Enoch Powell and The Crystal Ball – by Patrick Brigham

In the late 60s, Enoch Powell was undergoing some serious grief, for his so called ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, which he allegedly gave in Wolverhampton on April 20th 1968. At a time when social and racial emancipation was the keyword for any western civilization, bound on a course of post WW2 enlightenment, he chose a very poor time to give a warning about the probable result of too much immigration. His punishment was a trip to obscurity, the Denizens of free love won the day, and simply let it all hang out!

I was caught up in the middle. As a young jazz pianist – as I was then - black people were a part of my cultural life. I had experienced racial prejudice at first hand, but had also noticed how easy it was to vanquish, certainly by the drummer in my jazz trio. He was a Master Sergeant from the US air force base at Lower Wellford, and after a session at my family farmhouse in Burghfield one evening, we decided to go for a beer at The Hatch Gate, my local pub.

The pub landlord - who was famous for being cantankerous, truculent and rude - refused to serve my friend, stating quite clearly - and in a very loud voice - that he did not serve blacks. My fellow American musician was totally nonplussed by the whole event, and calmly stated: ‘If you don’t serve me now, landlord, tomorrow you will not have to serve fifty black American servicemen like me, so it is up to you; you decide.’ Of course he got his pint of beer, and a small local skirmish was averted. But, this was also a time – for me at least - that the 20th Century had seemingly arrived in provincial UK, and at a time when most of the student population and the prevailing intelligentsia, we're looking for a fight.

I know, because I managed to get my head thumped. It was on the occasion of a visit by Enoch Powell to Reading University, a speech he was to deliver on economics, and a subject he was very familiar with. The organizers, realizing that there could be some aggravation, asked me - along with others - if I would like to be one of his heavies for the afternoon, and very unwisely I said yes.

As soon as Enoch Powell entered the hall, the mayhem began. Placards appeared accusing him of racism, and a cacophony – reminiscent of a football chant – started, but Enoch wasn’t a Military Cross veteran for nothing, and gave as good as he got. ‘By now,’ he said to the chanting audience, ‘you must all be assured of a first class degree, in your chosen subject, but for one small deficiency which I have noticed in your behaviour. You see, it is the ear through which you gain all knowledge, and not the mouth.’

Enoch left the stage, and we, his secret army, pushed our way through the crowd - being bashed and beaten, by all and sundry - in order to form a passageway to the door and his waiting Rolls Royce. Bloodied but unbowed, we looked back to see where Enoch was, but he had disappeared altogether. An anticlimax for everyone, but not for Enoch, he had slipped out of the back door, and was on his way to Reading train station in a beaten up Mini! So, what is the moral of this story?

The phrase ‘rivers of blood,’ doesn’t appear, in the Wolverhampton speech at all, because Powell used words from the Aeneid: “As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see ‘the River Tiber foaming with much blood.”

Powell was also cause for a rethink about The Common Market, and his then famous, ‘Get Britain Out of The Common Market,’ speech, made at the New Century Hall in Manchester in 1974. Made before a sea of white faces, mainly from the older age groups, there was serious argument among the audience themselves about their reasons for not being in the pre EU club. But, what were they arguing about, apart from immigration, because there was a lot of ambivalence about bloody foreigners then too!

The Guardian, at the time, reported how, ‘Powell left no doubt that he regarded the preservation of British sovereignty and independence as an end for which “any disadvantage and any sacrifice are a cheap price.” He thus effectively warned Mr Heath – the then Prime Minister - that he was prepared to set the pace for a policy rebellion by the anti-Common Market wing of the party over the next year.’

Addressing a Conservative association meeting in Birmingham, the BBC reported that: ‘Mr Powell said Britain had to be mad, to allow in 50,000 dependents of immigrants each year. He compared it to watching a nation busily engaged in heaping up its own funeral pyre. The MP for Wolverhampton South West called for an immediate reduction in immigration and the implementation of a Conservative policy of "urgent" encouragement of those already in the UK to return home.’

I can’t help feeling that there is an ‘Enoch Moment,’ happening right now. It seems that the argument for ‘in or out,’ is only part of the political landscape, and that UK PLC, needs to decide whether it wants to stay in the 20th Century or live anew in The 21st Century.

If it stays in the 20th Century, we will all watch the slow disintegration of a fading nationalist and largely racialist society. If the UK chooses to coexist, in a shaky but more open minded 21st Century, it can help to lead a more enlightened EU, in which Great Britain continues to have its say. If it says nothing, then it is up to you to elect politicians who will be listened to in the Brussels Parliament, as well as listening carefully to the babble of the streets, and us; the great unwashed.

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Death in The Afternoon - by Patrick Brigham

The mindless piffle which is being peddled by Brexit campaigners in order to influence voters in the forthcoming EU referendum, has reached a point in its silliness, that I for one would like to see the entire gaggle of vapid politicians and glib speakers, out of a job by the next UK parliamentary election. Why? Because they are treating British voters like fools, and, do you really want your country run by people who do that? What they say may be funny, and some of their antics are rather comical, but when are they going to stop this absurd Victorian farce, and kindly leave the stage!

‘Of course, you will be much better off financially, and you won’t have bloody foreigners telling you what to do in Brussels, meddling in British lawmaking, and there will also be no further illegal immigration into Great Britain.’

Oh, really? You mean that illegal immigrants are residing within our sceptred isles, because of Brussels? That there will be no bombers arriving in the UK, because of Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson. What a joke! Oh, by the way, I have got a good joke for you, now I remember it. This was told to me by an Indian friend from Amritser, just across the border from Pakistan and Lahore – it’s very funny.

You see, there was this jihadist who is an instructor for ISIS, and he is lecturing a group of would be suicide bombers, on how to blow themselves up using a suicide vest. ‘Now,’ he says, ‘I want you to pay attention, because I am only going to show you how to do this once…..

You think that’s funny do you? Well, the photograph above, is of a Taliban suicide bomber, who was arrested, somewhere in Kabul, because his vest didn’t detonate. When he was strip searched by the authorities, they also discovered that his wedding tackle was protected by a thick metal sheath. When he was asked why he had protected his private parts in such a way, he replied that it was so he could bonk the allotted 23 virgins, he would be blessed with, when he arrived in heaven, and was declared a martyr.

You see very ignorant and stupid people like this, haven’t heard of Nigel Farage, don’t know about Romanian Gypsys, and know little or nothing about the brain drain from Bulgaria and Greece, to the office markets in England. This is partly because they are extremely thick, their life is not worth living, and they are prepared to kill themselves at the whim of some mad Mulla with a big hat. An event which might take place in a Sainsbury’s car park near you; do you still think that’s funny?

What is not funny, is the way the British Government ignores Europol, and the great majority of bilateral assistance available from all the EU security services; a part of the silly argument, that we don’t need Europe as much as they need us. Our great leaders tell us that our security services are indomitable, and the best in the world. But, what is also not very funny, is that this very subject is fast becoming the pivotal reason for Britain leaving the EU, so, do you really believe that this is true.

In my recently published book The Dance of Dimitrios, my Europol detective Chief Inspector Mike Lambert is faced by two such radicalized terrorists. They are holding a young boy captive and threatening to kill him, unless certain conditions are met. Together with a specialist armed unit, DCI Lambert confronts them, a firefight ensues and although the boy escapes, Lambert is badly injured by hostile gunfire. In my tale of illegal immigrants and terrorists, I don’t disguise the fact that most of the Al Qaeda or ISIS soldiers are uneducated morons, who believe in a luxurious afterlife if they sacrifice their lives for their jihadist cause. What happens to these two radicalized clowns, will not surprise you, except where it happens. A car park in West London, is the unlikely setting, maybe offering my readers a portent of things to come?

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Now for some light relief -

‘Mumbo, jumbo, rhubarb, rhubarb,
Prosti-rhubarb off the streets.
We will fight them on the beaches,
But we’ll lose between the sheets.’

Thus Spoke the Great Bard – Spike Milligan

BILLY BUNTER AND THE BREXIT - by Patrick Brigham

Watching the Brexit circus from a safe distance in Greece, I can’t help feeling that I have seen it all before. I think it took place on British television in the 1950s, and involved a somewhat dodgy third rate boarding school – called Greyfriars School – and its rather unruly incumbents.
Intended for the education of the sons of impoverished gentry, officers serving abroad and idiot farmer’s sons, it is no wonder that – as with many other similar schools – it was the breeding ground for infamous pranks, total anarchy, and general malingering of one sort or another. The worst practitioner of these black arts was one William George Bunter, otherwise known as Billy Bunter, who – when he wasn’t stealing other peoples cakes and sweets – had great difficulty in telling the truth.

I don’t know if this applied to Eaton or Harrow, but judging by those I have met who attended these two schools – including such luminaries as the young Winston Churchill, David Cameron and Borris Johnson – the strict mores of an upper class education, did not always bring out the best in people. Due to their rather loose grasp of the truth and rapidly declining moral standards, many learned to lie through their teeth, in order to allay a damn good public school scragging. Of course, Billy Bunter was the past master of such ‘porky pies,’ saying things like –‘I didn’t steal your cakes, Smith minor, and when I did, nobody saw me!’
So now back to the Brexit. From my distant focal point, it is a wonder to me why the British voting public is prepared to put up with the present selection of so called enlightened arguments. Put forward by at least two of the ex public schoolboys I have mentioned above - who seem to think that intelligent political argument, is based on the wittering’s of a thick taxi driver or a gossiping hairdresser from the nether regions of Potters Bar- when are they going to stop making things up and generally misleading and confusing people in the run up to this important referendum.
They say that the first casualty of war, is the truth, but this is not a war, and to maintain any future political integrity these stalwarts need to stop bending the truth and getting to grips with the real issues and to carefully lay out the pros and cons of staying in or going out of the EU.

There will not be hoards of Syrians roaming the streets of Henley-on-Thames, followed by an even more violent gang of Turkish belligerents, any more than the British sausage being renamed by Brussels as a ‘half bread offal tube.’ And if I hear another childish mantra about straight bananas and cucumbers, I will believe - like others I know - that I have somehow been transported back in time to the dusty corridors of Greyfriars School.
It’s hard to imagine Billy Bunter as a Conservative cabinet minister, or the conniving and mischievous schoolboy William Brown – from Richmal Cromptons series series of books called Just William – as the Chancellor of The Exchequer, but the more you listen to their political debate, the more you can imagine them stealing each others cakes. Roll on the referendum – Garoo!

STOP APOLOGIZING – by Patrick Brigham

It seems that the stiff upper lip of yore has recently been replaced by a trembling, somewhat flabby chin. All too frequently these days, we are beset by the embarrassing sight of some government minister or employee, grovelling in front of the media, humiliating themselves beyond belief, and blurting out great swathes of emotive apologies. Not only that, but this trend has somehow managed to filter down into all echelons of society, where we find the most elevated, to the most humble in the land, expressing their sincere regrets for, well, almost anything.

I would like to say at this point, that I have no intention of apologizing, for anything I am about to write in this article, well, not yet anyway! Mind you, there are those who should unquestionably apologize to all and sundry, who don’t, often describing their own behavior as inappropriate; a watered down version of saying they are sorry. So, who are these people, and why do some express their regrets in this way, whereas others, definitely do not?

The first place goes jointly to Donald Trump and Boris Johnston, who in their current destructive state, have managed to upset the establishment they claim to represent, as well as their political bedfellows. In olden days, they would have been described as traitors to a cause, but today they are apparently able to say anything they want, in order to appeal to the rednecks and the Philistines, in their respective societies.

Certain oafish, belligerent and often quite insulting statements, might serve to confuse some observers, but Trump; with his virtual support of The Klu Klux Clan, has irritated certain ethnic minorities in the US – a country traditionally made up of immigrants of all faiths – whilst garnering the votes, and succeeding it seems, of the most bigoted and racialist members of North American society. Will he ever be forgiven by Middle America and will an apology be enough?

Boris, on the other hand – incidentally, a man of Turkish origin – has been more subtle in his approach. He has managed to convert himself into a kind of Bulldog Drummond character; an old fashioned English stereotype. This he has done, whilst trashing many in his own political party, his original front bench cabinet supporters - who now plainly see him as a loose cannon - and may later perceive him as a little treacherous, into the bargain. Observing his Cornish Pasty waving and popularist antics - as a means to an end, in his quest for the Tory party leadership – who is he going to apologize to, when he falls flat on his face? With a bit of luck, his face might still be full of Cornish Pasty, which - according to an EU directive - has recently received a new recipe from Brussels.

The second joint contenders are Nigel Farage and Hillery Mantel. Hilary Mantel said, two years ago, that Prince William’s wife - the Duchess of Cambridge - was a bubble headed Barbie Doll, who she branded as a 'shop-window mannequin with a plastic smile, whose only role in life was to breed.' Now let me see if she is right! What I will do is to clear all the things off my mantelpiece to make a bit of space. Right, I have done that, and now I am going to put two photographs - that I just happen to have - one of Hilary Mantel and the other of the Duchess next to one another on the mantelpiece and have a long look at them both.

The first one is of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge at her wedding, and the second is of Hilary Mantel receiving a Booker prize. Now let me think! Which one would I prefer, there is only room for one photo? The first one is of a young woman looking happy at her wedding to Prince William and the other is of a rather smug looking person, with a funny face, receiving a literature prize. I shouldn’t wonder if she will have to apologize for some of her unkind remarks, at some point.

No! I am sorry Hilary, but you will have to go. Call me old fashioned if you like, but if I had wanted to be surrounded by gargoyles, I would have bought a gothic castle in Scotland, from the proceeds of sale, of my various books, which I am still desperately trying to sell.

Now what shall I do with the photo of this woman with a rather physically challenged ‘boat race?’ I know, I will put it together with another rather unattractive photograph, I just happen to have, of Nigel Farage. They seem to have quite a lot in common one way or another, so they will probably get on quite well together, if I stick them both in a box in the loft.

He said some very personal things about poor old Herman van Rompuy’s looks – one day at the European Parliament – implying that, not only was he funny looking, but he was a bit of a useless git as well. But we all know who the useless git is, don't we? That’s right, it’s good old Nigel himself. I can’t think why they pay him to be an MEP, if he wants to abolish the European Parliament? I wonder if he feels like apologizing, I know that I don’t?


PS. If you feel like apologizing about anything at all, please do so in someone elses blog!

Author Patrick Brigham Transforms Real World Experiences Into Fictional Works - A Murder Mystery Novelist Like No Other

Patrick Brigham is the author of a number of mystery books and crime thrillers that address political and Cold War issues. He brings terrorism, illegal immigration and murder together in gripping tales, built upon real world events

Often, when we listen in on discussions about great works of fiction, we hear phrases such as 'It seemed so real' or 'It was like being there'. For murder mystery novelist Patrick Brigham, it IS real, as he has lived, and continues to live, right in the middle of many of the storylines and situations he writes about in The Balkans.

As the editor in chief of the Sofia Western News, the first English news magazine in Bulgaria and as a journalist, he witnessed the political changes in this once hard-core communist country. There, he personally knew most of the political players, including the old Communist Dictator, Todor Zhivkov, and his successors, Presidents Jhelev and Stoyanov.

The natural home of political intrigue, and the remnants of Bolshevism, Bulgaria proved to be quite a challenge, and for many of its citizens the transition was also very painful. Despite this, Patrick managed to survive these political changes, and now lives in Northern European Greece, writing mystery novels and crime thrillers.

Many of his short stories lampoon the politicians and diplomats, he met during his time in Eastern Europe and proffer a humorous account of their often absurd antics. His more serious archived material, not only address’s issues concerning Cuba, India, Israel, Palestine and Afghanistan, but people as varied as ex - US President Bill Clinton and ex - President Todor Zhivkov the last of the Communist dictators.

Patrick Brigham's body of work includes:

‘The Dance of Dimitrios’ - a mystery novel that mixes some of the horrors of illegal immigration with everyday events. Detective Chief Inspector Lambert works for Europol - the European equivalent of the FBI – and is sent to Greece in order to solve a cold case. DCI Lambert has experience of people trafficking, the problems caused for governments throughout the world, Greece being the gateway into Europe, for countless Middle-Eastern migrants, political refugees and terrorists. The story involves the discovery of a woman's body found floating in the River Ardas, in Northern Greece. Believed to be of Middle-Eastern origin, she is buried in a communal grave along with other Islamic victims of drowning and promptly forgotten. When it is later revealed that she is actually an Englishwoman called Marjory Braithwaite - who has been living for some years in Greece - the British government turns to Europol for help. Realising that this probably means murder, DCI Lambert is dispatched to Greece.

In ‘Judas Goat: The Kennet Narrow Boat Mystery,’ - Detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert - working at the time for the Thames Valley Police Authority - unravels a murder case which stretches from England to Bulgaria, South Africa to Belorussia, and finally Taiwan to Peru. What at first appears to be a straightforward murder, is revealed to be part of an international manhunt, the result of a major arms deal which has gone horribly wrong. Patrick Brigham begins his story with the discovery of a small mobile phone on the narrow boat which ends with the murder of a Chinese shipping magnate in broad daylight, in the streets of London.

‘Herodotus: The Gnome of Sofia,’ - embraces disgruntled communists, cold war warriors, intrigue, deception and finally murder. Brigham introduces us to Sir Arthur Cumberpot, a man with an unspectacular diplomatic career, which is swiftly drawn to a close when he is appointed, by the FCO, as British Ambassador to Bulgaria. Due to some unforeseen mishaps his wife Annabel, is accused of being a spy and sent home to their house in Oxfordshire, while her background is checked by MI5. Lady Annabel Cumberpot is guilty of nothing, other than being the biological daughter of Jim Kilbey, Britain’s most notorious spy. It seems that a jealous god has sought to visit the sins of the father upon her, but then so has everyone else. She is the victim of serendipity, but also of cover ups, duplication of thin evidence and exaggeration. But she is also heartless, treacherous, self indulgent and without shame. In his book, Brigham lampoons the British Diplomats of the day, and introduces you to the humorous side of diplomacy.

‘Abduction: An Angel Over Rimini, - set in 2002, and little Penelope Scratchford has been abducted in Italy. The Italian State Police, having given up its investigation, believes her parents to be responsible for her disappearance and her probable murder, but cannot prove it. The British authorities believe she is still alive, as does the UK media. In order to reopen this cold case, Europol offers its assistance, and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert – now retired from Thames Valley Police – is sent to Rimini as a Europol Liaison Officer, in order to assist the Italian police in re-opening their investigation. His quest takes him from Rimini to Greece and the River Evros, where illegal migrants frequently cross over from Turkey on their way into Central Europe. Following this recognised people smuggling route, his investigations also take him to Bulgaria, where he discovers a crooked adoption racket. Finding some promising leads to the whereabouts of the little English girl, he is finally able to establish if she is alive or dead.

"I live in the Evros Region in Northern Greece," Brigham stated, "and I have personally observed the forlorn illegal immigrants who then daily crossed the River Evros into Greece, from Turkey. Since many were English speaking – from Afganistan, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent – it was easy to converse with them, and of course the Greek police authorities themselves; who were well educated, and spoke perfect English. Knowing what was going on around me, was not the problem, but being able to tell the story – to a largely indifferent western public - was another matter. Ten years on and dominating the headlines, it is clearly different, but in the early 2000s, few in Europe could care less about these displaced refugees, until it began to affect their pocket.”

“During Communism, and as one of the first English journalists to be based in Bulgaria, I interacted with most of the politicians and diplomats of the day, in my capacity as chief editor of The Sofia Western News, a monthly glossy magazine. This included Todor Zhivkov, the then deposed long term Communist ex President of Bulgaria – who I interviewed on a number of occasions –his first elected democratic successor Zhelyu Zhelev, followed by President Peter Stoyanov. Although many changes have occurred since, I must also mention King Simion II, who for three years and eighteen days, served as the Bulgarian Prime Minister. In the hope that he could salvage years of Communist waste, tyranny and turmoil - since he was deposed as Bulgarian boy king, in 1946 - and by putting his reputation on the line - amongst the torment and brazen political arrogance of the time - he was one of my greatest hero’s.”

Readers have praised his novels. One stated, "I am an ex cop - he must have done a lot of research to get so many things right. I felt when reading 'Abduction' that Patrick was relating an investigation, he actually carried out." Another said, "'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is entertaining, gripping, and also an astonishing Europol procedural read, making you want to read more. I was drawn into the story right away. I felt close to Michael Lambert and his way of analysing and detecting. All relevant characters became pretty real. 'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is a good read for mystery fans, readers who like surprises, and occasional coincidences."

Patrick Brigham is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at patrick.brigham@gmail.com. Books are available at Amazon, Amazon.UK, Smashwords and from his website. More information is available at Patrick Brigham's website at http://authorpatrickbrigham.com/.

About Patrick Brigham:

Patrick has been a writer and journalist for many years. He has published many short stories, newspaper and magazine articles. Born in the English Home Counties, he attended Public School and College before moving to London and embarking on his career. He has spent the last twenty five years in South Eastern Europe, where many of his stories are set, as well as in Oxford, Hampshire and Berkshire. As the Editor in Chief of the first English Language news magazine in Sofia, Bulgaria - between 1995 and 2000 - and as a journalist, he witnessed the changes in this once hard core Communist Country and personally knew most of the political players, including the old Dictator Todor Zhivkov and his successors Zhelev and Stoyanov.

Contact:

Patrick Brigham
http://authorpatrickbrigham.com/
patrick.brigham@gmail.com

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Nationalism 'Vs' Brexit – by Patrick Brigham

I can’t vote in the forthcoming referendum, to determine Great Britain's future in Europe, and so I reserve the right to say what I like. To me the whole matter reeks of reactionary nationalism, versus very little common sense, pragmatism or sanity. Reality seems to have been thrown out with the baby, and the bath water, plus a great deal of soap; an opera full of competing arias and the most disastrous stage management on record.

I have never seen so many bumbling spluttering minor British MPs trying their best to get a media scoop and so many foolish national leaders, puffing out their chests and expounding childish mantras to a growing, and largely bored audience.

For those of you Brits, who may have opinions about this farcical program, I have made a list of those who can officially vote:-

Anyone who would be entitled to vote in a parliamentary election in the UK has the right to participate in the in/out vote on the EU. This includes:
British citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK
Irish citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK (due to historically close Anglo-Irish links)
Maltese and Cypriots over 18 who are resident in the UK (other EU citizens will not)
Commonwealth-born citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK
British expats who have lived overseas for less than 15 years
Irish citizens who were born in Northern Ireland and have registered to vote in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years
Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar
Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar over 18
Members of the House of Lords in Gibraltar will also be entitled to vote

Judging by the baffling and often inaccurate, so called facts and statistics - which the reactionary inhabitants of the UK frequently like to broadcast - they probably wish that the English Channel was a bit wider. Of course, there are those in Europe who might also wish this was true, as they watch the antics of a fading ex-colonial power, trying to reassert itself on the world stage. And why is it that a ‘special relationship’ with the US, always seems to appear, when things get rough?

The eminent comedian and script writer, Spike Milligan, when asked during the Irish troubles what his solution would be, he said: ‘I would put a big post in the centre of Ireland, and tow it out into the Atlantic.’ Well, perhaps we should now put an even bigger post in the middle of the UK, and tow that out to sea. It could be next door neighbours with Greenland or Iceland – think of all those mosquitoes?

In an endeavour to seem very British and patriotic, many first and second generation immigrants have also lent their voices to the discussion, claiming that not only should the United Kingdom stand on its own, but it should be very concerned about immigration in general! Interviews in Bradford and Birmingham, have naturally attracted volunteers from the local community – posh voiced Asians and finger wagging West Indians – all of whom, quite rightly, regard the UK as their home and their true domain.

To some of the Eastern European countries, this might sound a little hypocritical, bearing in mind that well educated people from the Balkans have every right to seek employment anywhere in the EU - and very good news - considering the dearth of applicants from Britain itself. But one of the main arguments by the bumbling Brexit’s, is that this alone is a threat to UK sovereignty. They also like to ‘mix up’ prospective employees and legally entitled European citizens, with illegal immigrants from the Middle East and European Gypsy’s. It seems that UKIP, in particular, believes that their listening public, is as thick as Nigel himself appears to be at times, or shall we simply just call him foxy?

If I was from The Balkans – Bulgaria, Romania and Greece – or Central Europe, I would be getting into the political thrall, remind British citizens - or rather those who are allowed to vote - and point out, that there would be a number of empty desks in offices in and around Great Britain. And, there would also be, quite a number of vacant University places to fill, were the UK to decide to close its doors to Europe.

So, perhaps one should simply ask the question, what is Great Britain? Queen Elizabeth 1st could never quite make up her mind about love or country, and often confused the two:

I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute, but inwardly do prate.

"On Monsieur's Departure" (February 1582).

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Looking Back Again on Bulgaria - by Patrick Brigham

PRESIDENT ZHELYU ZHELEV

President Zhelyu Zhelev was an enigma to me. I had watched him on TV in Bulgaria during the early nineties, performing official tasks, much as his predecessor Zhivkov had done. I remember him handing over prizes to the successful Bulgarian national football team in 1996, with jeeps and apartments being liberally handed out, much as before, to underline the importance of this event. But, nevertheless, it was reminiscent of the heady days of communism. To be honest, he seemed lost among the burly politicians of that time, the demagogic and often devious detritus, which was then successfully ruining the country. Each with a cynical smile on their face; most of them were not democrats by any measure, in fact they were out for what they could get.

In his book written during communist times and called ‘Fascism’ Zhelev expressed the myth of communism, by hiding it behind the story of Nazi Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, and Franco’s Spain. The tale of communism versus fascism, is couched in intellectual terms, and underlined by the true facts of modern history, the analogies jump from the pages with humor and alas, black irony. For after all repression and socio-political engineering are the same evil, whatever brand name may be attached to the process. In his book he said - “ If democracy seems not to be working, then you need more democracy,” - as if the ingredients of a cake have to be finally balanced with the right amount of baking soda, the instruments of power perched like delicate colored jars on the shelf in some political shop. All ready to be weighed and mixed by the chef, but paid for - after baking - often with considerable angst and occasional pain. Written in 1967 the book didn’t emerge until 1982, and then with understandable difficulty. Written during his period of isolation, it is a good textbook by any academic standard, and unearths the tricks of political psychology, as well as the bare faced lies.

Rather like Peter Pan; Dr. Zhelev then seemed ageless. With the round face of a boy - eyes wide apart, showing generosity and nobility of spirit - whilst displaying a relaxed confidence, he seemed to be a man who had come to terms with his reality. But nevertheless, he was also a man determined to continue on an even course towards increased Bulgarian democracy. No longer President of Bulgaria, through his newly created foundation - simply called ‘The Zhelyu Zhelev Foundation - for many years he represented the quiet voice of reason and debate.

“Being a rabid anti-Communist does not yet mean that one is a democrat; nor is frenzied anti-fascism a hallmark of democracy. To a democrat, both communism and fascism are abhorrent. Indeed, there has been no greater anti-communist than Hitler, and no greater anti-fascist than Stalin, but neither of them is known to have been a democrat. Moreover, the 20th century has seen no greater butchers of democracy than these two mustached comrades.” Zhelyu Zhelev - Sofia 1997.





PRESIDENT PETER STOYANOV

Next on the list was Peter Stoyanov, who followed Dr Zhelev as President of Bulgaria. Prior to his election, I interviewed him in his office in the UDF building in Sofia, and being unused to British journalists, he was unusually open about his history as a lawyer. Apparently, he was a mathematician who had been sidelined into politics due to his views on human rights.

He said:'At the time of my schooling, communists didn't even allow young people to have long hair, and any of us who wanted to listen to and be like the Beatles, were persecuted. They said it was immoral, but it was absurd that at the end of the 20th Century, there existed a political regime which had no respect for human rights, and discounted these rights in such a way, that didn't even exist during the 1st Century in Rome.'

Looking Even Further Back at Bulgaria - by Patrick Brigham

My book, Herodotus: The Gnome of Sofia, is a humorous account of a British diplomat and his fall from grace, and has its foundations in reality. When, in 1993, I arrived as a permanent fixture in Sofia, Bulgaria had hardly begun to get used to its new post Cold War existence, and the enormous Russian Embassy still somehow loomed large in the daily life of all Sofia residents. Especially the Bulgarian politicians of the day, and as it had continued to do, during the entire communist era. However, in 1995 and with trepidation, I started the Sofia Western News magazine and published my first flimsy edition in December of that year.

As a newbie, I was amazed to find that the ‘Old Brigade,’ was still well represented in the capital, and that they held the most recent interlopers from the West, in total contempt. Generally regarded with considerable suspicion, the vast majority saw every foreigner as a spy, and this I regret to say, included me! What one was likely to spy on, was a matter for considerable conjecture - in view of the general state of the country and its non functioning economy - and even to this day, there are still Bulgarians who misguidedly believe their country to be, the ‘Trojan Horse’ of the great game of deception. Oh, really?

Foreign diplomats, NGO’s and the various foreign national advisors, were especially suspect, and although quite innocent of any sedition or thoughts of espionage, they were nevertheless under Cold War scrutiny by the many underemployed agents of the internal security services, and even some past employees too. Totally baffling, to the many be-suited western acolytes and so called consultants, they became withdrawn, occasionally frightened, and finally, developed a kind of siege mentality. Rather like their Colonial forbears, they withdrew from the realities of Sofia life, closed their embassy doors at night, and thought of home.

There were no secrets worth knowing that a half-wit couldn’t work out for themselves, or a casual reader might discover by reading an old copy of Janes Fighting Vehicles, on a wet Wednesday in Penge reference library, but that wasn’t the point. Because by then, not only was the general population in search of their own secret government held files, but there had appeared a few discrepancies in the CVs of various Bulgarian public figures, who had been active during communism, which has unrealistically occupied the Bulgarian press, ever since 1990.

In Herodotus: The Gnome of Sofia, the character of Sir Arthur Cumberpit – a post communist British Ambassador – is not so different from the real diplomats of the day, and many of the foreign businessmen too. I have to admit to being a bit of an armchair idealist myself, but many of those I met at the time in Sofia, were not. Many were redolent of the passed over major, and some had even been given one last chance, to get their act together. There were even those, who fondly regarded their presence in Sofia to be a form of punishment, for some past sin - which is often the case in diplomatic circles – and the character of Sir Arthur is no exception. He just doesn’t know, what it is, exactly!

But, there are secrets as well. One is that Sir Arthur comes from a humble beginning in Croydon, close to London, and isn’t really posh at all, although he tries to be. The other, is that Lady Annabel Cumberpot is the daughter of the UK’s most infamous spy, Jim Kilby. A great deal of the story surrounds this last secret, and many - mainly undeserved - consequences, cause her to suffer in many ways. And, were it not for the fact that Lady Annabel Cumberpot, herself, is the most obnoxious harridan on the planet, the reader might even feel a little sorry for her.

Indifferent to his diplomatic post in Bulgaria, Ambassador Cumberpot believes his life to be hell. With a wife who treats him like a pathetic money box, not only does she walk all over and humiliate him whenever possible, she does so with everyone else as well. That includes certain Bulgarian dignitaries, invited to the Queens Birthday Party at the ambassador’s residence. But then, something unusual occurs.

Herodotus: The Gnome of Sofia–
Available at www.PatrickBrigham.co.uk

Looking Back at Bulgaria by Patrick Brigham

As far as I can remember, nothing very new has happened in Bulgaria for years, although many might not agree this to be so. Nevertheless, if over time one had piled up all the newspapers and learned magazines read since the political changes in 1990, I think that the garage would be too full to accommodate your nice new car, or the guest bedroom would have become totally uninhabitable. The question remains, during that time, has anything of national importance fundamentally changed?

Short of any interest in microeconomics, my answer would be no! And it seems to me, that the Bulgarian press has had so few subjects of consequence to occupy its attention, that over the years – from the sunny climes of Greece, where I now reside – it seems surprising, that so much paper has actually been consumed, or – as reality dictates –hot air exhaled?

However, of the few issues of interest, there is presently one very important item on the Bulgarian agenda - which is often repeated - and is personified by the recent debate concerning the future of Irina Bokova as the leader of the United Nations, and an argument about people - with connections to the old communist regime - being allowed to prosper or hold public office. Repeatedly referred to as having been an agent of the Ministry of the Interior, surely what they really mean, is part of the old communist structure. Is this not simply an over amplification of this perennial political question, or does it reflect a fundamental deficit in the Bulgarian character?

Many years ago, a renowned expat British Sofia resident said to me: “In Bulgaria, there is only one thing worse than being a failure, and that is to be a success!” So, the question is, whether the angst caused by Bokova’s shot at world leadership is really over the hopelessly flawed past communist regime, or something slightly more sinister?

Bokova’s innate ability to manage events on a worldwide scale is indisputable, and she has undoubtedly helped to shoehorn Palestine into the folds of the UN, as well as protecting the cultural integrity of certain Palestinian heritage sites. Whilst this may have annoyed the Israeli and the American governments, it has certainly placed her on the international map, not necessarily as a Bulgarian, but as a world player. But, does she stand a chance of winning the upcoming UN election? With the continuing angst of the US and their client state of Israel, probably not.

But why do Bulgarians, from one of the most unsuccessful of countries in the EU, continue to have this bitter feud with the past. Many ex-communist families have been almost forgotten by now, and the vast majority of the old contemptibles, are dead. Their children live on, often in isolation, or running small businesses, and are generally left alone. This is because they don’t matter anymore and usually share the same challenging reality, as the rest of the Bulgarian middle class. So, why pick on Bokova?

Many Bulgarians, given a chance to explain their bellicose views on life will either blame their communist past, or the dreaded Turkish yoke, but might it not simply be because they are Bulgarian? Many hate to see their contemporaries succeed, and spend time dwelling on others misfortunes; which reminds me of the second piece of advice I received. It was given to me, just before my first visit to Bulgaria in 1985. Told to me by an ex-pat Bulgarian living in London, he said: “Bulgaria is like a cracked mirror, so everything there is consequently distorted and back to front.”

From outside the goldfish bowl and looking in, one can understand the frustration of goldfish swimming around in circles, whilst looking out at the rest of the world with envy. So, I suppose, it is a matter of perspective. To pillory someone, who is an undoubted success, who happens to be a Bulgarian is absurd, because Irina Bokova’s position on the international stage, should be cause for rejoicing, especially when one considers her often corrupt competition! Would you like to see one of these self seeking ‘baldies,’running the United Nations? No thanks, you’d be dead in a week!

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Author Patrick Brigham - BOOK REVIEWS

‘Without spoiling the story, ‘Herodotus’ is something between the plot of an old James Bond movie, complete with bungling foreign spy masters and political intrigue, and an introspective Russian novel. There is a colourful cast of characters, a smattering of intrigue and plenty of detailed description to really allow the reader to experience the hopes and aspirations of a somewhat pompous, and aspiring, British middle class. In fact, it is this ‘experiencing’ which makes this book better. The reader is taken on a journey complete with tastes, smells, scenes and experiences, almost reminiscent of a good travel guide. Along the way, we share these experiences with characters whose personal situation all too often hints at some degree of mental illness. Cleverly chosen character names add to the sense of satirical irony throughout the story. Herodotus’ is humour, satire and a witty commentary on both the downward political spiral in certain former Communist countries and the smug, foolish, baseless superiority of the west’ By R.P.Rochford (Format:Kindle edition) Amazon Verified.
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‘Great read!! Judas Goat, another cracker from Patrick Brigham. I couldn’t put it down for long without wondering what was going to happen to the Reading policeman next. Very colourful and vivid characters. Well done!!’ By Badger – Amazon Verified Purchase
***
‘I simply loved Judas Goat, once I had started the book, I could not put it down, easy reading, great plot.’ By Suziegrif – Amazon Verified Purchase
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‘Judas Goat & The Kennet Narrow Boat Mystery, is quite different in genre from Patrick Brigham’s previous publications, as he rows through a range from the river waters of Oxford to the high seas, narrating a story that is a murder mystery and more. Judas Goat is a much more complex work than Herodotus (his previous novel) and devotes just a part – however significant – of its scenes, to a visit to Sofia by a Thames Valley detective, investigating the killing of a man, identified as previously having been an English-language editor-in-chief in Sofia. Kudos to Brigham for pulling off these two novels, though,which achieve the feat of inspiring curiosity about the views of others who read them, as I have no doubt about recommending that they should.’ By Clive Leviev-Sawyer – Editor in Chief of The Sofia Globe

‘I received a copy of Judas Goat from the author for an honest review. A historic political Thriller, the author pictured Thames Valley, Reading with such beauty that I was astonished, capturing the imagination of this place I have never heard before, until now. In the picturesque setting, a boat immersed with blaring music and a quiet occupant, in other words a dead person. From here, the story starts to unfold as we met the different characters. The main character, Chief inspector Lambert from the Thames valley police really impressed me. He was a dedicated and well-respected officer that loved police work. Many interesting political facts became known which involved many countries, including South Africa, England and Bulgaria. As the investigation proceeds, it became a case far bigger than the normal crime in Thames Valley. Pushed to the limit the skills of the detective were tried. A very well researched and suspenseful story, a must read for people who like political crime stories. Well done Patrick Brigham a very good en authenticated story of the specific time in history.’ By Paul (Format: Kindle Edition) – Amazon Verified.

‘I found ‘JUDAS GOAT’ to be an excellent combination of a loveable, believable, detective and a worthy conundrum-crime. I found the domestic development of a marriage implosion very well done and slow drip. The procedural elements smack of realism – For the first time in one of these books, I felt like an investigator working on a case, it was that real, I knew these fellows. The central character, Chief Inspector Michael Lambert unravels a murder case without gimmicks, and no Columbo. ‘JUDAS GOAT’ is a snapshot of real police work. The way everyone relates to each other, smacks of someone who knows this world really well, and is probably a cop. I think there is a lot of the real man, the author, in this book. If he told me he was an ex cop I would accept it readily. That he is beyond doubt a excellent writer, I don’t have to be a sleuth to work out, “It is elementary Dear Watson.”’ By Jim Loftus Format: Kindle Edition.
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Well written. Well conceived. Dynamite Plot. One of the finest books I’ve read in a while. By Bill Cronin Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
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Patrick Brigham’s latest book, Abduction: An Angel over – Rimini, is a carefully researched crime novel, which intertwines two stories: that of the detective who is the lead character; who discovers a skeleton in the cupboard of his own family, and that of the abduction itself. The two plots are brought together by a slightly improbable coincidence, but no matter: the author’s eye for detail brings the atmosphere and the environment to life throughout the book, as it follows the detective’s investigation through Italy and Greece, punctuated by what one suspects might be a weakness of the author himself: good, exquisitely seasoned meals, and fine wines. The book is as mouth-watering as it is entertaining!’ By Mark Bossanyi Format: Paperback
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‘With Abduction – An Angel Over Rimini, Patrick Brigham has created a compelling story of a Europol DCI utilising his long-time Reading experience to solve a crime, and uncover neglect in local police procedures. Abduction – An Angel Over Rimini, is an entertaining, gripping, and also astonishing Europol procedural read, making you want to read more. I was drawn into the story right away. I felt close to DCI Michael Lambert and his way of analysing and detecting. All relevant characters became pretty real. Abduction – An Angel Over Rimini is a good read for mystery fans, readers who like surprises, and apparent coincidences.This is a book to read again.’ By Karen O on Format: Kindle Edition
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In The Dance of Dimitrios, it is the third time out for DCI Michael Lambert, whom we have followed on his detective work in two of Patrick Brigham’s previous crime novels, as Europol’s Lambert, is brought into a case that is prefaced with the personal descent into tragedy of the title character, and then what seems to be just another death of a woman trafficked through illegal migration – a death that would be meaningless to a largely uncaring world and the dubious chief of police in a countryside Greek small town community.

But the dead woman is somewhat less than a statistic, but the engine of the piece as it becomes clear she was a cantankerous British expat retiree whose career had spanned international journalism – with some significant espionage on the side, and a later-life pursuit as…a crime novelist. The journey of Lambert, partnered again with noble Greek police officer Electra Boulos, spans from Greece to Sofia’s capital Bulgaria, to Turkey and to strained conversations between straight-arrow former army officer and latter-day Europol detective Lambert and a snooty guardian of Britain’s intelligence establishment.

Brigham assembles quite an ensemble of characters, well-drawn and credibly portrayed each in their own way, from – among others – the police of various countries to the ruthless and amoral denizens of the worlds of people-trafficking and terrorism, to unfold by careful degrees his tale that progresses steadily from a world that hints to that of Zorba to a real world of the worst perils of the 21st century. And not, by the way, without a few humorous sidelights about the world of books and publishing.

The author of his previous Judas Goat: The Kennet Narrow Boat Mystery, and Abduction: An Angel over Rimini, has us engaged all the way, with a final tease as to Lambert’s future. After the enthralling enjoyment of The Dance of Dimitrios, one can but hope that we shall be following Lambert’s footsteps at least once more. Clive Leviev-Sawyer, Editor-in-Chief, The Sofia Globe

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IN THE NEWS - The Dance of Dimitrios by Patrick Brigham

Immigration, Terrorism, Murder And English Detectives - New Crime Thriller, 'The Dance Of Dimitrios', Offers Gripping Fiction Based On Real World Current Events

Patrick Brigham is the award winning author of a number of mystery books and crime thrillers. His most recent work brings terrorism, illegal immigration and murder together in a tale featuring an English detective

Award winning author Patrick Brigham has released 'The Dance Of Dimitrios'. The new crime thriller is a riveting mystery novel that mixes a fictional English detective with real world events drawn from today's headlines.

DCI Lambert, who works for Europol, is sent to Greece in order to solve a cold case. Greece is the gateway into Europe for Middle-Eastern migrants, political refugees and terrorists. In the storyline, a woman's body found floating in a river in Northern Greece. Believed to be of Middle-Eastern origin, she is buried in a communal grave along with other Islamic victims of drowning and promptly forgotten. Surprisingly it is found that she is actually Marjory Braithwaite, an Englishwoman who has been living for some years in Greece. The British government turns to Europol for help and DCI Lambert is dispatched to Greece.

Good books on the subject of international crime are few and far between, especially mystery stories which delve into the shady side of politics. Not many mystery novelists are prepared to address arms dealing, money laundering or people trafficking. Patrick Brigham has lived in the middle of the situations he describes in his novels, as he was the Editor in Chief of The Sofia Western News, the first English Language news magazine in Bulgaria.

As a journalist Brigham knew the political players and witnessed the changes in this once hard core communist country, He knew the Communist Dictator Todor Zhivkov and his successors Zhelev and Stoyanov. Today he brings the flavor of those experiences to readers through engaging works of crime fiction.

Patrick-Brigham-Cover"What seems to be a story to some, has been very real to me, as I watched reality unfold before me, and whilst governments turned a blind eye to the issue of illegal immigration," Brigham stated. "Now firmly in the media each day, back in the early 2,000s most illegal immigrants, either crept under the media radar or were ignored by the majority of self serving EU politicians. Some tried to use their public positions and scanty information to further their own trite ambitions, but mostly they ignored the problem altogether. Now that the dripping tap has become a torrent, they all sound so knowledgeable - after the event of course - but still remain unquestionably ignorant."

"I write books about this and many other often unpalatable subjects, but I surround these thorny issues with good murder mystery stories - familiar territory to most readers - but with a backdrop of political intrigue, and true crime. DCI Mike Lambert is more than your average tired and disillusioned policeman, because of the way he thinks and takes his own council. He believes in teamwork, but is also busy looking out for himself - a loose cannon perhaps - but always true to himself. In 'The Dance of Dimitrios,' we see a dedicated copper doing his job, but also a man on the cusp, looking for love and romance and finding it; something which he has never really experienced' in a lifetime of police service."

Readers have praised his novels. One stated, "I am an ex cop - he must of done a lot of research to get so many things right. I felt when reading 'Abduction' that Patrick was relating an investigation, he actually carried out." Another said, "'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is an entertaining, gripping, and also an astonishing Europol procedural read, making you want to read more. I was drawn into the story right away. I felt close to Michael Lambert and his way of analysing and detecting. All relevant characters became pretty real. 'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is a good read for mystery fans, readers who like surprises, and apparent coincidences."

Patrick Brigham is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at patrick.brigham@gmail.com. Books are available at Amazon, Amazon.UK, Smashwords and at his website. More information is available at Patrick Brigham's website at http://authorpatrickbrigham.com/


About Patrick Brigham:

Patrick has been a writer and journalist for many years. He has published many short stories, newspaper and magazine articles. Born in the English Home Counties, he attended Public School and College before moving to London and embarking on his career. Having spent the last twenty years in South Eastern Europe, many of his stories are set in this part of the world as well as in Oxford, Hampshire and Berkshire. As the Editor in Chief of the first English Language news magazine in Sofia Bulgaria, between 1995 and 2000 - and as a journalist - he witnessed the changes in this once hard core Communist Country and personally knew most of the political players, including the old Dictator Todor Zhivkov and his successors Zhelev and Stoyanov.


Contact:

Patrick Brigham
http://authorpatrickbrigham.com/
patrick.brigham@gmail.com

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