The Call of the Sea

The final page of my semi-autobiographical novel:

Tales From the Sea by Eddie Gubbins

available from Amazon, creratespace and smashwords as both a paperback and for downloading as an ebook/

The Call of the Sea

The sea is calling, always calling

Even when the sailor has long left voyaging behind.

The sea calls, ever calls,

Over the noise of this sometimes dreadful life.

To sail away , to leave this life behind,

But to where?

That is what adds to the thrill.

Let the voyage be long or short,

Let the oceans be calm or fierce,

In the urge to sail away,

Lies man's eternal quest

For something new.

Why oh why does man always strive after the new

When accepting the present would save a lot of heart ache.

It has long been a mystery to me but,

More than in any other profession,

The sea  offers a greater chance to satisfy this need.

The sailor never arrives

Because each new port is a stepping stone to the next

And on to the next

Until the nomadic lifestyle grows too much.

It maybe that the sailor observes other people

Settling into a pattern of life which brings rewards

Such things as family and home,

Anchored to other views of living

Rather than constantly on the move.

So the sailor leaves the sea

And puts down roots.

Or does he?

The sound of a seagull screaming ,

The wind moaning around the roof of his house 

The sound of waves lapping on the shore

Will awaken in the hidden recesses of his mind

The longing to feel the excitement once more

As the ship goes silent,

Ready to leave for the sea.

The Return of the Exiles

Following his return to Parison, Edward Eastland realises the Empire was disintegrating. His sworn enemy Latask the Covenenter is asking for help which Edward reluctantly agrees to provide. There had been no communication with the Parison for three years. People reported that strange creatures had been seen. Sending troops to investigate has proved futile. As soon as they crossed the border of Sandaria, nothing has been heard of them again. The plan they concoct is to hold onto Rombuli while somebody found out what was happening elsewhere.

Edward is given the task of finding the Walloonian army at a place called Bryants Ridge in order to contact two Covenenters. Going on this trek means he has to leave his new wife Kitty. He is to be accompanied by her brother Boric and his friend Tag. In the event, they becomes cut off from Rombuli. With his friends, he sets out to find his way back home by a circuitous route.

Edward wonders whether his powers, magic as Tag calls it, will help him to keep them safe. Will he have to learn quickly the extent of his powers? Are there forces with greater powers than him waiting to prevent him reaching his goal? During the journey, will his friends keep following his lead no matter the dangers they encounter? He has to suppress these doubts when he leaves.

As they set out they have to face the possibility that the Empire will no longer exist when the get back home.

Available from www.createspace.com or Amazon as a paper back. Amazon as an ebook for downloading to most electronic readers.

Dealing with ISIS

I watch the television with horror as the ISIS forces take over more of Syria and Iraq. Not only that but the barbarians destroy treasures which have lain for centuries. This is done in the name of religion but most of their other religious adherents do not believe in what they are doing.
A question which has nagged at the back of my mind has now taken shape. Has not the time come for the rest of the world to join together to rid the planet of this scourge. I know there will be difficulties with this concept. It will mean drawing into alliances such former enemies like Iran and President Assad. There comes a time when enmities have to be put aside for the greater good.
This is one of the themes of my fantasy novels The Rombuli Saga.
In The Teacher of the Rombuli by Eddie Gubbins, Edward Eastland lives in Alskar Province of Rombuli under the heel of the Parison Empire. During his struggles to assert the rights of the Rombuli people he comes across the evil sect called Covenent. They are his enemies but when the Empire is disintegrating under the magic of the black elves, he has to agree to align himself with his enemies. He reasons that old enmities have to be sacrificed in the face of a greater evil.
The Rombuli Saga by Eddie Gubbins.
Book 1  The Teacher of the Rombuli
Book 2   The Return of the Exiles
Book 3   The Prisoner of Parison

All available through Amazon as paperbacks and for downloading as an ebook.

Christianity and gay rights.

Once more the question of christian beliefs and gay rights has raised its head. It is a very complex question as the Belfast case of the baker testifies. Many christians believe deeply that homosexuality is wrong. They do believe sincerely that they have been instructed in the bible to uphold this view.
That stance is not held by all christians though. It has been debated at length in my church with many different stances taken by the members. I have always wondered at the idea that there has been no development in christian understanding. Every Sunday we sit and listen to a sermon which interprets bible passages in the light of modern knowledge. We know far more about homosexuality and why people are homosexual now. If we apply Jesus' instruction to love our neighbour, then we should open our arms to homosexuals.

The Sea

I spent a few days with my sister by the sea. Walking along the coast with the sound of the waves breaking on the beach and the smell of seaweed brought back all thoughts of my previous life. It is strange after spending my childhood near the sea and then after leaving school spending twelve years as an officer in the British Merchant navy, I should then move to a place as far away from the sea as one can get in the UK. My children have always laughed that whenever we visited relatives living near the sea, we had to go and walk along a beach before going on to the relative's house. Even now whenever I board a ship I feel at home. 

My life at sea between 1957 and 1969 has been used as the basis for an autobiographical novel called 

Tales From The Sea. 

In its pages the reader will meet the characters with whom I sailed and their antics both on board and ashore. There are the funny incidents and the tragic. They will experience nights ashore and visit through my eyes many of the  places I visited. I tell of the different ships, old and new as they plough across the oceans carrying the products of the world. Throughout the pages there is the constant sound and smell sea and its dangers. The sea can be angry or benevolent bringing violent storms which toss the ship around or flat calm lazy days. 

This is the call of the sea summed up in the poem that starts chapter one.

The Sailor’s Mistress

When the cargo is loaded and all falls quiet

The sea itself is calling,

Beckoning the sailor out there beyond the dock.

His mistress is waiting

Where the river meets the sea.

He has no real knowledge of what her reaction will be

When he sails out to meet her.

She may greet him in a calm, balmy mood,

Like a gentle lover entwining him in her arms,

Leaving him refreshed and happy when they part.

It might be that she is angry

And will meet him with unmatched violence

A violence that beats upon the senses

And leaves the lovers drained and exhausted,

Ready to rush apart,

Ready to find a place of peace and quiet

Not the feeling of complete satisfaction.

Like all lovers, the sea and the sailor

Will never quite know what moods will greet them when they meet

Or how the mood can change very quickly.

This is the excitement of the sea.

Every time a ship leaves port,

The sailor approaches that love

With a mixture of exhilaration and apprehension.

Will they together make beautiful love under a clear blue sky

Or will they fight?

It is not for the sailor to subdue the sea

But to live with her moods

In the hope that he can survive.

The sea is calling, always calling

As a lover calls.

Tales From The Sea by Eddie Gubbins is available from Amazon and www.createspace.com as a paperback and Amazon for downloading as an ebook for all e readers.

VE Day

There bis a great deal of publicity about the seventieth anniversary of VE Day. The serving military and merchant navy personnel returned home as heroes and happy. This might be the official propaganda but it is not a true picture. Many returned home traumatised and effected deeply by the friends they had seen killed. Then many found that they had fought for country only to find when they returned as heroes that all the best jobs had gone to those who stayed behind sitting out the war returning home each night. Having saved the world they found the country no longer wanted them. This happened to my father. When he returned i was four and I could not accept him in my home. His medals were sent to him in a brown envelop without even a thank you. What happened has stayed burnt in my mind and I used this incident in my novel An Ordinary Life.

 What follows are the relevent paragraphs.

“ This is one of my legitimate enterprises,” Mr. Hunter replied smiling and spreading his hands on the desktop. “ You go ahead and declare it. The fee will appear in the books of Hunt Enterprises as a legitimate payment. Any future advice I might ask you to give will go through the books no matter what the subject. Changing the subject. Why does your father not come to the remembrance day parade?”

Tom was taken by surprise by the change of subject and he felt his anger rising. “ That is none of your business.”

Tom was about to stand up but Mr. Hunt waved him back into his chair.

“ It was meant as a civil question,” Mr. Hunt stated bluntly. “ I know your father was in the army during the war. He was a gunner in Italy and fought at Monti Casino very bravely from what I gather.”

“ How do you know this?” Tom asked equally bluntly.

“ You are an intelligent man, Tom Houseman,” Mr. Hunt’s expression was bland. “ In my line of business, do you think I would let anybody into my organisation without trying to find out something of their background? Why does your father not come to the Remembrance Day parade or to the Legion Club? “

“ I don’t really know,” Tom observed choosing his word carefully. “ All I do know is that when he came home, I was five years old and could not really remember him. To me, our family was my mum, my brother and I. All I had ever seen was a photo of my dad on the mantle piece. My mum used to sigh every time she cleaned it and tell me it was my father. When dad came home, I hid myself in the toilet and would not come out. He had to break the lock in the end to get me out. For years I never got on with my father and even now we are a bit distant to each other. I think part of the reason why he never goes near other service people was his resentment at missing his boys growing up. Then there was the work. He went away, fought in the war and watched his friends all die outside Monti Casino when his gun was blown up. He was in hospital for six months after the war and could not have any more children. When he finally got back, all the best jobs were taken up by those who had stayed behind. He was in and out of work for a while after the war until he found a job in the docks. Finally, I can still remember this although at the time I did not take too much notice of it. They sent his medals to him in a brown paper envelope with out even a thank you note. He threw them into the fire and swore that he would have nothing to do with them ever again. Mum fetched them out and keeps them hidden in her jewellery case.”

Mr. Hunter was silent for quite a while after that. “ I know how he felt,” he said in a quiet voice. “ That is one of the reasons why I ended up doing what I did. I was in the Royal Navy during the war. When it was all over, I took up this line of work because I was good at organising things. Getting back to my look into your background. I know you were recommended by Derek but even the most sophisticated of us can be fooled. Lets face it, Derek is not the most cultured or sophisticated of men. A very loyal and competent man but not cultured. Have you ever been to the opera?”

An Ordinary Life by Edmund Gubbins

Money laundering is illegal. Even Tom Houseman knows that. He, as an academic, makes a distinction between helping somebody to set up legitimate business and the source of the money.

The novel follows the life of Tom Houseman. From his early childhood on the edge of a hard council estate to eminent Professor with a worldwide reputation and great wealth. The story explores the manner in which most people regard themselves as honest and law abiding although there are times and circumstances when they ignore the rules of behaviour or of some moral code. These people justify their actions by ignoring their conscience or making excuses for their behaviour. In extreme cases they give the impression that morality is not an issue in their case.

Tom Houseman has a boyhood friend called Derek from the council estate and, though their paths diverge after junior school, he stays loyal to his friend. Derek becomes the right hand man of the criminal Mr. Big and introduces Edward. During his life, Edward accepts opportunities presented by his friends and his brother. These enhance both his standing in society and his wealth. All the time, he ignores and denies the moral and legal implications of taking advantage of these offers. As time passes, he has to accept the implications of his choices.

Will he finally have to face these hard decisions or will he sail serenely on living, to him, this ordinary life?

Available from Amazon and www.createspace.com as a paperback.

From the Kindle store or Amazon as an ebook for downloading to all electronic readers.

British election

I sit and wonder at the seeming ignorance of both the politicians and the media commentators over the prospect of no one party having a majority of MPs. It is what happens in most democracies round the world. I know it is not supposed to happen with the first passed the post system but the political landscape is changing. There will have to be an acceptance by both politicians and commentators that it is the ability to command a majority on the queens speech which lays out the proposed legislative programme that is important not the number of seats a party has gained. Compromise is the name of the game.
I notice once more that a bank having got us into this mess will not accept any responsibility or control. Mr Camreon is right to say it is ordinary people who reaped the financial storm caused by the almost criminal behaviour of bankers but they have not suffered. What makes me angry is that he has done nothing to make things difficult for his mates in the city except what has been demanded by the Lib Dems.
Friday is going to be interesting. The danger is that Nicola Sturgeon as an outsider to Parliament will try to play a part in any negotiations.
It will be interesting.