A Scotsman in Buckingham

Welcome to my Blog. My name is Neil and I have been living in Buckinghan, UK since the 11th September 2020. I lived in the Armenia, Latvia and China. I am a teacher of Geography, Global Perspectives and English. I am married to Lena who is my soulmate and best friend.We also have a little boy, Robert. As you can tell from the Blog's name I am Scottish although I was born in London. My Blog will be for sharing my thoughts on anything that takes my fancy. Please feel free to comment.

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Lazarus Rising:an update

Hello Gentle Readers

I have finally finished my novel. Well, the first draft anyway. I still need to edit it and do minor rewrites.

Below is the synopsis and I would love your opinion. Does it sound like something you would want to read? Please let me know. If you know any publishers that would be good to know too.

Lazarus Rising by Neil Thomson (Synopsis)

Lazarus Rising is a historical novel set during the late 18th and Early 19th centuries. It is essentially a novel about identity and what happens to us when we lose our sense of self and must discover who we are.

Our protagonist, who has been named Lazarus by a priest who heals him back to health after Waterloo, has no memory of who he is. He gets flashes of memory (place names and faces mostly) that point him towards a small village in Kent. He returns to the village and discovers that events from his past and recent present have collided to create a mystery which has identity, love, honour, friendship and revenge at its heart.

A stranger claiming to be a famous person, a woman with a past and an illegitimate child, a family with too many secrets for their own good

Told in flashback, the reader slowly discovers more and more clues to Lazarus’ identity. When the truth is finally revealed to the hero, he must not only fight the demons of his past indiscretions, but also face up to his responsibilities and an enemy who seeks to destroy everything that Lazarus holds dear.

Spanning the English countryside to London and across the sea to Belgium and Portugal during the Peninsula Wars, Lazarus Rising is a novel that has adventure, drama, and passion. The story is told in the 3rd person and features characters who are believable and well rounded.

#lazarusrising

Saturday, 9 January 2021

Bojo and Covo

I borrowed this from someone and couldn’t say it better myself! And we're all guilty, to some degree, including me. You dont have to like Boris and his Nationalistic little band. We are all to blame.

What Boris should really have said

‘So, here we go again. I’m on your tv telling you things are going to be shit for a while. And yes that’s what I’m doing. I’m stopping you from going out, from seeing your friends and loved ones. You think that makes me a bad person. But you know what; this job isn’t easy. All I’m doing it trying to please you lot and stop you all dying at the same time. I give you rules, you break them. I ease things a bit, you take the piss. You are all a bunch of ungrateful selfish human beings and I’m now at the point where I’m only inflicting more rules because you idiots are putting ridiculous pressure on the NHS, by ignoring the things I have asked you nicely to do. You all think you are a scientist, doctors, experts. You aren’t. Neither am I. But I am taking advice from the best in this country and doing my best to please you all. So stop being so selfish.. yes it’s boring, it’s getting old, but it won’t go away if you all continue to throw your toys out of your pram. Grow up. Take some responsibility for yourself and your so called loved ones and do as you are asked!!

#covidresponsibility #uk #borisjohnson

Monday, 4 January 2021

2021

Hello Gentle Readers and Happy New Year.

Well we did it. The year from hell is finally over. What a year it was and it started on a high for us.

In 2019, we had ended our China nightmare and moved to Armenia. We loved Armenia and although Covid affected us, we were happy and Robert was happy. We signed new contracts and we were looking forward to a good future.

Then the bombshell came. We both lost our jobs because of Covid. The school couldnt afford to pay us because so many parents pulled their kids from the school.

I was lucky to get a job back in the UK and Lena is teaching online but its not the same.

We were hoping to spend more time with my family especially over Xmas but lockdowns have really bitten deep and its been just the 3 of us.

Basically 2020 sucked and I really do hope 2021 is better...lets face it...it couldnt be any worse.

#2021

Thursday, 10 December 2020

Today in History: December 9th

Hello Gentle Readers. Lets time drive into the future remembering to Stop at Red, be ready at Amber and Go Go Go into history.

1868: The worlds first set of traffic lights are installed in London. They used gas lamps with coloured flame.

1916: Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas is born.

1960. The first episode of Coronation Street airs in the UK. It is the longest running TV soap in the world.

1979. Smallpox disease is officially made extinct.

#december9 #todayinhistory #smallpox #coronationstreet #kirkdouglas #trafficlights

Monday, 7 December 2020

Slang!

Hello Gentle Readers

Its been a while. Busy at school and at home.

I recently did a seminar about slang for Learn with Thomson's. I wrote a short passage with lots of slang terms.

The text is below. How many slang terms can you find.

Blimey!
I'm not taking the MIckey but the other day I bought a dodgy motor that cost me an arm and a leg. I think it was a knock-off and it cost me all my dough. In fact I paid 2 grand for it.

It broke down in the middle of knowhere. Its winter so it wss brass monkeys outside.

I called a garage and had to wait for a grease monkey to turn up and fix it. He took a butchers at it, shook his head and asked if I was born yesterday because I had bought a hunk of junk.

I was gutted and cheesed off because I had bought a complete lemon.

When I spoke to her indoors she called me a numpty and an eejit. I was black zffronted because I have always considered myself a bit of a brain box.

It just goes to show that if you think your God's gift or the bees knees all it takes is one stupid decision and everyone looks at you and says "Tough titties!"

#learnwiththomsons #slang