Recollections

Recollections takes you on a roller coaster tour of emotion, from darker subjects detailing the struggles of those marred by conflict and personal battles, to a light and humorous tone arising from everyday observations of life, which will resonate with all who read them.

Some of the poems address very personal challenges and will transport the reader into the lives of those struggling to cope with the emotional issues they face.

Readers who have experienced similar emotional journeys will recognise the battles that the topics encapsulate. Others address the lighter side of topics such as ageing.

Many of the poems are based on deeply emotional experiences and demonstrate the huge diversity of human emotion. Some will bring tears to your eyes, whilst others may result in a wry smile.

Take Me Home

When the train hit, we all felt it. Maybe not physically but with a tidal force that rapidly unearthed a pain that none of us were ready for. From Ghana to Ecuador, Benin to El Salvador, Lebanon to Taiwan, Gujarat to China, Burma to Kenya; we were wounded. This jolt of agony traveled in a variety of paths for each of us - text, phone call, social media, police visit, and in person. No matter what language each of us received the news, it didn’t seem tangible. "Nancy was dead." نانسي كانت ميتة Nancy était morte. નેન્સી મરી ગઈ હતી. Nancy estaba muerta. Nancy estaba muerta. 

In this riveting true story, join the journeys of these amazing young men and women who exhibit the fuel, grit, and chance to navigate and embrace the American dream. As they charge their wings from around the world and switch their life plans, they are able to surge forward through volts of triumph, tribulation, and tragedy. They have no evidence that their journey will land success. It's a plunge that most are unwilling to take. Yet in due time, it is exactly what they need to teach the world that learning a second language should always be considered an asset, and not a handicap.

If you have ever wondered "Why do people come to America?"
This book is for you.
If you have ever pondered "Should I go to America?"
This book is for you.

To all who are here, living and growing in this diverse land of beautiful stormy seas – this book is for you. 

The Bitterest PLC To Swallow

If you’ve ever worked in a pub, currently work in one, or simply have an interest in the history and evolution of pubs, Neil’s book is a must-read. In this insightful and entertaining memoir, Neil shares his experiences and observations about working in local estate pubs during a time when they were the heart and soul of their respective communities.

Through humorous anecdotes and blunt opinions, Neil highlights the many challenges faced by pub owners and workers in the modern era. From policies that leave him screaming to people who make him swear, Neil pulls no punches in his assessment of the pub industry.

The book also explores the transformation of local estate pubs into modern-day branded establishments, such as curry houses and convenience stores. Neil’s revelations are sure to surprise and shock readers, and may even cause them to question the value and quality of the food and drink they pay for in these establishments.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Neil takes readers on a trip down memory lane, revisiting the fun pubs of the 80s before they became bitter PLCs. Through Neil’s vivid storytelling, readers will laugh, cringe, and even taste the history of these once-beloved establishments.

In the end, Neil offers his take on what happened to pubs and what they have become. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and evolution of pubs, and may just make you think twice about where you choose to spend your hard-earned wages.

The Complete Response

Stanley lives life to the full--working hard, playing hard. In 2016, his life was turned upside down with a serious medical diagnosis; he had a stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread extensively to his liver and was inoperable. Many people might have given up but Stanley looked at the challenge of beating cancer with positivity. Stanley carried on working throughout the medical process ahead of him and developed his own strategy with the help of others around him and his life experiences. The plan of attack worked, which ultimately led to his survival and a complete response to treatment. No viable trace of the disease remained, a very rare 100% response. Stanley carried on living as before and is still free from cancer. The Complete Response will inspire anyone looking to overcome the unthinkable!

The Corridors of Hope

Author Eric Buhle Gumbi has penned a captivating memoir that delves into his personal encounters, both challenging and interesting, as he navigates various socio-political landscapes. The Corridors of Hope takes readers on a journey through the author’s youthful experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Through his narrative, Gumbi explores the people who have supported him along the way and how they have helped to redirect him towards success. Looking back on his childhood, the author identifies moments of both rise and fall, paying particular attention to his high school and socioeconomic endeavours that have kept the ball of life rolling.

With a keen eye for detail, Gumbi brings his personal history to life, weaving a compelling story that captures the complexities of growing up in a rapidly changing world. The Corridors of Hope is a powerful memoir that offers readers an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the author’s life.

The Jawbone of a Carnivore

The Jawbone of a Carnivore will fill your imagination with tales of adventure, friendship, eccentric people, success and failure, as well as encounters with life and death. While I explore the adventurous life and the pathway to peace that can come from it, I do not offer instructions on how to pray. I will encourage you to believe that the way we live can become a prayer. This memoir of life on the edge of the unknown trusts that you will strike out on your own audacious exploration of the world and the spirit that surrounds it. Perhaps, through this, you will identify your pathway to peace and in so doing find yourself saying on some cold and snowy morning, “This is a prayer.”

The Story of a Provincial Armenian Woman

‘Fel’ grows up in an Armenian province. What do we know about Armenia? A small Christian nation, locked between large powers, some of which are hostile. Preserving the Armenian culture is of paramount importance, but what is “culture”? As valuable as it is to the elder, the youth seek their own new values. This story is about an extraordinary young woman who struggled between respect for her country, love for her family and her own desire to be independent, preserve her self-esteem and live her ambitions. Through her eyes, we see what tensions a teenage girl in Armenia is subject to when she follows her own emotions and preferences. She takes the reader into her world filled with dilemmas, loyalty conflicts and confrontations. When her life story unfolds the reader is dragged into the astounding turmoil that results from her choices in life. Choices that are always inspired by her emotions, her personal principles and never-ending willpower to find respect, understanding and happiness, for herself and her loved ones.

This story is certainly an inspiration.

The Unknown Confidante

The true story of a woman who lost the most precious thing in her life because of another woman. Apparently, we can forgive as much as we are able to love, but I have found this is not always true.

Today, even after so much time has passed, and although I have accepted what happened to me, I still don't understand what it was supposed to teach me. I won't get the answers that would enlighten this darkness in the time I have left on this earth. I waited a decade for one of these answers, and I will wait even my entire lifetime for the other ones.

We All Came Through

How to survive? This is a story of grit, determination and faith between my father and mother. Despite being separated from my Dutch father for three long years of both being prisoners under the Japanese in the 2nd World War in Indonesia they managed to find each other and lived a fulfilling life. My English mum in her story describes her hardship in camp amongst mostly Dutch women with her baby daughter. My dad’s version writes about moving from camp to camp, the labour they had to endure and his efforts to find my mum after peace had been declared. They both held onto their belief that there would be a time that they would be reunited once this nightmare was over.  

Fear, Hunger and Hope

As World War II drew to a close, the German city of Goerlitz became divided along its river; the right bank assimilated into Communist Poland and the left bank into remaining Germany before eventually becoming part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).Christa-Sheila Duggal was born here a few years before, in 1937. She writes of her formative years under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party and how it impacted her and her family.As her family attempted to piece together their lives after the turmoil of the war, Duggal returned to school to a new message from teachers about the marvels of communism; her city by then was divided more than merely the river which ran through it.In Fear, Hunger and Hope, Duggal uses an intriguing blend of memories and anecdotes and a keen eye for historical fact to craft this fascinating memoir of a childhood lived in a turbulent, divided city. It is a truly unique, first-hand chronicle of 20th century history.

How he Robbed me of my Three Baby Daughters

My three daughters were aged between one and five when they were taken from me by their father. He had denied his relationship with the underage girl that he was involved with. When they were finally found out, and he had lost the teaching position that he loved, both he and the girl ran away together and no one knew where they had gone. My daughters and I were resettled into a bungalow in the Bolton area in Lancashire; unknown to me, their father found out where we were living. He turned up there unexpectedly one day and took my children from me. He told me that they were going on a four-week holiday, but it was seventeen years later that I saw my three daughters again. My daughters were brought up in Copenhagen by their father and the young girl who later had two sons by him.

My Friend the Horse

Alex Atock was born in Dublin in 1932 and graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland in 1958. His love for all things equine commenced as a small child and continued throughout his life. This book will take the reader through his veterinary life, from his initial years in general practice, to veterinary officer of the Irish Turf Club, head of the Veterinary Department of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), consultant to the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, and, finally, consultant to World Horse Welfare. The latter took him from the elite world of thoroughbred horse racing and international equestrian sport to assisting underprivileged working equines and their owners in developing countries.Throughout his time with the FEI, Alex worked closely with the European Union and was actively involved with the conception of FEI relations with World Horse Welfare, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the International Federation of Racing Authorities.