It's a wonderful life!!

So here we are! Christmas 2015, and all my presents are wrapped, the logs are burning on the fire  and no human personage can get near it for assorted feline and canine associates.

I thought  I'd do a wee tour of this Christmas in my house.

We will be watching  this.....

We didn't send any of these, we gave the money  to charitable causes instead as I think many people do in these times of austerity.

We do have a few of these hanging from various unsuitable places.....

Here is what Jeff is wearing on his head over the festivities. The first picture is him when presented with the bill...

And here he is when Barbara offers to pay it.....

This is my Christmas tree..note the star hanging at an angle of what ??? A drunk Glaswegian off a lamp post? That's the way we roll....

 Alan's favourite- the festive village.... people move in and out, the wee train goes choo choo, it drives everybody bloody nuts!!!

 Stockings are hanging up ready, all four legged friends have them as well.

 Mathilda attacks this every year, this wee deer has more puncture repairs than the final stage of the Tour De France.

Not everybody is happy though...

And you can see why....

 Mrs Brambles, the dark one.....

These guys bop about to Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. We play it in the practice and if patients donate 50P to charity we turn it off. If not- they have to suffer....

( Mathilda chewed this and got a bad case of tinsellitis)

The table, getting ready for the feast...

 Alan recalling his days as a rock star..( yes he was ... honestly!!). Mathilda gets too close for her sensitive ears and...

 legs it out the dining room. Alan was a drummer, not a singer. His singing resembles a bagpipe going through a food mixer.

But more sensible things are happening elsewhere....

70 degrees in Baltimore with Sujata and Tony.. ( is that lots of lights outside or clever reflective photography???)

Meanwhile in New York City, a feast is taking place Annamaria style... and that is a sign of a good feast...no left overs. That  table is empty!!

I think this is Stan telling Santa where to go. He knows where my house is and that's all he needs to know!

Stan and Santa getting very matey indeed! 

Or is that him visiting the national Elf Service.....

Can you guess who has this as a Christmas tree....

Yes, Michael. He'e got it right - wine,  no neighbours,  no washing up!!

So.. a merry Christmas from me and mine to you and yours, wherever you may be.

May yer lumb never stop reekin'

Caro ( Santa's little helper) Christmas Day 2015

Geseënde Kersfees en 'n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar! (Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!)

Michael - Thursday

We have a tradition of spending Christmas and New Year in the bush at Olifants River Game Reserve with our friends Aron and Jenny Frankental. I’ve written about our bungalow before, and how being in the wilderness areas of Africa recharges batteries for me that seem to be running on empty by this time of the year. It’s also time for reflection on the year that is past – the ups and the downs.  There have been downs – some we have all shared in this turbulent world, and a few personal ones as well. But there have been so many ups also.

It’s been a great year for Kubu! Orenda – our great new British publisher which one year into its history is hitting the top selling mystery lists – released the new Kubu mystery in South Africa in July followed by an ebook in November.  Orenda has plans to reissue the complete series in the UK starting with Deadly Harvest in time for Crimesfest in Bristol in May, and A Death in the Family to coincide with the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Writing festival in Harrogate to which we have been invited in July. In November, A Death in the Family made a splash in the US when Minotaur released it there. Even if we can’t live on our royalties yet, we can at least cover our drinks. If we stick to tap water that is. And the next Kubu book is with both our editors. Of course, we’re awaiting their input with bated breath, but we’re already thinking about the Kubu after that, as well as various other projects. But those are topics for next year.

Back to the bush. Christmas here will have only one traditional aspect: we will cook a turkey, although probably it will be eaten cold in the evening. Some fruit cake and cream will follow or perhaps a cherry flambé. Tuesday was our first cool day which followed a spectacular electric storm all around us on Monday evening, but unfortunately missing our area since we really need the rain. The bush is drying quickly and the river is as low as it was in mid-winter.  These storms can be extremely localized. Last week we had 4 inches of rain – about a quarter of our summer season rainfall – measured at the main office, but hardly any fell outside the reserve – only about a ten mile radius. The bush was transformed after that with grass springing up overnight, and animals, who seem to just know where the rain fell, trekking in.

The days before Tuesday all reached 100 degrees and Monday hit 105 before the said storm. Not really conducive to the standard Christmas day lunch pig-out, so the festivities will be delayed until the evening. No doubt a few glasses of wine will be shared. (An odd phrase that; I’ve never willingly shared my glass with anyone!) And the moon – near full – will be glistening in the water of the river in front of us. Possibly it will light the way for a herd of elephant or buffalo to the water.

As for what we have already seen so far, let me show you through some more of Aron’s pictures. Water is the center of everything here at the moment; most of these pictures were taken along the river that flows in front of our bungalow. (All pictures copyright Aron Frankental.)

Buffalo coming down to drink opposite our bungalow

And heading off

This leopard settled for a pool from the rain

Thirsty herd

Drinking NOT from the river

Nyala

White rhino bull enjoying the river

Disturbed afternoon nap

Let me finish with a brain teaser. What do you do when on a narrow road with a sheer drop on your left, three elephants walking up behind you, an angry one approaching rapidly from the right and one in the road ahead? This is not a trick question. I had to find the answer yesterday!

I believe that this year all my cowriters on Murderiseverywhere will be celebrating the holidays in the northern hemisphere, so their Christmases will be much more traditional. I wish them all a joyful and white Christmas with family and good friends. Thanks Annamaria, Cara, Jorn, Sujata, Stan, Caro, Jeff, Susan and Zoe for your friendship and your words.

Happy Christmas to all readers wherever you are.  And as this is my last blog for 2015, I want to take the opportunity of wishing all of you everything you would wish for yourselves for 2016.

Coquilles de Noêl etc

Chanukah is over and it's almost Christmas, le Noêl in France. Here's a quick glance at some unusual ways the holiday is celebrated in the land of the Gauls. Some I knew about, others not and maybe you do - anyway hope you enjoy. Coquilles de Noel

Since the 16th century, people of the Nord Pas-de-Calais region have been testing their arteries with a type of brioche, or sweet bun, filled with butter, sugar, and raisins. Bakers in the north churn out these pastries, made in the shape of coquilles or shells, every December. According to France 3, a document from 1579 states that the sweets were thrown to the people from the top of the belfry tower. Les Santons of the South

Nativity scenes are popular throughout France, but the people of Provence put their own unique spin on them with small, clay figurines called santons, or "little saints". These figures, traditionally handmade at home as a family, can be vegetable sellers, bakers, men selling chestnuts, local dignitaries, or other personalities from daily village life. These nativity scenes are supposed to be representative of the ideal Provencal village. Marseille holds an annual Santon Fair at the end of November to kick off the holiday season. 13 desserts in Provence

One dessert is not nearly enough if you’re celebrating Christmas in Provence. It’s tradition to have thirteen dessert options after the Christmas meal, to be shared by everyone, symbolizing the sharing of Christ. These desserts traditionally include pastries, candied fruit, dried fruit, and nougat. Floating carol singers in Colmar

In the Little Venice of Colmar in northeastern France, children decked out in red Santa hats sing Christmas carols on boats along the canal. They make four stops throughout the city centre, performing four or five songs each time to the audience gathered on the quays. “Many of them only join the choir for this event,” their director, Evelyne Fleck, told Source d’Initiatives Magazine. “What they really love is singing all huddled together on the boats, in the cold at night in front of large crowds." Wishing you and your loved ones Joy in the holidays, Cara - Tuesday

A Different Kind of Not-So-Holiday Star...

--Susan, every other Sunday

According to the Bible, and Christian tradition, the magi followed a star to find the location of the Christ child. The Star of David (or "Shield of David") is heavily associated with Judaism, and appears on the Israeli flag. The star and crescent symbolizes Islam...

... and one of the most famous ninja weapons (in fact, the only unique ninja weapon most people know) is the shuriken, also known as the "ninja star."

Actual ninja stars, on display at the Iga Museum 

SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

The word "shuriken" literally translates "behind-the-hand knife" or "hand-hidden blade," and though most Westerners think of shuriken as "throwing stars" the word actually refers to a much more general type of weapon--a knife or blade that a person can easily conceal in the hand. 

In truth, shuriken weren't always thrown, and they came in many different shapes, only some of which were stars: 

BO SHURIKEN

Bo shuriken (also called "stick shuriken") were essentially sharpened iron spikes, either square or rounded in shape. This type of shuriken was generally thrown, though shinobi (the Japanese word for "ninja") also used them for stabbing in close combat.

Antique bo shuriken (Iga Ninja Museum)

HIRA SHURIKEN

Hira shuriken (also called "sha-ken"), were normally flat and came in a variety of shapes, including the familiar five and six-armed stars. 

 A display of antique hira shuriken.

This type of shuriken also took the form of crosses, triangles, and even swastikas (a shape and symbol that had very different meaning in Asia, and before the twentieth century).

18th century hira shuriken on display at the Iga Ninja Museum.

Most commonly, hira shuriken were used as fist load weapons, held or concealed in the hand with points protruding between the fingers. In close combat, pointed fist load weapons cause significant (often fatal) injuries, and make the user difficult to disarm.

A MULTI-PURPOSE WEAPON

The shuriken demonstrates a cardinal aspect of shinobi weapons and tactics: the emphasis on multi-purpose gear. Ninjas worked in secret, and had to avoid detection, so lightweight gear and minimal baggage were vital to survival. A tool which filled many different roles was better than one that offered only a single or limited range of purposes.

A ninja could use a shuriken as a throwing or stabbing weapon, a cutting tool, and in any other circumstance where a blade might come in handy. Although its primary purpose was as a weapon, shinobi training taught ninjas to be resourceful, creative thinkers and problem solvers.

And shuriken fill one more purpose, too...

...they just allowed me to write a murderous holiday post that's full of stars.

Wishing you, and your family, a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season.

A Mystery Writer's Night Before Christmas, Redux

Jeff—Saturday

To all of you from the many different corners of our world who so kindly follow us on MIE the very best of the Holiday Season, no matter how you may choose to celebrate the time.  For many of us it’s all about family traditions, and as I’m blessed to be part of the MIE family I have a little tradition of my own I like to sneak in here during the holiday season.  It’s a little something I composed for my Christmas Eve post a few years back and whether or not you’d like seeing it again, it’s a tradition so we’re stuck with it…like election debates…though updated to include the new members of our MIE family. I take great pleasure in brutally fracturing the classic poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston—history is still not sure who wrote it, so apologies to both. 

Henry Livingston

Clemente Clarke Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a laptop was stirring, nor even a mouse.
The reviews were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that new readers would soon find them there.

The critics were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of best-seller danced in my head.
And DorothyL in her wimsey, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for the hiatus nap.

When out on the Net there arose such a chatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the keyboard I flew like a flash,
Tore open the browser and dove in with a splash.

The glow on the screen cast like new-fallen snow,
A lustre of brilliance onto writing so-so.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the sight of a blog with nine writers so dear.

With a little bold driver so quick with a thrill,
I knew in a moment he hailed from Brazil.
More rapid than eBooks their creations they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now, Kubu! now, Aimee! now, Charlie and Colin!
On, Kaldis! On, Justin! on, Hiro and Rei!
To the top of the Times! to the top of them all!
Now William, slash away! slash away pall!”

As wry thoughts, that before the final deadline fly,
When they meet with an obstacle soar to the sky.
So off to their blog-posts these non-courtiers flew,
With a sleigh full of ploys, and opinions not few.

And then, in a twinkling, I saw not from aloof,
The prancing and gnawing of hard comments and spoof
Taking aim at some points so to bring them to ground,
Brought on by hard thinkers from near and far ‘round.

The writers were dressed from each head to each foot

In bold clothes that were tarnished with gashes well put.
A bundle of ARCs each had flung on its back,
They looked like kind peddlers bringing books to a rack.

Their eyes—how they twinkled! Their dimples how merry!
Their cheeks like Jeff Bezos’s, their noses like sherry!
One’s droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
‘Til his bottle of bourbon fell out on the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
Threw up smoke of the kind to fire scotch from the heath.
He had a broad face that would fill up the telly,
And as he reached for his bottle mumbled, “Just jelly.”

Neither chubby nor plump, more like jolly and svelte,
I laughed when I saw him, ‘til his stare I felt.
But a wink of his eye and no twist to my head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

They all spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And filled all the bookshelves, then turned with a jerk.
And crossing their fingers aside of their noses,

And giving great nods, passed around the Four Roses.

They kept all at play ‘til the ladies gave whistle,
Then each turned as one to read an epistle. 
And I heard them exclaim, ‘ere my charger lost might,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-fright!”

And, of course, “a belated Happy Chanukah” and “Kala Kristouyenna.”

—Jeff

Bookdonors

Ten years ago a man  and his friend were sitting in an attic looking at a few boxes of old books. At that time, charity shops like Oxfam had to pay the council to come and take away unwanted/unsold second hand books as waste. One of the men, Lawrie Hayworth pondered the possibility of  somehow getting all those books picked up and sold to raise money for various good causes. The person he was talking to was Neil, my dinner companion on their 10th anniversary dinner - a bit of a computer genius who had a little think about it and between the two of them , a rather neat idea began to take shape.

Lawrie and his friend set up a charity that collects books from  a selection of charity shops all over Scotland and the North of  England and sells them online and then distributes the funds raised to all kinds of good causes. In this year, to celebrate their ten annivesary they invited four motly crime writers down to their HQ in the borders, and we had a whale of a time.

Here are my books online, second hand and ready to raise money. 80% of their books sell for a penny and they are allowed to charge £2.80 postage - that is where the 'profit ' comes from. every year over £400 000 pounds  goes on postage.
Initially the charity relied on grants to keep going but then Tom Murdoch-Kenny, seen here with Lin Anderson, took over. He got on board a year or so ago and recognised that it needed to stand on its  own two feet and work within an  ethical, but profitable business framework. To do this he needed to increase the supply chain, sign up all the charity shops, get it all standardised. So now, instead of it being rather informal,  a volunteer drives the books for example from Stranraer up to Ayr, Thurso get theirs down to Dingwall for pick up where they are picked  up by the 'Book Van' three times a week.
The books can be used or brand new, as long as they are sellable.
The charity pays for them by weight.

Me, a knife and a birthday cake.... what could possibly go wrong???

 Strutting our stuff in Hi Vis.

My friend Alanna Knight with a welcome piece of shortbread and a nice hot cup of tea.

Alex Grey doing her impersonation of the blonde one from Abba.

 The new modern premises just outside Galashields houses 32 staff and works for the benefit of local people charities and the environment and 100% of the sales are used to fulfill its triple social mission. Book donors is a living wage employer in a region where jobs are maybe a wee bit thin on the ground and bookdonors continues to supply work and training for both young and old and those with disabilities who might have difficulty integrating into a conventional workplace.

Brian is one of the drivers, he's from Glasgow and we got him to point it out his home city on the map,..... just in case you did not know. Th routes are now regular, picking up from north, west and south ( with a bit of north of England thrown in)

There are three depots but Brian and I thought the one in Glasgow was the best...

Here is the head of operations, it was a bitter cold day in the borders, teeming with rain,. So under our Hi Vis, we kept out coats on and drank the tea.

The brave among us climbed the stairs to look down  over the giant warehouse. A local farmer is the landlord  and gives the charity a very good rate.

They track the cost of the book,  the resale value of the book and how fast it is selling- and how long they expect it to stay on their shelves. 

Down below a co worker moves silently between the huge book cases with a lamp on his head. The books come in and are scanned then stored by date order of their arrival. When you visit Amazon to purchase a book, Bookdonors will be one of the second hand suppliers offered to you and this is where the books  come from. Using a link to Wordery through Amazon, you can also buy new books and the charity gets 5% of the cost.

In 2015 Bookdonors ventured into  Amazon.com as well as Amazon.co.uk and the States have responded very well, over 100 000 sales in the few months they have been operating there.
1.4 million pound turnover is heading up to 1.8 million pounds by March next year.
Soon Ebay and E commerce are getting the Bookdonor treatment.

Row upon now upon row of metal shelving.

The shelves hold 450000 books, 600 000 max. More than 50% will be sold by the end of their shelve life'.

Outside we found the books going for recycle as  they were too damaged or unsellable - the only one we saw ( and there were many copies of it ) was a free giveaway chick lit novella.

This is the books as they come in,packaged in 850 kilos by weight I think. So the charity shop packs them up and the friendly van arrives three times a week and transports them down to the borders. 600 000 thousand books come in per month,

And the back of the vans are rather neat and fabulous.... they have six vans that cover the three regions.

Here it is all summed up....

And on the side of the van....

Deep inside the warehouse, the bookshelves are strengthened by these baskets- that are also full of books so that their weight lends more  reinforcement.

As the books are stored by date of arrival, it leads to some amusing shelf fellows- here the Wrinklies Guide To Wit is right next to the Holy Bible.

Hard at work on the warehouse floor, opening up the arrivals as they come off the van.

and more and more books, boxed up to be opened up, processed and  placed on the shelves.

A co worker sorting out the barcodes. Because it was an important day, she was very well dressed in a pretty blouse but normally it was woolly trousers and big jumpers all the way. It was cold....very cold.

A wee poster, just to show where the money actually goes.

They had arranged for us, some charity representatives,  the founders, some co workers to have a lovely meal in a local visitors centre.

The visitors centre belongs to this place - the ancestral home of a very famous Scottish writer..... can you guess who?

Abbotsford House

My diner companions - Neil the computer genius with the beard and Lawrie the founder with Lin Anderson. The young chappie on the left and I talked about huskies and staffies for the entire meal - he too, was a computer genius. This was the Thursday after Black Friday and he told me that the Monday had been their busiest day ever - something like 2400 books over that Sat /Sun. I think that was what he said, but although I was making notes my hands were so cold the writing is totally illegible! ( No change there!)

My place name.

And my van....

Quoted from the local paper 'all this is achieved by reusing and recycling unwanted books that otherwise would have gone to landfill by purchasing surplus books from charity shops across Scotland and North East England. The achievements of book donors have not gone unnoticed and the Nat West social enterprise 215 100 index which tracks and recognises the performance of social enterprises rated Bookdonors as number 8 in UK retail.' (The Southern Reporter)

I am proud to be sold, and resold, and maybe even resold again.... by Bookdonors.

As I said, it was very cold and I was listening, scribbling and trying to keep quiet (not easy for me!) so if I got my facts wrong I'm sure Tom will correct me in the comments!

Caro Ramsay  18 12 2015