OCCUPIED COUNTRY

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OK. Today started fine. Dearest, Eldest, Ed the Blue and myself retired to local number one (blue through and through) to watch Fulham and City scrap a 1-1 draw. Just as the full time whistle blew though, we got a phone call from my Mam; my Dad had fallen in the bathroom and couldn't get up. So off we shot in a Taxi and Dearest and I (bad foot an' all) manhandled him into his favourite chair.

Apparently he'd been trying to shower himself in order to go to the pub this evening. The poor bugger had to give up that idea. Hopefully next week eh Dad?

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After an hour or so we came home and cracked a bottle of wine while we had beef, roast spuds and yorkshire pud. Dearest then expressed a wish to watch a DVD of "Persuasion" - a BBC adaptation of the Ms Austin novel. Consequently I expressed a wish to leave her to it. She was asleep within 15 minutes.

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So finally, I have a look at my regular blogs abd discover that TimesNewRoman has challenged me to answer the following questions:-

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

I took this to mean which book would you memorise? If so then I'd have to say "The English Passengers" by Matthew Kneale. A darkly comic expose of the clash of Western and Aboriginal morality in 19th century Tasmania. A classic. If it means which book to burn then I'm with TNR - anything that claims to have come from the mouth of God.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Mrs Amelia Underwood in Moorcock's "Dancer's at the End of Time" trilogy. I was very impressionable at the time. Strangely, I shared a taxi from Sheffield to Manchester with Moorcock years later. I must write about that.

The last book you bought is:

"Chronicles Vol One" Bob Dylan.

The last book you read:

"A Year in the Merde" Stephen Clark

What are you currently reading?

"Chronicles Vol One" Bob Dylan. It's surprisingly good as well.

Five books you would take to a deserted island:

"The English Passengers" by Matthew Kneale. Because genocide isn't a purely 20th century phenomenon. "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown. Because genocide isn't a purely 20th century phenomenon.. "Revolution in the Head" by Ian McDonald. Because I could read this again and again and again and again. "The Complete Pratt" by David Nobbs. I'll need a good laugh. Finally "Old Glory by Jonathon Raban. A masterpiece of travel writing as the author sails a 16 foot aluminium skiff down the Big Muddy. Philosophy, reportage and a masterful ability to bring the landscape to life.

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

I will invite anyone who feels the need to dive in.