2362 Commissario Montalbano Book one part one

There was time on my visit to the midlands over the weekend of October 5^th to 8th to commence reading The Snack Thief the first of the Andrea Camilleri Montalbano books made into TV play and shown in the first series on BBC 4 earlier in the year. The book provides the opportunity to establish the brilliant closeness between the characters in the books and the TV productions and the subtle translation in the English Language by Stephen Sartorially a poet with three collections of his works published. I completed the reading in the early hours of October 11^th.

I thought the TV production was brilliant but the book is significantly better than expectation, satisfying and enjoyable experience which inspires me to attempt to write my own works rather than fill me with the sense of failure that has been the basis of my experience and artwork writings over the past decade.

The Snack Thief begins, as in other stories and situations do with Commissario, (Inspector) Salvo Montalbano receiving a misleading telephone call from Catarella the station officer, in control of communications, the front desk and general factotum for the Inspector and his deputy. What Catarella had wanted to convey is that an Italian fishing boat had been fired on by a Tunisian patrol/customs boat and that a man on board had been killed, riddled with machine gun bullets. Not able to arouse his chief Catarella had approached the deputy Mimi Augello who from the book we learn that is there is competitive rivalry combined with mutual respect with his boss, something I only now vaguely recall as their friendships becomes cemented over the subsequent years in which they work together.

Mimi, then a single ladies man and lustful of Salvo’s long term woman friend, Livia Burlando, has taken over the case because although the dead man was from Tunisia and killed by Tunisians with the incident alleged to have taken in Tunisian waters, the Italian fishing boat returned to its home port in Sicily and within the jurisdiction of the police force station in the fictitious Italian town of Vigáte. There much publicity and public outrage when it appears the fishing boat was in International Waters when the attempt was made to stop the vessel by gun fire which killed the fisherman who happened to be the only Tunisian on board.

While deputy Inspector Augello concerns himself with this development Salvo personally investigates the case of a married man found dead in an apartment block lift. Initially there is no connection between the two cases and then it appears that the same individual, gang or group is responsible for the two deaths and others that occur subsequently, and it is only towards the end of the book is it clear that while there is an important connection between the two murders they were committed for very different reasons by different people.

I have said too much too quickly because there is a clever and detailed brilliantly written building up solving the mysteries which as with Romanzo Criminale also reveals the interface between the Italian Security Services and crime and politics although not in this instance the Mafia, the Comorra or other forms of organised crime which have played, and probably continue to play such a role in this beautiful country bedevilled by corruption and crime and more recently its failing baking system.

Salvo discovers that there are three individuals, in one instance a pair, mother and daughter, involved in the discovery of the body and their behaviour demonstrates the understandable tendency, understandable and acceptable to my way of thinking, tendency of Italians to look the other way, to walk on by so to speak when unexpectedly encountering something which could mean they are called a as a witness, involving the police, the court and the media. What we subsequently learn is that the man was murdered on the same floor as his flat, one of a pair, and that the lift was taken down to the ground floor by the murderer with the body alongside. The crime was committed by one person although another had planned to do likewise and left the premises on discovering that someone else had done the deed for him/them. This man had an accomplice who was also a witness to what happened.

What Inspector Montalbano discovers on the first day of the investigation is that Mr Culicchia, an accountant, returning from the shops finds the body in the lift on the ground floor and travels up because his joints can no longer cope with stairs. A bottle of wine rolls out of one of the shopping bags and is first thought to be connected with the dead man but is his. Because the wine has become part of the crime scene Salvo arranges for another bottle to be bought so the man does not have to explain to his wife how he came to lose it. Mr Culicchia had spotted he had dropped the bottle but when he went to retrieve, the lift was back on the ground floor and the man who looked after the block, described as a security guard, one Guiseppi Consentino had found the dead man, called the authorities and prevented further access to the lift. That Salvo arranges for the bottle of wine, replacing that left in the lift appears a compassionate act but it also indicates that Salvo is inconsistent in his behaviour towards friends, colleagues, suspects and villains. He has something of a code of justice as fairness but he is also inconsistent.

In this instance his enquiries reveal that Signora Piccirillo and her daughter Luigina had also discovered the body when calling for the lift to go down and out but they had seen the body and did not want to be involved so they had shut the door and were content when the lift was called for someone else to find which was the security man who mentions the lift had come down from the fifth floor when the dead man lived on the fourth and this alerts Salvo that others had discovered the body before the security man. In order to teach the women a lesson Salvo arranges them to be taken to the station for further questioning and keeps them their waiting for several hours before they are released.

The dead man is Aurilio Lapécora whose wife (Antoinette Palmisano) was out visiting a sister when the body of her husband was found and the investigations commenced. They learn that the man ran an import and export business which requires his attention on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays despite the fact that the business appeared to have been closed down. The rest of the time Mr Lapécora appears to have spent sitting and watching the television although as we are to learn this is not an accurate picture of his lifestyle and interests. When the wife returns she is definite that the culprit is her husband’s mistress, who poses as a cleaning woman. She had found out when a local home furnisher mentioned that he would be delivering their new sofa bed and when it had not arrived at their home, which did not surprise her as she could not understand their need, she checked and discovered it had been delivered to the office matching the green colour of the second room.

Salvo and his colleagues visit and find that the front office has an old desk and many dusty files which covered business until three years before. The second room was clean and furnished with the sofa bed, a television, a refrigerator and well stocked with drinks. There is also a

large nude figure which Salvo considers crude bordering on the offensive. So if he business was closed does he attend over three days each week, because of an affair with cleaner? It seems so, at least at first.

An important ingredient of this and all the novels is the relationship between Salvo and a woman who lives and works in Genoa, Livia and where in this book the relationship has continued for six years with Livia mainly visiting Salvo over weekends and holidays, although he also visits Genoa and in a later novel we learn that he has a key to her home as she to his. She is to play her most significant role of the books in this volume

The other ingredient is his love of food and where he insists that no one talks to him so he can concentrate on the eating. This has less significance in relation to the main story lines in this book but I will also give much attention, for as those who know my writings will appreciate I like my food although I neither cook or have cooked for me at home similar delights and all too rarely do I got for great food in restaurants governed by my pocket and the constant need for economy. I will leave the delights he mentions until the end although the relationship with Livia becomes of crucial significance in this book,

Salvo then receives and invitation to visit a widow, a retired school teacher with a mobility disability who lives in a property across the way from the office of Mr Lapécora and when Salvo calls he is unsure what the woman can possibly have to say until she asks him to stand close to her so he can share the view she has from her sedentary position through her window across to that in one of the rooms of the office of Lapécora, the front office. Where today it is possible to see Salvo’s colleagues having their lunch at the table in the room and where the landline telephone is also located as well as a typewriter. She mentions that when the room is lit the gauze covering at the window hides nothing from view but we the readers are not immediately told what it is she had seen and which shapes the rest of investigation concentrating on the as yet mysterious cleaning lady. The woman invites him to stay for a meal and thinking that she will eat food as appropriate for an elderly woman with restricted mobility he declines but then changes his mind on learning that she is to eat braised beef and also a dish of Pasta of alla Norma, although the latter is not described but worthwhile looking up as named after Opera by Bellini who came from Sicily and is made of eggplant usually fried but some prefer roasted with ricotta salata (a firm cheese grated) and tomatoes, hot chill flakes, sea salt oregano and basil. And of course the spaghetti. I mention this meal now because of his acceptance of hospitality while on duty and investigating murder where presumable anyone and everyone is a potential suspect.

It appears that there is no policy in the Sicily police of not accepting hospitality during an official investigation, and before this he has shared coffee with an attractive resident elsewhere in the block of flats and as we are to learn he also becomes more intimately involved with witnesses who may also prove a suspects Salvo works hard and becomes single minded obsessive until he solves a case, and is full of compassion and will bend the rules in the interests of a meaningful justice, although this is not to suggest that he is not also a man of clear vision and principles. However he loses his temper quickly becomes frustrated if his instructions are not carried out instantly.

After the meal Salvo heads for the home of the woman cleaner one, Karima, on a road out of a former small village since expanded, and comprising a simple two room two story dwelling and clean. He notices the perfume Volupte (Voluptuous?) which he had also found traces in a room at the home of the dead man and at the office of the murdered man. He sends Fazio, his loyal assistant, back to the station leaving him without a vehicle in order to learn more about the Karima and the old woman who cares for the girl and her son as only a mother and grandmother can.

While many of the characters in this and all his books are fully drawn, or at least we learn some of their important traits and their attitudes, the picture of Karima even by the end of the book is less rounded than I would like and expect, We learn that is a Tunisian by birth, Ah ha you say was not the fisherman killed on the Italian fishing boat also a Tunisian. In deed this is so but I will leave for now the question of a connection.

What I will say is that she had come to live and work in Sicily several years before and that she also in fact woman undertaking cleaning work for the murdered man three times a week, although possibly not as frequently in the beginning and for others who come forward when a picture of her as reported missing with her son is shown on a local TV station as a result of a request by the Commissario. In addition to charging 50000 lire for the cleaning work visit she also provided additional services for which she charged three times as much, remembering than even by the time when the lire because the Euro two thousand lire could be exchanged for one Euro which I believe was about £15 at the time an amounting to £60 if there was special service in addition. These services were provided once a month sometimes twice.

From the old woman across the way, “Rear Window” observing neighbour, Signora Clementina Vasile Cozzo it appears that the murdered man enjoyed oral sex with Karima although the sofa bed suggests that she extended other favours to him. Arising from the TV publicity the other clients where she cleaned on regular basis volunteered information about the specialist services which I shall not detail other than to say that one individual liked to be spanked, another bathed while a third bathed her.

Salvo also reveals later what Signora Cozzo had seen from her “Rear Window,” a naked man coming to the phone one night followed by a naked Karima both emerging from the room with the sofa bed. It appears that the young man visited at intervals from memory about once a month, and was not there at times when Lapécora was not, there was much telephoning and use of a typewriter which Salvo was able to establish was different from the one found at the office and which he deduced had a different alphabet in the days before computers which with appropriate software can change the language of the keyboard. This all suggested the young man was not just a pimp.

Salvo insists on staying at the home of Karima talking to the old woman friend of the missing woman and whose name is Aisha, arranging for his assistant to take the car and return to the police station at Vigáte. Although his French is limited Salvo is able to gain the confidence of the woman and learns that the night before she disappeared she had asked Aisha to look after her son as she was to be away for the night and when she returned the following day she was in a state and gather her son, the five year old Françoise and a suitcase saying had to go away and set off for the bus stop.

Aisha was then able to confirm that after Karima had left with her son, the young man, the same one seen by Signora Cozzo at the office, and who also visited Karima at her home from time to time, occasionally staying over and she describes as a bad man because of his violence had called and rushed off in his car on learning she was not home.

Aisha then reveals that she is holding the bank pass book for Karima and it contains 500 million lira or 2500000 euros including a recent addition of 200 million lira confirming that she, the young man and Lapécora were involved in something more that prostitution.

There was also one other significant aspect of his search on the home and office of Lapécora which becomes confirmed on his visit to the home of Karima and her son. At all three he notes the existence of a strong perfume. Later as more of the jigsaw pieces are fitted together he makes Mrs Lapécora go through what she did on the morning of the murder she left early while her husband was still asleep in bed and he makes her act out her recollections rather than tell him. This confirms that she did not enter the room where Salvo believes, Karima and stayed at the flat overnight.

I have mentioned that Mrs Lapécora was convinced that it was Karima who killed her husband having learned that eh had a mistress at the office because of the delivery of the sofa bed. She also reveals that she had received three anonymous letters informing of her husband’s infidelity. These had been in the traditional form of cut out lettering from a paper or magazine but could not be examined by forensics because they had been burnt, at least this is what the widow said, but later she had produced one still in its envelope and this led Salvo to make an important step forward because he was able to establish that the envelop had been typed on the office typewriter and the wording taken from copies of magazines at the office. The husband had sent the letters denouncing himself but why and why had his wife not confronted and made more of an issue of the infidelity.

This had first come to Salvo in the middle of the night when he then telephones Mimi to demand immediate return of his loaned book the Le Carré Smiley novel, his first, Call for the Dead, in which the husband a Civil Servant at the Home Office with responsibility for Classified information had sent a letter to his Employers denouncing himself as a traitor. His deputy as is Fazio and others at the station have long since given up on rebelling when Salvo demands instant action at all times day and night without explaining first why and any possible significance in relation to a current investigation. In this instance Mini leaves the book at the door, driving off at spend back to his bed without wanting to why his boss insisted at that hour.

There was another indication that the dead man had attempted to seek help without going to the police. The Lapécora have a son, a practicing doctor of medicine aged 32 who has been estranged from his father for over a decade and has as little contact as possible. Following publicity he brought Salvo a letter his father had sent when allegedly eh was away and which clearly states that the man has got himself into something put of his depths and he feels threatened. He wants his son to immediately come to him. The son claims that when he returned from his trip away and read the letter he had phone his father who said the problem had gone away and the son was no longer needed. Salvo does not believe the young man and for a moment thinks of a way to make life officially uncomfortable for the son. This all confirms his growing belief that the office was being used for some kind of business or activity about which they were not able to find evidence.

Salvo as I have indicated is a man who reacts to those he feels do not cooperate with his enquiries and one such individual is the head of the local post office, the Commendotore Baldassare Marzachi who he asks for the name of the postman serving the Salita Granet district where the office is located. The man Commendotore, who Salvo calls an imbecile, wants a Judges warrant for something any of his subordinates would have provided without a second thought. Salvo then creates the situation when it looks to a subordinate who enters the office that the Head Postmaster is about to strangle him. He blackmails the man into submission, calling him a piece of shit.

The purpose of the request was to find out the nature of the mail delivered to the office and the obliging postman explained that there was not much but some came regularly from overseas a company Salanidis and they supplied Dates. From the local printer who had known the man and his business for over two decades Montalbano learned that new stationery had been ordered and delivered to the office. None of this information remained at the office.

His also attempt to establish the kind of life the dead man led when he was not at the office and finds that eh regular meets a group at the Caffé Albanese on Tuesdays to play cards and talk. Able to question one of the men present he finds nothing he did not already know and when Salvo challenges that the man seems to nothing about his alleged friend, the man recounts a gruesome story of a woman the story of a woman who left her son with her brother who had then chopped the baby up which he then boiled. I now come to the turning point in the case and why the book is called the Snack Thief.

There are three strands which come together.

On leaving the homes of Karima and her neighbour Aisha, Salvo had seen there was a mini crowd commotion surrounded one of the police man attending the investigation. The policeman explained that these were parents whose children said that a small boy had attacked them on the way to school taking from them food snacks which the parents had provided because of the length of the school morning until lunch time which in Italy is usually at one or even one thirty.

Salvo is approached by a man who has seen the local news photo of Karima and her son but mentioned that he had seen the woman, afraid in a stationery car as he passed by on his cycle. He had not the seen the child. But he does note the registration number

Right at the beginning of the story after Salvo had been woken by Catarella with news of the killing of the Tunisian fisherman he had switch off the phone. He had been contacted by his long term woman friend Livia who lives and works in Genoa. She said she was coming to see him at the weekend although because he had become involved in the Lapécora case he thought it was best she delayed the visit until the case was over, She was insistent and said she was coming over regardless and that he did not need to attend the airport or go out of his way as she would let herself into his home as she had her own key and await his return. He had also warned her that his boss who was planning to retire early had invited him and then both of them when he said she was coming to visit for an evening meal where his wife would be cooking a meal of Pasta with the ink of the squid. It was not this delicacy which Salvo feared but the cooking of his boss for which she had no ability but liked to believe that she had.

It was the arrival of Livia and something she said that caused Salvo to go out in the middle of he night assembling all his team and going to the village of Karima and Aisha leaving police vehicles outside the village and those entering dressed in civilian clothing. Usually he went off leaving Livia without explanation but in this instance while there was no explanation to her or the other officers, he asked her to come with him, saying she would be helpful.

It should evident from having presented these strands together that Salvo was assuming that Karima’s boy had managed to run off when his mother had been stopped at the bus stop and had been living wild since then, attacking the children for food out of desperation. He was the Snack Thief.

This was confirmed when Salvo waiting patiently until the dawn spied movement and boy was making his way to his mother’s home from where he had been hiding. It was as Salvo and suspected when the boy calmed down on being caught and was taken to his home to be looked after by Livia. This was to prove not only the turning point in the case but to have dramatic and significant repercussions for Salvo and for Livia and their relationship of six years.

Before ending this first part I mentioned at the beginning that I enjoyed the love of Salvo for good cooking and of food generally. He is insistent that when the food is before him there is no talking so he can concentrate on detecting the flavours of what he is eating similar to that of the connoisseur’s drinker of fine wines.

While I have mentioned that when Salvo joined Mrs Cozzo for her lunch which included braised beef, red meat is rarely mentioned as part of his diet which always appears to include a pasta dish and fish, sometimes the two are combined. He tends to eat out at midday, sometimes pretending to Livia he has eaten a sandwich, and sometimes deciding to stop for one course and then taking two or even three as he enjoys his sweets, especially Neapolitan ice creams. In the evenings he east out on the veranda of his home directly on the sandy beach, usually deserted, from where he swims early mornings and in the evenings. Unless Livia is present and cooks for him his daily (housekeeper) will leave the evening meal prepared for him in the refrigerator, meals prepared to his exacting standards and likings. At one point he goes home to Pasta with Broccoli and a Roulade of Tuna.

At the start of the novel he savours “a lalonga all‘agro dolce” - hake in a sauce of anchovies. I digress mentioning first an account in one of the Alexandrian Quartet books with Laurence Durrell when he describes the enjoyment of opening and eating a whole tin of olives, I cannot remember if these were stuffed with anchovy pieces or not, but I also enjoy separately the anchovy where a tiny jar or tin costs more than a generous helping of sprats, such is the way of things. Finding amore inexpensive tin of anchovies at Tesco on way home from the Midlands I purchase three tins and consume some with tea. Salvo’s dish of hake with a sauce of anchovies mixed with whisked egg to create the sauce is in fact his starter or antipasto and arrives with eight pieces of fish, sufficient, he comments for four diners. His deputy joins him and orders spaghetti with clams which the Commissario is horrified to note his colleagues smothers with Parmesan cheese and then commits a further culinary crime by adding two spoonfuls of pepper.

After the meal on returning to his office Montalbano learns that the authorities have decided that the investigation should handed over to the Tunisians which means Mimi has lost his case whereas Salvo is fully engaged in his which he regards as a victory over his deputy. This is also significant in terms of the connections between the two cases. This will be covered in my second and final writing of the experience of the Snack Thief.

2361 Diary Octo 10 2012 the Duchess and I go to Newcastle

It is another bright morning October 10^th 2012 and I will shortly get myself ready to go to Newcastle to Lakeland for another microwave dish, two more egg poaching pouches and the toaster toasted sandwich sleeves. More about which another occasion I also want some spring flowering bulbs. It is just before 9 am and I have been up wasting time for an hour and half playing chess and Free Cell patience. I had some mushrooms and tomatoes for breakfast with coffee.

I had an interesting dream (s) which I have not been able to work out. There were two reoccurring recent themes. The first is where I am in a building. Some times a variation of a place where I am at work, a Town Hall with entrances/exits which end at unrecognisable places or a departmental store. With similar issues about where I sometimes find myself. I am usually going somewhere specific, a place to eat or to meet up someone, and usually someone I know. Sometimes I find myself in unknown territory getting further and further away from where want/need to be although there is sometimes a but, usually the last which I sometimes miss and there are no other means of transport, sometimes I know a way to a railway station, and some times I get back to where I want to be. Other instances involve moving between floors in the building and finding one is required to take a risk, difficult stairways, having to jump. I enquire or search for an easy way. This was one aspect of the dream this morning. And my original family, the aunties were involved. I was due to meet one of them who also worked in the building at a restaurant but I found myself in the area. Then there was something like a fire or alarm and we all had to be moved. In this instance some distance away to a strange building or series of buildings passing stalls peopled by Muslims... I told someone, I wanted to see the President I had a message, I was being challenged, where did I come from and instead of saying New York than Washington as I knew we had all been moved.

I have won £6.40 in the lottery with two numbers and a star. It is the fourth time I have one small amount in the Euro lottery with the same numbers with a month. I had the TV on last night when the numbers came up and recognised that I had three, I checked emails and there is no notification but there is a winner notice on the account and the on line ticket check also confirmed. Interesting

13.15 I had an excellent visit to Newcastle, having been made aware in advance that the Duchess of Cambridge was coming to town when listening to BBC North East Radio while I was getting ready in thee bathroom. William was scheduled to be with her but had to cancel with the Funeral of a former Nanny. As I crossed over from the Monument Mall Metro entrance to Eldon Square Shopping centre I noticed a hoard of police including police horses and barriers on either side of the road in anticipation of the Royal cars. The Monument Mall building is being ripped apart from the inside with little progress appearing to have been made. It is possible to exit by the escalator or lift from the basement level to the ground level but everything thing else is barriered off and looks a mess.

I was able to find a copy of the morning Metro paper to look at for the early part of travel. The Celia Imrie Who do you think you are programme is tonight having being cancelled last week. She has aristocratic connections. The other papers are fill of the Police statement regarding Jimmy Saville and other celebrities at the BBC where there is now significant accounts that he had sex with many young people below the age of consent, mainly girls 13 -16 although a man has now come forward to say he was molested as a child. The family have removed the recently created elaborate grave stone following official and public reaction to the revelations. It is one thing to talk of the culture developed in the late fifties through to the seventies following the availability of the contraceptive pill, but the information suggests calculated systematic predatory behaviour of a criminal nature. To talk of sexual abuse not accurate as if somehow abuse is less harmful than criminal assault. There was an anything goes culture and very young girls threw themselves at rock and pop stars, just as there had been lots of casual and promiscuous activity associated with the peace movement of the late 1950’s and sixties, but what is being reported about Saville is of a different order and what also appears high level cover up meriting investigation as it is underway by the Police and the BBC.

All around the Monument in Newcastle there is a seasonal street market with some substantial cabin like stalls offering objects, novelties, clothing and lots of food including great cauldrons of Paella, Chilli con Carne and other dishes, mountains of Greek olives, large chunks of fudge, Mexican dishes, Hog Roast and others foods to tempt the palate on such a cold morning.

I have been into Eldon Square via Monument Metro Station earlier this year but not noted the extent of the changes that have taken place ion the ships on the first floor especially the Tyneside Film Theatre Film School on two floors. There is of course the new extension leading to the new departmental store and other fashion stores which attracts huge numbers on a Saturday attracting people to the City and away from the Metro centre on the outskirts of Gateshead. I am still surprised that both former Departmental Stores in Sunderland are now closed, Binns and the one in High Street although another opened in the extension to the uncover centre which I remember as once open streets.

I had a good look around Lakeland while I searched for another Microwave dish holder, not in the same place as before but I then found the poached egg pouches and bought two in orange as those given were in green so I will use one of each colour. I missed the Toasted sandwich bags/sleeves which were adjacent and had to ask an assistant. I could not resist three packs of soft chocolate covered nougat bars for £3.98 delicious as have been wolfing them since. I needed the loo and went up a floor noting in the opposite corner the North East Artists cooperative with ten galleries or rooms featuring the work of those involved. There is a wide range of artists on show here and price from a couple of hundred to several thousand pounds. I was Interested in industrial scenes of miners, Tyneside ship yard workers and locals, I did not linger too long as I do not have the resources to purchases and was not as a consequence interested in a window shop. I did have look at the Comet PC World store with a check on additional computer memory with costs around £75 to £100 but which I suspect I will need to have professionally fitted as it did not appear the same as additional storage. I promised myself an Internet check which I will do now.

I am not sure of the basis of the problem which could be a virus or malware of some kind so I have attempted system restore and other system support rather than go to a purchase. I will consult a local store if the problem persists. I reminded myself the need for a new answer phone and have reserved one at Argos to be collected tomorrow and costs under £20 as a half price sale item. It has a cordless handset. I have the reservation number on mobile and will go for it when printer arrives. The delivery company have sent email with a tracker check but as yet they have received the package to advise the expected delivery slot.

On both journeys I read more of The Snack Thief and made a few notes. Although tired on arrival at South Shields I decided to in search of spring flowering bulbs. There was a large group of young people leaving the station and three young girls possibly sixth formers possible students at Hebburn College liked noticed a pair of mixed bright colourful high heels worn by a well dressed woman in her twenties. The shoes were attractive as well as the heels high and not the usual wear for the day time street of South Shields. The girls were envious and then I overhead a comment by one of the accompanying young men in the party that this was the first time one or more of the girls had been to South Shields which I found amazing given the evident North East accents. There was a congregation of other young people who this group greeted at the King Street entrance to the Station and they stood there and later when I passed several were eating sandwiches or had drinks with them. They had departed the next time I passed the station entrance,

I went first in search of a £1 cheese and pickle baguette and was shocked to find these had been priced up to £1.50. When I checked at the two other Gregg stores it was confirmed the £1 baguette is no more although there was a ham for £1.30. The justification is greater cheese and pickle which I agree did make a difference but a 50% increase I ask you?

However any disappointment was offset by the visit to the original Pound wise store in the look out of springtime bulbs. I noticed some 2013 pocket diaries with leather looking cover, week to a view and a locking clasp which houses a biro pen all for £1 brilliant. I also noticed many other items of interest including some glitter glue and stick glue which I assume is also for £1, However I decided against at this point and went for the bulbs where I purchased two packs of four different coloured scented Hyacinths and two of the multi coloured 10 tulip packs also at £1 I limited the purchase until I considered planting instructions and the number of pots to hand. On return I moved out the car to collects the pots already filled with earth or planting fibre and carefully planted what I had bought. I will get some daffs more hyacinths and perhaps some others when I go back into town tomorrow.

I need to do a new financial check for the rest of the year taking account of Birthdays and Christmas, the opportunity of a low cost five year membership of Durham cricket, the need to repair the TV or get a new TV and Wii console for the daily activity in the room next door this Winter when the weather prevents going out and anyway together with getting better working Desk and Lap top computers.

19.50 Enjoyed seeing the local news films of the visit of the Duchess of Cambridge to the region. There was more on Jimmy Saville, No news on the search for the body of the five year old Welsh girl or the killings in France of the husband wife and mother in law plus passing cyclist and the wounding of one daughter and hiding of the other has also gone quiet. Missed the Prime Minister’s address to Tory Conference this morning. His approach was to warn of more tough decisions and hard choices if we are to keep in the struggle to remain an economic power. His theme was yes we can rather than yes we will. He also reminded of the need for a one nation Tory party and not a swing to the right. There was a bold united front this morning and at conference in general but I cannot see the unity lasting beyond the week.

I have also watched the main part of Yorkshire’s innings shown on Eurosport in the world club 20 20 competition being held in South Africa. As the beaten finalist Yorks had to play two games in a qualifying competition and after yesterday’s win and win today against Trinidad and Tobago would see them through,. The West Indian team decided to bat first not a good decision on a wicket we were told was very good but after losing some quick wickets a score of just under 150 was still a little below par, However Yorks lost quick wickets themselves but by middle order Balance helped by Rashid saw the Tykes home by an over to spare with Man of the Match Balance hitting six sixes. They now go into main competition which will also include the 20 20 domestic’s winners Hants. Something more to look forward to.

Celia Imrie Who do you think you are started as a disappointment because she was only interested in finding historical figures of political importance which given the family tree was not difficult.

One of her great grand parents was a leading Whig, Lord William Russell whose family lived at Woburn Abbey and was executed after a famous Treason Trial as the picked Jury believed he had been threatening the King although his concern was against a Catholic Monarchy and the enforcement of the Catholic religion on the people. When the King died and James I came to throne and established a Catholic monarchy the rebellion led to the arrival of William of Orange and the establishment of constitutional monarchy and quashing of the indictment against Russell who was declared a hero and Martyr and the great defender of Constitutional Monarchy as a plaque remains in Lincoln Inn Fields where he was executed.

She also followed up his grandmother who was a member of the Howard family and engaged married when 13 to someone 14 where the marriage was unhappy and annulled by the Archbishop. She married the Kings Favourite and after two years of marriage and the birth of a daughter she and her husband was tried and convicted of involvement in a murder nut then reprieved although serving sometime in jail. Her marriage broke up and she within ten years of leaving the Tower a comparatively young woman having never known happiness since her Early childhood. I went to bed soon after the news headlines and read more of the Snack Thief.

2360 Diary October 9th 2012The gutter and subsidence holes are fixed.

The priority today Tuesday October 9th, 2012 is to order a new printer from IJT and to complete the writing of the visit to the Midlands before writing about the Smiley radio plays, the Montalbano and other experiences during and before the trip. It is 8 am having achieved 7 hours and maintained the average of 7.2 hours at 28/28. It is 8 am.

Two hours later I have not got going in relation to the planned programme for the day as the roofer contacted (having previously said he would ring the night before) to announce he would come at lunch time, possibly before so I have cleared the whole area where he might need to put ladders and moved the subsidence hole barriers so his vehicle has access. I had planned to prepare the rear area for winter, preparing the mini greenhouses, washing out the seed trays and other clean and tidy operations before the cold and frost sets in. The development also means that I am able to put back the desk and clear the containers

10.30 The desk is back with computer also as previously found to work well. I will have a cool drink and then shave and do my hair around 11 am. It continues non stop activity which is good as I will surprised if I have not added one to three pounds over the trip if not more.

13.00 Not only do I have new guttering up and paid for and presumably and end to water penetration in this room but the water authority/local authority topped the subsidence holes and removed the road closed signs. I even provided the water required for the work from the outside tap.

14.00 I have also enjoyed a roast chicken dinner which included one of the jacket potatoes purchased last night and some unfrozen mixed vegetables. Things are going too well. Earlier I ordered a new Cannon printer from IJT which should arrive 48/72 hours I presume before the end of the week. I am now going to sort out outside so I can garage the car. I am taking my time to ensure everything is ready for winter time.

It is 15.45 and I have sorted out the back in preparation for winter. I will need to clean some of the trays and pots but for another day. Tomorrow I will go on the look out for bulbs for springtime. The car is back in the garage and I have broken up the chicken, covered the bowl with cling film and placed in the fridge. I caught some of Boris Johnson speech to the Tory Party conference in which he oozed loyalty and support for the existing leadership especially the Prime Minister and even Michael Gove; He even had kind words for previous Prime Ministers, Tessa Jowell and Ken Livingston re the Olympics. .

20.00 I mentioned that I purchased an inexpensive toaster and then realised I needed one with defrost button as I freeze loaves of bread to avoid wastage. Defrosting in the microwave just did not work so I bought another on my way home and have been successfully using today. I also mentioned that the specialist pan for poaching eggs was something of a disaster and created more mess than dropping the eggs into boiling water. Over the weekend I was given a couple of poaching pouches, silicon containers which float on simmering boiled water for five or six minutes so this evening I toasted a slice using the frozen button and then having lights oiled the pouches dropped them into the water down to a simmer. After what seemed only a couple of minutes they looked done on the surface but a quick check indicated there was still more cooking required. I then kept them going for a little too long as they yolk was hard boiled but in other respects they were perfectly formed and easy to slide out on the toast. I will use the timer next time.

23. Romanzo Criminale is another brilliant episode which I immediately write up after watching the 10 pm news. I am tired after a good day. I am ready for bed, Earlier I did good work on The Snack Thief.

2359 October 4 and 5th 2012 Journey to Midlands

It is 22.30 on Monday October 8th 2012 having returned earlier in the evening from a successful, enjoyable, interesting and productive weekend in the Midlands and which included several good meals and a visit to Rufford Park, Nottinghamshire which contains the ruins of a 12^th century Cistercian Abbey and the former country house seats of the Earl of Shrewsbury and then the Saville family of Yorkshire. The journeys provided the opportunity to listen to the BBC play productions of Le Carre’s Honourable Schoolboy and the Secret Pilgrim having also listened to Tinker Tailor before departing and commencing Smiley’s People over the latter part of the journey home, and reading most the first Andrea Camilieri Montalbano novel to be made into a Television 90 film during the visit, called The Snack Thief. I also watched Newcastle lose to Manchester United on Sunday, Sunderland to Man City, Warrington to Leeds on Saturday and the English Cricket Team to Australia in the World 20 20 Cup. Not good weekend for the teams supported or watching them. When was the Ryder Cup? When were the Olympics?

I made a major shop at Asda on the way back on entering South Shields cashing in a £7 voucher for the expenditure of over £50 as well as acquiring a three month supply of shaving gel and razors.

During the visit I solved a major problem and came to several major decisions of long term significance.

I commenced preparations for travel on October 4^th when I noted a clear blue sky in the morning and which became a feature of the weekend with much sun which warmed, although without sun there was a cold wind although it was still possible to eat out lunch under an awning on the Saturday lunchtime at Rufford Park.

I had risen later than usual on the Thursday having stayed up to finish listening to the BBC radio play of Tinker Tailor and also watching some of the BBC TV serial on DVD. Deciding as I did so that I also wanted to create a separate Blog series on Google of Le Carré writings. I put the first collection of Smiley writings which I numbered 1-5 in relation to the first five written works, appreciating that the extent of previously missing spelling and typographical mistakes that still persists in my work because of the unwillingness more than inability to apportion time to ensure the mistakes were spotted and corrected. Because of the decision to recheck all the items the process took longer separating the Le Carré pieces from what else the writing included and together with the writing about the author and the subject of spies, and aspect of my own experience which can be made public. All of which will be included later when I have completed the Smiley and other works to hand.

In fairness to me I had also brought the case downstairs and listed on paper what else was required before the following morning. I decided to cook a portion of sprats for lunch as I would be away on the Saturday and the fill the car with petrol at the Morison’s garage at Seaburn rather than call in on my was the following morning.

I noted at 12.50 that I had enjoyed the sprats where I have the cooking and washed up from yesterday as well as the day, finished the carton of grapes, some of which were unpleasant contrasting with the delicious and wholesome red grapes at £1 a carton which came and went all to quickly at Morison’s, and enjoyed a glass of Pepsi diet with ice and then watched the latest film version of Jane Eye. I only have a vague memory of the 1944 film version with Joan Fontain and again the 1970 Susannah York. There were TV series in 1973 1983 and 2006, with further film versions in 1996 and 1997. I acquired copy of the book when at Oxford in the early 1960’s and in the 1990’s I visited the parsonage in which Charlotte Bronte was raised with her family and which is now a museum. I also walked on the moors. Jane Eyre remains one of the great heroines created in British literature, and the Bronte sisters, remarkable writers in the English Language. I added the Jane Eyre book to the reading list shelves and which contain 35 books in addition to the Le Carré read plays DVDs both to be viewed as well as some viewed, and some viewed and to be written about. I will write a review of the Jane Eye film separately.

I was organised for travelling by the evening having gone to Morison’s much later that hoped for the petrol and calling in at the Supermarket which I found in an extraordinary state undergoing a dramatic upheaval as they have relocated the butchers, salads, and deli counters and relocated the frozen food to where there used be soups and stationary, electrical goods against the coast road back wall. They are also replacing all the other display shelving but bit by bit so bread was in two places and stationery, electricals was all over the place. I forgot inexpensive crackers which was my only interest but spotted bags of the butter mintoes I use at night to counter the dry mouth and liquorice as an aid to comfortable regularity, on offer at three bags for £2 which compared favourably with the single bag price of 89p coming to an overall saving of £1.74 which paid for the petrol used to get the petrol rather than stop, once I started out in the morning as gone are the days of 5 am waking for the swimming and seven hour sleep have become the minimum. I made a mental note to stock up further on return plus the cream crackers.

I have lost/mislaid my small umbrella and could not find one at the Morrison store and was too lazy to go to Azda on the way back where I knew they had them. I noted that Morrison had three Lexmark printers in store, where the asking price after an assistant checked is £50. This time I noted the number and checked with IJT to find they are the most expensive of cartridges although also listed as recycled ones. I will give this a miss and go to IJT.

I had undertaken a washing and drying of clothing but on examining the presently favoured brown trousers worn with brown house jackets and green coat I saw that they need washing so this was undertaken and then ironed. I did some writing but by 10pm I was ready for bed

Friday October 8^th with the alarm set for 7 I had a good 8 hours use of the Sleep Apnoea machine which I carefully packed for the journey. I decided it was time to wash the lower bed sheet which I replaced and remade the rest of the bed. I had washed and ironed the brown trousers for the journey as well as ironing a pair of green trousers and decided on four white shirts one a day. There was little included in the Cool bag this occasion, just some tomatoes and mushrooms for breakfast with packets of porridge, but no tins of beans or rice, cream crackers to go with the soup, fruit, drinks, croissants Danish pastries or pain au chocolate than I have taken and used on previous trips of a similar nature with the car. I did take some liquorice and the butter mintoes.

I was ready to depart well before nine checking I had included the phone charging cable, the mobile internet USB and a USB storage drive. I had brought the lap top up to date the previous day. I brought the car to the garage having to move and put back the barriers around the partially repaired subsidence holes and the road closed notice after moving he car back onto the road way. I had not had time for a coffee or breakfast so decided to call in at Asda, a little out of the way, for a large bacon roll and coffee which I consider expensive at £2.74, especially as I thought the umbrella would cost over £5 to reclaim the £1 parking fee only to find the umbrella cost only £3.68 and as it was approaching 9.30, I forewent the fee rather than go back and purchase something for £2.

I had arranged to meet someone for lunch at 12.30 arriving at 12.20 and listened to most of the Secret Pilgrim which proved to be a look back at the life of a contemporary of Smiley and precipitated by a talk George had given to the latest graduating class of Spies from their training centre of the Circus, Sarratt. I will write a review separately. The lunch was good (and talk long) with chicken, barbecue sauce and chips with salad followed by apple crumble and ice cream. There seemed be more crumble and than apple. There was Pepsi with lemon and ice and a standard coffee. Later there was chicken soup and toasted cheese sandwiches.

I registered at the Travel Lodge early evening and was pleased to be on the ground floor, deciding to visit the nearby Tesco to replace the cheap shaving foam (which had proved next to useless and was binned the following morning) by a can of Gillette Gel which I had acquired on a previous visit as well as Gillette razors at 10 for just over £1 which were also more effective than those bought recently at Asda. The following day I purchased more packs of the instant razors and also two more cans of the Gel. I purchased a carton of grapes which I eat over the three days for 98 pence and a great wicked indulgence, a pack of four cornet ice creams for £1.20 just 20 pence more than for the Feast I enjoyed at the Croydon Travel Lodge the weekend for the Paralympic Games. I did not anticipate eating the four ices and considered at one point offering two to the receptionist who had given a good welcome back recognising from previous visits although the last occasion was back in March as I stayed at Nottingham Riverside for the August visit for the cricket.

I admit I eat all four cones and did feel a little sick by the end. Whether because of this on the upheaval of preparing for the visit, the journey, the subjects which I talked over, I did not have the most settle of nights which several wakings and restlessness before sleeping. One problem had become the tenderness of the skin at the bridge of the nose from the CPAP machine and then rubbing of the spectacles. On assembling the machine it has spurted water with the major leaks notice I feared the problem was being caused by the travelling. I then noted I had fixed the tubing to the wrong connection and once rectified there was no problem. Perhaps this had been the problem with the previous machine-human incompetence! I settled down and read the opening chapters of the Snack Thief

2358 Diary October 3 , 2012

13.50 on Wednesday October 3^rd as I wait for the insurances assessor to arrive regarding the water penetration and hopefully confirm the solution to the problem proposed by the contractor who called to provide emergency help, or come up with a solution which will prevent further damage in the future

After cleaning floors and tidying up I hit on a way to keep this room from looking a mess whenever I set to work by moving the metal boxes contained manuscripts writings to on top of the filing cabinets in the corner and using the available shelving space as consequence for the lever arch files that I am currently working on. This has cheered me up, I have also made good progress in the registration of completed sets with over 100 for the months but I will have to work hard to make up the deficit from the past two months after such good progress earlier in the years

14.10 Just been working out that over 2012 to date I am now 159 behind the average monthly target of 100 new sets completed because of what has happened in July August and September. I do have around 60-75 already completed but with volumes not yet ready to register. So it about 100 in reality and I should make this up during the rest of the month after a short break.

It was not a great lunch with one Thai large fish cake some beans and chopped tomatoes and some grapes. Will have a coke Pepsi and undertake some more writing.

Yesterday October 2nd I commenced to make a note at 11.35 and looked backwards I have just washed the day room and kitchen floors after sweeping and vacuuming these areas plus the my workroom and library lounges. Prior to this I have sorted outside and water the plants plus a preliminary tidying up, all in preparation for the visit tomorrow.

Today 14.20 Phone calls to say contact insurance person leaving Consett and should be with me in an hour say 15.30

Yesterday I woke around 8 and stayed in bed for other 15 or so minutes. My first attempt to use the poaching pan was disastrous and obviously I had put too much water in the pan so that the two contained which had not been used for eggs came up bringing the boiling water and eggs also separate from the white even when cooked so it was as greater if more great mess than the previous effort placing the egg directly in boiling water and the cleaning up afterwards is certainly worse. Getting the toast right is also proving a problem and from the next loaf I will switch from thin/medium to thick bread and use only one slice. I will depart shortly for some stir fry and to check out if the local substitute print cartridge store provides cheap cartridges for either my present Cannon or another being advertised by IJT or if they do a printer at a reasonable price with cheap cartridges.

On return I will start continue the registration up date which I broke off before he weekend and also listen Ed’s speech at he Labour Party Conference 13.30 Back and enjoyed Cheese and pickle baguette and noted the eat as much you like Asian restaurant is doing an OAP lunch 12 to 3.30 Mon Thursday fro £5 includes tea and coffee and will give it try on Thursday day if tomorrow goes well.

Will start the registration set completion process but will also makes notes on Ed’s speech in due course. This is an attempt to close the account on the leadership and rebrand him with the electorate to and widen clear water with Cameron and his party.

Although I continue feel that there a lack of “gravitas” about Ed and a sense that he is trying to out do Cameron and follow in the footsteps of Blair rather than Brown I believe he was able to convince the majority of those at Manchester yesterday afternoon, as he did me is that he is his own man capable of reaching decision based on what he believes and wants rather than some carefully worked out consensus for the Party and nation via his advisors and opinion poll testing.

Like the majority of national politicians who sensed there was a great national mood created during the Olympic and Paralympic games Mr Miliband decided to take the subject several notches further and based his whole speech without a script or notes with him or autocue on the Conservative Israeli’s One Nation three hour marathon delivered also in Manchester at the then Free Trades Hall 140 years ago. He also referring to the same unit during World War II and then during the first Labour post War government of Clement Atlee.

He was also able to speak from the context of being a child of first generation immigrants who went with his brother to the local comprehensive before university and professional politics whose father would have been proud as his being labelled Red Ed and disappointed that he was not. From this platform he was able to demonstration the failure of the Coalition to create one nation we are all in this together with the decision to reduce basic income tax for the rich from 50% to 45%, thus writing millionaire income owners like himself a cheque for £40000 for the year next April. He was noted that he did not say if elected in 2015 he would out the tax back

The one commitment he did make is that if the banks did not divided their high street operations for Casino banking then a Labour Government would do so by law. He would ensure that the Banks worked for the people and not the people for the banks.

He also able to get a good swipe at the new Tory Chief Whip who verbally abused the police and nigh on being arrested although he disputes calling the individual a plebe he is reported to be known for referring to ordinary folk as the Plebs.

Mr Miliband also committed himself to undoing the competitive aspects of the new National Health Service Reforms which he said was the same formula that had be used in relation to the National utilities when they were privatised under Margaret Thatcher. The attack the approach that prices were raised when ever market conditions were said to require the additions but when the markets fell there was no immediate gain to the consumer. That the man who was Murdoch’s friend and presumably still is, has been put in charge of the Health service was also an easy target as was the Education Secretary Michael Gov and his approach to education which smacks of elitism.

Mr Miliband said a government under him would give as much priority to the 50% if young people who did not go to university as those that did and pressed the public sector to create as many apprenticeships as the private sector. This is of course a way paying lower wages although in fairness he did give an undertaking to press on those who found ways to avoid paying the minimum wages and also the gang masters with the tendency to recruit only immigrants because the conditions of service were less favourable.

And of course he drew attention that borrowing under the government was going up because of the increasing number, with a million young people, out of work. Dependent state benefits. He argued that if the medicine does not work you change it and if the doctor is unable help you change the doctor. My impression is that he was successful in silencing doubters about his leadership qualities within the party and among many media professionals but the impact on the electorate in general remains to be determined but with two and half years until the next General Election he has time on his side,

I am writing up separately the latest episodes of Romazo Criminale and Downton Abbey and the first of the new season of Atlantic City but will include here the latest New tricks and later to night Who Do You Think you are.

It is midnight and I changed my programme for the rest of the day following the visit of the insurance assessor.

2357 Diary Ryder Cup 2012 Octo 1

Monday October 1^st 2012 I awoke around 8.30 still enthused by the spectacular win by the European Team in the Ryder Cup in Chicago before a vociferous and unsporting American crowd, who booed and uttered other taunt at the visitor this win was even that more stupendous. The visitors had been inspired throughout by their Spanish Captain Jose (Ollie) Maria Olazabal who had been a great friend of his Spanish team made Seve Ballesteros who died from cancer and Ollie in turn inspired the rest of the team so that against all odds I reckon the Americans caved because for once they knew that God was not on their side. Between them the two Spanish players have won 12 Ryder cup points out of 15 matches played but only lost two as the other two games were halved. The next European pairing to do well was Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnan with 6 points.

There was sympathy for the USA team who must have believed that after taking at 10 4 lead as the second progressed and that even with the final match win to the Europeans on Saturday the 10 6 lead was more than sufficient to take the tie by 14 and half point. The visitors needed 14 point to draw the match and retain the cup as the holders of the trophy. While the game was played in the USA on a ground which was prepared to suit the American team with razor sharp greens all but three of the European Team play on the USA circuit so have some familiarity with the conditions including crowd behaviour.

The USA had been in the ascendancy from the start and a mentioned were leading 10 4 when in foursomes on the Saturday before Europe gained the next through Garcia and Donald before Ian Poulter with Rory McIlroy gained the last, as Poulter birdied the last five holes to reverse the lead of their opponents. While in 1999 also in thee USA the home side had reversed a European score of 10 6 to gain the Cup this was an exceptionally well balanced USA team desperate to win after losing the previous competitions, My understanding is that the order of play was agreed between the players rather than laid down by the captain with the call to go out fighting and try and claw back the lead in the early games. Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson 2 and 1 to take the match 10 to 7 Ian Poulter the hero of bat Webb Simpson by 2 to take the tie 10 8 Saturday evening beat Rory McIlory beat Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 to move 10 10.9 while Justin Rose beat Phil Mickleson on the last hole having come from behind 10 10 and then magically the older Phil Lawrie of Scotland 5 and 3 so that Europe went ahead 11.10 Zach Johnson of the USA then levelled 11 11 when he beat Nicholas Colesearts while his brother Zach Johnson also won beating Graham McDowell 2 and 11 12 11 to the USA. Sergio Garcia of Spain then beat Jim Furyk at the last hole 12 12 with four matches to go. Jason Dufner beat Europe’s Peter Hanson by 2 holes 13.12 but Lee Westwood was strong taking his game 3 and 2 against Matt Kutchar 13.13. It was the German Martin Kaymer who beat Steve Stricker who had holed a magnificent long putt on the 18^th to require Martin to hole another medium size putt to ensure the trophy stayed this side of the Atlantic. With ecstasy and disbelief rebounding around the greens and club house it was left to Tiger Woods to take the final tie hole or share the hole as he was 1 up. He failed to make a very short putt so his game was a half and Europe won the event 14 and half to 13 and half points. Wondrous, amazing the words failed as emotion gripped everyone who had played or managed the team, was present there, in the studio or at home watching as the midnight hour approached Europe has retained the cup since losing in 1999 with the 2001 competition cancelled because of 9/11 and Europe then won in 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10 and now in 2012. I watched the BBC highlights between 8 and 9 pm and they were just as good as those of Sky.

1515 I went out at lunch by car to Morrison’s returning at 13.15 having purchased a cheese and pickle baguette for the midday meal and then walked in search of the Halifax building society as I and received a statement for an ISA at zero but had not applied and the name was no one that had been at this house for at least four decades. I missed the office thinking I was looking for Nationwide so went in search waking the whole length of Fowler Street to the Town Hall and the Kind Street without success. I mention the walk because I observed the full effect of the recession on Fowler Street with some eighteen premises vacant or advertised for sale or rent. There are also four charity shops to match the same number in King Street. The number of vacant or available store is also higher than usual in King Street. It is noteworthy that there number of mobile shops remains high and the three Gregg Bakeries/tea rooms remain busy. There are still over 100 places to eat drink or for take away within a mile or so of where I live. There are two Pound stores and three others which cell goods at considerably lower than usual.

I purchased some liquorice, the Freezer bags and some grapes. The £1 cartons of full and firm red grapes have ends and I chose packet of green for £1.19 not as good bit OK. I also purchased another box of the instant porridge packets and two packs of 4 tomatoes at 52 pence each, but no mushrooms as they were of he closed variety. On return I enjoyed a tomato soups with a couple of crackers. I had forgotten to purchase crackers from Morrison’s as hey have a very cheap line.

I had continuing problems with the printer which refused to print because I think l the software refused to recognise inexpensive cartridge so around 4 pm I went in search of a new inexpensive printer having first checked those available from IJT direct but the prices were around £100 with the included cartridges ranging from three to five sets. Still expensive. I first headed for Asda as they had offered printers in the past but none were available and I noted they now appear to provide only main brand range of cartridges as near main brand prices. I have been experimenting with poached and scrambled eggs. The most common way is to crack an egg into boiling water but if they are old the white disintegrates and discolours the water making it difficult to judge the cooking of the yoke. At Asda I invested in a poaching eggs pan for four eggs although I will do two at a time for me. I was unsure how to create scrambled eggs without it becoming an omelette and forgot to check my copy of Good Housekeeping with provides the basics of cooking. I like the idea of adding extra like shrimps to the mix on toast. I bought some liquorice packets and half a dozen more eggs to experiment with. I then went to Wilkinson on the off chance they had printers and there was one in stock a Cannot for £38 which also scans and copies. There are no inexpensive cartridges on IJT and their September sale did not cover main brand how one black and one colour combination comes to £29 so the cost of the printer is only £9. I will check if the local store does cheap version or the price of printer where they do in house cheap cartridges. The printer works fine and I caught up with what I had hoped to do earlier.

18.00 I enjoyed a chicken curry and did the washing up before looking at the second Ryder highlights competition.

23.20 I had intended to also write my notes for the first episodes of Atlantic City and the latest Downton Abbey together with the first two episodes of Andrew Marr’s World History of mankind, tonight’s topical episode of New Tricks. Tomorrow House clean and tidy and work registration takes priority but I will visit the local dealer to view their printers if I have time as well as go in search for mushrooms but I do need a stir fry otherwise it will be another curry.

2356 Diary Sept 30th 2012 Smiley, Warrington and Ryder Cup

10 am Monday October 1^st 2012 I have just been watching the amazing highlights of the Ryder Cup in Chicago and the greatest team come back of all time. Fortunately switched back on last night for the closing holes and will report further in today’s piece.

As has been the situation over the past days I have gone to bed at midnight or later but stayed in bed getting the sleep I need so that on Sunday I decided to set the alarm to be up in time for the Andrew Marr show. At 8.55 I wrote “After staying up writing and playing chess until 1 am and managed right hours of sleep once more and came down in time for Andrew Marr.”

09.10 The main newsprint issues of the day at the start of the Andrew Marr show is the Labour Party conference and the position of its Leader Ed Miliband. An interview with Ed forms the main part of the programme. My conclusion at the end of the interview is that Ed is now seeking to create clear water between himself and the Tories, with the Lib Dems being treated as poodles rather than moderating what the Tories would have done. All three parties will fight their fight in public while working out what they will want or not want if another Coalition situation is the only way to create an ongoing government.

Ed and the Shadow Chancellor are announcing plans to separate the High Street and Casino Banking regardless of the impact on banking decision to use London which I anticipate will be popular. The next Labour Government will also unscramble the unpopular Health Changes keeping anything that works.

Not did he shirk on the issue of helping the private sector to create higher wages, or keep to the protection of public sector jobs than increasing wages however unpopular this made him with some public sector Trade Unions, after he had been attacked and warned this morning by one of the biggest. At the same time he vigorously defended the right of ordinary trade unionists to provide financial support through the levy arguing that the income came 40% this way 40% individual members and 20% from other sources compared to the Tories and their reliance on the City. He was for redistribution with putting back the 50% income tax although this was implicit and pointing out the failure of the government’s policy which was leading to highest welfare with the greater unemployment levels and stagnant economy. He definitely stole a march on the Lib Dems and should consolidate his position re the Tories but whether he will establish the clear water remains to be judged.

Another guest was the actor Philip Glennister who recently played in two four part plays about the adventures of group men in Spain Majorca and then Ibiza.

Now he is appearing in a political play about the Whips office in the 1970’s government of James Callaghan which is attracting political attention. Must keep an eye out when it goes on tour.

14.00 There was a great game of Rugby League yesterday night as Warrington beat St Helens to reach the Challenge Grand Challenge Final which takes place in Manchester on Sunday. St Helens has reached the grand final on a regular basis as have four of the other top teams. Warrington with their wins in three mid season Cup games at Wembley and ending the season at the top of the League has failed to reach Grand Challenge game.

For the first 15 minutes St Helens took command as they had two weeks ago sweeping aside the opposition. They scored first but did not convert which Warrington was able to do so went ahead 6 to 4 but then St Helens scored twice once converted to take a 14 to 6 lead as half time approach. Warrington then scored and converted so at half time it was 14 to 12 but whatever was said at half time Warrington came out determined that this time they would not fail at the last hurdle when last year a last seconds field goal put them out of the final which Leeds went on to win.

In this instance Warrington scored try after try with one disputed by the commentators who felt it should have been a penalty to St Helens to take a twenty point lead. St Helens did score again to reach 18 points but so did Warrington to take their tally to 36. This time the jubilation was with Warrington fans and despairs bordering on tears with the home crowd.

19.00 Enjoyed a good chicken dinner with vegetables with soup beforehand and then a carton of Grapes. For high tea two poached eggs on toast and then the apple crumble pie that had been stored for some time. The intention was half but eat the whole.

I have listened to Le Carré The Looking Glass War, having previously seen the excellent film with Anthony Hopkins and Ralph Richardson. The radio play as the film which I have on DVD lacks the emotional punch of the Spy who came Back from the Cold. It is also the story of how the individual may be sacrificed for the national advantage and sometimes for the national good, although at other times just to save face.

It is also the story of those who having experienced the tensions and the challenges of wartrime or some other difficult, at times threatening experience, then find it difficult to impossible to cope with the everyday of normal times. In this instances it is those left from military intelligence during World War II who participated in dangerous and vital operations, risk their won lives or the lives of others asnd who are now restricted to making assessments and reporting information for others, the Circus, professional spying in Cold War peace time for the State.

When a former contact located in East Germany provides a photos of what appears to be Soviet rockets being moved into East Germany of a type similar to those which were attempted to be located in Cuba, instead of passing the information to the Circus the aging Director of the Department’s agency sees the opportunity to return to the old days of glory and arranges for the pilot of charter plane on its way to Scandinavia to fly over East Germany by mistake and take aerial photos of the alleged site area. Unfortunately his contact unable to get a taxi back to his hotel is knocked down and killed.

The decision is taken to send an office man to take responsibility for the body and personal effects in the hope of retrieving the film. The chosen individual is a young man who is already having difficulties with his wife because of his inability to share all the details of his work with her. She feels isolated at home caring for a young child and resentful oft his freedom which he husband appears to have, especially as he appears to enjoy and be satisfied by his work and role in life. It is not an uncommon situation and when he announces he is going off on a trip this only reinforces her feeling of being left out.

The trip is not success and no film is found although this only fuels the paranoia of the head of the department that their man was not killed in an accident and that the film was taken by the enemy. He therefore convinces the Minister that they should send in someone to check out the allegations but because this should be the responsibility of the Circus all that the Circus is official told is that the project is a training one just as the visit to Scandinavia had been, keeping their hand in so to speak in the event of being required to provide an operational service again. I am guessing that in reality the military retained their full operation role after the World War and if anything it remained as professional and more reliable than what happened to the British Circus, so named because of its location although apt given what was subsequently revealed.

The decision is taken to use someone who was sussful in the War but is long since retired with a liking for gin basd cocktails and women and for a training house to be established with the departmental the link which means he has to live in an and away from home, another divide which becomes unbridgeable.

Thus far there is close similarity between radio play and film although the operative is involved in a sexual adventure when he is contacted and if I rememebr correctly the location of the training house is on the coast and not Oxford as in the book,

The Circus with its Control are consulted and their passive help arranged with George Smiley the link pretending to know less than they do although they do not then know precisely what the Department is up to. When there is a request for the ltest radio communicatiosn device in the hope that direction finders can be avoided, Smiley explains that the technical boys will not pass out equipment over which they cannot maintain full control, but they let them have a war time radio one where the crystal has to be changed at regular intervals to enable some difficulties for the direction finders.

The operation is doomed of course and soon after crossing into East Germany the operative encounters a young border guard and instead of knocking him out kills him thus alerting the entire nation to be on the look out for the intruder. Worse is to come become because Smiley’s lot have analysed the photos and found them to be false. In the film the Operative goes to meet the contact who is also like the rest of Departmental team wanting to relive past times and be regarded as important and also well paid

The enemy becomes quickly aware of the travels of the agent via his use of the radio, forgetting to change the crystals and in order to mislead they arange for troops to enter the area so as to give the oeprative something to report and help them to identify his precise location. In the film he is given a lift and kills the driver adding to the deaths of the innocent of what is a wild goose chase. In both the novel and the film the agent meets up with a girl at bar in the town where the rocket (rockets) were reported as being seen.

While the net closes in the decision is taken back home to cut their loses so that when the operatuve is caught and put on a show trial it will be claimed this is a stunt and that a war time radio was found in possession illustrates the absurdity of the claims. This horrifies and angers the young man in the department having established a close relationship with the operative he cannot understand the betrayal, the abandonment, in the context of having managed a couple of days home between the training and preparing for the departure, his wife has announced she will not be there when he returns. 

In the book the fate of the operative is uncertain as he hides out with the girl to make what is his final radio call adn in film there is a post script where some children playing in what is now a summer field by the roadside come across the roll of film which is opened and cast to the winds. There is also the implication in the film there was reality, albeit unknown to the contact, at the deployment of missiles.