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!

If You Wake at Midnight

This is the story of the greatest scandal inflicted on British servicemen and women in modern times: drug-induced violence and suicide – and an officer determined to find the truth.

It was supposed to be a wonder drug that would save the world from malaria. But soon after Lariam was brought to international markets in the late 1980s, users of this handy, once-a-week pill began to experience shocking side-effects. Yet over the coming decades, as the drug became implicated in ever-increasing acts of unexplained violence, homicide and suicide, the Ministry of Defence continued to force Lariam on tens, or perhaps hundreds, of thousands of unsuspecting people deployed to some of the world’s most dangerous places.

Enduring years of Lariam-induced nightmares, former soldier Andrew Marriott realised something was horribly wrong; not just with the drug itself but with the institutions responsible for its use and safety. So began a journey towards the truth, a truth that vested interests in the United Kingdom and around the globe were determined to conceal.

In a unique exposé of an entirely preventable pharmaceutical disaster, Marriott turns a spotlight on the murky world of clandestine military and industrial research in the United States in which Lariam was developed. With other survivors, including some very courageous women, he undertakes a forensic examination of a scandal extending to the upper echelons of government and the armed forces. A culture of betrayal and dishonour had imperilled those defending our country to the most insidious and silent form of friendly fire.

If You Can't Take a Joke

The gates of RAF Swinderby were the entrance to an alien world in the eyes of a young man with no previous military experience, and arrival there came as a shock to the senses; a shock which the instructors did their level best to maximise, by giving every instruction and making every observation in an ear-splitting shriek that could melt earwax. From dawn until dusk there was no respite as a host of alien concepts were hammered into us from a variety of different sources, nor from dusk until midnight when we would be cleaning every nook and cranny of our barrack block until everything gleamed, although it never seemed to be shiny enough for the corporal or the sergeant.

Gradually though, the unfamiliar became familiar as those alien concepts sank in and stopped being alien, as we learned and toughened up, becoming the best we thought we could be, and then exceeded that and started to become as good as the instructors thought we could be; until we really learned how to take a joke.

I Will Protect Her

The cover of this autobiography shows I.R. Dujon at the time of publication mothering her younger, 6-year-old self.

I Will Protect Her details the adolescent years in which Ingrid was subject to tragic child abuse, while the people in charge of her welfare and safety neglected their most basic responsibilities at every point possible. This led to a prolonged period of suffering for her and for so many others. After years of fighting, a full criminal investigation into the crimes was relaunched. Victims were able finally to expose the police and local authorities for their systematic failure to recognise, report, and act upon avoidable and life-altering abuse.

The collation of notes, factual evidence, dates and times as recorded by herself and supported by many others affected, led to the prosecution of one of London’s most notorious paedophiles, who was convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Only now, after years of counselling, therapy, and personal development, Ingrid has managed to finally close this chapter of her life for good. Today Dujon is a proud mother of five children, all now adults. Dujon’s goal is to share her story and inspire any and everyone who has ever been subject to any form of abuse. Ingrid hopes to educate a wider audience who may not be familiar with the patterns and signs of child abuse, and to paint a detailed picture of how people who are external to an abusive situation can still do so much to prevent or change things for the better.

I Was a London Firefighter

What is a firefighter?
They are the person next door…
They are like you and me with warts and worries and unfulfilled dreams.
Yet they stand taller than most of us.

The latest book from author and retired fireman David Pike, I Was a London Firefighter is an anthology of factual narratives and fictional tales loosely based around the personal experiences of individual members of the London Fire Brigade. Ranging from the mid-19th century to the present day, the book includes direct reminiscences by former firefighters alongside descriptions of key historical figures like Massey Shaw, Sidney Gamble and Joe Milner. It takes in such subjects as the IRA’s 20'year bombing campaign in London and the changing status of female firefighters.
Running through the book is a series of gripping historical narratives subtitled ‘Yesteryear’s Fires’, depicting the heroic professionalism of firefighters confronted by truly harrowing disasters. Some of these remain all-too-familiar, such as the King’s Cross fire of 1987 which claimed the lives of 31 people; others, no less terrible, have faded into distant memory. The book ends with a fresh and compelling description of a horrifying tragedy that no one can have forgotten: 2017’s Grenfell Tower fire.
I Was a London Firefighter shares with David’s previous works – Beyond the Flames, London Firefighters and Fire-Floats and Fireboats – a careful and comprehensive approach to historical research, an eye for striking and unusual narrative details and an understated humour. Above all, it shows an unwavering appreciation of and empathy for the concerns and drives of the ordinary firefighter, born of David’s own experiences as a fireman.

I Stand Amazed...

On June 1^st, 2013, my mum, Dee, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This book documents our family’s battle against the disease, our hopes, our dreams and our love.

I Promise I’ll Make You Happy

The hardest part about being in an abusive relationship is both realising and recognising that you are. 

A narcissist is extremely clever at preventing their victim from discovering exactly what lies behind (or beneath?) their mask. This can lead to years of being trapped in a toxic relationship. 

You know that something isn’t right, that something is not normal but the narcissist’s use of clever manipulation stops you from knowing what this is.

By telling my story I will help you to reach an understanding of what you have been, or are, going through and why. By reading my journey of discovery that my relationship was nothing but an illusion and why, will help you to recover from the trauma of being entangled with a narcissist.

You will finally learn that it was not your fault and that you were not to blame for everything that was wrong in your relationship. 

Discover how to be finally free in mind, body and spirit.

*Learn *Understand *Accept *Heal *Recover

But most of all, start to love yourself again and move on with your life narcissist free.

I Don't Like Your Kids (And Other Things I'm Afraid to Admit)

Ever wonder why Mormons have extreme road rage or why dating a cop is like playing Russian Roulette? Perhaps you are confused as to why you need to shave your butt or how viewing pornography will turn you into a serial killer. Luckily for you, Laura LeBrun answers all this and more with the wisdom of a woman who has been there and has your back! Not for the faint of heart, this book was written to make you laugh while educating you on the horrors of everyday life.

I Do Not Want a Fish Finger Sandwich

Being shown the private convenience of the Queen of England in The House of Commons was not the career highlight that Viv had expected.  A dazzling profession as a Prima Ballerina had been her plan but having two legs of the same length and width would appear to be a pretty strong prerequisite for a successful livelihood in that arena, not to mention a couple of ballet lessons at least. 

What did happen along the way were a random selection of activities which were not anticipated either:

• Inter-store “It’s a Knockout” on Cable TV
• Jumping the queue at the Austria/Slovakian Border Control
• Attempted mugging in Bratislava
• A West Highland White disgrace on National TV
• Acquiring a temporary Iranian Bodyguard
• Drinking schnapps in an isolated house in Eskilstuna

LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE MAKING PLANS

I Believe in Angels

Elaine Lloyd was born in Manchester, into a loving family with three siblings; Ken, Debbie, and Christine, and a poodle, Skippy. She had a happy childhood except for natural, occasional rows with her siblings.
Elaine is a happy, pleasant person with a sunny outlook on life with a tendency to play the “dizzy blond”, but she never wanted to change. Her parents provided a happy environment in which their children could feel, and were, safe.
Oddly, Elaine first saw her husband-to-be, Neil, at Conway, when she was only ten years old and she told her Mum then that she would marry him one day … and she did!
So, having made such a prediction, you will not be surprised to discover that from an early age she revealed other amazing attributes. She could see, hear and speak to those in the spirit world... and it didn't frighten her, she felt at peace and blessed. It seemed to Elaine, that these events were normal. At that point in her life, she had not realised that her “gifts” were not present in all people. She could hear the angels, talk to them, see and feel their presence.
She and her husband were immensely happy, with the occasional blip that occurs in all relationships. They both worked hard and were able to provide their family with a happy home and lots of love, However, one dark day, Neil was suddenly taken ill and was rushed to hospital coughing up blood. All four of this happy family suffered a dreadful time, that changed their lives for ever.

I Became Speechless and Immobile

I Became Speechless and Immobile tells the powerful and inspiring story of Mary, a woman whose life is forever changed by a sudden stroke. A seasoned traveller with a zest for life, Mary sets off on a holiday to her ancestral home, filled with excitement and anticipation. But when she arrives, her world is turned upside down as she collapses without warning, leaving her incapacitated and fighting for survival.

Through her journey of recovery, Mary shares her struggles and triumphs as she learns to navigate the physical, emotional, and mental challenges that come with living with a stroke. With her moving account of determination and resilience, Mary’s story is a must-read for anyone affected by this devastating condition. Not just a tale of overcoming adversity, this book also serves as a reminder to act immediately if you feel detached from your surroundings and a guide for those who want to learn survival tips. Be prepared for a powerful and emotional journey as you follow Mary’s story of hope and triumph over one of life’s most difficult challenges.

I Am Thilda

It is the summer of 2019 when Thilda’s world falls apart. The pain in her leg is not growing pains, but in fact a rare form of cancer. The revelation is followed by a period of operations and tough cancer treatments. She is forced to accept a new reality: trips to hospitals, treatments, and unbearable pain. But suddenly, something unexpected occurs. A chance encounter at her hospital leads to an unexpected friendship. Thilda begins to paint, take pictures, selfies, and talk about her days with her new friends. The result is a moving book about a unique young girl’s journey with cancer, about her family’s unfailing support, and a strong bond of friendship.