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American Coastguards, UNST & The B.P. Oily Blacks (1978)
A few stories encountered mainly in the 21st century as a result of working on construction sites. Humour, still having to deal with the good, the bad, and the nasty! 2018 saw the demise of one of the biggest players: Carillion. How many companies went into receivership like my old company? How many others in the 21st century? Was the philosophy Carillion followed replicated by the Post Office?
In 2023, in his autumn statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt highlighted receiving payment times by the big companies. I can remember those immortal words: ‘spell redundant’, ‘P45, boss’. The American eagles were just laid off! Subcontractors are worth more dead than alive.
£6.99 -
So Far So What!
In the engrossing memoir So Far So What!, Julian M. Watson takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the world of funeral directing, offering a candid and often humorous look at his experiences from 1976 to 1988. From his hesitant beginnings as a 26-year-old thrust into the family business to the poignant moments shared with grieving families, Watson’s narrative is both heartfelt and entertaining. As the great-great-grandson of the founder, he finds himself navigating the streets of ‘Ackney’ in a Rolls-Royce hearse, encountering challenges that range from comical to deeply moving.
Through Watson’s eyes, we witness the delicate balance between reverence for the departed and the practicalities of the trade. Whether he’s learning to drive a hearse with minimal instruction or facing the grim reality of a long-deceased body awaiting removal, each chapter is filled with moments that will linger in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed.
With a keen eye for detail and a sharp wit, Watson paints a vivid portrait of life beside the grave, introducing us to a colourful cast of characters who populate his world. From his diminutive yet wise Uncle Bob to the eccentric colleagues who share his profession, each person adds depth and dimension to the narrative, offering insights into the complexities of human nature and the bonds that unite us in both life and death.
So Far So What! is more than just a memoir—it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of laughter to illuminate even the darkest of times. Whether you’re a seasoned funeral director or simply curious about the inner workings of the industry, this book is sure to captivate and inspire. Join Julian M. Watson on a journey you won’t soon forget, and discover the extraordinary stories that lie within the world of undertakers.
£9.99 -
Visible Gold
The South Africa of the early nineties and especially the mining industry was known for its deep-seated racism. But for people working in the depths of those mines, there was a strong bond of respect and care. The truth of this is evident in the interactions described in this book.
Told by a man who toiled alongside both heroes and victims in the shadows below, these pages reveal what newspapers never could. Here are the unforgiving realities of rockfalls and explosions, but also the gentle heroism of those who helped each other survive. Any man might save or comfort another if disaster struck. Away from the apartheid sun, skin colour matters less than a colleague’s hands hauling you to safety.
South Africa is a land of unforgiving landscapes and merciless predators but is full of forgiving and gentle people who will prove to be its salvation. Nowhere shows this stark contrast more than the gold mines – at once negligent and nurturing, lethal and life-giving. These true stories deserve remembering, for they reveal hope and redemption glow in the darkest of places.
£9.99 -
Constellations and Consolations
Following the sudden death of her brother, a former chorister and a celebrated cabaret star, the author embarks on an extraordinary journey, geographical, spiritual and musical in her wish to understand the mystery of her brother’s soul.
From the Norfolk coast to the Baltic Sea, she follows the tides of ideas and music behind a pilgrim map that her brother had left for her and finds it is a route to peace and joy.
£14.99 -
La Metisse
Elizabeth’s tale begins in the colonial embrace of British India, 1936, where she was cradled in privilege and steeped in Christian tradition. At nineteen, she veered from the path expected of her, embarking on a bohemian chapter that defied her upbringing. Yet, the winds of change ushered in a period of stability when she married her soulmate. Embracing the joys and challenges of motherhood, Elizabeth raised eight children, overturning the preconceived notion ingrained since childhood that she would never work. Her life’s journey defied expectations, from a teenager’s rebellion to a dedication to family and work that spanned from the tender age of 16 to the seasoned age of 70.
£12.99 -
Memoirs of a Failure
Tormented by an impoverished childhood, plagued by incessant bullying, and damaged by an abusive and violent relationship. Homelessness and broke, following failure after, failure, how does someone find the strength to keep coming back?
£6.99 -
My Land of Counterpane or My Résumé
The author is a retired registered nurse who has published three previous works: I’m Not Allowed to Say is about her experience as an active duty army captain; At the Foot of Rawlins Mountain is a series of vignettes of life growing up on an island paradise; and Casualties of Life details her early childhood, nursing training and the vagaries of life. Although not part of a series, two of these books dealt with her early nursing training and experience. All three were published under the name J’nette C. Bryant. This current work is a comprehensive detail of her nursing career as viewed through the eyes of, and experienced by, an emigrant. It covers a wide variety of health care settings to include: nursing homes, private and public sectors, and military and veterans’ administration institutions.
The author has one daughter and lives in New York.
£9.99 -
Portraits of Potters Bar
As the title shows, it has two main subjects: WWII and Potters Bar – which is my hometown, almost but not quite a suburb of London. The global public already has extensive knowledge of WWII, yet the same cannot be said of Potters Bar. Outside Britain, there are probably no more than a few thousand people who have even heard of it. But for me it was the hub of the universe as I grew up – passing through childhood, then adolescence, eventually teetering on the brink of adulthood.
Not just battles and air-raids, victories and defeats – the hard stuff of war – all that’s common knowledge. But – the things we did against that ever-present background. At home, at school, as we started out in jobs. Falling in love – and out of it! In short, the way we lived our everyday lives and yes, in spite of continuous tragic realities, the fun we had – tremendous fun at times. My memories are still extremely vivid – albeit many of them a child’s eye view. Read all about it!
£9.99 -
Roger the Boxer
This book tells the story of the extraordinary life of a man from North London, from 1960 to 2020. He battles his way through life, mostly in a catastrophic manner. To the reader he openly admits his faults and mistakes, from violence, cocaine, sexual differences, prison, and to Northern Ireland and back to London.
Whilst reading this book you will feel joy, sorrow, then more joy. You will want to love him, hit him, then love him some more. It’s an enjoyable read for everyone to learn from his mistakes and understand how he turned his life around to success.
£8.99 -
The Best of Health
60 years ago, being a medical student entailed some hair-raising encounters in the course of training like giving a general anaesthetic without help or instruction, simply because you were the only help available; or assisting in emergency surgery when there was nobody else available.
Distinguished doctors thronged the corridors of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Long after the war there was still a vivid memory of Burma and Libya.Find out why an elderly theatre orderly hinted darkly at “a doctor who got to Dunkirk four days ahead of the field hospital team”. Get a new slant on the Penicillin story and read why the old NHS system in Edinburgh avoided “bed blockers”.
Here is an account of the almost explosive expansion of hospital medicine into ICUs – cardiac arrest teams, coronary care units, positive pressure ventilation, renal dialysis, etc. It was a time of medical progress and high morale.£9.99 -
The Growing Pains of a Colonial Boy
This book is the sequel to Peter Hunt’s memoir about his childhood entitled Child of a Bygone Era.
Born in Brighton in 1940, it was at the end of the war that his father, a chartered accountant, was sent to develop his company’s office in Hong Kong. There Peter lived with his parents and flourished until, at the age of seven, he was sent back to two boarding schools (preparatory and public) in post-war England.
This memoir continues the story of his life from his days at Trinity College, Dublin to a life in London in advertising and marketing through the 1960s and 1970s.
To give the reader an idea of the pleasure in reading this memoir, this is a quote from the publisher’s acceptance letter. “We can confidently state that your work was found to be a compelling memoir, full of fantastic takeaways the reader can benefit from. You have expressed your experiences in an incredibly emotive way, conjuring a strong sense of engagement in the reader… The exquisite writing style and honesty with which you detail your experiences make this story one that will intrigue many.
The author will be delighted if you receive the same pleasure from reading this book as the publisher would seem to have acquired.
£9.99 -
The Lump
‘The Lump’ started back in the 1950s and possibly even further back in Ireland whereby men worked many hours in tough conditions and were paid cash in hand thus avoiding payment of tax. Bricklaying was one of those trades where there was little in the way of mechanical assistance, as they either didn’t exist yet, or were expensive to hire. For example, elevators, forklift trucks and cranes. Often starting work at 6 am to have everything ready for the bricklayers to start at eight and finishing sometimes at 8 pm, it was down to the hod carriers to carry all the materials up a ladder. There were advantages to this way of life as you will see when reading this book.
£7.99