Running for ME/CFS no. 48

On 17/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

A brief update for those readers who expect one of these posts on a Monday. First, let me direct you to the two previous posts for more details. You'll find post 46 here and post 47 here. Suffice it to say that training last week went according to plan and I'm well on track for …

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Monster of the Apocalypse, by C. Henry Martens, Reviewed.

On 16/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

This dystopian science fiction novel grips from the start. Set in the not-too-distant future, it portrays a world devastated by plague. The few inhabitants left alive display all the emotions, characteristics and personality types that exist in the real world, so it's easy to empathise with the players here. The story is different from many …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 47

On 16/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

It's happening! It's really happening, 4 weeks today! My runner's pack has arrived from the sponsors. It includes my number and a timing chip, which will track my time from the moment I pass the starting line to when I stagger across the finishing line some 7 or 8 hours later! Joking: if I can …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 46

On 13/08/201513/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

This series will draw to a natural close once I've run the Great North Run, on 13th September, and posted my final piece with the results. However, from now to the actual run, I'll be increasing my posts on an ad hoc basis when I have something new to report. So, yesterday, I did my …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 45

On 09/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running3 Comments

The race is 5 weeks today. And this week's blog post is on time, for a change! Wednesday's session consisted of 6 runs of 4 minutes, alternating with 1-minute walks. I covered 3.3 miles in 35 minutes, taking a loop through the forest and averaging just over 10 minutes per mile. Friday, I was required …

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STUART AKEN: A SEARED SKY IS ABOUT HYPOCRISY, LOYALTY AND LOVE

On 06/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Uncategorized1 Comment

STUART AKEN: A SEARED SKY IS ABOUT HYPOCRISY, LOYALTY AND LOVE. An interview on Ognian Georgiev's site for readers and writers.

Running for ME/CFS no. 44

On 03/08/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running2 Comments

My programme for the last week required 9 sessions of 2-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks on Wednesday, a 6-mile run/walk with 3-minute runs alternating with 1-minute walks on Friday, and a brisk 30-minute walk on Sunday. How did I do? Wednesday, I set out to do a familiar 'there and back' route through the …

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The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima, Reviewed.

On 29/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Review

This story sits well within the sub-genre of magical fantasy. There are the wizards and amulets, thieves, hill-folk, princesses and queens associated with the genre. The tale is well told, with plenty of action and a good deal of well-handled romance in the various relationships. For me, however, it is a little formulaic and reminded …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 43

On 29/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running1 Comment

A little late this week with this one. My apologies; other things on my mind. The programme for last week was: Wednesday, 6 sessions of 3-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks; Friday, 5-mile run/walk with alternating 2-minute runs and 1-minute walks; Sunday, 30-minute brisk walk. Wednesday, I set out to do the session along my …

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A Renewed Regime.

On 26/07/201526/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Creative Writer, Fiction, ME/CFS, Organisation, Progress5 Comments

Way back in 2014, that's last year in case you're not sure, I was writing fairly regularly and working on a couple of projects. But, in the middle of that year, we made a momentous decision: we would move house from our domain of 14 years and settle in an area of the country where …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 42

On 20/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running5 Comments

This week asked for a Wednesday session of 6 times 3-minute runs alternating with 2-minute walks. However, after the last fortnight's issues, I decided to do a straight 20-minute run initially, to get back into some sort of pattern. That turned out to be no problem and I actually covered a little more ground than …

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Slam, by Nick Hornby, Reviewed.

On 17/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review1 Comment

Much to the probable annoyance of nearby sun-lounger occupiers, I read this on holiday by the pool. Annoyance? Yes; the book had me laughing out loud with its wit. This very funny and often moving story is told through the voice of boy growing from near 16 to 18 years old. He becomes embroiled in …

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The Prey, by Andrew Fukuda, Reviewed.

On 17/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review1 Comment

This science fiction novel was found in the small library of the hotel where I holidayed on the Greek Island of Thassos. Although this is the middle book of a trilogy, it stands quite well on its own. The depictions of both a world strangled by the genetic mistake of a fanatic and a sub-society …

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Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review2 Comments

Discovered in the small hotel library whilst holidaying on the Greek island of Thassos, this book was one I'd always intended to read. I'm glad I did. It's an imaginative, moving and subtly horrifying romance about organ donation based on the use of clones. Told in 1st person by Kath H, it begins by recounting …

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Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Subtitled, 'A Brief History of Humankind', 'Sapiens' is a work of extraordinary scholarship presented in very readable form. There's a great deal of humour here, carrying the message. The whole text is readily accessible without any dumbing down. Thought-provoking, mind-enhancing, terrifying, encouraging and illuminating, this piece of work encompasses many disciplines. It examines human endeavour …

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