Imperfect Recollections

Welcome to the fascinating world of general medical practice in Australia.

This book is a collection of stories from the author’s rich and varied career spanning over 40 years.

During that time, he has been a country GP, delivering babies and doing anaesthetics, a retrieval doctor with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, worked in the emergency departments of various hospitals and followed his passion of motor sport medicine, especially internationally in the fields of Formula 1 and World Rallying.

The stories are both funny and poignantly sad. They are told in the style that invites the reader to sit down, share a glass of something with the author and tell a few tales, like old friends.

Many of us see ourselves or people we know in these pages… You may be right or you may be wrong, but then that would be telling!

Imperial India: A Pictorial History

Magnificent palaces, forts and fortresses, victory towers and memorials, among others, are the living symbols of imperial lavishness in India. The book describes and illustrates royal edifices from Agra, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri, Hyderabad, Lahore, Madras, Poona, Rawalpindi, Quetta and Simla. The physical history of the above architecture is juxtaposed with social history of the time, for example, segregation of the British rulers from their subjects, and habits and customs of the colonial rulers and Indian and Burmese princes. The cultural history of the times is captured by the establishment of Shakespearean theatre, musical comedies and drama in the Indian sub-continent. Transport history is addressed through a discussion and illustration of Indian railways, among the largest transport networks in the world. My private and rare collection of vintage postcards published in Germany and the UK between 1905 and 1910 is the main source of illustrations in the book.

Impossible

It’s a scary word sometimes, isn’t it? Daunting, crazy even. Sometimes if you look at something, you’ll dismiss it as ‘that’s impossible’, just because it seems too daunting, too crazy.

But is it?

Inside this book is the message of how impossibilities might be conquered if only you look at how you can approach them, how you can push yourself to facing fears, and realising that maybe everything you thought impossible may not actually turn out as thought. You’ll never really know until you try, and the only way you can do that is if you take the risk to do the impossible. Challenge yourself to take the message to heart, complete the impossible, and then, take a look at yourself in a week, a month from reading and then ask,

“Do you say ‘that’s impossible!’ anymore?”

Impressions of Carly

Impressions of Carly offers a series of dramatised perspectives on the changes a woman undergoes from her romantic love for a man who touches her heart to an innocent victim of violence. Seen from the points of view of a friend, neighbour, parent or passerby, Carly struggles to understand why this man threatens her understanding of what a loving relationship is. and to puzzle why she ended up caught in this web of manipulation, lies and danger. Even the birth of her son results in overturning her hopes for an end to the abuse and leaves her in desperation to keep her child safe from harm.

The questions this story reveals are often asked and so often receive no clear answers. Will an abusive parent destroy the life of her child? What must she sacrifice to find a home where she and her child can recover and build a life for themselves safe from harm? What will be the long term impact of the violence on her life and what does being a survivor look like? An immensely compelling and powerful novel that will leave the reader shaken to their core.

In At The Sharp End (Stories From The Front Line Of The Music Business)

Anyone interested in music will consider this to be essential reading! Covering every genre, it provides intimate inside stories about many artists, songwriters, and music execs never previously documented. Those included are KYLIE MINOGUE, BURT BACHARACH, GEORGE MARTIN, BOB GELDOF, STOCK/AITKEN/WATERMAN, SIMON COWELL, RONNIE WOOD, JUSTIN HAYWARD, GRAHAM GOULDMAN, LEO SAYER, PAUL JONES, JASON DONOVAN, SINITTA, ALLAN CLARKE (The Hollies) and many more. Revelations: How Kylie nearly missed her big chance; when Simon Cowell lost it all; how George Martin signed The Beatles out of pure sympathy; the rise and subsequent disappearance of Clive Calder – the wealthiest man in music; what motivated Bob Geldof to stage the greatest show of all time; where the classic songs originated from: Burt Bacharach, Elton John, Lieber and Stoller, Neil Sedaka, Gene Pitney, Randy Edelman, Tony Hatch, Tony Macaulay, Roger Greenway, Les Reed/Barry Mason plus modern day songwriter of the year, Jamie Hartman.

In Bed with a Russian President

The murders of the politicians have shaken Russia. During the investigation, the trace led to Britain where the crimes have been worked out and executed. The next victim is the Russian president. The joint work of the police of both countries, the unique qualities, bravery and wisdom of the Russian president, the magic which will help everybody to protect themselves and to become happy and to love, stopped the crime.

In Demand, in Command

A comprehensive, insightful and practical guide to transforming your customer value and costs of service. Great, you're in demand! You have a brilliant product, excellent services, and competitive pricing. But that only gets you a seat at the table. If you really want to stay ahead of the game and be in command of a modern, always-connected world, you need a winning digital customer experience strategy. In Demand, in Command is essential to anyone that considers the growth, allegiance, and advocacy of customers at lower operating costs as paramount. Increasingly, there is a need to stand out from the crowd and not be easily imitated by others. This book gives you immediate access to shrewd, insightful and comprehensible advice on customer strategy, digital optimisation and organisational transformation. Packed with thought-leading expertise, proven 'how to' techniques, and real-life experiences, it enables you to accelerate improvements in your customer insight, service performance, business margins and competitiveness. In Demand, in Command is as much about the people and processes that drive your desired business growth, as it is about digital technologies. Put simply - if you sell to, or serve the public in any shape or form, this book is a must for you.

In God's Footprint

Ridge Mason’s world was just a remote and secluded corner of Northwest Tennessee that lay barricaded between a mighty river and a beautiful lake. Yet it knew no boundaries. Only moments after taking his first breath, Ridge suffered the most devastating loss a child could ever experience – the death of his mother. Yet it presented no barriers to him. His father and uncle, by contributing equally to his rearing, made sure of that.

As a young man, Ridge’s life on the enchanting body of water had become so rich and colourful that he thought he could never be torn from it. But when the beautiful and alluring Madelyn Fleming entered his world, it was suddenly turned upside down. The unusual and complicated situation this created, forced Ridge to abandon the only place on Earth where he ever wanted to live, in order to save the one he loved. Fearing he would never be able to return home again, Ridge was almost torn apart by his insatiable love for Madelyn and the lake that never stopped beckoning him. When it appeared that only a miracle could appease the two opposing forces, that’s exactly what happened.

In Green Pastures

In 1917, war rages on in Belgium and France, and German bombs fall on East London. Two sisters, Florence and Nell, living in Stratford, arrange to leave the city for the tranquillity of the North Essex countryside.

For Florence Mundy, fleeing personal demons and the imminent return of Harry, departure from London cannot come soon enough.

Nell Ashford has the safety of her five children on her mind while George is away at the Front.

In Halstead, lying peacefully in the Colne Valley, they find new challenges, friendship and pain as well as personal fulfilment. Florence discovers salvation and hard work in the newly formed Women’s Land Army while Nell takes on the role of breadwinner to her family.

But they cannot escape the consequences of the Great War and the arrival of German Prisoners of War changes the dynamics of Halstead life and Florence’s future prospects as the armistice approaches.

In My Father’s Arms

There is something peculiar about holding on to someone’s hands. Likewise, a hug or to be found in the arms of someone that means a lot to you is a feeling which is hard to express or utter into words. The feelings and emotions linger even when that hug or touch is over. The past is the past, so is the present or what might unfold in the future. That’s what we have been taught and may also teach others. In My Father’s Arms unfolds and looks at individuals’ perspectives of a father. It also unlocks the door of their past on those memories which they dearly cherished. Those memories are some of the building blocks for their current present, which might be unfolding while trying to navigate and adjust the foundation laid to present a lasting future. Remember that you are not alone, whatever your current circumstance may be, and whichever story may resonate with you when reading or listening to this book. May you be surrounded in this life’s journey by others who cherish not only your present story or your prospect future but also value your precious past.

In My Little Garden

What’s in the garden – look and see. There’s everything there to make you happy.

This is to say thank you little garden for helping me feel better from pneumonia and the Coronavirus in the spring of 2020 and giving me a lot of pleasure whenever I looked at you.

In My Mind‘s Eye

The trials and tribulations of a young girl trying to find her own path in life when her family breaks down, leads to a traumatic and turbulent experience for all involved.

Friendships come and go and the real meaning of life becomes apparent along the way after several close encounters with death. One young person’s choices have great consequences on those around her, trampling on their feelings and destroying yet more lives. How many families can one young person shatter?