The Invisible College Trilogy: Draft Cover for Book I August 2015
A pleasant surprise late last night when I received the draft covers for Book 1 of The Invisible College Trilogy, due for publication 'within weeks'. Above is the complete cover. I am delighted that the designer has succeeded in taking a poor quality 19th century image, in the public domain, coloured it and integrated it into […]
The Invisible College Trilogy: Publication Date News, July 2015
As the planned publication date approaches, the tension is rising. With the writing of the complete trilogy now complete, there is a void in my days that cries out to be filled with the next stages of activity: marketing, publicity, promotion and I hope most importantly, planning for the possibility of a follow up, whether […]
May 2015: The Suffolk Show
Like most agricultural shows, the Suffolk Show, held annually at Trinity Park, Ipswich, is a mixture of competition, commerce and entertainment, equally enjoyable for the farming community and a family day out. The grounds open at 7 a.m. Events take place throughout the day, some starting as early as 7.15 a.m. It is worthwhile arriving […]
Tirta Empul: A Holy Spring and Temple in Central Bali
Pura Tirta Empul dates from around CE 960, when a temple was built on the site of the spring. According to legend, the ancient ruler Mayadanawa angered the gods by suppressing Hinduism and the freedom of his subjects to worship freely. An army, led by the god Indra, pursued Mayadanawa, who poisoned a nearby river making the troops […]
Rabat, Morocco: A Brief Selective Tour. Part III East of the Centre
The kasbah and the medina represent one side of old Rabat. A more classical aspect is to be found to the east of the centre. The main sights of Rabat are within half an hour's walking distance of each other but for those who so choose, taxis are inexpensive. The Tour Hassan was design as […]
Rabat, Morocco: A Brief Selective Tour. Part II The Medina
The best way to begin a tour of the medina is from the top of the Rue des Consuls, so named as, a century ago, it was home to diplomats. It was a pleasant surprise to find that in this whole area of small shops and stalls, weaving through a ancient residential quarter, there was absolutely […]
Rabat, Morocco: A Brief Selective Tour. Part I The Kasbah
Rabat was a surprise. Just a three-hour direct flight from London Stansted, a modern city with cosmopolitan hotels, restaurants, art galleries (closed the day I intended to visit) and efficient transport including trams. Most importantly and interestingly for a visit, it has a rich heritage of vernacular and formal architecture, an exotic and mysterious kasbah and […]
The Invisible College Trilogy: Volume III Complete
After more than ten years, The Invisible College Trilogy is complete and almost ready for publication. Volume III has been the most difficult to write, with the multiple challenges of plot resolution, consistency across all three volumes and decisions of which issues to leave open or unresolved. Over the next few weeks, with the assistance […]