Diary of a writer’s day.

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Guess who this is?Now that I am retired I can write all the time if I want. It’s great.

Looking at my blog I couldn’t help but notice that there are visitors from all over the world and a complete array of cultures. It occurred to me that it might be interesting to see what is happening to me in a fairly typical day. This is a diary of today Sunday 22nd of February 2015:

Following a restless night I woke at around seven a.m. but didn’t get to rouse myself until 7.50. I got up washed, weighed myself and dressed in my track suit (every other day I do my exercise – 30 minutes on the treadmill at 6.1) and headed to the kitchen. I made a cup of tea and took one in for Liz who was still sleepy.

I went out to my room and checked my emails and blog. This usually either makes me feel happy or annoyed depending on how much junk, traffic, likes or comments I get. Today was mediocre – not much traffic, little likes, no comments but not a lot of junk.

I went back in and prepared breakfast for myself, (listened to the news of all the latest atrocities carried out in the name of religion, selfishness, greed or hatred), which was a bowl of porridge. I clear up the kitchen and load the dishwasher. I ate my porridge quickly and took my book to the front room with another cup of tea. I was finishing ‘One of our Thursday’s is Missing’ by Jasper Fforde. It took me an hour and a half.

I repaired a curtain rail that had pulled loose and was hanging out of the wall.

I went to my room and began work on my Rock Tributes book rewrite. I had finished the first draft of the Nick Harper book the day before and fitted the photos in. I needed to put some distance before going back to it.

My room is about twenty by fifteen feet and jammed full. I am surrounded by my hundreds of Sci-Fi books, about 100 Beat Generation books, my collection of three thousand vinyl records, ten thousand CDs, hundreds of biographies and books on Rock Music, drawers of vinyl singles and my two computers. There is a big window over the garden. I find this conducive to writing. I am cocooned with my stuff (This is all the things Liz doesn’t like cluttering up the house. But I am allowed to keep my mainstream novels in doors). I am a little obsessive!

I started reading through, correcting, editing, adding and reworking passages. I break twice for loo and cups of tea. Outside is cold  around 7 degrees C. and drizzling. My treadmill is in the garage and I put off doing my exercise; besides the writing is going well.

I occasionally check the blog and emails. Liz calls me in for lunch at 1.00 pm. just as I was about to steel myself to do my exercise.

Lunch is salad, salmon, pasta and fried mushrooms. I started reading a new book – about adoption – by Sally Donovan.

I wash up. Liz asked me to cut up a Buttermilk squash that she wants for soup. I do that and head out to do some more writing. At four fifteen I go and do my exercise, shower, make some tea, lay the wood-burning fire so that it’s ready to light this evening and head back to my room.

I then write this diary.

I will write for another hour, go in and make some more tea and a cinnamon bagel with butter.

This evening I am off to York to see John Cooper Clarke live at the Duchess. I’ve got my camera and a couple of albums to sign. My mate Mike Green is going with me. It’s about an hour’s drive away. I’ll get back about 1.00 am. We’ll have a laugh and a pint. We’ll get to have a chat with Johnny.

That’s about how it goes. I wonder how that compares with your day?

Writers, singers, artists and the purple patch.

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freedom

How many times have you found a creative person hits a patch where they can do nothing wrong. Everything they touch is brilliant. Then they lose it. They can never get it back again. Everything becomes mediocre.

If you take a writer like DH Lawrence – The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love – then ……… a bunch of others …. then Lady Chatterly’s

A singer like Dylan – Bringing it all back home, Highway 61 & Blonde on Blonde – then Bob Dylan, Self Portrait and even New Morning.

What is going on?

Of course some get it back again for another flourish. That happened with Dylan. Others are consistent throughout.

I’m absolutely sure that as much effort went into writing ‘The boy in the bush’ as ‘Women in love’. One is brilliant the other dull.

My Ten favourite books (Not as easy as you might think!)

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Opher's World Books

Choosing ten favourite books is almost impossible. I love books and must have read thousands. A while ago I started to realise that some of my favourite books I had not read for forty years. So I went back and reread them. Sadly a number of them did not stand up to the scrutiny.

This list will change daily but it is fun to do (They are not in any particular order):

a. On the Road – Jack Kerouac

It is a book of its time but I love reading it. The flow of the words as they tumble along in that stream of consciousness. I am aware of the sexist irresponsibility of the beast but it is so full of life. It was the first book that dared to say there was an alternative to the machine of the establishment. I love its vitality and daring.

b. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest – Ken Kesey

The film was good but, as is often the case, the book is so much better. In the book Murphy is a side character. The action takes place in Chief Broom’s head. It is a book about freedom.

c. The Magus – John Fowles

I adored this book. It played with your head so that you did not know what to believe. It was so well written that it drew you in. The trouble is that you cannot reread it once you know what happens and I was a bit disappointed with the ending.

d. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie

This was an Indian Sci-Fi book for me. It was so funny, textured and fast moving. I’ve just realised that I want to reread it again.

e. The Tin Drum – Gunter Grass

I often have two books on the go and I read this one at the same time as the Rushdie. They both had a similar feel for me. I loved the humour, Sci-Fi element and pace. I also loved the message in it.

f. Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami

All Murakami’s books have a surreal quality to them. They feel other-wordly. I lose myself in them. It was a toss up between this one and most of the others. IQ84 is probably just as good.

g. Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck

The story of the dust bowl refugees so strongly put you could feel the injustice and persecution. I used to prefer East of Eden as a story but having reread that I’m back to this one as his best.

h. Whit – Iain Banks

I loved all Iain Bank’s books and especially his culture series. The Wasp Factory was exceptional but Whit blew me away.

I. 1984 – George Orwell

I used to prefer Keep the Asphidistra Flying but I’ve come back to this one. It is still chilling. Our society is controlling. Big Brother really does live.

j. Lady Chatterley’s Lover – D. H. Lawrence

Women in Love, The Rainbow and Son’s and Lovers all do it for me but I think Lady Chatterly’s was the one that captured his philosophy.

k. The Tropic of Capricorn – Henry Miller

He started modern writing for me. The bohemian dream in New York and Paris. This book encapsulated it.

l. Journey Beyond Tomorrow – Robert Sheckley

Sci-Fi is one of my passions. I don’t like Fantasy but something that makes you think. Sc-Fi, when it’s good, is about the possible.

m. For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway

A story of love and betrayal in the hopeless morass of the Spanish civil war. The fight against fascism undermined by intrigue. A great book.

n. 2001 A Space Odyssey – Arthur C Clarke

I could put a whole lot of Sci-Fi in here but Arthur really painted a picture here and the film, for once, captured it.

o. A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess

How the imagination runs riot. A great book.

p. A Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood

A horrifying story of how religious fanaticism can destroy people. I think I preferred Oryx and Crake as a story but this really told a chilling story.

q. The Book of Dave – Will Self

Will Self surpassed himself on this one. I loved the apocalyptic story.

r. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro

The way he captured the time and feel of society in Britain back in the 1930s was spectacular. The aristocracy looking to appease Hitler – brilliant.

Well that must be ten by now (and I’ve just got in my stride). I’ll have a think. There’s some I know I’ve missed out of my top ten that definitely should be there!

What sort of World do you want to live in? I want tolerance, peace, beauty, harmony, friendship, smiles, laughter, argument, wild things, wilderness…….

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I want diversity, difference of opinion, creativity, expression, freedom of speech, straight talking, listening, freedom, good books, safety, security, ability to travel and see wonders, awe, art, music, more friends, my family, sport, controversy, less people, more trees, more animals (apart from spiders), understanding, compassion, respect, empathy, time, responsibility, sex, cuddles, hugs, grins, guffaws, alcohol, rights, disagreement, projects, problems and solutions, education, fulfilment, wisdom, an end to superstition ………..

What do you want?

What are you building?

How are you making it better?

I’m looking for a new positive zeitgeist!!

 

Books I have read since retirement update!

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I feel good!!!

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Retirement is a great idea. I wish I could have done it earlier. It is just like how I was hoping my life was going to be when I was a young idealistic kid. I had dreams of doing my writing and making a living out of creating. It would not have been work. I was not after wealth or fame – just the means to earn a modest living and do what I wanted to do.

That didn’t work out. Reality intruded. I had to get a job. But I was lucky. I got a job teaching which was great, fitted in with my philosophy and I made a career of it.

I said when I retired that I was going to read, write and travel. That’s what I’ve done. I’ve travelled the world, written thirteen books and read 154. That’s not bad for three and a half years!!

These are some of the books I have written:

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This is an updated list of the books I’ve read recently:

Books I have read since retiring Sept 2011

1.Just Kids Patti Smith
2. Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel
3. Norwegian Wood Haruki Murakami
4. Kafka on the Shore Haruki Murakami
5. Maggie Girl of the Streets Stephen Crane
6. Great Singers of the 2oth Century David Spiller
7. East of Eden John Steinbeck
8. God is not Great Christopher Hitchins
9. The Alchemist Paulo Coelho
10. Full Dark No Stars Stephen King
11. 3 Cups of Tea Greg Mortenson & David Relin
12. Birdie Kurt Vonnegut
13. 11.22.63 Stephen King
14. IQ84 – Book 1 Haruki Murakami
15. IQ84 – Book 2 Haruki Murakami
16. IQ84 – Book 3 Haruki Murakami
17. Good Man Jesus scoundrel Christ Philip Pullman
18. After dark Haruki Murakami
19. After the quake Haruki Murakami
20. Long walk to forever Kurt Vonnegut
21. The Optimist Lawrence Shorter
22. The Atheist’s Bible Joan Konner
23. The portable Atheist Christopher Hitchins
24. The vanishing elephant Haruki Murakami
25. Salmonella men on planet porno Yasutaka Tsutsui
26. The Chrysalids John Wyndham
27. Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad
28. A long way down Nick Hornby
29. Blind willow, sleeping woman Haruki Murakami
30. My dear I wanted to tell you Louisa Young
31. Grimus Salman Rushdie
32. South of the border West of the sun Haruki Murakami
33. The Return Victoria Hislop
34. Stonemouth Iain Banks
35. The girl at the Lion D’Or Sebastian Faulks
36. The Long Song Andrea Levy
37. Underground Haruki Murakami
38. My Family and other animals Gerald Durrell
39. One Flew over the Cuckoos nest Ken Kessey
40. Hard boiled Wonderland and the end of the world Haruki Murakami
41. Red Gary Neville
42. The colour of Magic Terry Pratchett
43. The light fantastic Terry Pratchett
44. Dance Dance dance Haruki Murakami
45. Portnoy’s complaint Philip Roth
46. The lost Symbol Dan Brown
47. Guards Guards Terry Pratchett
48. What I talk about when I talk about running Haruki Murakami
49. A Maggot John Fowles
50. Who I am Pete Townsend
51. The story of Free & Bad Company Steven Rosen
52. Sputnik Sweetheart Haruki Murakami
53. Mr Stone and the knights companion V S Naipal
54. The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
55. Mister God, I am Anna Finn
56. The Birthday book Haruki Murakami
57. A precocious autobiography Yevgeny Yevtushenko
58. The wind-up bird chronicles Haruki Murakami
59. Siddharta Herman Hesse
60. Hydrogen Sonatta Iain M Banks
61. The bonesetters daughter Joy Tan
62. Keep the Asphidistr flying George Orwell
63. Birds, animals and friends Gerald Durrell
64. Garden of the Gods Gerald Durrell
65. Andy Warhol Diaries Andy Warhol
66. First born Arthur C Clarke
67. Sweettooth Ian McEwan
68. Arguably Christopher Hitchins
69. Bring up the bodies Hilary Mantell
70. Equal Rites Terry Pratchett
71. Mort Terry Pratchett
72. Cutting for stone Aham Verghese
73. Sourcery Terry Pratchett
74. The particular sadness of lemon cake Aimee Bender
75. The dovekeepers Alice Hoffman
76. The Ginger Man J P Donleavy
77. The great Gatsby F Scott Fitzgerald
78. Dharma bums Jack Kerouac
79. For whom the bell tolls Ernest Hemmingway
80. A wild sheep chase Haruki Murakami
81. Fug you Ed Sanders
82. A hat full of sky Terry Pratchett
83. Ring world Larry Niven
84. Wintersmith Terry Pratchett
85. The Quarry Iain Banks
86. Stoner John Williams
87. Blowing the Blues Dick Heckstall-Smith
88. The heart of things A C Grayling
89. Things the Grandchildren should know Mark Oliver Everett
90. Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
91. The Comfort of Strangers Ian McEwan
92. The Trial Franz Kafka
93. Tarantula Bob Dylan
94. Bound for glory Woody Guthrie
95. Flaubert’s parrot Julian Barnes
96. Talking it over Julian Barnes
97. Raw spirit Iain Banks
98. The favourite game Leonard Cohen
99. Beautiful losers Leonard Cohen
100. Corrections Jonathan Frantzen
101. The Stranger Albert Camus
102. The three Musketeers Alexander Dumas
103. After the flood Margaret Atwood
104. Hellraiser Ginger Baker
105. A Casual Vacancy JK Rowling
106. Wind through the Keyhole Stephen King
107. The Ragged Trousered Philantropists Robert Tressell
108. Maddadam Margaret Atwood`
109. Ringworld Engineers Larry Niven
110. The sense of an ending Julian Barnes
111. Ringworld children Larry Niven
112. Breakfast of champions Kurt Vonnegut
113. The blind assassin Margaret Atwood
114. The Midwich Cuckoos John Wyndham
115. The Rights of Man Thomas Paine
116. Wyrd Sisters Terry Pratchett
117. Juliet Naked Nick Hornby
118. Confessions of a crap artist Philip K Dick
119. Doctor Sleep Stephen King
120. White Rooms & imaginary Westerns Pete Brown
121. Moral disorder Margaret Atwood
122. The hare with amber eyes Edmund de Waal
123. Apocalypse D H Lawrence
124. The Cosmological eye Henry Miller
125. The last continent Terry Pratchett
126. Thud Terry Pratchett
127. A tale for the time being Ruth Ozeki
128. Survivor Chum Mey
129. Falling leaves Adeline Yen Mah
130. Catch 22 Joseph Heller
131. Go Now Richard Hell
132. Bluebeard’s egg Margaret Atwood
133. Life before man Margaret Atwood
134. Life after life Kate Atkinson
135. The Who & the story of Tommy Nigel Cawthorne
136. Mr Mercedes Stephen King
137. Umbrella Will Self
138. The Eyre Affair Jasper Fforde
139. The Children’s act Ian McEwan
140. The Magic of Reality Richard Dawkins
141. The Shack Wm Paul Young
142. The last interview Kurt Vonnegutt
143. Strong motion Jonathan Franzen
144. Soul Music Terry Pratchett
145. The sun also rises Ernest Hemingway
146. The Woman who died a lot Jasper Fforde
147. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki Haruki Murakami
148. On the Road – original scroll Jack Kerouac
149. Discomfort zone Jonathan Frantzen
150. The Establishment and how they get away with it Owen Jones
151. The Kill List Frederick Forsythe
152. The Song of the Quarkbeast Jasper Fforde
153. One of our Thursdays is missing Jasper Fforde
154.

Do I love my country?

Posted on by Opher

Well yes and no!

I am British and for the most part I take pride in being British. I love the good things about Britain and I despise the bad things.

These are some of the bad things I hate about Britain:

a. The Old Boy network and Masons who are part of the establishment that create all the jobs for their own and set the tone and agenda.

b. The xenophobia and arrogance of the establishment who despise foreigners and think we are superior.

c. The class system and narrow mindedness.

d. The prudishness and hypocrisy.

e. The inability to be unrestrained.

f. The racism, homophobia, sexism and intolerance in certain groups of society.

g. The control of the media by the wealthy which removes objectivity and creates control of people’s views undermining democracy.

h. The inequality of wealth and privilege creating an arrogant upper class and downtrodden under-class.

I. The lack of a global perspective to solve political, pollution, social, population and environmental problems.

j. The arms trade and willingness to use war before all else has been tried.

k. The way we allow government and big business to run rough-shod over the environment.

m. The insane stupidity of our archaic justice system where the rules have made it a game instead of a means of creating fairness and justice.

These are some of the things I love about Britain:

a. It’s social history of dissidence and demands for equality, democracy and freedom.

b. It’s civilised way of life with it’s tolerance, freedom and rule of law.

c. Its freedom of expression, freedom of speech, tolerance of religious and political belief, democracy and right to protest.

d. The cosmopolitan, mongrel, population which gives it so much strength and vitality.

e. The British innate sense of justice, fair play and to root for the weak and under-dog.

f. The examples we set the world in abolishing slavery and bringing in democracy.

g. The industrial revolution, our imagination, invention and creativity.

h. Our arts, dance, music, literature and culture that has enriched the world.

I. Our language which is a hybrid of so many languages that its richness and nuance enables such a diversity of expression.

j. Our love of animals and loathing of cruelty.

k. Our National Health Service which is free for everybody without regard to wealth, class or colour.

l. Our eccentricity and love of quirkiness in people and things.

m. Our sense of humour and self-deprecation

 

I do not see myself as British. I see myself as human. I want a global perspective to deal with the crazy excesses of globalised industry and business, pollution, crime, intolerance, overpopulation, human migration, pollution, environmental degradation and deforestation.

Europe is a step in the right direction. The sooner we rid ourselves of countries, nationalism, racism, xenophobia and the idea of religion the better.

Humans need to be united without regard to colour, creed or religion. There’s only two types of people : the good and the bad.

The good are the ones caring

The bad are the selfish bastards who are taking, imposing and destroying

The Purpose of life!!

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As an antitheist I am often accused of being pointless.

Far from it. I am not at all depressed by the knowledge that my life is finite. I opened my eyes on this incredible universe sixty five years ago and at some point in the next thirty five years, maybe today, I will close them forever.

For me the universe will cease to exist just as it did before I was born.

In some ways that is sad and I can see how some people might find that frightening and pointless. I don’t.

I would find the idea of living forever excruciatingly tedious. What would you do for all that time? It would be a jail sentence. What mysterious purpose would there be to that? There would no be a purpose. You cannot hide a lack of ultimate purpose behind  either – ‘God has a plan’ or ‘We have to progress through many stages and lives’ – that is merely a psychological cop out.

No. I am happy with a finite life. It means that every second is precious. Every moment has to be wrung dry of all possible joy. It will not come round again.

So, if there is no ultimate purpose then what is the thing that makes life worth getting up for? (And yes by the way – I am a very moral person. I do not need some religious doctrine and fear to make me moral. Morality makes sense. It is a philosophy that brings happiness.)

Here are the reasons to get out of bed. This is my ABC of life:

a. Love

b. Fun

c. Making the world a better place

d. Awe and wonder

e. Creativity

f. Solving the problems

g. Enjoying the splendours

h. Exploring everything

I. Reading

j. Writing

k. Sharing

l. Appreciating a nice meal, a glass of wine and good company

m. Arguing and educating

n. Speaking out against the madness

o. Caring for other animals

p. Looking out for the plants

q. Learning from history

r. Sport

s. Driving

t. Swimming in a cool pool on a hot day

u. Looking up at the stars and drifting to infinity

v. Getting an idea for a story, painting, poem or dance

w. Thinking

x. Singing and playing music

y. Appreciating art, theatre, dance, drama, music, poetry …….

z. Dancing

I think that’s probably quite enough to fill a life-time or two.

Education – the only hope for humanity. Dispel ignorance and promote equality.

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Education is the only real hope for the world. It dispels ignorance, counters fascism and fanaticism, promotes tolerance and equality and helps find the answers to problems.
we have to solve the population crisis before nature is overwhelmed. We have to solve inequality before we destroy ourselves.
Education can do that.

We can build a better zeitgeist. We have the power.

we need to give half the world to wilderness or we will destroy life on this planet. The only way out of a crisis is by educating people.

Peace, love and happiness. It’s not a dream! We teach our children well and teach them to care! If we empower them they will solve all the problems.

537 Essential Rock Albums pt1 – I bet there are a few in here that are brilliant that you’ve never heard of!!

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If you like Rock Music then I’m your man!!

I’ve lived through it all!! I’ve seen them all!! I’ve heard them all!!

This book takes you through my choice with my reasons. It’s a book to dip into and enjoy. You’ll find out stuff you didn’t know. It’ll open your eyes to new things to explore and you’ll find out why I love it!

Extract from Opher’s new book – Opher’s Art and Outpourings – pt 11

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IMG_0508Alien Vision in blue – 1972

Pete drew two of these. I coloured them in. I would not give it the grandiose description of saying that I painted them.

This blue alien seems more manic to me. The red one always looked benign and Buddha-like. This one has some potential to be a little evil.

Who knows what values aliens might have? They could espouse the same peace, love, happiness, tolerance, freedom, caring, helpful and humane attitude as me. On the other hand they could be warmongering fascists.

Whatever they are it will be quite a shock for mankind as a species when we do encounter them.

If they are more intelligent and more technologically advanced it could prove a fatal blow to our pride from which we may never recover. One only has to look at what has happened with human beings around the planet. When Europeans, with their belligerent attitudes, intolerant bigotry, religious fanaticism and superior technology encountered indigenous cultures in other parts of the world they decimated them. It was not merely the genocide that the arrogant invaders waged against the endemic populations so much as the debilitating psychological impact that was wrought. Despite the fact that the American Indians, Australian Aborigines, South American Incas and New Zealand Maoris were every bit as intelligent the impact of coming up against such superior technology made them feel substantially inferior and robbed them of their self-belief. Their cultures were all but destroyed. It has taken them centuries to recover from that impact. Their societies are still riddled with alcoholism and drug dependency.

The same thing may well befall all humanity when we finally become contacted by aliens. The best thing about it though will be the way it will blow all that religious twaddle into the air. The universe will no longer have been made just for our benefit. Who knows what aliens will believe?

That gives you an idea of the book. It is short and sweet with my paintings, philosophy and ramblings. It gives you an insight.

You can buy it from Amazon (along with all my other books):