Chester on Saturday 3rd Dec 2011

If you wondered about the outcome of the Chester Library Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Group meeting then a link to another blog is here. Alex Greene wrote that superb summary and assessment of the books we discussed and finally picked on. I dithered over whether to pick Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles for my unmissable Desert Island Book but chose in the end that strangely compelling fantasy The Collector Collector by Tibor Fischer.

I was upset on my walk into the city for that meeting. Once our own children grew up and left home I didn’t give infants much of a thought. Then grandson Oliver came along followed a year later by Amy and they’ve changed my life. I can’t walk past charity shops without popping in to rummage their toy baskets instead of just the books and DVD shelves. Yesterday, a young woman sat on a low wall with a little lad about Oliver’s age (nearly 3). The woman was unscrewing the cup/cap off a vacuum flask. I saw the clouds from the hot liquid but didn’t know what beverage it was. As I passed I thought, “Surely not…” I was wrong. A few steps later and I heard the little lad cry, followed by the woman cry. I turned and saw the woman trying to finger the scalding drink from the poor boy’s lips. Luckily, I always carry a water bottle. I rushed back to them and offered cold water. The woman was too distraught to do anthing but said, “Yes, please, thank you.” in an Eastern European accent. Not the time, and no time, for remonstration, I took her cup, emptied the still steaming contents and poured in cold water. The boy took it and bubbled his lips and drank. Hopefully, his blisters won’t bother him too much.

A few minutes later I, like so many other onlookers, watched in amazement at a man in a top hat and tails playing a piano while cycling it into the heart of Chester. I have no photograph of him but he is on YouTube playing while cycling at other events. Good for you, Rimski – here is a link. Good to see both my hobbies together – bicycling and piano playing.

Yeay, Maggie Ball, who runs the famous Compulsive Reader website has bought a copy of my SF mystery – Exit, Pursued by a Bee for her dad, who is convalescing. Let’s hope the ironic comedy, the sex in space and mysteries will pull him through. If you know someone who will hug you for a copy then go to my web page with reviews and links here.

Tags: Book Group, Exit pursued by a bee