D-DAY AT WORK! Oh and Cyril Hare.

Well today had to arrive eventually, the day when I would discover whether I still had a job or not. Well the good news is that yes I still have a position at work. The bad news as far as I am concerned is that I have a live 12 month gross misconduct on my file. Something that doesn't sit too well with me.


Cyril Hare is the pseudonym of Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark. 1900-1958. His stories tend to concentrate on Legal matters, eg. Divorce, Wills and the asylum laws from the first half of the 20th century. This is undoubtedly down to Clark being, firstly a barrister and later a county court judge. In 1924 he was called to the bar, In 1933 he married Mary Barbara Lawrence, a union that produced a son and two daughters. In 1958 he was sadly taken ill and died.









"With A Bare Bodkin" By Cyril Hare, first edition published by Faber and Faber, London 1946, P183.




"Best Detective Stories of Cyril Hare" By Cyril Hare, first edition published by Faber and Faber, London 1959, p272.


A small sub-note about Cyril Hare. In the 1930s, he resided in Cyril mansions, Battersea. And worked in Hare courts, Temple.

Some new books.....hopefully.

At long last, a second Malcolm Torrie book has surfaced on e-bay. Malcolm Torrie is one of Gladys Mitchell's pseudonyms, and although I have obtained roughly 40 of her books, I only have 1 other by "Torrie". This could be a very welcome addition to my library. However a word of caution to myself and everybody else, books by "Torrie" are more scarce than those by Glady's. Beware of competition and wallet damage potential.

The one book that I do own is, "Bismark Herrings" First edition printed, 1971, by Michael Joseph London, p231.

Chocolate cobwebs, a super blog http://chocolatecobwebs.blogspot.com/ which I always check for new posts, has a passion especially for interesting and quality covers. My hands are tied to a certain extent as I tend to only show 1st edition covers, however there are exceptions ( See WHAT IS GOING ON ) This cover is one of my favourites. It is by John Storey, who is now someone I will have to research.

I have recently obtained my second Cyril Hare book, and will tell more next time.

Is it me?

I have just had the long awaited revisit by a social worker, Hilary. So I am getting somewhere at last with my CBT. Well, no actually, all she has to say is her team have looked at my case, but because Asperger is more of a specialised area, she feels that I would be better served by a CBT team from Leicester. So she asked for my permission to refer to said team for an assessment. Yet another assessment.

Some time scale here. My report was completed in Feb' this year, recommendation for CBT enclosed, the social worker assess me on 23/05, and then turns up today 18/06, to tell me that I now have to wait for an appointment, not yet made to be assessed again.

Social workers get a bad press sometimes, but I have always held the opinion that they do a good job in a difficult environment. Now however, I have come to the conclusion, that Hilary at least, just either isn't bothered or is incompetent. Or on reflection, even worse, is both. Some of my traits are that I can get very emotional, feel empathy and have a need to see that people come first. What do I do for a living, providing I keep my job, I work in a warehouse. The more I think about it ( A dangerous exercise, and one that shouldn't be taken without a lot of thought..........mmmmmmmm) the more I realise that the world has gone Arse about Face.

Anyway, on to other matters. Jayne and I have booked return flights to Shannon Airport in Ireland. Leaving 09/10/08. Returning 13/10/08. We are looking to stop in the village of Doolin, County Clare for the 4 nights, but as yet have not made any reservations regarding B&B. This is because Doolin seems inundated with places to stay. We have made quite a long short list, and have decided to phone each one looking for the best deal. This will be our first trip to "The Emerald Island" and so we're look forward to it with eager anticipation.

One or two Gladys covers, let me say that all covers shown are from my own "library" and not just blagged.

"Adders on the heath" First published Michael Joseph Ltd, London. 1963. p240.

"Convent on Styx" First published Michael Joseph Ltd, London. 1975. p205.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

We went Car Booting on Sunday, and I can safely say that this is a wonderful way to appreciate the full diversity of the human race. Let me give you some examples, some would be customers will select an item, then ask how much? You reply 20p , they then say I'll give you 10p. You reiterate 20p, they say again 10p. Words fail me sometimes 20p or 10p? They walk away when they can't have it for 10p...........Tossers! Other people know they are getting a bargain and treat you with more dignity and respect, accept the asking price and pay with a smile, it is these people that make the day worthwhile, the other sort.......Tossers.
I took a load of Agatha Christie paperbacks, some 1960s publications, gorgeous covers, only 50p each. Not one sold. Philistines. I did sell about 4 horror books, mostly vampire based tales to a young lady. I asked which authors she liked, got the usual answer King, Herbert and Koontz, so I showed her a book by Stephen Laws called Chasm, suggested she give him a go, and thankfully she did. I can only hope that I have saved another soul from falling into the bottomless pits of convention, conformity and dullness.

"The Hollow" First published 1946 by Collins Crime Club. This edition 1963 Fontana books, p190.

"Ordeal by innocence" First pub' 1958 by Collins Crime Club, this edition 1961 Fontana books p192.

"The mysterious affair at Styles" First pub' 1920 Bodley Head, this edition 1962 Pan books ltd, p188.

"The Murder at the Vicarage" First pub' 1930 Collins Crime Club, this edition 1961 Fontana books p191.

"The Sittaford Mystery" First pub' 1931 Collins Crime Club, this edition 1961 Fontana books p189

"Three Act Tragedy" First pub' 1935 Collins Crime Club, this edition 1962 Fontana books p192

"Lord Edgware Dies" First pub' 1933 Collins Crime Club, this edition 1962 Fontana books p192

Baseball update. Fleckney Flyers 341 overall, 13 in the BJ div.

Nice 'n' Sleazy 212 overall, 8 in the BJ div.

Hello to Kay, I am liking your blog more and more, will e-mail soon. Best of health and happiness to all your family and friends.

Pearls of wisdom, or Confucius says.....

For those who don't know Charlie Chan, look and learn.

What is wealth? Write down a list of friends and you have answer.

A women's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Do not follow on the heels of a sorrow, or it may turn back.

Under a strong general there are no weak soldiers.

There is a time to fish, and a time to dry the nets.

All mischief comes from opening the mouth. (I like this one.)

The deer should not play with the tiger.

Hear twice as much as you tell.

Can you dispel fog with a fan.

Talk will not cook rice.

Can the morning dew fill a well?

Fortune calls at the smiling gate.

I never yet smashed promise to a friend.

The ignorant are never defeated in argument. (Oh, how true?)

When the dinner is ended, who values the spoon?

Honey in the mouth often means poison in the heart. ( I have met several people that adhere to this.)

The drum which makes the most noise is filled with wind. ( My absolute favourite.)

The stupidest man in the town may point out the road to the school.

I am dull and stupid but often the gods go out of way to take care of such.

All these come from the back cover of Charlie Chan Carries On. Written by Earl Derr Biggers. First published by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis 1930. Pages 334.

Baseball update; Fleckney Flyers 367 overall, In 13 BJ div

Nice 'n' Sleazy 271 overall, In 9 BJ div.

Kay, I do so hope you enjoy the book, but please be warned Glady's is a required taste, and she is so not Agatha Christie/Ngaio Marsh. This may not be the best book to break your Glady's "Virginity". However I have every faith in you, enjoy.

A little more

The situation at work is presently on hold, as both my rep' and I felt that we had grounds to put in a grievance against the way and time that the whole process had taken.

A little bit more about the way things are broken down in my own mind, and the reasons I think I do what I do. Numbers seem to be prevalent in a lot of my thought processes. To give you some examples of what I am rabbiting on about, when washing the pots up, I feel compelled almost every time to count the number of pots, be they plates, bowls, cups, glasses, pans or anything of significance (Ignoring cutlery). What now happens is that if the pots total 12 for example, every time I wash one 1/12 of the job is completed. Hence two pots equals 1/6 th , three equals 1/4, and so on. This coincides with completing the pots against a time constraint.

This is a typical process and is often applied in the wide and varied aspects of what constitutes as my life. Needless to say that any interruption in the complex thought process that I often implement, could cause added stress, particularly as it may jeopardise the time schedule I place on whatever I may be doing at the time.

As I am still trying to understand my "Peculiarities",

whether this is the norm for people with Aspergers or more particular to me, I don't yet know. What I do know is that it can drain enormous amounts of my mental energy, and sometimes leaves me completely knackered.

Fantasy baseball time, Fleckney Flyers 329 overall, 13 Blue Jay div'

Nice 'n' sleazy 183 overall 7 Blue Jay div'

After struggling for so long in my vain and ignorant way to try and get any book by Gladys. I finally managed to find this Penguin. It gives me great pleasure to think that my first Gladys is now Kay's first Gladys.