Category: Entertainment

Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!

I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!

Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.

The Ancient Egypt series is mainly based for the most part on Pharaoh Memnon’s time, however, the second book is set in modern times.

1. River God
“For Tanus, the fair-haired young lion of a warrior, the gods have decreed that he will lead Egypt’s army in a bold attempt to reunite the Kingdom’s shared halves. But Tanus will have to defy the same gods to attain the reward they have forbidden him, an object more prized than battle’s glory: possession of the Lady Lostris, a rare beauty with skin the color of oiled cedar–destined for the adoration of a nation, and the love of one extraordinary man.”

2. Seventh Scroll
“For 4,000 years, Pharaoh Mamose has never been found until now! Egyptologist Royan Al Simma finds a message penned by Taita which gives clues about the tomb’s whereabouts. Only one step ahead of assassins, Royan runs for her life and into the arms of the only man she can trust, Sir Nicholas Quenton-Harper-a daring man who will stake his fortune and his life to join her hunt for the king’s tomb. Together, they will embark on a breathtaking journey to the most exotic locale on earth, where the greatest mystery of ancient Egypt, a chilling danger and an explosive passion are waiting.”

3. Warlock
“After a sixty-year war over  the kingdoms of Egypt, two young pharaohs have risen to claim power, but only one can succeed. The mission of Prince Nefer, rightful heir to the throne, is to rebuild a magnificent kingdom out of the ruins of the city of Gallala. The desire of Lord Naja is to destroy his rival and rule the land with unholy supremacy. The warlock Taita, a matchless ally and legendary priest of notorious powers is on the side of Prince Nefer. Nefer and Taita must stay one step ahead of an assassin, ever-pursuing armies, and outwit his own flesh and blood who seek to betray him.”

4. The Quest
“Egypt is struck by a series of terrible plagues that cripple the Kingdom, and then the ultimate disaster follows. The Nile fails. The waters that nourish and sustain the land dry up. Something catastrophic is taking place in the distant and totally unexplored depths of Africa from where the mighty river springs. In desperation Pharoah sends for Taita, the only man who might be able to win through to the source of the Nile and discover the cause of all their woes. None of them can have any idea of what a terrible enemy lies in ambush for The Warlock in those mysterious lands at the end of their world.”

5. Desert God
“On the gleaming banks of the Nile, the brilliant Taita—slave and advisor to the Pharaoh—finds himself at the center of a vortex of passion, intrigue, and danger. His quest to destroy the Hyksos army and form an alliance with Crete takes him on an epic journey up the Nile, through Arabia and the magical city of Babylon, and across the open seas. With the future of Egypt itself on his shoulders, Taita enters a world where the line between loyalty and betrayal shifts like the desert sands, evil enemies await in the shadows, and death lingers on the edges of darkness”

6. Pharaoh
“Pharaoh Tamose teeters on the brink of death. Luxor is surrounded. Hope is lost. Taita,The ex-slave, now general of Tamose’s armies is preparing for the final push. An old ally returns and the tide is turned.But upon his victorious return to Luxor, Taita is seized and branded a traitor. Tamose is dead and a new era has begun. The new Pharaoh has risen — and he must be stopped.”

7. The New Kingdom
“In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. He has a loving father and the ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. However, a sinister evil is plotting. Hui’s power-hungry and jealous stepmother, the great sorceress Ipsetnofret, and his brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui’s father. Hui is condemned and cast out and alone. Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned Mage, Taita.”

Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!

I spent the last month checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them! So far I have read the Courtney Series; this next series focuses on the Ballantyne Family from the 1860s-1980s.

1. A Falcon Flies
→Set in the 1860s, this novel is about Fuller Ballantyne who goes missing in the African wilderness. His two children embark on a quest to find him although their secondary motivations are opposed; the daughter wishes to spread Christianity and fight the slave trade where as the son wishes to strike it rich from Africa’s resources. While on the journey from England to Africa, Fuller’s daughter catches the attention of two men –one a slaver and the other, British Captain Codrington. Meanwhile, Fuller’s son fulfills the prophecy of desolation for the African people by removing a stone falcon from a cave during one of his expeditions.

2. Men of Men
→Set between 1870-1890s, this novel is about Zouga Ballantyne and his sons Ralph and Jordan. The family hopes to strike it rich with diamond mining at a time when Cecil Rhodes and his contemporaries control parts of South Africa. The family is caught up in the negotiations with and betrayal of the Matabele people.

3. The Angels Weep 1890s &1970s
→Set in the 1890s and the 1970s, this novel details the passionate fight of Black Africans for self-determination and freedom from the oppression of the white settlers. The Ballantyne’s suffer personal losses; this turns Ralph against his former allies among the Matabele. The novel fast-forwards to the continued struggle for independence; however, the Ballantyne Scouts led by Ralph’s great-grandson, Roland.

4. The Leopard Hunts in Darkness
→Set in the 1980s, Rhodesia has become Zimbabwe; Craig Mellow the cousin of Roland Ballantyne, has left the country –like many white settlers at the time. Nostalgia gets the better of Craig and he decides to return to Africa to buy the family farm. The conflict for independence and the aftermath of it has turned tribe against tribe, upon his return, Craig gets caught up in it; ivory poaching, espionage and a governmental overthrow.

*Triumph of the Sun →I read this as part of the 3 Series of the Courtney Novels; however, it didn’t come out until 2005

*King of Kings 1880s
→This novel is a sequel to Triumph of the Sun; and was published in 2019
Penrod Ballantyne and his fiancee, Amber Benbrook are on the verge of living happily ever after following the hardship they encountered a few years earlier. BUT, Lady Agatha has other plans. She tries to break them up by sullying Penrod’s reputation. Amber returned to the company of her sister and brother-in-law in Abyssinia. A distraught Penrod finds solace in opium dens but an old friend in the Italian army comes to his rescue. With the invasion of Abyssinia as a backdrop, Penrod and Amber find their way back to each other.

Sadly, Family Day once again will be affected by COVID! However, we aren’t about to let it ruin our day. Here are a few of my favourite ways to celebrate Family Day!

1. PUT THE PHONES AWAY –spend the day disconnected!
2. Watch a movie –complete with epic snacks
3. Paint Night –I recommend putting on an episode of Bob Ross and following along
4. Make cookies and decorate them
5. Do a puzzle
6. Make some relaxation or fidget toys –there are tons of DIY tutorials on YouTube
7. Play boardgames
8. Do a workout together –the Nike Training Club app has lots of options
9. At home spa treatments –you can make your own face mask with household ingredients, or you can order some really good quality (yet inexpensive) ones from Sephora
10. Colouring
11. Go for a walk
12. Ice skating
13. Build a snowman –which could end with an impromptu snowball fight
14. Go through closets, toy boxes and the pantry and select items that can be donated to charity/foodbank
15. Have family storytime –you are never to old to have someone read you a story; perfect way to cuddle up
16. Build a Lego kit
17. Have a family video game tournament
18. Cook a meal together
19. Karaoke / Dance Party
20. Build a bird feeder –there are a ton of patterns and kits online

When I am not curled up on the couch with a good book; I am curled up with a magazine. I have numerous subscriptions…which may seem outdated in our digital world –but just like books, nothing beats flipping through the crisp pages and the smell, my goodness, the smell!! Magazines allow us to decompress or unplug, increase our knowledge and, “[b]ecause they prioritize visual aesthetics throughout their pages, not just on the covers, magazines create a highly sensory reading experience, which improves memory,” (BPS).

My favourites include…

1. National Geographic
2. Pioneer Woman
3. Gardens Illustrated
4. Vogue
5. Bon Appétit

Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!

I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!

Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.

I started with The Courtney Series; there are a couple ways to read these novels. They can be read in order of publishing date or in terms of the historical eras. I chose the historical era route; which is broken down into THREE parts. The order of the parts is as follows: Part 3, Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 2 (1917-1987)

1. Burning Shore
This novel follows Sean Courtney’s first son Michael, who meets and impregnates Centaine, however, tragedy strikes and Michael dies on their wedding day. Sean Courtney steps in and sends Centaine and her entourage to South Africa but she becomes shipwrecked after her ship is sunk by the Germans. Through sheer will and determination Centaine survives and even gives birth in the wilderness. Eventually, she is tracked down by an outlaw named Lothar De La Rey; whom she falls in love with and has a child with. Their relationship dissolves after Centaine discovers Lothar killed the San people who helped her. She leaves Lothar and abandons their son, Manfred. Centaine becomes a wealthy woman after opening up a mine at the “Place of All Life,” a special place the San showed her. She is also reunited with the rest of the Courtney family.

2. Power of the Sword
The Depression has hit hard and Centaine’s mine is struggling against De Beers. Her two sons Michael Shasa and Manfred De La Rey, do not know they are half brothers, find themselves on opposing sides continually throughout their lives. Manfred struggles while Michael tends to prosper. Manfred becomes a boxer and member of a pro-Afrikaner group. Both men compete in the 1936 Olympics for South Africa. While in Germany, Manfred falls in love with Heidi and becomes “The White Sword,” his mission is to kill the Prime Minister of South Africa as a way to destabilize the country. When the plan hits a snag, Manfred and Michael meet again; while their saga continues –dissatisfaction is spreading among the black workers, leading to the rise of Mandela, Botha and the African National Congress.

3. Rage
Following WW2, anti-Apartheid rage is growing. Michael and Manfred discover their true familial connection. Michael is lured by the National Party with the promise of power and position. The ANC’s military wing (The Spear of the Nation) under the control of Gama and Tabaka seek vengeance against the very base of Apartheid. Gama usings Michael’s wife, Tara against him after seducing her and having a son with her. Gama plots to take down the government brutally. Manfred and Michael form an alliance to stop Gama and prevent a bloody revolution; however it is too late… the “rage burns brightly.” Michael also discovers that Manfred killed his uncle.

4. Golden Fox
Michael and Tara’s youngest daughter, Isabella is the protagonist of this novel. She lives in London with her father who is now the South African Ambassador. Cunning Ramon, lures Isabella into Operation Golden Fox. Ramon is not who he appears to be. He is not a Spanish noble, but a KGB agent who is also related to Fidel Castro. Isabella gives birth to a son named Nicholas; Ramon and the baby disappear. Nicholas is tortured as a way to convince Isabella to betray her country and her father. On behalf of the KGB she spies on Armscor to obtain information on how the nuclear weapons will be used in the South African Border War. Once her espionage is discovered; the Courtney’s embark on a mission to resume Nicholas and unite him with Centaine, his great grandmother.  

5. Time to Die
Isabella’s brother, Sean Jr was a high ranking Rhodesian Army commander; he has since turned his efforts and occupation to hunting. He is prompted to find a legendary elephant upon the detah of one of his clients. On his journey he is accompanied by Claudia; the beautiful daughter of his friend. Unfortunately, she is abducted by anti-government forces, Renamo. To save her, Sean Jr is forced to work with Renamo. Sean has to steal missiles for General China, so they can be used to take for the Hind Helicopter fleet –the major obstacle in the way of General China’s goal of decimating the Frelimo government. Sean and Claudia must try to escape South Africa amidst a bloody war between the Renamo and Frelimo.

Next up, the Ballantyne Series…

Stay tuned!

As a result of the pandemic; I had a lot of time on my hands during the school breaks since travel was non-existent and many professional development sessions/ conventions/ conferences were cancelled. Coursera really helped to bridge the gap. It allowed me to continue learning and took my mind off of the state of the world. This site was developed in 2012 by Stanford University professors. You can take courses for free, for certification as well as obtain degrees from a plethora of universities and other post-secondary institutions.

The courses I have enjoyed and highly recommend include…

1. Indigenous Canada, from the University of Alberta

“A 12-lesson course that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics covered are: the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions,” (Coursera).

2. The Science of Well Being, from Yale University

“In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life,” (Coursera).

3. Big History — From the Big Bang until Today, from the University of Amsterdam

“After completing this course you will develop a better understanding of how you and everything around you became the way they are today. You will also have gained an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that have helped shape the history of everything and how they will help shape the future. Last but not least, you will have developed the skill to use this knowledge to put smaller subjects into a bigger perspective with the aid of the little big history approach,” (Coursera).

4. The Arctic Series from the University of Alberta

This series includes: Introduction to the Arctic: Climate, Arctic Economy and Arctic Development.

The first; provides, “an overview of regional geography: the cryosphere (ice), the atmosphere and ocean. You will learn why the Arctic is cold and ice covered, and how that impacts its climate and ecosystems and how the Arctic is connected to the rest of the world. Finally, an examination of present day climate change, the processes driving it, and evidence for it in the Arctic as well as the implications of it,” (Coursera).

The second course teaches you that, “Arctic communities are facing new kinds of challenges to their survival as a result of globalization. You will investigate the challenges faced by Indigenous, North American, Russian and Nordic Arctic communities in a modern world and how those communities adjust to change while maintaining their ways of life, socio-economic histories, and cultural traditions,” (Coursera).

In the third course;  “you will investigate the role that natural resources play across the Indigenous, Nordic, Russian and North American Arctics, different strategies for resource management in different regions, and how these affect community planning and development efforts in an increasingly populated part of the world,” (Coursera).

Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!

I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!

Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.

I started with The Courtney Series; there are a couple ways to read these novels. They can be read in order of publishing date or in terms of the historical eras. I chose the historical era route; which is broken down into THREE parts. The order of the parts is as follows: Part 3, Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 (1860s-1925)

1. When the Lion Feeds
Twins Sean and Garrick grow up in Natal; their lives forever changed by an unfortunate hunting accident and the Anglo-Zulu War. After a torrid affair brothers are pitted against one another causing Sean to flee North. Striking it rich in the gold fields, Sean and his friend Duff live high on the hog –however, nothing lasts forever; they are ruined and seek adventure and fortune hunting for ivory. Despite falling in love, Sean does not get his happily ever after as when his wife takes her life. His only reason for living is his son, Dirk.

2. The Sound of Thunder
Once again, Sean ends up in the middle of a war; this time between the British and Boers. Enter: Ruth –Sean’s new love interest and mother of his daughter, Storm. Ruth is married to a soldier in the war, who Sean later befriends. Sean finds himself facing off against his brother-in-law Jan Paulus (whom we met in When the Lion Feeds). Ruth reunites with Sean after her husband is killed. Dirk becomes increasingly unhappy as Storm diverts their father’s attention away from him. This bitterness causes him to yearn for bringing down his own family. After many years Sean is able to reconcile with his twin brother Garry.

3. A Sparrow Falls
Sean meets Mark Anders, a soldier hellbent on killing a WW1 German sniper. Once back at home Anders discovers he has nothing (his grandfather; killed, his home; taken). Dirk Courtney is putting his plan into action to bring about the fall of the Courtneys as once again Sean favours someone (Anders) over Dirk. Storm and Anders fall in love while South Africa once again teeters on the brink of war. Sadly, Dirk succeeds in his campaign of revenge by murdering Sean and Ruth. However, they are avenged by Anders who lives happily as a warden with Storm.

Next up, Part 2…

Stay tuned!