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Archives for May, 2012
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Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross – book review
This is the 10th of the 40 books I got for my birthday. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and got through it faster than I expected. The review below contains spoilers (below the cut). This is a relatively hard SF book that explores ideas around a post-human robot civilisation with themes of slavery, corruption and what it is that makes tick. The plot that does this is like a corkscrew and at times it takes surprising directions. [DN: link to Charlie's blog post here. (more…)
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Black Watch by Tom Renouf – Book Review
This is a campaign history written by a veteran of 5th Bn Black Watch who later became the secretary of the Highland Division Association. Direct personal accounts, both from the author and other veterans, are used to tell the story of the 51st Highland Division in a very personal way. This book offers some new perspectives on the battles of the 51st, especially those in the final months of the war in which the author was personally involved. (more…)
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A Daughter!
Earlier today, we went on a family trip to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with one of Alexander's friends. We managed an early start, and were there for the place opening at 10am. The morning was spent in Action Stations, an interactive play area with lots of simulators and things to do. The kids loved it, and so did I (although I don't think I'll qualify to fly Merlin helicopters). Tracy even managed to have a go on some of it. After lunch (about 1230) we decided to go and see HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. On the way round Tracy mentioned that she'd felt something strange inside her, but wasn't sure what it was. I waited with the kids at the bottom of the gangway onto HMS Victory while Tracy went to the toilet. After a…