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Death Mask by Kathryn Fox – Book Review

Posted on March 25, 2011
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Although I was fully aware of the sensitive theme behind Kathryn Fox’s “Death Mask” it hadn’t prepared me for the jaw dropping impact it would have on me within 10 pages. Despite it’s despicability I hadn’t truly grasped the brutality of gang rape – were you aware that rape remains one of the most under reported violent crimes today?

The beginning left me breathless in its evocative delivery – a blushing new bride is brutally and savagely attacked while on her honeymoon. She returns, unaware of what’s happened and discovers she has contracted multiple sexually transmitted diseases. A virgin, Hannah had saved herself for her husband and the discovery of the diseases has left her in shock and uncertainty. It sets the tone for the rest of the book and to be honest, it doesn’t let up from beginning to end.

This scenario lays down a solid foundation that is, to be frank, unshakable. The narrative is fluid and incredibly powerful and left me reeling and breathless on numerous occasions. Despite “Death Mask” being a work of fiction, there is no doubt that scenes similar to the ones found in the book are very real to hundreds and thousands of innocent victims in today’s society. Kathryn Fox, a medical practitioner with a special interest in forensic medicine, gives voice to these acts of cowardice, selfishness and dare I say weakness.

“When the victim of a violent gang rape accuses five premier sportsmen of being her attackers, she has no idea that her suffering has only just begun.

It’s a scandal that rocks a nation of sports fans.

But, in spite of a huge amount of evidence, no one seems to believe the girl.

So when Dr Anya Crichton, with her forensic and sexual assault expertise, is …

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Ask Bearders Book Review

Posted on August 3, 2010
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Bill Frindall was an integral part of Test Match Special from June 1966 until his ultimate ill-timed dismissal in January of 2009, ironically an Ashes year. To many, Bearders was one of the main reasons to tune into Radio 4’s TMS, he will be sorely missed by hundreds of cricket fans around the world. Buy Now

Ask Bearders is as you would expect a collection of questions put to the great statistician and fast bowler over his career as the BBC’s main cricket statistician and radio pundit he would often be heard to growl at a question posed by cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew on air.

The questions included in this book are sectioned and appear within numerous chapters such as “on the ump”, “stats cricket”, “bowling wizards” and “well fancy that”. This isn’t your usual book, there’s no story or writing style to comment on, simply Bill’s precise and often dry responses to the fans who attempt to trick him with an impossible question.

Although not meant to be a tribute as Agnew suggests in his foreword, “Ask Bearders” is a tribute to the bearded one. Although no longer here to continue his blog, a blog he started in 2001 in response to the thousands of questions he would receive over his radio career, the book serves as his final farewell to those who took the time to question his deep knowledge.

Terry Jones of England asked a question of Bill in which he described it as being one of the more unusual questions he had been asked in his first 50 years, elevating him to agony aunt status!

“My mother was to take me (aged three) to see Bradman’s last innings at Worcester in 1948 but instead went into labour delivering my brother. He was born on 28 April, …

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Ennis wins Gold but Mo Farah steals the show

Posted on July 31, 2010
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Jessica Ennis has just put the cream on a wonderful large cake by claiming Gold in the Heptathalon beating her closest rival Dobrynska in the 800 Metres but for me Mo Farah stole the show today by becoming double European champion at 5,000 and 1000 metres. It left me with a lump in my throat and pride in what he has given up to become the champion he is. Simply sensational.

How exciting have this year’s European Athletics in Barcelona been for UK Athletics and its followers?

It all began on day one with the 10,000 metres success with Mo “knows how to run” Farrah (28:24.99) and Chris Thompson (28:27.33) claimed Gold and Silver. It seemed to buoy the Great Britain squad pushing them to perform to their best, and often beyond, to bring home a huge collection of medals.

The only negative outcome from today was the performance from the Men and Women in the 4 by 100 metre relays, the guys putting in an absolutely shocking performance. Sitting comfortably in first place rounding the final bend, a mix up of monumental proportions between Mark Lewis-Francis, (who won silver in the 100m) and Marlon Devonish. Team GB could only finish fifth in their heat and failed to qualify for the final. An emotional Lewis-Franics told the BBC

“This is my fault, I’ve let the guys down,”. “Wow, it’s such a big blow. I apologise sincerely to all the guys, I just cannot believe that happened.”

Ennis ran 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 18 seconds, 2.12sec ahead of second-placed Ukrainian Dobrynska, to rack up a championship record 6,823 points total falling just eight points short of Denise Lewis’s British record.

“It’s been nerve-wracking having all the athletes on my heels,” admitted a jubilant Ennis.

“It feels so good …

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Jessica Ennis starts well in Barcelona

Posted on July 30, 2010
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Ennis clocks the fastest time in heats with 12.95 secsGold medal hope Jessica Ennis continued the strong British showing in Barcelona with the fastest time in Heptathalon’s 100m hurdles. The Sheffield born hept-athlete clocked a time of 12.95 seconds in the third heat with Jennifer Oeser of Germany second quickest with a time of 13.37 seconds.

The sub 13 second run gave her 1132 points with Oeser on 1070 points.

It wasn’t the smoothest of heats with fellow competitors Tatyana Chernova and Linda Zublin guilty of a false start in the third heat which meant that athlete committing another transgression would be disqualified.

Tatyana Chernova, who has been widely touted as the Briton’s closest rival for Gold looked out of sorts and could only manage a time of 13.73 seconds.

Jessica is the current world heptathlon and world indoor pentathlon champion.

Following her heat Ennis said:

“It felt OK, there was a bit of a headwind, it was a good start, I’d like to have run a bit quicker.”

With the recent virus behind her it appears to have had no affect on her speed, her stamina and strength will be severely tested over the next 48 hours as she aims to add a third title to her belt.…

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F1 Farce as Alonso grabs controversial win over Massa

Posted on July 25, 2010
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Why oh why do I bother watching an F1 grand prix when a blatant team order instruction over the team radio changed the result of the race? Barring a catastrophe after the first few laps Ferrari were going to end  with a great 1-2 result, my complaint is the way it happens.

Ok, Alonso was obviously quicker than Felipe Massa after the one and only tyre change from super soft to hard. Massa was struggling with the change of tyre and locked up on numerous occasions before Alonso passed him. Alonso may well have passed him but surely the FIA will want to investigate this sham of “no team orders”.

When the pair returned to the pits at the end of the race, Massa was clearly upset but held back what he probably wanted to say and do!

Massa, who trailed his team-mate by 31 points prior to the race, was told by Ferrari chief engineer Rob Smedley over team radio: “Ok…. So Alonso is faster than you. Can you confirm you understand?” – to which he responded by letting Alonso through on Turn Six two laps later.

Following the move, Smedley added: “Good lad. Just stick with it now, sorry.”

During the driver’s press conference Massa was asked to comment on the call afterwards, Massa, who was denied a potential win one year to the day after he fractured his skull in the Hungarian GP, said: “I don’t need to say anything about that. He passed me.”

Formula 1′s governing body the FIA, state in Rule 39.1: “Team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited.”

If Ferrari thinks they can make excuses that team orders weren’t in operation they are taking all F1 fans and viewers for mugs. Smedley was clearly holding back and towing …

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