Giving up on the property dream

Posted by Justin on Jun 14, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments According to the Observer's Business swction, 'Young people [are] giving up on the property dream': only a third of 18-24-year-olds think owning a home is right for them'Good! Home owning has become such a no-brainer that it has encouraged the sharks and the ahysters to predate on the house buying process, while treating the house renting service as unworthy of attention. Perhaps...
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The Apprentice – spoofed

Posted by Justin on Jun 2, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments #Apprentice: See the video (sound needed – 6 minutes long) at http://preview.tinyurl.com/ob364k – it’s brilliant!
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Blacksmiths Inn, Ninfield

Posted by Justin on May 22, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments Just back from the Blacksmiths Inn, Ninfield, for its re-opening, following the extensive refurbishment carried out by Peter and Denise Slinger.They have a good range of real ale: Timothy Taylor, Adnams Broadside, the truly ecellent Northiam IPA and the ubiquitous (but always good) Harveys Best Bitter.Food is a strong point, too: good quality pub grub, locally sourced.The Slingers deserve to do...
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The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey

Posted by Justin on May 21, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended, this is Harvey's debut and is (IMHO) excellentWritten in a Raymond Chandler style, it is fast-paced with a good plot and a non-cheating twist towards the endI am looking forward to more from Harvey, and thoroughly recommend him as a writer of detective/mystery booksWhat do YOU think?
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"Broken Skin" by Stuart Macbride

Posted by Justin on May 18, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments Slightly slowly, I have now finished this. Though I felt I was getting into it at ab out the halfway/two-thirds point, it seemed to go slightly off the boilI enjoyed the way the main character (a DS) was drawn – very believable, but “supportable”. was less happy withe the rater cartoon-like DIs who were his bossesI guess the characters are being built up into a set of players...
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Jack Smithies

Posted by Justin on May 16, 2009 in Abaddons Musings, Uncategorized | 0 comments Just finished reading 'Mustn't grumble' by Joe Bennett. Towards the end (page 251 to be exact), a name from my past jumps out at me when the author refers to "Jack Smithies, the best English teacher of all time". "Mad" Jack Smithies taught at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammer School, where I spent my Sixth Form years. He was, indeed, a brilliant and inspiring...
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