David Baird

As a "lapsed Catholic"- subjected to eight years at a Catholic boarding school on Britain's east coast -run by Christian brothers -I can only but commiserate with Ms Coldstream. I witnessed brutality and bullying. But-man - this was the Sixties - and we rebelled. Snuck out to the pubs and chased the girls.Now 76- a retired international newspaper entertainment journalist and columnist - by fate karma call it what you will I find myself in a secular old people's home. I note with some amusement that my private room has been referred to as my "sanctuary!" Naturally I have.a distaste for any religion that tries to rigidly snd doctrinally impose it's views on others.Why I ask do we need religion when we have the philosophies of the Post-Socratics - and Humanism? I notice the Post-Socratics are making a comeback. I would much rather enjoy the "freedom" of Epicurus' Garden- rather than the cloistered prison Ms Coldstream endured. No wonder her cell became her sanctuary. Submitted by David James Baird a permanent resident of Australia living near Melbourne NB: I would like to thank BBC SOUNDS for making Ms Coldstream's work - available as an excellently read Book Reading. I can see the podcast becoming immensely popular with listeners David James Baird journalist based outside Melbourne Australia

Not finished the audio book reading on BBC Sounds. But certainly very imaginative! It makes 1984 - loo k - well very dated. Let's hope - very selfishly- that I'm not around if this post- apocalyptic horror were to happen.I think the author's naming of her Hi-Tech characters is both satiric inventive - and very chilling. Obviously a movie or TV series waiting here. The audiobook is not the full read. But will give an insight into what may await us in this Post-Tech plague-ridden...well no spoilers! Submitted by David J Baird Retired Melbourne-based TV and entertainment newspaper reporter