scarfman - Tumblr blog

[scarfman]

Because We Are Bad by Lily Bailey – A review – The book I have always been longing to read

Because We Are Bad by Lily Bailey – A review – The book I have always been longing to read

“Wanker is someone who drives a car badly.” (p40, Because We Are Bad, Lily Bailey). Look Mr Irrational, I do not care what you say, I am starting this blog with that swear word. You sure though? What if Lily reads it and then gets annoyed at you? What if potential copywriter employers read it and do not approve? For crying out loud man, what if you get banned from doing anymore blogs? Look…

[scarfman]

First time I’ve touched my golf clubs in over twenty-five years #OCD #Recovery

First time I’ve touched my golf clubs in over twenty-five years #OCD #Recovery

I did it, here I am with my golf clubs “I’m thinking of taking up golf!” This is what my big sister said to mum and me, as she drove us back from the cemetery last Saturday afternoon (it was my late dad’s birthday).  I almost choked in stunned amazement at this surprising revelation.  My sister hates most sports. Nevertheless, as she told us about how this lady from Slimming World had got…

[scarfman]

Peaky Blinders Series 6 finale review: the perfect ending

Spoiler alert! My thoughts on the last episode of Peaky Blinders.

One of the greatest things to have EVER appeared on our television screens. This is not hyperbole regarding the final episode of Peaky Blinders.  You see, I am simply recounting here my first tweet, indeed my first expressed mesmerized emotion, as the ending credits rolled last Sunday night. Before it started, I was all fidgety and nervous.  In fact, I had been like this since about noon that…

[scarfman]

Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story {2021} – A review

Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story {2021} – A review

‘Captain Marvel’ supreme, this is a must watch for all sports fans. Bryan Robson, arguably the greatest ever captain of Manchester United Football Club. A hero with no ego, this documentary about his life is both a joyous and emotive watch. The most appealing aspect of this film lasting one hour and forty minutes, is the new unseen footage we see. This is not just an old rehash and collection…

[scarfman]

Are you brave enough to scale the heights? 'The Heights' by Louise Candlish - a review

Are you brave enough to scale the heights? ‘The Heights’ by Louise Candlish – a review

Louise Candlish has done it yet again with The Heights.  The only way is up for this storyteller supreme! Having been mightily impressed by Louise Candlish’s last three novels (The Other Passenger, Those People and Our House), it was always going to be intriguing to read her next offering.  With The Heights, we get possibly her greatest piece of work to date. For anybody who has not read…

[scarfman]

Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In – A Review – The rare glimpse of a genius! Dramatic, pulsating, and insightful.  These are the best three words that accurately describe this new football documentary on the life of Sir Alex Ferguson. Directed by one of his sons, namely Jason Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, is a must watch for any sports fan. The drama kicks-off right away as we are…

[scarfman]

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - MY DAILY BATTLE WITH NATURE!

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 – MY DAILY BATTLE WITH NATURE!

Going for an enjoyable walk a few weeks ago. Mental Health Awareness Week is this week(10-16 May 2021), with the theme this year being nature. For years, I kept a big OCD secret that I was petrified of nature. Or if you want me to be more exact than this, walking in any kind of poo! I can still remember all those years ago, regularly coming out of my university lectures feeling all positive and…

[scarfman]

Our House by Louise Candlish - a review. WHOSE HOUSE IS IT?

Our House by Louise Candlish – a review. WHOSE HOUSE IS IT?

Fi Lawson, comes home to find two strange people moving into her lavish house. The problem is that she never put it on the market for sale in the first place! Our House by Louise Candlish, is a critically acclaimed thriller and it is easy to see why. Straight away there is no messing about as we are pitched right into the action. Fi’s husband Bram Lawson, is mysteriously missing too which is…

[scarfman]

It's getting better all the time! OCD and me, an update!

It’s getting better all the time! OCD and me, an update!

The smile that says things are continuing to improve for me! This is going to be a short blog about me and my OCD. An update about how things have been for me since my last OCD blog in late November. I’ll give you a good clue here, it’s been fandabidozi!! Fandabidozi, this is me probably overstating things as per usual though. Lets be honest, I doubt anybody felt this way throughout the last…

[scarfman]

those people by Louise Candlish – a review. Neighbours from hell!

those people by Louise Candlish – a review. Neighbours from hell!

New neighbours from hell might not be the most original of ideas for a whodunit, but in those people, author Louise Candlish, has skilfully produced a right page turner of a novel that will leave you fully satisfied. The premise might not be that original, however what is fresh is how the chapters are constructed.  Most of them open with a statement to the police by one of central characters.…

[scarfman]

A magical love triangle - Here We Are by Graham Swift – A review

A magical love triangle – Here We Are by Graham Swift – A review

Here We Are by the critically acclaimed author Graham Swift, is a typically understated, delightful read that you cannot help but be enchanted by. We first discover our three love triangle protagonists during the summer of 1959, in the holiday seaside resort of Brighton.  Ronnie, known on stage as ‘Pablo’, is a young magician going places.  His partner and able assistant is the young and…

[scarfman]

Mayflies – Andrew O’Hagan. Manchester, music, and male friendship that lasts forever! A book review

Mayflies – Andrew O’Hagan. Manchester, music, and male friendship that lasts forever! A book review

Mayflies is a rather touching tale about the wonder of male friendship.  Not perfect, but not rubbish by any means.  If you are after a bit of 1980s Manchester and indie music nostalgia, then the first part of this book is for you.  The problem is though that the much darker second half is not as strong as the first. The debate about assisted dying is one worthy of exploration. However, I was…

[scarfman]

A likeable, touching mid-life crisis! Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. A literary review.

A likeable, touching mid-life crisis! Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. A literary review.

Male, forty-three going on forty-four, OCD sufferer, who likes to put the bins out for the neighbours and who hates radio phone-in shows.  No, this is not my profile from the Plenty of Fish dating website, but it could be.

Instead, this describes Micah Mortimer, the central character in Anne Tyler’s latest great novel, Redhead by the Side of the Road.

The similarities between Micah and…

[scarfman]

I finally did it, I sat down at my doctors! OCD and me

I finally did it, I sat down at my doctors! OCD and me

Me, smiling and enjoying life again.

A zest for life is how I would best sum-up how I am feeling right now.  You see, I am still on high from the events of yesterday.  I did an CBT exposure that I swore to everybody that I would never do, I sat down in a chair at my doctors.

For those of you who do not know my backstory, I was diagnosed with severe contamination OCD around the age of 16-17…

[scarfman]

My love letter to Liverpool, how I long to return!

My love letter to Liverpool, how I long to return!

I first fell in love with the city of Liverpool back in 1998.  Stunning beauty and a sense of humour to die for.  After reading the following, I want you to fall in love with Liverpool too!   

Music

Music is what makes Liverpool come alive.  Walk down any city centre street during the summer, and I guarantee you will hear some busker strumming along on their guitar.  The Beatles in the…

[scarfman]

Murder and laughter! The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. A review

Murder and laughter! The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. A review

A humorous whodunit that keeps you guessing right until the end.  This is the verdict of Richard Osman’s, The Thursday Murder Club.  As the novel states at the back this therefore is, ‘his first and, so far, best novel.’

How to write a murder mystery review without giving anything away of the vital plot?

Well, imagine a funnier version of Miss Marple, DCI Jane Tennison (out of Prime Suspect

[scarfman]

Friends Reunited! Christmas at The Vintage Bookshop of Memories by Elizabeth Holland. A Review.

Friends Reunited! Christmas at The Vintage Bookshop of Memories by Elizabeth Holland. A Review.

We are once again invited into the magical world of the inhabitants of Ivy Hatch, in Elizabeth Holland’s brand-new offering, Christmas at The Vintage Bookshop of Memories. 

Readable as a standalone book or as a follow-up to the excellent The Vintage Bookshop of Memories, this once again is another welcome addition to the romance fiction genre. 

Nonetheless, the characterisation and plot to