Logan's Touch

Some years ago, in fact many years ago now, I was in hospital in a place called Santa Rosa, California. Now, you must be wondering where this is going, but bear with me, please.
It was one of those occasions that we now call 'life changing'. I was in the cardiac unit, a place to avoided at all costs. I was puzzled. For most of my life I had been very fit, I had served in the Royal Marines and done the commando course at a place called Lymstone in Devon England. (I mention this in my book Logan's Touch') I had also been a teacher of physical education in England...could run 20 miles without effort. But heart disease is insidious. However, thanks to three brilliant doctors to whom whom I shall be eternally grateful, Dr Greg Gullow, my GP in Sonoma, CA. Dr Stan  Mogelson, a cardiologist, and Dr  Keith Korver, surgeon. Without their intervention I would not be here. No kidding!
   And one more and I reach the point of my blog, but he wasn't a doctor. He was a cartoonist by the name of Charles Shultz. Okay he's famous. But he visted the cardiac unit regularly where he had had by pass-surgery. He encouraged patients, (like Henry V before the battle of Agincourt)...in Shakespeare, 'For forth he goes and visits all his hosts, bids then good morrow with a modest smile and calls them friend, brother'....I digress. he was a great hospital visitor, and in the unit, there were cartoons on the walls....a great guy, sadly no longer with us.
   I looked forward to his visits after my surgery, (I had a triple-by-pass)...we talked about Europe, Germany where he obviously had a connection....and he was interested in my past. Being in the field of child protection was close to his heart.... no pun intended. I had worked the streets of Liverpool, England, and later as a social worker ( this part part of my life will be published in Zen and the Art of Social Work later this year, 2012.).
   It was Charles who encouraged me to write. and here we are, some twenty years later, four books on amazon.co.uk and amazon.com  with two others published in the USA, and two 'on the stocks' and a third being planned which involves yet another visit to Berlin. (This is a city, for some very odd reason I find fascinating. Everywhere I go I feel I have been there before. I cannot explain it...maybe on my return I will find the answer.
    I had a similar experience when visiting Stuttgart for my book, The Ghosts of KG40....In my book the old grammar school Eberhardt Ludwigs Gymnasium is featured, (a 15th century school, where two of the students were involved in the plot to assasinate Adolph Hitler, (also see previous blogs re Hitler family)  Graf Claus von Staufenberg and his brother Berthold. Coincidntly I picked up  the school's Blue Book, and Charles Shultz's name is in it....another book, Fred Uhlman's 'Reunion' is a brillant book about the school before the Nazis came to power. Persecuted by the Nazis Fred later left Germany for the USA, where he had a career in writing..
    So, the circle is nearly complete. it remains to be see where I go from here...maybe that archaeological dig in Leicestershire at the site of Richard the third and Bosworth, The battle of Bosworth....(the real site is a mile up the road by the way!) or Azicourt, my favourite (Agincourt to every Englisman) ;We Few, we Happy Few. We band of brothers'. I think Bill Shakespeare got it right, don't you!

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A wonderful day out in England

Birdwatching...Yes, true, I went to Topsham in Devon, and as a member of the RSPB I found Bowling Green Marsh...a 'hide' where we could watch many waders of all kinds..(it is here that I show my ignorance as I am fairly new at the is game in England). But there were Snipes and Avocets, a gent standing next to saw a Kingfisher, but there were many many more.
  In Spain I belong to the Costa Blanca Birdwatchers......and the birds are as one might except, quite different. Saw a Golden eagle and Buzzards feeding up in the mountains around Xativa, and many many more.
  Getting back to Devon, it is no secret that CTCRM is just along the River Exe, to the left of the hide. Now that brings back many memories! A mud-run (just for fun) said the corporal Marine. It was a long time ago and I am sure commando training has changed, but I must point out, I was only a Reservist...Ah, as someone pointed out, there are Reservists in Afghanistan....I take my hat off to those lads. Again, CTCRM is mentioned in my book, 'Logan's Touch.'..Major Harry Kewell....meets Wes Van-den-Heuval in the Mess....
  Which brings me to the end of a five mile walk (all around Topsham) with coffee in a great coffee house (I don't know the name)....it's on the left as you head out of town...But before I leave I must point out the Globe Hotel. (This is a 16th century old coaching inn....They have Doombar beer...to the uninitated, it's in the league of Spitfire, or Tribute..even Otter beer, which reminds me of a second book..A Hurricane's Tale. Flying along the Otter Valley....magic!
What a wonderful day, the estuary bathed in sunlight...easy enough now to forget the mountains around Xativa, and bask in the beauty of the River Exe.