| Author | Message | ||
     Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
There's a book launch and reading at the British Library, London, on October 28th in aid of the "Read for READ" charity anthology. READ International are a charity devoted to increasing literacy by shipping free books to Africa. So far they have shipped nearly 1,000,000 books. They are publishing an anthology to raise money for the charity. The anthology contains the winners of a short-story competition held earlier this year, and also a few guest stories by a handful of invited writers. It's a cause I believe in and I'm in the book, so I may be going to the reading, if I can drum up the cash for a visit to ultra-expensive London. The British Library is one of the finest venues for a booklaunch in the world, frankly; and if you happen to be in the area at the time, I definitely recommend going to this event! Click on this link for more details: http://sut1.co.uk/l/c.php?c=9913&ct=102031&si=32756303&u=rhysaurus Regards, R! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Would love to go to this, Rhys, but being in Warsaw, travelling so far in such a short space of time is pretty much out the window for me (I also don't fly, coward that I am). But I hope it's a great day, and that READ go from strength to strength. Do you contribute to this charity, Rhys? How do they work? | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.31.170.240 |
London, London, London. What's up with Barnsley, I ask ya? Seriously, good luck with this, Rhys. I must say, you're being very charitable this year. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
Yes, Gary. I try to contribute to every charity anthology that asks me for a piece -- if I'm in sympathy with that charity's aims. It's my moral duty, of course, though I am aware that the "road to hell is paved with good intentions". Back in 1994 I worked for Oxfam raising money for Hutu refugees in Rwanda -- the rather sizeable sum we collected ended up in the hands of militias who used it to buy weapons to prolong the war. By trying to make things better, we made them worse. Frank: I was very impressed with Warsaw when I went there back in 1999. A fine city indeed! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Rhys - its a great city. If you ever come this way again, give me a shout, there's always a spare sofa in our place...BUT the dogs will want to climb over you as is their want with guests. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
I don't have any immediate plans to travel back that way, but I'll remember your words, Frank! Thanks! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
I know that, mate (well actually I don't, but you know what I mean), but as I said, if you do, the offer always stands. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
> ...if you do, the offer always stands. Unlike the old Jewish ghetto, eh? :-) | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Unfortunately. Not that there are any Jews left in Poland. Which was a big shock to me when I arrived. I thought that after 89' a lot of Jewish expats would have returned, but they didn't. Naive? Yes, I am. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
I went exploring the remains of the Jewish ghetto when I was there; there's almost nothing left, of course. But I found the bunker of the 'last stand'. The district of Warsaw where I stayed was Praga -- where the Soviet tanks stopped and refused to help the Armia Krajowa against the Nazis. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Jesus, I just finished a story called the Bus To Praga about two months ago. You can still see the bullet holes in some of the old tenement buildings. It's the roughest part of Warsaw, for Poles that is. For the average British person it's nothing. They now have a new museum dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 44'. Have yet to go there, but I hope( almost used hopefully, but after reading Strunk on this, it would be grammatically incorrect from the most pure of purists viewpoints) to do so soon. That sounds trite, and insincere, probably typical of many a native speaker, but Warsaw's huge, and even after a year, there's so much I've got pencilled down. I did go the week the museum opened but the lines were so long, that I'd never have got in and left on time to get back to work. (Excuses? Frank) | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Rhys - what did you think of the Palace of Culture and Science. Stalin's 'little' architectural gift to Poland? | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 62.121.31.177 |
Frank: I'm ashamed to admit that I quite like Soviet skyscraper design. That style was even better when it was proper Russian Futurism, of course: my big regret in this regard is that Tatlin's Tower was never built. BTW, why are you telling Jesus about your 'Bus to Praga' story? He only travels via donkey. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
No, mate, I actually like it too. I've told a few people this, Polish people, and they usually smile at me in a way which suggests I'm crazy. But to be honest, a lot of people from Warsaw admit they quite like it. The story goes that the mayor of Poland was told to choose from three 'gifts', from Stalin, that would benefit Warsaw. The first was an underground system. The second a new series of roads. The third, the building you see today. The mayor asked for the other two first, before he was told that 'of course, his first choice of the Palace of Culture and Science' was most wise, and gracious. They did actually try building an underground system in the late 50's, but it was found to have sprung several dangerous leaks from the Vistula. The story also goes that the chief engineer and architect were terrified of telling Stalin that it wouldn't work in the geographical locations as Stalin had requested. Only when Stalin died did they scrap the idea and halt the work. I have tried finding somebody who can show me round the original site, but so far, no show. I had a story in mind, but alas it must bide its time. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Rhys - with regards to Jesus, some crackpot group of zealots have demanded that Jesus be proclaimed the King of Poland! They say this is only right on account of Mary being the Queen. This all comes after a 'stand-off' occurred between these ultra-ultra-right-wing fanatics and the 'normal everyday' folk clashing over a cross that had been put outside the presidential building in 'honour' of the former president (who I'm sure you will remember reading died in a plane crash). The dispute was that it should stay, while everybody else thought this was going too far, and was obviously the work of zealots without much in the way of 9 - 5 work to keep them occupied. It was bizarre. The press had a field day: cameras, barricades and thousands of people all stood around waiting to see what would happen. Most Poles were embarrassed by it all. They were sorry the president had died, but elevating him to the position of unofficial martyr (though exactly how this works considering the tragic circumstances aside, is anybody's guess) seemed both hypocritical and totally unwarranted. Poland is currently going through a slow transition in which religion is steadily being unseated, and replaced with common sense. But only last week the education minister stated that lesbians in teaching were a threat to the 'country's' children! This obviously caused outrage, with people clamouring for her dismissal, but as yet nothing has happened. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 80.4.12.3 |
Turns out the "Read for READ" charity booklaunch in the British Library, London, Thursday 28th October, is by invite only! Oops -- I plugged it as if it was an open event! But I've been told that if anyone wants to go, I can get them on the guestlist, so let me know if you're interested in attending and I'll get an official invite for you! I'm not in the habit of inviting the general public to private events! This one should be good, though! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
TOO late, I'm about to parachute in through the windows...and of course my entourage will be on the verge of kicking the doors down if denied entry  |