Bob settled to a long term job in Customer Service at a local garage, working for minimum wage.

Because of our general decline in income and rising costs we were now in serious debt and to prevent the house being repossessed in 2010 we sold our property for a lot less than we had hoped, the sale of the property just covered what was left of the mortgage.

Which left us having no choice but to move into the flat above the family business.

In 2012 after several years of struggle the family business closed which also left me now out of work, it also left us homeless.  I got  2 jobs as a cleaner at minimum wage.

We then moved into a Static Caravan, however, our living costs proved to be a lot higher than we were led to believe, and Bob’s health was now suffering with the living conditions.

Our current main problems are:-

·         Old Debts

·         Living costs are Higher than our income

·         Very few benefits apply to our situation

·         Health + prescription costs

·         Inadequate Housing

Help Sought

·         CAB cannot help, unless we want to declare bankruptcy, but they advised against it

·         Shelter only deal with specific housing needs

·         Council, are not prepared to discuss or negotiate just threaten with court

The consensus of opinion is that we fall into a black hole, we work, have no dependants and are under 65 – hence no help or advice is available.

Lizard Point 10th – 14th June 2013

Monday

We left home at 7.30am dropped moped off at Jen and Andys stopped for breakfast at Peterborough, lunch at Burgerking, on the way we went through a place called Halfway, by we wasn't quite.

We arrived at Kuggar, Cornwall about 6pm after 425 miles travelling nearly 10 hours including stops, using 1 1/4 tank petrol.

Weather was cloudy and towards end of journey drizzley. We got lost twice.

We arrived at Parkdean, Sea Acres, Kuggar to a very basic caravan but with spectacular views over the bay we had dinner in restaurant.

After dinner we went awall down to the bay where I idiotically slipped over, however, the bay was beautiful.

Tuesday

Decided to have breakfast in restaurant to find they only served breakfast on Fri and sat.  So we hopped in car and after several false starts ending up at a lovely little bay called Coverak where we had full English breakfast overlooking bay.

We then had a wander round the bay and harbor.  Although the day started off drizzley it turned into a lovely day.

Today we passed a place called London Apprentice.

We then went onto Melgavissey, near St Austell, and visited the World of Model Railways, 

which I found disappointing then had a wonder round the lovely oldie worldie town and harbor and enjoyed a Cornish ice cream and Cream Tea

We then went onto Falmouth and had spectacular views of the docks from above, 

then drove onto Pendennis Head, Falmouth and had a walk round the ruins

Wednesday 

Today we planned to walk along the coastal path round Lizard Point however, the weaher was against us and we woke upto a completely miserable day rain and thick fog it was awful. 

We drove into Lizard the most southerly point in Britain, and had breakfast and then drove onto Lizard Point and had a walk getting thoroughly drenched we could barely see the lighthouse, although light was flashing and the fog horn sounding. At the Lizard there was a sign pointing to Lowestoft, Suffolk 350 miles.

Then we went back to van to dry out, then went into Helston still foggy and drizzly but that turned out to be disappointing and boring we then stopped at RNAS Culdrose the largest military airbase in the UK, it was so foggy nothing much was happening, we had a drink and cake, then returned to van, where a black and white cat probably belonging to Postman Pat tried to follow us in the van.

Later the weather cleared so we drove back to the Lizard to try and get a better look.

Thursday 

Weather much better today nice and sunny though very windy.

We started off early to Marazion, the home of St Michaels Mount, but it was high tide so we couldn't cross the causeway and because of the High Wind there would be no ferry today, at a local recommendation we had a lovely breakfast at the Godolphin Arms overlooking the mount.

We then headed off to Lands End for a couple of hours seeing the spectacular views, very blowy we last went there about 25 years ago and I recall it being blowy then.

After that we headed back to St Michaels Mount and was just in time to see the Causeway being revealed,  so we followed the Causeway stopping at Chapel Rock en route we arrived at the mount and explored around we went into the gardens and had a cream  tea, where we saw a dog wearing shoes on its back feet, we then went back over the causeway and then explored Marazion.

We then went to Portleven where it had an unusual harbour and an amazing clock tower, the Bickford Smith Institute

We had fish and chips on the harbour wall while watching a pied wagtail playing.

On the way back we stopped at RNAS Culdrose again to see if we could see anything

And finished with a final walk on Kuggars Cliffs

 

Friday

We left about 7.45am for home, we had several stops en route and met up with Micheal and Hana in Banbury for a coffee.

We arrived home about 7.30pm.

Friday – Journey 12 hours only got lost once.

Holiday – 1055 miles in total.

Day Trips – 225 miles

Christmas Eve by Angela Burns

I usually keep seasonal books to read at the right season, but then i forget, so i just read this book, and just couldn't put it down, it entrapped me in its spirit, a wonderful bitter sweet book that made me cry, a great read.  I am keeping it on my kindle to reread, which is saying something, i do not often do that.

Something happened to the Newson family last Christmas. Only the spirit of this Christmas can make it better.

Doctor Who: Devil in the Smoke by Justin Richards

I felt this book was quite naive, in storyline and writing style, but there again i suppose it is aimed at the youth.

Madame Vastra, the fabled Lizard Woman of Paternoster Row, knew death in many shapes and forms. But perhaps one of the most bizarre of these was death by snow...On a cold day in December, two young boys, tired of sweeping snow from the workhouse yard, decide to build a snowman - and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. In horrified fascination, they watch as their snowman begins to bleed...The search for answers to this impossible event will plunge Harry into the most hazardous - and exhilarating - adventure of his life. He will encounter a hideous troll. He will dine with a mysterious parlour maid. And he will help the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, save the world from the terrifying Devil in the Smoke.