Drew Buddie's Blog

2004-01-20T01:23:00.000-08:00

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2003-11-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

2003-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

My pal David had recommended I read Enduring Love by Ian McEwan for quite some time now. To get one thing straight though, I detest Booker-type books as I am not a fan of 'clever' or 'arty' books. I have tried a lot of Booker winners and short-listed books and only Magnus Mills' Restraint of Beasts has ever appealed to me.

Anyway, I enjoyed this book up to a point. Yes, the opening - featuring a hot air balloon that is out of control and the subsequent effect this chance event has on people's lives - is breathtaking and makes fantastic reading, but I predicted the way the book was going, and my enjoyment was curtailed for that reason. Having said that, it is very clever, and as a reader you cannot fail to feel drawn into the life of the protagonist as his life slips ever-so-quickly out of his control. Ultimately, you the reader do not know whether to believe the narrator or not.

The story deals with erotomania and specifically De Clerembaut's Syndrome. Many critics berated McEwan for putting case study notes at the end of his book which implied the book was based on a real case. These so-called experts ended up with egg on their faces as it turned out McEwan had hoaxed them!

2003-08-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

Drop Shot, another book featuring Myron Bolitar and written by Harlan Coben, has ensured that I remain hooked on this series. Although this book precedes the first Bolitar mystery I read (the recently released Darkest Fear) it has covered a few of the isees that arose within that book and so fuzzy areas now make sense.

What I like about Coben's books is the way a plot that appears predictable, can completely turn on its head, and give you shock after shock. It is also cleverly written in the way that several threads all come together.

This particular book reads faster than a Pete Sampras serve! It centres around the violent death of a child prodigy tennis player (not unlike .Jennifer Capriati) who wants to make a comeback after her retirement. She was about to approach Myron - a former basketball star and now sports agent prior to her murder. As ever, the plot is far more labyrinthine that that, and like the brilliant Rebus books by Ian Rankin what appears to be a simple case proves to be anything but that!

I am now desperate to read the rest in the series.

2003-08-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

I liked the look of Andrew Martin's novel, The Necropolis Railway from the moment I first clapped eyes on it. The cover is strangely similar to the adult version of the first Harry Potter book. If truth be told I actually bought it from Borders as the third of a '3 for 2' offer.

I was pleasantly surprised as the book is very dark and a superbly creepy atmosphere is created from the very first page - you can almost smell the coal dust as you read each page. The book is across between a train-spotter's almanac and the work of Caleb Carr or Anne Perry.

I never knew about it before, but the Necropolis Railway actually existed. It took the deceased and the mourners from Waterloo Station to Brookwood Necropolis - it was necessary because there was a lack of burial space within London. Therein actually lies the plot for this beguiling murder mystery.

We are promised more books featuring the hero Jim Stringer soon. I for one can hardly wait.

2003-08-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Wow! With The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, I believe I have finally read a truly original, unique book. Mark Haddon has managed to create a story that is unlike any other I have ever read. The narrator is a young boy with many problems, not least of which is the fact he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a formof autism, which carries with it a whole array of unusual behavoural characteristics. I found it ito be an iincredible read that has at long last given me an idea of what it is like to suffer from this. I teach a pupil who has Aspergers and now I understand why she behaves the way she does.

A former writer and illustrator of children's books, Haddon has crafted a novel that mixes a murder mystery – albeit that of a neighbour's dog Christopher was fond of – and a coming-of-age tale. The tone is linear but strangely elegiac: Christopher describes what he sees and hears but his refracted worldview has a biting logic to it. "I think prime numbers are like life," he observes. "They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them."

By trying to deduce who stabbed Wellington the dog with a garden fork, Christopher has to venture outside the narrow confines of the life that has been structured to cosset him. For a start he has to talk to people, then step outside the boundaries of his father's home and the special-needs school. It's a mark of the skill with which Haddon depicts the teenager, astutely and without undue sentiment, that you worry about him undertaking the most mundane of tasks, such as catching a train.

However, caveat emptor as the book comes in two versions, one for adults and one for children. Unlike the Harry Potter books, the covers are not the only difference. One version contains VERY strong language which is definitely not suitable for young children.

Still this does not detract from the fact that, from a narrative point of view, this is one of the most astonishing books I have ever read.

2003-08-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

For the past few years I have been buying most of James Patterson's books as soon as they come out. However The Beach House has lain on my bookshelves for a while as I never found it particularly inspiring - especially as it does not feature Alex Cross and it is co-written by Peter de Jonge.

It's ultimately a disappointing read, which although it moves along at a very fast pace (as is common with all Patterson's books) it is very weak - and the denouement is unique in crime fiction, but poor, I think.

"Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons' elite-and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter's body is found on the beach. Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone's unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice he never got in law school…and his astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling-and cheering-to the very last page."

2003-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Darkest Fear by Harlan Coben is not the first of his books that I have read, but it is is the first featuring his recurring character, Myron Bolitar. I thought this was a rip-roaring read that beats any run-of-the-mill pot-boiler any day. The twists and turns are tremendous and the characters are believeable and likeable. The story is really unusual in that it really delves into the background of a recurring character, instead of merely being a incident that happens to them. I will certainly be seeking out his other Bolitar books.

"Myron faces the most emotionally shattering case of his career. And it all begins when Myron's ex-girlfriend tells him he is a father-of a dying 13-year-old boy. "

2003-08-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Dead Air by Iain Banks was, as usual, a gripping, strange tale that was impossible to predict. I admire the way that Banks can tale a tale, that is essentially about nothing, yet you find it impossible to put the book down. His latest books are not as good as The Wasp Factory, but that was a truly exceptional book.

"After a wedding breakfast people start dropping fruits from a balcony on to a deserted carpark ten storeys below, then they start dropping other things; an old TV that doesn't work, a blown loudspeaker, beanbags, other unwanted furniture . . . Then they get carried away and start dropping things that are still working, while wrecking the rest of the apartment. But mobile phones start ringing and they're told to turn on a TV, because a plane has just crashed into the World Trade Centre . . ."

2003-08-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Candlemoth by Roger Jon Ellory was a very interesting read. The reviews I read were critical of the fact that the ending can be seen coming 100 pages form the end. I'd say that although I guessed the ending, I really enjoyed it. I found it a really unusual and rivetting read.

"Daniel Ford has thirty days to live. Accused of the horrific murder of his best friend Nathan twelve years before, he has exhausted all appeals and now faces the long walk to the electric chair. All he can do is make peace with his God. Father John Rousseau is the man to whom the last month of Daniel's life has been entrusted. All the two men have left to do is rake over the last ashes of Ford's existence. So he begins to tell his story. Beginning with his first meeting with Nathan, aged six, on the shores of a lake in 1952, through first loves, Vietnam, the death of Kennedy and finally their flight from the draft which ends in Nathan's brutal murder... But meanwhile the clock is ticking and the days are running out..."

2003-06-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting my good friend Robert's house at the minute and he's shown me his wonderful array of gadgetry.

2003-06-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a while I have read a thriller, for a bit of a non-cerebral diversion. This one is called 'Rising Phoenix' by Kyle Mills. It is unusual in that the narrative follows the villains of the piece and we get to find out their motivation, which although highly unpalatable is nonetheless well-intentioned. It involves them intentionally poisoning the US cocaine supplies and thereby killing the addicts. A 'maverick' policeman (aren't they all?) is the hero of the story and he is charged with stopping this campaign of terror. A hugely enjoyable yarn and one which would serve as a heated talking point at any dinner party. I'm certainly going to read more of Mills' stuff. Highly recommended.

2003-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

As today was a somewhat sombre day, I read 'Across the Nightingale Floor' by Lian Hearn whilst waiting to hear news about Miss Reading. The book is a lovely fantasy set in a mythical Japan. The most intruguing part of the book is the unusual concept of the 'Nightingale Floor' in the title. Apparently this was an actual design of flooring where it was designed to make a noise in order to alert Lords to the presence of intruders in their house.

2003-06-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

A sad day today as my dear friend and colleague Miss Lesley Reading passed away. She will be greatly missed.

2003-06-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Well I've managed to read the nearly 800 pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' within the confines of the weekend! I bought it from TESCO's at just after midnight on Saturday morning and read the first 2 chapters before going to bed. JK certainly has a gift for writing a ripping good yarn. It is unputdowable and it is no wonder that kids are hooked on this stuff! It is so brave for someone to write a book ostensibly for kids that is almost 800 pages long! I do not think that the much lauded death in the book will upset many people as it is not one of the most dearly loved characters as has been widely thought. A tremendous read.

2003-06-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

I have just finished reading The Ratastrophe Catastrophe' which is book one in a new fantasy series called The Illmoor Chronicles by David Lee Stone. I had heard a great deal about this author who is meant to be the brave new exciting face of British fantasy writing. He got an incredible advance of GBP 500,000 for this book and I have to say I am greatly, greatly disappointed in it. It is essentially no more than a retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin but set in a made-up land and peopled with new characters. However, I am deeply disappointed that such unoriginal work is so highly praised by others. The book received a rave review and 5 stars in SFX magazine - but then again he does write for that magazine! So 'nuff said. Terry Pratchett reworked the same story with 'Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents', but with far more originality and ingenuity. The cover and illustrations are also very amateurish.

2003-06-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dreadful news earlier in the day as I found out out with a great shock that Lesley Reading, much respected Deputy Head at RMS and Shona's Godmother, was found in her office early this morning having suffered a stroke. The thoughts of the family and all my colleagues are with her and her family and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

2003-06-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

After a year or two of waiting since I saw them at GENCON in the States and put off buying them, I've got 2 stashes of Icehouse pyramids from those nice people at Leisure Games. The sets are made by Looney Labs and I can't wait to try out the 'heavy' strategy games that you play with them. The pieces look fabulous and are a great talking point irrespective of their functionality.

2003-03-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

My friend David has come to stay for the weekend. Euan and Shona are, of course, glad to see their Uncle David. It has also given me the chance to watch the latest two episodes of Taken on BBC with a fellow 'fan'. Didn't like the 2nd episode tonight as it had many plot holes.

2003-02-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

I've just come across another cracking site for those studying the Egyptians. The site is not for the squeamish as it involves cutting up an Egyptian King to create a Mummy. The site is an excellent educational resource that is bound to keep children 'amused' for ages.

2003-02-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

Having enjoyed playing 'Nation States' as described in an earlier entry, I was able to order Max Barry's book on which it is based, Jennifer Government, from Amazon.co.uk. Not bad considering all other UK bookshops could not recognise that the book was out yet!

It is a very, very unusual but very, very funny satire of today's commercialist society. I am enjoying it.

2003-02-18T06:59:00.000-08:00

My goodness. Is it really that long since I last updated this Blog? Well I'll need to do something about that!

My first post for a while has to be something a bit special. I'm currently, for one particular reason, very into 'virtual worlds'. A cracking example of this can be found here. This is a terrific example of how the 'Net can transport you to somewhere else.

2003-01-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've heard of people who love their jobs so much they take a 'Busman's Holiday' - but what about a Binman's Holiday? It seems there's a guy in England who retired from refuse collecting. However he misses is so much he tarvels the length and breadth of England looking for waste site and he then volunteers to dride on the dustcarts. He says, '...nothing comes close to the thrill of riding in a dustcart'. Aye, that'll be right!

2003-01-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

Well tonight is a nervous time for me. I've been asked to deliver the Immortal Memory speech at the Ruislip Caledonian Society's Burns Supper. I know no one there and I'm anxious as hell. Mind you I'm proud too. Any Scot would, or should, be to deliver this important toast to the greatest poet who ever lived.

No doubt I'll be reporting how it went tomorrow!

2003-01-23T05:05:00.000-08:00

After the hoo-ha over Kate Winslet's doctored photos in a recent issue of GQ the BBC Online site has created an interesting series of pictures some of which have been doctored and some of which haven't. It only goes to show you may think you can tell when you're being had, but it's not always possible.

2003-01-22T04:09:00.000-08:00

When is an island not an island? Apparently when it's called Skye! No this isn't some carp joke, it is in fact the result of the latest crackpot 'non-island' directive, from the EU, where they have decided that 'a body of land surrounded entirely by water' does not entirely describe an island.

No, in their infinite (in the sense that it is 'unknown' rather than 'immense') wisdom they have decided that an island cannot be an island if:

it has a population of less than 50 people

it is connected to the mainland by any means

it has to be more than 1km from the mainland

it cannot have the country's capital on it

Absolutely incredible - you could not make this up!

2003-01-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading The Wrong Way Home by Peter Moore and I'm enjoying it immensely. I have wanted to buy one of his books for some time now, and was 'forced' into it as the school reading group is looking at the travel book genre next, and we have to read a variety for recommendation to others.

The blurb on the back of the book describes it as 'When Peter announced he was going to travel home from London to Sydney without stepping on an aeroplane, he was met with a resounding Why? The answer was a severe case of hippie envy: hippies had the best music, the best drugs, the best sex. But most of all, they had the best trips.'

2003-01-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

Good news. The Disputed Territories of Spongle have had their request to join the UN approved. And we have decided that the public should have a direct influence on how the taxes should be spent.

2003-01-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

We went to see Cirque Du Soleil at the Royal Albert hall last night. This was for Euan's 7th Birthday as a present fromm Elaine. We all enjoyed it, although Euan found it hard to understand what was going on at the start. The seats were 'up in the Gods' which made it kind of difficult to see what was going on. The show was called Saltimbanco and some of the feats on display were incredible.

The only thing we felt which put a downer on the proceedings, was the sense that shows now are such a 'rip off' when it comes to the merchandising etc. eg. £30 for a kids t-shirt, £9 for a programme. Euan was also disappointed that 2 of the acts did not appear - he seemed to think they would have been the most interesting. No word of explanation about the acts not appearing was made. Still, I am sure he will never forget the experience.

2003-01-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

I have just become lord of all I survey, having created the The Disputed Territories of Spongle. According to the choices I made, it is a 'tiny, pleasant nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 5 million are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.' It is found in the South Pacific. I have to say that it is the best web-based gimmick I have ever seen for promotion of an item (in this case a book: Jennifer Government by Max Barry).

I just had to make my first decision - and I decided to make voting compulsory. Oh, and I've just applied to join the United Nations! I should receive a telegram in 24 hours to let me know if I've been successful.

2003-01-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

I watched Vertical Limit last night. What a pile of high-octane hockum it was too! I was reminded of Joe Simpson's derisory comments about it in his haunting and rivetting recent book 'The Beckoning Silence'. It has to have the quickest most suddeen ending of any film I have ever seen. The protagonists spend 85 minutes getting up a mountain and about 20 secs to get down it!

Just found out that Brad Newsham's wonderfully uplifting travelogue-with-a-difference Take Me With You has made the WH Smith Travel Book short list. I am so pleased for him. I've built up a bit of an email correspondence with him and I really, really hope he wins the prize as we might get to meet up if he comes to collect it.

I have just had confirmation that we've got a prize worth over £150 for the Race Night. What a great start!

2003-01-16T02:14:00.000-08:00

Just received LiveChannel X this morning. It is a Mac package which allows you to transmit broadcast-quality video and audio content on the Net. I can't wait to get playing with it as I've got so many ideas about how to use it in school.

Also received from Upperdeck a nice delivery of demo materials, sent from Dominiek the Europe Demo Manager, in Holland. The package contained Gregory Horror Show deck, plus FOUR boxes of the super, dinky, wee collectable 'Feral Monsters'. I can't wait to play with these at the weekend. I'm going to try to set up a game in school in the next week or so.

Surprise news. Liz has filmed a wee interview which she is submitting to BIG BROTHER. She came across really well on it and it'll be interesting to see if she's called to an interview. Though how the kids and I would cope if she did get on the show, I don't rightly know!

2003-01-13T04:51:00.000-08:00

I had a very busy day on Saturday.

Firstly I was at the TEEM stand. What a great bunch of people they are and it was good to meet Claire, Louise, Matt and Callie for the first time. I helped to answer lots of questions, and still had time to look round the parts of the show that I hadn't had seen properly on Thursday.

No sooner had I finished there than I hotfooted it back to Ricky for the RPSA Quiz Night. I might not normally have made such an effort, but on this occasion:

I had persuaded 2 others to go, so didn't want to let them down
I wanted to promote the forthcoming Race Evening.

In the end the night was a good craic as our team swelled to 7, including the Ferraras and Trevor & Lorraine. The two women have agreed to run the bar for the Race Evening and Felipe has agreed to implement the purchase of the booze. So all in all a good result, as now about 80 people are aware of the forthcoming event.

2003-01-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

We Scots have always been hardy creatures, but I think even my well-insulated body would struggle through a vacation spent in the amazing Ice Hotel in Quebec.

The architecture of the building and the novelty knick-knacks have to be seen to be believed. It looks like they've thought of everything and created a regular 'home-from-home'. It's humbling to note that the hotel is broken down when the climate becomes too hot, but is rebuilt every year. I just wouldn't like to be a visitor at the 'end of season discount' period.

2003-01-10T03:24:00.000-08:00

Further to the news of Alastair Wells' accolade, I forgot to say that one of the reasons - and there are many - why I feel his award is so important, is the fact that he is still teaching ICT to students by using ACORN computers.

This bears out what I have said for years: Acorn macines are/were perfectly capable of delivering ICT skills to students in a way that the use PCs and their non-pupil-friendly style can not.

I hope that people sit up and take notice of the significance of Alastair's achievement which should not be underestimated.

2003-01-10T02:05:00.000-08:00

No posting yesterday as I paid my yearly pilgrimage to the BETT Show at Olympia. As ever I found it a mind-blowing experience, but with someone (Tony Evans) to share a pint or three with at the end of an exhausing visit ended the afternoon nicely

Top prize for the best stand in the show, in my humble opinion - and not flavoured by the fact that they gave away free glasses of malt whisky - was the SCRAN stand. I've never heard so many Scottish accents in one place in England since my local pub said they were cutting a penny off the cost of a pint!

I was extremely pleased too, to see that a friend and BPRS colleague
Alastair Wells has been awarded the prestigious BECTA ICT in Practice Award for 2003. It is an honour to say I know the man. I was also chuffed-to-bits for
Sean O'Sullivan who won the prize for inclusion. I also met two people I had not seen for seven years, and who remembered me well, which just made the day even more enjoyable.

2003-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Those lovely, lovely people at Serif have written me a letter to tell me that as a prior customer, I am entitled to a FREE mouse, FREE software upgrades and a FREE house. Just joking about the last of those. Phil phoning me from the BETT show, told me he'd just been to the Serif stand and upon seeing the school name on his badge the person at the stand asked if he knew me. Yet again an example of people never forgetting my name.

I got this news on the same day that I found out that Apple are giving all teachers FREE copies of OSX, otherwise known as 'Jaguar'. They say this initiative is intended 'to provide every primary and secondary school teacher in Europe with a copy of Mac OS X version 10.2. This programme is designed to show teachers the stability and manageability of Mac OS X and how it gives them a powerful foundation for integrating technology into the classroom'. I won't argue with that!

Now why can't other companies take that benevolent approach? Personally, I hope it pays off for Apple.

2003-01-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers album 'By the Way' over the past couple of days. I have to confess that I have never been a fan of their's, mainly because I didn't like their infamous sock-wearing antics on stage - it seemed to me it wasn't big and it wasn't clever. However this album's got me hooked. I particularly like the infectiousness of 'Cabron' which has the sort of tune that goes buzzing around your head and will not disappear. I just can't square this 'sound' with the 'tattooed screechers' that I once thought they were. A superb jaunty rhythm and drum beat accompanies some lyrics that we all could learn from "I am small but I am strong, you see I'm just like you". It sounds like it belongs on a Cuban 'Roots' album. A real summery, singalong, cracker that's bound to be a favourite in our car.
Another great song is the best song Bad Manners never recorded 'On Mercury'. An incredible catchy Ska-punk tune.

Incidentally while searching for 'Cabron' via Altavista, I stumbled across a gem of a page devoted to my local football team, Watford FC. The site has lovingly presented, for our delectation, the words to 'If I had the wings of a sparrow' in many different languages, including ALI G, Icelandic and PASCAL! Sad geek I may be, but I found it very funny. Warning though, it does contain a wee bit of bad language.

2003-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

I watched Knight Moves with Christopher Lambert last night. I stumbled on it by accident, as wee Shona wouldn't go to sleep, so I randomly chose a film to watch on SKY. In the film, a chess player (Lambert) is being taunted by a nasty, always-hidden-because-he's-someone-you've-met, baddie. It also starred a Baldwin brother I didn't know even existed, yet he looks so like one, it's obvious what clan he belongs to, and Tom Skerrit - usually a film's mediocrity is ensured when that guy's in it! Anyway, it had all the makings of being a disaster, yet, it was strangely hypnotic in the way it kept me glued to the box until well past midnight. The twists and turns in the plot made the Applecross Road ("normally impassable in wintry conditions. This road rises to a height of 2,053 feet with gradients of 1 in 5 and hairpin bends. Not advised for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans after first mile.") look almost straight. Although I actually guessed who the baddie was, it was pure luck. There are enough plot twists to really throw you off the scent. Well, I enjoyed it and it's far better than many more 'highly regarded' thrillers I've seen recently.

2003-01-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Eek, wow and dearie me. Of all things to happen the day our Network manager is out, we have a power cut which has affected the whole school. Of particular concern has been the Year 11 Girls doing their GCSE mock Maths paper! The examinations hall has been freezing and is as black as a very black black thing from the the Black Forest, as there are no lights either. It's a pity the Maths Dept didn't listen to me when I suggested they wrote the papers in luminous ink when I predicted this would happen!

2003-01-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's good luck, or a bad omen, but after typing my first entry into this Blog, a dead ladybird (ladybug for those of a US persuasion) landed on the back of my hand. The poor little insect probably died as a result of our freezing weather .

What bothers me in this country where I live (ie. England) is the fact that a wee bit o' snaw and the whole transport system, nay the country, grinds to a halt. Whereas in my homeland, Scotland, we are hardier beasts and it takes a lot more than a drappy o' the white stuff to make us moan and groan about the weather.

2003-01-08T02:18:00.000-08:00

My goodness, this is so easy. I can see that I am going to have fun with this in the weeks and months to come.

2003-01-08T02:17:00.000-08:00

This is my very first posting to my new web presence. This is just to see what a posting looks like.