What it says on the box.

[chopper]

Hmmm, Brendon James Abbott......`The Postcard Bandit`.......You had to admire his sense of humour if nothing else. He was hardly a murderous son of a bitch, in a completely different league to my namesake.

[chopper]

Ok Deano, I`m intrigued.....`a professional interest` in Manchester street gangs???? Does this mean you`re a walloper?

[Deano58]

Not sure what a "walloper" is but if it's a policemen as the context suggests, then the answer is no. I investigate fraud on behalf of the Department for Trade & Industry or whatever this week's name for it is.

Peter Walsh, who (co-) authored "Guvnors" also wrote a book called " Gang War" which documents the rise of Manchester's gangs one of which, the so-called "Quality Street Gang" was all the rage in Manchester when I started, certainly most of the alleged members were involved in some of the biggest frauds we saw although whether they were a gang as such is debateable. Anyway, the point being that I come across some of the characters who feature in walsh's Manchester-based books periodically although overseas criminals (none of which are Australian I hasten to add in case Briz sees this) and hi-tech crime is taking over. And who knows, with the current cuts, a bit of luck and a fair wind I might be able to "retire" soon !

Chopper- were you Christened after the Hell's Angel of the same name ? I think that "Chopper" by Peter Cave (as I recall) was the first book I ever read, rather furtively I might add !

[Brisbane Blue]

No worries Deano. I was only arsing around mate.

Sounds like you have a really interesting job with your involvement in tracking fraud. Myself I am a production planning manager which bores the shit out of me so you win hands down in the glamorous jobs stakes

Your mention of the Quality Street Gang reminds me that I must obtain that book. I have known over years a few people that have made reference to them. My own mother always told me from a young age how much her own life could have been different. Allegedly, as she likes to tell me, she was very, very close to someone at the heart of the QSG. Of course I will never know if this is true but I do know for sure - and because of the people she introduced me to in later years - that she wasn't without (dubious) connection as a young woman.

[chopper]

Deano.....Sorry mate, the handle`s origan isn`t anywhere near as exotic as you may imagine. It was bestowed on me by the one and only Zin Zimmer of MEN fame. After he tired of calling me Skippy, he christened me after Australia`s most famous gangster since Ned Kelly.....the notoreous Chopper Reed, no doubt likening my habit of dismembering and disembowling all and sundry on those pages to the real Chopper`s passion for killing or beating up anyone that got in his way. He was an underworld kingpin that worked his way up the ladder by slaying whoever challenged him, once they finally nicked him and locked him up his standing grew even more. He is an interesting charector who, upon his release from jail, conducted sight seeing tours around Melbourne showing the punters where various killings and bashings had taken place and giving graphic accounts of what went on there. He later wrote a couple of childrens books { I kid you not} though I have never actually seen them.

There is a terrific movie of his life story with Eric Banner {Black Hawk Down fame} playing the lead role simply titled `Chopper`.....well worth a look if thats your thing. There would have to be biography somewhere but I`ve not come across it as yet.

Walloper is indeed a term used down under for the constabulary and I`m pleased to learn that this is not your profession......not that there is anything wrong with being a copper......a couple of my good mates are in that line of work and they`ve proved to be handy aquaitances on more than one occasion

[Brisbane Blue]

Chop

The film 'Chopper' is superb. Bana is sublime in it and makes it very believable. I didn't know that he conducted Melbourne tours. Hell fire let's hope that Ivan Milat never gets out for fear that he opens his own backpacking tours of the bush for single females.

[jonesey]

Briz if you can wait a coupla months I have Gang Wars and its yours when you come over. A good read and more than a few family friends and aquaintences grace its pages. Christ I'm glad I dont live there anymore.

[chopper]

Tanks for not taking the piss ouy of my laytest ofering bRiz. BANA was indeed superb. As for Ivan, if they handed out oscars for the most violent killings ever meeted out this bloke would have a mantle piece like Steven Spielberg`s. You`re still a funny bastad Briz

[Deano58]

Well, just finished a couple of books and seen a new (to me) film.

As I've commented before, I don't read fiction but my girlfiend the squadron leader, bless her heart, bought me a copy of "Unseen Academicals" by Terry Pratchett on the basis that it is loosely about football. To be fair I thoroughly enjoyed it although not enough to read the rest of the series. I've come to the conclusion that you have to have a very fertile imagination to be able to visualise these wizard/hobbit type books which I haven't. Nevertheless if orcs and goblins are your thing this is an enjoyable bit of escapism with quite a bit of adult innuendo with a nod to football hooliganism to add an edge. Beautiful manipulation of English turns of phrase which are worth enjoying too.

The second one is "So Long as Men can Breathe" which is the latest book from my City-supporting friend Clinton Heylin author of such books as "Behind the Shades" a biography of Bob Dylan. Not for the fainthearted as it deals with the "bootlegging" of Shakespeare's sonnets. It takes a special kind of genius to create controversy in such a dry subject area but Clinton, in characteristic fashion manages it effortlessly. Indeed, Clinton's books are always highly recommended because he takes no prisoners in the worlds of either academia or music. Neither is he any respecter of reputations, that's what makes him a City fan too I guess.

Lastly, finally got round to watching The Big Blue, a 1988 film by one of my favourite directors Luc Besson. Although he's a french director and it stars Jean Reno who is ubiquitous in french films, second only to Depardieu, it's in english. The cinematogrophy is breathtaking and the story, about two boyhood friends who engage in increasingly dangerous deep sea diving competitions is truly moving. Throw Rosanna Arquette into the mix and, although not a classic by any means it's still a wonderful film.

[Deano58]

ECHO...ECHO...ECHO...

Ha, not a soul interested in this thread but that, my friends, does not deter me one iota from reviewing my latest readings. And this week it was "The Cruel Sea" by Nicholas Montserrat which is a classic novel (don't know what's got into me with all this fiction !) and, of course a black and white film which I haven't seen but which I will make a point of doing now.

Montserrat served in the navy during the second world war, mainly on convoy escort work in the Atlantic. This is an aspect of the war I had never considered before and his insight into the realities of the struggle against the U-boats but also the sea itself makes this a rivetting almost historical read. His characters' domestic and romantic interludes when the mariners are on leave are less interesting but provide the necessary humanity and backdrop against which the war was being fought. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I also tried to read "Big Bang" by Simon Singh in the hope that it would succeed where Hawking's "A Brief history of time" failed and explain to me the mysteries of time and space and science. The historical bits are excellent but my unscientific mind really can't grasp the theoretical concepts upon which so much science depends. It's my weakness not that of the book so I can't really make any recommendation. one to come back to I think.