tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36671039135332460772024-02-19T02:04:00.150+00:00Life's a (Shoreham) beachTo follow this blog please visit LizCoward.comLiz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-8967718772467466792019-05-09T06:06:00.000+01:002019-05-09T06:06:32.147+01:00WW2 Literary Evening on Blood and Bandages with Jane's SG Tours Excuse the breity of this blog. I'm in the middle of tweaking tomorrow's talk <a href="https://janestours.sg/upcomingtours/2019/5/10/a-ww2-themed-literary-evening-in-seletar" target="_blank">on Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946, </a>and time's running out.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a> was launched in England in April 2017 in front of family, friends, and representatives from the<a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank"> Museum of Military Medicine</a>, <a href="https://www.italystarassociation.org.uk/" target="_blank">Italy Star Association</a> and the <a href="http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/index.shtml" target="_blank">Queen's Royal Surrey regiment. </a></i></div>
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Tomorrow's talk will be slightly different from the one I gave at the <a href="https://www.amclub.org.sg/" target="_blank">American Club</a> earlier this year. This time, I'll be setting the talk in the context of WW2 in Europe and the Mediterranean so it's easier to place William Earl's unique story as a nursing orderly in the Royal Army Medical Corps, in the global conflict. I'll also be showing extracts of William's interviews. There is nothing more powerful than hearing what it was like from someone who was there. I am always moved by his words.<br />
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<i>Pte William Earl, 214th Field Ambulance RAMC.</i></div>
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<i>Italy, 1943</i></div>
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<i>William (back row - far right) with his great friend, Frank Allen (back row - far left) Frank was captured after a disasterous night mission into No Man's Land which affected William badly.</i></div>
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<i>North Africa, April 1943.</i></div>
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<i>William, traumatised and alone after surviving the blood-bath at Anzio.</i></div>
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<i> Egypt, March 1944</i></div>
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<i>Peace is declared. William (back row - far right) and his comrades in the 214th Field Ambulance in St Mark's Square. </i></div>
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<i>Venice, May 1945</i></div>
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<i>Mary Earl. William returned to his beloved wife, Mary, after three years service abroad.</i></div>
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<i>London, July 1945.</i></div>
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William is now 103 but on 12th May will turn 104. Happy Birthday dearest Bill. <br />
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<i>William at </i><i><a href="https://warandpeacerevival.com/" target="_blank">War and Peace Revival</a></i><i>. He's never lost his eye for a pretty girl. </i></div>
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<i> Kent, England, July 2018</i></div>
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Finally, thanks to <a href="https://anza.org.sg/" target="_blank">ANZA</a> for their great article on Blood and Bandages in this month's <a href="https://anza.org.sg/2019/05/01/anza-magazine-may-2019/" target="_blank">ANZA magazine.</a><br />
If you would like to attend tomorrow's talk, please p<a href="https://janestours.sg/upcomingtours/2019/5/10/a-ww2-themed-literary-evening-in-seletar" target="_blank">urchase tickets here.</a><br />
Thanks for dropping by and see you next week.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-59391789618664704842019-04-25T06:16:00.001+01:002019-04-26T07:44:21.186+01:00Time to WriteThis week, I've been updating the course notes for <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/events/1093/" target="_blank">Time to Write.</a><br />
Time to Write is a creative writing course designed for new, aspiring or rusty writers. It's intense and fun and starts on Tuesday 30th April at the <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/" target="_blank">American Association of Singapore.</a><br />
Over the course of three weeks, students will reacquaint themselves with their creative side and develop ideas in a supportive and helpful environment.<br />
I've met so many people who have said, "I'd love to write, but can't."<br />
What they really mean is, "I can't write a best-seller," or, "I don't have the confidence," or worse still, "I'm talentless and unimaginative." What has caused their passion to be crushed? It's only a pigeon step from that corrosive attitude, to the admonishment of desire and abandonment of ambition.<br />
Do other creatives do this? Are there thousands of amateur singers, actors, musicians or artists who have disenfranchised themselves because they will never reach professional status? The plethora of amateur dramatic societies, art classes and choirs answers that. So why do amateur writers do it?<br />
Is it because at school we can fail in creative writing?<br />
Is it because we assume that every book, play or poem is a first draft, not the 10th, 20th or 30th?<br />
Is it because writing is private, so few understand the motivation and process?<br />
Is it because success is not rated in our ability to touch, but our ability to earn?<br />
Is it because we have crushed our passion with the weight of an endless 'to do' list?<br />
Whatever the reason, this self-harm should cease.<br />
Everyone with a passion to write, needs to be:-<br />
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<ul>
<li>encouraged, </li>
<li>taken seriously, </li>
<li>given permission to write,</li>
<li>the tools to improve,</li>
<li>the right to try, and fail, repeatedly. </li>
</ul>
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This is the raison d'etre for courses like <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/events/1093/" target="_blank">Time to Write</a>. Indeed, on day one, I will tell my students that we are all creative beings and everyone has an immense imagination. That will be followed by four hours of creating story ideas and characters. Having experienced the intense power and originality of their own imaginations, the students can only advance. Advance towards a more confident and less self-critical future where they don't have to prove they're a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare" target="_blank">Shakespeare</a> before allowing themselves time to write.<br />
Turning to sometime completely different, thank you for all the wonderful comments on last week's blog. For those who missed it, it was the story of how our garden changed from this...<br />
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<i> January 2018</i></div>
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to this. <br />
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<i>April 2019</i></div>
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I'll be back again next week when I'll update you on the course and tell you about the forthcoming <a href="https://janestours.sg/upcomingtours/2019/5/10/a-ww2-themed-literary-evening-in-seletar" target="_blank">book talk.</a></div>
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Thanks for dropping by.</div>
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Ta-ra.</div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-55983638148707371852019-04-17T07:51:00.003+01:002019-05-17T09:34:31.854+01:00Latest news from SingaporeI've been gone too long! The rate of blog posts has nose-dived because it's taking longer to adapt to expat life than I'd hoped. However, I've taken myself in hand and that's all changing so today, I want to share some news.<br />
I've been asked to teach creative writing for the <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/" target="_blank">American Association of Singapore.</a> The course is called <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/events/1093/" target="_blank">Time to Write </a>and starts on 30th April.<br />
Its been written with aspiring and lapsed writers in mind and over three weeks, I'll be touching on how to write fiction, how to approach non-fiction and teaching workshopping skills. It's an intensely practical, low-tech course and the students will have to shed their inhibitions and dive straight in. I'm just adding the finishing touches to the course material and will let you know how it's going next week. In the meantime, if you fancy joining up, <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/events/1093/" target="_blank">book here.</a> I guarantee you won't regret it.<br />
The second bit of news is that <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages </a>is doing well over here despite its focus on the war in Europe. I had feared that a story set against one of WW2's most neglected campaigns, the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/italian-campaign" target="_blank">Italian Campaign</a>, would sink without trace in SE Asia. Not so. It's being bought by English, Australians, Canadians, Dutch and Singaporeans. Popular glossy magazine, <a href="https://expatliving.sg/" target="_blank">ExPat Living</a> wants to sell them and I'm collaborating with <a href="https://janestours.sg/" target="_blank">Jane's Tours SG</a>, an award-winning travel company, to present a l<a href="https://janestours.sg/upcomingtours/2019/5/10/a-ww2-themed-literary-evening-in-seletar" target="_blank">iterary evening on Blood and Bandages</a><span id="goog_269563584"></span><span id="goog_269563585"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> on 10th May. If you would like to hear about the extraordinary work of the Royal Army Medical Corps during WW2<a href="https://janestours.sg/upcomingtours/2019/5/10/a-ww2-themed-literary-evening-in-seletar" target="_blank"> book here.</a><br />
The event is being held at our home so thank goodness our garden project is almost done.<br />
You may remember the photos I posted when we first moved in. If not, they showed a pretty colonial bungalow in the middle of a field.<br />
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<i> Not a plant in sight.</i></div>
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We felt the absence of a garden keenly, so when Richard received his annual bonus, a portion was set aside for landscaping. </div>
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The remit was to create a pretty garden which gave us privacy, shade, points of interest and colour. Our hard-working and imaginative garden guru, Benson Ang from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Chwee-Nursery-1236295753101575/posts/" target="_blank">Chwee Nursery</a> commenced work in January. </div>
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Stage one focused on creating privacy. </div>
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<i>A Eugenia hedge screened us from the road.</i></div>
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<i>Yellow palms disrupted the view from the path to the bedrooms. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSPLsdaaeo0pJ6aiXw308DVk0DNhuPua3pkSboFOpWrQIhOq71aFJrVcQhVqP7PxiklJd7GQgVAXQYxzW-6V6pLOqUUeKeBaU8cC-B3rZFRLaEP7oB3pFVCkRGJEbU9HyIzTl7QWb6U-Y/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSPLsdaaeo0pJ6aiXw308DVk0DNhuPua3pkSboFOpWrQIhOq71aFJrVcQhVqP7PxiklJd7GQgVAXQYxzW-6V6pLOqUUeKeBaU8cC-B3rZFRLaEP7oB3pFVCkRGJEbU9HyIzTl7QWb6U-Y/s640/IMG_1692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sadly, I have forgotten the name of these trees but they provided privacy on our other boundary which bordered a public footpath.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFp3rvIx5mEQPXZYvjgVriSaXk8mxK-hFHclTyHYDj9qTEissx_hkac-oqffD2SCWRgYq7n1NhHb_tHWiHJR2rBZAcMlS3Ose2sC68skvCb-EyfPyRP8plx1SfBdbt1eJPIdYUVMtSwu7/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFp3rvIx5mEQPXZYvjgVriSaXk8mxK-hFHclTyHYDj9qTEissx_hkac-oqffD2SCWRgYq7n1NhHb_tHWiHJR2rBZAcMlS3Ose2sC68skvCb-EyfPyRP8plx1SfBdbt1eJPIdYUVMtSwu7/s640/IMG_1686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A line of Heliconia Bihai was added behind the trees to add more screening and colour.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8TvlarMUpWAQyLBN62dc1mBRTsmgadClM-V1W4NqGcu5fcXVtRxKH6IewXl3ldfn6E7McivZ94GvKsHYXA8A7S0DVcyBQ7kgz5zJxaAkXD7v4dyJ6DBU6xEYZKXm2312EwX6DStKYo5t/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8TvlarMUpWAQyLBN62dc1mBRTsmgadClM-V1W4NqGcu5fcXVtRxKH6IewXl3ldfn6E7McivZ94GvKsHYXA8A7S0DVcyBQ7kgz5zJxaAkXD7v4dyJ6DBU6xEYZKXm2312EwX6DStKYo5t/s640/IMG_1672.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="text-align: start;">The piece de resistance was the tree lined path which added a delicate oriental feel. </span>Their branches will eventually join to form a shady green corridor.</i></div>
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With the privacy almost in place, we moved onto stage two.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIzW1SwWbGPjPtOmKphex9LcDhBAT4DnR4-7LxXK-sFBNCa6gsBXSeD4uGNQiG513Nk8SJqHirGsxQT_uqv5EycpeDbBsCyomHNTaZiJcbxwsAnAOT32LJcEypqpOd5xbhQcd-v77q3pp/s1600/IMG_1760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIzW1SwWbGPjPtOmKphex9LcDhBAT4DnR4-7LxXK-sFBNCa6gsBXSeD4uGNQiG513Nk8SJqHirGsxQT_uqv5EycpeDbBsCyomHNTaZiJcbxwsAnAOT32LJcEypqpOd5xbhQcd-v77q3pp/s640/IMG_1760.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Yellow palms were added in front of the study window to create symmetry. <span style="text-align: justify;">I love looking onto these when I'm working. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ocUZLz1oalyFxMJfzA8j8W5BnLzcCAsJ459mAlknZyUYAuWl5T4cMlQqXSorHxQTWbgTAuRd3URxDE2866uyWRKPY62ahMAUZEUgVirjS1KX87mxK_Itc3o4DJx8RhT1_A4zruO19ua5/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ocUZLz1oalyFxMJfzA8j8W5BnLzcCAsJ459mAlknZyUYAuWl5T4cMlQqXSorHxQTWbgTAuRd3URxDE2866uyWRKPY62ahMAUZEUgVirjS1KX87mxK_Itc3o4DJx8RhT1_A4zruO19ua5/s640/IMG_1875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>A patio was laid in the back garden so we had a firm base upon which to put our dining table and chairs. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSY2W8zo-ZI0NwQ8ZbHfjlXs4XKkSEyjpXvsexT_irOCy46GE3RqX9Mz8nJOH2yApVOVQnlWXJ5bPVKFyCP7eZzInMdjlMziWtbvk3Kpx19G0qU-_xpyuZtNGrSH1gRnb9ZOVNTSj2mTc/s1600/IMG_1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSY2W8zo-ZI0NwQ8ZbHfjlXs4XKkSEyjpXvsexT_irOCy46GE3RqX9Mz8nJOH2yApVOVQnlWXJ5bPVKFyCP7eZzInMdjlMziWtbvk3Kpx19G0qU-_xpyuZtNGrSH1gRnb9ZOVNTSj2mTc/s640/IMG_1695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>At the same time, we treated ourselves to some new outdoor furniture, of which Richard is obviously thrilled.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra9D1YsRLXSFWZEx9l7BWss4Be2JdfWvgC4o8GCAntTiXM9pifhyFMj9as5CLNNpVYg_tzBSZSMz4PHecppB05Ul6rdYuMDNNUC6vLnSvZVgSK7Lqy6bu-NO27vCk6spTgoTQLZEXgaRG/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra9D1YsRLXSFWZEx9l7BWss4Be2JdfWvgC4o8GCAntTiXM9pifhyFMj9as5CLNNpVYg_tzBSZSMz4PHecppB05Ul6rdYuMDNNUC6vLnSvZVgSK7Lqy6bu-NO27vCk6spTgoTQLZEXgaRG/s640/IMG_2314.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Finally, a range of colourful plants and tree orchids framed the path, the path upon which </i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>I hope to welcome 20 guests from <a href="https://janestours.sg/" target="_blank">Jane's Tour's</a> on 10th May. </i></span></div>
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Stage two is now finished so it's time to move onto the final section, the construction </div>
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of a water feature and the addition of wind chimes. I can't wait to see it come together. </div>
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Well it's time to go now but I've enjoyed this catch-up.</div>
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I'll be blogging more regularly from now on because I have to start following the advice I'll be giving my students on <a href="https://www.aasingapore.com/events/1093/" target="_blank">Time to Write.</a> To be a good writer you have to read and write constantly. </div>
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Thanks for dropping by. Ta-ra. </div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-1583871590503607772018-08-10T08:29:00.001+01:002018-08-10T08:29:26.615+01:00Thoughts on expat life in Singapore and an update on Blood and Bandages.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Life as an expat is mixed. </div>
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You have the excitement of sights that broaden your mind...</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8ztRqvnip7op4F0I2bfvEBnfwLv4hSIJEpClY_7oKwh5t1wVXV-tLZ4nX6CE1vr2tBItczeLNNAHJxd26Lr_8gEYMFr-1-o1s90VMMLtWRxcx-eI2bPn9NtKflPYQ6mfqE26XNBbUP4Q/s1600/IMG_6393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8ztRqvnip7op4F0I2bfvEBnfwLv4hSIJEpClY_7oKwh5t1wVXV-tLZ4nX6CE1vr2tBItczeLNNAHJxd26Lr_8gEYMFr-1-o1s90VMMLtWRxcx-eI2bPn9NtKflPYQ6mfqE26XNBbUP4Q/s640/IMG_6393.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interactive space exhibit at the <a href="https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html#yVy4u7jVjBvyDMJx.97" target="_blank">ArtScience Museum</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCE9vD67mBSYDUVJ1GWvjb8gTfvhuOYh3HJ6RQbMvpDi4xLnSn6E0fNgyLr4fjrmNVKP2LpbnncjMYUkgma79Ud2ylw_L_CHMwO0VGRipPJQVlkcg2mpLPk1Y-qn6iHJ9PDSELYqEliKU/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCE9vD67mBSYDUVJ1GWvjb8gTfvhuOYh3HJ6RQbMvpDi4xLnSn6E0fNgyLr4fjrmNVKP2LpbnncjMYUkgma79Ud2ylw_L_CHMwO0VGRipPJQVlkcg2mpLPk1Y-qn6iHJ9PDSELYqEliKU/s640/IMG_1716.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/attractions/supertree-grove/facts-and-figures.html" target="_blank">Supertrees Grove at Gardens by the Bay</a></td></tr>
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challenge your faith...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrex36ULms6VeG_IRPU56nBgeFL53Mh2joV9k57LWyNiztX4QWaMUcO4ewlpkwDbKdGXdqHo7RfWeSb2-ilCDavA-8t-mCv0P6zai1SpyqkoQCBo_sbCMoGCYp1NB6a2y9U9dDyDPXqFQ/s1600/IMG_7875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrex36ULms6VeG_IRPU56nBgeFL53Mh2joV9k57LWyNiztX4QWaMUcO4ewlpkwDbKdGXdqHo7RfWeSb2-ilCDavA-8t-mCv0P6zai1SpyqkoQCBo_sbCMoGCYp1NB6a2y9U9dDyDPXqFQ/s640/IMG_7875.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devotees in the <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/thaipusam/" target="_blank">Thaipusam </a>procession, a Hindu festival in honour of Lord Subramaniam</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkLkBO7tNmEX6xyR03mNTB_GHAoYA3RnVpgTiwmiA4OdaE0OG-4jkpyYSBcFxjDpV60_wwcWTMu522e29ACNKqS9S9JzW1OCZG9iHcpWEw3w7VUDnLcTzOQ9WgU84L6l0-TnOH3k_R3Aw/s1600/IMG_9591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkLkBO7tNmEX6xyR03mNTB_GHAoYA3RnVpgTiwmiA4OdaE0OG-4jkpyYSBcFxjDpV60_wwcWTMu522e29ACNKqS9S9JzW1OCZG9iHcpWEw3w7VUDnLcTzOQ9WgU84L6l0-TnOH3k_R3Aw/s640/IMG_9591.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">An altar at Singapore's oldest Chinese temple, <a href="http://thianhockkeng.com.sg/site/" target="_blank">Thian Hock Keng,</a> dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea</td></tr>
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transfix...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvznHgDxGR9lFJoELDVE3AzY2EIv67Il0c_pvwrEWI5GlyqYsWcz_ixRHndLg88019_y3izDm5bFsZ3XUxM_4JQWhN5J7soueRUycdtLTaLDPbpOHDM8illwAcUHn8-wlmFFA0BEEx4eK/s1600/IMG_7974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvznHgDxGR9lFJoELDVE3AzY2EIv67Il0c_pvwrEWI5GlyqYsWcz_ixRHndLg88019_y3izDm5bFsZ3XUxM_4JQWhN5J7soueRUycdtLTaLDPbpOHDM8illwAcUHn8-wlmFFA0BEEx4eK/s640/IMG_7974.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene from the <a href="http://www.buddha-images.com/vessantara-jataka.asp" target="_blank">Vessantra Jataka</a>, a Buddist tale of perfect generosity on a <a href="https://burmesesilver.blogspot.com/p/introduction.html" target="_blank">Burmese silver </a>offering bowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiXrCWtiu1XLswDJA3vSwUB5AChjJK72fPBTLA07falft7TDgtfTZVZ6FNF8RqCNSUAggToGiSjzhCoqzVDPG9zUJwjiA5yC6NsLCqWZm_Az0BILlTsB3CPxQSR_tkQBmPi1BwG3WoRgx/s1600/IMG_9377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiXrCWtiu1XLswDJA3vSwUB5AChjJK72fPBTLA07falft7TDgtfTZVZ6FNF8RqCNSUAggToGiSjzhCoqzVDPG9zUJwjiA5yC6NsLCqWZm_Az0BILlTsB3CPxQSR_tkQBmPi1BwG3WoRgx/s640/IMG_9377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a fish stall at the <a href="http://www.singapore-guide.com/food-dining/tekka-centre.htm" target="_blank">Tekka Centre</a> in <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/places-to-see/little-india/" target="_blank">Little India</a></td></tr>
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shame...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVq2ytISICehLZ7ZzxkySDSQ3OkLRKsUiS5Agwb5b68nEFT8rXRpLDLoBGULc8u72Amj6W5gU36m8O-BMitaQoqEfrGn8nmPiRcuziTkiOqdhEI3E5UVSP5_R9xbtk68ZHnJn8AspbImZ/s1600/IMG_9781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVq2ytISICehLZ7ZzxkySDSQ3OkLRKsUiS5Agwb5b68nEFT8rXRpLDLoBGULc8u72Amj6W5gU36m8O-BMitaQoqEfrGn8nmPiRcuziTkiOqdhEI3E5UVSP5_R9xbtk68ZHnJn8AspbImZ/s640/IMG_9781.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second World War graves at <a href="http://www.ghettosingapore.com/kranji-war-memorial/" target="_blank">Kranji War Cemetery</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7JZaTkF9Fr2qepE5eQuc6WyYOz29AduxPGKfP2Qj_8A461n1hP96b4-NIWfA7wQrbtQCS1JxM5-MLlMiZxcgAawpMcfEvwVjYz9DV2nkeyejAFtUSOZF91JbPIFHnX1EwXBvOSnY29nG/s1600/IMG_9468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7JZaTkF9Fr2qepE5eQuc6WyYOz29AduxPGKfP2Qj_8A461n1hP96b4-NIWfA7wQrbtQCS1JxM5-MLlMiZxcgAawpMcfEvwVjYz9DV2nkeyejAFtUSOZF91JbPIFHnX1EwXBvOSnY29nG/s640/IMG_9468.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punggol beach, one of the sites used by the Japanese army to massacre Chinese males during <a href="http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/d0523464-3a43-4520-a864-f195a8aef418" target="_blank">Operation Sook Ching</a> (Feb 1942)</td></tr>
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and surprise.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN7f1o_leS4qrIi4aQqVjc09k9qK5zk5Vj8vD7xSVnR1eJ6Ocy98jMsPFJ3uJBk5mWjwXVb45crxzEvWPZYK7V7xADm6bxyrRZDvrLKb9kwrWO64_Slcs7fQLUG9jf9FodxjyXRCPi_Rh/s1600/IMG_9902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN7f1o_leS4qrIi4aQqVjc09k9qK5zk5Vj8vD7xSVnR1eJ6Ocy98jMsPFJ3uJBk5mWjwXVb45crxzEvWPZYK7V7xADm6bxyrRZDvrLKb9kwrWO64_Slcs7fQLUG9jf9FodxjyXRCPi_Rh/s640/IMG_9902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti wall art in <a href="https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/guide-to-haji-lane-singapore-where-to-shop-eat-and-grab-a-drink-in-the-hipster-neighbourhood/" target="_blank">Haji Lane,</a> Kampong Glam<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Upon arrival, we were embraced by the English speaking expat community and automatically included by dint of being there. It's a community which includes, English, American, Australian and Dutch, all of whom make up part of a tiny minority (1-3%) of the population of Singapore. Whilst the welcome was warm and generous, membership of such a group</span><span style="font-size: small;"> has its drawbacks. Most of the clothes shops don't cater for our size and we have to be wise to the view that expats are made of money and charged accordingly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> The expat community is also a transitory one as many postholders are on two or three-year fixed term contracts. Even a permanent job </span><span style="font-size: small;">doesn't equate to greater security as it's entirely dependant upon maintaining the vital Employment Pass. If you fall out with your boss, suffer a long-term sickness or are daft enough to abuse the police, it can be removed. If it's removed, so are you, </span><span style="font-size: small;">no matter how settled you are or how critical the school year. Worse still</span><span style="font-size: small;">, </span><span style="font-size: small;">if the Employment Pass holder dies, the remaining dependants are given a month to leave the country.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> S</span><span style="font-size: small;">uch a precarious existance is uncomfortable. You become acutely aware of the need to keep healthy and to follow the rules. Perhaps that's the reason why expats don't tend to jaywalk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> On a deeper level, being in the minority forces you to confront some national traits, one of which is the Britain <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class_in_the_United_Kingdom" target="_blank">class system.</a> From an early age, we are made aware that a person's class, and therefore his rightful place in society, is defined by, amongst other things, accent, education, wealth and family. As we get older, we can also detect if someone has moved between classes, fallen on hard times or has illusions of grandeur. Such behaviour will invite comment and, most likely, condemnation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> The British class system does not matter</span><span style="font-size: small;"> a fig if you are jostling for space within a tiny minority. If you try to hold onto it you are likely to become irrelevant or even considered an oddity. In an expat community where everyone is struggling to adapt</span><span style="font-size: small;">, you are seldom judged. If you are, it'll be on the basis of how friendly, supportive, generous and open-minded you are. Hence, as a British expat, we do well to abandon our innate instinct to judge and classify people. New country, new rules. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> And now for something completely different, <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a>, the tour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Our first outing was to the <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/" target="_blank">Imperial War Museum London </a>where we spent the afternoon signing books and chatting to visitors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">William and I at the Meet the Author event at IWM-London</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKb7X_PZFXPVByL4doj2qsG5GPtzYcp7qTFG7L3dsYh1Eqolb0q0yo0ZclK19qnrs_zMchERSC3GOGQvof_NYqFkqlYLulksnDJzKmAKYSrGbmpPtkHooee4fDxTpV0uZFvCmi1RNY8wm/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKb7X_PZFXPVByL4doj2qsG5GPtzYcp7qTFG7L3dsYh1Eqolb0q0yo0ZclK19qnrs_zMchERSC3GOGQvof_NYqFkqlYLulksnDJzKmAKYSrGbmpPtkHooee4fDxTpV0uZFvCmi1RNY8wm/s640/IMG_0526.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">William's energy never flagged as he shared his WW2 experiences with overseas visitors</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A week later saw us at the <a href="https://warandpeacerevival.com/" target="_blank">War and Peace Revival. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> We were in the <a href="https://warandpeacerevival.com/authors-pavilion/" target="_blank">Author's Pavilion</a> alongside writers and celebrities like <a href="http://www.rusty-firmin.com/about-us.html" target="_blank">Rusty Firmin</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPLKa_UiwkY" target="_blank">Professor Andrew Robertshaw </a>and <a href="https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/2018/05/elaine-everest-wartime-at-woolworths/" target="_blank">Elaine Everest.</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;">The camaraderie was wonderful but what I found most touching was the respect shown to William particularly by ex-army veterans, like <a href="http://www.alanbarryauthor.com/about-alan-barry/" target="_blank">Alan Barry</a>, </span><span style="font-size: small;">ex-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenadier_Guards" target="_blank">Grenadier Guard </a>and</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Rusty Firmin ex-<a href="http://www.eliteukforces.info/parachute-regiment/" target="_blank">SAS Parachute Regiment</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines" target="_blank">Commando RA</a>, whose role in the Iranian Embassy siege was made into the film,<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/03/6-days-review-jamie-bell-iranian-embassy-siege-hostage" target="_blank"> 6 Days.</a></span><br />
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Alan Barry thanking William for the role the <a href="https://www.casematepublishing.co.uk/blood-and-bandages.html" target="_blank">214th Field Ambulance</a> played at <a href="http://www.italystarassociation.org.uk/history/monte-camino-the-first-battle-5th-november-1943/" target="_blank">Mount Camino, Italy, Nov 1943</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOirQ0c4C0Bp2RbrTswTbP-TLio9bXqSB5ps8Oqd97cx2gqiiALlbDu8n7PiBrbpZtkM5W2xqPeZkHjzMZnuLltpkN5Q8OAny-2xiZyFE0rhE9iqlye0zPfzTnvGiHW5HhxHlmvmjgPUT/s1600/fullsizeoutput_368f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOirQ0c4C0Bp2RbrTswTbP-TLio9bXqSB5ps8Oqd97cx2gqiiALlbDu8n7PiBrbpZtkM5W2xqPeZkHjzMZnuLltpkN5Q8OAny-2xiZyFE0rhE9iqlye0zPfzTnvGiHW5HhxHlmvmjgPUT/s640/fullsizeoutput_368f.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rusty and William chatting at the end of a long day</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> There were so many memorable moments but one I shall never forget was when William wheeled himself over to meet the other WW2 veterans and greeted them with a heartfelt, "My comrades."</span></div>
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William greets <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKHk34YX3g" target="_blank">Jeff Haward MM </a>and his fellow WW2 comrades.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But it was not all about chatting. There were books to sell and talks to present. </span></div>
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Flying solo at the Friday talk on Blood and Bandages</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrMeBYheidZP6WVcFApyOzlstyqh6IJfaa1AoC2hg0BRpxRfY4Ie8X5bgIXJcwHFsGWgVnJcwQxI2LhAu_bi72x672qeoy0ypQ-zgIIl3pdFNfMz9Ym0dDC8TsxkY6eQebyu30avh9WpP/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3685.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrMeBYheidZP6WVcFApyOzlstyqh6IJfaa1AoC2hg0BRpxRfY4Ie8X5bgIXJcwHFsGWgVnJcwQxI2LhAu_bi72x672qeoy0ypQ-zgIIl3pdFNfMz9Ym0dDC8TsxkY6eQebyu30avh9WpP/s640/fullsizeoutput_3685.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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with <a href="http://www.pennylegg.com/" target="_blank">Penny Legg</a> and William on Saturday</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> On the Saturday, it was Jeff Haward's 99th birthday. For a veteran of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/dunkirk_evacuation" target="_blank">Dunkirk</a>, <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-el-alamein" target="_blank">El-Alamein </a>and <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/10878674/D-Day-6th-June-1944-as-it-happened-live.html" target="_blank">D-Day</a>, the War and Peace team pulled out all the stops. First, a piped band marched into the Pavilion and played a medley of tunes culminating in a rendition of Happy Birthday. </span></div>
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It was a bit of a shock when they came marching in</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next a birthday cake appeared accompanied by a glamorous 1940s duo who sang a sultry reprise of Happy Birthday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> William, never one to ignore a pretty face, nabbed a cuddle on the girl's way out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgsKgWI-1pHINfOw3iXEufnesWv7AarT0lMy-JXb0h29tGBD6sA3OpjpUZjTlZRFeolejcpb6WqffxXXJYJ8cKxZWY2sjExBIlh-mwi6CfDa-gNrIK8qefr-2OApPaQBLmg222dCBPr5y/s1600/fullsizeoutput_368b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="1600" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgsKgWI-1pHINfOw3iXEufnesWv7AarT0lMy-JXb0h29tGBD6sA3OpjpUZjTlZRFeolejcpb6WqffxXXJYJ8cKxZWY2sjExBIlh-mwi6CfDa-gNrIK8qefr-2OApPaQBLmg222dCBPr5y/s640/fullsizeoutput_368b.jpeg" width="640" /></a>At 103 years-old, <span style="text-align: justify;">William has still not lost his eye for a pretty face. Marvellous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was a super two days and, God willing, William and I will return next year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> It has been a very full summer and we loved the three weeks we spent in England catching up with family and friends. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The moment we emerged from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwick_Hill_Tunnel" target="_blank">Southwick tunnel</a> and saw<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoreham-by-Sea" target="_blank"> Shoreham by-Sea</a> glistening below, it felt like home and it was hard to leave. However, there are more exciting times ahead here in Singapore. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I have been asked to deliver a screenwriting course to a group of teenagers and I can't wait to get started. However, Blood and Bandages will still keep me busy because I have a series of interviews and a lecture to deliver in the autumn and once I've finished teaching, I'll start on adaptating it for TV or film. How's that for a new challenge?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Thanks for dropping by and I'll see you again soon.</span><br />
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Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-76362005136523983702018-05-15T10:58:00.000+01:002019-05-17T09:35:21.046+01:00A week of celebrations Well, my resolve to write a fortnightly blog has failed miserably and I apologise for going AWOL. How many times have you heard that?!<br />
This week is one of celebrations.<br />
On Saturday 12th May, it was William Earl's 103rd Birthday.<br />
In case you have not met William before, he is the hero of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a> and we became close friends during the <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.sg/2017/01/part-one-of-inside-story-of-writing.html" target="_blank">seven long years </a>it took to research and write the book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj1XEhyphenhyphenisXXOqEFuHu_O5wpO4zXMhqWINZC4Xke_DAklS_8kXpPiWAs23IrRy5pnrhr3mndfUCar3Xu-BPw5z_5ziEPBeIn2RMFzRT-_Wed3fJO-yvG5KDtEKZ1fzT-SlREgAEZ52Qe97/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2ef0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj1XEhyphenhyphenisXXOqEFuHu_O5wpO4zXMhqWINZC4Xke_DAklS_8kXpPiWAs23IrRy5pnrhr3mndfUCar3Xu-BPw5z_5ziEPBeIn2RMFzRT-_Wed3fJO-yvG5KDtEKZ1fzT-SlREgAEZ52Qe97/s400/fullsizeoutput_2ef0.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div>
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<i>Happy Birthday dear William.</i></div>
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William celebrated at home with a glass or two of champagne in the company of his wife Judith, family and friends. I called from Singapore and treated him to my best operatic rendition of Happy Birthday. He listened patiently. We're looking forward to meeting up again when Richard, Tom and I return home in July. William and I will definately squeeze in a belated birthday trip to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Chipwicks-Award-Winning-Fish-chips-seafood-836114323079557/" target="_blank">our favourite fish and chip shop </a>but then we'll return to the serious business of promoting our book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgNs8fx3zn85oQG8R2sKZn8jNyWoKHAa0dHUdv31XbLKb9w-Dr3-DmH0F2_NxxvTOdEPjdBZPLjJSZAHeA2l1eY6y8E8PpGvGxYYag-h7Uevq-LqYjcHCPYuZNbLJiWG09Jd6pDGXz_Yw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2ef5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgNs8fx3zn85oQG8R2sKZn8jNyWoKHAa0dHUdv31XbLKb9w-Dr3-DmH0F2_NxxvTOdEPjdBZPLjJSZAHeA2l1eY6y8E8PpGvGxYYag-h7Uevq-LqYjcHCPYuZNbLJiWG09Jd6pDGXz_Yw/s400/fullsizeoutput_2ef5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>We still try to combine play with work while we're at it. </i></div>
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God willing, William will join me for a book signing at the <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london" target="_blank">Imperial War Museum in London</a> on 20th July and in the Author's Pavilion at the <a href="https://warandpeacerevival.com/" target="_blank">War and Peace Revival </a>in Paddock Wood on 27th-28th July. War and Peace is a huge five day celebration of military history and WW2 lifestyle. Imagine <a href="https://www.goodwood.com/flagship-events/goodwood-revival/" target="_blank">Goodwood Revival</a> with tanks and trenches.<br />
I went on my own last year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoFAuZ377UZL5Sy71uOV1IM_cv16tCHAW80uPxpC_6_Gm-95yrCZ_GBqxXss75CzkqVL5MhS3yXJxLmrpW9mc4vuZkdSsJgCUDCYsIBjsqOZWqrzVj6LMZw82byRwBS5yisEKspJbQCXG/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2ef8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoFAuZ377UZL5Sy71uOV1IM_cv16tCHAW80uPxpC_6_Gm-95yrCZ_GBqxXss75CzkqVL5MhS3yXJxLmrpW9mc4vuZkdSsJgCUDCYsIBjsqOZWqrzVj6LMZw82byRwBS5yisEKspJbQCXG/s400/fullsizeoutput_2ef8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Me with fellow author, Penny Legg in the Author's Pavilion at War and Peace 2017.</i></div>
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It was fun and instructive to meet fellow authors like <a href="http://www.pennylegg.com/index.html" target="_blank">Penny Legg</a> but something is always missing when William's not around. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuTxg2dDtIUeENm3MmghSZ15CvC3R99xUNxGTRh5xgCBbtIJ343LcE2j0yG1rObmk9MqnVtR51Qr0VizZ43IZloyyn2PEthQWFePpEFBU7I6CbOM3JGNnFfwM4vQYmSB4UtjQ8CZnlLuv/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2efc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuTxg2dDtIUeENm3MmghSZ15CvC3R99xUNxGTRh5xgCBbtIJ343LcE2j0yG1rObmk9MqnVtR51Qr0VizZ43IZloyyn2PEthQWFePpEFBU7I6CbOM3JGNnFfwM4vQYmSB4UtjQ8CZnlLuv/s400/fullsizeoutput_2efc.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>We're better as a double-act. </i></span></div>
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Talking of double acts, we've dressed the house in readiness for this Saturday's wedding of <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/15/watch-prince-harry-meghan-markles-royal-wedding-saturday/" target="_blank">Prince Harry to Megan Markle. </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLbrI9WM-EqtxFxXHgDWciT76j-mdTFSwE5wlL2-VCVawchbAIUsljym-aYwZz2oDzKeztZJxrDJfKK9h56hxpTQ08l1uSgkCfknVeALlPuALEAIHxtvoGeD0aUrVhSwGBBYD7AOKw37X/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2eff.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLbrI9WM-EqtxFxXHgDWciT76j-mdTFSwE5wlL2-VCVawchbAIUsljym-aYwZz2oDzKeztZJxrDJfKK9h56hxpTQ08l1uSgkCfknVeALlPuALEAIHxtvoGeD0aUrVhSwGBBYD7AOKw37X/s400/fullsizeoutput_2eff.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Flying the flag for the pending royal wedding.</div>
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Some of our neighbours are a tad mystified by the sudden appearence of Union Jacks but I cried shy of installing a lifesize image of Harry and Megan. They'd go soggy in the rain. </div>
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Next time, I'll share some thoughts on life as an expat in Singapore and tell you what I've been getting up to. In the meantime, enjoy this week's celebrations, particularly the residents of Falcon Close in Shoreham-by-Sea, UK. I'll be with you in spirit. </div>
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Thank you so much for dropping by and see you soon.</div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-17542673811317743842018-03-05T16:57:00.001+00:002018-03-05T16:57:43.993+00:00Settling into life in Singapore. D-Day plus three months We have been in Singapore for exactly three months now and have spent the last two in our new home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn9MjRVbdk9TLeZUY9bsjFVMQn_Hzo9xHX32P9lsXNM-vJRSadrRkGC677vWZJU2cdWIC5-b8y15NLYKL57nUXU9XpdNvwiHUj-IRzqOcceFXX86qs1uHu0RF30dWQXEtc-KoNqzXz2kU/s1600/IMG_7340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn9MjRVbdk9TLeZUY9bsjFVMQn_Hzo9xHX32P9lsXNM-vJRSadrRkGC677vWZJU2cdWIC5-b8y15NLYKL57nUXU9XpdNvwiHUj-IRzqOcceFXX86qs1uHu0RF30dWQXEtc-KoNqzXz2kU/s400/IMG_7340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Our new home, a rented bungalow on the <a href="https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/raf-seletars-last-barrack-block/" target="_blank">former RAF Camp at Seletar</a></i></div>
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We took possession half an hour before the container turned up from the docks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p2T3K4fm9DTLJmud1ZBE7CkKSxM64yvKRXC6EuJlDQ8tC3y3Hf9UUcHF2CCBxaKKQzefwlN6PmkxjlTmctUob1LRgZljKp8RQuyqhiU-8rUTv7Zn5q5ANcSmQYml6XfN8JKql-E2j9Qf/s1600/IMG_E6212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1536" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p2T3K4fm9DTLJmud1ZBE7CkKSxM64yvKRXC6EuJlDQ8tC3y3Hf9UUcHF2CCBxaKKQzefwlN6PmkxjlTmctUob1LRgZljKp8RQuyqhiU-8rUTv7Zn5q5ANcSmQYml6XfN8JKql-E2j9Qf/s400/IMG_E6212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Last time I saw this, it was on Shoreham Beach</i></div>
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I had mixed feelings when it rolled up and remembered the day it drew into our drive at home. I'd spent most of the previous night packing but the study was still untouched when the removal men arrived. My great friend Mandy and I spent the morning frantically sorting it out whilst the <a href="https://www.santaferelo.com/" target="_blank">Sante Fe</a> team packed up around us. The Singapore team were in a similar hurry at this end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_dteeHJ_9vAVl36j9RQ4w0s-3PzEork2rgeKrKUMNnMSSKkVoKh8dXkHykt38Cqndk_jkG7-dz6l_jN1JcG1TXrIJf87l3KEqFNi4ikS6JjSD2aSIYU-9unYVFaZ-mtmui-dXwiRsDBQ/s1600/IMG_7380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_dteeHJ_9vAVl36j9RQ4w0s-3PzEork2rgeKrKUMNnMSSKkVoKh8dXkHykt38Cqndk_jkG7-dz6l_jN1JcG1TXrIJf87l3KEqFNi4ikS6JjSD2aSIYU-9unYVFaZ-mtmui-dXwiRsDBQ/s400/IMG_7380.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Moving in day plus one</i></div>
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I could understand their haste because we'd learned that from 9.30am onwards the heat gets uncomfortable and just keeps rising until it hits 32-33 degrees. The humidity can reach over 90% so not ideal working conditions. We experienced how exhausting that could be from 29th December to 5th January when we shuttled between our new home and our serviced apartment. Our intention was to unpack and complete all DIY jobs before we moved in on the 5th but intention was no match for the tropical heat and dehydration, no matter how hard we tried.</div>
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In fact, adapting to the weather has been one of the most challenging things we've had to do. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wmJW6YDoIsH7A9mQtg01b6A52mWLZyXcQEfMoWHq_LsSA_3t6dFSa81FA8BKC0q0Kpm8ff-lkMRaTcBfGZ1d8FZcRLwPAx5KM9aSCJ9owEX6ZwwuP5Ksk2FrbO9IQN5jw5czDN3RC_5Y/s1600/IMG_7561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wmJW6YDoIsH7A9mQtg01b6A52mWLZyXcQEfMoWHq_LsSA_3t6dFSa81FA8BKC0q0Kpm8ff-lkMRaTcBfGZ1d8FZcRLwPAx5KM9aSCJ9owEX6ZwwuP5Ksk2FrbO9IQN5jw5czDN3RC_5Y/s400/IMG_7561.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>My new shiny informal look.</i></div>
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You quickly learn to embrace the discomfort of sweat soaked clothing but if you don't talc your feet blisters can appear within 20 steps. You understand why showers don't come with water heaters. Unlike Richard and Tom, I love the momentary chill when stepping under a cold shower. You yearn for the coolness between 4am - 7am for the moment the sun comes up at 7.15am the heat starts to build. We've started to study the locals and take our cue from them. For instance, we've learned to stand in the shade when waiting for the green man at road crossings. We don't pack cold drinks anymore because condensation forms quickly and soaks everything. We constantly carry an umbrella to protect ourselves from the sun and rain. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdOF_cCM_jOdke3RLs9JDiwbENH-8RMi7poSsUdSY_EnB7vc0CvyvWrNqEUGLfCXjqehNnXocgTAR8nt6Vjkng8DfD-tVqb2AJtwA61felnJ3gHfee4Nos64ft6Hm1t5euRmtk9Z3TWif/s1600/21debe2a-ccbc-4b5c-8493-e8073329161e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdOF_cCM_jOdke3RLs9JDiwbENH-8RMi7poSsUdSY_EnB7vc0CvyvWrNqEUGLfCXjqehNnXocgTAR8nt6Vjkng8DfD-tVqb2AJtwA61felnJ3gHfee4Nos64ft6Hm1t5euRmtk9Z3TWif/s400/21debe2a-ccbc-4b5c-8493-e8073329161e.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<i>Within minutes tropical rain floods our back garden.</i></div>
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It never rains gently. It comes hard and fast and usually with a heavenly accompaniment of ear splitting thunderclaps and lightening overhead. Our electricity was knocked out by lightening during the storm photographed above. </div>
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Another thing that we've had to adapt to is our size. We are like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travels" target="_blank">Gulliver in Lilliput</a> and in an island crammed with 5.6 million people our bulk occupies far more than our fair share. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyK2Jw-SXine_rucJ7ccXwMqqgesaACUmGOExpqWVuKhFA_Ap6vZEomE3pCJvw2GS4Tdk-g7jN3vPX-YFoDCxLziajiny4cV7dodPnzwa5l8OZVUW0mY9WbUsa0U6MXwHOiTiKIKaF1sVX/s1600/IMG_8351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyK2Jw-SXine_rucJ7ccXwMqqgesaACUmGOExpqWVuKhFA_Ap6vZEomE3pCJvw2GS4Tdk-g7jN3vPX-YFoDCxLziajiny4cV7dodPnzwa5l8OZVUW0mY9WbUsa0U6MXwHOiTiKIKaF1sVX/s400/IMG_8351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>We're often at least a foot taller than everyone else.</i></div>
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In some shops the aisle is almost too narrow to turn around, leaving me with the choice of walking backwards or to the end of the aisle and turning around. Forget about sucking in your stomach, some eight-year old girls back home are bigger than women out here. You just have to get used to feeling big and awkward and accept that most shops sell neither shoes nor clothes that fit. To be honest, that is understandable because we are in the minority. 74% of the population are chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian and 4% others. That's us, an international hotchpodge of skilled ex-pats and their dependants. </div>
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Despite being in the minority, the Singaporeans could not be more inclusive, welcoming and generous. They bend over backwards to help and whenever we are asked where we come from, (we're generally thought to be Australian, unfathomable), the response is always, "welcome to Singapore." </div>
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Our Singaporean neighbours have become close friends and they are trying to educate us in Singaporean culture and language. Food is usually involved because there are two things that this nation loves, food and shopping. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfXTDEu_Cp6ce105PmXS35Nu_WsyuiFVrankfxaxizHxwHIOepcfs0g-3rVC980P3EOOkp6TnSGuwD0efHJgaIttF2-vIDUCn4V_-FHLdcmFy9ogK9Ek3h5cbuYLT680RTb5QXTIbYs24/s1600/IMG_8258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="747" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfXTDEu_Cp6ce105PmXS35Nu_WsyuiFVrankfxaxizHxwHIOepcfs0g-3rVC980P3EOOkp6TnSGuwD0efHJgaIttF2-vIDUCn4V_-FHLdcmFy9ogK9Ek3h5cbuYLT680RTb5QXTIbYs24/s400/IMG_8258.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<i>Richard and I studying the module on Singaporean food.</i></div>
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The ex-pat community is equally welcoming both here on the camp and in town. There is no waiting period for people to assess you, you are invited simply because you are here and you automatically belong. So far I have joined the yoga and pilates groups here on the camp and attend a weekly museum lecture with ex-pat friends in town. There are lots of one off events like last Sunday, when we went to see an ex-pat friend, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvzUb9TADbI" target="_blank">Jassy Husk,</a> perform in <a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html" target="_blank">Gardens by the Bay</a>. She is Australian and I don't sound anything like her. </div>
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<i>Jassy Husk performing in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay.</i></div>
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Majong, tennis, coffee mornings, volunteering, book and film clubs, night outs are all laid on by the <a href="http://britishassociation.org.sg/" target="_blank">British Association</a> and you chose when you want to join in. </div>
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There is so much to do, mainly because a fair number of <a href="https://www.internations.org/guide/global/the-trailing-spouse-gender-roles-abroad-15283" target="_blank">'trailing spouses</a>' are highly educated, cultured career women who cannot get work permits in Singapore and need something to do. I am one of the lucky ones. I am employed by our company in the UK so can continue to work as a writer wherever I am. In fact, I recently unveiled <a href="https://www.casematepublishing.co.uk/blood-and-bandages.html" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages </a>at Tom's school fete and have joined the feature writer's team for the British Association's magazine. Being here frees me up to write much more and I have already started looking for ideas for my next book. </div>
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Talking of writing, I will also be producing a fortnightly blog from now on so look out for the next post on <b>19th March </b>when I'll be sharing some more of life as an ex-pat in Asia. </div>
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Thanks for dropping by and I'll see you on the <b>19th March.</b> Stay warm.</div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-18042137950661748172018-02-16T09:25:00.000+00:002018-02-16T09:25:17.495+00:00Happy Chinese New Year - Gong Xi Fai Cai - from Singapore <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Today is the start of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year" target="_blank">Chinese New Year.</a> Here in Singapore, it is marked with a two day national holiday. It's being celebrated by the majority of the population as <span style="text-indent: 36pt;">the Chinese account for 76% of the inhabitants in this <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/en/" target="_blank">multicultural city-state</a>.</span><br />
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/about-chinese.html" target="_blank">Chinese calendar </a>which, in turn, is based upon the movements of the moon. As a rule of thumb, Chinese New Year falls on the day of the new moon
closest to the start of spring. This year, it falls on the 16<sup>th</sup>
February.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chinese New Year celebrations will last
for the whole lunar cycle of 15 days. During that time the Chinese will
<a href="http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/16/4-people-from-around-the-world-share-how-they-celebrate-chinese-new-year-7303099/" target="_blank">celebrate</a> with music, dancing, special foods, displays, reunions with family and
friends and ‘red packets’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I asked one of our friends, Gennet Song, how she celebrates Chinese New Year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KI5PhBlzsnmKAV1hw5FON9D9OwPjBZDzN9lGYXe4a-oVHrssnAxEnIZIjHIEUiOrAs7SazEDFSdnw_4PGe7t8E4lb2C0EvSYqqZv9qbBYlfNWE4BRqz3SdtSkNn__VExjTf3rB9MGsZ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_29c1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1582" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KI5PhBlzsnmKAV1hw5FON9D9OwPjBZDzN9lGYXe4a-oVHrssnAxEnIZIjHIEUiOrAs7SazEDFSdnw_4PGe7t8E4lb2C0EvSYqqZv9qbBYlfNWE4BRqz3SdtSkNn__VExjTf3rB9MGsZ/s400/fullsizeoutput_29c1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gennet Song, Company Director of The Light Goes On<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>“<a href="https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-food/chinese-food-symbolism.htm" target="_blank">Symbolism</a> is very important in
Chinese culture so for instance, if a word sounds auspicious or positive we
will use it when we want to celebrate. <span style="text-indent: 36pt;">That's why you can see pineapple decorations on our gate.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></span>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfsWXIOiR_XWw77q2nzQ8Uynw4yVhXljmHS9D1esMhhYE2H3wOFjUkVFHqLDzAS0nuF3shU_7eWxvinV0QPbfo7ihF-e_-x1ZZPNRSiUoWJquALSMbeBGIre02Z0qGdspLMnOsY_AXm-4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_29c3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfsWXIOiR_XWw77q2nzQ8Uynw4yVhXljmHS9D1esMhhYE2H3wOFjUkVFHqLDzAS0nuF3shU_7eWxvinV0QPbfo7ihF-e_-x1ZZPNRSiUoWJquALSMbeBGIre02Z0qGdspLMnOsY_AXm-4/s400/fullsizeoutput_29c3.jpeg" width="400" /></i></a></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i>Prosperity Gate</i></span></div>
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<i> The pineapple is very traditional because pineapple in
Chinese is <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ong Lai</span> which means, 'luck
will come our way.' We believe that the pineapple therefore welcomes good health, fortune
and prosperity. You’ll see a lot of us Chinese buying real pineapples and
displaying them in our homes during Chinese New Year. </i><br />
<i>The same applies to the
tangerine decoration. That is <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kum</span> in
Chinese which means gold. So this decoration symbolises that we are welcoming in
gold or wealth. Put together, these decorations create a prosperity gate as we are welcoming
more prosperity into our lives.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i> Front porch decorated with flowers and blossoms for Chinese
New Year<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i>The front door is very
significant for us. It is where, in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui" target="_blank">Feng Shui</a>, the energy flows into the
house, so beside the front door we’ve placed a <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=https://sep.yimg.com/ay/monticellostore/cockscomb-seeds-celosia-cristata-203.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.monticelloshop.org/600085.html&h=600&w=600&tbnid=pooKxU3L1zs3vM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=186&usg=__BETZEfsCXH3ThDUqFvTzGQ-IYXc%3D&vet=10ahUKEwid14KMiarZAhUeSI8KHWdkBPQQ_B0I1wEwEw..i&docid=rw7-sskar642CM&itg=1&client=safari&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwid14KMiarZAhUeSI8KHWdkBPQQ_B0I1wEwEw" target="_blank">Cockscomb</a>. It is a very
traditional Chinese plant which is considered to be auspicious because it resembles
a rooster’s comb and roosters are thought to be lucky. We also have an Orchid.
<a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/singapore-visitors-guide/nature-and-outdoors/orchids-singapore-national-flower.html" target="_blank">Orchids</a> are very Singaporean and ours signifies colour and vibrancy in our
lives. Above the door are blossoms because the lunar new year is like spring
for us, so blossoms will be displayed everywhere. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4_ZbqC3xX0yDGckL-h7TJC8g_OuRe0n9Eb5yHix0Yrzg1YyA1ZWpd0EnCESXbx5g_H_9AFRYZkbOO5vygD0UzZYBM37XS0L1jQ9zMAifIBLfah1mbG1cSKD-p8u838QVZYUo_83_4Rb3/s1600/fullsizeoutput_29ab.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4_ZbqC3xX0yDGckL-h7TJC8g_OuRe0n9Eb5yHix0Yrzg1YyA1ZWpd0EnCESXbx5g_H_9AFRYZkbOO5vygD0UzZYBM37XS0L1jQ9zMAifIBLfah1mbG1cSKD-p8u838QVZYUo_83_4Rb3/s400/fullsizeoutput_29ab.jpeg" width="400" /></i></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><a href="http://www.wheelockplace.com/about" target="_blank">Wheelock Place</a> Shopping Mall displaying blossoms for Chinese New Year<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i>All the decorations inside the
house remind us of celebration and what we want to welcome. Everything that
you see has a Chinese meaning or sound that is related to luck, wealth, health
and the encouragement of good things into our lives.</i><br />
<i><o:p></o:p><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">We try to use as many live plants as possible so we have this Satsuma tree to signify Kum. </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">You will see these fruits in huge displays everywhere.</span></i><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i>Satsuma tree which is inviting gold and wealth into the home</i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i>Kum displayed outside the <a href="http://www.stregissingapore.com/" target="_blank">St Regis Hotel</a> Tanglin<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Jacq and I are in the business of health and wellness and we use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil" target="_blank">essential oils.</a></span> We are <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_SG" target="_blank">Young Living</a> independent distributors and for this
season our favourite oils are Abundance, Highest Potential, Joy and
Orange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So </span>I will diffuse these into the sitting room to create an uplifting atmosphere of abundance, opportunities,
prosperity and happiness. <o:p></o:p><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">I would also put them in little bottles in the bathroom so guests could use them as perfume.</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z5cqqKBOtDdQvISIOh88haY5Rz9OHRXMXsj2hCYkIH94zDxPrmNAqm64-1UEgqeBxFXhlw9jBD4-Q6Z2w0OH94Sa4PEbIQ_UjABAWfysoJyXWhevLA22bklU1YDmu49pHZJXxJ9ibgp_/s1600/fullsizeoutput_29c5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z5cqqKBOtDdQvISIOh88haY5Rz9OHRXMXsj2hCYkIH94zDxPrmNAqm64-1UEgqeBxFXhlw9jBD4-Q6Z2w0OH94Sa4PEbIQ_UjABAWfysoJyXWhevLA22bklU1YDmu49pHZJXxJ9ibgp_/s400/fullsizeoutput_29c5.jpeg" width="400" /></i></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i>Diffusing essential oils to create an auspicious atmosphere</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></span></i></div>
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<i>Auspicious words and symbols are also used as decorations with words such as the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Fa Cai’</span> (Prosperity) Cat and <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zhoa Cai,</span> (to attract good luck) and <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Na Fu</span> (to accept and keep the good fortune). </i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><a href="http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/maneki-neko-fortune-cat-5-interesting-facts" target="_blank"> Prosperity Cat</a> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i> Chinese New Year version of a Christmas tree<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>This plant is usually associated
with wealth, so we would put ornaments or symbols on it just like a Christmas
tree. This coming year is the <a href="https://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2018/default.htm" target="_blank">year of the dog</a> so I have decorated it with dog symbols.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chinese New Year runs in a cycle and each
year it moves onto a different sign of the <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/" target="_blank">Chinese Zodiac</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have 12 signs, the rat, the ox, the tiger,
the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep (goat), the monkey, the
rooster, the pig and the dog. Each one has its own element too, like metal, wood,
fire, earth or water. This year its earth, so 2018 is the year of the earth
dog.</i></div>
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<i>Some parents will try to delay or
hasten the birth process so that a child is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>born in a year that they consider auspicious. As we’ve modernised, this has become less
important but there are still baby booms in the year of the dragon because its
one of the most powerful and lucky signs of the Zodiac. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Decorating the house is just one
part of the preparation for Chinese New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also have to have an annual spring clean and de-clutter. People
really don’t like doing this but you want to make the house nice because there
will be lots of people visiting you over the lunar New Year. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Traditionally, there is a <a href="http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/chinese-new-year-festivities.htm" target="_blank">order of visits</a> and on the first day you would visit the eldest person in
the family. <o:p></o:p><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">You would take at least two oranges with you for the host and there would be an exchange of oranges and good wishes.</span></i></div>
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<i>Exchanging oranges and a greeting when you visit during Chinese New Year</i></div>
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<i>Elders<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and married adults will usually give children and younger
siblings/relatives an <a href="https://www.8days.sg/seeanddo/thingstodo/how-much-ang-pow-money-should-you-give-this-chinese-new-year-9964710" target="_blank">Ang Pao (red packet)</a> for good luck. Inside would be some money. Parents will
also refrain from reprimanding children during the Chinese New Year so as to
create a harmonious year ahead. Most kids will enjoy the New Year
celebrations which will most likely be the rare occasion they get to binge on
all sorts of sweets, cookies and tidbits. They will also wear the
new clothes bought specially for the occasion.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>We’d all share
a celebratory meal together and then we’d leave and visit the next most
senior person. They would welcome us with oranges and all sorts of Chinese New Year goodies
and sweets. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i>In the old days, you would spend
the whole 15 days of Chinese New Year visiting family and eating good food. You may even consult an <a href="https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/calendar/2018/" target="_blank">Almanac </a>to tell you the most and least auspicious days and times to
visit. We don’t do that nowadays because we only have two days public holiday
for Chinese New Year so we haven’t got time to wait for an auspicious time or
day. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Visiting can be fun but it can also
be very tiring because you can be going from one place to another from morning
until night. It’s like boot camp. If you can, you would do all the visiting in one
day but in big families that’s quite impossible. <span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Remember that in the lead up to Chinese New
Year, people can be working flat out because you need to get cookies for people
that come, oranges, drinks for visitors, auspicious fruits and food. You need
to buy new clothes for the kids and for yourself. You have to spring clean and
de-clutter the house, replace anything that is broken and after that you need
to go visiting.</span></i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Chinese New Year is a time of families
to come together but even before then, we will have <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/celebrating-the-chinese-new-year-with-food" target="_blank">Reunion Dinners.</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A reunion dinner is traditionally
meant to bring all the family, whereever they are, to one place to celebrate
together. At the meal we’ll eat our favourite food and symbolically lucky dishes. Traditionally, there is only one reunion dinner, but us Singaporeans love to eat so instead of
one, we will gather together for a reunion dinner, a reunion lunch,
or a reunion tea with friends. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i>We will also celebrate with a <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.star2.com/food/2018/02/16/origins-chinese-new-year-dish-yu-sheng/" target="_blank">Yu Sheng</a></span>, a raw fish salad that we toss together as we welcome the New Year and wish for all the good things to come. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">The higher you toss the salad the better because the higher you go, the more prosperity there will be. </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">We sometimes refer to this as</span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Loh Hei.</span></i></div>
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<i>Richard gets stuck into a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3z2MfQNLio" target="_blank">Loh Hei</a>.</i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The Chinese New Year celebrations
get started on New Year’s Eve when there are fireworks, Chinese firecrackers,
gongs, cymbals, drums, lots of noise to frighten away evil spirits and clear
space for the New Year to enter."</i><br />
<br />
Thank you Gennet for contributing to the first blog of the Chinese New Year.<br />
All that remains for me to do is to wish you <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=gong+xi+fa+cai+2018&client=safari&rls=en&dcr=0&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV7s76hKrZAhUItY8KHdw9DoEQsAQIJQ&biw=1680&bih=939" target="_blank">Gong Xi Fai Cai</a>, health,
wealth and prosperity for 2018.<o:p></o:p><br />
I will be back on <b>5th March</b> with an update on how we are settling in and a sneek peek of the blogs I've got planned for the next few months.<br />
Until then, if you can pop into the shops for a copy of the March edition of <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexLifeMag" target="_blank">Sussex Life</a> which is featuring <a href="https://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/101-year-old-from-shoreham-preserves-wwii-memories-in-a-book-1-7668115" target="_blank">William Earl</a> and I and <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages.</a><br />
Thanks for dropping by and see you on 5th March. </div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-1101439821336800392017-12-24T05:38:00.002+00:002017-12-24T05:51:02.926+00:00Happy Christmas from Singapore<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We have finally moved to Singapore a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fter months of frantic activity and precious little activity on this blog. I feel bad about that, so to make amends here is a super sized blog with oodles of photos and a brief account of how we've ended up moving half way across the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Last Spring, when my attention was fully focused on
preparations for the launch of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a>, my husband Richard, an Airbus 320 training captain, was working for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIn3ZjftAX4" target="_blank">Airbus Asia Training Centre </a>in Singapore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Richard in Jakarta in January 2017. In March - April he would be in Singapore working with Airbus Asia.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He was engaged on a six week contract to train Airbus pilots from various airlines. He had been doing the same type of work for seven years and worked overseas every other month. He</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> rarely returned to the same country so each month had to adapt to another time-zone, culture, climate and airline's practices. It was not an easy gig and it </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was taking a huge toll on him and our family life. Hence, when he was offered his dream job with Airbus Asia in Singapore, he seized it with both hands. The clincher was that he would be 'home' almost every day. The prospect of being re-united as a family and couple was thrilling but discussions about the future job offer had to be postponed due to the imminent launch of Blood and Bandages.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> Thus, when Richard returned from Singapore our attention was fixed on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheShorehamCentre/" target="_blank">Shoreham Centre</a>, not the Far East.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;">The launch was a great success.</span></div>
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<i><i style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">140 people attended the event including family and friends and representatives from the <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank">Museum of Military Medicine,</a> <a href="http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/index.shtml" target="_blank">Friends of Surrey Infantry Museum </a>and the <a href="http://www.italystarassociation.org.uk/" target="_blank">Italy Star Association.</a> </span></i></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a relaxed and friendly evening. On my left is Colin, one of my oldest friends from my College of Law days.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><i style="text-indent: 36pt;">William was on sparkling form despite his recent hip replacement which had left him virtually housebound. </i></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> A flurry of press interest and book talks requests followed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>In our old back garden with Charlie Rose for BBC South East Today.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the BBC's Brighton studios with Mark Carter for BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>With Christian Hewgill for <a href="http://www.forces.net/news/101-year-old-veteran-publish-ww2-memoirs" target="_blank">Forces TV.</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> William and I were thrilled with the response but between engagements Richard and I discussed the job
offer and the implications of leaving the UK. Our greatest concern was the impact it would have on our parents. We were close to both sets as both lived in Shoreham. They had seen Tom grow up and we knew that losing us, particularly when they were in or approaching their 80s, would be a hard blow. We decided to wait until the offer was definite before telling them. It came in June and the news was initially greeted with shock and tears before turning to support and understanding. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They had witness the toll nine years of comings and goings had taken on us and were pleased that there was a chance for change. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was also important to tell William, not only because it effected the book, but because we had become very close friends over the years. He accepted the news with grace and sadness mixed with a fierce determination to enjoy what time we had left. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">So after a much awaited family holiday, Richard returned to work his last contract, a month long assignment to Indonesia. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">Meantime, I started making plans for our pending re-location. I contacted ex-pats for advice on international schools in
Singapore, sought out estate agents to let the house and organised home schooling for Tom's last few months in the UK. William and I also embarked on a summer offensive to promote the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the Armed Forces Day in Worthing with <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-transgender-candidate-mp-sophie-cook-general-election-a7712286.html" target="_blank">Sophie Cook</a> and the ladies from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bellydancerocks/" target="_blank">Bellydance Rocks</a>. William thought he had died and gone to heaven.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE-m31ZaQv0" target="_blank">Queen Alexandra Hospital Home.</a> We were positioned next to WSCC Library Service and a chance conversation led to an engagement to speak at Shoreham Library.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the <a href="https://warandpeacerevival.com/" target="_blank">War and Peace Revival </a>with fellow author, Penny Legg.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> With Richard's start date looming up, we needed to make a recce visit to Singapore to find Tom a new school and us, a new home. Richard flew in to join us direct from Indonesia and it did not take long for Tom and I to fall </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">under Singapore's spell.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0OTwE2NCxLLI163TjElzNYOYX3T06wPbGOAq43jq3MhW6ePdyUBHUnIyh8gW3cDq3ta54A0_HdLqpjabypAnRgSLZQ3i8OFraMlS3o6codtOSaRtDpXnlCL0FG_21hvktiXI2_vILt__/s1600/IMG_6247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0OTwE2NCxLLI163TjElzNYOYX3T06wPbGOAq43jq3MhW6ePdyUBHUnIyh8gW3cDq3ta54A0_HdLqpjabypAnRgSLZQ3i8OFraMlS3o6codtOSaRtDpXnlCL0FG_21hvktiXI2_vILt__/s400/IMG_6247.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="http://peranakanmuseum.org.sg/" target="_blank">Peranakan</a> terrace in Joo Chiat/ Katong area of the East Coast of Singapore.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Gateway to the colourful and crowded <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/places-to-see/little-india/" target="_blank">Little India </a>in Singapore.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The super trees in <a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html" target="_blank">Gardens by the Bay</a> waiting for the free light show.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>They even had a Marks and Spencer!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Luckily, we returned with both home and school fixed and three weeks later, on 11<sup>th</sup>
October, Richard left to start his new job with Airbus Asia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At home, the tasks ahead were daunting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom and I were due to join
Richard on 6<sup>th</sup> December so there was eight weeks in which to de-clutter the
house and select that which should be shipped to Singapore and that which should be stored; supervise Tom’s home-schooling and ready the house for the new tenants. It
made every past challenge look like child’s play and would have been
impossible without our fantastic friends. They pitched in instantly and whole-heartedly.
They sorted out the loft; did regular dump runs; packed up the kitchen,
bedrooms and study; took countless loads to charity shops and weeded and pruned
the garden in freezing conditions. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">Meantime, Tom impressed his
tutors with his thoughtfulness and talents. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">On 14th November, what was left of the contents of our home, were packed into a container and shipped off to Felixstowe. </span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> I've never seen such hard and helpful workers as the men from <a href="https://www.santaferelo.com/" target="_blank">Sante Fe. </a></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> With the house now empty, Tom moved in with his </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">grandparents while I moved back with my parents and the decorator started work on our house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Despite the domestic upheavals, I still had to </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">prepare and practice five book talks and I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">wish I had been better prepared for the first ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KESZxCOc_XM&t=55s" target="_blank">14th October talk</a> with Patrick Soulijaert. I was still learning to give powerpoint presentations.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">William contributed to all bar one of the talks regardless of the lateness of the hour and distances involved. It was wonderful and reassuring to have him there and his personal recollection of events added tremendous weight and humour to proceedings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>With Ian Bayley of <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/" target="_blank">Sabrestorm Publishing</a> after a talk at the Museum of Military Medicine. I'd done so much packing by that stage that I'd got tennis elbow. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>With Sharon Penfold and Gary Baines from <a href="http://www.shorehamfort.co.uk/" target="_blank">Shoreham Fort.</a> They went on to attend two other talks. </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The final talk was on a chilly November night before a packed and
attentive audience of the <a href="http://www.1940.co.uk/acatalog/the-1940s-society.html" target="_blank">1940s Society</a> in Sevenoaks. William and I were delighted but the evening was tinged with sadness as this was our last talk, and at 102,
neither of us was under any illusions about the significance of the event. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the end of our final talk in Sevenoaks. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Unfortunately, there was little
time for reflection as the next day I embarked on a two-week period of farewells
that saw me travel to Guildford, London, Westerham, Hereford, Rhymni and
Caerphilly in Wales. Tom stayed at home to continue with his studies, scouts and jujitsu.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A farewell brunch with Sandie Clark, a dear friend who was so instrumental to the success of Blood and Bandages.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 36pt;">In Caerphilly with my parents, Auntie Mary and glamorous cousin, Anne-Marie. Anne-Marie hopes to come to visit us next year.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Smashing it at the Karaoke with my girlfriends at one of my leaving dos in Brighton.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>My last day in the UK with two of my great friends, Mandy and Sarah. Shopping, lunch and tears. </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It was lovely spending time with such treasured family and friends but the departure date sped up to meet us and on 6th December, Tom and I were re-united at Gatwick where we said a tearful good-bye to our families and began our 17 hour journey to Singapore. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">By this time Richard had spent his first month in a hotel and the second in a bedsit. He has found a flat for all of us into which he moved while Tom and I were flying out to meet him. He was cock-a-hoop when we arrived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>View from our flat on the 26th floor in Farrer Park Singapore.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We have now been here for a few weeks ago. We haven't established a routine and I feel a bit rootless. That said, we have already been out and about and made some new friends amongst the British ex-pat community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the Riverside Safari with Kai Kai the</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> giant Panda having lunch in the background. Astonishing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>At the carol concert at the British High Commissioner's residence organised by the <a href="http://britishassociation.org.sg/" target="_blank">British Association</a>, one of the most friendly and interesting associations we've ever joined.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tom has visited his new school and
Richard already feels like an old hand. The contents of our house has arrived in Singapore and will be delivered to our permanent accommodation when we take possession on 29th December. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">This has been an incredible year and we are looking forward to building a new life together and exploring our new home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the writing front, I'll keep blogging, promoting Blood and Bandages and embarking on new writing opportunities. In fact, I've already volunteered to join the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">feature writing team with BEAM, the British Association's monthly magazine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, we’ll miss home
terribly and have been warned that at some point we'll experience a crushing sense of homesickness. I hope that we will have good friends around us to help us through and will be cheered by the knowledge that we are returning to Shoreham Beach in July. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All that's left to say now is thank you for dropping by. I want to wish you a </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">peaceful and happy Christmas and a wonderful 2018. Hope you don't mind, but I've got a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50vE47DGEy4" target="_blank">little present</a> for you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 36pt;">See you in the New Year with an update on how we are getting on. </span></div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-57794807134541414682017-10-30T15:13:00.002+00:002019-05-17T09:35:52.977+01:00Third autumn book talk on Blood and Bandages on Wednesday 1st November I'm almost half way through my autumn book talks, so I wanted to share what's happened so far.<br />
There was a good turnout at Shoreham Library on 10th November.<br />
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William Earl, the 102-year-old star of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages </a>was there. He was on fine form despite having recently returned from a five day wedding in Italy.<br />
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The audience's questions were many and varied and it was touching to learn that more than one person had been moved to tears.<br />
Sadly, William was not well enough to join me at the second talk, a joint presentation with Shoreham author, Patrick Souiljaert on 14th October to raise funds for two local churches.<br />
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Our presentations were well received and we raised £132.00.<br />
As always, it was humbling to hear the stories recounted by the children of deceased World War Two veterans. Indeed, since Blood and Bandages came out, I have been contacted by those the book has touched and they always start by saying, "My Dad never spoke about his time in the war," before recounting some treasured memories of when he did. Their regret at knowing so little is tangible and I'm touched that William's honest and detailed account of his war helps to fill some of those gaps.<br />
The 14th October talk was filmed by <a href="http://aecast.com/">AECAST.COM</a>. H<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KESZxCOc_XM&t=2s" target="_blank">ere's the link</a> to my presentation and Patrick's is <span id="goog_636895416"></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxs-qubR91g" target="_blank">here</a><span id="goog_636895417"></span>, (sound starts at 03.52 and vision at 04.11).<br />
The next talk is at The<b> <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank">Museum of Military Medicine at 7.30pm on Wednesday 1st November.</a></b><a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank"> </a> Tickets can be obtained <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/contact-us/" target="_blank">here</a> and I will be signing books afterwards.<br />
The subject matter will be different from the earlier talks as I'll be telling the story of how <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a> was written. I've touched on this in <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/part-one-of-inside-story-of-writing.html" target="_blank">earlier blogs</a>, but the talk will be more expansive and will cover my personal struggle to get it done.<br />
Hope to see you on Wednesday.<br />
Ta-ra for now.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-61531013885414719522017-10-06T19:41:00.000+01:002019-05-17T09:36:36.011+01:00Shoreham book talks on Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946. This is a seriously busy week. Besides Tom's home-schooling and sorting out what to take to Singapore, I will be preparing two brilliant talks on my book, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946.</a><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">These entertaining and informative talks will be about the book, its theme and how I approached it.</span></div>
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Along the way, I'll be offering advice to aspiring writers.<br />
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<i>William with Miss Alli Godfrey and two of his great grand-children at Glebe Primary School after talking to years 5 and 6.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/101-year-old-from-shoreham-preserves-wwii-memories-in-a-book-1-7668115" target="_blank">William Earl</a>, the vibrant 102-year-old World War Two veteran and star of Blood and Bandages, will be joining me for Q and As. He won't fail to move you with his thoughtful views of what it was like to serve his country.<br />
These family friendly talks provide a rare chance to meet one of a dying breed of exceptional men and I urge you to come.<br />
The first talk is on<br />
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Tickets are £4 and can be purchased in advance from Shoreham Library or on the night. </div>
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The second talk is on</div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">Saturday 14th October</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">West Street </span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">Shoreham-by-Sea</span></div>
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This one is slightly different because I'll be speaking alongside another Shoreham writer, <a href="http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/things-are-looking-up-for-writer-patrick-1-7952449" target="_blank">Patrick Souiljaert </a>author of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stairs-Breakfast-Patrick-Souiljaert/dp/1326201417" target="_blank"><i>Stairs of Breakfast.</i> </a></div>
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<i>Patrick and I prior to interviewing him for the Beach News</i></div>
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His talk on life with cerebral palsy and overcoming adversity will be fun and thought-provoking.</div>
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Tickets are £5.00 (£3.00 concessions) and can be purchased <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/authors-talk-with-patrick-souiljaert-and-liz-coward-tickets-37091102486?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=" target="_blank">here</a>,after the 9.00am mass at St Peter's or on the night. Proceeds are going to <a href="http://www.olqp.net/Home/Welcome.html" target="_blank">St Peter's Church</a>, the <a href="http://www.goodshepherdshorehambeach.org.uk/" target="_blank">Church of the Good Shepherd</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/AdurEastLionsClub/about/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Adur East Lions.</a> </div>
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I'll tell you more about this talk when I speak to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/surrey/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8223000/8223183.stm" target="_blank">Sylvie Blackmore</a> on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002pmpr" target="_blank">BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex at 1.15pm on Sunday 8th October </a>.</div>
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It would be wonderful to see you on 10th or the 14th October and don't be shy. Come and say hi.</div>
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See you soon.</div>
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Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-77074336334304333362017-08-29T00:37:00.001+01:002017-08-29T07:14:18.147+01:00Autumn Book Talks on Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946 I'm delighted to say that since my last blog on<i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0aJ4WXlVXY" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages</a></i>, excellent reviews have continued to appear on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/product-reviews/1781220085/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent" target="_blank">Amazon Books.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/" target="_blank"> All About History</a> has added its voice saying that<span style="font-family: inherit;">, '<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><i>Blood and Bandages is easy to read and a unique perspective of WWII,'</i> while <a href="http://www.booksmonthly.co.uk/" target="_blank">Books Monthly</a> described the book as a '</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Superb account of William Earl's career as a Nursing Orderly in various WW2 campaigns.' </i>There's even a waiting list to read it at the local library. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Talking of which, it'll be at <a href="https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/find-my-nearest/library/details/api/type/library/view/shoreham-by-sea-library" target="_blank"><b>Shoreham Library</b></a> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">on </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Tuesday 10th October at 7.00pm, </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">that I'll begin a series of five autumn book talks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> For about 45 minutes, I'll be talking about how the book was written, the role of the field ambulance in World War Two and aspects of the Italian Campaign. William will then join me for a question and answer session before we move onto a book signing. If you would like to come, t<a href="https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries/whats-on-in-libraries/talks-and-events-for-adults/october-2017/10-blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/" target="_blank">ickets can be purchased here. </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Hot on the heels of the first talk will be a second event but with another local author, <a href="http://stairsforbreakfast.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Souiljaert. </a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It will be held on <b>Saturday 14th October at 7.30pm at <a href="http://www.olqp.net/Home/Welcome.html" target="_blank">St Peter's Church</a>, West Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. </b> Patrick will talk about his autobiography, <i>Stairs for Breakfast</i> and <i>Screw it, I'll take the Elevator,</i> before I speak on researching and writing <i>Blood and Bandages</i>. The evening will draw to a close with questions and answers and a book signing. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/authors-talk-with-patrick-souiljaert-and-elizabeth-coward-tickets-37091102486" target="_blank">Tickets can be purchased here. </a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> There will be a short break before I move onto the scarest of the five talks, the one at the <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank">Museum of Military Medicine </a>in Aldershot. It will be held on <b>Wednesday</b> <b>1st November at Keogh Barracks Ash Vale, Surrey at 7.30pm. </b>The Museum was closely involved in the final stages of Blood and Bandages and it was one of their dedicated curators, Rob MacIntosh, who first described the book as <i>'far more than a military history.</i>' Nevertheless, it is with trepidiation that I will talk to an audience, the majority of which will be uniformed members of the regiment of which I speak. In contrast, however, I anticipate that William will feel totally at ease with those with whom he feels an instinctive affinity. </span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> The penultimate talk is scheduled for the <b><a href="http://www.shorehamsociety.org.uk/" target="_blank">Shoreham Society</a> on Friday 17th November at 7.30pm. </b>It will see William and I return to St Peter's Church Hall to talk about the operation of a field ambulance and the process of writing the book. <a href="http://www.shorehamsociety.org.uk/events.html" target="_blank">Tickets can be </a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.shorehamsociety.org.uk/events.html" target="_blank">purchased here.</a></span><br />
The final talk is fittingly at my publisher's society, the <a href="http://www.1940.co.uk/" target="_blank">1940s Society</a> in Sevenoaks, Kent. It will be held in <b>Otford Memorial Hall, on Friday 24th November at 8pm.</b> I will be talking about the role of the RAMC in World War Two and William's experience in the field ambulance.<br />
With the last talk over and done with, I will start saying my good-byes to England, for in December, we move to Singapore. <br />
Leaving my family and friends and a country I adore, will be tremendously hard. I've already been buffeted by waves of homesickness as the enormity of the move hits home. However, it is only with sadness and not regret that we will leave because for years, my gorgeous husband, Richard, has had to work abroad for most of the time. Thus, when he was offered a permanent job based in one place, we jumped at it. Yes, he will still have postings abroad, but these will be limited to weeks not months. So, after almost eight years apart, Tom can have a full-time Dad again and I can have a full-time husband. <br />
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Richard and Tom.</div>
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As I'll no longer be a 'single parent,' I'll have more time to devote to Tom and my writing. I have a second book planned and will return to my beloved scriptwriting. I will continue to blog, but it'll take on a different guise and possibly a different name. </div>
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But this is not yet good-bye, it's just advanced warning. I'll still be around until the beginning of December so please do come along to one of the book talks and say hello. It's always a thrill to meet someone who reads my blog. </div>
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For now, thanks for dropping by and I'll see you again soon. </div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-66768348119804634982017-07-25T15:26:00.000+01:002017-07-25T15:44:56.124+01:00The RNLI's part in the evacuation of Dunkirk May 1939<div>
To mark last Friday's release of<a href="http://www.dunkirkmovie.com/" target="_blank"> Dunkirk the movie</a>, I'm re-publishing a blog I wrote in May 2010 on the RNLI's role in the rescue. It's an eye-opener and I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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Last week, I featured the Royal Escape Race, and on Friday went to Brighton seafront to watch the start. It was surprisingly exciting to see the flotilla glide from Brighton Marina, assemble, turn towards the sea as one, then BANG, race off to the west.</div>
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The Escape Race commemorates the flight of Charles 11 from England to France. Today, I'm featuring another flight, but this time going the other way; the flight of the British Expeditionary Force, (BEF) from Dunkirk to Dover. </div>
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When war broke out on 3 September 1939, the newly created <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Expeditionary_Force_(World_War_II)" target="_blank">British Expeditionary Force </a>(BEF), was sent to take up a defensive position along the Franco-Belgian border. Its Commander-in-Chief was <a href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/lord_john_gort.htm">John Gort</a>, and by early May 1940 he had 394,165 troops, and 200 tanks in place. </div>
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It didn't last long. On 14th May, one German army group attacked the BEF, pushing them back to the French frontier, whilst another invaded France through the Ardennes. It left the BEF surrounded on three sides and after Gort's unsuccessful counter-attack at Arras, the order was given to withdraw to Dunkirk for evacuation to Britain. </div>
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It was a massive undertaking. On 26th May, <a href="http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/operation_dynamo.html#5">Operation Dynamo</a> was launched. An order was issued on BBC radio to all owners of self-propelled pleasure craft between 30-100 feet in length to send all particulars to the Admiralty. Their role was to assist the Navy and RAF in the evacuation of the BEF and allied troops. Up to 900 vessels were involved including 39 Destroyers, 36 Minesweepers, 77 Trawlers, 26 Yachts, one of which was skippered by C.H Lightoller, a former officer on the Titanic, and some smaller craft. Between them they took 338,226 troops off the beaches at Dunkirk, including 40,000 from the French Army and 220,000 allied troops from Cherbourg, Saint-Malo, Brest and Saint-Nazaire.</div>
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Dunkirk was repeatedly described as hell by those who were there. They were constantly attacked from the land and air as they waited helplessly on the flat sandy beaches. The sea was strewn with shipwrecks and bodies. The air stank of burning oil and buzzed with the sound of Stukas. Over 5,000 soldiers were killed, 235 vessels were destroyed, 106 aircraft were lost. Over 100,000 men were left behind and the tanks and large guns were abandoned. Despite the selfless courage that was shown throughout those 10 days, on 4th June 1940 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojtm7Pb1QLM">Winston Churchill</a> described what happened in France and Belgian as 'a colossal military disaster.'</div>
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Inevitably, the lifeboats were amongst the smaller craft involved in the evacuation. They had 145 motor lifeboats in their fleet and at 1.15 p.m on 30th May, received a phone call from the Ministry of Shipping asking them 'to send as many lifeboats as possible as quickly as possible to Dover.' <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>1</i></span></div>
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The Ramsgate lifeboat, <a href="http://www.ramsgatelifeboat.org.uk/dunkirk-evacuation.htm">the </a><i><a href="http://www.ramsgatelifeboat.org.uk/dunkirk-evacuation.htm">Prudential,</a> </i>and the<i> </i><i><a href="http://www.ramsgatelifeboat.org.uk/dunkirk-evacuation.htm">Lord </a></i><i><a href="http://www.ramsgatelifeboat.org.uk/dunkirk-evacuation.htm">Southborough</a></i><a href="http://www.ramsgatelifeboat.org.uk/dunkirk-evacuation.htm"> </a>from Margate, sailed direct to France. Another 17 lifeboats, including the <a href="http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/dunkirk-and-her-little-ships-70-years-on.22035/page-3" target="_blank"><i>Rosa </i><i>Woodd</i><i> and Phyllis </i><i>Lunn</i> </a>from Shoreham, assembled at Dover.</div>
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As today, in 1940, the lifeboats were manned by skilled and experienced volunteers who knew the limitations and capabilities of their specially designed boats. Thus when the coxswain of the Hythe lifeboat, the <i>Viscountess Wakefield</i>, was told that he should run his 15 tonne lifeboat on to the Beaches, load up with troops and bring them back to England, he told them it was impossible. He also pressed for written assurances that their families would get pensions, should any of them be killed during the evacuation. The coxswains from Walmer and Dungeness supported him and they were in good company. This was one of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hillary" target="_blank">Sir William Hillary'</a>s concerns when he originally founded the Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, (which became the RNLI), in 1824; that the bereaved families of the lifeboatmen should not be left destitute. </div>
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This apparent awkwardness was just too much to bear, 'the harassed and overburdened Naval officers were organising..a complicated and perilous operation. They wanted boats. They wanted men. They wanted no more argument.' <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>2</i></span> They sent the coxswains packing and appropriated their boats. Fearing further arguments from the other coxswains, all the lifeboats answering the call were commandeered and sent to Dunkirk with Royal Naval and RNVR crews. </div>
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Eighteen lifeboats worked the beaches at Dunkirk. The nineteenth lifeboat worked in the English Channel rescuing men from ships and boats sunk en route by German aircraft. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/dunkirk_audio_02.shtml">James Hill</a> Staff Captain, The Royal Fusiliers, recalls, "a great big lifeboat came in, a lovely one...they all got on, and looked over the top and then, of course, the thing stuck on the sand with the weight of them... the Brigadier.. and half a dozen other good chaps got out, and they pushed and shoved, and gradually the lifeboat went off." The <a href="http://www.poolelifeboats.org.uk/history/history-of-poole-lifeboat-station-1939-65/" target="_blank"><i>Thomas Kirk Wright</i> </a>from Poole, fared better as it was a surf lifeboat with a draft of only 76cm, still, one of her motors was put out of action by a crew unused to her propulsion system. </div>
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Turning to the two lifeboats that were manned by the RNLI, the Ramsgate lifeboat rescued 2,800 men and the Margate lifeboat crew were described as 'an inspiration to us all as long as we live' by the commander of Icarus, a destroyer with which she worked on 30/31st May. </div>
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Apart from the <i>Viscountess Wakefield, </i>the lifeboats returned safely but damaged from Dunkirk. The <i>Viscountess Wakefield</i> did run around on the sands of La Panne and was the only lifeboat to be sunk during the operation. </div>
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Regarding the contribution made by the RNLI to the evacuation, 'two facts are beyond dispute. The lifeboats did magnificent work at Dunkirk. But if they had been manned by RNLI crews they would have achieved even more.' <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>3</i></span></div>
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So, what happened when the men finally left the hell of Dunkirk? I'll let <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/dunkirk_audio_01.shtml">James Bradley</a>, Gunner, The Royal Artillery, tell you;<br />
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"I fell asleep, and I don't know how long it took to get across the Channel, because I slept all the way. And the next thing I knew was a sailor standing over me shouting, "Wake-up!, wake-up! are you going ashore or aren't you going ashore?" ...Where are we?" I said, "where are we?', he said, "Dover, you bloody fool!" And I thought, "well, I don't even mind him swearing at me, it's Dover." So I pulled myself up and went off, went down the gangplank. </div>
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And I knew I was back in England..they'd got tables there with loads of tea and buns, and so forth, and I was ravenous. I think I ate six buns, which was greedy really. But I, my stomach was so empty! And then the military police where there too, and they were saying, "Keep moving, Keep moving! And they had the train in the station.</div>
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And I said, "Where's the train going?" Nobody knew, but anyway, "Get on the train, you must get out of here, must get out of here!" - because there were masses of troops coming off, although we were now very much the tail end. And then we drove across England and stopped at side stations, and people were all waving...the WVS.. and I thought, "Oh, this is England, you're worth fighting for!" </div>
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Ta-ra for now.</div>
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1 <i>Riders of the Storm</i> by Ian Cameron Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2002</div>
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2 <i>Storm on the Waters </i>by Charles Vince Hodder and Stoughton 1946</div>
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<i>3 Riders. </i>ibid</div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-65291997871579223612017-06-27T20:32:00.000+01:002017-06-28T09:27:34.453+01:00An interview with local speaker and writer, Patrick Souiljaert.<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you enjoyed reading the inside story of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Blood and Bandages.</a> <br />
William and I have now moved onto the book's marketing phase and last weekend, we had great fun at the <a href="https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/event/west-sussex-armed-forces-weekend-4/" target="_blank">Armed Forces Day</a> in Worthing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8hArwf5Kl6vAgRx2JtOqWdHp0OYJC1TWYu1fLLhpGOhMLKrbGsAhWYPw5jvkedEFvb5Sr5EK0LC7ol8WRMjIDP-HGmk0jZ0q0sq-iaPxbBhjGTnACobM9sP7unnhoQBNedZXwRlaYmz0/s1600/IMG_2400-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8hArwf5Kl6vAgRx2JtOqWdHp0OYJC1TWYu1fLLhpGOhMLKrbGsAhWYPw5jvkedEFvb5Sr5EK0LC7ol8WRMjIDP-HGmk0jZ0q0sq-iaPxbBhjGTnACobM9sP7unnhoQBNedZXwRlaYmz0/s320/IMG_2400-1.JPG" width="215" /></a></div>
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William and I set up our stall. </div>
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<i>(courtesy of Brian Woodford)</i></div>
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While we were there we met...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCjpmkl9I2yt_p9BbZzzreMdYU3UllmjqZzHyvzovjivnilHVofhZ-GnZNzM8JukpsXhIiYsUW2rS3tSivRzlJNjmiUJkFKmcxje8C132yhz2bZYfxgZl_GR0WWqlX3WsMiuEq9YVKEzs/s1600/IMG_5714-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCjpmkl9I2yt_p9BbZzzreMdYU3UllmjqZzHyvzovjivnilHVofhZ-GnZNzM8JukpsXhIiYsUW2rS3tSivRzlJNjmiUJkFKmcxje8C132yhz2bZYfxgZl_GR0WWqlX3WsMiuEq9YVKEzs/s320/IMG_5714-1.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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the engaging <a href="http://www.sophiecook.me.uk/" target="_blank">Sophie Cook</a>, ex-RAF Tornado aircraft engineer and Labour parliamentary candidate for Shoreham and East Worthing,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij35IIsuxpgCj_32BPLIif7VcCA6kqSsJP6175mw0yaYY0hTeWqtGhyphenhyphenTyrGz6wUDSQrxwcgCmo68fqrXEljhfXM8g8UAWtFLmU97oN6W3AtHxhhVSdmsQtbvsGH4V6tGFBRVl1uSm71dyM/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij35IIsuxpgCj_32BPLIif7VcCA6kqSsJP6175mw0yaYY0hTeWqtGhyphenhyphenTyrGz6wUDSQrxwcgCmo68fqrXEljhfXM8g8UAWtFLmU97oN6W3AtHxhhVSdmsQtbvsGH4V6tGFBRVl1uSm71dyM/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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respectful ex-medical personnel with whom William established an instant rappour</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_jHDrSAPBq5dPQ69d5ZWYbxOrDcq-btCdSUsEOT-gvRok-Zkn1V3u8La-BjiHDROHGgVzVL1GX7JYNjm7ADSeTvxoj86pYIYwqt8vWP3uw0tV7sCf5vILjyiFPqAWVkSBUjBmRanSgmT/s1600/IMG_5723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_jHDrSAPBq5dPQ69d5ZWYbxOrDcq-btCdSUsEOT-gvRok-Zkn1V3u8La-BjiHDROHGgVzVL1GX7JYNjm7ADSeTvxoj86pYIYwqt8vWP3uw0tV7sCf5vILjyiFPqAWVkSBUjBmRanSgmT/s320/IMG_5723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and the fun-loving ladies from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bellydancerocks/" target="_blank">Bellydance Rocks</a> who made William's day. </div>
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Our next 'appearance' is on the <a href="http://www.seahavenfm.com/presenters/markevansall" target="_blank">Mark Evans show at </a><a href="http://www.seahavenfm.com/presenters/markevansall" target="_blank">Seahaven FM</a> <b>on Friday 30th June at 7.20pm</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A05IuvOdb-IPRNdnDG-8hJI-heywiO__S8wPzzDet2mhBqj10IBKux2_pkQOO3krIwZuoHSGoQ9hHaYJ0ht7tfOp9OdUP8kpxqidkjEMBAVQYoWFmRU9OI7ubvtOwST-7U78Oou_eB2g/s1600/IMG_5674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A05IuvOdb-IPRNdnDG-8hJI-heywiO__S8wPzzDet2mhBqj10IBKux2_pkQOO3krIwZuoHSGoQ9hHaYJ0ht7tfOp9OdUP8kpxqidkjEMBAVQYoWFmRU9OI7ubvtOwST-7U78Oou_eB2g/s320/IMG_5674.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Me, William and presenter, Mark Evans at the Seahaven FM studios.</div>
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As promised, from now on I'll be reverting back to my previous blog style, interviewing characters of local interest. To that end, I recently met <a href="https://www.facebook.com/patrick.souiljaert" target="_blank">Patrick Souiljaert</a>, beach resident, public speaker
and author of ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stairs-Breakfast-Patrick-Souiljaert/dp/1326201417" target="_blank">Stairs for Breakfast</a>' and '<a href="http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ukpatrick" target="_blank">Screw It. I'll take the Elevator.</a>'</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcjkpSB311IK2lBohI7YuIguGL2v3p66Vlkxesp5LJmPxwfCYWuNn9WjRka2N2kbTBiMAJKFuT5z258ury_ErcjlOijiGDUCoeKm5kYgnKT0IKQyeKc85UxtjDQIt6u-Vp1W_ij9ZWmUZ/s1600/IMG_5589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcjkpSB311IK2lBohI7YuIguGL2v3p66Vlkxesp5LJmPxwfCYWuNn9WjRka2N2kbTBiMAJKFuT5z258ury_ErcjlOijiGDUCoeKm5kYgnKT0IKQyeKc85UxtjDQIt6u-Vp1W_ij9ZWmUZ/s320/IMG_5589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Patrick and I gearing up for our interview</div>
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Patrick is 43 years old and has
lived on Shoreham Beach since 1984. He has <a href="https://www.scope.org.uk/support/families/diagnosis/cerebral-palsy" target="_blank">Cerebral Palsy, (</a>CP).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Idv6mvnRbnBefMiHuJXklDu7f8whH95Jbr3cb97UgU07UfmNydEvE8ZpdfRUAVL7UpmqidTKFFgtO2tc6Hefr1m-X4INC9248iE1jGBj0pArLCJODY24Mov9Ra4ncggOKFVSLYvYD_HX/s1600/IMG_5588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Idv6mvnRbnBefMiHuJXklDu7f8whH95Jbr3cb97UgU07UfmNydEvE8ZpdfRUAVL7UpmqidTKFFgtO2tc6Hefr1m-X4INC9248iE1jGBj0pArLCJODY24Mov9Ra4ncggOKFVSLYvYD_HX/s320/IMG_5588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Patrick Souiljaert</div>
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“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When I was born, the umbilical cord got wrapped around my neck. I
couldn’t breath for four minutes and suffered brain damage. This caused my CP. CP
effects my movement, co-ordination and muscle stiffness. It also means that I have
to use four times more energy than regular people when I walk and talk. Like
any disability, there are various degrees of severity and unfortunately my
voice has also been effected. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it
hadn’t been, people would probably have been more at ease with me and just seen
me as a guy who couldn’t walk properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My CP does not effect my intelligence. Nor stop me from leading a
regular life. I feel like I’m an able bodied man stuck in a disabled person’s
body. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I always thought I was a regular guy,
but when I got into property investment, people kept telling me that I was
inspirational and should write my autobiography. That was great, but they had
no idea that my physical challenges were a piece of cake compared to my
emotional struggles. So I spent a few years thinking about what and how I could
write about my life before I actually started.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I type with one finger and to write an honest autobiography, I had to
relive the very difficult and emotional times. After 15 months, I had managed
to write 216,000 words, so many that I’ve split my story into two books. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The first book was called ‘Stairs for Breakfast.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose that title because in 2011, I went to
view a second floor flat. When the Estate Agent met me outside he saw I had CP
and asked if I was OK to walk up. I told him that I ate stairs for breakfast.
I’m working on the second book now. It’s called, ‘Screw it, I’ll take the
elevator.’ It’s being crowd-funded so I can self-publish again.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As well as writing I’m a motivational speaker, and am currently seeking
funding and support from Kaleidoscope Investments who help disabled
entrepreneurs with their businesses.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In my mind, I can do anything, but I am also realistic. Having a
disability is about knowing what you can do, accepting you have certain
limitations and then overcoming them. And that’s what I do.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I see my CP as a gift and my can-do attitude is my greatest asset.</i>”
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzJAYCroTeegiFftjnquKLbCG3gw9yofIccq-WW5aDOMHzpDExmlO9lo0_P5azLaPlj-OH6I4nx1kh2nZSoGu9p69BpocZHI0vHl1h2L8_QPnuLe5FvOCvbwOgw_LOzlaFY2MB3PRHYdy/s320/IMG_5585.jpg" width="285" /></div>
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Patrick with his tireless PA, Maggie Paluch</div>
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<b>On <span style="text-indent: 36pt;">14</span><sup style="text-indent: 36pt;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">October, at 7.30pm </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">at St Peter’s Church Hall, West Street, Shoreham-by -Sea,</span></b><span style="text-indent: 36pt;"><b> </b>Patrick and I will be talking about writing our respective books and signing them. </span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Tickets are £4.50 and I will let you know how and where they can be purchased nearer the time. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">In a fortnight, I'll be featuring another local resident, Kyra Berry, who will talk about what it was like to be a <a href="http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Presiding%20Officer%20job%20description.pdf" target="_blank">Presiding Officer</a> during the recent General Election. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Thanks for dropping by and I shall look forward to seeing you on <b>7th July.</b> </span></div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-32182894370922466862017-05-23T20:42:00.001+01:002019-06-26T10:55:17.447+01:00Part six, the final part of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946So there I was, paralysed with writer's block with a deadline looming.<br />
Up until then, I thought you got writer's block when you ran out of ideas. Not so. It's when you feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness and a complete loss of confidence. You can only think of one thing, that you were a blittering idiot to think you could do it in the first place. Thoughts unlikely to help you succeed. Yet again, a friend came galloping to the rescue. Leia Vogelle, another screenwriter, suggested that I mix things up by tackling odd numbered chapters first or working backwards. It was a simple and brilliant idea and gave me enough oomph to leap back into the saddle. With my confidence restored, it was time to revisit the <a href="https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/" target="_blank">TLC</a> manuscript assessment in ernest.<br />
In his assessment, <a href="https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/reader/french-karl/karl-french/" target="_blank">Karl French</a> suggested four areas for improvement:-<br />
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1. the chronology. He suggested starting with a flash forward in time to create a good hook and then flashing back to fill in the gaps. It was a more sophisicated approach than I'd intended and I had insufficient time to think it through properly. I therefore passed on that advice.<br />
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2. the context. He advised that I needed much more and it had to be written in a clear and vivid way so the reader always knew when and where they were. He also confirmed what I already knew, that I had to move between the personal to the slightly wider context of the 214th Field Ambulance and Black Cats to the much wider context of the Fifth and Eighth Armies and World War Two. In short, the writing equivalent of playing a squeezebox. I accepted this advice.<br />
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3. William's account. Mr French advised that all gaps in action and information should be filled with additional interview material where possible. I accepted this and there was one big gap, the reason for William's compassionate posting home at the end of the war. William had always glossed over this, but now I pressed him and discovered that it was due to highly sensitive circumstances at home. William did not want any of that information to appear in the book but some had to in order to explain the compassionate posting. After many days agonising over the right wording, we concluded that it was best told in subtext. </div>
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4. the edit. Mr French identified places where there was an inbalance between the space devoted to personal recollections and that to context. To correct this, he suggested that some of William's letters and stories could be reduced or condensed. He was right.</div>
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More research on context. </div>
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While I followed Mr French's advice, Ian Bayley of <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/" target="_blank">Sabrestorm Publishing</a> worked on the book's front cover, title and price. </div>
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The book's front cover was crucial so Ian and I met at the <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank">Museum of Military Medicine</a> and trawled through their photographs. One showed a nursing orderly's role at an advanced dressing station so we chose that. Ian chose other images which could illustrate the text while I asked the ever helpful Mr McIntosh, one of the curators, if he could do a technical check on the final manuscript. He agreed. </div>
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Next, Ian came up with two possible titles - Death without Glory or Blood and Bandages and he decided on the book's price, £19.99. Blood and Bandages would be produced in hardback with a dustsheet and an initial print run of 1,500-2,000. With those details in place, Blood and Bandages went on pre-sale with Amazon.</div>
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As the first deadline approached, the 'final' draft was sent to Rob McIntosh. It was nerve-wracking sending the manuscript beyond the inner sanctum of me, my closest writing friends and Sabrestorm. His response was cautiously awaited. When it came it was incredibly positive. Not only was it technically correct it was also succinct, excellent and astute. I was relieved, perhaps I really did have the ability to create the book I'd always imagined. Nevertheless, I still felt that it could be improved and Ian's patience began to wear thin as deadline after deadline slipped. </div>
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I finally handed it in a week after the final, final deadline. Ian gave the manuscript to his designer and shortly afterwards I received an e-version of the book. Seeing my text and William's photographs incorporated into a book was incredibly exciting. Moreover, Ian had clearly spent a considerable amount of time sourcing generic shots which were thoughtfully dotted around the text. It looked marvellous and I was comforted to know that my publisher cared about the book as much as I did. My job now changed from being a writer to a proof-reader. </div>
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Proofing - a ghastly job.</div>
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It was not a natural fit and unfortunately, I went further than checking for typos and changed some of the text too! I made so many changes that the layout had to be altered and we missed the printing deadline. I could tell that Ian was not happy. While he re-submitted the book to the designer and negotiated a new printing date, I realised that I had created a problem for myself too. More amends meant more potential mistakes and when it came back, I had to weed out every single one of them. Checking every single dot, coma, hyphen, dash, capital letter, abbreviation and footnote was the most soul destroying, monotonous and exasperating part of the whole lenghty process. Despite days and days of checking, it later transpired that some typos had still managed to slip through to the final proof. </div>
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Unaware of this, I submitted it to Ian and once securely in his hands, things moved fast. First, I received the banner. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xaeRoO6oCzILN9CKwDCBegXAcGw9NKhPdZwEZrRTL3G1Q5ez9N9ejGdNMP-84aKTURMW66bBdCCIZ_7jSSfgu60O8Gf5SFJ5l0XXN_7eRBKXywWsEmaP51eSJ9G4Q1As7K97BvifeYxL/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xaeRoO6oCzILN9CKwDCBegXAcGw9NKhPdZwEZrRTL3G1Q5ez9N9ejGdNMP-84aKTURMW66bBdCCIZ_7jSSfgu60O8Gf5SFJ5l0XXN_7eRBKXywWsEmaP51eSJ9G4Q1As7K97BvifeYxL/s320/IMG_5078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">William and I toasted it with a bottle of fizz.</span></div>
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Next we received the first copies of the book.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfgMlAtAbwml8JNSqMi6cbuB5uOvfGcqeqnWD3nBJNgLFMywrIF73htZtB-9TifMfo98kHo16KsNVASR6byBuS-4QpAiGupGTKi0wTKdRTYTZbFcW5kwuK9RkAaQvz14nVdnbNBEUTAN9/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfgMlAtAbwml8JNSqMi6cbuB5uOvfGcqeqnWD3nBJNgLFMywrIF73htZtB-9TifMfo98kHo16KsNVASR6byBuS-4QpAiGupGTKi0wTKdRTYTZbFcW5kwuK9RkAaQvz14nVdnbNBEUTAN9/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> That was something special.</span></div>
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There was a brief pause in action before it was time to organise the book launch. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164480/" target="_blank">Sandra Clark</a>, (who had been so intimately involved in the book from the outset), offered to read the script I'd based on the book with former <a href="https://www.facebook.com/eastenders/" target="_blank">EastEnders</a> star and friend, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0605367/" target="_blank">Paul Moriarty.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGKdQf0H3-9UdeSpbLoCsUEriFjn9wYuoDn5LGg9RReEMtQi0cNWv3I4mk3o_5__Bd9exDXVmHINMrz1jaMDK_2vzOQ0Kv-t1w_EeDDEsZte5xUCKiomqsogwlIbJc6Vdh2yiARwvokte/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1dce.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGKdQf0H3-9UdeSpbLoCsUEriFjn9wYuoDn5LGg9RReEMtQi0cNWv3I4mk3o_5__Bd9exDXVmHINMrz1jaMDK_2vzOQ0Kv-t1w_EeDDEsZte5xUCKiomqsogwlIbJc6Vdh2yiARwvokte/s320/fullsizeoutput_1dce.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Paul Moriarty and Sandra Clark rehearsing the script of Blood and Bandages for the book launch.</div>
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Ian 'sold' tickets, while I organised the catering, helpers and programme. Eventually, all was set for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/258557037925828/" target="_blank">book launch </a>on 28th April. </div>
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Over 140 people came, including representatives from the <a href="http://www.italystarassociation.org.uk/" target="_blank">Italy Star Assocation</a>, <a href="http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/new_museum/new_museum.shtml" target="_blank">Surrey Infantry Museum</a> and Mr McIntosh from the <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/" target="_blank">Museum of Military Medicine</a>. <a href="https://www.spiritfm.net/" target="_blank">Spirit FM</a> and <a href="http://www.juicebrighton.com/" target="_blank">Juice FM</a> sent a reporter and it was also covered in the Shoreham Herald.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iHXigAO_JmoINb8yHqkNCKYC684os1wLrp8GQ3MVd2hRfcauQ5GEK6AgTWonmSqkSU_-FgaDyCBh2XgnuF9TIo9oqIWYKJpLu_XpABAb46U67TejVD6s8bugzUxjomYSb8n-kOQ41BhF/s1600/IMG_5961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iHXigAO_JmoINb8yHqkNCKYC684os1wLrp8GQ3MVd2hRfcauQ5GEK6AgTWonmSqkSU_-FgaDyCBh2XgnuF9TIo9oqIWYKJpLu_XpABAb46U67TejVD6s8bugzUxjomYSb8n-kOQ41BhF/s1600/IMG_5961.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> It was a joyous and moving occasion.</span></div>
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After the launch, there was a flurry of media interest. William and I were interviewed on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0518j25" target="_blank">BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex,</a> <a href="http://forces.net/news/101-year-old-veteran-publish-ww2-memoirs" target="_blank">Forces TV</a> and for a special report for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BBCSouthEastToday/" target="_blank">BBC South East Today</a>. I was asked to appear on <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/discover/roy-stannard+seahaven-fm+the-whole-nine-yards+city:burgess-hill-brighton-seaford/" target="_blank">The Whole Nine Yards with Roy Stannard </a>on Seahaven FM to talk about my life and career on 8th June from 7-9pm. Waterstones are now stocking the book. On <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">Amazon</a> reviews have included comments like, <i>'This book is fantastic', 'I couldn't put it down,' 'Rarely do you discover a book that explains wartime facts in an easy to read style without overlooking the human element of the subject.' </i>Movingly, strangers have contacted Bill and I to ask if William may have helped their father or could have known him. I was delighted to tell one gentleman that not only did William know his father, he appears in the book! The response has been thrilling and my next aim is to sell enough books to get Blood and Bandages onto the Sunday Times bestseller list. So, if you've already read the book, please <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">write a review on Amazon.</a> If not, you can buy the book <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/future-titles/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
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Marketing aside, it's now time for me to put Blood and Bandages on the back burner and dust off the stories which have been languishing in my bottom drawer for almost seven years. It's been an incredible journey but I'm looking forward to returning to the world of fiction. I'll break myself in gently though by starting with a radio drama... based on Blood and Bandages.</div>
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Thanks for dropping by and see you in a couple of weeks, when I'll be featuring another Shoreham Writer, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/patrick.souiljaert" target="_blank">Patrick Souilijaert,</a> author of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stairs-Breakfast-Patrick-Souiljaert/dp/1326201417" target="_blank">Stairs for Breakfast.</a> </div>
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Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-77085059826085200522017-04-28T14:42:00.001+01:002017-04-28T14:42:21.038+01:00Live Facebook feed of Blood and Bandages launch party - 28th April 2017 at 6.45pm (BST)In place of this week's final episode of <i>the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946,</i> there will be a <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/258557037925828/" target="_blank">live Facebook feed</a> </b>of tonight's book launch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3MzFi9znEDxWD7b2OEBQq_c5AePIu-3i7GP3ymfdcUvSYYqHVRNok0zphtwqWKyZh2uavg56EBfVitbjwWBZeoB6qxJCq4eIxeBUU06GywUveSnySsnamOX14xSaR6G80WQay2rAg8No/s1600/Blood+and+Bandages+signature+small-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3MzFi9znEDxWD7b2OEBQq_c5AePIu-3i7GP3ymfdcUvSYYqHVRNok0zphtwqWKyZh2uavg56EBfVitbjwWBZeoB6qxJCq4eIxeBUU06GywUveSnySsnamOX14xSaR6G80WQay2rAg8No/s1600/Blood+and+Bandages+signature+small-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
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To watch tonight's events, you only need to click on the link above or copy and paste the following into your web browser...<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/events/258557037925828/<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Coverage will start at 6.45pm (BST) with </span></b></div>
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<b>Welcome address by Ian Bayley from <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/">Sabrestorm Publishing</a></b></div>
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<b> Script reading by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164480/">Sandra Clark</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0605367/">Paul Moriarty</a></b></div>
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<b> Speech by <a href="http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/101-year-old-from-shoreham-preserves-wwii-memories-in-a-book-1-7668115">William Earl</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxdnD59-Io0FjU7jPtK15juL3tOGX9z9ivMRI_q3x5GM20K4m3SZJ9_Yu1-jkQzzRZhv2ygVc215QFMvb8NRcmin7wrOk-AhTVL0-0C5jzsGk0uG3N5Kf1I5rB-hsDzh00fiySLeb_wAp/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxdnD59-Io0FjU7jPtK15juL3tOGX9z9ivMRI_q3x5GM20K4m3SZJ9_Yu1-jkQzzRZhv2ygVc215QFMvb8NRcmin7wrOk-AhTVL0-0C5jzsGk0uG3N5Kf1I5rB-hsDzh00fiySLeb_wAp/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> Talk on writing the book by me (Liz Coward)</b></div>
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<b> Question and Answer session led by Ian Bayley</b></div>
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<b> Book signing</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">You can take part in the Q and A sessions by posting a question on the Facebook page. We will try to get through as many as we can. </span></b></div>
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The final episode of the <i>inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946 </i>will appear next week. </div>
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Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to receiving your questions.</div>
<br />Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-44259623408155457542017-04-11T23:07:00.000+01:002017-04-25T13:40:12.002+01:00Part five of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946I couldn't finish the book. However, <a href="https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/reader/french-karl/karl-french/">Karl French</a> had identified one outstanding chapter. I tweaked that and prepared a pitch, synopsis and a CV. Although I had created something to show, I lacked the confidence and skill to sell the book in person. Luckily, I had my good friend, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164480/">Sandra Clark</a>, to turn to.<br />
Sandra was a successful actor with years of experience with the <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/">Royal Shakespeare Company</a> and performing on TV and radio. There was nothing she didn't know about playing a role convincingly. Sandra also knew the book intimately. In the lead up to the fair, she bolstered my confidence, coached me on my attitude and agreed to come along for moral support.<br />
Prior to the event, the <a href="http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/">London Book Fair</a> (LBF) provided a directory of attendees. I took advantage of this to pitch <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085">Blood and Bandages</a> to a number of publishers. As a result, I secured two meetings, one with Steve Darlow from <a href="https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/">Fighting High Publishing</a> and another with Ian Bayley from <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/">Sabrestorm Publishing.</a><br />
The first day of the LBF arrived and I turned up early to get my bearings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCY4eLX23kH7mCK2e_gvqMIuoyroOF945gWN_NeDGFeX2fzdLOS6XQy4uQ9KA5AHhjoDPA_0Szys34e7hituU0GoouGTP5DNEQEmKet7JSEnBczQaZbcAFEIDrj0mSbDvuOlJExGibgDu/s1600/f1vBL678QB6fYQRIRJWc4Q_thumb_3b12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCY4eLX23kH7mCK2e_gvqMIuoyroOF945gWN_NeDGFeX2fzdLOS6XQy4uQ9KA5AHhjoDPA_0Szys34e7hituU0GoouGTP5DNEQEmKet7JSEnBczQaZbcAFEIDrj0mSbDvuOlJExGibgDu/s400/f1vBL678QB6fYQRIRJWc4Q_thumb_3b12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First impression of the London Book Fair. </div>
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When I entered the hall, I felt like a child on their first day at nursery. This was BUSINESS writ large and ebay was my only experience of selling. I panicked and fled to the cloakroom to steady my nerves and remind myself of Sandra's coaching.<br />
My first meeting was with Steve Darlow. His reputation had been built on Bomber Command stories but he liked Bill's memoirs. In fact, he'd already spoken to his distributors, <a href="http://www.casematepublishers.com/">Casemate</a>, about publishing it but they thought it inadvisable to branch out into a completely different field. However, rather than cancel the meeting, Steve listened to my pitch and gave me some tips and support. Importantly, he also introduced me to another publisher, <a href="http://www.unicornpublishing.org/">Unicorn Press,</a> whom he thought would be interested. They were and a meeting was arranged for the following day. <br />
Bouyed up with Steve's positive comments, I returned on day two with a sense of belonging.<br />
I met Ian Bayley of Sabrestorm Publishing first. I pitched the book and he was instantly engaged. Sabrestorm had already published another RAMC memoirs, <a href="https://pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c993424/Parachute-Doctor:-World-War-II-memoirs-enrich-and-re-assess-war-history.html">Parachute Doctor</a>, so Bill's story was a nice fit. I was thrilled with Ian's enthusiasm, but held back because of the Unicorn Press meeting. Ian knew when I was seeing Unicorn so just before I went in he called me and asked to meet up. When we did, he offered me a contract. I was absolutely thrilled.<br />
I went into the third and final meeting relaxed and confident. Unicorn also liked the story... alot. I had to pinch myself.<br />
Sabrestorm were the first to produce a contract, so I went with them.<br />
It was both fabulous and frightening to have finally found a publisher. Bill was over the moon and we each celebrated with family and friends. Then things suddenly took a turn for the worse.<br />
An overwhelming sense of dread floated in like a sea mist and enveloped me completely. I became paralysed by the fear of failure. I dreaded getting up in the morning because I was transfixed by the enormity of the task ahead and how poorly equipped I was to do it. I chided myself for ever thinking I could write a military memoir without being an expert in the field. So complete was my loss of confidence that I rendered myself incapable of writing a single decent word. If this was writer's block, I had it, and the deadline for delivering the final script was approaching rapidly. <br />
I'll tell you how I managed to get through it next in the final part of the inside story of writing <i>Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946</i> - next week.<br />
Thanks for dropping by.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-21535401821966329762017-03-13T14:06:00.000+00:002017-04-25T13:38:35.587+01:00Part four of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946 I felt upset and hurt, but it was a blessing in disguise. The book had taken over my life. If I wasn't researching it, I was thinking about it. If I wasn't thinking about it, I was writing it. If I wasn't writing it, I was interviewing William and if I wasn't doing that, I was looking after him. My husband Richard, half-joked that there were three people in our marriage, him, me and William. Our young son had got used to being side-lined because I was writing. My friends had grown accustomed to me cancelling dates because of the book or turning up and talking about it endlessly. It was no surprise, therefore, that there were few complaints when I told them that the book was off.<br />
Meantime, William celebrated his 100th birthday in Essex. His family and friends were concerned that we had fallen out and one of his close friends offered to mediate between us. After a few conversations, it was arranged that William and I should meet up to talk about what had happened and see if and how we could continue. It was awkward at first but after apologises and reflection, we decided that we would carry on, but not immediately.<br />
All this occured in May 2015 and the timing was fortunate. It was my 50th that September, and with the book on the back-burner, I re-engaged with my family, friends and scriptwriting. I resurrected the idea of attending a residential course in screenwriting with <a href="http://www.arvon.org/course/">Arvon. </a>The thought of five days tucked away in a <a href="http://www.arvon.org/centres/totleigh-barton/">Devon manor house </a>with like-minded writers and no internet; cooking and eating together and developing a script with the guidance of two tutors, was my idea of heaven. Knowing how much I wanted to go, my husband got the time off work and brought me a place for my birthday.<br />
My latent screenwriting skills were nutured by the Arvon tutors during five intense and exhilarating days in Devon. When I returned home, I was ready to re-start <a href="http://www.casematepublishing.co.uk/index.php/blood-and-bandages.html">Blood and Bandages</a> but this time, I decided to treat it like a screenplay.<br />
I transposed the story into a <a href="http://www.elementsofcinema.com/screenwriting/three-act-structure/">three act structure. </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUrnkkzwzrzJ10XWCeGU1VogqB7VolTHdcOixRUnhb06uKHOkVI7aitXzHKEPgkznvZOrh00mqN_lvm9LEesfzgIFIFWDoYcfMmu3porSX3I1VJWBkCCXAsfmMmT6lVJDfZnRYjPM_LvM/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUrnkkzwzrzJ10XWCeGU1VogqB7VolTHdcOixRUnhb06uKHOkVI7aitXzHKEPgkznvZOrh00mqN_lvm9LEesfzgIFIFWDoYcfMmu3porSX3I1VJWBkCCXAsfmMmT6lVJDfZnRYjPM_LvM/s640/IMG_4579.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Blood and Bandages laid out like a screenplay.</i></div>
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I examined the book for a <a href="http://www.raindance.org/10-tips-for-writing-loglines/">logline</a> and found the hitherto illusive heart of the story. <i> </i>I plotted the book's key emotional beats and ensured that each chapter ended on a hook (cliff-hanger). <br />
It was a wonderfully liberating process which gave the story an unwavering focus and natural momentum. I finally knew how to weave all the elements of the story into one glorious tapestry. There was only one thing left to do, sell the story, and the best place to sell a book had to be the <a href="http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/">London Book Fair</a>. It was now March 2016, the book was unfinished and the fair was just one month away.<br />
I'll tell you what happened next on 7th April.<br />
Thanks for dropping by.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-82725939542178985632017-02-15T12:10:00.001+00:002017-04-07T07:44:24.964+01:00Part three of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946 The story had to have a heart.<br />
It also had to have a publisher. To achieve that, I needed to demonstrate that the book had<br />
1. a unique selling point, (USP)<br />
2. an engaging style,<br />
3. an audience,<br />
4. and a writer with knowledge of the publishing industry.<br />
I knew that the book had a USP. I was developing my writing style and the audience was comprised of those interested in World War Two. What I didn't have was a knowledge of the publishing industry so it was back to school, again. Luckily, I could call upon <a href="https://www.newwritingsouth.com/">New Writing South</a>, (NWS) to help.<br />
NWS was, (and still is), an organisation which provides support, encouragement and training to writers in the south-east. I scoured the programme for events on publishing and found Writers at Large, a one day course on breaking into the industry. I made copious notes throughout the day and pitched the story in a group session. It was led by <a href="http://andrewgmarshall.com/">Andrew Marshall</a>, who generously offered to read and feedback on the first chapter. I listened carefully to his advice and followed some of it.<br />
It was three years before I attended another event, the NWS Publishing Industry Day. As usual, I filled several notebooks and tried to take comfort from the encouraging speeches. By then, I'd had several rejections from agents and publishers. Lack of commercial appeal was usually cited. I suspected that that was kind because they all said yes to the pitch but no to the sample chapters. Hence, it was with great interest that I listened to <a href="https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/">The Literary Consultancy</a>'s (TLC), presentation on manuscript assessments. It was a service whereby one of their experienced readers could provide a detailed analysis of what was and wasn't working in a book. That's what I required. For the umpteenth time, I re-wrote the book, had it proofread and sent it off.It was read by <a href="https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/reader/french-karl/karl-french/">Karl French</a>, a writer, editor and journalist who had worked for publishing houses like <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk">Bloomsbury</a> and national newspapers such as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk">Guardian</a> and <a href="https://www.ft.com/?edition=uk">Financial Times.</a><br />
Mr French produced a detailed 14-page report. Importantly, he confirmed that the story did have a USP and went on to say, "<i>this book can and must get out there somehow."</i> Overall, it was a terrifically encouraging assessment but there was a big but. "<i>This isn't as yet a book whose promise is fully realised,</i>" he said. To reach its potential I would need to undertake more interviews with Bill, re-structure the book, beef up some sections with more context and edit others so the story was more vivid and powerful. These were monumental changes. "<i>Perhaps that is simply too daunting or not something that you are interested in committing to</i>," he opined.<br />
Thus for a second time, I was being asked whether I would fully commit to the book. This time there was no room for fudging. I pulled my shoulders back, took a deep breath and chose the book.<br />
William was happy to re-start the interviews and I recommenced my research. We were making good progress when, a few days before his 100th birthday, I downed tools. William and I had fallen out. The book was off, indefinitely.<br />
I'll tell you what happened next on <b>11th March</b> in part four of the inside story of <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/">Blood and Bandages.</a><br />
Thanks for dropping by.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-42772823442637221622017-01-31T17:00:00.000+00:002017-04-07T07:37:38.073+01:00Part two of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946.I fudged it.<br />
I couldn't give up scriptwriting. I loved it too much but neither could I ignore my new found obligation. Pragmatism was required, so in my naviety I just added, 'write Bill's book,' to my to-do list. I determined to give it 100% effort to match that given by those of whom I was writing, notwithstanding my intention to give the same to my scripts. Such impossible goals deserved impossible time frames and I gave myself two years to write a book and an original screenplay. I rolled up my sleeves and instructed my sub-conscious to start on the script while the rest of me worked on the book.<br />
I had imagined the book in terms of a stone being dropped into a millpond. Bill's story was the stone and each ripple represented context, the closer to the impact, the greater the detail. The first and closest was that of the 214th field ambulance, the next, his sister field ambulance, the next, the Royal Army Medical Corps, then the 56th (London) Division, the Eighth and Fifth Armies and so on with the history of the Second World War being the furthest from the epicentre.<br />
I wanted to use as much first hand material as possible, so I returned to the National Archives to copy the war diaries of the 167th field ambulance, reports from the 56th (London) Division and any other material which could shed light on Bill's story, however loosely connected. I read out of print books dedicated to the Italian Campaign like, 'The Gothic Line' by Douglas Orgill (1967), 'The Campaign in Italy' by Eric Linklater (1951) and more contemporary ones like, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jul/23/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries">Norman Lewis' 'Naples '44'</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monte-Cassino-Story-Hardest-fought-Battle/dp/0755311760">Matthew Parker's 'Monte Cassino</a>' and <a href="http://lloydclarkauthor.com/about/">Lloyd Clark's 'Anzio.</a>' I constantly renewed Redmond McLaughlin's 'The Royal Army Medical Corps,' and tracked down the wonderful 'RAMC' by Anthony Cotterell (1943/4). I also began to tackle the big beasts of military history like <a href="http://www.maxhastings.com/about/">Max Hastings</a> and the sublime <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Beevor">Antony Beevor.</a> I had a voracious appetite for knowledge, most evident in my weekly interviews with Bill.<br />
Bill was a perfect interviewee. He was bright, thoughtful, honest and generous. He forgave the technical problems with cameras or tape-recorders and my inexperience. Each time I asked him to recount a particuarly horrific event, he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and answered. The same questions were repeated, not because I was being voyeuristic, but because I was thoughtless. Then I remembered that when I looked out onto the garden I saw the washing line, when Bill looked out, he saw the war.<br />
One of the events which caused him great distress was the capture of his greatest friend, Frank Allen at <a href="http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/battle-of-anzio.htm">Anzio</a>. He described in detail how the Black Cats had landed with the invasion force at Anzio on 22nd January 1944; how they had wasted time building up the bridgehead while the Germans brought in reinforcements and surrounded them; how attempts to breakout had ended in slaughter and how Frank had been captured during a disasterous night mission. It was an oft repeated story but when I checked it against the records I discovered that the Black Cats did not arrive in Anzio until 17th February and Frank had been taken prisoner the previous November. I pieced together the correct version but I couldn't just hand it to Bill to read. I had to tell him face to face that his memory was false. How do you tell a man of 97 years that for the last 50 years or so he's been mistaken? That his subconscious had merged two of his most awful memories into one terrrible event. It took him a while for it to sink in.<br />
Alongside the research, I was drafting and re-drafting the book. It hit 20 drafts, then 25 and finally 30 before I had set every event in context. It had been a hard graft but I felt confident enough to send it out to two of my most trusted writing buddies for their feedback. Their response was unanimous; while the book had gained the history, it had lost its heart.<br />
I was shattered. As I slowly digested their comments, I realised that I had inadvertently created a second rate history from a first rate story.<br />
It felt like almost four years of painstaking research, effort and time had been wasted. I was exhausted and wanted to slink into a corner, lick my wounds and chide myself for ever having thought that I could do it. <br />
I'll tell you what happened next on <b>10th February</b> in part three of the inside story of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085">Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in a RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946.</a><br />
Thanks for dropping by. It's good to be back.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-21944652743318342292017-01-17T22:05:00.002+00:002017-04-25T13:25:34.442+01:00Part one of the inside story of writing Blood and Bandages - fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946 I never meant to write <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/">a book</a>. <br />
In 2009, the year I met William Earl, I was still basking in the glory of graduating from the <a href="http://www.arts.ac.uk/">University of the Arts London </a>with an MA in screenwriting. The MA had awakened a passion for writing original screenplays and within a year of graduating, two of my short films had been made, my first ever play had been performed in <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/take-six-adur-arts-live-09.html">Adur Arts Live</a> and I was working with a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2993311/">renowned script editor </a>on a feature film. Life was exciting and I was looking forward to a future in screenwriting.<br />
I met William on Remembrance Sunday when I popped in to my in-laws to watch the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fn735/clips">BBC coverage of the commemorations at Whitehall.</a> William was a neighbour for whom they cared and when I arrived, he was reminising about his time in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Army_Medical_Corps">Royal Army Medical Corps </a>during the Second World War. As I had featured a war veteran in a <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/remembrance-day.html">previous blog</a>, I identified William as a potential interviewee. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZifj7FBlhMLV-ra9WDyh2nZUQyq5o23lecMnOQalH9NiUJ-Z4qDhNevL-MPs-NXbrrNJuKhWJDh0TPFgo56XVLqeoilf9EcpE_y-B1okpOeSgZ5loFVGA5dR32WJZ1jOsNmwnqCXgPmP/s1600/IMG_0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZifj7FBlhMLV-ra9WDyh2nZUQyq5o23lecMnOQalH9NiUJ-Z4qDhNevL-MPs-NXbrrNJuKhWJDh0TPFgo56XVLqeoilf9EcpE_y-B1okpOeSgZ5loFVGA5dR32WJZ1jOsNmwnqCXgPmP/s320/IMG_0213.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>William in 2011 with Tom on Daisy, William's mobility scooter.</i></div>
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At my request, my in-laws asked William if he wanted to be interviewed for my blog and a meeting was scheduled for early 2010. </div>
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When I arrived, William welcomed me into his tidy old fashioned home and while we looked at his unpolished medals he declared, "I'm a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/10841035/Monte-Cassino-veterans-anger-at-D-Day-dodger-label.html">D-Day Dodger</a> and I still hate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_W._Clark">Mark Clark</a> for what he did at Anzio." I didn't expect that and instantly felt that this wasn't going to be a pale interview full of facts but no fizz. For the next hour, William explained that he had been called-up to join the 214th Field Ambulance, <a href="http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/56th_division.htm">56th (London) Division </a>in 1940 where he'd learnt the trade of a nursing orderly. His job was to treat, collect and evacuate the wounded from the front line to the medical units further back. He illustrated their positions with pencil drawings and reeled off where he had seen action, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_north_africa_campaign.shtml">North Africa</a>, <a href="http://www.historynet.com/avalanche-how-both-sides-lost-at-salerno.htm">Salerno</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6utJ_VQc04">Monte Cassino</a>, <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/anzio-the-invasion-that-almost-failed">Anzio,</a> and the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a6401440.shtml">River Po</a>. Even with my scant knowledge of the Second World War, I recognised the names of these major engagements. William was bursting to continue his story when the hour was up so we agreed to meet again.<br />
In fact, we met many times after that and gradually he told of more intimate and terrifying experiences. I became conscious of the fact that I was hearing a unique story which deserved a wider audience. I told William that I wanted to tell his story, not in a blog, but in a book. He readily agreed, but what he had in mind was a pamphlet which he could give to his friends. I already knew that his story should be set in the context of his field ambulance and the Italian Campaign so I rejected that idea and instead offered to write his memoir with a view to getting it published. He agreed and I stepped up a gear.</div>
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Firstly, I had to verify the facts. William's army records were requested and checked. They supported William's dates, role and locations. My husband and I clambered into William's loft and recovered the letters he'd sent home from the front, his love poems to his beloved wife Mary and a stash of war photos. It was an enviable collection of first hand evidence upon which I could base the book. Next thing was to delve into the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_italy/index_embed.shtml">Italian Campaign</a> to check William's account of various events. They fitted. It was coming together and, at that stage, I still felt that I could write William's story while continuing to feed my passion for scriptwriting. That all changed in 2012.<br />
Contextualising William's story within World War Two had only taken me so far and I needed to move onto the detail to really test the strength and accuracy of his story. Hence, in February 2012, I paid my first visit to the <a href="https://museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk/">Museum of Military Medicine</a> at Keogh Barracks, Aldershot. There I was shown all the World War Two RAMC training manuals and as I read who did what and where, William's account of his role started to slot into the wider picture. That said, what struck me most was the fact that the manuals seemed to have been written by those who had served in the First World War for references were made to mistakes made in 1914 -18. Next stop was the <a href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">National Archives</a> to read the 214th's war diaries. They ran to hundreds of pages and I painstakingly photographed each one. <br />
When I got home I started reading them. There was so much material that I split it up into periods of three months, cross referencing each month with William's interview notes, his photographs and his letters home. They confirmed William's version of events. More surprisingly, I found myself being drawn into the world of the 214th and I started to care about the men about whom I was reading.<br />
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<i>Officers and sergeants of the 214th Field Ambulance (courtesy of William Earl)</i></div>
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I laughed at the exasperation of the 214th's first commanding officer who attempted to convert the recalcitrant new recruits, William among them, to army life. I sympathised with Private Sherwood who made the heartbreaking decision to leave his badly injured friend, Private Mustoe, and save a lesser injured soldier. I cried when they found Mustoe's body the following day. I felt the desperation of Major Johnson who repeatedly tried to reach a seriously injured officer before a town was surrounded by Germans. I shared the pain of the officers whose Christmas toast was to an infantry unit that had been decimated the previous autumn.<br />
As I summarised and catalogued each entry, I felt a growing sense of obligation to tell their story as well as William's. However, to do that I would have to gain:-<br />
1. a much broader understanding of the Second World War in the west<br />
2. a detailed understanding of the Italian Campaign and the 56th London Division<br />
3. an expert level of understanding of the operation of a field ambulance, and most painfully of all,<br />
4. put my beloved scriptwriting on hold, let my industry leads go cold and allow the MA skills, so diligently honed over two years, atrophy.<br />
I had boxed myself into a corner and I now had to choose between passion and obligation.<br />
I'll tell you what I did in my next blog, due out on <u>27th January.</u><br />
Until then, thanks for dropping by and see you soon. It's great to be back. </div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-89195918747030082832016-12-24T12:12:00.000+00:002016-12-30T11:01:02.560+00:00Happy Christmas and thanks Hello and welcome to my blog. Firstly and most importantly,<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">I wish you a wonderful Christmas and every </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">happiness throughout 2017</span></div>
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Thank you for continuing to visit my blog and I apologise for being so flaky this year. I've got lots of news to share with you in the new year as well as continuing to feature local places and people. As promised gzillions of times, ok twice, I'll start with the story behind the writing of <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/book-item/blood-and-bandages-fighting-for-life-in-the-ramc-field-ambulance-1940-1946/">Blood and Bandages</a>, then move onto a feature on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlipins_Museum">Marlipins</a> and <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-day-in-life-of-councillor-liza.html">Liza Mckinney</a> our retired Marine Ward Councillor. Until then, here's a little <a href="https://youtu.be/lbejNNCTr7k">Christmas present </a> and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus">stocking filler</a> to thank you for reading my blog and I look forward to seeing you again 2018. <span style="color: red;">Opps sorry, that should be January 2017.</span><br />
<br />Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-43428338732406958872016-10-11T13:16:00.001+01:002016-10-11T13:24:14.456+01:00Blood and Bandages - Fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946Hello. It's great to see you. I'm sorry I've been gone a while but I've been finishing this...<br />
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William Earl's and my book!</div>
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Do you remember back in March I posted on visiting the <a href="http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/">London Book Fair</a> to sell the book? Well, I met three publishers and one of them, Ian Bayley of <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/">Sabrestorm Publishing</a>, made an offer there and then. This is why,</div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"From the many manuscripts and book ideas we receive on a regular basis, ‘Blood & Bandages’ stood out. A terrific first-hand account of the stresses of army life in the RAMC combined with the pressures of being away from home and those you love. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Liz Coward expertly weaves in the historical background of William’s experiences and the additional photographs (many of them from William's personal album) ensured that I couldn’t put the book down."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i>Since then<i>, </i>William, Ian and I have finished the book, found additional photos and moved onto the final proofing and editing stage. It's been a long, hard journey and there have been moments when I thought it couldn't be done, but it's almost there and already selling on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Bandages-Fighting-Ambulance-1940-1946/dp/1781220085">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.casematepublishing.co.uk/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=blood+and+bandages">Casemate. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The book will be launched in April 2017 and between now and then I'd love to share the story of its development.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I'd better dash now because I've got to get back to proofing every coma, hyphen, and word in <a href="http://www.sabrestorm.com/future-titles/">Blood and Bandages. </a></span></div>
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Thanks for dropping by and see you on 1st November.</div>
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Ta-ra for now.</div>
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Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-63587020042181351372016-09-13T22:38:00.003+01:002016-09-13T22:38:44.479+01:00I'm back! Sorry I've been gone for so long and thanks for bearing with me. I've been uber-busy and have got lots of news for you. I'm still playing catch-up but will be back in the saddle next Friday, 23rd September. I'll look forward to seeing you then.<br />
Ta-ra for now.Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-84261320478923323062016-03-14T16:04:00.000+00:002016-03-16T12:18:33.641+00:00A personal response to the AAIB report on the Shoreham Airshow disaster Hello and welcome to my blog. Last week saw the publication of the <a href="https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/56e178f240f0b6037900001b/S1-2016_G-BXFI.pdf">interim Air Accidents Investigation Branch </a>report on the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_61544576"></span>RAFA Shoreham Airshow disaster</a>.<br />
The investigation's purpose was clearly stated in the report;<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 9.000000pt;"><b><i>"The sole objective of the investigation... is the prevention of future
accidents and incidents. It is not the purpose of such an investigation to apportion blame or liability.
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 9.000000pt;"><b><i>Accordingly, it is inappropriate that AAIB reports should be used to assign fault or blame or determine liability, since
neither the investigation nor the reporting process has been undertaken for that purpose." (AAIB Bulletin S1/2016 Special)</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arialmt";"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he moment it was published, <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/topic/shoreham-air-crash/">the scalp-hunters descended.</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The organisers were the obvious target. It was implied that at best, they were incompetent, at worse, complacent. Commentators forgot that these organisers are also members of our community; dedicated volunteers who had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for <a href="https://www.rafa.org.uk/?gclid=CMSj2JyFxcsCFfEV0wodwKMIVQ">RAFA</a> in bygone years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> By pandering to the blame culture, the raison d'etre of the AAIB investigation was ignored. In so doing, the press also missed the fact that the investigation meant that the victims had not die in vain. </span><br />
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<img alttext="Top (L-R): Matt Jones, 24, Matthew Grimstone, 23, Jacob Schilt, 23, Daniele Polito, 23, Mark Trussler, 49, James Mallinson, 72.
Bottom (L-R): Maurice Abrahams, 76, Mark Reeves, 53, Richard Smith, 26, Dylan Archer, 42, Tony Brightwell, 52." caption="Top (L-R): Matt Jones, 24, Matthew Grimstone, 23, Jacob Schilt, 23, Daniele Polito, 23, Mark Trussler, 49, James Mallinson, 72. Bottom (L-R): Maurice Abrahams, 76, Mark Reeves, 53, Richard Smith, 26, Dylan Archer, 42, Tony Brightwell, 52." src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03426/shoreham-comp-upda_3426295b.jpg" declared-caption="Top (L-R): Matt Jones, 24, Matthew Grimstone, 23, Jacob Schilt, 23, Daniele Polito, 23, Mark Trussler, 49, James Mallinson, 72. Bottom (L-R): Maurice Abrahams, 76, Mark Reeves, 53, Richard Smith, 26, Dylan Archer, 42, Tony Brightwell, 52." height="387" name="shoreham-comp-updated" photographer="" refid="3426295" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: -40px; overflow: hidden;" version="b" width="620" /><br />
(<i>L-R top row</i> Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Daniele Polito, Mark Trussler, Graham Mallison <i>L-R bottom row</i>, Maurice Abrahams, Mark Reeves, Richard Smith, Dylan Archer and Tony Brightwell <i>courtesy of <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/11819036/Everything-we-know-about-the-Shoreham-Air-Show-plane-crash.html">The Telegraph online</a>)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Because they died, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">weaknesses in <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/home/">CAA </a>processes and procedures have been revealed. These weaknesses can now be eliminated or strengthened and safety at UK airshows improved. Despite the tragedy of their deaths, these men have left a</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> huge legacy and one of which the families should be proud and we should be grateful. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The focus should be on that and not on finding scapegoats. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt";"> Thanks for dropping by and see you soon with an update on my preparation for the London Book Fair. </span></div>
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Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3667103913533246077.post-3783820673136927152016-03-05T11:15:00.000+00:002016-03-05T11:15:30.878+00:00Building up to the London Book Fair Hello and welcome to my blog.<br />
I hope you enjoyed<a href="http://www.cowspiracy.com/"> Cowspiracy</a>. It was a revelation to me but then I saw Irene, one of my regular readers. She'd heard the same message way back in the '70s from <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/news-and-features/frugal-food-2012.html">Delia Smith </a>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Spencer">Colin Spencer</a>. I didn't know whether to be delighted or disappointed. Either way, we are still keen to reduce our consumption of meat and dairy and increase our intake of plant-based food.<br />
The Universe must have approved of our decision because it coincided with Vegfestuk in Brighton. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vegfestuk/">Vegfest</a> organises the largest Vegan Festivals in Europe and I popped in last Saturday. It was like walking through the wardrobe to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia">Narnia</a>. Everyone, apart from me, seemed committed and well informed. I played catch up by attending a talk on how <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/dec/13/foodanddrink.weekend">milk can leach calcium from bones</a>, and sampling the wares in the food court. They were surprisingly good, so our aim will be easier to achieve than anticipated.<br />
Turning to Shoreham Beach matters. Did you go to <a href="http://shorehambeachra.co.uk/agm16.pdf">Saturday's meeting at the Church of the Good Shepherd?</a> I missed it, (because I was at Vegfest), but apparently 200 people turned up to discuss the <a href="http://shorehambeachra.co.uk/BeachGreen.pdf">proposed redevelopment of Beach Green.</a><br />
Beach Green is our only publicly owned green space. It has a large concrete toilet block in the middle and over the years, various proposals have been submitted for its' redevelopment. Another proposal has now been received from <a href="https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08728923">Wilbo's Restaurants Ltd</a>. It would like to demolish the toilet block and some adjacent beach huts and build on the entire green and part of the adjoining <a href="http://www.fosbeach.com/">Nature Reserve.</a> It would then like to construct:-<br />
<ul>
<li>a three storey restaurant, </li>
<li>an ice-cream and milkshake bar, </li>
<li>a skate park, </li>
<li>a volley-ball court,</li>
<li>a children's play area, </li>
<li>a pitch-and-putt golf course and </li>
<li>a bike hire.</li>
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I think it's too ambitious and hiring bikes beside a <a href="http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/cyclists-illegally-use-shoreham-boardwalk-1-6959947">Broadwalk upon which cycling is prohibited, </a>is asking for trouble. Opinions for and against the proposal are being sought, so if you would like to add yours, contact <a href="http://shorehambeachra.co.uk/">Shoreham Beach Residents' Association.</a></div>
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Turning to more personal matters, I'm preparing to pitch <a href="http://lifeon-shorehambeach.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/a-day-in-life-of-william-earl-beach.html">William Earl'</a>s war memoirs at this years' <a href="http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/">London Book Fair. </a> Regulars will know that I've spent the last seven years researching and writing about this 100-year-old's war experience as a Nursing Orderly in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Army_Medical_Corps">Royal Army Medical Corps. </a> William served in <a href="http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-north-africa-campaign.htm">North Africa</a> and <a href="http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/italy">Italy</a> and his extraordinary story records his transformation from a unremarkable chemist's assistant to a heroic medic who helped to recover the injured from the front line, evacuate them under fire and bury those they couldn't save. No first-hand accounts of a Nursing Orderly have been published before so I'm honoured to be the first to re-tell the story of these extraordinary men. </div>
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I'll let you know how I get on, but in the meantime thanks for dropping by and see you soon. </div>
Liz Cowardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534134017538351185noreply@blogger.com0