Book Review – “The Feather Men” by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 1991.
This thought provoking biography details Middle Eastern beliefs, regarding revenge killings. Middle Eastern culture is dominated by tribal clans and their belief “an eye for an eye” is very much ingrained in their way of life. This is one of those mind blowing books, impossible to put down, that you come across from time to time. Reading this book will change your whole understanding of the nature of war, conflict and its ramifications.
This superbly written and often disturbing retelling of actual events highlights the activities of three assassins, hired by Sheikh Amr bin Issa, to track down and kill each soldier responsible for the deaths of his four sons. The only stipulation is that each death ‘must look like an accident’ so that no responsibility will be traced back to the Sheikh. There is also no time limit on each ‘accident’. As a consequence of this, the murders took place over 17 years. The Sheikh himself died during this time and the final payment was honoured by the Sheik’s surviving son.
The meticulous planning and execution of each murder have been explored in detail, and noticeably, the patience shown by the assassins on each occasion has been nothing short of exemplary. The three men, De Villiers, Meier and Davies (known as ‘the Clinic’) were contacted through a firm called ‘Tadnams’ of Earls Court, London. Fortunately, a group of retired military men called ‘the Feather Men’, became suspicious of these so called ‘accidents’ happening to their officers who had all fought in Oman and had since left the forces and returned to civilian life. If it had not been for the tenacity and vigilance of the Feather Men, and their undercover surveillance of the Clinic’s suspected quarry, more deaths would have resulted. In fact, the author, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, was himself a target.
Underpinning these events is the disturbing realisation that this is not fiction. This book portrays cold blooded murders that were carried out, not by a group of Middle Eastern fanatics, but by three Westerners, hired to do a job. Undoubtedly, we should ask, ‘how safe are our men and women in the armed forces, who have served in the Middle East?’ Westerners involved in conflict with the Middle East, do so at their own peril, because of these long standing tribal beliefs and customs, of ‘saving face’ within their clans, and avenging the deaths of their sons. Retirement from active duty cannot guarantee that our soldiers are safe from further attack by people who harbour a long term desire for revenge against those soldiers who undertook actions on behalf of their Governments.
A BLOG
"Does a University Education Make You a Better Person"?
How do you define ‘better’? ‘Better’ is a subjective term. Is it somebody who makes a greater contribution to the welfare of their community? University education is not a pre-requisite for that. Mother Theresa is commonly regarded as an ‘icon’. Was she university educated? Some university qualifications tend to specialize people in certain areas and make them less able to empathise or relate to the general public, and therefore they are isolated from the wider community. There is no guarantee that a university educated person is better than a non university educated person. This question is answered with the question ‘how does one define better?’ What does it mean? Is it someone who is wealthy, is it a person who has the ability to relate to people from all walks of life? Or is it a person who does great things for their community or society?
All things being equal, a university education should broaden a person’s horizons as well as improve their communications skills. In our modern world, people tend to resort to violence when their ability to communicate with opponents breaks down. Therefore, someone who has better communication skills and a larger range of vocabulary to draw from should be less likely to resort to violence. Does this make them a better person? These positive attributes may be offset by other less desirable aspects in their personality, such as being unkind, dishonest, pompous or self-opinionated.
Every person is a complex assortment of emotions. Throughout my life, I have met people from all walks of life all with various levels of education. I think it comes down to our perceptions, and personal prejudices. A university educated person may have better chances of higher paid employment, but this is not always the case. Tradespeople now are enjoying a lucrative lifestyle, because their services are in demand, and they have not been to university. Does extra wealth make you better?
Maybe one of the benefits of university is that it gives a person more confidence, but that does not necessarily make them a better person.
My answer to this sweeping statement is no, I believe that a university educated person is not necessarily a better person than a non university educated person. The word ‘better’ encompasses a range of possible definitions, and until someone can identify what this word really means in the context of the question, it is impossible to give a definitive answer.
A Restaurant Critique
The ‘Seabreeze’ Restaurant at Killynaught Cottages, Boat Harbour, offers diners a relaxed comfortable atmosphere, whilst enjoying well presented, superbly cooked food. Our meals were impeccable.
For entrée, I had poached chicken roulade with thyme, cubed beetroot and risotto, followed by eye fillet served with mushrooms, steamed vegetables and a potato croquette. My husband also had the eye fillet, after his entrée of fried squid served with miso and salad. (My apologies if I have committed a misnomer with the miso – I think that was included)!
Our sweet tooths were more than satisfied with my husband’s chocolate trio combination and my spicy baked pear, contrasted nicely with nougat parfait and ‘melt in your mouth’ chocolate mousse. The Pinot Noir was the perfect accompaniment to our meal. Even though it wasn’t the cheapest outing we have had, it was definitely excellent value for money!
Will we be returning again? Certainly! Perhaps lunch, next time?
A Book Review of ‘The Sett’ by Ranulph Fiennes. Published 1996 by William Heinemann. London.
This incredible biography leaves the reader thinking ‘could this really be true?’ This mild mannered, archetypal man called Alex Goodman, (not his real name), should surely be the hero of the next action packed blockbuster. An Accountant by profession, his life is irrevocably changed on the afternoon of 29th July, 1984, whilst walking in the woods
with his wife and daughter. After witnessing a horrendous badger killing, he is savagely beaten and none the wiser
when he awakes in a Birmingham hospital, suffering from traumatic amnesia. In the following year, his memory
gradually returns and what unfolds are riveting ‘cat and nine lives’ type scenarios, whilst he seeks revenge for the callous murders of his wife and daughter. The search for his family’s killers eventually takes nine years.
Since regaining his memory, Alex Goodman is thrust into the world of the now defunct, but notorious Bank of Credit and
Commerce International (B.C.C.I.), C.I.A. and the White House . He faces drug runners, the illegal traders in human organs, repugnant badger baiters, as well as murderers, using torture and extreme violence as a way of life. Could these events really happen to a quiet, family orientated whitecollar worker, whom after reading ‘The Feather Men’, approached the author in
the hope of having his own story told? Alex Goodman knew he was dying. He wanted his story published. His resolute motivation to avenge the deaths of his family is commendable. After being taken in and accepted by a criminal drug and manufacturing gang who called themselves ‘The Family’, he was approached by American government agents to
infiltrate the B.C.C.I., as an employee to gain access to the information needed to bring the Bank down.
Alex Goodman uncovered corruption on a massive scale involving the C.I.A., the White House, the kidnapping and systematic murder of South American children to obtain human organs for sale on the black market, and the workings of ethnic gangs within the United States and Britain. Readers of this book will be intrigued by the detailed recounting of the events which took place. Throughout the book, the events, names and places has been meticulously researched and backed with authentic documentation. This attention to detail is a hallmark of Fiennes’s writing and the reader will not be disappointed.
Goodman does find love again, but the union is short-lived. He befriends a prostitute, who, after some time feels empathy for this strange man who has appeared in her life, and he learns to love again. She bears him a child, but Goodman’s tragedy is compounded when both are killed as he hunts the assassin of his first family. Again and again, Goodman has escaped from the revenge of the killers he hunts, only to discover that the friends and acquaintances he has made on this incredible quest, are themselves killed.
‘The Sett’ is undoubtedly, amongst one of the best books I have read. This ‘tour de force’ story conjures up many emotions. The cruelty involved in the badger killings was almost unreadable. Many a time I thought I could not continue, but the compelling story drew me back each time. All animal lovers and animal liberationists will find these chapters difficult to digest and come to terms with. The combination of violence, killing and the ‘edge of your seat’ scenarios make this book impossible to put down. Some readers may challenge the veracity of this book, and indeed this story does leave you wondering, 'how can a normal common man be caught up in the whirlwind of violence and intrigue that descended on Alex Goodman?' As they say, 'You wouldn’t read about it!'
Sir Ranulph Fiennes is not only an accomplished author, he has also received the ‘Order of the British Empire’ from Her Majesty the Queen in 1993 for his efforts in raising 14 million pounds for charity. He was named ‘Best Sportsman’ in the
2007 ITV Great Britain Awards and in 2009 he became the oldest British citizen to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest. These accolades pale into insignificance when viewed in the light of the trials and tribulations of Alex Goodman, a simple common man who only sought justice for the wrongs perpetrated against him by the evil men that lurk in the world’s
shadows.
This thought provoking biography details Middle Eastern beliefs, regarding revenge killings. Middle Eastern culture is dominated by tribal clans and their belief “an eye for an eye” is very much ingrained in their way of life. This is one of those mind blowing books, impossible to put down, that you come across from time to time. Reading this book will change your whole understanding of the nature of war, conflict and its ramifications.
This superbly written and often disturbing retelling of actual events highlights the activities of three assassins, hired by Sheikh Amr bin Issa, to track down and kill each soldier responsible for the deaths of his four sons. The only stipulation is that each death ‘must look like an accident’ so that no responsibility will be traced back to the Sheikh. There is also no time limit on each ‘accident’. As a consequence of this, the murders took place over 17 years. The Sheikh himself died during this time and the final payment was honoured by the Sheik’s surviving son.
The meticulous planning and execution of each murder have been explored in detail, and noticeably, the patience shown by the assassins on each occasion has been nothing short of exemplary. The three men, De Villiers, Meier and Davies (known as ‘the Clinic’) were contacted through a firm called ‘Tadnams’ of Earls Court, London. Fortunately, a group of retired military men called ‘the Feather Men’, became suspicious of these so called ‘accidents’ happening to their officers who had all fought in Oman and had since left the forces and returned to civilian life. If it had not been for the tenacity and vigilance of the Feather Men, and their undercover surveillance of the Clinic’s suspected quarry, more deaths would have resulted. In fact, the author, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, was himself a target.
Underpinning these events is the disturbing realisation that this is not fiction. This book portrays cold blooded murders that were carried out, not by a group of Middle Eastern fanatics, but by three Westerners, hired to do a job. Undoubtedly, we should ask, ‘how safe are our men and women in the armed forces, who have served in the Middle East?’ Westerners involved in conflict with the Middle East, do so at their own peril, because of these long standing tribal beliefs and customs, of ‘saving face’ within their clans, and avenging the deaths of their sons. Retirement from active duty cannot guarantee that our soldiers are safe from further attack by people who harbour a long term desire for revenge against those soldiers who undertook actions on behalf of their Governments.
A BLOG
"Does a University Education Make You a Better Person"?
How do you define ‘better’? ‘Better’ is a subjective term. Is it somebody who makes a greater contribution to the welfare of their community? University education is not a pre-requisite for that. Mother Theresa is commonly regarded as an ‘icon’. Was she university educated? Some university qualifications tend to specialize people in certain areas and make them less able to empathise or relate to the general public, and therefore they are isolated from the wider community. There is no guarantee that a university educated person is better than a non university educated person. This question is answered with the question ‘how does one define better?’ What does it mean? Is it someone who is wealthy, is it a person who has the ability to relate to people from all walks of life? Or is it a person who does great things for their community or society?
All things being equal, a university education should broaden a person’s horizons as well as improve their communications skills. In our modern world, people tend to resort to violence when their ability to communicate with opponents breaks down. Therefore, someone who has better communication skills and a larger range of vocabulary to draw from should be less likely to resort to violence. Does this make them a better person? These positive attributes may be offset by other less desirable aspects in their personality, such as being unkind, dishonest, pompous or self-opinionated.
Every person is a complex assortment of emotions. Throughout my life, I have met people from all walks of life all with various levels of education. I think it comes down to our perceptions, and personal prejudices. A university educated person may have better chances of higher paid employment, but this is not always the case. Tradespeople now are enjoying a lucrative lifestyle, because their services are in demand, and they have not been to university. Does extra wealth make you better?
Maybe one of the benefits of university is that it gives a person more confidence, but that does not necessarily make them a better person.
My answer to this sweeping statement is no, I believe that a university educated person is not necessarily a better person than a non university educated person. The word ‘better’ encompasses a range of possible definitions, and until someone can identify what this word really means in the context of the question, it is impossible to give a definitive answer.
A Restaurant Critique
The ‘Seabreeze’ Restaurant at Killynaught Cottages, Boat Harbour, offers diners a relaxed comfortable atmosphere, whilst enjoying well presented, superbly cooked food. Our meals were impeccable.
For entrée, I had poached chicken roulade with thyme, cubed beetroot and risotto, followed by eye fillet served with mushrooms, steamed vegetables and a potato croquette. My husband also had the eye fillet, after his entrée of fried squid served with miso and salad. (My apologies if I have committed a misnomer with the miso – I think that was included)!
Our sweet tooths were more than satisfied with my husband’s chocolate trio combination and my spicy baked pear, contrasted nicely with nougat parfait and ‘melt in your mouth’ chocolate mousse. The Pinot Noir was the perfect accompaniment to our meal. Even though it wasn’t the cheapest outing we have had, it was definitely excellent value for money!
Will we be returning again? Certainly! Perhaps lunch, next time?
A Book Review of ‘The Sett’ by Ranulph Fiennes. Published 1996 by William Heinemann. London.
This incredible biography leaves the reader thinking ‘could this really be true?’ This mild mannered, archetypal man called Alex Goodman, (not his real name), should surely be the hero of the next action packed blockbuster. An Accountant by profession, his life is irrevocably changed on the afternoon of 29th July, 1984, whilst walking in the woods
with his wife and daughter. After witnessing a horrendous badger killing, he is savagely beaten and none the wiser
when he awakes in a Birmingham hospital, suffering from traumatic amnesia. In the following year, his memory
gradually returns and what unfolds are riveting ‘cat and nine lives’ type scenarios, whilst he seeks revenge for the callous murders of his wife and daughter. The search for his family’s killers eventually takes nine years.
Since regaining his memory, Alex Goodman is thrust into the world of the now defunct, but notorious Bank of Credit and
Commerce International (B.C.C.I.), C.I.A. and the White House . He faces drug runners, the illegal traders in human organs, repugnant badger baiters, as well as murderers, using torture and extreme violence as a way of life. Could these events really happen to a quiet, family orientated whitecollar worker, whom after reading ‘The Feather Men’, approached the author in
the hope of having his own story told? Alex Goodman knew he was dying. He wanted his story published. His resolute motivation to avenge the deaths of his family is commendable. After being taken in and accepted by a criminal drug and manufacturing gang who called themselves ‘The Family’, he was approached by American government agents to
infiltrate the B.C.C.I., as an employee to gain access to the information needed to bring the Bank down.
Alex Goodman uncovered corruption on a massive scale involving the C.I.A., the White House, the kidnapping and systematic murder of South American children to obtain human organs for sale on the black market, and the workings of ethnic gangs within the United States and Britain. Readers of this book will be intrigued by the detailed recounting of the events which took place. Throughout the book, the events, names and places has been meticulously researched and backed with authentic documentation. This attention to detail is a hallmark of Fiennes’s writing and the reader will not be disappointed.
Goodman does find love again, but the union is short-lived. He befriends a prostitute, who, after some time feels empathy for this strange man who has appeared in her life, and he learns to love again. She bears him a child, but Goodman’s tragedy is compounded when both are killed as he hunts the assassin of his first family. Again and again, Goodman has escaped from the revenge of the killers he hunts, only to discover that the friends and acquaintances he has made on this incredible quest, are themselves killed.
‘The Sett’ is undoubtedly, amongst one of the best books I have read. This ‘tour de force’ story conjures up many emotions. The cruelty involved in the badger killings was almost unreadable. Many a time I thought I could not continue, but the compelling story drew me back each time. All animal lovers and animal liberationists will find these chapters difficult to digest and come to terms with. The combination of violence, killing and the ‘edge of your seat’ scenarios make this book impossible to put down. Some readers may challenge the veracity of this book, and indeed this story does leave you wondering, 'how can a normal common man be caught up in the whirlwind of violence and intrigue that descended on Alex Goodman?' As they say, 'You wouldn’t read about it!'
Sir Ranulph Fiennes is not only an accomplished author, he has also received the ‘Order of the British Empire’ from Her Majesty the Queen in 1993 for his efforts in raising 14 million pounds for charity. He was named ‘Best Sportsman’ in the
2007 ITV Great Britain Awards and in 2009 he became the oldest British citizen to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest. These accolades pale into insignificance when viewed in the light of the trials and tribulations of Alex Goodman, a simple common man who only sought justice for the wrongs perpetrated against him by the evil men that lurk in the world’s
shadows.