An Australian Odyssey

This book is the story of an epic journey around Australia undertaken by two adventurous British seniors, Michael and Dawn Franklin-Harris. Their inherent love of nature and wildlife, the people, and the vast sweep of natural history, is plainly obvious in this recorded account of travels in this fascinating country. The duration of the tours described in the book covers four months and six months, coinciding with two consecutive English winters. They were to drive close to 20,000 km in the 10 months they were in Australia, covering north to south and east to west, on this large and varied continent. They were told afterwards by many locals that they had seen more of Australia than many Australians would see in their lifetime.Despite their age, their past life and experiences had made them eminently suited to take on and record such a journey. Dawn had left England in late 1963 with her first husband and young family on an assisted passage scheme to arrive in Australia in 1964. They spent eight years moving around following the work, periodically returning to their base in Queensland where they settled for a time before finally returning to the U.K. Her love of the country and its people never left her, and she always longed to return under different circumstances to her first experience. With Michael retired, that opportunity presented itself.Michael had been a Precision Service Engineer, driving on average 35,000 miles per year, both in the U.K. and abroad. Like Dawn, he had a passion for life and new experiences. With his deep interest in literature, he was no stranger to the written word and had published many essays in the U.K., France, and the U.S.A.

Oluwa Street Evil Mobs 1967

Inspired by the author’s harrowing experiences, Oluwa Street Evil Mobs 1967 explores the brutal torture and ruthless killings targeting innocent Igbo people and other Nigerians wrongly profiled in 1967 Lagos amid the raging Nigerian/Biafran War.This sobering work implores present-day Nigerian political and military leaders to reflect deeply on past bloody mistakes as they navigate complex dynamics risking further conflict. The catastrophic failures spanning tribal, religious, and political divides throughout the three-year war must not be forgotten.Today’s tenuous peace requires re-examining volatile misunderstandings that engulf nationhood when weaponized instead of addressed through compassionate leadership seeking reconciliation. Are darker forces again exploiting divisions? Have lessons been learned? Does real and lasting peace exist for all in Nigeria?By confronting painful history, Oluwa Street Evil Mobs 1967 sounds an urgent call for breaking destructive cycles that allow persecution of any ethnic group under the excuses of war. There must be accountability along with healing so the innocent victims documented here are honoured through non-repetition – and community replaces suspicion as guiding light.

Me

Ron Pearson was born in Bramley, Leeds on August 12, 1924. He began writing this book on August 12, 2021, his 97^th birthday. After a childhood beset by illness, he left school at 14, and took a job packing parcels in a multiple tailoring factory, not for him. He moved on to packing parcels general muggins at an advertising agency at 50 pence a week, which he loved. His career in advertising was interrupted by a four-and-a-half-year spell in the army on ‘Special Operations’. Returning to civvy street, his career culminated in being appointed Managing Director and then Chairman of one of Yorkshire’s most respected advertising agencies. He was a local actor for almost 50 years including the renowned Bradford Alhambra and Playhouse.

There are some sad moments outnumbered by many hilarious ones. Ron’s beloved wife, Pat, died in 2017 after 66 years of happy marriage.

The list of ‘celebrities’ he has met is impressive, including Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Hollywood’s Marlene Dietrich, George Raft, Sir Ralph Richardson, George Best, Jackie Charlton, Harry Worth, Alan Bennett etc.

The Accidental Speech Therapist

For those who feel they are content to be working with the cards that life has dealt them – beware!I was that person – enjoying my work, enjoying the good salary I earned and enjoying considerable job satisfaction. So why would I throw that away and allow myself to be carried along by curiosity and vanity?This book is the story of what happened next and of the wonderful variety of people I met along the way.

The House Is Burning

It’s the 1950s and mounting political unrest consumes Rwanda. With fading monarchy, intensifying colonial rule and whispers of rebellion, countless native families find age-old traditions under attack.For Abel A. Nkunda’s family, the shifting climate grows increasingly hostile. As powers vie for control around them, they face a painful choice: take flight to save all they cherish or stay to watch it burn.Venturing into remote wilds in search of refuge, grandparents lead young Abel towards an uncertain future. With each step into the unknown, doubts arise. Can a foreign haven truly preserve their sacred cattle herding heritage from extinction?Follow the Nkundas’ quest across a changing landscape where long-held customs blink at the brink. Will new mountains shelter this household from escalating threats? Or will the life they knew go up in smoke? Immerse yourself in one family’s struggle to find safe harbour for endangered livelihoods and identity before the house left behind is reduced to ashes.

My Secret Life

My Secret Life is the author’s account of his personal struggle to overcome societal norms that overwhelmed him throughout his life and almost defeated him.His struggle, while unique and personal, required courage, resilience, and strength and is one that can be related to and recognized by all. His powerful, open, and compelling account of his battle to overcome the psychological, mental, and emotional effects caused by living a secret life, and how he almost lost that battle, is a story of monumental triumph over adversity.The informal and very personal writing style draws the reader into a personal, historical, yet contemporary history, very relevant for the times we are living in today. A strong bond is formed between the reader and the author as they share in the moments of despair, pain, and fear, but also hope and joy, climaxing in the triumph of life over adversity.Like a phoenix from the flames, the author’s captivating, engrossing account of his life hopes to inspire and liberate others, setting them free to live an open, fully authentic life, free from the shame and fear of living with a secret.

The House Is Burning

It’s the 1950s and mounting political unrest consumes Rwanda. With fading monarchy, intensifying colonial rule and whispers of rebellion, countless native families find age-old traditions under attack.

For Abel A. Nkunda’s family, the shifting climate grows increasingly hostile. As powers vie for control around them, they face a painful choice: take flight to save all they cherish or stay to watch it burn.

Venturing into remote wilds in search of refuge, grandparents lead young Abel towards an uncertain future. With each step into the unknown, doubts arise. Can a foreign haven truly preserve their sacred cattle herding heritage from extinction?

Follow the Nkundas’ quest across a changing landscape where long-held customs blink at the brink. Will new mountains shelter this household from escalating threats? Or will the life they knew go up in smoke? Immerse yourself in one family’s struggle to find safe harbour for endangered livelihoods and identity before the house left behind is reduced to ashes.

Byron and the Kindness of Strangers

In 1938, at the tender age of eighteen months, Byron Stratford Davis, the author of this memoir, first set foot on British soil. Remarkably, from that moment, his memories crystallized with exceptional clarity, etching themselves permanently in his mind.His mother, with a German lover back in Hamburg, may or may not have come to England as a German spy. The decision of her true intent is left to the reader’s judgment. Raised in Scotland, his mother was far from the endearing or conventional figure one might wish for. By the age of eighteen months, Byron had already developed a deep mistrust of her, and by two, he had resolved to distance himself from her entirely. Hard to believe? That’s for you to judge! This tale unfolds in a modern Dickensian fashion, revealing its truths along the way.More than just a World War II story, this narrative is unique in its exploration of friendship and the profound impact of the City of Brighton. It’s not only a recounting of survival and self-discovery but also a love story and a heartfelt tribute to the city and its remarkable inhabitants who played a pivotal role in shaping and rescuing him.

A Dyslexic’s Battle

I am now over 80 and a working silversmith. I tell the story of my early life at the end of the Second World War and its aftermath of shortages and rationing. I continue with the great difficulty I had with reading and writing leading to my disastrous failures at school and my first employment as a scientific assistant in the nuclear industry. During my first job my life changed in two major ways while working for the Atomic Energy Research Establishment. Their very forward-looking attitude to further education allowed me to add more ‘O’ levels, including the very important English, but as importantly, during that time I got married and before long had a daughter as well. I then decided to make the leap and try to obtain a medical degree but with only very basic ‘O’ levels I would first have to gain higher qualifications. I left full time employment for a Technical College in an attempt to add the three ‘A’ levels required for admission to Medical School but this was of course complicated by having wife and young daughter. To support us during this time I worked as a toolmaker, chauffeur, gardener and eventually trained as a London Ambulance driver. This very tortuous journey eventually gained me a place at Guy’s Hospital Medical School. I continue the tale with a number of vignettes of life at Guy’s Hospital as a medical student and the many unusual ways I increased my income during my studentship. I cover the time spent after qualification as a houseman in other hospitals. I finish with life as a General Practitioner and in Medical Research where I gained a PhD. I found that the higher up the academic tree I climbed the less my dyslexia, which I discovered I had when a medical student, impinged on my work and life. As an aside I hope that any youngsters with dyslexia reading this account will take heart that being dyslexic is not the end of the world.

Riding Through the Storm

During World War Two, a young girl was seen around the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol riding her bike or a pony; climbing trees; building dens, playing with the ‘gang’ in Blaise Castle Woods, and a lot more besides! This seemingly carefree life had its darker side as the storm clouds of war thickened and broke overhead. Riding Through the Storm recalls the author’s life before, during and after the war. It is tinged with humour and remarkable occurrences and mirrors that time with insights into how people lived during those dark days. Nearly eighty years after the storm subsided, the full significance of what the author had lived alongside came to light and propelled this drama almost into the realms of make-believe!

Learning from Albi

Scruffy, deaf, and homeless, life on the streets is tough for young Albi. What could the future possibly hold for an abandoned Spanish Podenco puppy that has been hit by a car and can’t hear? Yet despite a traumatic start, Albi’s life changes when he is rescued, brought to the UK, and fostered by Lois Sinclair, founder of the rescue charity, Gracehounds, and a passionate dog lover who has shared her life and home with numerous canine companions. Before long, Lois and Albi’s lives become interwoven.

With Lois’s nursing background and Albi’s intuitive nature, the pair soon find themselves volunteering in the animal healthcare sector. Albi also develops a reputation as a transition dog, offering support to other dogs and their owners during times of loss.

But Albi is a free spirit. He also has health issues. And while his sensitive nature earns him many friends and admirers, there will be challenges ahead, including surgery. As Albi continues to enrich Lois’s life, questions remain. Albi may have found a forever home but can the love and hope which bind him and Lois sustain him? And does this unique animal have the strength to live the life that every dog deserves?

Milestone

Join Hugh on his hilarious adventures in the UK haulage industry in the 1970s and 80s. From securing his truck license on a disused airfield to traversing the country on colourful escapades, Hugh recounts rollicking tales with unforgettable characters.We follow Hugh through a whirlwind of trucking jobs, from the docks of Watchet to the remotest corners of Scotland. Laugh along as he fumbles his way as a rookie and gains wisdom from wizened veterans. Hugh sheds light on seldom-seen slices of British life, whether struggling through blizzards or protecting his virtue from overtures by an amorous Spanish policeman.With sharp wit and captivating storytelling, Hugh chronicles the trucker’s lot: gruelling but rewarding work peppered with uproarious mishaps and camaraderie. His adventures barrel on through faltering family businesses, runaway cargoes, and navigating narrow country lanes in oversized rigs. Hugh takes it all in stride, with plenty of hijinks along the way.Strap yourself in for a rollicking ride packed with distinctly British humour and characters so colourful you’ll never forget them. Hugh’s memoir offers a glimpse of a hard-working but light-hearted era through one intrepid trucker’s escapades on the road.