Battlefield 1 - Top 5 tips for medic class

If you are really into this game and its a good one lets not deny this, then these tips can really improve your game score from a class that you may not have considered before!

Battlefield 1 - Best use of Martini Henry Sniper rifle

Martini Sniper Rifle.

If you are serious about Battlefield 1, then this vid recorded by my son will surely  help you to get those stats up!

Yeti Bluetooth Microphone unboxing

Check out this dedicated bluetooth microphone. It is surprising how you can get such a much better professional sound quality on your vlog/video's.

Yeti professional microphone

Depth Charge!

During my Naval career, there were many incidents that occurred that I will never forget.
Here is another excerpt from the book "Running For Home" which highlights one of those incidents:

Depth Charge! Top Autobiographies

"The depth charge looked like a large bomb, complete with fins but with a flat nose instead of a cone. It was set at a very shallow depth which would give the maximum effect for display purposes. We took off, depth charge at the ready. It was a totally brilliant moment and one of the best in my career. It was one of those unforgettable moments that live with you for the rest of your life.

We flew along the port side of the ship. The direction of the wind was directly onto the port (left) side of the ship. After a few dummy runs the pilot said; “What do you reckon, do you think that this is about the right distance?” It was difficult to judge, after all, we’d never dropped a live depth charge before. Too far away and it would lose its impact. Too close and being a real depth charge, well no-one knew what would happen.

The pilot had the release button on his joystick. I said it looked about right. He flicked up the safety catch, hesitated then pressed it. We could feel the thing release as the weight came off. Between the conversation and the actual impact with the sea, the distance between the ship and the now loose depth charge had somehow terrifyingly diminished. Still, it would certainly be impressive for the numerous onlookers that festooned the decks of the Lowestoft.

On release, the pilot had immediately banked over to get the best view. It was naturally panoramic since as usual, we were flying without doors on. I knew F was there amongst the onlookers and indeed the decks were crowded.

The depth charge plunged into the sea. The pilot and I could clearly see its trace of bubbles as it charged below the waves. There was a slight pause. Longer than I had imagined, then, as it detonated, a large dome in the sea appeared and the shock wave shot out at an astounding rate, right through the ship. After this, came the most incredible fountain of water I have ever seen. By now, the ship and this huge spout of water seemed so close as to be quite shocking. It shot skyward and it seemed as though it was reaching out to consume us. The view was remarkable as the huge water fountain, blown by the wind continued like some sort of monsoon and began to devour the whole ship".

Find out what happens in the aftermath of this incident by reading the book by going to this link Running For Home and thanks for looking at Top Autobiographies.

How to get free books forever!

How To Get Free Books Forever - Top Autobiographies

Free Books Forever - Don't buy another book 

How would you like to have free books for the rest of your life? I'm not talking about any old books but up-to date books included! How is this possible you ask? What is the catch, surely their must be a catch? But, there is no catch whatsoever.

All you have to do is to go to Amazon and look for the shopping menu. If you click on this it will drop down and show all the shopping categories. Look for "Kindle Store" and click on this. It will take you straight to the Amazon on-line book store where there are literally millions of free books
Type in the box at the top Free Books or Top 100 free. This will take you to the free books.

These books are free because Amazon allows the Authors a period to promote their books and putting them on for free usually give them greater exposure and greater sales later on. I often put my book "Running for Home" onto this scheme with some success. In this way you can obtain as many free books as you wish for all time, many of which will be best sellers by famous authors.

But wait a minute I hear you say! I haven't got a Kindle or other device to get the books on. Don't worry, this is the simple bit. Guess what, you can convert your computer into a Kindle! Now that's what I call a bargain. Not only can you get more free books than you could read in a whole lifetime but you can also get them on your computer. How do I do this? It's not particularly difficult to do but if you are not too good on the computer just get some help since it will be worth it I promise you.
Just click on this link and it will take you to the site which helps you to instal the app required to give you a whole new experience. Now go and have a look at some of those top selling books for free.

Music and Writing - Your Inspiration

Music and Writing - Your Inspiration

If you are a writer or intend to be one then here is a small tip that you may like to help inspire you during those drought periods, when just what to write eludes you.
If you are able to collate a list of your favourite music then go ahead and do so. Just like the smell of freshly cut grass, a newly creosoted fence or your Mothers perfume bring back memories to you instantly, then the same can be said for music.

At the very moment I write this, I am listening to music. Over a period of two years, I have been able to amass several hundred of my all time favourite music tracks. There are several ways to do this and it is certainly getting easier. At one time you would have to save your pocket money, dash down to the local music store and buy what was called a "single". This was a vinyl record comprising your cherished number one on the "A" side and something a little less attractive on the "B" side. This could be a tedious way of accumulating your desired collection.

Now things are a lot easier. My collection is amassed on what is called "Spotify". I am able to download tracks from this provider completely free, many of which are very up to date. Adverts get in the way but if you pay £10 (UK) per month, then the ad's disappear and the music just keeps on coming. Due to the popularity of this service, a waiting list has developed but it may still be worthwhile trying to join.

So, getting back to the point of what this article is about, if you have never tried this before, whether you are an accomplished writer or a complete novice, have a go at writing whilst listening to some of your most moving and momentous tracks. It may well surprise you in the way it can inspire you. Different types of music can have different effects of course depending on your mood . Some music is bold, some is uplifting but all of it can be inspirational to your writing.

See just what effect it had on me when I was writing my autobiography.  Some peculiar coincidences with music and writing can occur also. For instance, as I was typing this, I was thinking of a track that might inspire you. I thought of "Wind Beneath My Wings" and guess what it is playing as I write this sentence.  Not only was it life-changing to have written a book but it did me a world of good and gave me so much satisfaction in my soul, that today I am a changed person.

See just how I got on with the writing of my book "Running For Home"

Man Down!

This is an excerpt from my autobiography when a man was "electrocuted" and I "saved" him:

Some of the things I would do to avoid certain situations would be to volunteer for anything going, as long as it wasn’t anything to do with my proper job. I would for instance, volunteer for dining hall party. All this involved was cleaning and setting up the dining hall, washing up and making sure that all the sauces and condiments were full. It was great and gave me a break from the nervous tension I experienced whilst trying desperately to do my normal job. My superiors just thought I was great for volunteering and that’s the irony, I got a really good report.

Of course this was only a temporary reprieve and after the allotted time I was back in the MCO. Things didn’t all go badly, since there were times when a bit of luck would occasionally come my way. I was on the broadcast as usual when one of the electrical engineers began to repair a nearby radio. I took very little notice when all of a sudden he screamed out and began to shake violently from electrical shock. I sprang into action, surprising even myself. Spotting a wooden broom that was close by, I grabbed it and swiftly pushed the poor rating away from the radio. He immediately fell to the floor as I threw the broom to one side. As I was about to feel for a pulse, he suddenly jumped to his feet and walked off. At first I was completely baffled until I heard the applause from the onlookers. It had been an exercise and I had passed with flying colours but I felt annoyed. It had all been a ‘set up’ but nevertheless, I felt a great sense of pride.

If you'd like to read more about my incredibly varied and farcical life, then you can have a free preview here Running For Home

Do You Fear Self Employment?

Do you fear Self Employment?

Don't fear self employment, it's not as bad as you might imagine. I have been self employed for 28 years now and I vowed that I would never work for anyone else ever again.

Having done a number of jobs in the past like the Merchant Navy and three trades in the Royal Navy, I know enough about being employed to make a judgement.

One thing I did like about being in the Navy was the security it gave me but I also have to admit that I was in the wrong job. But you know what, it is notoriously hard to just change jobs when you have commitments hanging over your head and bills to pay. It can be a real nightmare. For more information read this amazing book

In my case I had no choice over my discharge from the Royal Navy. I was discharged because of stress aggravated by Naval service. No body's fault really, just one of those things. All this was a long time ago though and to be honest I was relieved to get out and at the time, I didn't have very many commitments even though I was married. I didn't have any kids as well so the decisions I made would be easier. Although I owned my own property, it was a mobile home on a Naval caravan site.
We loved it here but we could not stay so I put the place up for sale and sold it without any problems.

After a foray into the jobs market I was able to get a job with accommodation as a gardener for a millionaire in Kent. There had been many applicants but somehow my wife and I had impressed them enough to get the job. We only lasted a month here though and it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and I began to wonder where my life was leading. For more information read this amazing book

I spent the next two years unemployed in Malta. This was a highlight though and as my wife is Maltese, we had many relatives to rely on. I had received a gratuity of £5000 on leaving the Navy, and this is mainly what we lived on for two years. When the money ran out and a bad on foreigners working in Malta, we returned to the UK and briefly to my parents house. We were now homeless and almost penniless apart from a small pension granted to my from the Navy, but not enough to live on.

We did not last long here either so moved in with friends in Durham whom we'd met in Malta. It was then that I met a window cleaner who was selling his round. It wasn't something I had considered before but I decided to buy the round.

Because I was so eager to work for myself at this time, I was keen to make it work. After some training from the old guy I was away on my own. There was a lot to learn but it didn't take long to learn the routine. Soon I was able to come off social security although they did not give me much on top of my pension. Then we applied for a council house and got one within six weeks. Since I had been in the Navy, I got some priority but remember, the waiting list was not so long in 1986.

Things were looking up and my wife would help me clean the windows too. After a few months we really began to learn how to clean windows well and even we were surprised at how fast we could get the round out of the way. We also began to pick up extra work. Some I got by canvassing newly built houses and began to get some good work. Others I got by people just seeing us work and asking us to clean there houses.

I had bought an old Morris Minor which should really have been in the scrap yard but it got us about at first. However, we were doing so well that I was able to sell this and get a big Rover SD1. It seemed like an amazing turn around and not long after we bought an old caravan to go touring in at weekends.

So being self employed was suiting us but don't get carried away, absolutely nothing is ideal. It was hard work especially in winter. Going back to peoples houses collecting at night and being responsible for my own tax. I had to be self disciplined too and this won't suit everyone but to be my own boss for once far outweighed the downside for me.

Also, when you are self employed, the money can be better than you initially imagine. We could have done better but we are content with the life we had self employed and one big plus was that I got to spend a lot of time with my family. I concentrated on short hours but with a relatively high pay. Also I am actually in a very secure job, a job for life and one from which I can't get the sack.

So if you're thinking of going self employed make sure you are prepared for the responsibility that it brings but the upside can be very rewarding. For more information read this amazing book

A Brush with Royalty

Running For Home - A brush with Royalty

A brush with Royalty - Top Autobiographies

When I was in the Royal Navy and based at HMS Daedalus in Hampshire, a now redundant airbase, the following incident occurred:

........a large black car with a flag on the bonnet swept into view. The car swiftly pulled up beside me, the driver deftly placing the correct door right in front of me. “Well here goes” I thought as I grasped the door handle and swung it open…

I immediately saluted as the V.I.P exited the car. I nearly dropped dead when I saw who it was. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip. He thrust out his hand and we shook hands warmly, his piercing blue eyes looked right into mine as he said “Good morning” I replied, “Good morning Sir”, trying to look cool and professional, but all I could think of was how I hadn’t had a shave that morning as I passed him over to an  entourage of waiting officers in the control tower.

If you woul like a free pre-view of this book, then just click on the link:

Running For Home and get a free preview of the book. Thanks very much for looking at Top Autobiographies.

Metal Fatigue and a lifesaving call

Metal Fatigue - Top Autobiographies

Metal Fatigue!

When HMS Lowestoft had berthed in Rosyth Dockyard in 1975 the morale of the ship's company was low. We'd just finished a tour of several countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Brazil. All this seemed a distant memory in the dismal weather of the British Isles.

This is a similar Wasp

 

On families day several weeks before, the ships helicopter, of which I was the aircrew man, had dropped a live depth charge into the sea to impress the hoards of onlookers as the ship sailed slowly through the sea just off the South Coast and Portsmouth. The pilot had miscalculated the distance between the depth charge entering the sea and the actual ship. The resulting explosion was impressive but was to have some interesting consequences. Most of the admiring families were soaked by the massive fountain of water that engulfed the ship including my future wife.

Damage had undoubtedly been done to the ship but this was erroneously attributed to sabotage. It was decided by the authorities, to fly in three detectives to the ship whilst in Rosyth Dockyard using the ships helicopter call-sign 451. On return, the helicopter was folded up and slid into the hangar, the detectives scurrying below.

It was my job as aircrew man to inspect the tail rotor after each flight. I had been careless in this regard in the past but since three detectives were on board it was just the impetus I needed to carry out the task. I can still remember clearly the dim lights in the now deserted hangar, the smell of fuel and the residual heat still coming off the engine as I made my inspection. All seemed in order as it always was and I was about to turn away when I noticed something. It was like a thin watermark that ran most of the way round the tail cone. At first I could not believe what I was seeing but there was no doubt that it was a classic case of metal fatigue.

Raising the alarm it was not long before most of the flight crew were in the hangar and I was given more commendation than I'd ever had before in my career. It was a strange feeling though since I knew that potentially, I had not only saved my own life but that of the pilot and the three detectives on the very next flight.

Cockroach Encounter

Cockroach Encounter

Here is an incident whilst I was living in Singapore as a child:

I went swimming one day and my trunks were sort of uncomfortable. I was in and out of the pool for a couple of hours. I found out what was wrong with my trunks when I came to get changed. A very large cockroach staggered out. How it was able to breathe, is a matter of conjecture.

Scariest moment of my life - Helicopter crash landing

Scariest moment of my life - Helicopter crash landing

What's the scariest moment of your life? What's mine - well let's think. To be honest I have a few but here's one. I was in a helicopter as aircrew in the Royal Navy and doing some exercises called auto rotation. This is where you practice engine failure.

We'd done a few of these descents but on the last one the engine failed for real. The ground rushed up to meet us and boy was I scared. With no more height left to recover we just fell toward the ground but just as I thought we were going to die, the stupid engine decides that it was also scared and it kicks back in just in time to scrub off some of the speed we were heading for the ground. Bang we hit the ground, the suspension bottoms out, the engine and rotors scream, the cows in the field produce more than the usual cow pats and we bounce back into the air and just manage to stay airborne.

I think that was my luckiest escape but I have a few more. If you are interested, watch this space. For an immediate fix just have a look at my book. It's all in there, all the sordid details of my farcical and sometimes dangerous life Running For Home a top autobiography, have a free review of the first few chapters you will be surprised at how much of this book you can actually read for free.

What I did before I became a Window Cleaner

In my book "Running For Home", I go into great detail as to what I did before I became my own boss. I can honestly say that it was without doubt, the best decision that I ever made and I have no regrets other than wishing I had done it from the beginning.

"Running For Home" is an autobiography about a man that could not settle at anything but finally finds what he's looking for in self employment.

It goes into the agonies of being employed and the unhappiness that developed as a consequence along with life's uncertainties and disappointments on the way.

Should you want to know just what I got up to before I became  successfully self employed, then you must read my book to understand how I felt and how I arrived at this point wishing to help others get into a better place. "Running For Home"

Get Free Books Forever - Easy to do!

Free Books Forever - Don't buy another book 

How would you like to have free books for the rest of your life? I'm not talking about any old books but up-to date books included! How is this possible you ask? What is the catch, surely their must be a catch? But, there is no catch whatsoever.

All you have to do is to go to Amazon and look for the shopping menu. If you click on this it will drop down and show all the shopping categories. Look for "Kindle Store" and click on this. It will take you straight to the Amazon on-line book store where there are literally millions of free books
Type in the box at the top Free Books or Top 100 free. This will take you to the free books.

These books are free because Amazon allows the Authors a period to promote their books and putting them on for free usually give them greater exposure and greater sales later on. I often put my book "Running for Home" onto this scheme with some success. In this way you can obtain as many free books as you wish for all time, many of which will be best sellers by famous authors.

But wait a minute I hear you say! I haven't got a Kindle or other device to get the books on. Don't worry, this is the simple bit. Guess what, you can convert your computer into a Kindle! Now that's what I call a bargain. Not only can you get more free books than you could read in a whole lifetime but you can also get them on your computer. How do I do this? It's not particularly difficult to do but if you are not too good on the computer just get some help since it will be worth it I promise you.
Just click on this link and it will take you to the site which helps you to instal the app required to give you a whole new experience. Now go and have a look at some of those top selling books for free.

Want an ebook reader? Top tips from Top Autobiographies

Want an ebook reader? Top tips from Top Autobiographies

Did you know that you don't need a Kindle to read kindle books? The fact is that you can actually read Kindle books on your computer or even your i-Phone if you want to. All you have to do is download the app for this, follow the steps which is quite easy and hey presto you've turned your computer into a Kindle!

My book "Running For Home" is on my own computer since I don't own a Kindle myself. This is no big deal since I can just read it on my computer. Of course a Kindle will be more convenient since it is smaller and lighter to carry around but if you want a taste of what is available from the Kindle store, then this is a good place to start.

You can benefit from thousands of popular book titles many of which are totally free. In fact you need never buy another book again. Many best sellers can be acquired this way since many of them will have what is called a "promotional period" in which they are free. If you do a search for free books on the Amazon Kindle Store, a list of them will appear. I personally think this is fantastic.

Most books however are in the paid section and it will require you to pay for them but unless you are after a particular book, then most of them will be very inexpensive. My book for instance is at a very low price. I don't make much from this as you can imagine but I would rather have it read by more people at first to give it the best chance of success later on.

If you fancy having a go at getting the Kindle app, then just click on this link: http://goo.gl/DBcA2
I really do hope I have helped you with this and it will open up a whole new reading experience for you as it did for me. Thanks for looking at Top Autobiographies.

I'm a Lucky Man

It's only when you are older that you start to realise how lucky you are. I was listening to a radio programme on Radio 5 Live today about two lads that had to look after their Dad who had Alzheimer's. Their Father was quite young when he got this debilitating disease. They were just teenagers when they were thrown into being carers. Their Mother was not living with them at the time so it was down to the lads to do everything for him as he deteriorated.

When I look back at my life, I realise just how good it has been. I am over sixty and I still have both my parents and they still live in their own home. They are in their late eighties now and have never really suffered any health problems that were serious enough to cause much concern. They are still active and my Father still drives a car. He only gave up towing a caravan last year but retains the caravan as a static on a nearby site.

Of course they are becoming frail and both have had falls recently. My Father was pulled over by his over exuberant dog. A neighbour brought him home and it appeared that he had not broken anything. A hospital trip should have been on the agenda but he was not having any of it. He looked like he'd been beaten up for a couple of weeks.

Rather than take it for granted, I now realise that I must try to make the most of what limited time I have left with my parents. My Mother is showing early signs of Alzheimer's so time is not on our side. I had been unable to visit them for eleven months before my last visit and the signs of deterioration in them both was evident. I left it far too long but life can be difficult with work and lack of money getting in the way.

I have to make up for this somehow and this year at least, I must put more effort into visiting them before it's too late. If you have both your parents, remember they are precious and don't leave it too long before you visit them. When you look forward it seems that it's a long time but when you look back, you will find it has passed in a flash and that's why the saying makes so much sense; "life is short".

Time Travel Novel - Inside the Clock

Time Travel Book - "Inside the Clock"

"Inside the Clock"
My book "Inside the Clock"  is doing remarkably well for a first time novel. This is a book that is based on a true story. When I was sixteen, I met a girl who I fell in love with. One day, I really mess up and do something that ruins the relationship and she ditches me for my best friend.

Virtually everything in the book is real and actually happened but some things are not. These are blended together seamlessly and you will have to decide what is real and what is not. Dates, places, people and locations are correct even down to what was in the newspapers on that day. I have changed peoples names but nothing else.

As I look back into my past, I yearn to go back to a certain day in my life but when I get the chance it can never be as I want it. If I change too much, will it affect my future? Will certain loved ones cease to exist when I return if I make the wrong move?

The clock featured in this novel is an antique that still exists today and is a strong player in the conclusion of "Inside the Clock".

In the writing of this book, I have had no training, no publisher and no help whatsoever. It just goes to show that if you try and keep on trying, then you can succeed.

You get quite a long free preview of this book by clicking on the "look inside" feature when you visit the Amazon Kindle page that features my book "Inside the Clock".

Above is  a screen shot showing you just how you the public have helped me in ranking "Inside the Clock" the time travel book.

Do you fear self employment?

Do you fear Self Employment?

Don't fear self employment, it's not as bad as you might imagine. I have been self employed for 28 years now and I vowed that I would never work for anyone else ever again.

Having done a number of jobs in the past like the Merchant Navy and three trades in the Royal Navy, I know enough about being employed to make a judgement.

One thing I did like about being in the Navy was the security it gave me but I also have to admit that I was in the wrong job. But you know what, it is notoriously hard to just change jobs when you have commitments hanging over your head and bills to pay. It can be a real nightmare. For more information read this amazing book

In my case I had no choice over my discharge from the Royal Navy. I was discharged because of stress aggravated by Naval service. No body's fault really, just one of those things. All this was a long time ago though and to be honest I was relieved to get out and at the time, I didn't have very many commitments even though I was married. I didn't have any kids as well so the decisions I made would be easier. Although I owned my own property, it was a mobile home on a Naval caravan site.
We loved it here but we could not stay so I put the place up for sale and sold it without any problems.

After a foray into the jobs market I was able to get a job with accommodation as a gardener for a millionaire in Kent. There had been many applicants but somehow my wife and I had impressed them enough to get the job. We only lasted a month here though and it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and I began to wonder where my life was leading. For more information read this amazing book

I spent the next two years unemployed in Malta. This was a highlight though and as my wife is Maltese, we had many relatives to rely on. I had received a gratuity of £5000 on leaving the Navy, and this is mainly what we lived on for two years. When the money ran out and a bad on foreigners working in Malta, we returned to the UK and briefly to my parents house. We were now homeless and almost penniless apart from a small pension granted to my from the Navy, but not enough to live on.

We did not last long here either so moved in with friends in Durham whom we'd met in Malta. It was then that I met a window cleaner who was selling his round. It wasn't something I had considered before but I decided to buy the round.

Because I was so eager to work for myself at this time, I was keen to make it work. After some training from the old guy I was away on my own. There was a lot to learn but it didn't take long to learn the routine. Soon I was able to come off social security although they did not give me much on top of my pension. Then we applied for a council house and got one within six weeks. Since I had been in the Navy, I got some priority but remember, the waiting list was not so long in 1986.

Things were looking up and my wife would help me clean the windows too. After a few months we really began to learn how to clean windows well and even we were surprised at how fast we could get the round out of the way. We also began to pick up extra work. Some I got by canvassing newly built houses and began to get some good work. Others I got by people just seeing us work and asking us to clean there houses.

I had bought an old Morris Minor which should really have been in the scrap yard but it got us about at first. However, we were doing so well that I was able to sell this and get a big Rover SD1. It seemed like an amazing turn around and not long after we bought an old caravan to go touring in at weekends.

So being self employed was suiting us but don't get carried away, absolutely nothing is ideal. It was hard work especially in winter. Going back to peoples houses collecting at night and being responsible for my own tax. I had to be self disciplined too and this won't suit everyone but to be my own boss for once far outweighed the downside for me.

Also, when you are self employed, the money can be better than you initially imagine. We could have done better but we are content with the life we had self employed and one big plus was that I got to spend a lot of time with my family. I concentrated on short hours but with a relatively high pay. Also I am actually in a very secure job, a job for life and one from which I can't get the sack.

So if you're thinking of going self employed make sure you are prepared for the responsibility that it brings but the upside can be very rewarding. For more information read this amazing book

Who I am

Who I am

      Hi, I'm Chris Dawber and my nick name is Wagga. I began this blog in the hope of selling a few more books. Yes I wrote a book called "Running For Home" so this blog is mainly about this and there are many snippets and excerpts from the book on this blog.

I'm actually a window cleaner but I've done so many things in the past that even I have trouble believing that it was I that did them all. I have had a life of adventure, danger and sheer farce. The title of the book was inspired by the song "Run For Home" by Lindisfarne.

I was always trying to get home any way I could and this propensity to chicken out of so many responsibilities, was detrimental to whatever I tried to turn my hand to career wise. Though I do not regret much of what I did, I know that I could have done much better had I had the confidence and self esteem to go with it.

However, every cloud has a silver lining and as such, because of all the mishaps and adventures that this sort of lifestyle got me into, gave me a lot to write about. The most hectic period of my life and perhaps the most dangerous, was when I was an aircrew man in the type of helicopter in the picture.

It was a dangerous yet exciting period of my life but it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end every time I think about all the things that happened.

Free books - Worth Reading?

From time to time, you might see advertised on Amazon, a number of free books for you to download to your Kindle, computer or phone among other devices. Are these books free because they are not by famous Authors? Not necessarily.

Actually, it is a way for Authors, both successful and new to the world of writing to promote their new labour of love.

Many extremely good books can be picked up absolutely free from Amazon by both famous Authors and otherwise. Personally, I fall into the unknown category, but I did not expect to become famous overnight. In fact it will probably never happen.

What has happened though, is in the writing of my autobiography; "Running For Home" is a great sense of achievement and a sort of "getting it all off my chest" type of situation. If you have ever thought of writing your autobiography or memoirs, then don't put it off. At the very least, it will be a lasting legacy to all your close relatives and friends alike.

The best bit of it all to me was that I didn't need a publisher. To publish a book with Amazon you don't. This may come as a revelation to some and might even give you the impetus to start writing. There's lots of help too and Amazon are very good at this and I have to admit, I will always be eternally grateful for such a great company.

If you are wondering just where to start in all of this, why not take a look at my effort. As I have always said, if I can do it, then most others can as well.  "Running For Home" is an example of a book written from the heart. It does not purport to be a masterpiece or to be anything but an honest attempt to put into writing the account of an ordinary man's life. A man that is not afraid to say he was scared.

"Running For Home" is available for free for the next five days, starting tomorrow, 6th August. http://goo.gl/pkIhOI

Emergency Landing

Emergency Landing

Indian Ocean, 1974. I was the aircrew man on HMS Lowestoft's Wasp helicopter. The pilot, Lt Kidd and I, were flying on a brilliant day at 400 ft above the sea when suddenly there was a loud bang!
The pilot and I looked at each other wondering what had just happened. The aircraft flew on as normal but I could detect an increase in vibration mainly by looking at the instruments. One of these, a basic temperature gauge was vibrating more than normal and I decided to look through my missile aimer's scope which was like a pair of binoculars. This confirmed that indeed there was extra vibration present. The pilot suggested that it might have been a sonic boom from an aircraft high above us but none were in the vicinity. I suggested the aircraft's gearbox. It was then that he requested an emergency landing on the nearest vessel with a flight deck. RFA Olna was visible and minutes away.

The landing went as normal. An engineer was dispatched and winched down to Olna using Falmouth's Wasp helicopter. He did a few tests and took oil samples but could find nothing so we flew back to Lowestoft where further tests were carried out. Nothing was found but I knew deep down inside that the gearbox was faulty. I tried to tell the flight crew and the pilot but no one would take me seriously. They even sent and engineer up in 451 to check out the scope but he returned saying it was fine. I knew it had changed dramatically. I was given a direct order to fly in 451 so I had no choice. My nerves were frayed.

Flying continued as normal but when we were asked to identify a large Russian warship on the horizon, I was unable to do so since the scope was vibrating too much. It was the Cold War years and I hate to think of how many missiles must have been locked on to us before we got too close.
Years later I found out that this ship was the USSR Leningrad, the flagship of the Soviet Union.

Lt Kidd, the pilot, was fond of doing excessive acrobatic manoeuvres with the helicopter such as stall turns which made me even more nervous. The helicopter just kept on flying as normal but when HMS Falmouth's Wasp ditched into the sea and was a complete wreck, the crew surviving, they requested to borrow ours. It was then that I had many mixed emotions. What if it should crash. I would feel responsible but I was not taken seriously.

For some days I had to live with this possibility until shockingly a message came through that 451 had actually crashed on the flight deck of the Falmouth. Miraculously, the aircraft had sustained no damage and had made a heavy landing on the deck when the gearbox had failed. Yes the gearbox!
Nothing was ever mentioned about this incident in relation to me suspecting that this was the problem but nevertheless, I was completely vindicated.

I would never have made a good aircrew man though and indeed after this incident and others such as metal fatigue that later that led me to be reverted back to Radio Operator.

Is Time Travel Really Possible?

Is time travel really possible?

If time travel was really possible, then we would already know. Why? Because in the words of the famous Physicist Stephen Hawking, "A time traveler would already have come back to tell us".

However, don't let that disappoint you too much. We can still use our imaginations and still get a lot of enjoyment from reading novels on the subject.

The novel that I have written is based on a true story. That is not to say that the time travel component of the book actually took place but that I use a true story as the basis for the book. All the characters are real but their names have been changed. All the locations in the book are real as are the pets but they retain their real names. In fact if you wished to visit the locations described in the book, you could do so.

This is my first attempt at writing a novel but I chose to write it by using as much of my real life experiences as was possible. In fact the very first person to review the book seemed to be convinced that I had indeed traveled back in time, back to a day of my choosing in order to put right something that I have wished I could do for many years. I don't write in a sensationalist way. I don't write to impress; nor do I use flowery language. I just write to tell a story of a naive young boy inflamed with passion for a young girl I loved a long time ago.

The large imposing Grandfather clock also exists today and features strongly in the storyline. The book titled "Inside the Clock" is available in the Amazon Kindle Store

(Please be aware that you do not need a Kindle to read this book) All you need is the Kindle app which will enable you to read Kindle books on your computer or phone etc. For information on how to do this, just follow this link: Kindle For Computer

Go on, give it a go. You never know it might change your life as it did mine.

Turning the clock back

Turning The Clock Back

If you could turn the clock back, to what particular day or period would it be? I sometimes love to dwell on this question. What would you be able to do? Would you prevent that fatal accident of a friend or put that lottery ticket in that had all the right numbers that you lost. There are so many things that you could do.

Would you go back to make more of your parents and argue less? Would you try to get on with your sister? The list goes on and on but of course it's too late now to change any of that and even if you could, would it be dangerous?

We've all seen the film "Back to the Future" and look at some of the consequences that transpired in that. It was utter chaos for a while but it was such an intriguing movie. That's the problem you see, change only a small thing and it could have massive consequences later on.

If you have regrets in your life, then try to come to terms with them. If you could change that fatal day, then it could have had even more fatal consequences later on. It's just the way it is but anyway, it's just an academic exercise.

But thinking about this, is it possible to change the future rather than wishing you could change the past? What do I mean? Well it will take self control but picture this scenario; you are in a car and someone cuts you up or annoys you to the extreme. Road rage takes over and you find yourself making dangerous manoeuvres just to get even. The consequences could be dire as you tend to do things in anger that you may regret later on. Although it's easier said than done, don't you think that it would be a lot better just to let it go instead. Many a person has wished they had.

So in a sense, this is how history can be changed. It is a case of self control and wisdom, to pre-empt a situation. Of course life being what it is, things will happen that are out of your control and one must accept that things happen regardless and these things must be accepted but whatever is within your power to do for the better, then do this. At least you will know it wasn't your fault and you can rest assured that you could have done no more.

As a consequence of writing this article, I have been inspired to write a novel addressing some of the above. It is based upon real life events which actually occurred and I have used these as a basis for the novel. All the characters and all the locations are real. When you read this book, you the reader must decide just what is fiction and what is real. "Inside the Clock" is a short story available on Amazon Kindle Store.

Motorcycle Safety - Your attitude

Motorcycle Safety 

Motorcycle Safety - Best Autobiographies

I bought my first motorcycle in 1970. It was a Honda 50 bought cash from Bill Heads of Preston.
I was in the Merchant Navy and the wages at that time were pretty good so I was able to buy it outright.

In those days, you didn't need a crash helmet and we would often ride around without one, eyes streaming and long hair following suite. The first day I took out my Honda 50 I crashed it into a concrete lamp post. It was fortunate that I did not kill myself. I did not sustain any injury and the bike was not badly damaged. It was just luck if you like.

Moving on 40 and more years, things have changed a lot. I now shiver at the thought of riding without proper protection especially a crash helmet but more especially, I now preempt a situation rather than just react to one.

This takes many years to develop but when you are young, your reactions are lightening fast and for some of the time this can carry you through. If you keep on like this though you might just run out of luck. To preempt a dangerous or hazardous situation takes knowledge and experience and a certain amount of maturity. Its called self preservation. The longer you live, the more you realise how important this is.

This leads to boring riding I hear you say. But no, not necessarily. Look at it this way. When you are a kid you look for thrills. How fast will it go, how far can I push it? Eventually you get used to the fairground mentality and you begin to appreciate the finer points of road craft. This in itself is not boring and may well save your life.

Once you get over the cheap thrills syndrome assuming you haven't killed yourself already, you can begin to learn the skills that will set you up for a long, safe and enjoyable motorcycling career.

The first thing to say about motorcycling is that it is an exquisitely dangerous pastime and one to be undertaken with respect. I think that the best advice I ever got with respect to motorcycling is this: pretend that you are invisible. Alright, it may seem to be a bit excessive to think like this but it is a good starting point. Many other road users will miss or not be able to see you at all so if you assume this to be the case, then you will be forearmed to be able to preempt and react to a hazardous situation.

Often this will mean slowing down in certain situations especially in traffic and where junctions are involved. Most fatalities and accidents happen at junctions. Statistics show undeniably that this is the case. When approaching a junction you must always think "what will happen if that car pulls out?"
Has the driver seen you? Was it possible for the driver to see you? After all, you can't see through a truck or round a bend so it makes sense not to go like your on a race track where you are aware that potential danger exists.

Granted, it may take years to learn all the tiny ins and outs of all the potential hazards that may lurk at every turn but it will do no harm to start now. Basically, it's not so much how good you are at controlling your machine but its about your attitude.

Don't buy a Kindle!

That's right don't buy a Kindle to read your books on. Not unless you want to that is. So why do I say this?

Well the good news is that you don't actually need a Kindle to be able to read books from the Amazon Kindle store on. You see the answer is simple; you can just get the app instead and then, hey presto, you can read it all on your computer, i-Phone or tablet. It's so simple you will wonder why you never did it before.

So what are the benefits? Well I can tell you now that this little snip of information could actually change your life for good! That dramatic yeah? Yeah could be. You see there are millions of really good books out there for incredibly cheap prices on Amazon but that's only half of the story.

What do you mean I hear you say? Well get this; did you know that there are also hundreds if not thousands of books on Amazon that are actually free? Yes FREE FREE FREE! Don't think for one minute that these books are not worth reading or are somehow second rate. Oh no no no.......
You can get high quality up to date titles just by downloading the Kindle app which is also FREE !

So how is it you can get free books, more free books than you could read in a life time? FREE popular titles anytime you wish. What's the catch? Well the short answer is there 'aint a catch. No catch and there never was a catch. Get this, once you got this app, all you need to do is search Amazon for FREE books of any genre, yes anything that appeals to you. The reason a lot of books are free is that to enable authors to promote their books, they are allowed to put their titles on the Amazon Kindle store for FREE . I even put my books on there for free. That's how I get most of my exposure to readers and in turn I get some reviews. This way a book gets a higher ranking so more people see it and then more people read it and......you got the picture. Everyone wins.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and change your life and never buy a book again as long as you live unless you want to of course. Most online books are good value anyway FREE .

My Obsession with cars

My Obsession with Cars 

It all started a long time ago when I was just 20. I bought my first car, a Triumph Herald 1200 for £220 on a loan, the first of many a loan like some sort of demented ball and chain.

It was 1973 when I first drove my Triumph away from a back street garage in Portsmouth. I felt liberated and it was the beginning of a long and exciting career of owning cars. I loved cars right from the beginning and I could not wait to drive. To feel the adventure, the independence that a car could give you. It was amazing and exciting all at once.

I was in the Royal Navy at the time and after work when the ship was in port, I would often go and just sit in my car for hours on end imagining all the great times I would have driving it especially at weekends when I could drive the 240 miles home to see my parents.

The only problem was is that I had not yet passed my driving test so I could not drive without someone who had a full license. At first I had a few driving lessons in cars such as the Triumph Toledo and I did quite well but they were often interrupted by going back to sea.

I was finding it too expensive for driving lessons even though they were only £3 per hour at this time so once more I got my friend to help me out but things did not go smoothly and what actually happened is here in an excerpt from my autobiography "Running For Home":


"I began taking more driving lessons but was making slow progress. I began to think about buying a car and started to look around the second-hand car showrooms. I thought I’d found the ideal car for me. It was a bright red MG Midget, a tiny sports car that I liked, only problem was, it was not insurable as I was too young. Finally I came across a Triumph Herald in dark blue. I knew this to be a good car as of course my dad had previously had one and I bought it with a loan of £220, the first of many, many loans to bug me for the rest of my life like some sort of possessed ball and chain.

At first I could only park it in a large car park outside since a dockyard pass was required and these were in short supply. I put my name on the waiting list. Depending on where the ship was berthed, it could be quite a long walk. I appreciated this car so much that I would often go and just sit in it for hours, dreaming of all the driving I would do in the future.

‘L’ plates were purchased and I would get a fellow crew-member to give me driving lessons. These did not always go well and things came to a head when my mate decided to get out of the car and storm off. I had a decision to make. How was I to get the car back? I could not just leave it in the middle of the road. By this time I’d got a dockyard pass so I decided to drive back. The only snag was that the dockyard police were on the gate as usual but I thought I’d chance it and come clean if they stopped me. As I approached the main gate they immediately stopped me but after a brief explanation I was allowed to continue back to the ship.

 After this I hatched a cunning plan. I removed my ‘L’ plates and decided to risk driving about on a provisional license. In those days, unless you were stopped, it was very unlikely that you would be caught. I did this for several weeks without any problems apart from stalling the engine once in traffic and nearly bumping the car in front. In time my confidence grew and grew and my driving improved to the extent that I knew I could pass a test. I was really keen to pass and I spent hours poring over the Highway Code until I knew it backwards. I booked my test.

The day of the test arrived. It was April 1974. I drove alone to the test centre, intent on taking the test in my own car. On parking the car just down from the test centre, I had a quick look around before furtively sticking the ‘L’ plates back on. I went into the test centre and my examiner came forward. He asked me if I was taking the test in the schools car or my own.

On approaching my car I said that my friend with the full license had gone into the pub. The test went really well as I’d gained a lot of confidence in my own car. I didn’t get much wrong in the theory either though in 1974 a car test was ludicrously easy to pass in comparison to the present day.

At the end of the test the examiner happily informed me that I had passed. I happily informed him that I would now go and get my mate and walked towards an imaginary pub. As soon as he was out of site I quickly tore off the ‘L’ plates and gleefully drove away. I felt elated". 

And so began the long road ahead and the many cars I enjoyed from then on. Some were good and some were not but each had its own character and with all of them I felt that same tingling sense of adventure and anticipation when I set off on yet another journey.

Actually, I became much too obsessed with cars and I have to admit that for my relative financial situation in life, I spent far too much on cars. Having said that, I strangely don't really regret any of it.

It was my passion and I loved driving and I did it while I could and nothing can ever take that away from me.

There was a darker side to my obsession with cars though and it was this; the main reason I aspired to bigger and faster cars was that I thought that I would be admired and respected. I was insecure and imagined that I would gain recognition for what I had achieved. The car had become a status symbol. As embarrassing as it seems now, it was true. My Father would always say; "you'll get over it" but at the time I did not understand what he meant.

The list of cars I have owned is quite long although by no means a record. In the main the cars were second hand and in many cases, quite ordinary so I take some consolation that I was not in the main, completely obsessed.

Here is a list of the cars I have had the privilege to own over forty years:

Triumph Herald

Riley Kestral

Triumph 2000 MK2

Datsun Sunny

Triumph 2000 MK2

Granada Mk2

Fiat 132

Triumph 2500 PI

Fiat 127

Mini 850

Morris Minor

Rover 2600 SD1

Lada Estate

Rover SD1 3500 Vanden Plas V8

Lada 1200 saloon

Volvo 340

Rover 800

Mercedes 190E

MG ZR 120

Rover 820 Vitesse

Mercedes E class estate

Mitsubishi Carisma

Of all these cars, the best one has been the last on the list and the one I have kept the longest. It has been an amazing car and one of only three I have had from new. I have owned it for over nine years and it has the same battery, the same exhaust, the same spark plugs and clutch and all the original bulbs! The only things I have changed on it are the brakes, the tyres, wiper blades, the cam belt and one brake pipe. It has passed every MOT except one where the brake pipe was concerned. I have only had it serviced once but change the oil every year and I have only changed the air filter once which did not seem to significantly improve fuel consumption.

So there it is, my history so far in motoring. The only accident I ever had was when a motorcyclist rode in front of me as I accelerated across a junction off a green light. It was a classic roll over the bonnet crash but he was largely unhurt but his bike was in bits.

My son threatens to be just like me and has had three cars in 5 years and is due to get another soon although his latest will be a sensible Smart car with incredible economy, a massive contrast to his last car; an MG ZS 2.5 V6. I can't say a thing because its me all over.

Oh, and I also have a long career in Motorcycling but that's another story! 

If you want to read the rest of the book and see just what I got up to in my life, then please click on the link here: http://goo.gl/SZhD6Z

Two motorcycle crashes in one day...

Two Motorcycle Crashes in One Day - Top Autobiographies

This was one of the worst days of my life, two motorcycle crashes in one day. Granted they weren't serious and miraculously, I wasn't injured except for a few bruises. This is what happened.

A recent photo of me and my current bike

I was in the Royal Navy at the time, and I was returning to Portsmouth Harbour to rejoin HMS Grenville on my Honda CB175 twin. I had bought this bike from new and it was my first "real" motorcycle. Though it was small thinking about it now, it was capable of keeping up with motorway traffic reasonably well. I could cruise at about 60-70 mph and of course the fuel consumption was good.

On this particular day, I was on my way back from Leyland in Lancashire, a 257 mile trip which I make quite regularly. How I managed this it is hard to imagine and I doubt if I could do it today. I was all of 19 years of age.

I really enjoyed my motorcycling of that there is no doubt and I would be passionate about all aspects of it including the equipment. I say equipment because this was to have a significant effect of what happened later that day.

When I started off at about 1pm the roads were dry and the weather looked good for the duration of the trip which usually lasted about 6 hours. I would stop a couple of time for a break and have some refreshments of course. My Mother would often make me sandwiches and a flask and even forty years later, I can still remember the taste of some of those sandwiches.

The trip was going well and the tinted visor I had purchased that weekend cut out the glare from the sun and made the first half of the trip a good one but what I had not bargained for was how fast the light had begun to fail. Why did this matter? Well the tinted visor began to make things worse and when I had left the M5 Motorway and entered into the country roads, visibility was so bad that I couldn't see where I was going properly. This began to get dangerous though I knew the road well.

I had at least slowed down a bit and things seemed to be going well until I encountered a hairpin bend. I knew it was coming up but was not sure quite when. I was traveling at about 50mph when I saw it but too late. In panic I braked hard, too hard and the back wheel locked and I lost control of the bike. Suddenly I was flying in the air, accompanied by crashing and grinding and sparks. I landed on my back sliding along the road with the bike catching me up, growling and grinding and sparking.

There was an embankment on the side of the bend into which I slid and came to a halt the bike flopped onto my right foot with a thud and I screamed out in pain. Then all was silent and pitch black, especially with a tinted visor! At first I was afraid to move but then I became conscious that should another vehicle come along, it may not see me in time and run me over. Tenuously, I got to my feet. Nothing seemed to be broken though I had an excruciating pain in my toe. Next I grappled with my bike all the time praying that it was not too badly damaged as to be unrideable.

Once I got the bike upright I could smell the fuel that had leaked from the tank. I was shaking badly by now as I fumbled for the bikes key. I turned it and pressed the ignition whilst at the same time saying a small prayer The engine burst into life and sounded exactly the same but the beam from the head light was shining into the sky. This was easy to put right since it was on a swivel so I just re-adjusted it to the correct angle. Just then another vehicle approached, I attempted to wave it down but it did not stop. I got the bike on its main stand and more by feel than anything else began to inspect it. I could not see any damage so there was only one thing for it; without mobile phones and miles from anywhere I would set off again and see if the bike was ride able.

One thing I did was to remove the tinted visor from my helmet and stow it in my backpack. Taking the bike off its stand, I once more set off, very slowly at first and gradually, as I began to assess the bike for damage, I was able to increase speed to near normal again. I knew that the bike had sustained some sort of damage since the steering and handling were not the same as before but not to the extent that it would affect the rest of my trip,

All seemed to be going well and I was confident that I would make my destination and my speed was increasing it became obvious that I could not see without a visor. The wind was making my eyes stream too much even at an extremely low speed as the temperature had dropped. It became even more dangerous than no visor at all. There was only one thing for it, I would stop and replace the tinted visor. It just snapped into place and once more, I was off.
Progress was much slower than a normal trip but soon I hit the bigger "A" roads which were well lit and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I entered Portsmouth Dockyard and made my way toward the ship. I was aware of the numerous railway tracks that criss-crossed the dockyard and was careful not to get caught in them. Whether it was fatigue or just pure misjudgement, I could see the bike begin to drift into one of the rails. It was as though there was an invisible magnet willing the bike into the slot next to the rail. Suddenly the front wheel slipped into the slot. It was impossible to control the bike and I knew in an instant that I was once more, going to come off. The bike just seemed to flip over on its side quite violently and once more I lay on the ground thoroughly defeated and miserable. Though this was a very slow speed crash, I hurt myself more than in the relatively high speed crash of just a few hours ago. Again though, I was largely uninjured and the bike remained resolutely in one piece.

The Quartermaster on duty on one of the nearby ships called out; "are you alright mate?" I can still clearly hear those words.

The moral of the story is; never wear a tinted visor on a motorcycle at night. Always carry a clear spare. Of course it seems obvious now but when you're only 19.........