OUT and About with Ellen Dean - Author

My Labrador loves Captain Pugwash

2022-02-16T10:35:00.009+00:00

I Love to Have Fun

Ellen Dean recommends fun

Mole Hills

2021-11-03T11:05:00.004+00:00

Blinking mole hills. What can I say, but if you have them then you'll know where I'm coming from.

Thought I'd party with them. If you can't beat them, join them.

Ellen Dean

MOHS Surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma

2021-07-29T15:58:00.000+01:00

Let me start by saying I don't sit in the sun. Don't get me wrong I do like the sun, that beautiful big yellow thing in the sky, I'm just not a sit or lie in the sun kind of person. So, when I ended up with a BCC in the crease of my nose I couldn't understand how it got there. How on earth did the sun strike into the crease? I found out that it could have been there since my teens and appeared many years later due to stress.

It started with a spot and then it went, disappeared. Six months later it came back and stayed. I mentioned it to my doctor as I thought it was a wart. Straight away she said it wasn't anything to worry about but referred me to a Dermatologist who would see me within a fortnight. That was the end of December 2019.

I was seen within a fortnight at Harrogate Hospital, a great start to 2020. A biopsy followed and sure enough further treatment was necessary. I then saw a Consultant in the Maxillofacial Department who referred me to Chapel Allerton Hospital for MOHS surgery.

Then we had lock down. I guessed that I wasn't going to have this minor surgery within the next few months.

Fast forward to March 2021 and my appointment with a Consultant at Chapel Allerton Hospital arrived. A trip to Leeds was necessary. I didn't relish this trip because I have a vestibular disorder, accompanied by anxiety, I don't travel well especially on motorways. Anxiety certainly isn't my favourite travelling companion and I suspect it is the same for many others.

I would receive a letter within three months for MOHS surgery the consultant told me during our consultation. However, a couple of weeks later I received a phone call asking if I'd mind changing consultants and I'd be seen in April instead of May. Of course I looked up the Consultant Dermatological Surgeon Dr Walayat Hussain online, and found he was one of the best in the business. So, I rang back and said yes please.

On the day of the operation 22nd April 2021 I had to be there at 9.15am. The traffic to Leeds wasn't too bad, thank goodness. I was accompanied by a friend who would have to drive me home.

When I met Dr Hussain for the first time he was wearing a mask, gloves, gown, and a scrub cap. The only part of him I could see were his eyes. They were friendly eyes, and I could tell he was smiling as he spoke to introduce himself. Two nurses attended, Staff Nurse Rose and Sister Lisa who were pleasant and friendly too. Everyone did their best to make me feel at ease in a strange situation.

Once I was on the operating table I was fitted out with a gown. My hands had to stay underneath the cover placed on me. Then came a cap, and then my eyes were covered. Nothing but my feet exposed. I felt like a mummy especially when my nose was plugged to stop the anaesthetic going down my throat.

Oh the joys!

I won't go into detail about the operation only to say it wasn't akin having a trip to the Spa. But, the nurses and doctor talked to me all the way through it and we even shared a few fun bits.

They do MOHS surgery in stages. The surgeon takes away the BCC and off it goes to the laboratory to be looked at on a machine. It takes about an hour. They leave your wound open (covered with a pressure bandage) to the elements until the results are back. I was eating a small sandwich when Rose, the nurse, came back for me. The doctor needed to take a little bit more of the surrounding skin away, but the area was still quite numb so he didn't need to inject much more anaesthetic. A great relief. I didn't have my eyes covered this time so the next thing I saw was a needle and his hand bobbing to and fro sewing my nose.

All done and the surgeon asked me if I wanted to see his work. I politely declined. I really didn't feel brave enough. He was disappointed and assured me it looked good. I felt I couldn't refuse, so very reluctantly I agreed. He handed me a mirror. I looked. He was right, it was good. So neat I had to ask, 'Where did you learn to sew like that?' He replied, 'YouTube!' We had discussed YouTube while he was operating so we had a laugh and he did a little jig.

Then a pressure bandage was fixed like cement to my nose and it covered my nostril. I couldn't breathe. Dr. Hussain told me that I should take the bandage off in four days and that I would need to sleep upright until the bandage was removed. Also that the stitches were dissolvable. Very important, I had to do no bending or lifting of anything heavy for at least seven days from the operation. When I removed the bandage I had to apply Vaseline to the wound for a specific time to keep it moist.

While the bandage was on my nose I looked like I was auditioning for Phantom of the Opera. I thought I'd turn a negative into a positive and make a TikTok video.

I didn't need any painkillers. The only problem was not being able to breathe properly. But, the second week I started feeling extremely anxious and started having flashbacks to the surgery day. I spoke to my GP, told him how I felt weird and panicky when having my hair cut and my check up at the Dentist, and he said it could be a control issue. So, I re-listened to Dr Claire Weekes (MBE) CDs. What an amazing women she was. I definitely recommend her books and CD's for anxiety issues. I bought her book Self Help for Your Nerves a few years ago and keep it close. I also bought her Pass Through Panic CD.

Three months later on the 26th July I had an appointment to see Dr. Hussain. The anxiety had not levelled. Leading up to the journey and while travelling on the Motorway it was horrendous.

Dr. Hussain was pleased with how good the surgery site looked. You can hardly see what's been done. He did say it will take around eighteen months to heal properly, which is why I'm still having a tingling feeling and sometimes a cold nose. But, I'm glad to say, I'm discharged. And what a wonderful word that was to hear.

While all of this was going on I decided to look online for natural remedies and found a Skin Cancer site with some very good information. Then another informative site Dr Cynthia Baily.

Another site I found for the prevention of skin cancer puts a great emphasis on diet.

Little did I know when I wrote a previous blog in June 2011 for my local Kirkby and Masham Surgery when they received their first Dermatoscope, that it would spot, pardon the pun, my BCC. I have to say all of our doctors and staff at the practice are absolutely brilliant.

I found and joined a Facebook MOHS Surgery support group and it was lovely to chat with people who had gone through the same thing.

Always respect the sun. Wear a brimmed hat, sun shades. Dr. Hussain recommended suntan lotion anything above factor 30. So, now I have factor 50+! Try to keep stress levels down and maintain serenity.

Ellen Dean recommends Dr Walayat Hussain.

The World In A Selfie By Marco D'eramo - An Enquiry into the Tourist Age - Book Review

2021-03-12T16:06:00.003+00:00

The World In A Selfie

An Inquiry into the Tourist Age

By Marco D'ramo Published in English in 2021

Press Release

We were all tourists at some point in our lives. So, why did we look down on people taking selfies in front of the Tower of Pisa? What licensed our condescension? Was there really much to distinguish the package holiday from hipster city-breaks to Berlin or Brooklyn? Why did we invest so much in an activity we professed to despise?

The World in a Selfie offers a spirited critique of the cultural politics of a tourist age that, at least for a while, has come to an end with the pandemic. Marco d’Eramo investigates what might happen if that virus-inspired pause proves permanent. Tourism is not just the most important industry of our century, generating huge waves of people and capital, calling forth a dedicated infrastructure, and upsetting and repurposing the architecture and topography of our cities. It also encapsulates the problem of modernity: the search for authenticity in a world of ersatz pleasures.

D’Eramo retraces the grand tours of the first globetrotters – from Francis Bacon and Samuel Johnson to Arthur de Gobineau and Mark Twain – before assessing the cultural meaning of the beach holiday, the ‘UNESCO-cide’ of major heritage sites, and the impossibility of tourism during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Will the industry recover from the coronavirus lockdowns or has self-isolation taken away our wanderlust – not to mention the earnings to pay for it? The impact of an end to tourism will be immense but, as d’Eramo suggests, may also be liberating.

About the Author

Marco D’Eramo is an Italian journalist and social theorist. He worked at the newspaper il manifesto for over thirty years. He writes for New Left Review, MicroMega and the Berlin daily Die Tageszeitung. His books include The Pig and the Skyscraper, which has been translated into several languages.

My Review:

I really didn't know what to expect when I received this book to review. It's definitely opened my eyes to just what damage tourism can do. I had no idea how the ski slopes, which are for fun and obviously professional sport, are causing untold problems to the ground beneath. I don't think people realise that everywhere now is becoming a tourist attraction and somewhere to escape to.

I suggest everybody reads this book especially now after all of the lockdowns we've had due to the Covid Pandemic, and that they take stock and appreciate what they've got at home, and not to go flying round the world to sit on a beach as a way of escape. I hope they think of the damage to the environment that's caused, decide not to add to it, enjoy what they have nearer home and at the same time treat all destinations as the precious places they are.

Ellen Dean Recommends

That's Sew Belle Handmade Clothing

2021-01-21T10:26:00.002+00:00

That's Sew Belle

Let me introduce you to That's Sew Belle handmade clothing by showing you some of their amazing products. All handmade.

From their Facebook page: At That's Sew Belle we aim to provide quality custom clothing and accessories for children that are long lasting and will grow your child.

Ellen Dean definitely recommends

The Curse Of Mary Ann Cotton by E. P. Kelly - Book Review

2021-01-14T12:29:00.020+00:00

The Curse of Mary Ann Cotton

Synopsis from back of the book:

In October 1872, Mary Ann Cotton was arrested for poisoning her Stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, at their home in West Auckland County Durham England. The truth only came to light once Mrs Cotton tried to put her stepson into the local workhouse and was told that she would need to go in too. She told the villagers “of course, he will never be able to get up; he will go like the rest of the Cotton family”. A few days later the child was dead. This raised concern with the locals and the local doctor and the bodies of some of the victims were exhumed. Once tests were carried out on the organs, traces of arsenic were found and Mary Ann was arrested on suspicion of murder. Once the police started to look into Mary Ann’s past, it is believed that she murdered 3 of her 4 husbands, 11 of her children, and a lodger. All of this was by arsenic poisoning and to collect insurance money from each victim. Mary Ann Cotton was hung at Durham Prison in March 1873.In Mary Ann’s last residence, on front street in West Auckland, strange things were happening to the tenants that lived there. An angry spirit seemed to reside on the top floor, a boy was seen on many occasions and people were being scratched.A team of local paranormal investigators were invited along to see if they could discover what was happening within the home. It was a night that they will never forget, but that was only the beginning of a roller coaster journey that has lasted for 4 years.This is the story of what happened on that ghostly night and what has happened since.

About The Author:

E. P. Kelly (Elaine) has, with her group Spectre Detectors, been investigating the paranormal for over nine years in the north east of England, and London. They have videos I recommend you watch on YouTube

My review:

I have had an interest in Mary Ann Cotton's case for some years now. As children we had all heard the story along with a song made up about what happened. This book isn't about the story as such, it's about a paranormal investigation by a group of spiritual detectives who talk to the spirits of people Mary Ann was alleged to have murdered. I have researched evidence of the alleged murders by Mary Ann Cotton and, if it was presented to court today, it would be thrown out. The book is advertised as For Entertainment Purposes.

I enjoyed reading the book but had to keep going back and forth to ascertain who was doing the talking i.e. spirits or the spectre detectors as there were so many names to contend with. I believe there is another world where spirits reside and I believe we get messages from the spirit world. I also have to wonder if the spirits, over the years, heard residents in the said house talking about Mary Ann (what she allegedly did) and thought the stories were true so passed this information on to the spectre detectors. Who knows?

Shown below is a copy of the actual death certificate of Charles Edward Cotton one of her children she was supposed to have murdered with arsenic poisoning. But, the whole house, utensils and contents, were forensically analysed and no traces of arsenic were found. The teapot, possibly belonging to Mary Ann, which is in Beamish Museum will not be analysed for arsenic (according to the museum) because they are not sure if it is Marry Ann's teapot.

We also have to remember Mary Ann has living descendants who are constantly bombarded with theories about her. Because of this I think it would be an idea to open a cold case investigation and then we will really know what happened. It can be done.

Ellen Dean Recommends

If Cats Could Talk...Would They Cry? By Anatoli Scholz - Book Review

2020-07-13T16:56:00.001+01:00

If Cats Could Talk…
Would They Cry?

By Anatoli Scholz Published 28^th May 2020

A modern ‘Metamorphosis’ that speaks to the themes of our time – isolation, identity and desperation for connection

An entertaining novella with a philosophical outlook, If Cats Could Talk… Would They Cry introduces Julie Galles. An introvert in an extrovert’s world, Julie is stuck in a rut - until the day she wakes up as a cat. Can a feline perspective help her to reconnect with humanity?

Core issues of companionship, authenticity and purpose are explored with a lightness of touch and an off-beat charm. A book that readers can really connect to.

The son of Soviet scientists, Anatoli Scholz has lived in the US, France, Ireland and many other countries. He has never lived in one place for more than two years. Anatoli is currently locked-down in Spain and is available for interview.

Beautifully illustrated with playful vignettes by Spanish artist Félix Diaz de Escauriaza.

‘It took her turning into a cat to focus on being human again.’

Julie suddenly and unexpectedly transforms into a cat, taking her on a journey that provides a fresh perspective on her life.

An update on Kafka’s METAMORPHOSIS, this entertaining and playful novella explores notions of authenticity, connection and societal expectation.

About the Author

ANATOLI SCHOLZ was born in Moscow and raised in the US, Germany and Ireland. He has never lived in one place for more than two years and he speaks seven languages. He currently lives in Spain; before that he lived in Paris, in the very road where this book is set. This is his third book.

If Cats Could Talk… Would They Cry? will be available in paperback and ebook editions

My review

As a cat lover you can imagine how the title of this little book intrigued me and I looked forward to reading it. First, I flicked through the pages keen to see the illustrations and was not disappointed, they are charming.

In truth I struggled with the first few pages but decided to stick with it and I'm so glad I did. This is a good book. I enjoyed reading it. Julie Galles is an interesting and likeable, protagonist in both human and cat form. All of the characters are interesting and well put together, plus the story flows well.

The author, Anatoli Scholz, has given us a novella that is both entertaining and thought provoking. It may well resonate with many readers on a personal level and turn into a page turner for them as it did for me.

Ellen Dean Recommends

Sandra Welsh School of Dance Year 1, Reception and Preschool lockdown video

2020-06-08T16:44:00.001+01:00

A video my niece Amy 'Lizzie' Addison put together for the Sandra Welsh School of Dance during Lockdown. She made it because all the children were missing their dance classes, and seeing each other during lockdown. My great niece Isabelle took part too.

Ellen Dean Recommends

Argentine Tango with a Labrador

2020-05-13T09:58:00.001+01:00

You Should Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo, Or A Labrador

Thank you for watching...

Ellen Dean

Gathering The Pony Poo (Parody Here We Go Gathering Nuts in May)

2020-04-15T10:05:00.001+01:00

Here We Go Gathering Pony Poo

Ellen Dean

I'm Singing In The Rain - Wellie Boot Song

2020-04-09T12:18:00.001+01:00

Hoping To Cheer People Up While On Lockdown

Ellen Dean

Teddy Bears Picnic

2020-04-04T09:53:00.001+01:00

Surprise

Ellen Dean

The Hills Are Alive - Sound of Music

2020-04-02T10:22:00.002+01:00

Picking The Field

Something fun to ease the Coronavirus isolation.

Ellen Dean

Harrogate Hospital Appointment - The Fun Side

2020-03-22T12:31:00.001+00:00

Harrogate Hospital

With all the 'should we?' or 'shouldn't we? keep hospital appointments during this awful Coronavirus outbreak I thought because my appointment was still on schedule last week I should try to attend. I also thought I would cheer up my Consultant, and his nurse.

I said to him at the end of the appointment, that a friend had dared me to wear my mask whilst visiting the hospital. He laughed when I took it out of my bag and said, 'Put it on'. I said, 'Put yours on too.' Then we decided to have a photo taken. We distanced ourselves, of course. What a great sport he was.

While the Coronavirus situation is going on it's important to try and laugh with each other. Our Doctors and Nurses as well as other front line services need a break from having to be serious all the time. After all, we are all in this together.

Ellen Dean

'Art In Motion' at Darlington Hippodrome

2019-10-11T16:34:00.000+01:00

You may remember a year ago I blogged about my great niece's debut on stage at Darlington Hippodrome performing with The Sandra Welsh School Of Dance located in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK

A year on and off we, my two friends and I, went to the theatre again to watch them perform Art In Motion. And what a grand entertaining night it was too. There was everything in this joyous show, tap dancing, ballet, disco and singing.

What an amazing team. Everyone is committed to what they do from the performers to the back stage team. When I go along to a show I always look for the emotion behind the performance. The performers showed this in spades. You could tell in their eyes they had feeling and passion for what they were doing and they connected magnificently with the audience. Their energy was amazing. Well done to all who took part.

Photos taken by Ellie Anderson Photography ©

(used with permission)

Recommended By Ellen Dean

DISCLAIMER: This blog contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. There will be no cost to you. You don't have to buy the exact items shown in the advert. You can buy anything, the link is a doorway. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to allow you to read for free. Thank you for the support J

The Ultimate Manual by Craig C. Sroda - Book Review

2019-08-16T16:33:00.002+01:00

The Ultimate Manual

The Missing Guide to LIVING a Meaningful Life

by

Craig C. Sroda

Press Release

This New Year Begin A Journey Of Discovery That Will Lead To A More Fulfilling Life

Elkhart, IN, January 11, 2019 ― One of the biggest regrets people have in life is that they didn't do what they wanted to do and instead did what everyone else told them to do. But it's possible to break the cycle by simply deciding now to live a life of intention.

Craig C. Sroda, founder and former CEO of Pinnacle of Indiana, provides actionable, step-by-step instructions for living a more purpose-driven life in The Ultimate Manual — a personal life coach in a book.

With 232 pages of clear, customizable exercises, The Ultimate Manual guides readers on a journey of discovery that will provide insight into the following areas:

•   Strengths
•   Emotional Intelligence
•   Love Languages
•   Turning Points
•   Life Wheel Evaluation
•   Time Usage
•   Core Values
•   Legacy Thinking, and more

Additionally, Sroda teaches readers how to take everything they've uncovered and synthesize it into a unique, one-page life plan — a dashboard of sorts to keep front and center that will help readers stay on track and accomplish their goals.

Anyone of virtually any age who is seeking purpose and looking for affirmation for their life direction will find valuable information between the covers of The Ultimate Manual that will help them live their lives on purpose — with purpose — and minimize regrets.

Author Craig Sroda's mission is to guide people toward ways that work for them to live their lives intentionally. His goal is to influence 100,000 people to create a life plan by 2022. With the ripple effect, those 100,000 people will influence one million through their five domains of life: personal, family, vocation, community and faith.

Sroda co-founded and served as CEO of Pinnacle of Indiana — one of Indiana's largest Microsoft partners — for 18 years. His passion is helping individuals operate in their "sweet spot”— a place where their passion and strengths intersect so they can maximize their potential. Sroda's previous books include You in the Sweet Spot and Intentional Living and Leadership. After completing his first life plan and exposing priorities of his faith, his wife, three daughters and wanting to help others live on purpose, he sold his company. He is committed to helping others recognize their natural strengths and know their "why.”

For more information and support, please visit www.craigsroda.com.

My review

I received this book to review earlier this year and wanted to work through it before making a comment. It's taken me a few months, but I have set goals and plans, and guess what? I've actually made quite a lot of changes to my working life and personal life already.

You are taken step by step through the workbook, given examples and exercises, although I still need to get to grips with my time management.

I could go on and on about how good this workbook is, but I won't. What I will say is I love to create whether it be in writing or filmmaking and since I started to work with this book I've set up my own Graphic Design business. Something I never expected to do. So thanks Craig C. Sroda I wish you every success with your book.

Ellen Dean Recommends

ONE, TWO, THREE (Masters of Cinema)

2019-05-15T15:23:00.001+01:00

ONE, TWO, THREE

One of director Billy Wilder's most frenetic comedies, the madcap Cold War and corporate politics satire One, Two, Three has to be one of the only films almost capable of making its Wilder predecessors Some Like It Hot and The Apartment seem sedately paced in comparison. Featuring a hilarious lead performance by James Cagney, One, Two, Three hasn't always been as famous as Wilder's other comedies, but it's among his best.

Cagney is C.R. "Mac" MacNamara, a top soft drinks company executive shipped off to (then West) Berlin and told to keep an eye on his boss' 17-year-old Atlanta socialite daughter Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin) while she visits Germany. Scarlett's tour seems endless, and Mac discovers she's fallen for a (then East) Berlin communist agitator and the young couple are bound for Moscow! Mac has to bust up the burgeoning romance before his boss learns the truth, all the while dealing with his wife Phyllis (Arlene Francis) and her own impatience with German living.

With One, Two, Three, Wilder set out to make "the fastest picture in the world." Mission accomplished, so hang on and try not to miss too many gags if this is your first viewing of this knockabout comedy penned by Wilder's long-time screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present yet another Billy Wilder masterpiece on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK featuring a Limited Edition slipcase [2000 copies ONLY].

My review

I received this DVD to review and what a great job they have done putting this classic onto DVD. I have to say it isn't one of my favourite films, I preferred Some Like It Hot. I loved the gags i.e. Swiss cheese having holes in it. The film was too fast paced for me. I was quite warn out by the time it finished. How James Cagney kept up the pace I'll never know.

If you are a fan of James Cagney you'll love this film. You can buy ONE, TWO, THREE on DVD by clicking on this Amazon link.

Ellen Dean Recommends

The Law of Attraction - How To Successfully Manifest Your Dream Job

2019-02-23T10:19:00.004+00:00

How to use the Law of Attraction

to Manifest Your Dream Job

The Law of Attraction For A Better Life

2019-02-14T10:33:00.002+00:00

How to use the Law of Attraction

To Manifest A Better Life

Colour Therapy - 10 Useful Tips for Beginners

2018-12-17T15:02:00.002+00:00

Have you ever wondered why different colours affect your every day life? How it can affect emotions and business? This is just the beginning.

Weather Girl - Fun Forecast in the Fog and Mist

2018-12-14T09:57:00.002+00:00

Weather Girl part two in the Fog and Mist 🌫

Who Killed Vincent van Gogh? by I. Kaufman Arenberg MD

2018-12-10T11:29:00.002+00:00

Murder Or Suicide — You Be The Judge!

Denver, CO, November 21, 2018—Vincent van Gogh's death in July 1890 has always been believed to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound into his belly. This 19th-century suicide theory has come under recent scrutiny when TIME magazine, on their October 31, 2011, cover, asked the question, "Who Killed van Gogh?" and then followed up with their culture cover, "Was van Gogh's Death Really a Suicide?"

I. Kaufman Arenberg, MD, a prominent (retired) ear surgeon, has been publishing on van Gogh ever since he wrote a cover-featured "Special Communication" article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This report, whose publication coincided with the 100th anniversary of Vincent's death in July 1990, corrected the old misdiagnosis for Vincent's noteworthy "attacks"—attributing them to an inner-ear disease (Meniere's disease) and not to epilepsy. He never believed at that time that van Gogh committed suicide.

Now, from that same doctor, comes another stunner: His analysis and new, 21st-century forensic evidence strongly suggests the artist was a victim of murder.

In his new book, Killing Vincent: The Man, the Myth and the Murder, Arenberg invites readers to examine the evidence he's unearthed since the JAMA article was published, while calling for a more thorough look into this cold case using 21st-century forensic simulations and reenactments with the same antique revolver that might have been used in the murder, vintage black powder bullets and FBI ballistic gel.

Arenberg has continued his groundbreaking research to this day and, in his book, he shares the evidence he's unearthed since his revelations in 1990. Arenberg says his research strongly suggests that the artist may have been murdered and that an elaborate scheme was concocted to make it appear that he committed suicide.

Did van Gogh take his own life in a fit of madness? Or did something much more sinister happen to one of the world's greatest visionaries?

"Everyone is fascinated and intrigued by the iconic Vincent,” said Arenberg. "But when you substitute premeditated murder and an elaborate cover-up, then add to that an intriguing romantic twist that could provide a motive for his murder—you will really have everyone's attention!”

Killing Vincent also features interactive elements, including social media platforms as well as a website, allowing readers to interact on a dedicated forum and discuss various theories about van Gogh's life and death.
Arenberg, a noted author of medical works, now takes his first stab at nonfiction. He has served on the boards of several peer-reviewed journals and was made the youthful Associate Editor of the AMA Archives of Otolaryngology in 1968. He has edited six books, published 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and published or presented more than 500 abstracts, papers or book chapters on ear diseases, hearing, balance and tinnitus, and specifically Meniere's disease. He has lectured extensively in many countries and was a visiting professor at many distinguished medical schools and teaching hospitals. He founded and ran three nonprofit organizations and has been awarded three international gold medal honor awards.
To learn more, check out the intriguing and in-depth website, www.killingvincent.com. This website also features an ongoing, interactive forum and other interactive elements, including social media platforms that allow readers to interact and discuss various theories about van Gogh's life and death with the author.

Killing Vincent: The Man, the Myth and the Murder
Available Immediately at:
Amazon.com – Kindle E-Book, Paperback Color or B&W
Ingram Spark Distribution – Color Hardcover, Libraries, Mortar/Online Book Retailers

My Review

The facts, including photos, paintings and diagrams to support Vincent was murdered, of which there are many, show there is a tremendous amount of evidence to debunk the suicide theory of Vincent. I do hope so. Don McLean's song Starry Starry Night won't be the same if the facts prove to be correct. The truth is out there and the only way to get to the bottom of it is to exhume Vincent's body.

I'm not going to say any more at the moment because the book contains a lot of grammatical errors, and typesetting problems as well as being repetitive. I did mention this to the author and he is looking into it.

10 Feng Shui Tips For Attracting Money and Prosperity

2018-11-30T16:15:00.003+00:00

Feng Shui lucky objects and where to place them in your home to attract Money and Prosperity into your life.

Dark Associations by Marie Sutro - Book Review

2018-10-29T16:15:00.003+00:00

2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin

Gold Award Winner

Best New Voice in Fiction

Get Ready For A Sleepless Night Or Two: The Deadly Game Within Dark Associations

San Francisco, CA, October 2, 2018 ― Dark Associations by Marie Sutro (Viper Press) is a compelling work of crime fiction pulling readers into a chilling battle of wits between a sinister, twisted mind and a determined young detective.

Synopsis
Following the discovery of her protégé's mutilated corpse, SFPD Detective Kate Barnes vows to capture an infamous serial killer known as the Tower Torturer. After years of silence, the psychopath has emerged from the shadows.

Young women close to Kate begin to disappear, as the killer taunts the detective, torturing his victims in various and unspeakable ways before displaying their corpses in macabre public tableaus. The predator always seems to be two moves ahead of the rookie investigator, despite her best efforts. As the body count rises, Kate struggles to apprehend the brutal mastermind before he resurrects history's most insidious form of torture upon her.

Marie Sutro

About the Author
Marie Sutro is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and a member of Sisters in Crime. A proponent of adult literacy, she volunteers with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults improve their reading and writing skills. Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father all served in the San Francisco Police Department, the collective inspiration for her debut novel. She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on the next Kate Barnes story.

My Review
Oh my word! No wonder Marie Sutro won 'Best New Voice in Fiction' she is one brilliant storyteller.
Ok, in some parts the grisly bits were really grisly but, overall, what a cracking story. The characters are so easy to get to know, and like. The twists and turns are amazing. Of course, I knew who the serial killer was early on in the book; or did I? Red herring comes to mind lol! Full moons and scary stories go hand-in-hand. I read a particularly scary chapter under the light of the full moon. I recommend you try it with this book. A gripping read throughout.

Ellen Dean most definitely recommends

'In The Spotlight' at Darlington Hippodrome

2018-10-12T15:48:00.001+01:00

On Saturday 6th October I went along with friends and family to Darlington Hippodrome to watch my three year old great-niece Isabelle perform with The Sandra Welsh School Of Dance in their show 'In The Spotlight'. This show was a real treat, and Isabelle's stage debut. I was so excited.

Every member of the cast from the youngest to the oldest (three to eighteen years respectively) gave outstanding performances. There was a full range of singing and dancing. The little ones came on, with chaperones, to a lots of oohs and aahs from the audience - including mine - then the chaperones disappeared into the wings. Did they get stage fright? Not a bit. They performed their routine like little troopers.

The whole show was very uplifting to say the least. One could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a professional West End Show. It was full of life, love and laughter, absolutely bursting with talent. A real tribute to The Sandra Welsh School Of Dance based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

(used with permission)

Footnote: Isabelle takes her singing and dancing very seriously. I was shopping in Ripon a few days before the show buying an item of clothing for Isabelle. I rang her mother, to ask which size I should buy. Isabelle then came on the phone and started to sing 'You Are My Sunshine' her show song 🎼 She wanted me to sing with her, so I did, much to the amusement of the other shoppers, and staff 😄

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