Category Archives: Blog

Clash of Empires- Ben Kane. Novel review

Posted on March 11, 2020 by garylongden

  This was my first introduction to Kane’s work I was disappointed. It was swamped by too much unnecessary detail, diluted by multiple sub plots which either went nowhere or added little, and was careless with character. In one strand … Continue reading →

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Traitors of Rome – Simon Scarrow, Novel Review

Posted on March 11, 2020 by garylongden

  The eighteenth instalment of the “Eagles of the Empire” series takes our leading protagonists to the Eastern edge of the Roman Empire, Parthia, for their latest adventure. Aficionados, of which I am one, will find it fits like a … Continue reading →

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“A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With Jeremy Corbyn” – An Evening with Jess Green at the Lichfield Hub

Posted on December 8, 2019 by garylongden

  I had heard much of Jess before, but never seen her perform. I have also lived around Lichfield for almost thirty years, but never seen St Mary’s Church upstairs used as a performance space. So I approached the performance, … Continue reading →

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A Day With the World’s Fastest Hypnotist

Posted on November 15, 2019 by garylongden

Jane Osborne’s  life is wonderfully full, and busy. Sometimes too busy. Last week she  had the pleasure of a day’s training with internationally renowned hypnotherapist Freddy Jacquin at the UK National Hypnotherapy Conference in London. Simultaneously, Sean Michael Andrews, the … Continue reading →

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NEC – Well Being Show, 1st – 3rd Nov, 2019

Posted on November 14, 2019 by garylongden

I have had numerous enquiries from within the MBS community about Jane Osborne’s experiences of exhibiting at the above event. Rather than reply individually I thought that I would do a blog to both reply to one and all, and, … Continue reading →

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Kyrenia Castle, Cyprus

Posted on October 13, 2019 by garylongden

  I love castles. I love their physical solidity, even when ruined. They endure over the centuries. Their stone is steeped in power, domination, unexpected frailty, bravery, treachery, betrayal and the elements. They were built as statements, to control, protect, … Continue reading →

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Barrie Masters -Eddie and the Hot Rods

Posted on October 11, 2019 by garylongden

As a young man I became accustomed to rock stars dying, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Ronnie Van Zandt ( the latter of whom I saw play live) most notably. It seemed distant, and there was … Continue reading →

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Serendipity

Posted on June 27, 2019 by garylongden

I have flown on many occasions. The thrill now dulled by the snaking airport queues for check in, passport checks, security checks, and boarding checks, before being herded into seats so rigid and short of legroom, that there must be … Continue reading →

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Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975 by Max Hastings – book review

Posted on March 12, 2019 by garylongden

  I was a young child living in America from 1965- 68. Although too young to make an informed judgement myself, nonetheless, the Vietnam War created an indelible impression on me. Every television and radio bulletin carried a butcher’s bill … Continue reading →

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Chantel McGregor – Flowerpot, Derby

Posted on December 15, 2018 by garylongden

It has been a considerable length of time since I last went to a gig to see a headline artist whose material I had never heard. But my friend Gary, who had seen Chantel four times before, highly recommended her, … Continue reading →

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