King Abba free download

There are two days left of a five day free download of my novel King Abba, which is available from the Amazon Kindle store. It is a science fiction fantasy with a difference, for both young and old.

So far the book has five star reviews from all reviewers.

Reviews and testimonials, along with a blurb and background to the book, can be found on: www.kingabba.com

Also a first post in what I hope will become a dialogue with readers.

CJM
April 12, 2013

Mrs T and her T-party

I remember a lawyer friend recalling the extraordinary changes that came about through Mrs Thatcher's demolition of traditional practices and restrictions throughout the professional and financial world.

"She told us to go out and make money," he said, "and by golly, we did."

 Only now do we see the terrible and inevitable outcome of so much liberalisation as market-led forces took us over the cliff, and continue to do so today. And equally now, we see the second and third generation effects of chopping down the nationalised industries with their malpractices and utter disregard for careful economic and financial management. Could she have brought about those changes without the cruel ruthlessness she showed towards the mining and steel communities? That is still the real debate. Could she have sought gentler programmes of gradual reform?

I remember a colleague who had worked at British Steel before privatisation, telling me about the theft and pilfering, the corrupt and domineering union bosses, the intimidation when strikes were called at a moment's notice. "I'm all right, Jack" was the reality of the day, and were the unions going to allow their own destructive and almost absolute powers to be taken away from them lightly? I don't think so.

And yet, and yet... was there really" no such thing as society" as Mrs T was oft quoted as saying? In fact, in the original context, this was followed by "There are individual men and women, and there are families."

So yes, there were individuals, and we were all told to get out and make money. And many did. But for those families with no jobs, breadwinners and support services, the harsh reality was all too different. What became of all the grocers that had to shut in the impoverished mining towns? Did she ever wonder about that, given her Grantham grocery childhood?

What happened was that Mrs T took what really was, in its fashion, a society, one where a policeman was still your friend, kind of, not someone who bashed you on the head from behind a riot shield, and many institutions, though fossilised and out of touch, still represented values of an earlier age that all looked up to -- and she created a land of everyone for himself.

I personally believe this has caused Britain lasting harm and we will have to work hard to repair or replace the iconic institutions that have been progressively devalued over the last forty years.The NHS was the last of them. The other poor shells of governmental and financial bodies have long ago given up all claim to respect.

CJM
April 11, 2013

Messi magic -- nail-biting stuff

I'm far from being the only one to say it, but the difference was palpable when Messi, still recovering from his hamstring injury, came on the pitch in the 62nd minute of the quarter finals match with Paris Saint Germain last night. It was like an injection of prozac into his depressed teammates. And a relief to see La Pulga in action after a first half on the bench in which he must have chewed off half his fingernails in frustration.

He didn't have to do a lot and in his inimitable style walked about calmly till the opportunities were delivered. But just with his presence the Barca team which (with the exception of Iniesta) had laboured and misfired during the first half, was galvanised into a demonstration of the slick passing flow which is its trademark. Working together, as they do best, it was still Messi who initiated a path through the penalty area mêlée to Pedro's boot which finished off the winning attack.

With the two away goals collected in Paris, it was enough, and Barca are through to the semis in another record breaking achievement.

Wonderful to watch...

CJM
April 2013