Hello my dear creative blog.
This is a quick message to let you know that I believe I am getting my spark back, so expect more random creativity. It will come back and I know this because I have the music on and I have Garth and Nathan in the room with me and I don't care that they can hear me singing (badly) and dancing like a crazy in my chair.
The best part about the music and this feeling, is the music is energising my soul again, for a long time even Pink Floyd was not helping me.
Time to kick ass and chew bubblegum and I am all out of gum - Duke Nukem
Watch this space.
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Creative Writing Prompt 19
OK so to explain. One of the items on my Day Zero Project list is to write 20 different things from the website http://creativewritingprompts.com/ and this one is the first one I have tried. Nobody said it had to be fiction.
There was once a chance I didn't take and I have often wondered what would have happened in my life had I taken it. Would I be where I am now? If you believe that your path is already laid out then by that logic, yes I would have ended up here. It would have definitely have been an interesting journey.
My journey was already pretty interesting and certainly had more than a few rocky moments, but what if I had in fact went to Finland for five months. I know one thing that would be different, I would know another language and would no doubt have a handful of Finnish pen pals.
Would I still have travelled to Australia? Would I still have met Garth? What about my best friends that I have here? Would I have fallen in love with Graham? Would I have come back from Finland, if I had went?
So many questions and no answers. Maybe in a parallel universe I actually did take the chance and go on the exchange programme. Maybe in another world I told Martin to get stuffed instead of changing my mind because he told me “he had needs and therefore we would have to have an open relationship”. In other words he couldn't handle the idea of me going away and wanted free reign to cheat. Now for my Australian readers, Finland to Glasgow is maybe a 3 hour flight away maximum and at the time cheap flights were all the rage. We could have seen each other at the weekends. But C'est la vie. Whatever will be shall be and a variety of other fate loving sayings.
Now I haven't thought about that missed trip to Finland in a very long time, I made my peace with it. Initially it ate away at me, especially after Martin and I split. Why did I let him make my decision for me, what was it about our relationship that kept me in Scotland? To this day I have never figured out an answer to this question. I guess I could put it down to being young and very naïve, but in all seriousness I made my choice. At that time the relationship we had was a good one, I guess I didn't want to ruin that. As it is, now, he won't even talk to me but that's ok I bare him no ill will. He came into my life, he left my life, I took away the lessons from that. It's the same with the Graham relationship. I bare him no ill will and I have learned my lessons.
I regret nothing. And when I am old I would rather look back on my life and regret the things I have done rather than those I did not do.
Now in the parallel universe, I hope that the me there went to Finland and had the time of her life. However, the real me, the me writing this, had a different adventure and is still on that roller-coaster ride and loving every minute of it.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
International Men's Health Week
Also, if you want to read some of the things that lead me to this rant I suggest you check out:
http://www.menshealthaustralia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=30
I think you will be glad you did as it really will open your eyes and if doesn't then enjoy your lonely feminist existence :)
http://www.menshealthaustralia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=30
I think you will be glad you did as it really will open your eyes and if doesn't then enjoy your lonely feminist existence :)
International Men's Health Week pt 2
OK so that first bit was just a bit of fucker. Lots of reading. But these thoughts have been in my head for a few weeks now.
So to continue....I left off at rape. I sort of covered the biggest issues, I think, this part will be a bit lighter perhaps. Still a rant but hey.
Ok, depression. Women are more emotional than men so therefore are more prone to depression. Wrong! Especially in today's society where women rule the roost. Even in school, boys are doing worse than girls and that is affecting how they behave outside of school. Incidentally, the suicide rates are actually higher among guys. Think about it, the boys are failing in school, they are being outrun in sport, they are finding it more and more difficult to pick up even a fast food job, they see women being promoted above them, they are becoming obsolete in the baby race, women are proposing to them and they even die sooner. And all the while, they are having to act big and brave and macho. They are getting belittled at every corner, hell look at the world of journalism. It used to be a boys club, journalism was a mans profession, it was a pretty big deal if a woman got into journalism. Now, I look around the office and it's all women. How times have changed. Is it any wonder then depression in men is probably far more common now than it is in women? Incidentally, thought just came into my head, did you know that the number of deaths from prostate cancer is actually on equal par to the number of deaths from breast cancer with more than 20,000 men being diagnosed in 2010 alone.
Hmm, thinking about marriage. A woman will now claim that if she wants to get married, she should have the right to propose to her man. Now I can understand this on a leap year, as traditional. But to do it any other time, is just another way that women are emasculating men. Emasculating: to deprive of strength or vigor; weaken. This is exactly what we are doing by proposing to men. Once every four years is fine, it was a bit of fun, there is an extra day in the year, why not let the women propose marriage and did you know that if a man refused the proposal he had to buy the lady a gift. Anyway to the point. And take this from a girl who has proposed to a guy, they don't like it. It makes them feel stupid and for lack of a better term, rushed. We women set such impossible standards for men to live up to. We want the perfect proposal, down on one knee, in some romantic, just us two location but yet we run around bleeting that we want to propose to the men. A man, when he is ready to take that step, feels proud of himself if he can buy his lady's ring outright and if he can arrange this wonderfully romantic night that she will never forget. To a man it makes him feel like a man. He had to work hard to ear enough to be able to afford a shiny rock for you, all that overtime that you bitched to him about, he was working for that ring that we all so badly crave *rolls eyes*. To a man, the proposal, the ring, the setting that's his bragging rights. That's him saying to society, Hey fuck you, I made it. I have a woman who I adore, she adores me, and I managed to buy her a Tiffany ring and she said yes. She is my woman for the rest of my life and I couldn't be happier. However, when a women proposes to her guy, no matter how quirky the proposal, a guy won't get excited about it. It makes him wonder what he is doing wrong that his woman had to buy him a ring. It makes him think that he is "holding her back". And as I said, this one is from experience. Really ladies, we are taking pretty much everything else from our boys, can we not at least give them this one? Can we not give them the chance to face those proposal nerves? I personally think those nerves strengthen a man. Besides, if you have a wonderful life together living with each other, sharing dreams and hopes and love each, what's the big rush to get married. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Next up: Body issues! Yeah you heard me, put down that slice of double chocolate and caramel fudge cake, back away from the bottle of wine. You know it's what you want. Yes, that was perhaps a bit bitchy, but hey if you are still reading, I must be doing something right or I am beyond help crazy and you just want to see if I crack?! Either way, stop stuffing your face for a moment and listen! MEN SUFFER BODY IMAGE ISSUES TOO!!!!! See that muffin top that you worry about, men worry about their pudge gut or their huge feet, they worry about being too hairy/not hairy enough, they wonder if they are good enough in bed. They get self conscious about how they look and about what people think about them. Have you taken a look around the local shopping malls and taken stock of how many male moisturisers, hair loss prevention kits, hand creams, hair gels and general male grooming products there are on the shelves these days. Next time you are shopping look at the vast array of male only products to help them beautify themselves. Have you noticed that your guy takes longer to do his hair than you do. Did you ever stop to think that it wasn't because he was vain or that he loved himself? Did you take a moment and think that actually its the exact opposite of him loving himself. He wants you to notice when he has had a shave, or when his new jeans fit him perfectly instead of being too tight or too loose. See us savvy girls, who actually like our menfolk notice when our guy is preening himself more. When your guy suddenly starts eating just salads, it's because he is feeling conscious of his weight and instead of ignoring it by staying in your delusional little "me" bubble, you could perhaps say to him that you too would like to get healthy and join him. Here's a little known fact, men are naturally competitive creatures, appeal to his competitive side but also remind him that you think he is gorgeous and that you will not cheat on him because you love him. Men, like us, and I am going to say this slowly, like...to...be...reassured...and...want...you...to...notice...them. Men are not just accessories to go along with your wardrobe until a new style comes out. They are living, flesh and blood humans that crave affection as much as the more delicate sex. Now maybe once in a while, if you stop thinking about how hard done by you are or about what fad diet you are going to try next, you could perhaps look at your man and realise that he needs your support sometimes. You know those paranoid, crazy lady moments that us girls tend to have all too often where we are convinced that we are fat, ugly, useless and where we can't understand how anyone could be attracted to us, well guess what?...Shhhh, come closer....men have them too! They are just afraid of showing it. And now that I have told you this really big secret, I'll let you go back to your double stuff Oreos.
Now I am completely sure that someone, somewhere will throw a bitch fit about this blog, but as I said at the beginning of part one. My blog, my thoughts, don't like it, there's the door don't let it hit you on the ass on the way out.
I think for just now, I will leave it at that. I may write more or I may not.
Vicky Cook
So to continue....I left off at rape. I sort of covered the biggest issues, I think, this part will be a bit lighter perhaps. Still a rant but hey.
Ok, depression. Women are more emotional than men so therefore are more prone to depression. Wrong! Especially in today's society where women rule the roost. Even in school, boys are doing worse than girls and that is affecting how they behave outside of school. Incidentally, the suicide rates are actually higher among guys. Think about it, the boys are failing in school, they are being outrun in sport, they are finding it more and more difficult to pick up even a fast food job, they see women being promoted above them, they are becoming obsolete in the baby race, women are proposing to them and they even die sooner. And all the while, they are having to act big and brave and macho. They are getting belittled at every corner, hell look at the world of journalism. It used to be a boys club, journalism was a mans profession, it was a pretty big deal if a woman got into journalism. Now, I look around the office and it's all women. How times have changed. Is it any wonder then depression in men is probably far more common now than it is in women? Incidentally, thought just came into my head, did you know that the number of deaths from prostate cancer is actually on equal par to the number of deaths from breast cancer with more than 20,000 men being diagnosed in 2010 alone.
Hmm, thinking about marriage. A woman will now claim that if she wants to get married, she should have the right to propose to her man. Now I can understand this on a leap year, as traditional. But to do it any other time, is just another way that women are emasculating men. Emasculating: to deprive of strength or vigor; weaken. This is exactly what we are doing by proposing to men. Once every four years is fine, it was a bit of fun, there is an extra day in the year, why not let the women propose marriage and did you know that if a man refused the proposal he had to buy the lady a gift. Anyway to the point. And take this from a girl who has proposed to a guy, they don't like it. It makes them feel stupid and for lack of a better term, rushed. We women set such impossible standards for men to live up to. We want the perfect proposal, down on one knee, in some romantic, just us two location but yet we run around bleeting that we want to propose to the men. A man, when he is ready to take that step, feels proud of himself if he can buy his lady's ring outright and if he can arrange this wonderfully romantic night that she will never forget. To a man it makes him feel like a man. He had to work hard to ear enough to be able to afford a shiny rock for you, all that overtime that you bitched to him about, he was working for that ring that we all so badly crave *rolls eyes*. To a man, the proposal, the ring, the setting that's his bragging rights. That's him saying to society, Hey fuck you, I made it. I have a woman who I adore, she adores me, and I managed to buy her a Tiffany ring and she said yes. She is my woman for the rest of my life and I couldn't be happier. However, when a women proposes to her guy, no matter how quirky the proposal, a guy won't get excited about it. It makes him wonder what he is doing wrong that his woman had to buy him a ring. It makes him think that he is "holding her back". And as I said, this one is from experience. Really ladies, we are taking pretty much everything else from our boys, can we not at least give them this one? Can we not give them the chance to face those proposal nerves? I personally think those nerves strengthen a man. Besides, if you have a wonderful life together living with each other, sharing dreams and hopes and love each, what's the big rush to get married. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Next up: Body issues! Yeah you heard me, put down that slice of double chocolate and caramel fudge cake, back away from the bottle of wine. You know it's what you want. Yes, that was perhaps a bit bitchy, but hey if you are still reading, I must be doing something right or I am beyond help crazy and you just want to see if I crack?! Either way, stop stuffing your face for a moment and listen! MEN SUFFER BODY IMAGE ISSUES TOO!!!!! See that muffin top that you worry about, men worry about their pudge gut or their huge feet, they worry about being too hairy/not hairy enough, they wonder if they are good enough in bed. They get self conscious about how they look and about what people think about them. Have you taken a look around the local shopping malls and taken stock of how many male moisturisers, hair loss prevention kits, hand creams, hair gels and general male grooming products there are on the shelves these days. Next time you are shopping look at the vast array of male only products to help them beautify themselves. Have you noticed that your guy takes longer to do his hair than you do. Did you ever stop to think that it wasn't because he was vain or that he loved himself? Did you take a moment and think that actually its the exact opposite of him loving himself. He wants you to notice when he has had a shave, or when his new jeans fit him perfectly instead of being too tight or too loose. See us savvy girls, who actually like our menfolk notice when our guy is preening himself more. When your guy suddenly starts eating just salads, it's because he is feeling conscious of his weight and instead of ignoring it by staying in your delusional little "me" bubble, you could perhaps say to him that you too would like to get healthy and join him. Here's a little known fact, men are naturally competitive creatures, appeal to his competitive side but also remind him that you think he is gorgeous and that you will not cheat on him because you love him. Men, like us, and I am going to say this slowly, like...to...be...reassured...and...want...you...to...notice...them. Men are not just accessories to go along with your wardrobe until a new style comes out. They are living, flesh and blood humans that crave affection as much as the more delicate sex. Now maybe once in a while, if you stop thinking about how hard done by you are or about what fad diet you are going to try next, you could perhaps look at your man and realise that he needs your support sometimes. You know those paranoid, crazy lady moments that us girls tend to have all too often where we are convinced that we are fat, ugly, useless and where we can't understand how anyone could be attracted to us, well guess what?...Shhhh, come closer....men have them too! They are just afraid of showing it. And now that I have told you this really big secret, I'll let you go back to your double stuff Oreos.
Now I am completely sure that someone, somewhere will throw a bitch fit about this blog, but as I said at the beginning of part one. My blog, my thoughts, don't like it, there's the door don't let it hit you on the ass on the way out.
I think for just now, I will leave it at that. I may write more or I may not.
Vicky Cook
International Men's Health Week
Apologies peeps, this will be a long one.
So I said I would write this rant/opinion/article up and that it would probably upset a few people, namely feminists. And before anyone starts to give me shit for it, this is my opinion and my blog and if you want to jump up and down waving your arms, then do it somewhere else, away from me. Quite frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Also please be aware that I am talking about predominantly straight guys in straight, man and woman relationships. And no I am not a homophobe, how could I be, I am bisexual. I am generalising *sigh*
Now before I start let me just say. I have always said for as long as I can remember, that the day young, heterosexual, white, non religious, single guys start protesting for their rights back, I will be protesting right there with them. I say this because well let's face it they are about the only people who do not have a clause about them. For example, an older guy can't be discriminated against because that is ageist. A coloured man can't be discriminated against because it's racism(and no I do not agree with racism in the least). A female can't be discriminated against because that is sexist. A homosexual man cannot be discriminated against because that is discrimination based on sexuality. A Christian or Muslim or any other religious man can't be discriminated against because its based on religion. What I am saying is there is an anti discrimination clause or policy for pretty much everyone apart from young, white, straight and non religious men. Now, I am not saying that these guys have it tough and nor am I saying that the types of discrimination I mentioned above don't happen. I am not stupid. I know fine well that they happen, hell I have experienced some of them first hand. What I am saying is that the world has gone mad with political correctness.
Ok so onto the original idea of this entry. International Men's Health Week 2011 has just passed us by and while doing research on this event for work, I was appalled and shocked at some of the statistics that I discovered on the website. And yes! I realise that stats can be very easily fudged but a week that is designed to raise awareness of the fact that men, although they may think they are invincible, are just as fragile as women {Here's where the militant feminists start to feel their blood boiling and start to screech that "men are not fragile, women rule but are delicate, oh noes she isn't one of us, she is a big ugly man lover"....my apologies bit of a crazy moment there, but you get my point}. Ok, now as a woman I do completely understand that men and women have different health issues, men of course don't have to go through 5-14 days of mind numbing cramps, blah blah blah. Men, don't need to worry about getting pregnant, yawn. Men don't go through menopause, am I awake yet? Men can't multitask the way a women does, boring and bullshit. A child needs its mother, yes true, but if the mother is a spaced out crack whore junkie who beats the child or who uses the child as leverage to make money, then surely the man, yes those things with penises and a Y chromosome are the better choice?? No, I must be nuts then. It baffles me that the courts throughout the world will still defend the mother even when she is unworthy of raising a dog, let alone a child. Anyhow, I digress, where was I going?
Oh, that's right, men's health issues. Sure a guy doesn't have to go through yearly pap smears, but I think what a lot of ladies forget is that come a gentleman's later years he will have to go through regular prostate exams. Now, I implore you ladies, think about how uncomfortable a particularly bad pap smear is or think about how painful a colposcopy is and then imagine that is happening in your rear end? A regular pap smear probably isn't looking so bad now. Then of course there is the period debate, as I said above, boring. Sure us females bleed for a minimum of five days every month and don't die, yes we experience mind numbing cramps that feel like our insides are being ripped apart but do you honestly, deep down think that men don't suffer during this time of month? We ladies go from zero to crazy bitch in the blink of an eye and usually the person who cops it, is....drum roll please....that's right the GUY! Who is the person that runs around getting chocolate or ice cream or hot tea when you demand it, usually the boyfriend and yet he does that for us and we rip his face off because the tea is too hot, or its the wrong flavour of ice cream or he just doesn't get it. Man (ha), I don't blame a guy for running straight to the pub. He is trying to avoid getting torn to shreds.
Next: Pregnancy! Yeah that! First of all let me get this off my chest....I am NOT a freak, because I don't want babies. I have my life, I have my wonderful guy and I have big dreams to travel. I am not interested in having children, this does not mean that those of you who do want children are somehow better than me or more successful or fufilled than me. I am not saying that I am better than those who do want children, in fact I fully support their choice. Why? Because it is exactly that, their choice, their body. My only pet peeve is young girls who do not look after the child that they parade in front of me. I have NO problem with young mums, none whatsoever, in fact power to them but do not tell me I am wrong, or selfish for my choices as a 26 nearly 27 year old woman. And now that the rant is done...Pregnancy! It's like the one argument that every female pulls in the ever lasting battle of the sexes. "Oh but men don't get pregnant, they don't have to carry a child in their womb for nine months and then have to go through labour." No, men don't have to carry a baby inside them for nine months but do any girls ever stop to think that maybe the babies daddy would swap with you in a heart beat, because if the babies daddy is a good guy he doesn't like seeing his woman uncomfortable, or is that, that crazy talk again? Good Guys? Falls over. And here's a newsflash for all you pregnant women out there...and I was shocked by this too...men actually go through a dramatic hormone change when they find out they are going to be a father. No bullshit, initially a guys fight or flight brain chemical sparks up making the guy panic at the initial stages of pregnancy. Then while the lady is carrying the child, the man's testesterone levels actually drop and he becomes more in tune with his feminine side, wow who'd have thunk it. Then nearing the end of the pregnancy a man's testesterone levels actually sky rocket in preparation for the baby's arrival, he goes into full on survival/protection mode. Science is a wonderful thing. So ladies next time you are giving your guy a hard time while you are pregnant think about how he is actually feeling. Then there is the labour part, so men don't experience that, huh? Who's hand are you crushing when giving birth, who's embrace do you crave afterwards, yeah that's right the guy. Anyway, I think you get my point on the pregnancy thing, now moving on.
Another pet peeve of mine, is women who say that men do not suffer at the hands of domestic abuse. WAKE UP! Domestic abuse happens to both sexes. Dominant women, you know women who are so self assured and confident (which of course is no bad thing) that a humble guy just can't compete. Where a man will more than likely use his fists and feet, a women will use nails, teeth, frying pans, knives. If it's not nailed down a women will fight with it. It is naive to think that no man could ever be beaten by his wife or gf or whatever, it's blindly following the flock. A man is less likely to report abuse to the cops, why? Because the cops will laugh at him and say that his pretty petite little gf could never hurt a fly. Seriously, open your eyes. Men have this image of being macho, strong, invincible protectors. They are meant to be hunter/gatherers and we are trying to take that away from. No wonder men suffer in silence. A man cries, he is a wimp, or a fag, a big girls blouse, you get the gist. And that brings me onto the subject of rape.
Yep, rape. I do not condone rape, so do not for one second think that I do. Here's another one of those newsflashes...Men get raped too. Ok, now pick your jaw up off the floor. Yes a female can rape a male, as most of us know, it's not exactly the most difficult task to get a man erect. NO means NO! Sound familiar? It should, we created it to get the message across to men that when a girl says no, it means no. Should the same not be true for guys? "Oh, but if a man is erect then he obviously wanted it!" Ok so are you telling me that if a girl gets wet while she is being raped, she is enjoying it? It's the same principal. Sure the guy got hard, but he said no. What gives a woman the right to force a guy into having sex after he has uttered that word? The courts will throw out a male rape case because the guy got an erection, it harks back to that old way of thinking, that men always want sex and that is the only thing they think about. I understand that rape cases in courts are always difficult and I do mean for everyone, even the females. It is a very muggy area of the law, there is a lot he said, she said back and forth. I get that, but how many male rape cases do you hear about in the newspapers compared to the female rape cases. Just think about it a little.
Ok I am going to do this in two entries. I will save here just now and continue on my merry rant in the next entry.
So I said I would write this rant/opinion/article up and that it would probably upset a few people, namely feminists. And before anyone starts to give me shit for it, this is my opinion and my blog and if you want to jump up and down waving your arms, then do it somewhere else, away from me. Quite frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Also please be aware that I am talking about predominantly straight guys in straight, man and woman relationships. And no I am not a homophobe, how could I be, I am bisexual. I am generalising *sigh*
Now before I start let me just say. I have always said for as long as I can remember, that the day young, heterosexual, white, non religious, single guys start protesting for their rights back, I will be protesting right there with them. I say this because well let's face it they are about the only people who do not have a clause about them. For example, an older guy can't be discriminated against because that is ageist. A coloured man can't be discriminated against because it's racism(and no I do not agree with racism in the least). A female can't be discriminated against because that is sexist. A homosexual man cannot be discriminated against because that is discrimination based on sexuality. A Christian or Muslim or any other religious man can't be discriminated against because its based on religion. What I am saying is there is an anti discrimination clause or policy for pretty much everyone apart from young, white, straight and non religious men. Now, I am not saying that these guys have it tough and nor am I saying that the types of discrimination I mentioned above don't happen. I am not stupid. I know fine well that they happen, hell I have experienced some of them first hand. What I am saying is that the world has gone mad with political correctness.
Ok so onto the original idea of this entry. International Men's Health Week 2011 has just passed us by and while doing research on this event for work, I was appalled and shocked at some of the statistics that I discovered on the website. And yes! I realise that stats can be very easily fudged but a week that is designed to raise awareness of the fact that men, although they may think they are invincible, are just as fragile as women {Here's where the militant feminists start to feel their blood boiling and start to screech that "men are not fragile, women rule but are delicate, oh noes she isn't one of us, she is a big ugly man lover"....my apologies bit of a crazy moment there, but you get my point}. Ok, now as a woman I do completely understand that men and women have different health issues, men of course don't have to go through 5-14 days of mind numbing cramps, blah blah blah. Men, don't need to worry about getting pregnant, yawn. Men don't go through menopause, am I awake yet? Men can't multitask the way a women does, boring and bullshit. A child needs its mother, yes true, but if the mother is a spaced out crack whore junkie who beats the child or who uses the child as leverage to make money, then surely the man, yes those things with penises and a Y chromosome are the better choice?? No, I must be nuts then. It baffles me that the courts throughout the world will still defend the mother even when she is unworthy of raising a dog, let alone a child. Anyhow, I digress, where was I going?
Oh, that's right, men's health issues. Sure a guy doesn't have to go through yearly pap smears, but I think what a lot of ladies forget is that come a gentleman's later years he will have to go through regular prostate exams. Now, I implore you ladies, think about how uncomfortable a particularly bad pap smear is or think about how painful a colposcopy is and then imagine that is happening in your rear end? A regular pap smear probably isn't looking so bad now. Then of course there is the period debate, as I said above, boring. Sure us females bleed for a minimum of five days every month and don't die, yes we experience mind numbing cramps that feel like our insides are being ripped apart but do you honestly, deep down think that men don't suffer during this time of month? We ladies go from zero to crazy bitch in the blink of an eye and usually the person who cops it, is....drum roll please....that's right the GUY! Who is the person that runs around getting chocolate or ice cream or hot tea when you demand it, usually the boyfriend and yet he does that for us and we rip his face off because the tea is too hot, or its the wrong flavour of ice cream or he just doesn't get it. Man (ha), I don't blame a guy for running straight to the pub. He is trying to avoid getting torn to shreds.
Next: Pregnancy! Yeah that! First of all let me get this off my chest....I am NOT a freak, because I don't want babies. I have my life, I have my wonderful guy and I have big dreams to travel. I am not interested in having children, this does not mean that those of you who do want children are somehow better than me or more successful or fufilled than me. I am not saying that I am better than those who do want children, in fact I fully support their choice. Why? Because it is exactly that, their choice, their body. My only pet peeve is young girls who do not look after the child that they parade in front of me. I have NO problem with young mums, none whatsoever, in fact power to them but do not tell me I am wrong, or selfish for my choices as a 26 nearly 27 year old woman. And now that the rant is done...Pregnancy! It's like the one argument that every female pulls in the ever lasting battle of the sexes. "Oh but men don't get pregnant, they don't have to carry a child in their womb for nine months and then have to go through labour." No, men don't have to carry a baby inside them for nine months but do any girls ever stop to think that maybe the babies daddy would swap with you in a heart beat, because if the babies daddy is a good guy he doesn't like seeing his woman uncomfortable, or is that, that crazy talk again? Good Guys? Falls over. And here's a newsflash for all you pregnant women out there...and I was shocked by this too...men actually go through a dramatic hormone change when they find out they are going to be a father. No bullshit, initially a guys fight or flight brain chemical sparks up making the guy panic at the initial stages of pregnancy. Then while the lady is carrying the child, the man's testesterone levels actually drop and he becomes more in tune with his feminine side, wow who'd have thunk it. Then nearing the end of the pregnancy a man's testesterone levels actually sky rocket in preparation for the baby's arrival, he goes into full on survival/protection mode. Science is a wonderful thing. So ladies next time you are giving your guy a hard time while you are pregnant think about how he is actually feeling. Then there is the labour part, so men don't experience that, huh? Who's hand are you crushing when giving birth, who's embrace do you crave afterwards, yeah that's right the guy. Anyway, I think you get my point on the pregnancy thing, now moving on.
Another pet peeve of mine, is women who say that men do not suffer at the hands of domestic abuse. WAKE UP! Domestic abuse happens to both sexes. Dominant women, you know women who are so self assured and confident (which of course is no bad thing) that a humble guy just can't compete. Where a man will more than likely use his fists and feet, a women will use nails, teeth, frying pans, knives. If it's not nailed down a women will fight with it. It is naive to think that no man could ever be beaten by his wife or gf or whatever, it's blindly following the flock. A man is less likely to report abuse to the cops, why? Because the cops will laugh at him and say that his pretty petite little gf could never hurt a fly. Seriously, open your eyes. Men have this image of being macho, strong, invincible protectors. They are meant to be hunter/gatherers and we are trying to take that away from. No wonder men suffer in silence. A man cries, he is a wimp, or a fag, a big girls blouse, you get the gist. And that brings me onto the subject of rape.
Yep, rape. I do not condone rape, so do not for one second think that I do. Here's another one of those newsflashes...Men get raped too. Ok, now pick your jaw up off the floor. Yes a female can rape a male, as most of us know, it's not exactly the most difficult task to get a man erect. NO means NO! Sound familiar? It should, we created it to get the message across to men that when a girl says no, it means no. Should the same not be true for guys? "Oh, but if a man is erect then he obviously wanted it!" Ok so are you telling me that if a girl gets wet while she is being raped, she is enjoying it? It's the same principal. Sure the guy got hard, but he said no. What gives a woman the right to force a guy into having sex after he has uttered that word? The courts will throw out a male rape case because the guy got an erection, it harks back to that old way of thinking, that men always want sex and that is the only thing they think about. I understand that rape cases in courts are always difficult and I do mean for everyone, even the females. It is a very muggy area of the law, there is a lot he said, she said back and forth. I get that, but how many male rape cases do you hear about in the newspapers compared to the female rape cases. Just think about it a little.
Ok I am going to do this in two entries. I will save here just now and continue on my merry rant in the next entry.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
To Come!
I am working on an article for this blog, just letting you all know that it is on it's way and it may offend some people. Not in a really horrible way, but any feminist reading it will probably flap their arms and jump up and down on my head. Ah well, this is my blog with my opinions and creativity.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Some old opinions I wrote on Ciao
Anyway I decided that music would maybe be a good place to start, seeing as I’m obsessive about it. This one though I have to say is quite difficult; pick my top ten songs out of the mass. Wow, well here I go.So what songs…...
In no particular order, for just now.Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Gary Moore – Parisenne Walkways
Pink Floyd again – Money
Something Corporate – Konstantine
Alice Cooper – School’s Out
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Around The World
Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE
Ok so now the reasons why I like these songs and I've managed to think up an order for them.So in at number ten is……..Metallica – Enter Sandman
This song, although the most well known Metallica song, always gets me singing at the top of my lungs. It starts off slowly, then suddenly the raw guitar sound that we are all used to kicks in. The song is about nightmares. And those horrible thoughts we used to have as children about monsters under the bed. This song is an anthem also. It’s not as heavy as much of the Metallica sound but it still has some seriously great solos and riffs the whole way through. I personally feel that James Hetfield's voice is quite creepy in this song. It’s only recently that I have really started liking Metallica and this is because of the Leeds Festival this year. They headlined on the Friday and ended their set with this song. Trust me when I say that a song becomes phenomenal when you hear 100,000 people singing along with the band. A true anthem of rock if you ask me.
Number nine……….Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Around The World
Personally I feel that all of the chilli’s songs are great, simply because of the pure funk sound. Catchy lyrics and bass-lines are a well known trademark of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. This song in particular is very funky and upbeat. Around the World is the first song on the Californication album, which has been their most successful album to date. And what a way to start an album off. The songs starts with quite heavily distorted bass, just a few beats on flea’s bass then in comes the funky bass-line that we all love. This goes for about four bars and in comes the guitar skills of Dave Nevaro and then Anthony Kedis (spelling) on vocals. The vocals don’t make sense, but then that’s part of the fun of listening to the song. I mainly just love the chillis for the bass skills of Flea. I recommend getting this song if you want to hear the real chilli peppers, or get something off the first few albums. Truly funky.
Number eight………..Something Corporate – Konstantine
Ok this song isn’t too rocky, in fact it’s a ballad by recently formed Something Corporate, their first single was Punk Rock Princess, you should know it; it was played often enough. Anyhow, that’s not the song I’m talking about. Konstantine is a song about a girl, aren’t they all. It is mostly piano based, but it’s such a beautiful song. There is some guitar and very quiet drumming. The first time I read the lyrics along with the actual song I was crying like a little girl. That’s about the only thing I can say about this song is that it is a gorgeous song and well to be honest it reminds me of my boyfriend. God I’m so sad. The only thing with this song is that it is just under ten minutes long.
Number seven……….Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE
Ok so yeah most people would probably disagree with me when it comes to anything by Marilyn Manson, because he is so controversial but this is one of his most recent songs and I love it. It has a plinky keyboard sound, with bass and guitar. It’s just a really catchy song. It’s absolutely brilliant to dance to at rock clubs. Some mighty strange looks when my friend and I dance to this tune. The video for this song is a bit strange; Manson has taken on a whole sort of 30’s style, wearing pinstripe suits and old army uniforms. It’s almost as if he has gone for a rich Nazi look, but he isn’t a Nazi. It’s bizarre, suits him perfectly really. It is a rock song with a jive feel to it. This I would have to say is one or his better songs. In fact I feel that the style he has went for with the music suits him down to the ground.Hmm this definitely isn’t a short opinion. So to continue.
This song, although the most well known Metallica song, always gets me singing at the top of my lungs. It starts off slowly, then suddenly the raw guitar sound that we are all used to kicks in. The song is about nightmares. And those horrible thoughts we used to have as children about monsters under the bed. This song is an anthem also. It’s not as heavy as much of the Metallica sound but it still has some seriously great solos and riffs the whole way through. I personally feel that James Hetfield's voice is quite creepy in this song. It’s only recently that I have really started liking Metallica and this is because of the Leeds Festival this year. They headlined on the Friday and ended their set with this song. Trust me when I say that a song becomes phenomenal when you hear 100,000 people singing along with the band. A true anthem of rock if you ask me.
Number nine……….Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Around The World
Personally I feel that all of the chilli’s songs are great, simply because of the pure funk sound. Catchy lyrics and bass-lines are a well known trademark of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. This song in particular is very funky and upbeat. Around the World is the first song on the Californication album, which has been their most successful album to date. And what a way to start an album off. The songs starts with quite heavily distorted bass, just a few beats on flea’s bass then in comes the funky bass-line that we all love. This goes for about four bars and in comes the guitar skills of Dave Nevaro and then Anthony Kedis (spelling) on vocals. The vocals don’t make sense, but then that’s part of the fun of listening to the song. I mainly just love the chillis for the bass skills of Flea. I recommend getting this song if you want to hear the real chilli peppers, or get something off the first few albums. Truly funky.
Number eight………..Something Corporate – Konstantine
Ok this song isn’t too rocky, in fact it’s a ballad by recently formed Something Corporate, their first single was Punk Rock Princess, you should know it; it was played often enough. Anyhow, that’s not the song I’m talking about. Konstantine is a song about a girl, aren’t they all. It is mostly piano based, but it’s such a beautiful song. There is some guitar and very quiet drumming. The first time I read the lyrics along with the actual song I was crying like a little girl. That’s about the only thing I can say about this song is that it is a gorgeous song and well to be honest it reminds me of my boyfriend. God I’m so sad. The only thing with this song is that it is just under ten minutes long.
Number seven……….Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE
Ok so yeah most people would probably disagree with me when it comes to anything by Marilyn Manson, because he is so controversial but this is one of his most recent songs and I love it. It has a plinky keyboard sound, with bass and guitar. It’s just a really catchy song. It’s absolutely brilliant to dance to at rock clubs. Some mighty strange looks when my friend and I dance to this tune. The video for this song is a bit strange; Manson has taken on a whole sort of 30’s style, wearing pinstripe suits and old army uniforms. It’s almost as if he has gone for a rich Nazi look, but he isn’t a Nazi. It’s bizarre, suits him perfectly really. It is a rock song with a jive feel to it. This I would have to say is one or his better songs. In fact I feel that the style he has went for with the music suits him down to the ground.Hmm this definitely isn’t a short opinion. So to continue.
Number six……..Alice Cooper – School’s OutSo again this is one of the most popular and well known songs and it may mean you all end up thinking that I have only been into music for a short time, you would be thinking wrong, these are just songs that to me are worthy of top ten. This song is just rock, maybe not at its best but it’s a great song. Another anthem if you ask me. Every year when school finished up I just sang this to myself, while ripping up old notebooks because I knew I wouldn’t need those notes ever again. The week before the school’s closed their doors for summer I would be on top of the world Hey I like learning but oh the thoughts of summer. I personally feel that this song is universal, it doesn’t only involve schools, and you could quite easily apply this song to work. Especially if work is a desk job, just change the line Schools Out forever to Works our forever. And you still use pens and paper at a desk job so when he says No More Pencils, No More Rulebooks. Hey it all works. Again another anthem one that is for everyone.
Number five…….Pink Floyd – MoneyI am in love with this song to be honest. Partly because it was the first song I ever learned to play on bass, now admit it, the bass in this song is brilliant. It’s funky, it’s smooth and it’s just downright great. It’s a fair task to play as-well, which makes it all the better. I’m a huge Pink Floyd fan so maybe I’m biased. They are just one of those bands you either hate or love there is no in between. What I find really funny also is that in the film The Wall, the teacher gives the boy into trouble for writing poetry and it turned out the poetry he was writing ended up to be one of the biggest songs by Pink Floyd. True talent that’s what is attractive about Pink Floyd. This song has a great catchy bass-line, it has guitar solos, it has great but slightly odd lyrics and it has a saxophone solo. What else can you ask for? This song is five to six minutes of genius. New Car, caviar, four star daydream, I Think I’ll buy me a football team. And it continues pretty much like that the whole way through. Brilliant.
Ohhh getting close now…….Number four – Queen Bohemian RhapsodyYes it’s obvious, but it’s simple. It’s possibly one of the best songs on the planet and everyone knows it, lyric wise I mean. It’s the best song to sing at karaoke, it’s good just to bounce about to, it’s good to sing when there is any alcohol involved and it’s just brilliant. Starting off slow and melodic, jumping into a strange guitar sound, then it goes heavy and seriously who can resist the head banging urge when Freddy Mercury starts, I’m Just a poor boy. You can’t its not possible; you just get taken away with it. A comedian I watched once managed to do a country version of the song…fab! That’s another admiral trait of the song; it’s so easy to make fun of. Like all queen songs they hit the right notes. Whether it is a very random song, like Bohemian Rhapsody or Bicycle Race or whether it is a song like Who Wants To Live Forever, they all touch the soul. It’s simple. Queen were and always will be one of the greatest rock bands in the history of our time. Freddy Mercury will always be loved.
Now for my top three songs.
Number three…….Gary Moore – Parisenne Walkways
Gary Moore, who used to be a guitarist for Thin Lizzy, progressed on to be one of the best blues/rock ‘n’ roll artists ever in my opinion. The way he makes that guitar squeal amazes me, and he is even better live. Now I have to say that although this song again is probably his most well known, I think it is one of his best. That guitar becomes a part of him. The song is about remembering a time with a partner. It is soulful and I could honestly listen to it for hours on end and never get bored of it. That note that he holds about half way through, hits home with me every time. You know, trivial fact, that note was in the world record books at one point for being the longest held note, so there you go. Such a powerful song. So typically blues and just so great to listen to especially when the only light in your room is candle light.
Number two……..Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
I couldn’t not put a Nirvana song in my top ten because next to Pink Floyd they are my favourite band. So you have probably noticed that my favourite is not Smells like Teen Spirit, even though I accept that it was their biggest song. This song is just brilliant. The lyrics are a little strange, but then most of Nirvanas lyrics were. Kurt never wrote to make sense or to be popular; he wrote what was in his head. The song was written after Courtney gave him a box shaped like a heart funnily enough. This song is just powerful, the guitar riffs and lyrics all fit in so well. This song reminds me of lots of people and lots of events. There really is no need to explain.
And finally my Number one song is…..dum de dum dum…….Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Ok again with the Pink Floyd, but this song is 6 minutes of brilliance, there is nothing else to it. This song has two guitar solos in it; both send shivers up my spine. This song is absolutely amazing and when you see being played in the film it reaches down and just grabs your soul. The lyrics again are strange but they mean a lot. This song is also one of those songs that sound even better in the dark or when your under the influence….I’m not suggesting you all go out and get drunk to appreciate the song, you don’t need to you can get drunk on the song itself. It’s so mellow but yet the meaning behind it is not. In fact you know there are no words that can describe why I love this song so much. Just listen to it.
So there you have it, my list of top ten songs. I have to say though that a lot of the ops I read I agreed hugely with, especially all the references to black Sabbath, kiss, ac/dc, iron maiden etc etc etc. Sorry if I bored you.
Now for my top three songs.
Number three…….Gary Moore – Parisenne Walkways
Gary Moore, who used to be a guitarist for Thin Lizzy, progressed on to be one of the best blues/rock ‘n’ roll artists ever in my opinion. The way he makes that guitar squeal amazes me, and he is even better live. Now I have to say that although this song again is probably his most well known, I think it is one of his best. That guitar becomes a part of him. The song is about remembering a time with a partner. It is soulful and I could honestly listen to it for hours on end and never get bored of it. That note that he holds about half way through, hits home with me every time. You know, trivial fact, that note was in the world record books at one point for being the longest held note, so there you go. Such a powerful song. So typically blues and just so great to listen to especially when the only light in your room is candle light.
Number two……..Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
I couldn’t not put a Nirvana song in my top ten because next to Pink Floyd they are my favourite band. So you have probably noticed that my favourite is not Smells like Teen Spirit, even though I accept that it was their biggest song. This song is just brilliant. The lyrics are a little strange, but then most of Nirvanas lyrics were. Kurt never wrote to make sense or to be popular; he wrote what was in his head. The song was written after Courtney gave him a box shaped like a heart funnily enough. This song is just powerful, the guitar riffs and lyrics all fit in so well. This song reminds me of lots of people and lots of events. There really is no need to explain.
And finally my Number one song is…..dum de dum dum…….Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Ok again with the Pink Floyd, but this song is 6 minutes of brilliance, there is nothing else to it. This song has two guitar solos in it; both send shivers up my spine. This song is absolutely amazing and when you see being played in the film it reaches down and just grabs your soul. The lyrics again are strange but they mean a lot. This song is also one of those songs that sound even better in the dark or when your under the influence….I’m not suggesting you all go out and get drunk to appreciate the song, you don’t need to you can get drunk on the song itself. It’s so mellow but yet the meaning behind it is not. In fact you know there are no words that can describe why I love this song so much. Just listen to it.
So there you have it, my list of top ten songs. I have to say though that a lot of the ops I read I agreed hugely with, especially all the references to black Sabbath, kiss, ac/dc, iron maiden etc etc etc. Sorry if I bored you.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
So I figured it was about time for another review. This time I am composing it straight after reading the book. Apologies if it is a little rough around the edges, it has been a while since I wrote anything remotely meaningful. Please note I may edit this later, as I am writing it straight off the top of my head. Either way I hope you enjoy.
Initially I bought the Ranger's Apprentice series for my partner to read, I wasn't overly interested in reading it. However, after seeing not only my partner, but two of his friends read and love it, I figured I would give it a go. Can't hurt, right?
Book one follows the adventures of Will. Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapons: a bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, will finds that a Ranger's weapons are not so useless after all.
To be honest, I initially found the book quite difficult to read. The first sentence does not instantly grab the reader, but I persevered and continued to read. After that initial hurdle, I found myself hooked. The book actually introduces the bad guy, Morgarath, in the prologue and within the first page you want to know what he is up to and you instantly dislike him. This brings us to the first chapter of the 33 chapter book where we are introduced to our main character, Will, who incidentally is extremely nervous about the upcoming Choosing ceremony. As I read, I found myself immediately on Will's side. He is the sort of character that even at the beginning you know you are going to get attached to, the character that will inevitably stand out in your memory. In this initial chapter, we are also introduced to Will's circle of friends who make up an integral part of the story. There is Jenny, the friendly and cheerful, slightly plump soon to be cook; there is Alyss, the tall, elegant, blonde diplomat and there is also George, the weedy, nervous lawyer type. These three characters show sympathy towards Will and each of them makes an attempt to comfort him in his hour of need, which is more than can be said for Horace, the brutish bully who incessantly picks on Will. Horace and Will have a long standing rivalry that plays a pivotal part in who they both become further in the book.
So our characters all progress onto their chosen apprenticeships and our main character grudgingly accepts the invitation from Halt, to be a Ranger's Apprentice and from here I found it impossible to put the book down for any other reason than the call of nature.
Throughout the novel John Flanagan takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself laughing, crying and even holding my breath in fear at some points. I believe that the sign of a good book is in its ability to transport the reader 100% into the written world and in its ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you find yourself blinded by tears because of some incident in the book, or if you find yourself uncontrollably laughing out loud then the author has done exactly what they set out to do. The Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan does this and it does so with ease. The use of descriptive language puts John Flanagan up there with the likes of Robert Harris and Charles Dickens. You see, hear, taste and feel the atmosphere of the dark and looming forests, you shiver at how desolate the Solitary Plain is and you find yourself cringing, along with the characters, at the sound of the Stone Flutes.
During Will's adventures he gets given his very own Ranger's horse, Tug. Ranger's horses are a very special breed, they are small and stocky, nothing in comparison to the regal Battlehorses, however they are known to be able to canter for a significantly longer time period than the well groomed battlehorses. When we are first introduced to Tug, there are many comedic moments between him and Will, as the young apprentice tries to get used to the creature. Ranger's horses are peculiar in that they seem to understand language and as a by product have developed their own means of communicating. Tug appears to have a stubborn and rebellious personality and tends to clash with Halt, the senior Ranger, over how many apples he should be allowed. As the reader you simply cannot help but fall in love with the small pony and when he seems to be in danger you are fearful for him.
As an opening book for a series of ten The Ruins of Gorlan definitely sets the mood and leaves the reader raring to read the next installment. One great advantage to this book, despite it's 30 or so chapters, they are short, well written and incredibly well paced. I started reading this novel after midnight last night and finished it at about 4.30pm this afternoon. It is a must read book and I am glad I put my original cynicism aside. I look forward to reading the next nine installments.
Rating: 4/5 purely because the first line didn't instantly excite me
Recommend: Definitely
For further information visit www.rangersapprentice.com.au
Thanks for reading, please feel free to leave any comments below.
Initially I bought the Ranger's Apprentice series for my partner to read, I wasn't overly interested in reading it. However, after seeing not only my partner, but two of his friends read and love it, I figured I would give it a go. Can't hurt, right?
Book one follows the adventures of Will. Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapons: a bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, will finds that a Ranger's weapons are not so useless after all.
To be honest, I initially found the book quite difficult to read. The first sentence does not instantly grab the reader, but I persevered and continued to read. After that initial hurdle, I found myself hooked. The book actually introduces the bad guy, Morgarath, in the prologue and within the first page you want to know what he is up to and you instantly dislike him. This brings us to the first chapter of the 33 chapter book where we are introduced to our main character, Will, who incidentally is extremely nervous about the upcoming Choosing ceremony. As I read, I found myself immediately on Will's side. He is the sort of character that even at the beginning you know you are going to get attached to, the character that will inevitably stand out in your memory. In this initial chapter, we are also introduced to Will's circle of friends who make up an integral part of the story. There is Jenny, the friendly and cheerful, slightly plump soon to be cook; there is Alyss, the tall, elegant, blonde diplomat and there is also George, the weedy, nervous lawyer type. These three characters show sympathy towards Will and each of them makes an attempt to comfort him in his hour of need, which is more than can be said for Horace, the brutish bully who incessantly picks on Will. Horace and Will have a long standing rivalry that plays a pivotal part in who they both become further in the book.
So our characters all progress onto their chosen apprenticeships and our main character grudgingly accepts the invitation from Halt, to be a Ranger's Apprentice and from here I found it impossible to put the book down for any other reason than the call of nature.
Throughout the novel John Flanagan takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself laughing, crying and even holding my breath in fear at some points. I believe that the sign of a good book is in its ability to transport the reader 100% into the written world and in its ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you find yourself blinded by tears because of some incident in the book, or if you find yourself uncontrollably laughing out loud then the author has done exactly what they set out to do. The Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan does this and it does so with ease. The use of descriptive language puts John Flanagan up there with the likes of Robert Harris and Charles Dickens. You see, hear, taste and feel the atmosphere of the dark and looming forests, you shiver at how desolate the Solitary Plain is and you find yourself cringing, along with the characters, at the sound of the Stone Flutes.
During Will's adventures he gets given his very own Ranger's horse, Tug. Ranger's horses are a very special breed, they are small and stocky, nothing in comparison to the regal Battlehorses, however they are known to be able to canter for a significantly longer time period than the well groomed battlehorses. When we are first introduced to Tug, there are many comedic moments between him and Will, as the young apprentice tries to get used to the creature. Ranger's horses are peculiar in that they seem to understand language and as a by product have developed their own means of communicating. Tug appears to have a stubborn and rebellious personality and tends to clash with Halt, the senior Ranger, over how many apples he should be allowed. As the reader you simply cannot help but fall in love with the small pony and when he seems to be in danger you are fearful for him.
As an opening book for a series of ten The Ruins of Gorlan definitely sets the mood and leaves the reader raring to read the next installment. One great advantage to this book, despite it's 30 or so chapters, they are short, well written and incredibly well paced. I started reading this novel after midnight last night and finished it at about 4.30pm this afternoon. It is a must read book and I am glad I put my original cynicism aside. I look forward to reading the next nine installments.
Rating: 4/5 purely because the first line didn't instantly excite me
Recommend: Definitely
For further information visit www.rangersapprentice.com.au
Thanks for reading, please feel free to leave any comments below.
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