Life is so frenetic. Today there appears to be a constant urge to go further, get faster, experience more .... so much so, that we're not content with real reality, we have to have virtual reality too!
But as the French, nineteenth century write Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr said -"plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"—"the more things change, the more they stay the same." People may dress differently and like speak in a like different way, but inside most of us beats the same fragile heart with the same uncertainties and fears.
Personally, I really believe that humans are awesome. Not a day goes past that I don't meet someone who makes me smile at what they've done or what they've put up with. In fact, you all inspire me.
I've changed too, but deep inside is still the same young man who thrills at a challenge, who dreams big dreams and who wants to be a better human being. I want to leave a mark on the world, not just for the world to say Whoa, he's one one special man (although please feel free to do so if you're so inclined), but because that's what I see as one of the great challenges of life - leaving it better for the next generation.
That's why I write my books.
I know that there are millions of young folk who suffer for one reason, or indeed for many reasons, - the list is long and has been around for many generations. But in some respects, suffering is in our DNA and the challenge is to assimilate it in such a way that we become stronger, wiser people. In my writings I try to show how having strong family connections can provide a basis of support for life. How surrounding yourself with good people will give you a good network for life - because tough times will come and you will need them, just as they will need you.
Talking of changes, I never thought four years ago that I would write one book, let alone five! It was a particular delight this week to receive a 'hard copy' of Book II of The Renaissance Brothers. Book three is in the final stages of being edited by my Seattle based editor Kerrie Schurr (take a bow Kerrie), and a copy of my manuscript for Captain Scully RM is being perused by Catherine Milne, Head of Fiction at Harper Collins in Sydney - fingers and toes are crossed appropriately. But inside, I don't think I've changed that much: it's just that I now I'm older, I've learned not to worry about those small irritations that seem to cast such big shadows and that means that there's more time for smiling!
​Have a nice day.

Last night - January 31st 2018 - was the night of the first Blood and Blue moon in 37 years! The better half and I walked into the dark depths of the local Park so that we could have a better view and we were mightily impressed as the eclipse caused the moon to appear blood red. What was not quite so good was the fact that in the dark, I soon discovered that I was standing on an ants nest and apparently ants don’t go to bed when the sun goes down. Neither do the mosquitos!!!
But the thing that stuck with me (apart from a small colony of bloodthirsty insects) was that in 36 years, I won’t be around to see the next such similar event, and neither will a significant proportion of other moon-gazers who ventured out last night. Not that being dead is a bad thing - we do have to make room for the ensuing generations after all - but the fact that each day we have is the last time we will have that experience.
Most of us probably don’t think that we’re going to live “forever”, it’’s just that most people totally ignore the fact for each of us our end-of-time beckons. The downside of that way of thinking is that we miss some incredible experiences on a day to day basis. How many of you actually see anything when you walk down the street? When was the last time you actually watched the sun come up, or went outside at night to see the stars (or in the case of those in the UK and Ireland, stopped to catch the rain on your tongue?)
It was on a visit to my son and his family recently that they shared a great meal time idea with us. After the meal had finished, they asked their children the following three questions:

1. What was the best thing that happened to you today?
2. What was the worst thing that happened to you today?
3. What was the funniest thing that happened to you today?

These three simple questions provide a time to reflect on what DID happen today. It also projects the idea that we should start each day with fresh eyes: with an anticipation that there will be good times, some not-so-good times and definitely some funny times too.
Too often we disconnect and miss some great experiences which are going on right under our noses whilst watching someone else’s experiences on our electronic gizmos.
So I invite you to let me know what happened to you today. Was it good, not-so-good and definitely do share your funny stories with us all - they may inspire others to open their eyes and appreciate what a wonderful world we really do live in.