Anyone who knows me, knows I like John Barrowman. See this tag john barrowman for the numerous blog posts about him. So when he brought out I Am What I Am I picked it up. It is his second autobiography, his first being Anything Goes which I haven’t yet read.
But having finished I Am What I Am some time ago, I felt it was about time I reviewed it. First off I love how the book is written. It’s like you’ve got a warm mug of tea and are listening to John recount a tale. You can almost hear the sound of his voice as you read. He uses footnotes to either add details to the story without going off on a tangent, or address the reader or make some funny comment on his own story.
Each chapter is given a title and they weave in and out of his professional and personal life covering his time as Captain Jack, Scott (his partner), Family, Judging on Any Dream, his Music tour and a documentary he made about whether he was born gay or influenced by his environment. At the beginning of most chapters has a list relating to the chapter e.g. on a chapter about his family it has “Twelve things I’ve learned from my parents”. At the end of most chapters it has a Table Talk which is a short memory relating to the chapter that he chooses to share.
Within the chapters you develop a view that he’s a family man, has a good sense of humour, loves his dogs, views life positively (a glass-half-full sort of guy) and challenges homophobia (a cause close to his heart). Some chapters I found difficult to read on the basis that I hadn’t watched him as a Judge on Any Dream. This was because I had no idea of the people he was writing about (e.g. the other judges and contestants). But if you’ve followed him throughout all of his work you’ll have no problem following. I did manage to follow what he was saying in these chapters it just didn’t flow as easily as say the Torchwood chapters did.
Like most autobiographies out today, at intermittent places within the book it has glossy photo pages. It was nice to see as it gave a real glimpse into the family life of John and those that are important too him. It probably had about the average number of glossy pages, but on a personal level I would have liked to see more.
The final chapter addresses the reader directly and thanks them for supporting him, which makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Episode 2 starts with Captain Jack and Gwen being forced on a plane for extradition to America. Gwen is separated from Rhys and her baby, who are left in the UK. Another CIA agent Lyn joins Rex on the plane to supervise the prisoners. On the plane Jack talks about a theory of everyone being connected and Lyn overhears and sends an email to her boss who gives instructions for Lyn to kill Jack. Lyn fixes Jack a drink which is laced by poison. Obviously some in the CIA think he knows too much, but it’s not quite clear who these corrupt CIA people work for.
In America an openly admitted and found guilty paedophile and murder (Oswald), who in the first episode we saw be injected with lethal drugs as he was sentenced to death be released as technically his sentence was carried out. He goes on TV and makes a tearful remorsefully statement that seems to some genuine. Afterwards he’s getting in the lift and he’s greeted by a PR Agent, but declines her offer for help.
Meanwhile back on the plane the poison is kicking in and Jack is dying. It’s revealed that Lyn has poisoned her and Rex hand cuffs her to her seat. Rex rings a doctor that had treated him in the first episode and she manages with doctor friends discussing the Miracle Day problems to give Rex and Gwen the information to cure him. They eventually cure Jack and then arrive at America.
The doctor that helped Rex is approached by the PR Agent and gives a seemingly helpful suggestion about drug stockpiles. It get’s you thinking: Who is this PR Agent? What are her motives?
On arrival in America, Rex get’s a call of a colleague from the CIA who says they’re being set up. That someone has put $50,000 in her account and she’s being chased by the CIA. Rex realised he must do something and stops Captain Jack and Gwen and unhand cuffs them talking some rubbish about amendments before Jack, Gwen and Rex attack the agents in order to escape. They escape and that brings the episode to an end.
The action steps up in this episode which was good. But more impressive was that the mystery has stop being explained leading you to question and watch it unravel in front of your eyes. Well done to the makers of Torchwood for no longer having the characters explain what’s going on and allowing us to work it out for ourselves.
A few weeks ago I saw an trailer for Torchwood on the BBC and got all excited. Torchwood was coming back on the TV! I immediately series linked it. I was surprised as Torchwood: Children of Earth (available at Amazon and all good retailers) was suppose to be the last series and what a series it was. It had tention, drama, action, emotions and a lot of death. In deed many of the main characters were killed off as it was the last series. Apart from Captain Jack (played by John Barrowman) who is immortal and doesn’t age, and Gwen Cooper who if I remember correctly was just lucky.
So what did Torchwood: Miracle Day, Episode 1 have in store for us? The story starts in America with people who should be dead unable to die. For the first ten minutes we see CIA characters, none of which we know, and only get a glimpse of Gwen’s quite life in rural Wales. She’s now got a baby with Rhys (her long standing partner) and they live “off the radar”, well until Miracle Day happens – were people all over the world simply can’t die.
When Captain Jack finally appears he is looking good (Well the actor John Barrowman is, you can see my love for him by the post tag: John Barrowman). Captain Jack swings in to action as an email saying one word TORCHWOOD is sent out at the exact time Miracle Day starts. Captain Jack must protect Gwen at all costs as the CIA start to investigate Torchwood. What follows is a mix of action and drama, with a really good action scene involving Jack driving a 4×4 on a Wales beach being chased by a helicopter with men in black shooting at them. Gwen rocket launches the helicopter and it comes flying at them before crashing on the beach. At one point Captain Jack gets cut and he suddenly realises, he’s not immortal and indestructible any more. Usually he would have healed, but suddenly he realises it’s reversed. Jack is mortal whereas the rest of the world is immortal.
Episode 1 ends with Captain Jack, Gwen and her family being arrested and extradited to the US by a CIA agent. The format has some similarities and differences to the previous series of Torchwood. Similar is the way it starts off with something happening and a mystery to who’s behind it and why they’re doing it. However the differences were clearly noticeable. The first that the story seems to have been “dumbed down.” Jack makes a point of stating he can now be hurt, which really wasn’t required and obvious plot lines are discussed by characters as a method of explaining to the audience what’s going on. It’s very Americanised, with the story being focused on the CIA and what’s happening in America rather than the UK. This is clearly evident from the offset when American news readers are reporting what’s happening in the world. Being cynical this could be deliberate so that the BBC can show it and get good audience ratings on BBC America.
Are you a Doctor, Nurse, Healthcare Assistant or Other Healthcare Professional? Or a Student?
Ways The Human Body Can Go Wrong covers every system of the body, what can go wrong when the body malfunctions or fails, symptoms (including why these happen) and cures/treatments available.
It includes knowledge around essential skills for Clinical Excellence such as Assessment, All Age Observational Norms, Models of Care, Communication/Handover Tips, the role of Specialities, Medication Tips, Dealing with Errors, Documentation Advice and a list of Useful Resources.
It is written in plain English, but highlights important medical terminology. It has been written at a level where someone from a non-medical background can pick it up and learn, but that it is still valuable to those with significant Clinical Experience.
My dear friend Roy decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and enlist in the Royal Navy.
I wanted to maintain our friendship, to continue to support Roy, to make him laugh and to entertain him. So I came up with the idea of sending him a weekly email on random topics.
These emails were on a variety of topics, always being entertaining, sometimes being interesting, sometimes funny and occasionally being serious.
Topics included: Jokes, Puzzles, Inspirational Quotes, Future Technology to Be Excited About, How to Fight A Shark, How to Woo A Turtle, Some of the Most Amazing Jobs in the World, Facts About Castles, Do Aliens Exist?, The Kindest Humans, A List of Cakes, 13 Weird Body Facts, 20 Super Space Facts, Ancient Egyptian Curses, 10 Weird Olympic Games, The Great Emu War of 1932, Quiz: Flags of the World, Legendary Characters from the UK and others.
My Royal Navy Friend is a copy of these emails. In total, there are 52 emails. Dispersed throughout the book are also Royal Navy facts and stories.
This workbook has been designed for anyone that is struggling with alcohol or has struggled with alcohol in the past.
It is written in a Motivational Interviewing style, one of the key therapies used to support people with alcohol issues. It has been designed using a trauma-informed approach and is strength–based.
What you will find in this book is more than just worksheets about alcohol. You’ll find all the tools someone needs to get into recovery from alcohol and stay there. It’s a therapy-based book, not an alcohol-based book.
SpellCast is a comprehensive compendium of spells, oils, charms and talismans. It is purely a book about magic, folk magic for the 21st century. The spells are ones that are tried and tested, with some that will stand the test of time.
In SpellCast you will read about the power of Instant Magic, of Banishment & Bindings, Blessings, Cleansing, Communication, Death, Employment, Finance & Money, Fertility, Friendship, Happiness & Joy, Health, Love & Relationships, Luck Magic, Protection, Transformative Magic and WishCraft.
This book will change your life. Your life will be abundant in all meanings of the word.
This book contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness. Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
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Hi Sofia, Thanks for the comment. I bought that in Glastonbury and he was a real find. I bought him…
Hi! I know this was posted ages ago and so a response may be rare but my dad has been…
Hi Ruth, Thanks for the comment. He might well have been. A x
Hi! Watching video and interviews with Charlie Watt, it had me wondering if he might have had Aspergers/ been on…
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A great introductory article on candle magic :)
Hi Sofia, Thanks for the comment. I bought that in Glastonbury and he was a real find. I bought him…
Hi! I know this was posted ages ago and so a response may be rare but my dad has been…
Hi Ruth, Thanks for the comment. He might well have been. A x
Hi! Watching video and interviews with Charlie Watt, it had me wondering if he might have had Aspergers/ been on…