Fireside football ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful and, do you know what, I'm really getting into the fact that this year's world cup is in the 'winter'. Gone is the guilt of a July tournament, sitting in front of the telly on a glorious summer's day, missing out on a tan, worrying about how much gardening needs to be done. Oh yes, this way it's so much better. The weather outside is frightful - far too horrible to be out there gardening - and you can't beat stacking up the wood-burner ready for the first afternoon kick-off of the day, so yeah, bring it on. Even my teams have joined in with the feel-good stuff, with 6-2 and 4-1 wins in their first matches ..

England, England, allez les bleues ... 

(Today's shot? One of my earliest ever colour slide photographs, taken circa 1977 outside an electrical store in Eccles.)

COP out!

 

I'm a bit confused. It seems the Egyptian COP 27 climate talks have been hailed a great success .. yet not a thing's been done to slow the burning of fossil fuels. It would appear that the ever-hastening decline of the planet is not really of any concern as long as the world's richer planets pay the poorer ones for some of the damage it causes. I mean, fucking crazy, or what???..

We can't go on like this. Something has got to change. But it never will, will it? I'm not going to spout on as if I knew the answer, 'cos I don't, but having eight billion people on the planet is never going to help, is it? So yes, I'll put my recycling in the correct bins, cycle rather than drive if I can and watch the developing world pop out those wee bouncy bundles of fun. Aw, lovely .. 

 

 

 

Read all about it .. or not!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention I'd written some books? 'Page 99, by Joe Bancroft', SNAPS, and an illustrated children's book series about Space. Anyway, time for an update on their sales. 'Page 99' got off to a flying start, and I've sold at least 20 copies since it launched in June. SNAPS is a different matter. It launched a month ago and to date has sold .. one copy. My children's books have sold none at all.  (Stop playing that violin!!)

Like I've said in my blogs, I knew it was going to be a tough job to get the books out into the public realm, but I didn't think it would be this hard! Why not help a starving author and treat yourself to a nice Christmas present at the same time? You can find details of my labours here ..  Merry Christmas!

Oh baby ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I find it rather depressing to hear that there are now more than eight billion people on Planet Earth. Eight BILLION!! Isn't that horrendous? But what I find odd is that no-one ever seems to mention the population as a cause for the global climate mess we're in now. It would appear that 'having a child' is everyone's inalienable right, which is all well and good but half the people in the world can't afford the kids they've so desperately wanted. The headline next to the 'eight billion' is the forthcoming famine in Somalia ..

Blackmail, kidnap and sponge-cake ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the radio today I heard 'Don't stop the cavalry' by Jona Lewie and I froze. What? Christmas songs already? But we've only just hit November ..

Fear not. If the thought of the approaching Yule has sent you into a present-buying frenzy then I can help. I have the perfect gift for the person who has everything. My second novel, which I launch today and just in time, if you ask me ..

SNAPS is about the members of a Yorkshire camera club, following their lives and photographic projects as well as - as a pal of mine so succinctly put it - their petty rivalries, backbiting and illicit sex! All that and blackmail, kidnap and sponge-cake (as it says on my back cover!) And don't worry if you have no photographic knowledge. You won't need any of that pesky stuff as you follow the fourteen club members on their adventures around South Neldon ..

The book costs a mere tenner and, funnily enough, I highly recommend it! Search on Amazon in your country. 

UK readers can buy a copy here, US readers here, French readers here and Aussie readers here ..

Enjoy!!!!