The Terror of Living by Urban Waite

Urban Waite is a relatively unknown 30 year old author from Seattle but one thing is certain – he won’t remain a secret for very much longer – “The Terror of Living” is an astonishingly taut thriller for a debut novelist and one of my tips for 2011. Check out my interview with Urban Waite here (no spoilers)

As I settled down to read the thriller, one factor became fairly evident to me, certainly within the initial twenty pages or so – the narrative is intense and powerful. Waite has an assured style of writing, a wordsmith of the highest order – I’d go so far to say that his prose is beautifully evoking, hypnotic and mesmerizing.

Already dubbed the literary thriller of 2011, “The Terror of Living” is without doubt about to set the literary world alight!

As I was nearing the end of the book I stopped to gather my thoughts and wondered when I’d last read a book where I liked each and every one of the characters – I don’t think that has ever happened to me before.

There are three distinct themes running throughout the book namely the good, the bad and the bad bordering on good! – A guy who, for all intents and purposes, wants to do the right thing but is caught up in the fight for everyday survival and finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

Noticing an abandoned car in a remote area north of Silver Lake, Deputy Bobby Drake makes a decision that will change countless lives over the course of a few days. He runs the plate but it comes back clean – yet his experience tells him something is going down.

Available to buy from Amazon (UK) & Amazon (US).

High in the hills two men on horseback await a cargo drop just north of the border. Little do they know that Drake is lying in wait, anticipating their every move. A red flare ascends the dark midnight sky and the package falls from the plane on command, its parachute floating to the ground like a giant jellyfish. The chase is on!

Drake takes aim and shoots “the kid” but Hunt evades capture and, forced to abandon his saddle, rides bareback with an accomplished style away from Drake – the drugs remain in the mountains and in police custody.

What we now have is a case of retribution – Hunt has to answer to Eddie, Eddie has to answer to the lawyer, the lawyer to the Vietnamese and so on. Did I mention Grady? No? For good reason – the guy scares the hell out of me! Hired by the lawyer to kill Hunt following his recent failure, “The Terror of Living” descends into an almighty game of cat and mouse – a frenetic fight for survival.

Grady takes evil to another level. Trained as a butcher he owns a set of knives, keenly practicing his craft on dead pigs. It will take little imagination to realise he doesn’t stop with dead animals! The violence is horrific but every time Grady takes his knives to another victim, I imagine him smiling, at peace, and taking an inordinate amount of pleasure from torture and death.

Make no bones about it, Waite has delivered pure evil in the form of Grady – yet I found his character somewhat endearing – I am a little concerned! Although horrific and graphic the violence never crosses the line and is always within context of the scene – never there for sensationalism.

“The Terror of Living” is a complex tale of survival, greed, drugs and brutality – leaving nothing to the imagination, Waite has a sure fire hit on his hands. A magnificent debut – Highly Recommended.

Published by Simon & Schuster “The Terror of Living” is available from Amazon (UK) & Amazon (US).

Schapelle Corby during her court case

Schapelle Corby has appealed for clemency from the Indonesian President. This has led to a huge surge in interest online with people looking for the latest news on Australian Schapelle Corby who was arrested and convicted of drug smuggling in Bali. Facing 20 years in Kerobokan Prison for a crime she has refused to admit to, Corby is having a tough time of it in Indonesia.

16 months ago I wrote a short blog asking the question “Has Schapelle Corby been forgotten“. For the most part I think she has but maybe these fresh appeals will bring a positive outcome and keep her plight in the limelight.

On the 8^th of October 2004, Schapelle Corby was apprehended by Indonesian customs officers on her arrival in Bali from Australia. Amongst her possessions was an unlocked boogie board and upon searching the officers claimed to find 9.3 lbs (or 4.2 kg) of cannabis. Corby to this day has claimed the drugs were not hers and she had no knowledge of the narcotics.

Her defence centred on the theory that she had become an unwitting drug courier for what was supposed to have been an interstate shipment of drugs between Brisbane and Sydney in Australia.

No More Tomorrows Book, the true story.

At the defence’s last address to the court, on 29 April 2005, Corby said to the three judges:

“I cannot admit to a crime I did not commit. And to the judges, my life at the moment is in your hands, but I would prefer if my life was in your hearts….And your Honour, I ask of you to show compassion, to find me innocent, to send me home. Saya tidak bersalah (I am not guilty)”

She was convicted and sentenced on May 27^th 2005 and is eligible for release, with current remissions on the 12^th April 2024. Corby would be 46.

Schapelle on her way back to prison after a spell in hospital

Schapelle has suffered greatly in prison and is very weak, mostly brought on by depression for which she has spent two periods in hospital under guard in June 2008 and May 2009.

After six years stuck in her Balinese prison cell, Corby’s mental state has left her in a near “catatonic” state.

The Australian has submitted a clemency appeal to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for a reduction in her 20-year jail sentence and is now awaiting his decision. The media circus has moved up a gear on recent events; Schapelle Corby now merits news attention. Very sad.

“The Supreme Court forwarded Corby’s clemency appeal to the president on Monday. It’s up to the president to decide. I can’t give more details,” court official David Simanjuntak said.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia supported the plea.

“We have made it clear to Indonesia that if and when she formally made an application of clemency to the president that we would support that,” he was quoted as saying by the ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday said she supported the clemency plea for Corby.

“I support, the Australian government supports, her plea for clemency,” the Prime Minister told reporters while campaigning in Melbourne.

“We obviously do want that plea for clemency to be heard and to get sympathetic consideration. I’m very concerned about her personal circumstances and I do support her plea.”

So there we have it, the latest news and as Schapelle Corby ‘s life hangs on a precarious tightrope she, along with her family and legal team await the decision from the President.  However as is usually the case in Indonesia, a prisoner has to admit they are guilty of a crime before Clemency is granted – Schapelle Corby has said she will never admit her guilt.

SOUTH-WEST Aboriginal identity Len Clarke has written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard urging her to make a fresh approach to Indonesia to send convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby home from the Balinese prison where she has been languishing for six years. Original Article by Ken Collins

He is also prepared to write to the Indonesian Government pleading for clemency.

Mr Clarke, who heads the Framlingham – based Kikkabush Aboriginal Community, wrote to former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after the Australian woman’s arrest in October 2004, believing she has been treated unfairly.

“I would have been one of the first Australian citizens to write to Indonesia on the Corby case,” Mr Clarke told The Standard yesterday.

“My letter then was referred to the Australian embassy and I was told she would be dealt with by Indonesian law.

“Now I believe it is time again for the community to join a campaign to press for her release from the Bali prison.

“Reports show she is not well and I have a gut feeling she could die within six months if nothing is done for her.

“I feel she has been hard done-by.

“Give her a fair go and bring her back home to Australia.”

Mr Clarke said many people in the Aboriginal community were concerned about Ms Corby and how she had been treated.

In his letter to Ms Gillard he said “we wish you to note our ongoing support for Ms Corby”.

When The Standard contacted the prime minster’s office yesterday it was told the matter was being handled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A spokesman for the department said the government would support any application for clemency, but “the decision on whether to grant clemency or not is for the President of Indonesia”.

“For the Government to be able to do anything about bringing Schapelle Corby back to Australia, we first need to have a prisoner transfer treaty with Indonesia that would allow her to seek permission to serve out her sentence in Australia,” the department said.

“Concluding such a treaty with Indonesia is a priority for the government, and we are working toward that end with the Indonesian authorities.

But, unlike Australia, which has prisoner transfer treaties with a number of countries, Indonesia has none.

“In the meantime, we will continue to do what we can, working with Schapelle Corby’s family and the prison authorities in Indonesia, to protect her health and welfare.”

However Pauline Hanson, a criminal herself  spoke up against Schapelle Corby and believes the Australian taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for the former beauty student, now 32.

”The fact is, she was convicted on drug charges in Bali and that’s where she must do her time,” Ms Hanson told Woman’s Day. ”That’s unless, of course, our government is prepared to seek an exchange program with other countries.

”Our jails, especially in Queensland from my experience, are far too soft for convicted murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, pedophiles and now our ever increasing numbers of people smugglers.”

Nice to see Hanson well and truly sitting on the fence …. not! With all this publicity from the ex fish and chip shop owner one must ask the question if she needs more money to buy more batter or she’s about to launch a book!

It’s been a while since Joe Nichols released a studio album (2007 with “Real Things”) but I have to admit it was well worth the wait if “An Old Friend Of Mine” is anything to go by.

Nichols has always been able to deliver an emotional song effortlessly and until I heard this song “I’ll Wait For You”, taken from his 2005 album III and written by Bill Anderson and Harley Allen, was my favourite song. Don’t get me wrong I love most of his songs but I’ll Wait For You had that something special and the two videos that accompanied the two versions were amazing.

Alcohol has played a huge part in his songs but few were aware of his addiction and problems with Alcohol but with the release of his new album Nichols is frank and honest about his problems. He has been sober for over a year and “An Old Friend of Mine” is his emotional storytelling account of his drinking.

It will inevitably strike a chord with people who are struggling with any form of addiction but for me, someone who is fortunate not to suffer from such an addiction, it delivers on all fronts. Emotional, honest and simple. The use of one camera doesn’t detract from the message the video brings and is key to this kind of song. Country songs are famed for a broken truck, a bitter divorce or the dog dying but this track steps up a gear and arguably provides support to those in need.

As we all know by now, or if we don’t where have we all been hiding?, Michael Jackson the “King of Pop” has died aged 50. Fans around the globe have been saddened and shocked by his death and a huge number of celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon claiming to have been his best friend or those enemies have magically seen the good in him despite attacking his moral fibre for years.  “His Music will live on”

I’ve always loved his music and always will in all probability. I wasn’t a great fan of the man, he was a complex entertainer who in fairness carried a lot of baggage, some of his own making, others out of his control. Whoever or whatever the cause, he came across as a man/boy unsure of his own mind.

With each hour that passes, we the public and internet followers learn a little more about the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. Was it a “simple cardiac arrest” ?

Were prescription drugs involved?  If they were, was it a case of too many drugs over a sustained period of time or a morphine overdose by his physician?

The toxicology report is expected to come back within six weeks and given the sensational story and the family involved the coroner is unlikely to be pressured into making rash statements or cause of death.
As I write this short piece, Michael Jackson’s music occupies the top 15 best selling albums on Amazon! It is to be expected as fans and new fans clamour to hear his music. Thriller remains the best selling album of all time and it is unlikely to be beaten. When his comeback album (Invincible) “failed” despite selling 10 million albums he never released another album. His highly anticipated 50 night tour at the O2 in London was expected to kick off a new desire for his music.

Unfortunately the tour will now never materialise but in death his “off the wall” music, just like Elvis, will live on and become more popular. What a macabre and wonderful world we live in.

Weeds Season Two on Blu-Ray

I can’t quite believe what I’m looking at! Amazon sent me and probably thousands more an email this morning showcasing their latest blu-ray offers and included in the mix are truly amazing bargains! Weeds season 1 and 2 priced at $12.99 each – Hurry!

When Weeds was launched a few seasons ago I didn’t know how to take it – the soundtrack put me off the programme and despite the top notch acting and comedy I couldn’t get it out of my head so I left the programme in limbo a third of the way into season one!

However on receiving the email this morning I am sorely tempted to give Weeds another go especially considering both season one and two are priced at just $12.99 each! That’s right, $12.99 for a full season of blu-ray goodness folks!

Season three is priced at a very respectable $17.99 and considering Amazon want over $80 for the boxset (season 1-3) it’s a bargain! If you are looking for a review on Season 1 then look no further …..!!

For those of you in the UK or worldwide the three seasons are multi regional – to check those and other titles please visit the following website

Free Schapelle

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying a lovely Sunday. I did a search for the latest news on Schapelle this evening and rather worryingly came across and article from the coastconfidential website claiming that very few people in Bali knew of Schapelle’s plight and condition.

Given her status abroad in Australia and America you would have thought that she would be well remembered in Bali, but it appears that few locals have given her a thought in recent times. The conditions she currently lives in are deplorable and are not fit for a rat let alone a human being, something has to be done.

CC report that “There are requests to visit Schapelle and bring her a present or some comfort but it is virtually impossible.

“Unless you are family or apply beforehand and Schapelle wants to see you, it is not going to happen.”

If you read Schapelle’s book “No More Tomorrows” you will discover that she gets tired of people turning up to have a gawp at her just because they feel like killing half an hour or they just want to return home saying they’ve met Schapelle Corby. The obvious problem with this is that people with true and honest intentions could possibly lose out and not get chance to meet her.

Way back in 2005 the Sydney Morning Herald reported:-

HER cause has spun off enough souvenirs to rival a royal wedding and generated more polls than a federal election campaign. There are T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and unconfirmed sightings at suburban barbecues of stubbie coolers bearing the same slogan: Free Schapelle.

Her surname (Corby, if by some small chance you missed it) has become almost superfluous, if not in the stifling courtrooms of Bali, then in the minds of the Australian public.

In other related news it appears that the global protest in support of imprisoned Australian Schapelle Corby arrived at the United Nations this morning (March 6th). Photographs of people demonstrating by holding “Free Schapelle” cards in cities throughout North America, Europe, Australasia and even the Middle East, were presented to UN representatives and officials. Performing the delivery was Tara Hack, the indie-pop artist, whose “Saya Tidak Bersalah (I’m Not Guilty)” has become a global anthem of support.

One thing that does surprise me is the apparent lack of support or knowledge of Schapelle in the UK. I haven’t met anyone who is aware of Schapelle’s terrible conditions in jail or her trumped up drug charges. This is certainly something that has to be rectified – however I do fear that there is very little hope of releasing Schapelle with into Australian custody or set free.

We can live in hope.

I was out celebrating my brother’s birthday today, a lovely lunch at one of the premier hotels a few miles from my house. I sat there enjoying the silver service, great wine and amazing food – not forgetting the wonderful company -  not once did I think of Schapelle, her prison conditions – let’s face it, there is very little I can do. I can post a blog however and in some small way I hope it helps preserve her public memory.

Schapelle Corby's Ganja Queen

I watched Channel Nine’s “Schapelle Corby: Hidden Truth” a few weeks ago and although I thought Schapelle innocent before I watched the two part documentary, I was left with a few more questions than I had anticipated.  The documentary was my first insight into the allegations against Schapelle I had come across (other than the net) and it left me with a slight feeling of confusion as to who was telling the truth, who were the good guys and who I could trust?

With this in mind I decided to read (my first impressions) Schapelle’s book “No More Tomorrows” and I wasn’t prepared for such a marked difference between the TV programme and the book. The television documentary gave, in my opinion, a fair and balanced version of events, however, for me the book cleared things up and laid to rest a few questions I had lingering. This is only my opinion and I’m positive other readers/viewers will take a different view.

The Ganja Queen DVD is available to buy on DVD in America. (Not available in the UK) – please note this is listed as a 92 minute dvd.

With this in mind I decided to re-visit the two part documentary and hopefully see what I missed first time around. The programme, known in the United States as “The Ganja Queen” was well received abroad and certainly helped bring Schapelle’s plight to thousands of people unaware of the travesty of justice that had befallen the Queenslander.

Schapelle Corby in Court

I had two nagging doubts from my first viewing and they centred on the two “supporting” roles within the documentary; namely Mercedes Corby and Ron Bakir (inc Robin Tampoe). I had (and have) no doubt of the love within the family both from Mercedes, her mother and her father. However on just viewing the documentary I don’t think they were shown in the best light. The book in comparison clears all these doubts up with a rebuttal from Schapelle herself.

It is shocking to see how much the Corby’s were taken in with Bakir and his legal team ahead of the trial. The spin worked well for a long time but slowly and surely doubts surfaced within the Corby camp as to the true intentions of Bakir and his team. The Corby’s were pressured into signing contracts under strict conditions that they were not to let this be known to the media in fear of negative publicity. I hadn’t realised that until reading the book.

Mercedes (for me) in the documentary came across as a very angry young woman. But isn’t that what you would expect?  I’m not quite sure why in my mind I criticised her for being that way. After reading the book I took another look, allowed myself to re-evaluate her initial impressions on me and I have changed my opinion.  It did take the book to allow my thoughts to , just one example of how powerful the book is.

It’s quite strange watching the documentary, reading the book and again re-visiting the programme. The places within the prison and court come to life. They offer a different meaning, a deeper emotional connection and a better understanding to the conditions Schapelle faces on a daily basis. Descriptive scenes of her mother cleaning the court holding cells, the prison visiting area and the grounds come to life thanks to the written word.

Lily Lubis is another character that receives a good airing on the documentary but on reading the book you had the distinct feeling she was a weak woman and an even weaker lawyer who in essence did little to help Schapelle’s cause. I have to admit I felt sorry for her when she was fired from the team but this was before I read the book and discovered she wasn’t a court recommended lawyer.

In conclusion if you are in any doubt, confused or want to know more about the case for a truly balanced opinion I urge you to watch Channel Nine’s two part documentary and Schapelle’s international bestseller “No More Tomorrows“. The book isn’t available in Australia but you can buy from the UK. or if you prefer buy from the United States.

Ganja Queen is also available to buy on DVD in America

I’ve never sat down and spent time putting stills to music but thought it was high time I practiced. Given that I was in the middle of reading Schapelle’s book and so enthusiastic about her innocence I thought why not Schapelle!

So with that in mind, I spent a few hours and came up with the following video. The stills set to Adele’s “Make you feel my love”, I thought the words rang true. Hope you enjoy it, it was great fun to collate and I hope to do another one in the future.

Nowhere else to go

I was totally shocked to see that it had been well over a year since I last posted on my blog and thought it was about time I got my arse into gear and updated it with a post from 2009! Apologies to all my readers and I promise to write more often this year – even if most of it will be inane drivel!

On to my subject matter for this post! I have just finished reading Schapelle Corby’s International bestseller “No More Tomorrows” in which she talks about her state of mind, the court process, how things went from bad to worst and a frank and honest account of her time at the Kerobokan prison.

The book from start to finish is an emotional roller-coaster. It is a truly wonderful read, (can I say that I enjoyed it, is that wrong?) often frightening that this sort of thing could happen to an innocent traveller going off to Bali for a holiday. I’ve been to Bali and had a wonderful time but anyone reading this book or aware of the Corby case will surely have second thoughts about travelling.

Schapelle’s biggest crime as she admits in her book was her failure to lock her boogie board when checking in in Brisbane. I myself have no doubt of her innocence and I sincerely hope she does get justice and make it home sooner rather than later. It doesn’t look great at the moment after exhausting the appeal process – what a joke that was. But the Corby family live in hope.

The book, co written with Kathryn Bonella, took 10 months to write and is a tribute to the determination, courage and hope that Schapelle has despite the weak legal team, a lawyer who cried more often than she spoke in court and the incesant spin from Ron Bakir and Robyn Tampoe.

As described in her book, she was never going to get a fair trial and the prosecutors and the judge were only going to give the guilty verdict. Innocent until “proven” guilty was never a factor. You cannot compare Corby’s case to that of the Bali Nine but the Indonesian Government were adamant they would use Corby to make a point. Despite the harsh sentence handed down, it doesn’t appear to have stopped Westerners from drug trafficking.

I have no doubt in my mind that Schapelle Corby is innocent, she is a victim of gross miscarriage of justice and a lack of support and investigation by the AFP and Sydney and Brisbane airport security. I’m sure this post comes across as a rather one sided post but I read nothing in the book to support a guilty verdict.

It has been a while since I wrote my last (and only) entry to date on Schapelle’s plight in an Indonesian prison. I decided to take a look around the net and see what people were writing, what the latest news was and if anyone had anything interesting to report.

The biggest story to attract my attention was that of Indonesia -based Australian Nicholas Morley who has designed a controversial t-shirt attacking Schapelle Corby and the Bali economy. The t-shirt, depicted here in the image reads “Four kilo anti-hero” and retails for $79. Also printed on the shirt, in much smaller writing, are the words, “Schapelle Corby is guilty and has cost Bali millions of dollars in lost revenue”. Sarah Grant also writes a piece in the Sunday Telegraph.

A significant proportion of the profits from the sale of the shirt will go to the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Bali despite British-born Alison Chambers, who runs the orphanage, having never seen the garment. She also proclaims she was unaware that the shirt’s message clearly relates to Schapelle.

There’s no doubt that the orphanage does great things for young children and I guess it’s just a case of a line and has it been crossed in this case? I have to say I am a Corby supporter from afar – I’ve never met her or know much about her as a person – I guess I try to see the good in people and believe in her innocence.

A law exists in the UK and Australia that criminals cannot profit from their crime, surely there must be something written that a company or individual cannot profit from said criminal in a blatant form of jumping on the bandwagon?

It is quite clear that the Bali tourist industry has been severely hit since the Corby case, I for one know at least 15 people who have been to Bali and will never travel there again. The beneficiary in this case, or a portion, the orphanage is a good one – I just wish there was another way to gain some much needed cash boost. Like they say “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”.

Well very interesting news through today and boy am I happy with the results! Marion Jones, Ex-triple Olympic champion, has been cleared of doping allegations after her ‘B’ sample proved negative.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a second positive returning negative after a first positive result, certainly not in any high profile case I am aware of. I think this second test has certainly saved Marion Jones career as she only has a limited time left on track as a high class sprinter. Not only has this increased her career by a few years but it saves her having a black mark on what has otherwise been a blemish free athletics career.

Sure she has had her associations with her ex husband and Tim Montgomery, both who have lost out to drugs, but surely this now puts to rest any allegations that she had been using performance enhancing drugs? I hope so not just for her but for the sport in general that is going through a rough patch at the moment.

The American sprinter’s initial sample had tested positive for the banned blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) in June.

“I am absolutely ecstatic,” said the 30-year-old Jones, who had been facing a two-year ban from the sport had her ‘B’ sample tested positive.

“I am anxious to get back on the track,” she added in a statement.

“I have always maintained that I have never ever taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact.”

Jones, who won five medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, had never previously failed a doping test.

She had been under scrutiny by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in connection with the Balco laboratory doping scandal but was never been charged with a doping offence.

Jones has suffered a slump in form since giving birth to her first child with ex-partner Tim Montgomery in June 2003.

But in June she won the US 100m championship in 11.10 seconds.

She has three of the five fastest times in the world this year with a best of 10.91 secs to rank second overall behind Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson.

Her lawyer Howard Jacobs also expressed his delight at the result.

More news and comments later, when I learn about the second test.

I’ve been meaning to write something about Schapelle Corby for some time now, long before I started this blog a few weeks ago,born out of frustration for her predicament, unable to help in any way, it infuriated me to the nth degree.

Schapelle was born in Australia in 1977 and has recently turned 29 while serving a 20 year jail sentence for importing/smuggling 4.1Kg of cannabis to Bali in October 2004. She was sentenced in May 2005 and the sentencing was carried live by satellite to both Australia and New Zealand, the guilty verdict greeted in utter disbelief.

There was immediate condemnation of the result from fellow Australian citizens and once the news had reached the other side of the world in the UK, it was met with a similar feelings. Public and political outcry followed but despite letters from leading politicians and celebrities including Russell Crowe, the Bali Government were unmoved and the 20 years sentencing stood.

I strongly believe that Schapelle is innocent and is the victim of a drug smuggling operation gone wrong, as far as she was concerned that is. Popular opinions suggest that the drugs, found in her boogie board on arrival in Bali, were never meant to leave Australia and were bound for Sydney. The drugs were planted in her unlocked boogie board in Brisbane and upon arrival in Sydney Airport were supposed to be removed and collected by an unknown drug ring.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald Corby flew out of Sydney on the same day (8 October 2004) as a large shipment of cocaine was shipped out of the airport by a drug ring involving corrupt baggage handlers. During the week of 9 May 2005 in Australia several arrests occurred related to cocaine smuggling through Sydney airport. Her defence claimed that the cannabis was planted in her bag by mistake by baggage handlers.

A letter was delivered to the Indonesian embassy in Canberra containing an unknown substance on May 31, 2005. It was later found to be non-toxic and was considered a hoax. I cannot condone this type of behaviour, even more so in the times that we live with the threat of Terrorism around every corner but with the emotions running so highly in Australia it doesn’t surprise me that such an action occurred.

There seems little hope that her sentence will be reduced now following a number of exhausted appeals, all we can hope for now is that her plea to be moved to Australia to serve her term is granted. If that fails she can only hope that clemency is granted by the Indonesian President but that is unlikely to happen at the moment. The Age in Austrlia is carrying a story that Schapelle isn’t interested in a prisoner exchange programme ahead of tomorrow’s final appeal.

Schapelle has recently cut her hair due to the climate in Bali (believe me I’ve never been to a more humid place on earth) but unfortunately this has led to various nasty comments in the press. Don’t these people have anything better to do than call her a lesbian just because she’s had her hair cut ? Give me a break.

Another drugs scandal is set to rock Athletics with 30 year old sprint star Marion Jones testing positive for EPO in June. Jones was tested at the US Championships in Indianapolis and her test gave a positive reading for erythropoietin. Rumours are also circulating that there are a number of American athletes from the June Championships who have failed a drugs test in one way or another, if this does prove correct then the athletics world will be turned upside down.

Although the numerous “possible” positive drug results would hurt athletics in the short term, there is no doubt that the sport will bounce back stronger and hopefully cleaner than before. I still don’t understand why an athlete of any description would risk not only their career but health taking the banned substances. Ok, so monetary gain is a given, as is being known throughout the world if you are good but surely it’s not worth it, is it?

Ben Johnson was the first main positive drug test that I can remember (1988 testing positive for steroids) and I do know that it rocked the sporting world. He cheated his way to the top, sold his soul and the devil came to collect. Stripped of his title there was no going back for Johnson. I hope the same thing doesn’t happen to Marion Jones and she can clear her name but it’s looking doubtful and at 30, a ban of any length would mean the end of her career. Only Jones’s A sample has been tested, and if her B sample also tests positive for drugs, Jones would face a two-year suspension

The other thing that I can’t quite put my finger on is after all these years of people related to her testing positive for drugs, Jones has passed every test until June. I just can’t figure it out.

Jones, who was due to compete at last night’s Golden League meeting in Zurich but left the hotel where the athletes were staying at 6am, reportedly “for personal reasons”.

I’ve just watched Marion Jones run in the 100 metres at Crystal Palace and she was beaten by Sherone Simpson of Jamaica into second place. Jones didn’t have a terrific start and looked a little lethargic in the first 40 metres and when Simpson moved away Jones reacted but didn’t quite have enough to overhaul her competitor. Simpson clocked 11.00 with Jones a short distance behind ina time of 11.05.

It was the first time Jones had raced in the UK for 2 years and given the number of allegations regarding drug taking by her former husbands and her four coaches, Jones has always been guilty by association, unfairly in my book. She has never been caught taking performance enhancing drugs in her career and given modern technology and the fact that she has won so much in her track career, surely she would have been caught by now if she had been taking drugs? EDIT:19th August: Jones Tests Positive

“I’m a competitor, I like to win. We had a heavy win in our face and that’s why you didn’t see a great run. I’m feeling good and getting back into it.”

Talking of the great reception she got from the local crowd she had this to say “Absolutely, people know the truth, I have lots of supporters around the world and here in Britain.”

“I’m not tainted by what people are saying, they are going to say what they want to say and the fact that I’m out here this year, running better than I have since I had my son in 2003 I think it’s proven to a lot of people that I can’t spend my time worrying. I have to concentrate on running”.

Only time will tell if Nike will stand by her. She is out of contract and although she wore the same vest as Sherone (a Nike athlete) she didn’t sport the swoosh tonight. Let’s not forget, this is the same Nike that stood by her after her extraordinary, clandestine decision to employ as her coach Charlie Francis, the self-confessed brains behind Ben Johnson’s drugs regime — and never left her out of contract.

And it is the same Nike that stood by her when C. J. Hunter, her husband at the time, was banned for drugs and then, last summer, when Tim Montgomery, her former partner and the father of her son, was also charged with doping offences — and, again, never left her out of contract.

Final result of the Norwich Union London Grand Prix 100 metres

1. Sherone Simpson (Jam) 11.00
   
2. Marion Jones (USA)11.05
3. Torri Edwards (USA) 11.25

Wind -1.2 m/s headwind

Allyson Felix (USA) finished in 6th well off the pace as she fights her way back from injury.