STOP PRESS! – MUM GETS THE HOUSE, DAD GETS THE KIDS!

So what’s a guy do on finding himself suddenly and unexpectedly divorced, heartbroken and with two young and very demanding children to raise alone? Well, first he hits the bottle ‘big time’ and falls into the mother of all depressions! Then, little by little, he picks himself up, dusts himself down and starts to put the broken pieces of family life back together. Battling against life’s many adversities and trying to make sense of the ensuing chaos, he strives to give his children as normal a life as is possible and above all else, stability.

Single Parent Brian Rowlands, at the age of 36, found himself in this unenviable position. Not only did he rise to the challenge though, he wrote a book about it!

Charting a remarkable ten year journey of joy, heartbreak, despair, discovery and re-adjustment, his book, ‘The Life Of (A Single Parent) Brian!’ documents the surreal events in this single parent family’s life, taking the reader along for themselves on his family’s amazing rollercoaster ride of joy and pain, relationship disasters, medical problems and constant moving home, (to mention just a few things!). Told in an open and honest manner, Brian lays it on the line, baring his soul to the world in a true story that will leave the reader

gasping for breath and wanting to know just what happens next!

“It made me laugh, it made me cry, once I’d started reading it I couldn’t put it down"

What they went through in ten years is simply amazing!”:  Sheryl Miller-

Senior Nurse-Nottingham City Hospital.

Enjoying a March 2011 revised edition release and available in three formats, Hardback, Soft cover and downloadable eBook, I would be delighted to receive your enquiry for further information and, should you require, am available for  immediate interview.

In conjunction with the release of his debut book ‘The Life Of (A Single Parent) Brian!’ author Brian Rowlands has put together a website that not only backs up his book but offers parents of all types and standing the opportunity to discuss parent related topics in his Discussion Forum. Say’s Brian, “I strongly believe that any parenting problem can be overcome that much easier if we are prepared to seek out help and advice. My Forum offers any parent, single or in a partnership, the chance to talk things through with others in a similar position. Obviously I’m ultimately hoping to generate interest in my book, but this is a ‘side project’ that really excites me and I can’t wait to get involved.” 

Brian’s website is up and running and online now at www.thelifeofasingleparentbrian.co.uk

Premier League Weekend 1

So we are back up and running, but nothing has really set the world alight, but it is early days, let’s start the round up with two six pointer relegation battles, yes even this early there were two important games.

Wolves won at Blackburn in a crucial game between two sides that face a relegation battle, of the two Wolves seem to be in the better position, they have unity at the club and the board seem to want to assist the manager, Blackburn, in my opinion, will be lucky to finish 19^th, so a crucial victory for Wolves.

Norwich and Wigan was the other game and this ended all square, these are two sides that I want to survive, they have given young managers the chance, and I hope this proves correct, Norwich has always been a side that I have admired, always played good football as is the tradition, Wigan are a club that has a great manager and an even better chairman, Martinez always acknowledges the game and shows his love for football by trying to do things the right way, and in conjunction with Dave Whelan, who is refreshingly honest and business savvy, I want them to survive, so a point shared was a reasonable start.

For the pretenders to the crown, there were no real signs of improvement, Chelsea were the same, robotic side, no new faces of note, and no creativity in the side, they are a big unit who try to overpower sides, but up against Stoke, they met their match, we also saw the horrible side of the game with Torres and Lampard throwing themselves to the ground in a way my five year old son does, then John Terry making the ref aware he should feel sorry for them.

Arsenal, I don’t think, we can consider as genuine title contenders, I believe they are in a battle for 4^th place with Liverpool, neither side impressed the weekend, Arsenal look short of freshness and new ideas, the headlines from St James Park will be about Joey Barton, who for the record did nothing wrong, he got stamped on and slapped and has now been hung, drawn and quartered from all angles, shocking, but back to Arsenal, with more exits before the end of the month, Wenger needs a trophy signing, his philosophies simply don’t work now, and even his own crowd must be coming to the end of understanding with him.

Liverpool clearly have a better squad this year, but do they have the squad to challenge the top four, it is clear that three clubs are far and away better than the rest in Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea, Dalglish is playing catch up from far back and he has bought good British players that will make them more competitive, but they lack the factor that makes them serious contenders, and this was clear to see in their opener at a much improved Sunderland, I fully expect Sunderland to be in the top 8 this season with the signings made by Bruce.

The champions of last season, showed why they will be champions again this season, the opening 30 minutes of the game at West Brom was the best football of the weekend by a long way, coupled with the second half demolition of Man City last week, they are exciting to watch, the second reason they will win the league was that even though they were below par second half, they still found a winner from the impressive Ashley Young, most people will be doubting the new keeper, but look at Reina when he first joined Liverpool, the great Dane when he first joined Utd, plus many other keepers that take time to settle, he will come good.

Fulham and Aston Villa should end up mid-table and this was giving further credence by a 0-0 draw against each other.

The surprise team of the year will be Bolton, and their thrashing of QPR was the ideal start, no matter what the problems are at QPR, it is impressive at the way Bolton hit the ground running, as for QPR, I expect they will be in the bottom three alongside Blackburn.

So without a home win all weekend in the Premiership, it is now down to Man City to rectify that against Swansea, a tough start for the swans against one of the top three sides this season. We will see.

Telford pull yourself together

As a business owner in Telford, I am as worried about our town being vandalised as anyone, and let’s face it, the whole country is on tender hooks, but as a town we need to pull ourselves together.

The English Defence League have a right to protest, that is what living in Britain entitles you too, the same as Unite Against Fascism have a right to counter protest, but what have they done to us so far? Both groups are known for trouble, and businesses, quite rightly, are protecting their properties, but we have not yet had any problems, and keep going on about it and saying how much we are in fear, is wrong.

We need to welcome these two groups and allow them to express their opinions, maybe if we allow them to do this in a reasonable manner we won’t get any trouble, but all the doo gooders who are already predicting doom and gloom are not helping the situation.

As a town we somehow seem to want to be involved, I personally think the local football club and police have scored a massive own goal with the AFC Telford game, they have been tinkering for so long and now they cancel it, what was wrong with a bit of pre-planning and moving the game to the Friday night or the Sunday afternoon, surely that stance says, you can have your protest but you aren’t doing it around a football game? However our weekend won’t be spoilt.

The police have had a tough week, and I am sure locally it hasn’t been helped by calls from the public when anybody with a hoodie walks past a house being reported, we have to get some perspective, we have to support the police in these times of disorder. To close the local town centre last night, I believe, was a PR exercise, an exercise for two reasons, one was to say look at us and feel sorry for us losing business, and also to say, the centre is easier to police in one place, so Asda have to stay within the building, because let’s face it, there was no creditable threat.

Personally tomorrow I am off to the Shrewsbury Flower Show, so will be well out of the way, that is not because I expect trouble, but because I simply want a quiet family day, if you are thinking of going “for a look” in Wellington, then don’t, because you more than likely will get dragged into whatever is going on, these are two political groups, let them get on with it, let the police do their job, and I am quite sure that if we treat them right, they will respect our town, make their point and go home.

If you do go looking for trouble, I hope that you get what punishment you deserve, after the week the police have had, I am sure they are well prepared tomorrow to ensure that Telford stays a safe down, if you have a business in Wellington that is affected, as a business owner I am thinking of you.

Help is needed from the local business community

No beating around the bush, Ben Coates needs the business community help, in bringing Ruth Badger to Shropshire, he has taken on a massive financial commitment, and to help the local economy, but it must have input and sponsorship from Shropshire’s businesses.

In hearing people moan that not a lot goes on in Shropshire, Ben decided to do something about it, now he needs help from those who were begging for events to kick start local business, he has not got anybody on the cheap to come and talk, and neither has he skimped and saved on the venue.

Sponsorship and assistance has so far very generously come in from Lanyon Bowdler solicitors, WN Security Shredding and Fasc Ltd t/as I Think IT, but it needs more, businesses also can help keep ticket prices low.

Ben Coates said “When you talk to people they seem unsure how to bring the business spotlight onto Shropshire, however I am determined to get the economy moving, in my courier firm, 80% of the business comes from outside the county, yet many people promote that local business is best, what I am trying to achieve is getting 200 – 300 people in the same room and to listen to somebody with Ruth’s experience, this lady has worked with the great Lord Sugar, we can all be arrogant and think we know it all but we all can learn something new every day.

Also the fact that many other businesses will be socialising, surely means that being there is a must, I am laying on a buffet and also refreshments will be available, but sponsorship is a must for this evening of entertainment. It is not time for businesses to put their money in to bring out valuable sales and new customers. This is not something that will benefit Ben Coates or BK Business, but will benefit Shropshire and its business community; also people will be able to make new contacts away from their cocoon they seem to trade in.”

To add your support please contact Ben on ben@bkbusinesssolutions.co.uk, visit www.bkbusinesssolutions.co.uk, or for tickets only please order them at the special early bird half price offer at http://ruthbadger.eventbrite.com/