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Ending in the word ‘git’

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I finished listening to Alexei Sayle’s book “Stalin ate my homework”. I have to say I really liked it. It was at times funny, sad, thought provoking and insightful.

It is one of those books you wish there was more of when you get to the end of it. Even so it was a good place to stop. I especially liked that he read it himself. That added a great deal to the listening experience.

I think that some of it will stick in my mind for quite some time to come although my own childhood was nothing like his, but even so, there are things that resonated with me.

It was, it is, a great book.

Getting to the end of the homework

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This is a really contrived title I know, but I wanted to write something about getting close to the end of Alexei Sayle’s ‘Stalin Ate my Homework’.

I am so enjoying this book, which is much more coherent than ‘Great Bus Journeys of the World’, which I read a look time ago.

it is so good to hear him reading about his own life, and it is sad, funny and amazing all at once.

Dusk, Snow, Woods and Alexei Sayle

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I walked home tonight just at dusk hoping that the light would hold for long enough for me to get through the woods before it got dark and I started to walk into things or get lost.

I was ok thankfully and just made it.

I continued listening to Alexei Sayle’s “Stalin Ate My Homework” on the way back which is an excellent read, or in my case listen as I’ve got the audio book version. I would recommend it to anyone. Unless of course you don’t like Alexei Sayle in which case you probably shouldn’t bother with it.

I must be over half way through now and I’ve really enjoyed it. It is funny and poignant at the same time, and a deeply personal reflection on his quite unusual childhood.

I’ve especially enjoyed the way the book doesn’t so much tell the story of his childhood but more meanders through it in a seemingly haphazard manner. I guess in many ways that childhood is like that. Today it made a good backdrop to my journey.

Looking forward

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4 weeks to Christmas. That’s all, and after that, new year and then 2011. Where has this year gone?

People start asking you ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’ around now (and before), like it is some kind of thing you have to brace yourself against. Some kind of attack that’s on the way.

In some ways I can understand that kind of thinking. I already feel under pressure from constant Christmas advertising. I wish there was a little more joy in Christmas. A little more peace on earth and good will to all men.

The next 4 weeks will be busy no doubt, but I’m hoping to keep the ‘peace on earth, goodwill to all men’ in mind as far as I can.

Stalin Ate My Homework

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My latest audiobook listen is Alexei Sayle’s “Stalin Ate My Homework“.

When I bought it I didn’t know what to expect except that I’ve always enjoyed his sense of humour. So far it is a great listen. He’s reading it himself and as it is about his life it is full of feeling. It is funny and sad and very unusual. I’m only about 3 hours into it and it is 8 hours long, but I’m enjoying every minute of it,

100 Years

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If my Grandfather were alive today he would be 100 years old today. I miss him. He was an amazing man. A tinkerer and maker. A wizard with electronics and always creating amazing little gadgets.

When I was little he made me a toy police car made out of old tin cans and bits of tape machines. It was amazing and I played with it for years.

So today I remember my wonderful Grandpa and think of all the good time we had together. Oh, and you might wonder what the picture is? Well, it was his pencil tin, where he kept technical drawing pencils and a set of compasses and the like. It reminds me of him.