EAGLES AND EARTHQUAKES

   EAGLE – this was the symbol of THE ENEMY in 1940 - the Germans, who were naȉvely presumed to have been soundly thrashed in the First War. 

The thought that another generation of young men had to fight and die was horrific to their parents, yet the sound of a military band was enough to stir the heart of EDDIE, Bert’s younger brother, who volunteered and joined the army with him and Albie in my novel Helter-Skelter.. 

EIGHTEEN was officially old enough to fight, but Eddie was horribly homesick, with potentially disastrous results.

Can Albie's quick thinking and inherited instincts save him?

EL HIERRO is the smallest of the Canary Islands but, seismically speaking, the most active. In October 2011 an eruption started just off the south coast, forcing one entire village (La Restinga) to be evacuated due to toxic fumes and rocks exploding from the sea. It quietened down after a few months, but recently there has been a series of EASRTHQUAKES, including one of 4.9. 

The rash in the sea in this picture shows where they occurred. El Hierro is small enough to drive round in a morning - anyone fancy a holiday?

CAMPEONES & Earthquakes.

As you can imagine, last night was not a quiet one here in Tenerife.

It started in the afternoon with children chanting “España!” in the pool. Then one of our neighbours moved his television onto his terrace, lit his barbecue and invited all his friends round. 

 Every bar was bedecked with flags, and the football shirt manufacturers  had obviously done a roaring trade.





A few practice bangers exploded and my cat cowered. She won't allow me to comfort her at times like these - Canarian or not, she hates fireworks - so I built her a tent in her favourite corner and went to my daughter's apartment to watch the match in comfort.

Then there were shouts, screams, fireworks and general rejoicing. Four-nil! I am not a football fan, but the excitement was infectious.

Even the children were dressed up, and this man, his wife and his family were all decked out in Spanish colours.

I did feel sorry for Simone, owner of the lone Italian flag on our block. I found him sharing a drink with a Spaniard, and patted his back in sympathy. “No importa,” he said, but his expression was sad.

And there have been more earthquakes on the island of El Hierro - see its dedicated page on the right..