Award winning author, Oliver Eade opens his latest novel with a prologue concerning Professor Peregrine Pringle. What a name to get your teeth around. What a whoosh to get you reading chapter 1. What a joy to read the galloping tale set in Scotland, and why not, for this is where Oliver Eade resides.

Dylan believes his dog-phobic dad has destroyed his chance of ever impressing Alice, the girl next door – for the girl next door, has a DOG, called Bouncer. Arghhh.

But …. But… the Bouncer goes missing. Is this Dylan’s chance? Well, yes. Together they set off to find Bouncer, but where is he?  They seek him here, there and everywhere until finally they arrive at a decrepit manor house, Number 24 \and there, outside is Bouncer’s collar.

But they have a problem with Number 24 as it is where Alice’s big brother went missing, and Dylan’s little sister too. So if they enter, will it be the end for the two of them as well. Or, by being courageous and resourceful will they find not only Bouncer, but their siblings?

Into the house they go, and end up in a dimension where human and dog roles are reversed, and where Alice becomes Bouncer’s pet. But that is not all, because like all good stories there is an antagonist, or is that plural? For this stalwart pack of dogs and humans have to save the deposed Top Dog, Bosona.

And what happens to Colin? Who’s Colin you ask. Well, read Number 24 and see.

It is a fabulous novel for the Christmas stocking, written with Eade’s usual elan, and structural confidence. Loved it, loved it.

And you can meet the author at the Triple Book Launch for Silver Quill PUblishing Borders Writers. Not just Oliver Eade but Pamela Gordon Hoad whose latest novel, The Prophet’s Grief is launched, and a collection of short stories by Iona Carroll Other People’s Lives. Such a feast of talent and expertise. Such fun authors.

Melrose Corn Exchange Market Square, Melrose TD6 9PN – November 7th. 7-9. Free drinks and nibbles.

Number 24 by Oliver Eade pb £7.99

Annie Clarke’s latest novel is Heroes on the Home Front

A rare Buddhist manuscript, known as ‘Sankhara bhanjani kyam,’ fromThailand dated 1917 c British Library Board.

I have a love of exhibitions and am often to be found wandering around both National and Local Art Galleries and Museums, so it takes something very special to impress me as much as the British Library’s Buddhist Exhibition.

The British Library is perfectly situated, just five minutes’ walk from Kings Cross and St Pancras Railway Stations and 10 minutes from Euston Station.

By some standards it is a small exhibition, but it is so full of artefacts many of which are so exquisitely decorated and so finely carved and drawn, that I recommend that you allow at least an hour to fully appreciate it.

18th century copy of the Tibetan Book ‘bar do thos grol,’ known in the West as ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead’

c British Library Board.

The exhibition explores the roots, philosophy and contemporary relevance of one of the world’s major religions, from its beginning in north India in the 6^th century BCE, to having over 500 million followers across the world today.

Set in a high- ceilinged exhibition space, the walls of which are bathed in the richest red which adds to the feeling of tranquillity, aided by a sound scape of bird song, and a Temple Bell the tolls intermittently.

Tenets appear amongst the exhibits offering wisdom on how one might become a better person.

The layout of the room uses artefacts to identify the three main schools of Buddhism -Therevada, Mahayana and Vajrayna and is the British Library’s largest ever display of Buddhist collection items.

A copy of the Lotus Sūtra in a lavishly decorated scroll from Japan, dated to 1636, c British Library Board.

The exhibition also features contemporary art from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan as well as ritual objects used in Buddhist practice.

Such is the wealth of artefacts it is hard to pick out the ‘must sees’, but for me the copy of the Lotus Sutra in a lavishly decorated scroll written in gold and silver ink on indigo dyed paper, dating back to 1636 is one; and one of the oldest illustrated extant palm leaf manuscripts, Pancharaksha, an illustrated ritual text from Nepal, dated 1130 – 1150, is another

On more familiar ground with an 18^th Century copy of the Tibetan Book Bar do thos grol, which is a guide through the stages between death and rebirth, commonly known in the West as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

I love an exhibition from which I emerge richer either in wisdom or in appreciation of aesthetics and today I emerged blinking into the light, enriched by both.

I learned that Buddha is a title not the name of a person and is awarded to someone who has gained enlightenment.

The Buddhist Exhibition runs from the 25^th October 2019 to the 23^rd February 2020.

Adults £14.00

Concessions £12.00

Students £7.00

18 -25 years of age £7.00