15 September 2024 - A slightly late offering this month because we've just returned from a trip to Iceland. I won't pretend it was very adventurous because we toured the Island by minibus, visiting the sights along its ring road, with diversions into the hinterland, fjords and peninsulas. To say it is a spectacular country is an understatement, as I hope the attached photos go at least some way to convey. We were asked by the travel firm to provide a highlight. It was impossible. Everything was a highlight.
The trip even provided writerly inspiration. Wings Over The Desert includes sandstorms, a phenomenon I've never experienced. But when we were traversing the northern highlands of Iceland, we were hit by strong winds causing a lava dust storm. Visiting the penultimate sight of the day, we could barely stand up, and the dust stung our skin and got into our eyes noses and mouths. We missed out the last part of the itinerary and made our hotel just before the road was closed. A camper van had been blown over and the tarmac in one section had been rolled up like a carpet. Albeit with sand rather than lava dust, I now think I can conjure up a little of what it must be like to experience a sandstorm.
The trip even provided writerly inspiration. Wings Over The Desert includes sandstorms, a phenomenon I've never experienced. But when we were traversing the northern highlands of Iceland, we were hit by strong winds causing a lava dust storm. Visiting the penultimate sight of the day, we could barely stand up, and the dust stung our skin and got into our eyes noses and mouths. We missed out the last part of the itinerary and made our hotel just before the road was closed. A camper van had been blown over and the tarmac in one section had been rolled up like a carpet. Albeit with sand rather than lava dust, I now think I can conjure up a little of what it must be like to experience a sandstorm.
12 August 2024 - I'm not going to try and pad this out. The truth is that, apart from grandparenting duties now the holidays are here, the odd longer walk and a visit to the cinema, I have spent much of the last month watching the Olympics. I have really enjoyed the rugby 7s, rowing, cycling, athletics and volleyball and look forward to the next excuse to sit in front of the television for two weeks, albeit in four years' time.
I decided to add some photos. They are from a family trip to the USA before I started my website.
I decided to add some photos. They are from a family trip to the USA before I started my website.
7 July 2024 - There were two potential highlights to the month, both very different in nature.
The first, a vist to the RAF Cosford Air Show, was, if I'm honest, a bit disappointing. It was the first air show we'd attended for several years, and the Station put in an immense effort, with keen young personnel working hard, from being on hand to answer questions and man exhibits, to keeping the site clean. But there just weren't many aircraft. That's wrong. There were loads lined up on the ground, but most were Jaguars, late 20th Century bombers that are used as training aids. None of the larger aircraft in the RAF inventory were on display and only two types appeared in the air: an Atlas dropped the Falcons parachute display team and two more plus a Voyager flew through on the way back from D-Dy celebrations in Normandy. In the air, there were only four noisy fast jet displays, plus The Red Arrows, restricted to a flat display by the weather.
Excuse a dip into nostalgia, but even in the latter stages of my career, there were four RAF displays a year, each packed with contemporary aircraft on the ground and in the air, plus the usual heritage displays. Cosford is now the only RAF display of the year and the air aspect especially was very thin. As much as anything, I think it goes to show the parlous state of our armed forces. I know the RAF is very busy on current operations, but there are just not enough airframes in any of the various fleets to service these and have an adequate reserve - note the scramble to get an aircraft to drop paras for the D-Day commemorations. A few Hercs might have helped!.I've banged on long enough, but let's hope we don't end up in a war, and that the new government gives defence the priority it deserves.
The second highlight was just that, a visit with our daughter, her husband and our granddaughter to the Harry Potter experience. I have enjoyed both the books and the films, so I was pre-disposed to enjoying this visit. But the scope of the displays, from the interior of Hogwarts, to Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest, and the detail that has gone into them made for a great day out. I particularly liked the model of Hogwarts which is the final display - before the inevitable gift shop.
The first, a vist to the RAF Cosford Air Show, was, if I'm honest, a bit disappointing. It was the first air show we'd attended for several years, and the Station put in an immense effort, with keen young personnel working hard, from being on hand to answer questions and man exhibits, to keeping the site clean. But there just weren't many aircraft. That's wrong. There were loads lined up on the ground, but most were Jaguars, late 20th Century bombers that are used as training aids. None of the larger aircraft in the RAF inventory were on display and only two types appeared in the air: an Atlas dropped the Falcons parachute display team and two more plus a Voyager flew through on the way back from D-Dy celebrations in Normandy. In the air, there were only four noisy fast jet displays, plus The Red Arrows, restricted to a flat display by the weather.
Excuse a dip into nostalgia, but even in the latter stages of my career, there were four RAF displays a year, each packed with contemporary aircraft on the ground and in the air, plus the usual heritage displays. Cosford is now the only RAF display of the year and the air aspect especially was very thin. As much as anything, I think it goes to show the parlous state of our armed forces. I know the RAF is very busy on current operations, but there are just not enough airframes in any of the various fleets to service these and have an adequate reserve - note the scramble to get an aircraft to drop paras for the D-Day commemorations. A few Hercs might have helped!.I've banged on long enough, but let's hope we don't end up in a war, and that the new government gives defence the priority it deserves.
The second highlight was just that, a visit with our daughter, her husband and our granddaughter to the Harry Potter experience. I have enjoyed both the books and the films, so I was pre-disposed to enjoying this visit. But the scope of the displays, from the interior of Hogwarts, to Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest, and the detail that has gone into them made for a great day out. I particularly liked the model of Hogwarts which is the final display - before the inevitable gift shop.
The Old Man of Storr, Storr Locks, Sound of Raasay, Raasay Island and The Cuillins
8 June 2024 - The highlight of this month was another walking holiday on the Isle of Skye off the north-west coast of Scotland. We almost never visit the same place twice, but perhaps the images will explain why this was our fourth visit to the Island. However, we think this may also have been our last. Not because of any disappointments; in fact, just the opposite. The weather was just about perfect and we don't think we'll ever have such marvellous walking conditions and views again.
Soon after our return, we attended Welsh rugby's Judgement Day, when all four Welsh regional teams play - two games in one afternoon. The result of Cardiff v Ospreys summed up Cardiff's season. They fought valiantly but lost. The most disappointing aspect, though, was not the result, but the attendance. On a beautiful day in June, the supporters of all four Welsh teams could only half fill the Cardiff City football stadium. Despite the apparent fervour when the national team is playing, my impression is that rugby is now very much a minority sport in the Principality. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves and returned to Barry Island to hear a couple of Sea Shanty groups perform in a local bar; part of Barry Island's Festival of the Sea in support of the RNLI - the lifeboat charity.
My walking holiday has, of course, slowed progress on Wings Over the Desert, but I'm back to it now.
Soon after our return, we attended Welsh rugby's Judgement Day, when all four Welsh regional teams play - two games in one afternoon. The result of Cardiff v Ospreys summed up Cardiff's season. They fought valiantly but lost. The most disappointing aspect, though, was not the result, but the attendance. On a beautiful day in June, the supporters of all four Welsh teams could only half fill the Cardiff City football stadium. Despite the apparent fervour when the national team is playing, my impression is that rugby is now very much a minority sport in the Principality. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves and returned to Barry Island to hear a couple of Sea Shanty groups perform in a local bar; part of Barry Island's Festival of the Sea in support of the RNLI - the lifeboat charity.
My walking holiday has, of course, slowed progress on Wings Over the Desert, but I'm back to it now.
Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread's grave in Ludlow Cemetary
7 May 2024 - Another very pleasant month of steadily improving weather that allowed a few longer walks in places that have been flooded or waterlogged until now. We also enjoyed a rugby match in Cardiff and a couple of visits to the cinema, one to see a film titled Civil War. Set in a near future when something has started a vicious civil war in the US, it is all the more shocking for seeming as if we are just a gunshot or court decision away from something similar. Very sobering.
I was sad to hear of the death of Bernard Hill, most famous - in UK- for playing Yosser Hughes in Boys From the Black Stuff, and globally for playing the Captain of the Titanic in the 1997 film, and King Theoden in parts 2 and 3 of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Slightly random, but I met him at a graduation dinner at RAF Cranwell in 2004. He was there as the guest of an Army Air Corps pilot graduating as a flying instructor. Before the meal, it seemed that everyone was nodding and pointing at him but not speaking, so I went over and said hello. We ended up chatting quite a bit before and after the meal and it was fascinating to hear about his life. A very modest man, that night anyway.
I continue to write and enjoy writing Wings Over the Desert. Otherwise, on the writing front, nothing significant to report. This month's photo was taken on a trip to my home town of Ludlow in mid-April. It is of the grave of Laurie Whitbread, a Spitfire pilot killed at the height of the Battle of Britain on 20th September 1940. He was the inspiration for my RAF career and writing and the story of his short life can be accessed through this link to A Local Hero on my Short Stories page. On the day, the grave was as it has looked in my mind's eye for the last 60+years, Rest in peace.
I was sad to hear of the death of Bernard Hill, most famous - in UK- for playing Yosser Hughes in Boys From the Black Stuff, and globally for playing the Captain of the Titanic in the 1997 film, and King Theoden in parts 2 and 3 of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Slightly random, but I met him at a graduation dinner at RAF Cranwell in 2004. He was there as the guest of an Army Air Corps pilot graduating as a flying instructor. Before the meal, it seemed that everyone was nodding and pointing at him but not speaking, so I went over and said hello. We ended up chatting quite a bit before and after the meal and it was fascinating to hear about his life. A very modest man, that night anyway.
I continue to write and enjoy writing Wings Over the Desert. Otherwise, on the writing front, nothing significant to report. This month's photo was taken on a trip to my home town of Ludlow in mid-April. It is of the grave of Laurie Whitbread, a Spitfire pilot killed at the height of the Battle of Britain on 20th September 1940. He was the inspiration for my RAF career and writing and the story of his short life can be accessed through this link to A Local Hero on my Short Stories page. On the day, the grave was as it has looked in my mind's eye for the last 60+years, Rest in peace.
8 April 2024 - I find it hard to believe, but sometime during the last thirty days, I slipped into my seventh decade on the planet, and its almost nineteen years since I left the RAF. Time really does fly, and I count myself very lucky that I haven't been bored for a second of my retirement. On that note, it's been a busy month in a retired sort of way, with a trip to the theatre (And Then There Were None), a great night in Bristol seeing metal bands Amaranthe and Dragonforce and an Army and an RAF lunch in Cardiff, both really enjoyable occasions. Alongside these, I've enjoyed some walks, watching the end of the Six Nations rugby and the progress of Louis Rees-Zammitt as he tries to make it in the NFL. So far so good. He passed through the ten weeks of the international pathway and was picked up by Superbowl winners, Kansas City Chiefs. I suspect he'll start on their practice squad, but who knows. It would be great if he made the starting line up.
On the writing front, Wings Over The Desert progresses slowly and I've been amazed that, on occasion, one or other of my Shropshire Blue titles slips up the ratings to occupy the Best Seller slot in the Amazon category of Biographies of the Cold War. I may have said this before, but Amazon are very clever in having zillions of categories that allow authors to revel in best seller status with very few sales. It works for me though.
This month's hotch-potch of photos comprise the Royal Netherlands Navy guided missile frigate, HNLMS De Ruyter, photographed sailing down the Bristol Channel, our attempt at a Zen garden after our trip to Japan last autumn and a Martian fighting machine from one of the early films of War of the Worlds, or maybe it's just a vivid sunset beyond the street lamp outside our house.
On the writing front, Wings Over The Desert progresses slowly and I've been amazed that, on occasion, one or other of my Shropshire Blue titles slips up the ratings to occupy the Best Seller slot in the Amazon category of Biographies of the Cold War. I may have said this before, but Amazon are very clever in having zillions of categories that allow authors to revel in best seller status with very few sales. It works for me though.
This month's hotch-potch of photos comprise the Royal Netherlands Navy guided missile frigate, HNLMS De Ruyter, photographed sailing down the Bristol Channel, our attempt at a Zen garden after our trip to Japan last autumn and a Martian fighting machine from one of the early films of War of the Worlds, or maybe it's just a vivid sunset beyond the street lamp outside our house.
9 March 2024 - It seems that my Amazon Countdown Deal on Fat Albert did include some advertising, because as soon as the deal ended on 29th March, my sales reduced markedly. So, as I already knew, one of the keys to sales is advertising, which is very difficult to do as an Indie author. When I publish a new book, I email all my contacts and that generates an initial rush of sales that tends to fall off after a few months (except in the case of Wings Over Summer, which seemed to gain word of mouth popularity that also transferred to the US). But I don't like to use my contact list more often, which leaves limited avenues for PR. I know that I miss some opportunities through not engaging in social media, but some of my fellow authors who do all that stuff gain little or no benefit from that angle. Anyway, there it is, not a complaint or a wail of anguish, just the reality for most Indie authors. As I've said before, I'm always immensely pleased to receive evidence that anyone is reading my books.
It's been a quiet but enjoyable month, with plenty of exciting rugby to watch, a couple of plays and a night listening to an Irish folk band, Cua, whose music is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. On the writing front, I continue to enjoy writing Wings Over the Desert. Allthough life and living limits the word count, it is slowly creeping up.
Finally, I was reminded that it is ten years since I visited Malta as part of my research for Wings Over Malta and I include some images from that trip.
It's been a quiet but enjoyable month, with plenty of exciting rugby to watch, a couple of plays and a night listening to an Irish folk band, Cua, whose music is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. On the writing front, I continue to enjoy writing Wings Over the Desert. Allthough life and living limits the word count, it is slowly creeping up.
Finally, I was reminded that it is ten years since I visited Malta as part of my research for Wings Over Malta and I include some images from that trip.
Robin in Cwm Bari
7 February 2024 - For some reason, Fat Albert was selected for an Amazon Countdown Deal, which sees the ebook on sale for a reduced price of 99 pence or international equivalent for the months of February and March. Although it means that I get a reduced royalty, it seems to include advertising that generate extra readers. which is what really floats my boat and, I guess, Amazon's. It also means the title rises to the Best Seller position in categories such as Biographies of the Cold War or Aviation often enough to keep me smiling. Wings Over Malta will also be on a Countdown Deal for the next week.
The rest of the month included an enjoyable Army lunch in Cardiff, visits to rugby and the cinema and a couple of local walks. During one of these, I took the accompanying picture of a Robin that kindly posed for me. Another highlight was an invite to a dinner where the guest speaker was the leader of Team Raven, an aerobatic team I've seen a few times. I very much enjoyed a talk that ranged through the speaker's early life, career as an RAF fighter pilot and flying instructor to his current employment running the Air Experience Flight at MOD St Athan and, of course, leading Team Raven.
Over the next few weeks, I'm looking forward to watching the Superbowl and the rest of the Six Nations rugby tournament. I'm also enjoying writing Wings Over the Desert, on which I continue to make slow but steady progress.
The rest of the month included an enjoyable Army lunch in Cardiff, visits to rugby and the cinema and a couple of local walks. During one of these, I took the accompanying picture of a Robin that kindly posed for me. Another highlight was an invite to a dinner where the guest speaker was the leader of Team Raven, an aerobatic team I've seen a few times. I very much enjoyed a talk that ranged through the speaker's early life, career as an RAF fighter pilot and flying instructor to his current employment running the Air Experience Flight at MOD St Athan and, of course, leading Team Raven.
Over the next few weeks, I'm looking forward to watching the Superbowl and the rest of the Six Nations rugby tournament. I'm also enjoying writing Wings Over the Desert, on which I continue to make slow but steady progress.
8 January 2024 - Happy New Year.
I hope you had as enjoyable a Christmas as us. Ours may have been a little quiet for some tastes; no raucous parties, just good food, the odd drink and excellent company. We enjoyed several long walks in the woods, watched Cardiff beat Newport Dragons in an entertaining rugby game on Boxing Day and I began writing Wngs Over the Desert. Somehow, it seemed very daunting starting a new novel after a break of several years and two volumes of Shropshire Blue, but it was good to get going, even if every paragraph seems to throw up an area I haven't researched adequately. Sales of my books over Christmas were slow and steady, just enough to keep a smile on my face.
At the end of the first week of 2024, we went to the cimema to see One Life, the story of how Nicholas Winton (played young and old by Johnny Flynn and Anthony Hopkins respectively), helped save the lives of more than 600 mainly Jewish children from the Nazis by organising trains out of occupied Prague and finding foster parents in the United Kingdon. His involvement only came to wider attention when he was featured on a British television programme, That's Life, in the 1990s, during which he met many of those he saved for the first time. His feat is put into perspective when you hear that of the 15,000 Jewish children who ended up in the hands of the Nazis in Czechoslovakia, only 200 survived. I found the film very moving.
On a lighter note, back to Japan for this month's photos. I couldn't resist it. Nine more can be seen in last month's post.
I hope you had as enjoyable a Christmas as us. Ours may have been a little quiet for some tastes; no raucous parties, just good food, the odd drink and excellent company. We enjoyed several long walks in the woods, watched Cardiff beat Newport Dragons in an entertaining rugby game on Boxing Day and I began writing Wngs Over the Desert. Somehow, it seemed very daunting starting a new novel after a break of several years and two volumes of Shropshire Blue, but it was good to get going, even if every paragraph seems to throw up an area I haven't researched adequately. Sales of my books over Christmas were slow and steady, just enough to keep a smile on my face.
At the end of the first week of 2024, we went to the cimema to see One Life, the story of how Nicholas Winton (played young and old by Johnny Flynn and Anthony Hopkins respectively), helped save the lives of more than 600 mainly Jewish children from the Nazis by organising trains out of occupied Prague and finding foster parents in the United Kingdon. His involvement only came to wider attention when he was featured on a British television programme, That's Life, in the 1990s, during which he met many of those he saved for the first time. His feat is put into perspective when you hear that of the 15,000 Jewish children who ended up in the hands of the Nazis in Czechoslovakia, only 200 survived. I found the film very moving.
On a lighter note, back to Japan for this month's photos. I couldn't resist it. Nine more can be seen in last month's post.
7 December 2023 - The undoubted highlight of this month was a sight-seeing and walking holiday in Japan. Over fourteen days we visited major cities like Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo, but also smaller towns in between, such as Takayama, Matsumoto, Yudanaka and Tsumago, where we sampled a slower pace of life and walked part of the Nakasendo Trail. Our brilliant guide, Kouhei, expained everything while juggling a bewildering timetable of buses and trains, including the bullet train, on which we travelled six times. Being late was not an option, and you can only marvel at how the workers at every level give their all to keep things running so smoothly. It was the same in every walk of life, from shop workers to street cleaners. They take real pride in all they do. There were many highlights, including seeing Mount Fuji on a glorious day that included a trip on a pirate ferry; too many iconic temples and shrines to name; Matsumoto Castle by day and night; snow monkeys cavorting in hot springs; and, on a more sombre note, the Hiroshima Peace Park and its museum, which we spent an hour filing through with thousands of other people, in total silence. A small selection of my photos is below.
In a shift from the sublime to the ridiculous, we've just spent three nights in Taunton, forced to travel by car because of a rail strike! We explored the town, ate well and walked some of its quieter river and canal paths, seeing a couple of Kingfishers on the way. Elsewhere, we visited Cardiff Arms Park for a rugby match that Cardiff lost in the final seconds, and the cinema twice, first for the latest Hunger Games, which we enjoyed, and second for Napoleon, which we didn't. I also enjoyed an RAF lunch in Cardiff. All this left little time for writing, but I will get back to it before Christmas adds another interruption. And on that note, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone.
In a shift from the sublime to the ridiculous, we've just spent three nights in Taunton, forced to travel by car because of a rail strike! We explored the town, ate well and walked some of its quieter river and canal paths, seeing a couple of Kingfishers on the way. Elsewhere, we visited Cardiff Arms Park for a rugby match that Cardiff lost in the final seconds, and the cinema twice, first for the latest Hunger Games, which we enjoyed, and second for Napoleon, which we didn't. I also enjoyed an RAF lunch in Cardiff. All this left little time for writing, but I will get back to it before Christmas adds another interruption. And on that note, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone.
RAF Apprentices preparing to march off Horeguards Parade, December 1973
6 November 2023 - Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the day I joined the RAF, after which I served for 32 years before retiring in 2005. The previous two days had been spent with 50 of the more than 100 people I joined alongside. We were members of the 123rd Entry of Halton Apprentices, known as Trenchard Brats in honour of the man who'd set up the apprentice scheme when the RAF was formed in 1918. The weekend included much beer drinking and reminiscing, plus a visit to our alma mater, RAF Halton, where we wondered the Trenchard Museum and archives. The staff had laid out individual records showing, in minute detail, how we'd performed in every area of our three-year training as airframe and propulsion fitters, good or bad. Outside, the newest batch of recruits were practising drill on the very parade square on which we'd spent so much time all those years ago. There was a real sense of wheels turning full circle.
It has been a month of enjoyable events. First, there was a couple of days in London with my son, including watching an American Football match at Tottenham Stadium. Then, there was a dinner of the University of London Air Squadron Ex-members' Association at the RAF Club, with about 100 diners ranging in age from 98 to 20. I met students from both my times on the Squadron, firstly as a flying instructor from 1985-88, then, a decade later, as the boss. Some are still serving in the RAF and dealing with the fallout of all the dramas happening around the globe. Closer to home, there was our first rugby match at of the season at Cardiff Arms Park, to which we took our granddaughter, and an enjoyable Army lunch.
The photo is of RAF apprentices marching off Horseguards Parade onto Whitehall to line the route for the Queen as she processed past with President Mbutu of Zaire at the start of his state visit on 11th December 1973. I am somewhere among the ranks of apprentices, but don't ask me where.
It has been a month of enjoyable events. First, there was a couple of days in London with my son, including watching an American Football match at Tottenham Stadium. Then, there was a dinner of the University of London Air Squadron Ex-members' Association at the RAF Club, with about 100 diners ranging in age from 98 to 20. I met students from both my times on the Squadron, firstly as a flying instructor from 1985-88, then, a decade later, as the boss. Some are still serving in the RAF and dealing with the fallout of all the dramas happening around the globe. Closer to home, there was our first rugby match at of the season at Cardiff Arms Park, to which we took our granddaughter, and an enjoyable Army lunch.
The photo is of RAF apprentices marching off Horseguards Parade onto Whitehall to line the route for the Queen as she processed past with President Mbutu of Zaire at the start of his state visit on 11th December 1973. I am somewhere among the ranks of apprentices, but don't ask me where.
Sun rising over Flat Hom and Bristol Airport from my bedroom window
7 October 2023 - The threats to world stability seem to worsen on a daily basis. To Ukraine and other regional wars, climate change and the disasters, instability and migration it causes, we can now add the Middle East again. Having briefly seen the situation on the ground from both sides, albeit nearly three decades ago, I continue to believe that both the historical and current grievances of the Palestinians - not least, the expansion of Israeli settlements - have to be addressed. But the weekend's assault against Israel and its people is beyond the pale and the Israelis will wreak a terrible revenge in which many more civilians will die. Only tyrants like Putin will be content with such situations, which divert attention from their crimes.
And meanwhile, I hesitate to say that my life remains good. This month has included visits to London for a dinner of the University of Wales Air Squadron Association, at which I met some studnets from my time as boss of the squadron in the early 90s. They've all gone on to great things and we had a very enjoyable night. Nearer to home, there's been an RAF lunch, trips to the theatre and rugby, and the Rugby World Cup and American Football on television, with a visit to the third London NFL game at Tottenham Stadium coming up.
The photo is a view from my bedroom window a few mornings ago. It is of the sun rising above Flat Holm Island and its lighthouse. On the horizon just out of the photo to the left is Bristol Airport, the runway lights of which are visible ten miles away on a clear night. Probably too much information, but I usually have to be pee several times a night, and when I do, I look through a Velux window and watch the landing lights of aircraft on approach to and touching down on the runway. A few seconds later, the lights disappear as the aircraft rolls down a dip, only to reappear again as they climb the slope and turn off for the terminal. It keeps me entertained.
And meanwhile, I hesitate to say that my life remains good. This month has included visits to London for a dinner of the University of Wales Air Squadron Association, at which I met some studnets from my time as boss of the squadron in the early 90s. They've all gone on to great things and we had a very enjoyable night. Nearer to home, there's been an RAF lunch, trips to the theatre and rugby, and the Rugby World Cup and American Football on television, with a visit to the third London NFL game at Tottenham Stadium coming up.
The photo is a view from my bedroom window a few mornings ago. It is of the sun rising above Flat Holm Island and its lighthouse. On the horizon just out of the photo to the left is Bristol Airport, the runway lights of which are visible ten miles away on a clear night. Probably too much information, but I usually have to be pee several times a night, and when I do, I look through a Velux window and watch the landing lights of aircraft on approach to and touching down on the runway. A few seconds later, the lights disappear as the aircraft rolls down a dip, only to reappear again as they climb the slope and turn off for the terminal. It keeps me entertained.
6 September 2023 - A month in which I seem conclusively to have proved that if you put books out there without fanfare, or at least the emails with which I usually publicise new titles to readers, you achieve few sales. That has been the fate of the book I alluded to last month, which I published under a pseudonym and without publicity. Apart from the few friends I told, it has made little headway, although a reading in India raised my hopes of success in an unusual marketplace for me.
Luckily, though, the books I've published under my own name continue to sell in small numbers and garner good reviews and the odd email, enough to keep me motivated. To which end, I'm still enjoying researching battles in North Africa I'd never previously heard of, such as Bir Hakeim and Alem Haifa. I even discovered there were two battles of El Alamein.
On the domestic front, another quiet month of grandparenting duties in the summer holidays and a series of walks in the local area. I've added some photos below, one from one of the walks, plus a couple taken from my bedroom window. The coming month includes a couple of lunches and dinners I'm looking forward to, the start of the rugby and American Football seasons, plus the rugby World Cup. I promise to keep researching around these events.
Luckily, though, the books I've published under my own name continue to sell in small numbers and garner good reviews and the odd email, enough to keep me motivated. To which end, I'm still enjoying researching battles in North Africa I'd never previously heard of, such as Bir Hakeim and Alem Haifa. I even discovered there were two battles of El Alamein.
On the domestic front, another quiet month of grandparenting duties in the summer holidays and a series of walks in the local area. I've added some photos below, one from one of the walks, plus a couple taken from my bedroom window. The coming month includes a couple of lunches and dinners I'm looking forward to, the start of the rugby and American Football seasons, plus the rugby World Cup. I promise to keep researching around these events.
RAF Traveller's Hill, Ascension Island
7 August 2023 - I've finished the writing project I've been pursuing over the last nine months or so. If it seems to have been surrounded by an air of mystery, it's because I've written a fictionalised story loosely based on one of the darker periods of my RAF career and published it under a pseudonym without fanfare or publicity. Anyway, it's done now, so it's back to researching the background for Wings Over the Desert. I'm enjoying laying some flesh on things I knew little or nothing about, like the battles running up to the Second Battle of El Alamein, which is the likely end point for this episode in Jack's story.
Inevitably, sales of the Shropshire Blue books have started to slow now, although Fat Albert is usually in the top three Biographies of the Cold War on Amazon, and sometimes the best seller in that category. But I continue to receive heartwarming emails from people who've enjoyed it, and my other titles. I can't wait to get onto the next volume of Shropshire Blue, but Jack is also waiting to get airborne again, and then there's life to get on with, including family time, seeing and enjoying the film Oppenheimer, and RAF and Army lunches in Cardiff. At the latter, I gave a brief talk on the robustness, effectivenes and reliability of the C130, and finished by saying how much I think we'll miss it if there are any future operations requiring military airlift.
Finally, there has been talk of using Ascension Island as a reception centre for illegal immigrants arriving in the UK. I don't intednd to reveal my political thoughts on the whole topic, but having visited Ascension eighteen times, I'm happy to say what I think about this specific issue. The Island is 4,000 miles from UK, 1,300 miles and 1,000 miles from the nearest points in South America and Africa respectively. It lacks suitable facilities and infrastructure, while the logistics would be a nightmare. Not only would the whole enterprise be a costly white elephant, but also, given Ascension's unique geology, fauna and surrounding maritime conservation area, a crime against the planet. The photo, taken in 1984, is of the newly-built RAF camp on Ascension at Traveller's Hill. I visited it again in 2016, when it was largely abandoned and looked to be in nowhere near as good a condition as in this image - and it really is in the middle of bleedin' nowhere.
Inevitably, sales of the Shropshire Blue books have started to slow now, although Fat Albert is usually in the top three Biographies of the Cold War on Amazon, and sometimes the best seller in that category. But I continue to receive heartwarming emails from people who've enjoyed it, and my other titles. I can't wait to get onto the next volume of Shropshire Blue, but Jack is also waiting to get airborne again, and then there's life to get on with, including family time, seeing and enjoying the film Oppenheimer, and RAF and Army lunches in Cardiff. At the latter, I gave a brief talk on the robustness, effectivenes and reliability of the C130, and finished by saying how much I think we'll miss it if there are any future operations requiring military airlift.
Finally, there has been talk of using Ascension Island as a reception centre for illegal immigrants arriving in the UK. I don't intednd to reveal my political thoughts on the whole topic, but having visited Ascension eighteen times, I'm happy to say what I think about this specific issue. The Island is 4,000 miles from UK, 1,300 miles and 1,000 miles from the nearest points in South America and Africa respectively. It lacks suitable facilities and infrastructure, while the logistics would be a nightmare. Not only would the whole enterprise be a costly white elephant, but also, given Ascension's unique geology, fauna and surrounding maritime conservation area, a crime against the planet. The photo, taken in 1984, is of the newly-built RAF camp on Ascension at Traveller's Hill. I visited it again in 2016, when it was largely abandoned and looked to be in nowhere near as good a condition as in this image - and it really is in the middle of bleedin' nowhere.
7 July 2023 - Since the release of Fat Albert in December, all three volumes of Shropshire Blue have consistently held three of the top five spots in the Cold War biography category on Amazon, which seems pretty amazing. On the debit side, though, sales of the Wings series have dwindled to a trickle, both here and in the US, but hey, you can't have everything.
I'll finish the project I've been involved in for the last few months in the next couple of days, which will allow me to concentrate on research for Wings Over the Desert (or North Africa, I'm not totally sure yet). From some of my emails, I know this will be welcome news to some readers. It's nice to have things in the pipeline, but also a bit daunting at times.
Elsewhere, we went to Bristol to see Mongolian folk metal band, The Hu, who went on to wow the crowds at Glastonbury. Using a blend of modern and Mongolian instruments and vocal techniques, they produce an incredible wall of sound. You can see what I mean through this link. In Bristol, they were supported by Irish folk metal band, Tau and the Drones of Praise, who also filled the room with tremendous energy. On an entirely different note, we also attended the first night of the Welsh Proms, watching the London Philarmonic playing classical greatest hits, from Morning by Greig to the Star Wars theme. Great stuff.
The photos below are of some of the many vessels I've been lucky enough to see out of my bedroom window over the years.
I'll finish the project I've been involved in for the last few months in the next couple of days, which will allow me to concentrate on research for Wings Over the Desert (or North Africa, I'm not totally sure yet). From some of my emails, I know this will be welcome news to some readers. It's nice to have things in the pipeline, but also a bit daunting at times.
Elsewhere, we went to Bristol to see Mongolian folk metal band, The Hu, who went on to wow the crowds at Glastonbury. Using a blend of modern and Mongolian instruments and vocal techniques, they produce an incredible wall of sound. You can see what I mean through this link. In Bristol, they were supported by Irish folk metal band, Tau and the Drones of Praise, who also filled the room with tremendous energy. On an entirely different note, we also attended the first night of the Welsh Proms, watching the London Philarmonic playing classical greatest hits, from Morning by Greig to the Star Wars theme. Great stuff.
The photos below are of some of the many vessels I've been lucky enough to see out of my bedroom window over the years.
7June 2023 - The highlight of the previous month was a week walking in the southern Lake District. We were blessed with fine weather throughout and below are just some of the magnificent views we met on our walks. On the way to the Lake District, we spent a night with our son in Manchester, where we saw Australian metal band, Ne Obliviscaris. A great night. And back in Cardiff, we visited the Tramshed to see Midge Ure, the front man of the band Ultravox, still going strong. Supported by a great group of musicians, he played many of the hits from the Ultravox era. A great bit of nostalgia.
On the writing front, I'm delighted that all three Shropshire Blue volumes continue to sell in small numbers, while Wings Over Malta has just passed 5,000 sales, meaning the Wings series has more than 25,000 sales between them, certainly more than enough to give me a warm glow.
On the writing front, I'm delighted that all three Shropshire Blue volumes continue to sell in small numbers, while Wings Over Malta has just passed 5,000 sales, meaning the Wings series has more than 25,000 sales between them, certainly more than enough to give me a warm glow.
6 May 2023 - Among many pleasant things last month, I was invited to a lunch in Cardiff for Army retirees, much like the RAF lunches I go to every three months. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in very pleasant company, including one of the diners sitting next to me, Tim Matthias, who had quite a tale to tell. His father had not only played cricket for Glamorgan and Wales in the 1920s, but, of most interest to me, had served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.
Fred Matthias, his medals, including the Military Cross and the shrapnel that 'Almost brought us down'.
Reconnaissance photo of Western Front
Temporary 2nd Lieutenant Fred Matthias entered the Royal Flying in 1916 and, by the end of the War was a Temporary Captain with a Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In the iterim, he'd spent much of the time performing one of the more dangerous tasks with a very high rate of attrition: reconnaissance over the enemy lines. This is one of his picures taken over the Western front from a Sopwith Camel or Bristol Bulldog flying at about 10,000 feet. I think the definition is incredible for the time.
Hairy moments included performing a forward somersault landing on a sodden airfield in northern Italy; taking the shrapnel in the image above, whch 'almost brougt us down'; and descending below cloud to find him and his observer, Sylvester, wthout fighter cover. They were soon attacked by a German fighter. Fred levelled the aircraft so that Sylvester could get to his feet and pick up his .303 rifle. After a few moments, he heard a shot and saw the German spiral down, but the kill could not be corroborated as there were no other witnesses.
My thanks go to Tim for the stories and the images he sent me.
Another highlight was seeing military-themed power metal band, Sabaton, at the Arena in Cardiff. They put on a marvellous show. Lately, they have produced some very moving First World War songs and videos. The following link is to one that never fails to move me: 1916.
Hairy moments included performing a forward somersault landing on a sodden airfield in northern Italy; taking the shrapnel in the image above, whch 'almost brougt us down'; and descending below cloud to find him and his observer, Sylvester, wthout fighter cover. They were soon attacked by a German fighter. Fred levelled the aircraft so that Sylvester could get to his feet and pick up his .303 rifle. After a few moments, he heard a shot and saw the German spiral down, but the kill could not be corroborated as there were no other witnesses.
My thanks go to Tim for the stories and the images he sent me.
Another highlight was seeing military-themed power metal band, Sabaton, at the Arena in Cardiff. They put on a marvellous show. Lately, they have produced some very moving First World War songs and videos. The following link is to one that never fails to move me: 1916.
5 April 2023 - All three volumes of Shropshire Blue continue to sell enough to make me happy, with Fat Albert in one or other of Amazon's ebook Best Seller categories for most of the month. All the titles also continue to gain good reviews and ratings, which pleases me even more than sales.
During my own journey toward publication in the years after I retired from the RAF, I was told that, for a book to be thought of as moderately successful rather than meteoric, it had to sell about 1200 copies during it's lifetime. Well, Fat Albert passed this benchmark a few weeks ago, and I hope it has some way to go before it's stopped selling altogether. I think the foregoing tells you something of the scale of my sales. I'm certainly not rivalling JK Rowling, but, as I say, I sell enough to make me happy. Wings Over Summer remains my most successful book by some margin, with more than 20,000 sales.
Elsewhere, we've enjoyed a cinema trip, a couple of visits to St David's Hall in Cardiff for gigs and a few long walks along the coast and into Porthkerry Park, our go-to walk. Other than that, all is fairly quiet. From 26 April, one of my short stories is opening David Carrington's show, Squaring the Circle, on Celtica internet radio station. A Local Hero, the story of Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town that inspired my RAF career and writing, can be found at the 14-minute point on this link to the Station's archive page. It is narrated by me and has backing music by the Violaris family.
Those who have read Fat Albert will know that Ascension Island was a major part of my life on the RAF C-130 Hercules fleet. This month's photos are from my 18th visit to the Island, which took place in 2016, thirty four years after my first visit in April 1982, at the start of the Falklands War.
During my own journey toward publication in the years after I retired from the RAF, I was told that, for a book to be thought of as moderately successful rather than meteoric, it had to sell about 1200 copies during it's lifetime. Well, Fat Albert passed this benchmark a few weeks ago, and I hope it has some way to go before it's stopped selling altogether. I think the foregoing tells you something of the scale of my sales. I'm certainly not rivalling JK Rowling, but, as I say, I sell enough to make me happy. Wings Over Summer remains my most successful book by some margin, with more than 20,000 sales.
Elsewhere, we've enjoyed a cinema trip, a couple of visits to St David's Hall in Cardiff for gigs and a few long walks along the coast and into Porthkerry Park, our go-to walk. Other than that, all is fairly quiet. From 26 April, one of my short stories is opening David Carrington's show, Squaring the Circle, on Celtica internet radio station. A Local Hero, the story of Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town that inspired my RAF career and writing, can be found at the 14-minute point on this link to the Station's archive page. It is narrated by me and has backing music by the Violaris family.
Those who have read Fat Albert will know that Ascension Island was a major part of my life on the RAF C-130 Hercules fleet. This month's photos are from my 18th visit to the Island, which took place in 2016, thirty four years after my first visit in April 1982, at the start of the Falklands War.
Lenin overlooking the Defence Staff Talks in Minsk
6 March 2023 - A quiet month with a couple of rugby matches, seeing Tubular Bells performed in concert and a night-stop in Bristol to see metal band, Beast In Black. Good fun.
Publishing Fat Albert has renewed interest in the previous two Shropshire Blue titles, Preparation For Flight and On The Buffet and all three are selling steadily and gaining good ratings and reviews. I've been diverted from researching the third volume of the Wings series by another writing project, but I hope to get back to it soon.
I continue to take an interest in the Ukraine war and all things surrounding it. Among the many things I find incredible is the number of countries beyond the usual suspects that are willing to swallow Putin's line that the West is responsible for the invasion and the resulting disruption to global energy and food stocks.
And speaking of the usual suspects, the high profile of Belarus lately reminds me of a set of defence talks I attended in Minsk in 1994, a few years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Belarus suddenly found itself an independant country, but its armed forces were merely those the Russians had left behind with the collapse of the USSR. We were there to encourage them into closer contact with western Europe and perhaps even participation in humanitarian and peacekeeping duties around the world. The head of their delegation, a General Maltsev if I remember correctly, was not keen. He couldn't even think of a way to address our delegation beyond calling us the Old Enemy.
It didn't bode well for them looking west rather than east, and so it has turned out.
Publishing Fat Albert has renewed interest in the previous two Shropshire Blue titles, Preparation For Flight and On The Buffet and all three are selling steadily and gaining good ratings and reviews. I've been diverted from researching the third volume of the Wings series by another writing project, but I hope to get back to it soon.
I continue to take an interest in the Ukraine war and all things surrounding it. Among the many things I find incredible is the number of countries beyond the usual suspects that are willing to swallow Putin's line that the West is responsible for the invasion and the resulting disruption to global energy and food stocks.
And speaking of the usual suspects, the high profile of Belarus lately reminds me of a set of defence talks I attended in Minsk in 1994, a few years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Belarus suddenly found itself an independant country, but its armed forces were merely those the Russians had left behind with the collapse of the USSR. We were there to encourage them into closer contact with western Europe and perhaps even participation in humanitarian and peacekeeping duties around the world. The head of their delegation, a General Maltsev if I remember correctly, was not keen. He couldn't even think of a way to address our delegation beyond calling us the Old Enemy.
It didn't bode well for them looking west rather than east, and so it has turned out.
Cloudy sky over the Bristol Channel
5 February 2023
Both good and bad, or at least sad, news this month.
The good news is that Fat Albert continues to do well. For much of the month, it has been a best seller in one or more of the Aviation, Aviation Reference, Cold War and Air Force Biography ebook categories on Amazon UK. Even more amazing from my point of view, some days, Shropshire Blue volumes have been first, second and third in some categories. So thank you to everyone buying the books.
The sad news is that one of the people who helped me develop as a writer died on New Year's Eve at the age of 99. Phil Beynon was President of Cardiff Writers' Circle when I began attending soon after leaving the RAF. Alongside others, he encouraged me to use less formal language and even add a bit of dialogue, something not included in military reports and papers. Another source of my deep respect for Phil was his service as a bomb aimer on Liberators in the Second World War. I'll mention just three of the stories he told me from that period.
Although Phil applied and was selected for aircrew training as soon as he was old enough, he wasn't called forward until 1943. In the intervening years, while walking the streets of Cardiff, he was handed white feathers of cowardice on three occasions by different women. When he qualified as a bomb aimer, he had time to fly what he called 'only eight missions' over Germany and Austria. Whether 'only' eight missions or not, I think he proved he didn't deserve those white feathers.
His squadron flew from Foggia in Italy. One night he was ill and a young South African flew in his stead. His aircraft never returned. Phil said not a day went past when he didn't feel wretched for not having flown, and died, that night. The feeling was never worse than when he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, an experience the young South African never lived to enjoy.
And finally, something with resonance today. Shortly after the war, while serving as an officer in the occupation forces in Vienna, he stopped a Russian soldier raping a young woman in a park, something that happened all too often. He must have known the Russian was as likely to pull out a gun and shoot him as to stop his attack, but he did the right thing anyway.
Rest in Peace, Phil.
The photo, taken on one of our daily walks is of a cloudy sky over the Bristol Channel.
Both good and bad, or at least sad, news this month.
The good news is that Fat Albert continues to do well. For much of the month, it has been a best seller in one or more of the Aviation, Aviation Reference, Cold War and Air Force Biography ebook categories on Amazon UK. Even more amazing from my point of view, some days, Shropshire Blue volumes have been first, second and third in some categories. So thank you to everyone buying the books.
The sad news is that one of the people who helped me develop as a writer died on New Year's Eve at the age of 99. Phil Beynon was President of Cardiff Writers' Circle when I began attending soon after leaving the RAF. Alongside others, he encouraged me to use less formal language and even add a bit of dialogue, something not included in military reports and papers. Another source of my deep respect for Phil was his service as a bomb aimer on Liberators in the Second World War. I'll mention just three of the stories he told me from that period.
Although Phil applied and was selected for aircrew training as soon as he was old enough, he wasn't called forward until 1943. In the intervening years, while walking the streets of Cardiff, he was handed white feathers of cowardice on three occasions by different women. When he qualified as a bomb aimer, he had time to fly what he called 'only eight missions' over Germany and Austria. Whether 'only' eight missions or not, I think he proved he didn't deserve those white feathers.
His squadron flew from Foggia in Italy. One night he was ill and a young South African flew in his stead. His aircraft never returned. Phil said not a day went past when he didn't feel wretched for not having flown, and died, that night. The feeling was never worse than when he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, an experience the young South African never lived to enjoy.
And finally, something with resonance today. Shortly after the war, while serving as an officer in the occupation forces in Vienna, he stopped a Russian soldier raping a young woman in a park, something that happened all too often. He must have known the Russian was as likely to pull out a gun and shoot him as to stop his attack, but he did the right thing anyway.
Rest in Peace, Phil.
The photo, taken on one of our daily walks is of a cloudy sky over the Bristol Channel.
6 January 2023 - Firstly, happy new year and here's wishing you a happy and healthy 2023. As for me, I couldn't have been happier with the launch of Fat Albert. As of today, it is the No 1 best selling ebook in the Aviation, Cold War and Biographies of the Air Force categories on Amazon. Even more pleasing, On the Buffet and Preparation For Flight are two and three respectively in the Cold War catergory. Now, Amazon are very clever with their categories, and the positions don't necessarily reflect a large number of sales, but the results are enough to give me a warm glow before the inevitable cooling in interest. Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest, and especially to those who have posted such positive reviews.
In other good news, my broken foot no longer holds me back. The consultant said it may still swell and be sore as I do more, but at least we can contemplate some longer walks now. And Geraldine's fingers continue to improve, although full recovery will be a longer project in her case.
Elsewhere, we've been watching Cardiff Rugby going from winning to losing, but the matches have still been entertaining. Looking forard to seeing them play Newcastle in European competition this weekend, when we also have a concert to go to. And I'm appearing on Ceri Stennet's show on Radio Cardiff at 10am on Tuesday 17th January, mainly to talk about the new book.
The photos this month are some of the many in Fat Albert.
In other good news, my broken foot no longer holds me back. The consultant said it may still swell and be sore as I do more, but at least we can contemplate some longer walks now. And Geraldine's fingers continue to improve, although full recovery will be a longer project in her case.
Elsewhere, we've been watching Cardiff Rugby going from winning to losing, but the matches have still been entertaining. Looking forard to seeing them play Newcastle in European competition this weekend, when we also have a concert to go to. And I'm appearing on Ceri Stennet's show on Radio Cardiff at 10am on Tuesday 17th January, mainly to talk about the new book.
The photos this month are some of the many in Fat Albert.
5 December 2022 - Apologies that it has taken longer than planned, but I have finally hit the publish button to launch the ebook of Fat Albert, the third volume of my memoir, Shropshire Blue. This one covers my time on the RAF C-130 Hercules fleet, which I joined just as the Falklands War started in April 1982. What followed was three years of travelling the world with an amazing bunch of people, visiting places as diverse as Las Vegas and The Falklands, East Berlin, Cape Canaveral at the time of a Space Shuttle launch and Ethiopia during the famine relief operations around the time of Band Aid. I hope I've managed to convey my enthusiasm for the Ascoteer lifestyle and my love of Fat Albert, the C-130, which is shortly to leave RAF service. The title is currently available as an ebook and paperback through this link to Amazon. I feel I have to apologise for the cost of the paperback. Even without me taking any royalties, because of its length and the inclusion of photographs, it comes out at £20 or the equivalent in overseas markets.
Among other news is that I broke a bone - the fifth Metatarsal - in my foot three weeks ago. I'd like to say it was while doing something heroic, but I slipped in the garden. I've spent much of the time in the interim wearing a big plastic boot, but it didn't stop us going to three long-awaited metal gigs, Nightwish in Birmingham, Powerwolf in London and The Hu in Cardiff. All three were fantastic and well worth the wait.
After putting some effort into publicising Fat Albert, I'll start researching the air war in the North African desert in earnest, with a view to taking Jack Williams, the protagonist of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta into that theatre.
Among other news is that I broke a bone - the fifth Metatarsal - in my foot three weeks ago. I'd like to say it was while doing something heroic, but I slipped in the garden. I've spent much of the time in the interim wearing a big plastic boot, but it didn't stop us going to three long-awaited metal gigs, Nightwish in Birmingham, Powerwolf in London and The Hu in Cardiff. All three were fantastic and well worth the wait.
After putting some effort into publicising Fat Albert, I'll start researching the air war in the North African desert in earnest, with a view to taking Jack Williams, the protagonist of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta into that theatre.
Rainbow between Lavernock Point and Sully Island
5 November 2022 - The big news is that Geraldine has had the pins out of her hand. Now it's a matter of exercising her fingers until she gets full movement back. It will take time. Meantime, I remain head cook.
I have had two trips to London, though. One with my son for our NFL weekend, althugh this year we watched the American Football in a sports bar because we didn't get tickets for the match. Nevertheless, we had a good time. Later in the month, I attended a dinner of the University of London Air Squadron Ex-Members Association in the RAF Club on Piccadilly. It was a great evening, spent amongst some of my old students. One, who I hadn't seen for thirty four years, was the young man pictured on my Bio page receiving a solo certificate from me when I was an instructor. He's now an eye surgeon and flies a microlight in his spare time. Another of my ex-students there on the night recently retired as a group captain and is now a retained fireman. It was great to catch up with these two and the others from the same era that were there.
On the writing front, I am still on the final edit of Fat Albert, but hope to finish soon.
The photo is another from our bedroom window.
I have had two trips to London, though. One with my son for our NFL weekend, althugh this year we watched the American Football in a sports bar because we didn't get tickets for the match. Nevertheless, we had a good time. Later in the month, I attended a dinner of the University of London Air Squadron Ex-Members Association in the RAF Club on Piccadilly. It was a great evening, spent amongst some of my old students. One, who I hadn't seen for thirty four years, was the young man pictured on my Bio page receiving a solo certificate from me when I was an instructor. He's now an eye surgeon and flies a microlight in his spare time. Another of my ex-students there on the night recently retired as a group captain and is now a retained fireman. It was great to catch up with these two and the others from the same era that were there.
On the writing front, I am still on the final edit of Fat Albert, but hope to finish soon.
The photo is another from our bedroom window.
15 October 2022 - Apologies for a later posting than normal this month, but the photographs below may go some way to providing an explanation.
Geraldine and I went for our first European walking holiday in three years at the end of September. It was in Puglia, the region occupying the heel of Italy. After a fairly long and rugged walk on the first day, we were walking to catch a local bus when Geraldine tripped and fell, breaking two fingers. It then took visits to three hospitals and a health centre over two days before her fingers were set - without pain relief. That was the end of the cross-country walking, but our final few days were in the cave city of Matera, which we treated as a very enjoyable city break. Holiday rescued, but when we returned home, Geraldine's fingers had not been set properly and she had to have an operation to pin them. More pain and a more prolonged recovery, on which she is now embarking.
My second apology is that the disruption, and many more cooking and cleaning duties than normal, have delayed the publication of Fat Albert, which I've not returned to since our holiday. I hope to get back to the final edit and preparation for publication over the next few weeks.
As an aside, I visited Matera when I was commanding the Harrier detachment at Italian Air Force base Gioia del Colle in late 2000 and early 2001. It was largely deserted then, having been cleared by the Italian government in the 1950s and 60s because of the insanitary condition of the cave dwellings in which the inhabitants lived. Rebuilding had just begun when I first saw it, and it is now a thriving tourist hub, with most of the churches open and the cave dwellings modernised, many as hotels and museums. It was European city of culture in 2019 and scenes from the Bond film, No Time To Die, were filmed there.
Geraldine and I went for our first European walking holiday in three years at the end of September. It was in Puglia, the region occupying the heel of Italy. After a fairly long and rugged walk on the first day, we were walking to catch a local bus when Geraldine tripped and fell, breaking two fingers. It then took visits to three hospitals and a health centre over two days before her fingers were set - without pain relief. That was the end of the cross-country walking, but our final few days were in the cave city of Matera, which we treated as a very enjoyable city break. Holiday rescued, but when we returned home, Geraldine's fingers had not been set properly and she had to have an operation to pin them. More pain and a more prolonged recovery, on which she is now embarking.
My second apology is that the disruption, and many more cooking and cleaning duties than normal, have delayed the publication of Fat Albert, which I've not returned to since our holiday. I hope to get back to the final edit and preparation for publication over the next few weeks.
As an aside, I visited Matera when I was commanding the Harrier detachment at Italian Air Force base Gioia del Colle in late 2000 and early 2001. It was largely deserted then, having been cleared by the Italian government in the 1950s and 60s because of the insanitary condition of the cave dwellings in which the inhabitants lived. Rebuilding had just begun when I first saw it, and it is now a thriving tourist hub, with most of the churches open and the cave dwellings modernised, many as hotels and museums. It was European city of culture in 2019 and scenes from the Bond film, No Time To Die, were filmed there.
The Queen and President Mbutu, 13 December 1973
10 September 2022 - I never met the late Queen, but I came within yards of her on ten occasions between 1973 and 1976, when I was one of thousands of servicemen lining the streets of London as she met visiting heads of state at Victoria Station and processed to Buckingham Palace. My first route lining was for President of Mbutu of Zaire, my last, for President Valery Giscard d'Estaing of France. I was usually positioned somewhere along Whitehall or on Parliament Square, there to present arms as the Queen and other members of the Royal Family passed by.
In hindsight, it was a great privilege to have even a minor role in such pageantry, although the hours of foot drill in preparation meant I didn't always appreciate it at the time. One reason for all the practices was that The Queen had an incredible eye for detail. If anyone let the side down, she was sure to take note and mention it to one of her staff when she had an opportunity.
While some in her family have behaved badly and created problems, she has always behaved impeccably, doing her duty with great fortitude and dignity. She also kept her counsel when attacked by others, never descending into self justification or victimhood like most in the public eye. It is hard to believe that anyone could have done better - and certainly not under a presidential system. President Boris!!! And happily, her immediate heirs and successors seem to offer great promise. King Charles III has made a very promising start.
God Save The King.
In hindsight, it was a great privilege to have even a minor role in such pageantry, although the hours of foot drill in preparation meant I didn't always appreciate it at the time. One reason for all the practices was that The Queen had an incredible eye for detail. If anyone let the side down, she was sure to take note and mention it to one of her staff when she had an opportunity.
While some in her family have behaved badly and created problems, she has always behaved impeccably, doing her duty with great fortitude and dignity. She also kept her counsel when attacked by others, never descending into self justification or victimhood like most in the public eye. It is hard to believe that anyone could have done better - and certainly not under a presidential system. President Boris!!! And happily, her immediate heirs and successors seem to offer great promise. King Charles III has made a very promising start.
God Save The King.
6 September 2022 - The rain bucketing down on the Velux next to me signals the move from summer into autumn. With that, our granddaughter has returned to school and we will visit Cardiff Arms Park to watch our first rugby game of the new season on Friday night. I suppose the highlight of the last month was an enjoyable day at the ArcTangent metal music festival with our son. Bands we particularly liked included the headliners, Opeth, but also, cellist, Jo Quail, German band, Kokomo, and a Japanese band doing their first gig in Europe with the unlikely name of Mass of the Fermenting Dregs.
Otherwise, a quiet month of grandparenting duties and editing the script of Fat Albert, the third volume of Shropshire Blue. While sorting out the photos for the book, I came across one of me in a flying suit in the back garden of our married quarter at RAF Lyneham, the home of the Hercules force, in 1982. I'm wearing a 24 Squadron cravat, an item of neckwear that everyone hated. I designed a black and red chevron flying suit badge to replace it, and I'm proud to say that Squdron crews still wear it to to this day.
Otherwise, a quiet month of grandparenting duties and editing the script of Fat Albert, the third volume of Shropshire Blue. While sorting out the photos for the book, I came across one of me in a flying suit in the back garden of our married quarter at RAF Lyneham, the home of the Hercules force, in 1982. I'm wearing a 24 Squadron cravat, an item of neckwear that everyone hated. I designed a black and red chevron flying suit badge to replace it, and I'm proud to say that Squdron crews still wear it to to this day.
Flying north out of Addis Ababa over the Rift Valley
6 August 2022 - I'm nearing the end of the first draft of the third volume of Shropshire Blue. So, after a period of editing, I hope to upload it to Amazon in the next couple of months. To those that have expressed an interest, sorry for the wait, but as I say, life keeps intervening, usually in a pleasant way, thankfully.
Much of the pleasure comes from our granddaughter, who we're looking after for a day and a half a week over the school summer holidays. Apart from our joints, it seems to keep us young, and we've enjoyed visits to a film music concert and a stage show about dinosaurs almost as much as she has. Seeing her unbridled joy at such things makes what Putin is doing to the children of Ukraine and their relatives so much more immediate and heartbreaking. I still don't understand those countries that are supporting his actions and facilitating them through the sale of arms and other commodities he needs to maintain his corrupt and blood-soaked regime. End of brief rant.
Over the last few weeks, I've been writing about a visit to Ethiopia shortly after Michael Buerk's report into a 'biblical famine' unfolding in the Ethiopian highlands in 1984 and 85. I didn't take part in the relief flights to the famine areas, but was there to fly out an aircraft damaged performing that task. The photo is of the Rift Valley on the flight out of Addis Ababa, taken shortly before the pressurisation failed and we had to descend far too close to the high ground for comfort and divert to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A fictional account drawing on the experience can be read under the title Band Aid on my Short Story page.
Much of the pleasure comes from our granddaughter, who we're looking after for a day and a half a week over the school summer holidays. Apart from our joints, it seems to keep us young, and we've enjoyed visits to a film music concert and a stage show about dinosaurs almost as much as she has. Seeing her unbridled joy at such things makes what Putin is doing to the children of Ukraine and their relatives so much more immediate and heartbreaking. I still don't understand those countries that are supporting his actions and facilitating them through the sale of arms and other commodities he needs to maintain his corrupt and blood-soaked regime. End of brief rant.
Over the last few weeks, I've been writing about a visit to Ethiopia shortly after Michael Buerk's report into a 'biblical famine' unfolding in the Ethiopian highlands in 1984 and 85. I didn't take part in the relief flights to the famine areas, but was there to fly out an aircraft damaged performing that task. The photo is of the Rift Valley on the flight out of Addis Ababa, taken shortly before the pressurisation failed and we had to descend far too close to the high ground for comfort and divert to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A fictional account drawing on the experience can be read under the title Band Aid on my Short Story page.
5 July 2022 - Following the signing of my contract with Tantor Media late last year, both Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta are now available as audio books from Amazon or any of the other audio book platforms. Both are narrated by Hannibal Hills, and I'm as delighted by his rendition of Wings Over Malta as I was with Wings Over Summer. He injects the same breathless intensity into the combat scenes and the way he swops between accents is pretty amazing. You can hear thirty minute samples of each on the following links to audiobooks.com, Wings Over Summer here, and Wings Over Malta here.
In the UK, the news continues to be dominated by our Prime Minister's inability to tell the truth rather than by Putin's brutal war and its effects on all of the western world. Perhaps most damaging in the long term is his strangulation of the Ukrainian grain supply - often through theft - a tactic that will lead to starvation and unrest in many of the poorer countries in the world.
On a lighter note, we went to see Top Gun, Maverick, and thoroughly enjoyed it, not least because of its loyalty to the original, which I first saw at The Odeon, Leicester Square, in London. I was surrounded by fighter pilots and navigatiors doing a flight safety course. You can just imagine their reaction to the aerial scenes and the more memorable lines, like, 'Give me some of that pilot sh*t!' The film remained the RAF's best recruiting asset throughout my time in the Service, and I wouldn't mind betting Maverick will be the same.
In the UK, the news continues to be dominated by our Prime Minister's inability to tell the truth rather than by Putin's brutal war and its effects on all of the western world. Perhaps most damaging in the long term is his strangulation of the Ukrainian grain supply - often through theft - a tactic that will lead to starvation and unrest in many of the poorer countries in the world.
On a lighter note, we went to see Top Gun, Maverick, and thoroughly enjoyed it, not least because of its loyalty to the original, which I first saw at The Odeon, Leicester Square, in London. I was surrounded by fighter pilots and navigatiors doing a flight safety course. You can just imagine their reaction to the aerial scenes and the more memorable lines, like, 'Give me some of that pilot sh*t!' The film remained the RAF's best recruiting asset throughout my time in the Service, and I wouldn't mind betting Maverick will be the same.
9 June 2022 - The last month was mainly taken up with preparations for and winding down from a two-week walking holiday on the beautiful Isle of Skye off the northwest coast of Scotland - and the holiday itself of course. The gallery below gives a taste of the amazing scenery we saw during our walks. Its not too shabby to return to south Wales, but there is something very special about the landscape of Scotland.
Elsewhere, I had a letter printed in a national newspaper exhorting the powers that be to do more to oppose Putin and his war, which is the root of all our current economic and energy woes, not to mention the approaching starvation in many poorer countries - which Putin's propaganda machine will successfully blame on the West. It should be the only story in town, and yet much of the media remains obsessed with celebrity trivia. Ho hum!
Finally, I'm back to writing Shropshire Blue Vol 3, while the Audio book version of Wings Over Malta should be available from Tantor Media on all platforms sometime this month.
Elsewhere, I had a letter printed in a national newspaper exhorting the powers that be to do more to oppose Putin and his war, which is the root of all our current economic and energy woes, not to mention the approaching starvation in many poorer countries - which Putin's propaganda machine will successfully blame on the West. It should be the only story in town, and yet much of the media remains obsessed with celebrity trivia. Ho hum!
Finally, I'm back to writing Shropshire Blue Vol 3, while the Audio book version of Wings Over Malta should be available from Tantor Media on all platforms sometime this month.
Storm Damage at RAF Travellers Hill
9 May 2022 - I've been holding up my monthly News update in the hope that something exciting might come along. But truthfully, it has been a very quiet month on the domestic front, a couple of enjoyable walks and a couple of Cardiff Rugby home matches, one crushing defeat and one stunning victory. After a covid-disrupted season, we hope to get more value from our renewed season tickets.
On the overseas news front, of course, the butcher of Moscow's unprovoked attack on Ukraine continue to hold centre stage. The Ukrainians are fighting an heroic war on behalf of the whole western world, and in the face of ever-escalating threats and brutality. Perhaps we have to accept that ordinary Russians are so brainwashed by years of propaganda that they can't be expected to object. But despite the dangers of opposing the regime, it is getting to the stage where the elite must be held accountable alongside the politicians and military leaders. They know what is going on.
As to writing, I'm covering the period when I was a tanker co-pilot detaching to Ascension Island and flew to Port Stanley in the Falklands a couple of times. The photo is of storm damage to the landscaping of the newly-opened RAF camp at Travellers Hill on Ascension. The storm almost led to the loss of a Herc with 90 passengers the day before I arrived for my first tanker detachment. A fictitious rendition of the event can be found on my Short Story page under the title, The Eye and the Storm. The storm also formed the basis for a second story on the same page, The Greater Good.
On the overseas news front, of course, the butcher of Moscow's unprovoked attack on Ukraine continue to hold centre stage. The Ukrainians are fighting an heroic war on behalf of the whole western world, and in the face of ever-escalating threats and brutality. Perhaps we have to accept that ordinary Russians are so brainwashed by years of propaganda that they can't be expected to object. But despite the dangers of opposing the regime, it is getting to the stage where the elite must be held accountable alongside the politicians and military leaders. They know what is going on.
As to writing, I'm covering the period when I was a tanker co-pilot detaching to Ascension Island and flew to Port Stanley in the Falklands a couple of times. The photo is of storm damage to the landscaping of the newly-opened RAF camp at Travellers Hill on Ascension. The storm almost led to the loss of a Herc with 90 passengers the day before I arrived for my first tanker detachment. A fictitious rendition of the event can be found on my Short Story page under the title, The Eye and the Storm. The storm also formed the basis for a second story on the same page, The Greater Good.
Black Buck 2 on the pan at Ascension, 4th May 1982
6 April 2022 - Once again, Ukraine has been exercising me greatly. It's horrible feeling so impotent as an independent nation is pummelled by a ruthless dictator in the Hitler mould. I had a letter on the lines of the views I outlined last month printed in the local and national press, but I'm all too aware that it achieves nothing beyond allowing me to spit venom at Putin. The latest revelations of the way Russian troops have been treating Ukrainian civilians under their control is no more than you'd expect from a military led by such a man. Both he and those doing his bidding must face punishment for their crimes. This will lead to him digging in and creating even more mayhem, but the thought of him strutting the world stage again is unbearable.
The 40th anniversary of the Falklands War has brought back a host of memories. I was close to finishing my Hercules training when the Argentineans invaded on 2nd April 1982, and I flew the first of many missions to Ascension Island on 11th April, before I'd finished my course. I never came close to being in harm's way, but it was an exciting time. The photo, taken on the pan on Ascension while I was on my third visit, is of the Vulcan that had recently returned from the second Black Buck mission against Port Stanley airfield.
On the personal front, both Geraldine and I had covid, as did our daughter and granddaughter. Thankfully, we all seemed to have mild doses and recover quickly. So a big thank you to all the scientists who developed the vaccines.
The 40th anniversary of the Falklands War has brought back a host of memories. I was close to finishing my Hercules training when the Argentineans invaded on 2nd April 1982, and I flew the first of many missions to Ascension Island on 11th April, before I'd finished my course. I never came close to being in harm's way, but it was an exciting time. The photo, taken on the pan on Ascension while I was on my third visit, is of the Vulcan that had recently returned from the second Black Buck mission against Port Stanley airfield.
On the personal front, both Geraldine and I had covid, as did our daughter and granddaughter. Thankfully, we all seemed to have mild doses and recover quickly. So a big thank you to all the scientists who developed the vaccines.
Lifeboat in Storm Eunice
5 March 2022 - I don't usually comment on current affairs or politics, but it's hard to see anything other than the war in Ukraine as trivial at the moment. I've mentioned our love for our granddaughter, and the sight of so many young children just like her fleeing their homes or lying dead in the road is just hearbreaking. It's invidious to make comparisons with other combat areas in the world, but this really is different. Having spent months preparing and telling the world otherwise - lying - Vladimir Putin has cold-bloodedly invaded a fully functioning liberal democracy whose population are overwhelmingly opposed to his presence. His historical and modern pretexts for his actions are rubbish. Ukraine has spent more time under Polish/Lithuanian control than Russian, and the Russian-speaking population of the eastern regions was not the subject of genocide, although they are now suffering under Russian shelling as much as their neighbours. And his conduct of the war is disgusting and barbaric, as is his treatment of dissenters in Russia itself.
The mistakes and misjudgements that have led to us being unable to confront him are too many to mention, but they are in the past and we must move on to build our forces and our resolve to face down such monsters. And yet, having said that, I have to agree that we cannot do so militarily at the moment. The risks of miscalculations leading Putin to unleash nuclear armageddon are just too great. Who knows, public opinion may yet lead us to take a more active role, but the cost will be horrendous. The howls of protest at the economic pain caused by current measures will be bad enough, but the pain must be borne, because he can't be allowed to win. He needs external enemies to blame for the hardships his actions will cause his own people. The Baltic States will be next.
Enough. That's why I don't usually mention politics. I have strong opinions - not always right - on every issue.
A brief mention of other things. The Shropshire Star ran a piece on the publication of the audio book which you can see through this link. And as I said in the last post, I think Hannibal Hills, the narrator, has done a magnificent job of bringing the book to life.
The photo, taken from our bedroom window,is off the Barry Lifeboat returning after a call-out during Storm Eunice - when our front door was battered by tiles from the roof of the adjacent flats.
The mistakes and misjudgements that have led to us being unable to confront him are too many to mention, but they are in the past and we must move on to build our forces and our resolve to face down such monsters. And yet, having said that, I have to agree that we cannot do so militarily at the moment. The risks of miscalculations leading Putin to unleash nuclear armageddon are just too great. Who knows, public opinion may yet lead us to take a more active role, but the cost will be horrendous. The howls of protest at the economic pain caused by current measures will be bad enough, but the pain must be borne, because he can't be allowed to win. He needs external enemies to blame for the hardships his actions will cause his own people. The Baltic States will be next.
Enough. That's why I don't usually mention politics. I have strong opinions - not always right - on every issue.
A brief mention of other things. The Shropshire Star ran a piece on the publication of the audio book which you can see through this link. And as I said in the last post, I think Hannibal Hills, the narrator, has done a magnificent job of bringing the book to life.
The photo, taken from our bedroom window,is off the Barry Lifeboat returning after a call-out during Storm Eunice - when our front door was battered by tiles from the roof of the adjacent flats.
22 February 2022 - The audio book version of my Battle of Britain novel, Wings Over Summer, has been published by Tantor Media and is now available on all audio book platforms. It's read by voice artist Hannibal Hills and I think he's done a fantastic job. He's managed to bring the breathless intensity to the combat scenes that I intended, and how he manages to switch accents so deftly is beyond me. I can only admire his skill and vocal dexterity.
The audio book of the sequel, Wings Over Malta, about the air battles above the Mediterranean island that was the most heavily bombed place on earth at the time, will appear on 14th June 2022.
The audio book of the sequel, Wings Over Malta, about the air battles above the Mediterranean island that was the most heavily bombed place on earth at the time, will appear on 14th June 2022.
5 February 2022 - I continue to describe my time on the Herc for Vol 3 of Shropshire Blue. I'm currently writing about tanker training. We'd be taking most of our fuel in the South Atlantic from other Hercs, but we trained behind Victors and Vulcans, six of which had been converted into tankers. It was such a privilege to fly alongside and take fuel from the aircraft I'd spent two and a half years working on as a tradesman just a few years earlier. A bit surreal too, seeing that huge delta up close again, but this time in the air. The photos were taken at the time.
Elsewhere, out of the blue one evening I was asked to do a piece on Rado 5 Live breakfast show the next morning about an American F-35 that had gone down in the South China Sea and was being closed on by US and Chinese salvage vessels. It's a subject I know little about, so I felt I had to decline. Perhaps they'll ask me again - and on a subject about which I'm more knowledgable.
Finally, we were able to return to Cardiff Arms Park and watch Cardiff beat Leinster at rugby with the final kick of the game. Electric atmosphere. And I'm really looking forward to watching the Superbowl. It's been a fantastic season of American Football and I just hope the Bengals at the Rams maintains the same standard, especially as I'll be staying up until about three in the morning to watch it.
Elsewhere, out of the blue one evening I was asked to do a piece on Rado 5 Live breakfast show the next morning about an American F-35 that had gone down in the South China Sea and was being closed on by US and Chinese salvage vessels. It's a subject I know little about, so I felt I had to decline. Perhaps they'll ask me again - and on a subject about which I'm more knowledgable.
Finally, we were able to return to Cardiff Arms Park and watch Cardiff beat Leinster at rugby with the final kick of the game. Electric atmosphere. And I'm really looking forward to watching the Superbowl. It's been a fantastic season of American Football and I just hope the Bengals at the Rams maintains the same standard, especially as I'll be staying up until about three in the morning to watch it.
8 January 2022 - The big news on the writing front is that the audio book of Wings Over Summer should be published and available on all platforms on 22nd February. I hope I get to hear what it sounds like soon, and I'll let you know when I do.
Elsewhere, Wales was put into a tighter lockdown before Christmas, and from Boxing Day spectators were barred from major sporting events for the foreseeable future. Gatherings have been limited to 50 outdoors and 30 indoors, with groups of no more than six sitting together in hospitality venues. At the last count, the omicron variant was sweeping through Wales. Hopefully the rates will reduce soon and the restrictions will ease. Fingers crossed.
Before Christmas, the Cardiff rugby team became stranded in South Africa, then had to isolate for ten days when they returned to UK. As a result, they had to field a team of youngsters, semi-pro's and veterans against the European champions, Toulouse, in the Champions Cup. Although they lost, it was a great occasion and they can be really proud of their performance.
I mentioned Storm Barra in the last post. The photo is of the seafront of Barry Island during the storm.
Elsewhere, Wales was put into a tighter lockdown before Christmas, and from Boxing Day spectators were barred from major sporting events for the foreseeable future. Gatherings have been limited to 50 outdoors and 30 indoors, with groups of no more than six sitting together in hospitality venues. At the last count, the omicron variant was sweeping through Wales. Hopefully the rates will reduce soon and the restrictions will ease. Fingers crossed.
Before Christmas, the Cardiff rugby team became stranded in South Africa, then had to isolate for ten days when they returned to UK. As a result, they had to field a team of youngsters, semi-pro's and veterans against the European champions, Toulouse, in the Champions Cup. Although they lost, it was a great occasion and they can be really proud of their performance.
I mentioned Storm Barra in the last post. The photo is of the seafront of Barry Island during the storm.
Life is good
6 December 2021 - As the year nears its end, the Omicron variant seems to be taking hold. The tightening of travel restrictions led to the (umpteenth) postponement of a concert by our favourite band, Nightwish, at Wembley, but we did get to a talk by Tim Peake, the UK astronaut. He spoke about his journey into the astronaut corps and life on the International Space Station. As you can imagine, it was right up my street, and an added bonus was meeting two of my ex Universities of London Air Squadron students - from the period when I was the boss (1996-98). One flies the south Wales coastguard helicopter and one is an observer on the South Wales Police helicopter, so I wave to every coastguard or police helicopter that passes over our headland. This led to a meeting with another ex-student from the same period, who was giving a talk in Cardiff. We all hope to meet up for coffee in the new year.
As I type in my office space under the roof of the house, it is being buffeted by the winds of the second named storm of the season, Storm Barra. Hopefully the tiles will stay on until I finish typing. And in weather when the birds are grounded, the police helicopter has just flown over.
I assume work is progressing on the production of audio books of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta as I was asked to provide cover images. And I'm still enjoying writing about my time on the Herc. I've just finished a passage about my Combat Survival and Rescue Officer course in 1983. Challenging and interesting.
The photo is of three of the loves of my life: my wife, my granddaughter and the south Wales coast. I hope you are able to enjoy life as much as I do. On which note, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022.
As I type in my office space under the roof of the house, it is being buffeted by the winds of the second named storm of the season, Storm Barra. Hopefully the tiles will stay on until I finish typing. And in weather when the birds are grounded, the police helicopter has just flown over.
I assume work is progressing on the production of audio books of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta as I was asked to provide cover images. And I'm still enjoying writing about my time on the Herc. I've just finished a passage about my Combat Survival and Rescue Officer course in 1983. Challenging and interesting.
The photo is of three of the loves of my life: my wife, my granddaughter and the south Wales coast. I hope you are able to enjoy life as much as I do. On which note, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022.
3 November 2021 - Things really seem to have opened up for us in the last month.
In a return to a tradition that has run since 2007, my son and I went to the American Football in London. This year it was the Miami Dolphins at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and at a new venue for us, White Hart Lane, the home of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team. It was a great occasion - lovely stadium, capacity crowd (67,000), a good match, a few beers and a spine-tingling flypast by four F-15s. The following day we went to see the new Bond film at a near-deserted cinema in Leicester Square.
The next weekend I returned to London and a dinner of the Universities of London Air Squadron Ex-Members Association at the RAF Club on Piccadilly. It was a great evening, during which I met two students who were on the Squadron when I commanded it from 1996 to 98. One, who I taught to fly and sent solo, went on to become a Tornado and Typhoon pilot before retiring to fly for Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong; and the other, for whom I can take absolutely no credit but who is currently flying Boeing 777s with BA. Much of her recent flying has been long sorties to places like China and South America collecting or delivering Covid-related equipment and medicines. It was great to catch up with both of them and other members I hadn't seen for a few years.
Back in south Wales, I've done a slot on Radio Cardiff talking about the Battle of Britain, and Geraldine and I have been to rugby matches, the theatre (Book of Mormon), the cinema (Dune) and a gig (Clannad). Despite some initial trepidation at being in close proximity to lots of other people, all our subsequent lateral flow tests have been fine and it's been great to get out and about. Finally we've just had our Covid booster jabs, which have given our confidence an added 'boost'.
On top of grandparenting, all this enjoyment further reduces the time for writing of course, but I continue to make progress with Shropshire Blue Vol 3. I've also had some very heartening reviews which are always great inspiration to keep at it.
And finally, a couple of posts down included a piece about a senior RAF officer who had died: Sir Peter Harding. I mentioned that he'd been guest of honour at the 1992 University of Wales Air Squadron annual dinner when I was boss of the Squadron. I stumbled across this photo with some of the prize winners, taken after the dinner. A few hours later, the great man and I were sat in the old National Stadium - known as Cardiff Arms Park - to see Wales play the final home game of the annual 5 Nations rugby championship - now the 6 Nations.
In a return to a tradition that has run since 2007, my son and I went to the American Football in London. This year it was the Miami Dolphins at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and at a new venue for us, White Hart Lane, the home of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team. It was a great occasion - lovely stadium, capacity crowd (67,000), a good match, a few beers and a spine-tingling flypast by four F-15s. The following day we went to see the new Bond film at a near-deserted cinema in Leicester Square.
The next weekend I returned to London and a dinner of the Universities of London Air Squadron Ex-Members Association at the RAF Club on Piccadilly. It was a great evening, during which I met two students who were on the Squadron when I commanded it from 1996 to 98. One, who I taught to fly and sent solo, went on to become a Tornado and Typhoon pilot before retiring to fly for Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong; and the other, for whom I can take absolutely no credit but who is currently flying Boeing 777s with BA. Much of her recent flying has been long sorties to places like China and South America collecting or delivering Covid-related equipment and medicines. It was great to catch up with both of them and other members I hadn't seen for a few years.
Back in south Wales, I've done a slot on Radio Cardiff talking about the Battle of Britain, and Geraldine and I have been to rugby matches, the theatre (Book of Mormon), the cinema (Dune) and a gig (Clannad). Despite some initial trepidation at being in close proximity to lots of other people, all our subsequent lateral flow tests have been fine and it's been great to get out and about. Finally we've just had our Covid booster jabs, which have given our confidence an added 'boost'.
On top of grandparenting, all this enjoyment further reduces the time for writing of course, but I continue to make progress with Shropshire Blue Vol 3. I've also had some very heartening reviews which are always great inspiration to keep at it.
And finally, a couple of posts down included a piece about a senior RAF officer who had died: Sir Peter Harding. I mentioned that he'd been guest of honour at the 1992 University of Wales Air Squadron annual dinner when I was boss of the Squadron. I stumbled across this photo with some of the prize winners, taken after the dinner. A few hours later, the great man and I were sat in the old National Stadium - known as Cardiff Arms Park - to see Wales play the final home game of the annual 5 Nations rugby championship - now the 6 Nations.
On the airport dispersal in Beirut
2 October 2021 - A welcome return to Cardiff Arms Park and matches against Bath and Connacht, both ending in victory for Cardiff Rugby. At first it was strange sitting among so many other people, even outdoors, but we got used to it and the atmosphere was marvellous. This month, we're looking forward to more rugby and my son and I are due to attend the Miami Dolphins v the Jacksonville Jaguars American Football match at White Hart Lane in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.
On the writing front, I accepted a narrator for Tantor Media's audio-book productions of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta. With the distinctive name of Hannibal Hills, he hales from Southampton and having listened to some of his work - on Amazon - I'm confident the titles will be in good hands. Once again, I can't wait to hear the finished product.
In the meantime, I'm still writing about my time on the Herc, recently about a trip into Beirut in support of peacekeeping forces. It was the only time I was in a hot war zone. As we sat on the pan - protected by a Ferret armoured car - puffs of smoke were erupting on the nearby hills, where Druze and Shia militias were shelling one another rather than the peacekeepers.
On the writing front, I accepted a narrator for Tantor Media's audio-book productions of Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta. With the distinctive name of Hannibal Hills, he hales from Southampton and having listened to some of his work - on Amazon - I'm confident the titles will be in good hands. Once again, I can't wait to hear the finished product.
In the meantime, I'm still writing about my time on the Herc, recently about a trip into Beirut in support of peacekeeping forces. It was the only time I was in a hot war zone. As we sat on the pan - protected by a Ferret armoured car - puffs of smoke were erupting on the nearby hills, where Druze and Shia militias were shelling one another rather than the peacekeepers.
2 September 2021
It's said that good things come to he who waits. Well, early last month I was surprised to be contacted by Tantor Media, an American publisher requesting the audio book rights to Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta, the first uploaded to Amazon eight years ago, the second, five years ago.
At first, as with so many contacts by email, I though it must be a scam. But a bit of research revealed that Tantor Media was not only legit, but also a big player in the audio book world. So scepticism gave way to surprise and delight as things progressed within a couple of weeks to the signing of a contract for both Wings titles to be turned into professionally-narrated audio books within the next 18 months, and maybe the next seven months.
I can't pretend I'm anything other than excited. Audio books have become increasingly popular over the last several years, but I would never have had the confidence to set out on the process of producing one myself. Tantor have solved that problem for me. Only time will tell whether their confidence in the Wings series will be rewarded. I hope so.
The photo is of another favourite activity over the last 18 months - a walk in the woods, these around Castell Coch on the northern outskirts of Cardiff.
It's said that good things come to he who waits. Well, early last month I was surprised to be contacted by Tantor Media, an American publisher requesting the audio book rights to Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta, the first uploaded to Amazon eight years ago, the second, five years ago.
At first, as with so many contacts by email, I though it must be a scam. But a bit of research revealed that Tantor Media was not only legit, but also a big player in the audio book world. So scepticism gave way to surprise and delight as things progressed within a couple of weeks to the signing of a contract for both Wings titles to be turned into professionally-narrated audio books within the next 18 months, and maybe the next seven months.
I can't pretend I'm anything other than excited. Audio books have become increasingly popular over the last several years, but I would never have had the confidence to set out on the process of producing one myself. Tantor have solved that problem for me. Only time will tell whether their confidence in the Wings series will be rewarded. I hope so.
The photo is of another favourite activity over the last 18 months - a walk in the woods, these around Castell Coch on the northern outskirts of Cardiff.
24 August 2021 - Sad to say, another senior officer I met several times during my time in the RAF has died. Sir Peter Harding rose to become Chief of the Defence Staff, the senior military appointment in the UK. Eighteen months later, he lost both the job and his military rank after a tabloid newspaper sting by a woman with whom he'd had an affair, Lady Bienvenida Buck, the wife of a former Conservative MP. The story was seen as a disgrace for him and the RAF, but by resigning and in his subsequent conduct, he was seen to have acted honourably and his rank was reinstated. I very much doubt if anyone would resign in similar circumstances now?
I think Sir Peter was the best military after-dinner speaker I ever witnessed. I heard him several times at University Air Squadron and other dinners. Thirty five years later, I even remember one of his jokes - about a twelve-inch pianist!
One of his staff told me he had scripts in his head for talks of anything from five to thirty minutes, all subtly adjusted to fit the audience of the moment. I only saw a more ruthless side once on a visit to Scampton. When he found out my squadron commander was leaving the Service and had some pointed questions to ask, he turned his back and cut him dead. Otherwise, he was one of those people who seemed able to do anything well, including playing the piano, something he'd do in the bar after visits or dinners.
We also met at a reception in the Mansion House on Whitehall after I'd called in the flypast for the Queen Mother's 90th Birthday Party on Horsequards Parade in 1990. Sir Peter told me Her Majesty had enjoyed the flypast, so I excused myself to find a phone and pass the message on to those who'd actually flown - who'd landed at Northolt. When I returned, the Queen Mother had chatted to my group and moved on, so I missed her. Never mind, I'd met her at Scampton a few years earlier - photo on my Bio page - when I was in charge of her chair and almost stole her handbag - but that's another story.
The photo is attributable to Robert D Ward.
I think Sir Peter was the best military after-dinner speaker I ever witnessed. I heard him several times at University Air Squadron and other dinners. Thirty five years later, I even remember one of his jokes - about a twelve-inch pianist!
One of his staff told me he had scripts in his head for talks of anything from five to thirty minutes, all subtly adjusted to fit the audience of the moment. I only saw a more ruthless side once on a visit to Scampton. When he found out my squadron commander was leaving the Service and had some pointed questions to ask, he turned his back and cut him dead. Otherwise, he was one of those people who seemed able to do anything well, including playing the piano, something he'd do in the bar after visits or dinners.
We also met at a reception in the Mansion House on Whitehall after I'd called in the flypast for the Queen Mother's 90th Birthday Party on Horsequards Parade in 1990. Sir Peter told me Her Majesty had enjoyed the flypast, so I excused myself to find a phone and pass the message on to those who'd actually flown - who'd landed at Northolt. When I returned, the Queen Mother had chatted to my group and moved on, so I missed her. Never mind, I'd met her at Scampton a few years earlier - photo on my Bio page - when I was in charge of her chair and almost stole her handbag - but that's another story.
The photo is attributable to Robert D Ward.
4 August 2021 - Inevitably, the recent high sales of my Wings books in the US have slowed a little, but it has led to some marvellous reviews which warm the cockles of a writer's heart. The text of two from different people are below, the first for Wings Over Summer, the second for Wings Over Malta. It's so gratifying that they both pick up on elements I expended a lot of effort trying to get right.
Moving memorial to the pilots of the Battle of Britain - 27 July 2021
This is an outstanding novel that stands head-and-shoulders above most books about the Battle of Britain. Unlike the heroes of most novels on this topic, the pilots are accurately portrayed as young, vulnerable and not fully trained. They have difficulties with flying -- not just fighting. They have doubts and moments of panic. They are not superheroes who shoot down five Germans on their first operational flight, as so many novel-heroes do, but youths just learning to cope with physical and emotional challenges thrown at them.
Ron Powell has also done a superb job of describing the battle, the tactics, the aircraft and flying, the work of controllers and ground crews. He is superb at capturing the complex relationships in squadrons across ranks. Again, the book is a refreshing change for countless novels that expose utter ignorance on the part of authors about RAF ranks, structures and tactics.
I’ve read a lot of aviation related pieces - July 27, 2021
The characters were believable and the setting of beleaguered Malta and an oft-forgotten struggle, and the flow and emotions were terrific. A very good read free of all of the English class consciousness that seems to be built into some of these novels. Just good heroes.
The photo is of the stream running through the woods that have, since the start of the pandemic, become a favourite part of the long walk we do once a week.
Moving memorial to the pilots of the Battle of Britain - 27 July 2021
This is an outstanding novel that stands head-and-shoulders above most books about the Battle of Britain. Unlike the heroes of most novels on this topic, the pilots are accurately portrayed as young, vulnerable and not fully trained. They have difficulties with flying -- not just fighting. They have doubts and moments of panic. They are not superheroes who shoot down five Germans on their first operational flight, as so many novel-heroes do, but youths just learning to cope with physical and emotional challenges thrown at them.
Ron Powell has also done a superb job of describing the battle, the tactics, the aircraft and flying, the work of controllers and ground crews. He is superb at capturing the complex relationships in squadrons across ranks. Again, the book is a refreshing change for countless novels that expose utter ignorance on the part of authors about RAF ranks, structures and tactics.
I’ve read a lot of aviation related pieces - July 27, 2021
The characters were believable and the setting of beleaguered Malta and an oft-forgotten struggle, and the flow and emotions were terrific. A very good read free of all of the English class consciousness that seems to be built into some of these novels. Just good heroes.
The photo is of the stream running through the woods that have, since the start of the pandemic, become a favourite part of the long walk we do once a week.
Space Shuttle Challenger on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral
2 July 2021 - Another quiet month on the domestic front, but I've been cracking on with Flying the World with Fat Albert, my third volume of Shropshire Blue. I'm just covering a three week period flying British torpedoes between a testing site in the Bahamas and Cape Canaveral, the home of the US space programme. Having been a space mad youngster, I was over the moon - no pun intended - to be flying into such a place. It bristled with launch pads, one bearing the Space Shuttle, Challenger, which I was privileged to see launched on 4th April 1983, my birthday. Sadly, Challenger and its crew were lost shortly after another launch in January 1986.
The slightly grainy picture, taken on a hazy day with my point and click camera as we approached one of the runways at the Cape, is of Challenger on the launch pad.
The slightly grainy picture, taken on a hazy day with my point and click camera as we approached one of the runways at the Cape, is of Challenger on the launch pad.
2 June 2021 - We saw some wonderful sights during our walking holiday on Skye and Wester Ross (see post below), but one of the highlights was bumping into Exercise Highland Digger. As we walked back along the high path from Applecross to Sand, we saw an amphibious landing ship dock, RFA Mounts Bay, just offshore. A bit further along we spotted a large landing craft and several rigid raiders of various sizes. We were then treated to sight of Amphibious dock, HMS Albion, sailing north and a series of flypasts by a pair of US Navy V-22 Ospreys. And finally, as we approached Sand beach, we saw troops coming ashore, moving off the beach to board one of the Ospreys, which lifted and moved forward a few hundred yards before disgorging men from the rear ramp on ropes. This operation was repeated several times.
I assumed the troops were US Marines, but once on the beach discovered that they were British Royal Marines cross-training to operate from the Osprey. They were preparing for upcoming deployments in the Baltic and exercises in Norway.
Below is a small selection of the photos I took on the day.
I assumed the troops were US Marines, but once on the beach discovered that they were British Royal Marines cross-training to operate from the Osprey. They were preparing for upcoming deployments in the Baltic and exercises in Norway.
Below is a small selection of the photos I took on the day.
1 June 2021 - Geraldine and I have just returned from a holiday. The two weeks of walking in northern Scotland were originally booked to coincide with our 40th wedding anniversary, but for obvious reasons that didn't happen. We were doubtful it would happen this year, but Scotland opened up a few days before our departure date, while hotels in Wales and Scotland also opened, allowing us to break the journey north. We spent a week in a cottage on the Isle of Skye, then moved to another cottage a bit further north, in Wester Ross, near Applecross. By the time we returned, hotels in England had also opened allowing us to stop and, for the first time in 18 months, see our son in Manchester and my brother and Geraldine's sister in Ludlow. And although the weather in England and Wales was incredibly wet, our part of Scotland was largely dry, if a little cold, and we enjoyed some lovely walks. I hope the attached pictures go a little way toward doing the scenery justice.
After a break of almost a month, I promise to start writing again now.
After a break of almost a month, I promise to start writing again now.
4 May 2021 - Some sad news to start.
One of the major influences on my teenage years recently died. Derek Crowther was the warrant officer on the staff of 333 (Ludlow) Squadron of the Air Training Corps, on which I was a member from the ages of 14 to 18. Derek was the self-effacing man who did all the heavy lifting, taking us youngsters to fly at RAF Shawbury, glide at RAF Cosford and for weeks of summer camps at various RAF bases around the UK. Without his willingness to supervise us on such adventures, I'm not sure I'd have stayed in the organisation and moved on to an RAF career. I intend to dedicate my next volume of Shropshire Blue, working title, Flying the World with Fat Albert, to Derek - and Fat Albert, the C-130 Hercules.
The photo of me and Derek is part of a group photo taken at a summer camp - RAF Locking I think - circa 1970.
I'm delighted that my piece, Local Hero, about another influence on my life, Laurie Whitbread, the Spitfire pilot from Ludlow killed in the Battle of Britain, has appeared in Pennant, the magazine of the Armed Forces Pension Society. As the years pass, I think it's important to remember young men like Laurie, who died doing his duty, largely without fanfare, certainly beyond his local town.
I'm also delighted that my mini sales boost in the US continues. Wings Over Summer has now passed 18,500 sales, while my total sales are more than 26,000. Onward and upward.
One of the major influences on my teenage years recently died. Derek Crowther was the warrant officer on the staff of 333 (Ludlow) Squadron of the Air Training Corps, on which I was a member from the ages of 14 to 18. Derek was the self-effacing man who did all the heavy lifting, taking us youngsters to fly at RAF Shawbury, glide at RAF Cosford and for weeks of summer camps at various RAF bases around the UK. Without his willingness to supervise us on such adventures, I'm not sure I'd have stayed in the organisation and moved on to an RAF career. I intend to dedicate my next volume of Shropshire Blue, working title, Flying the World with Fat Albert, to Derek - and Fat Albert, the C-130 Hercules.
The photo of me and Derek is part of a group photo taken at a summer camp - RAF Locking I think - circa 1970.
I'm delighted that my piece, Local Hero, about another influence on my life, Laurie Whitbread, the Spitfire pilot from Ludlow killed in the Battle of Britain, has appeared in Pennant, the magazine of the Armed Forces Pension Society. As the years pass, I think it's important to remember young men like Laurie, who died doing his duty, largely without fanfare, certainly beyond his local town.
I'm also delighted that my mini sales boost in the US continues. Wings Over Summer has now passed 18,500 sales, while my total sales are more than 26,000. Onward and upward.
Calling an End to Public Speaking - As I hinted in my last news update, I think the lifestyle changes made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic have led many of us to consider our lives and lifestyles. In my case, the need to isolate during lockdowns made me realise that the activity I enjoy most is writing, and while I invariably enjoy public speaking once I'm on my feet and presenting my talks, getting to the venue in time - given the weight of traffic on the roads and seemingly incessant delays for roadworks and accidents - had become increasingly stressful. Setting up my equipment was similarly fraught given my own technological ineptitude and the unsuitability of many venues.
In the end, after completing more than 200 talks over the years, as of April 2021, I've decided to call a halt to my public speaking activities. I may relent for the odd talk linked to a specific event, but I will no longer go out routinely to complete talks.
Thank you very much to all those organisations and individuals who have booked - and often re-booked - me over the years.
In the end, after completing more than 200 talks over the years, as of April 2021, I've decided to call a halt to my public speaking activities. I may relent for the odd talk linked to a specific event, but I will no longer go out routinely to complete talks.
Thank you very much to all those organisations and individuals who have booked - and often re-booked - me over the years.
The Snow Moon above the Bristol Channel
5 April 2021 - Once again, I've been holding off hoping something would happen to make my update more exciting. But of course, apart from me becoming another year older, nothing much has changed. Both Wings books continue to sell well in the US and to receive some heartening reviews, but sales in the UK remain flat. And I continue to enjoy writing about my time on the C-130 Hercules. I'm about to relate a marvellous three weeks flying between Andros Island in The Bahamas and Cape Canaveral. For a space-mad boy, it was a dream come true, especially when we were able to watch the sixth space shuttle launch.
I'm having a bit of an internal debate about whether to continue public speaking when things return to something like normality. While I invariably enjoy doing the talks, I often find arriving at the venue on time stressful, and setting up my equipment even worse. Is it worth it, I ask myself, especially when I've been perfectly happy in lockdown? I don't intend to rush into a decision, but I need to come to a conclusion before bookings start trickling in again - if they do.
Watching videos of Second World War episodes and the devastating effect of storms recently reminded me of how I linked the two themes in a short story - A Greater Good - which can be read through the link to my Short Story page.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope you and yours remain safe.
I'm having a bit of an internal debate about whether to continue public speaking when things return to something like normality. While I invariably enjoy doing the talks, I often find arriving at the venue on time stressful, and setting up my equipment even worse. Is it worth it, I ask myself, especially when I've been perfectly happy in lockdown? I don't intend to rush into a decision, but I need to come to a conclusion before bookings start trickling in again - if they do.
Watching videos of Second World War episodes and the devastating effect of storms recently reminded me of how I linked the two themes in a short story - A Greater Good - which can be read through the link to my Short Story page.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope you and yours remain safe.
21 February 2021 - Our son-in-law recovered from Covid-19 with no apparent after-effects, but then our son contracted it. He was quite poorly for a few days but then recovered. The only hangover seems to be an annoying cough which we hope will clear. It was strange to be 200 miles away and powerless to help him. A mild taste of what it's been like for those unable to visit seriously ill relatives.
My mini sales boom in the US continues, counter-balanced by flat sales in the UK. You can't have everything. I've also been buoyed by some heart-warming reviews and emails, including one for an old colleague from the Central Flying School. We first met when he had a hand in teaching me to become a Qualified Flying Instructor, and then a few years later I joined him on the staff and we both taught aspiring QFIs the art of teaching in the air. He said how much he enjoyed the detail of On The Buffet, the second volume of Shropshire Blue detailing my travails in RAF pilot training.
Several correspondents have asked when Jack Williams will reappear. All I can say with certainty is that he will, but first I need to finish writing about my time on the C-130 Hercules for the third volume of Shropshire Blue. I'm just relating a flight to New Zealand, which should have been the trip of a lifetime, but for all sorts of reasons didn't quite live up to its billing. One of the highlights though was flying the approach to Runway 13 at Kai Tak, the old Hong Kong airport. Anyone who's done it will never forget it. You can get a taste of what I mean by watching some of the YouTube videos to be found by putting Kai Tak Checkerboard Approach into a search engine.
My mini sales boom in the US continues, counter-balanced by flat sales in the UK. You can't have everything. I've also been buoyed by some heart-warming reviews and emails, including one for an old colleague from the Central Flying School. We first met when he had a hand in teaching me to become a Qualified Flying Instructor, and then a few years later I joined him on the staff and we both taught aspiring QFIs the art of teaching in the air. He said how much he enjoyed the detail of On The Buffet, the second volume of Shropshire Blue detailing my travails in RAF pilot training.
Several correspondents have asked when Jack Williams will reappear. All I can say with certainty is that he will, but first I need to finish writing about my time on the C-130 Hercules for the third volume of Shropshire Blue. I'm just relating a flight to New Zealand, which should have been the trip of a lifetime, but for all sorts of reasons didn't quite live up to its billing. One of the highlights though was flying the approach to Runway 13 at Kai Tak, the old Hong Kong airport. Anyone who's done it will never forget it. You can get a taste of what I mean by watching some of the YouTube videos to be found by putting Kai Tak Checkerboard Approach into a search engine.
A V2 being raised to the vertical at a mobile launch site
22 January 2021 - A belated happy new year to everyone, although if you're in the UK, you'll know that 2021 has started much like 2020 ended, in lockdown. Personally, with one exception that I'll come to shortly, although my world has shrunk somewhat, I remain content with my lot, mainly because I don't have to worry about work and where my next meal is coming from. I also continue to love writing, which fills the days wonderfully.
The exception is that our son-in-law has contracted Covid-19 at work. Approaching the critical ten-day point, he's still no worse than under the weather - and minus his sense of smell and taste - so hopefully he'll pull through okay.
Since the end of November, I've been enjoying a mini sales boost in the US, which has been heart warming. I wish I knew what had generated the renewed interest, but I don't. Maybe it's as simple as word of mouth.
I've just finished the book, V2, by Robert Harris. It's split between the perspectives of a German scientist at one of the V2 rocket launch sites, and a young Women's Auxiliary Air Force officer using mathematics to try and find the sites in time for them to be attacked by RAF fighter bombers before they move. Robert Harris wrote the book after reading the obituary of Eileen Younghusband, who'd been one of the WAAFs based in Belgium, and who I knew quite well. A fascinating woman who wrote several books about her life. I wrote a short story about the V2, A Scrap of Hope, which can be read through the link or by going to my Writing - Short Story page.
The exception is that our son-in-law has contracted Covid-19 at work. Approaching the critical ten-day point, he's still no worse than under the weather - and minus his sense of smell and taste - so hopefully he'll pull through okay.
Since the end of November, I've been enjoying a mini sales boost in the US, which has been heart warming. I wish I knew what had generated the renewed interest, but I don't. Maybe it's as simple as word of mouth.
I've just finished the book, V2, by Robert Harris. It's split between the perspectives of a German scientist at one of the V2 rocket launch sites, and a young Women's Auxiliary Air Force officer using mathematics to try and find the sites in time for them to be attacked by RAF fighter bombers before they move. Robert Harris wrote the book after reading the obituary of Eileen Younghusband, who'd been one of the WAAFs based in Belgium, and who I knew quite well. A fascinating woman who wrote several books about her life. I wrote a short story about the V2, A Scrap of Hope, which can be read through the link or by going to my Writing - Short Story page.
20 December 2020 - As you may guess as we enter another lockdown just before Christmas, there is little to report. We haven't been anywhere or done anything outside the house, apart from daily walks and a weekly shop, and yet we remain remarkably chipper. I continue to enjoy my writing and I've had a heartening little sales resurgence in the US. Geraldine and I are also greatly looking forward to our Christmas.
The photos above are from some of our recent walks. The one of the sunset includes the Coastguard helicopter returning to its base at St Athan. It could be piloted by one of my old University Air Squadron students, and another of my old students is an observer on the South Wales Police helicopters that fly over us every day. I never know whether they're on board of course, and its highly unlikely that they'd be able to see or recognise me, but I always wave as they pass overhead.
I wish everyone, everywhere, all the very best for Christmas and the New Year.
The photos above are from some of our recent walks. The one of the sunset includes the Coastguard helicopter returning to its base at St Athan. It could be piloted by one of my old University Air Squadron students, and another of my old students is an observer on the South Wales Police helicopters that fly over us every day. I never know whether they're on board of course, and its highly unlikely that they'd be able to see or recognise me, but I always wave as they pass overhead.
I wish everyone, everywhere, all the very best for Christmas and the New Year.
22 November 2020 - Once again, nothing to report beyond a change of computer, a traumatic event for me as I'm not very good at keeping up with IT and I'd had the old one for 12 years. So far though, I seem to be coping.
This month I've continued writing about my first month on 24 Squadron, moving into May 1982 with more trips to Ascension and an introduction to Cyprus and the fantastic dining experience of a kebab at Chris's, a restaurant just outside RAF Akrotiri. If the word kebab brings to mind a bit of meat on a skewer, Cyprus kebabs were actually a meze, more of a feast than a meal, washed down with the local red wine, Kokkanelli. It tasted great in Cyprus, but less good when transported back to the UK. Must have been something to do with the air.
The photo this month is of a pair of Phantoms escorting us into the Falklands during my first visit. We were carrying their new squadron boss, so they were out to impress, which they did with a series of flypasts.
This month I've continued writing about my first month on 24 Squadron, moving into May 1982 with more trips to Ascension and an introduction to Cyprus and the fantastic dining experience of a kebab at Chris's, a restaurant just outside RAF Akrotiri. If the word kebab brings to mind a bit of meat on a skewer, Cyprus kebabs were actually a meze, more of a feast than a meal, washed down with the local red wine, Kokkanelli. It tasted great in Cyprus, but less good when transported back to the UK. Must have been something to do with the air.
The photo this month is of a pair of Phantoms escorting us into the Falklands during my first visit. We were carrying their new squadron boss, so they were out to impress, which they did with a series of flypasts.
Ascension Island on 4th May 1982
20 October 2020 - I wish I could say that the delay since my last post was because the weeks have been filled with travel and exciting activities that have left no room for writing. But as you can probably guess, that would be a lie. While life has been very pleasant for us, nothing out of the ordinary has happened, and with the latest period of restrictions in Wales culminating in a two-week lockdown, I don't expect much to change.
That said, I'm still really enjoying writing about my first few months as a Hercules co-pilot on 24 Squadron. The picture this month is of the pan at Ascension on 4 May 1982 when, just two weeks after joining the Squadron, I was on my third visit to the Island. By this time, most ships of the Task Force sent to regain the Falklands were far to the south, but some were still arriving at Ascension and tens of helicopters were ferrying freight we'd delivered out to them. In the background are some of the 14 Victors that were the key to most air operations south of Ascension. Out of shot are two Vulcans, one of which, XM607, had returned from the second bombing raid on Port Stanley airfield a few hours before.
Sadly, the release of 112 Days to Victory, the Violaris family's musical tribute to The Few - part inspired by Wings Over Summer and including a track with that title - has had to be delayed again. I'll hold off mentioning it again until it's actually released!
That said, I'm still really enjoying writing about my first few months as a Hercules co-pilot on 24 Squadron. The picture this month is of the pan at Ascension on 4 May 1982 when, just two weeks after joining the Squadron, I was on my third visit to the Island. By this time, most ships of the Task Force sent to regain the Falklands were far to the south, but some were still arriving at Ascension and tens of helicopters were ferrying freight we'd delivered out to them. In the background are some of the 14 Victors that were the key to most air operations south of Ascension. Out of shot are two Vulcans, one of which, XM607, had returned from the second bombing raid on Port Stanley airfield a few hours before.
Sadly, the release of 112 Days to Victory, the Violaris family's musical tribute to The Few - part inspired by Wings Over Summer and including a track with that title - has had to be delayed again. I'll hold off mentioning it again until it's actually released!
15 September 2020 - For several months last year, I was involved in attempts to get off the ground an amazing project titled 112 Days to Victory. It was the brainchild of music producer, Tony Violaris, who wanted to commemorate the 80th anniversary of The Battle of Britain, and especially those that fought. The coronavirus was the final nail in the coffin of the wider project, but the music by Adam Violaris that was at its heart will appear as an album.
Tony was kind enough to say that one of the inspirations for 112 Days to Victory was Wings Over Summer, and the album will include a track with that title. The centrepiece of the album, however, is an amazing anthem, Laud Their Names and Sacrifice, sung by Eleni Violaris.
By following this link to an inspirational video on Youtube, you can see how amazing the proposed concerts and documentaries would have been. The video includes me reading an extract from Local Hero and a fair proportion of the anthem, including the words, Wings Of Summer (used because Wings Over Summer didn't scan).
Tony was kind enough to say that one of the inspirations for 112 Days to Victory was Wings Over Summer, and the album will include a track with that title. The centrepiece of the album, however, is an amazing anthem, Laud Their Names and Sacrifice, sung by Eleni Violaris.
By following this link to an inspirational video on Youtube, you can see how amazing the proposed concerts and documentaries would have been. The video includes me reading an extract from Local Hero and a fair proportion of the anthem, including the words, Wings Of Summer (used because Wings Over Summer didn't scan).
3 September 2020
Apologies for the gap since the last post, but the truth is very little has changed and very little has happened. We continue to go for walks, but otherwise we remain cautious about meeting up with others inside, although I've been to a few garden meetings of my writers' group, The Tiny Writers. We were looking forward to visiting our son in Manchester early next week, our first foray into England since February, but that's been scuppered by the lock-down restrictions there.
I've been getting a fair amount of writing done, mainly about my visits to Ascension Island during and after the Falklands War. I've really enjoyed the new memories the process reawakens, helped by images such as those above, taken from the flight deck of various Hercules' over the South Atlantic in 1984. No talks of course, so little chance to promote my books. That said, they continue to sell in small numbers, and given that when I first published Wings Over Summer in 2013 I'd have been happy to have one reader, to have had 25,000 is fantastic. And I still love writing.
Whatever circumstance you're in, I hope all is well
I've been getting a fair amount of writing done, mainly about my visits to Ascension Island during and after the Falklands War. I've really enjoyed the new memories the process reawakens, helped by images such as those above, taken from the flight deck of various Hercules' over the South Atlantic in 1984. No talks of course, so little chance to promote my books. That said, they continue to sell in small numbers, and given that when I first published Wings Over Summer in 2013 I'd have been happy to have one reader, to have had 25,000 is fantastic. And I still love writing.
Whatever circumstance you're in, I hope all is well
26 July 2020 - Before I talk about the last few weeks, here are a few links that may be of interest, the first to a fascinating website about a New Zealand born Spitfire pilot, John Caulton, constructed by his son from his father's audio diary. The second is to a YouTube video of another project by the Violaris family, whose grand design for an 80th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Britain was finally scuppered by the coronavirus. Whispers of the Ancients is worth a look just for the stunning visuals and music, but hopefully it will lead to a film. And this is another link to Hitler's First Bloody Nose. Finally, on the cultural front, if you need cheering up, look at the bands Powerwolf or Nightwish, also on YouTube.
I think the lockdown may finally have got to my wife. While I've continued writing about Ascension Island and the Falklands War, she has spent days making bedding - mattresses, quilted duvets and pillows - for beds for our granddaughter's dolls. They've been a real labour of love and I think they're great. Picture below.
Otherwise, life is slowly unlocking, although we're still being far more cautious than most, if the visitors to Barry Island are anything to go by. I understand younger people treating the virus with a degree of contempt; after all, even if they get it, they'll probably only have a mild dose - although I wonder if they're considering their contacts with relatives. But some of the older people also seem not to understand, letting the need for chips overcome any concept of social distancing. Hopefully, they'll be lucky and the Island will have been virus free during their visits.
As to the rest, we've continued to take our granddaughter for a weekly walk, have sampled a couple of takeaways and have ventured farther afield to walk the Blorenge and Sugar Loaf above Abergavenny. Some photos attached.
I think the lockdown may finally have got to my wife. While I've continued writing about Ascension Island and the Falklands War, she has spent days making bedding - mattresses, quilted duvets and pillows - for beds for our granddaughter's dolls. They've been a real labour of love and I think they're great. Picture below.
Otherwise, life is slowly unlocking, although we're still being far more cautious than most, if the visitors to Barry Island are anything to go by. I understand younger people treating the virus with a degree of contempt; after all, even if they get it, they'll probably only have a mild dose - although I wonder if they're considering their contacts with relatives. But some of the older people also seem not to understand, letting the need for chips overcome any concept of social distancing. Hopefully, they'll be lucky and the Island will have been virus free during their visits.
As to the rest, we've continued to take our granddaughter for a weekly walk, have sampled a couple of takeaways and have ventured farther afield to walk the Blorenge and Sugar Loaf above Abergavenny. Some photos attached.
A Light in the Darkness - Sully Island from our bedroom window
10 July 2020 - A quiet few weeks since the last post, partly because Wales is a few weeks behind England in unlocking most things. But Geraldine and I continue to enjoy life. For instance, we still go to the cinema on Friday afternoons, albeit in our front room, but with hot chocolate and chocolate raisins just as if we were in the Odeon or Cineworld. We miss the theatre, gigs and the rugby, but otherwise we're very lucky and life is good.
On other fronts, I'm just writing about my first trip to Ascension Island, via Gibraltar and Dakar, at the start of the Falklands War. I hadn't even finished the Hercules Operational Conversion Unit, so it all seemed especially daunting and exciting. Ascension became a major part of my life at the time, and one of my favourite places in the world. I visited it 17 times in uniform, and Geraldine and I had a ten day walking holiday there in 2016 - pictures toward the bottom of this page.
I can't pretend I'm anything other than disappointed that the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain hasn't received more mainstream coverage. Perhaps they're waiting for 15th September. I'm also disappointed that Hitler's First Bloody Nose has disappeared into the morass of books on Amazon. I'm rather proud of the book, and even a piece in the latest digital edition of the Royal Air Force News has failed to generate any interest. Hey ho.
On a brighter note, we went for the first walk with our four year old granddaughter, spending about two hours pottering about the woods. There was a bit of hand holding and lots of sanitising, and I think it would be true to say she loved it. We certainly did.
Stay safe.
On other fronts, I'm just writing about my first trip to Ascension Island, via Gibraltar and Dakar, at the start of the Falklands War. I hadn't even finished the Hercules Operational Conversion Unit, so it all seemed especially daunting and exciting. Ascension became a major part of my life at the time, and one of my favourite places in the world. I visited it 17 times in uniform, and Geraldine and I had a ten day walking holiday there in 2016 - pictures toward the bottom of this page.
I can't pretend I'm anything other than disappointed that the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain hasn't received more mainstream coverage. Perhaps they're waiting for 15th September. I'm also disappointed that Hitler's First Bloody Nose has disappeared into the morass of books on Amazon. I'm rather proud of the book, and even a piece in the latest digital edition of the Royal Air Force News has failed to generate any interest. Hey ho.
On a brighter note, we went for the first walk with our four year old granddaughter, spending about two hours pottering about the woods. There was a bit of hand holding and lots of sanitising, and I think it would be true to say she loved it. We certainly did.
Stay safe.
15 June 2020 - The interview - with Jim Hawkins rather than James Bond - on the BBC Radio Shropshire Mid-morning show on 12th June seemed to go well. If the link doesn't work, it's available on BBC Sounds, and I appear around 2 hours 6 minutes into the programme. Jim had done his research and, quite rightly, focused on Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town of Ludlow, who died on 20th September 1940. Between us, I hope we did him justice. At the least, I'm glad to have given him a little more exposure in his home county. He certainly deserves it.
Home Studio for Zoom Presentation
3 June 2020 - The email feedback from last week's Zoom presentation to 200+ locked down University Air Squadron students was good. The picture shows a fine lash-up of wine and beer boxes, Tupperware containers and Blutak. All that RAF apprentice training still comes in handy sometimes.
Yesterday, I had an email from James Bond. It turns out he's retired from spying to become a presenter on BBC Radio Shropshire. He spotted an article in the Shropshire press about Hitler's First Bloody Nose and the upshot is that I'm appearing on a music and chat show on the station. It's nice to have something in the diary to look forward to.
Yesterday, I had an email from James Bond. It turns out he's retired from spying to become a presenter on BBC Radio Shropshire. He spotted an article in the Shropshire press about Hitler's First Bloody Nose and the upshot is that I'm appearing on a music and chat show on the station. It's nice to have something in the diary to look forward to.
20 May 2020 - Firstly, I'm happy to say that the release on Amazon of The Battle of Britain, Hitler's First Bloody Nose, has led to some sales, more than 100 as I write. As usual for a self-published writer, making a real impact will have to depend on word of mouth, not easy under current circumstances, so I'd be very grateful for any promotion through readers' social media and other contacts.
My scheduled talks continue to fall by the wayside, although in an interesting first for me, I've been asked to give a presentation to the students of the RAF's southern University Air Squadrons, all individually locked down at home. I've had a run-through with a lash-up of equipment I hope will work on the night. I'll tell you how it went in my next post.
Geraldine and I were disappointed at the loss of our 40th wedding anniversary treat, a week in a cottage on Skye, followed by another cottage this week a little further north in Wester Ross. But we may have dodged a bullet. The weather up there has been awful, with only about two days when it looked bright enough for enjoyable walking. Hopefully, it'll be better next year.
And finally, the photos show what a difference Covid-19 has made to Barry Island. The beach photos are of Whitmore Bay on the same May day two years apart (I didn't have a picture of the corresponding day last year. I suspect the weather wasn't good.) The other photo is of a tall ship currently 'furloughed' in Barry Dock.
My scheduled talks continue to fall by the wayside, although in an interesting first for me, I've been asked to give a presentation to the students of the RAF's southern University Air Squadrons, all individually locked down at home. I've had a run-through with a lash-up of equipment I hope will work on the night. I'll tell you how it went in my next post.
Geraldine and I were disappointed at the loss of our 40th wedding anniversary treat, a week in a cottage on Skye, followed by another cottage this week a little further north in Wester Ross. But we may have dodged a bullet. The weather up there has been awful, with only about two days when it looked bright enough for enjoyable walking. Hopefully, it'll be better next year.
And finally, the photos show what a difference Covid-19 has made to Barry Island. The beach photos are of Whitmore Bay on the same May day two years apart (I didn't have a picture of the corresponding day last year. I suspect the weather wasn't good.) The other photo is of a tall ship currently 'furloughed' in Barry Dock.
2 May 2020 - I'm delighted to say that yesterday I published on Amazon my new project, The Battle of Britain, Hitler's First Bloody Nose. It's available as both an ebook and paperback, and is my first attempt at an illustrated title.
The text is based on the scripts for two of my talks, The Battle of Britain and Pilots of the Battle of Britain, and as I unfold the story of the opposing forces, their equipment and tactics, and the Battle itself, I highlight the stories of a cross-section of pilots, some well known, others unheralded. These include the inspiration for much of my life and writing, Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread, shot down and killed in September 1940; and two survivors I was privileged to meet, Squadron Leaders Geoffrey Wellum and Tony Iveson.
Finally, I aim to highlight the historical importance of the Battle and provide a fitting tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to give Hitler his first bloody nose.
The text is based on the scripts for two of my talks, The Battle of Britain and Pilots of the Battle of Britain, and as I unfold the story of the opposing forces, their equipment and tactics, and the Battle itself, I highlight the stories of a cross-section of pilots, some well known, others unheralded. These include the inspiration for much of my life and writing, Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread, shot down and killed in September 1940; and two survivors I was privileged to meet, Squadron Leaders Geoffrey Wellum and Tony Iveson.
Finally, I aim to highlight the historical importance of the Battle and provide a fitting tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to give Hitler his first bloody nose.
9 April 2020 - The isolation continues and looks likely to do so for a long time yet, at least for people in our age bracket. Our only outdoor expeditions are a weekly shopping trip and a daily walk around a Barry Island that is as quiet as the place we moved to pre-Gavin and Stacey.
Our daughter has been keen to shield us and do our shopping but so far we've refused. She works in NHS admin in Cardiff, where they've been setting up systems to deal with the crisis, so we've been worried about her 'viral load'. Our son sounds much safer, working from home in Manchester, but he's missing his usual diet of metal gigs.
Finally and most importantly, I hope everyone remains safe. The photos are from a walking holiday on the Greek island of Evia in 2016.
Our daughter has been keen to shield us and do our shopping but so far we've refused. She works in NHS admin in Cardiff, where they've been setting up systems to deal with the crisis, so we've been worried about her 'viral load'. Our son sounds much safer, working from home in Manchester, but he's missing his usual diet of metal gigs.
Finally and most importantly, I hope everyone remains safe. The photos are from a walking holiday on the Greek island of Evia in 2016.
The Isle of Skye
25 March 2020 - I'd be lying if I said that the current crisis was not affecting us. Our weekly trips to the cinema, concerts and rugby matches have all gone, as have a weekend in the Malvern Hills to celebrate my **th birthday, and two weeks in cottages - on the Isle of Skye and in Wester Ross - to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. But perhaps the biggest impact will be the loss of our grandparenting duties one and a half days a week. This was signalled officially by our daughter putting a mothers' day card through the letterbox and standing back with our granddaughter to wave to us as we stood at the kitchen window. I found the gesture immensely moving, and given our age of course, all the changes make perfect sense.
The photo is of what we will be missing on Skye, taken when we last visited the Island in 2006.
The photo is of what we will be missing on Skye, taken when we last visited the Island in 2006.
16 March 2020 - Life seems slowly to be shutting down. We went to a wonderful concert of Star Wars music yesterday and we have two similar events booked in the next couple of weeks; however, I suspect they may be cancelled as the situation develops. The rugby season has already been halted.
I sincerely hope you all stay free of the virus, or at least have mild symptoms. In the meantime, I hope to have time to finish my latest project, more of which in my next post.
On a brighter note, this is a photo of the sun rising over the Bristol Channel, taken from our bedroom window over the weekend.
I sincerely hope you all stay free of the virus, or at least have mild symptoms. In the meantime, I hope to have time to finish my latest project, more of which in my next post.
On a brighter note, this is a photo of the sun rising over the Bristol Channel, taken from our bedroom window over the weekend.
Sunrise over the Bristol Channel
15 Feb 2020 - Despite the best efforts of a winter storm - Storm Ciara - we had a great time in Bristol. The band we went to see, Delain, were fantastic, but the support band - cyRah - were also fantastic. In fact, one of their tracks, Out of My Life, has given me the most pleasant earworm. It's been playing in my head for a week.
I don't have any more talks for a month, then I have three in a week, but on Tuesday 25th February, I'm appearing on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In. For anyone in the immediate Cardiff area, its on 98.7FM, and I'll be on about 10am talking about Egypt, which may seem a bit random, but we went on a fantastic tour of Egypt three weeks after President Mubarak stood down. We seemed to be the only tourists in the country and the experience is recounted in one of my talks, Egypt Without Crowds.
I don't have any more talks for a month, then I have three in a week, but on Tuesday 25th February, I'm appearing on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In. For anyone in the immediate Cardiff area, its on 98.7FM, and I'll be on about 10am talking about Egypt, which may seem a bit random, but we went on a fantastic tour of Egypt three weeks after President Mubarak stood down. We seemed to be the only tourists in the country and the experience is recounted in one of my talks, Egypt Without Crowds.
26 January 2020 - After a very pleasant Christmas holiday period, it's been an equally pleasant start to another year - which already seems to be flashing by!
Little to report on the writing front other than that I'm making progress with Vol 3 of Shropshire Blue, and with another project that I'm reluctant to reveal as yet. I've also been buoyed by a few heartening reviews on Amazon and some equally positive emails.
Since the last post, we've been to the cinema to see four very different but equally enjoyable films: Star Wars, The Rise of Skywalker; Little Women; 1917; and The Personal History of David Copperfield. I'd heartily recommend all of them. Now I'm looking forward to the American Football Superbowl and the rugby Six Nations competition, plus a concert by Dutch metal band, Delain, and an Agatha Christie play. Variety is the spice of life.
When looking through some of our old photos, I spotted this one from a walk in the hills above Ullapool in northwestern Scotland in 2012. We'd intended to cross the river here, but...!
Little to report on the writing front other than that I'm making progress with Vol 3 of Shropshire Blue, and with another project that I'm reluctant to reveal as yet. I've also been buoyed by a few heartening reviews on Amazon and some equally positive emails.
Since the last post, we've been to the cinema to see four very different but equally enjoyable films: Star Wars, The Rise of Skywalker; Little Women; 1917; and The Personal History of David Copperfield. I'd heartily recommend all of them. Now I'm looking forward to the American Football Superbowl and the rugby Six Nations competition, plus a concert by Dutch metal band, Delain, and an Agatha Christie play. Variety is the spice of life.
When looking through some of our old photos, I spotted this one from a walk in the hills above Ullapool in northwestern Scotland in 2012. We'd intended to cross the river here, but...!
21 December 2019 - First and foremost a very merry Christmas to everyone who has supported me and my writing over the last year. I've had a couple of stinking reviews, but the vast majority have been extremely positive, while the email contacts have never failed to give me a real lift. Thank you.
I don't believe in New Year resolutions, but I really must try and make swifter progress with the third volume of Shropshire Blue, and then begin researching another Wings book.
In the meantime, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2020.
The photo is one of Geraldine's handmade decorations.
I don't believe in New Year resolutions, but I really must try and make swifter progress with the third volume of Shropshire Blue, and then begin researching another Wings book.
In the meantime, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2020.
The photo is one of Geraldine's handmade decorations.
11 November 2019 - This seems a fitting date to relate the little I know about another Second World War veteran that died recently - my father-in-law. The following is what little I gleaned from the few occasions when he opened up about his experiences.
In 1940, at the age of 18, Arthur Johnson joined the RAF in Penarth, a coastal town a few miles along the south Wales coast from our current home on Barry Island. After training, he ended up in North Africa, where, much to his surprise it seemed, he ended up as a gunner in the newly-formed RAF Regiment. He may have been one of its founding members.
It seems he spent a lot of time on desert airfields being attacked by the Luftwaffe. He also caught malaria and when his squadron moved on to Sicily, he spent time in a hospital on the flanks of Mount Etna. On discharge, he crossed the Messina Strait and caught up with his unit as they advanced through Italy. Following this, he returned to the UK, before re-joining the action in France after D-Day. He defended a succession of airfields as allied forces moved east into Germany.
He was always reluctant to say too much about his experiences, and he quickly became emotional about the loss of life. This may be explained by one conversation in which he revealed that he'd spent a lot of time picking up bodies in the aftermath of raids on the various airfields he'd helped defend. It may also explain why he never had his medals mounted and rarely, if ever, attended remembrance events; although he had planned to go to yesterday's ceremony in Ludlow. Alas, he died a few days before. I laid a cross for him.
Arthur Johnson, 1922-2019. Rest in peace.
In 1940, at the age of 18, Arthur Johnson joined the RAF in Penarth, a coastal town a few miles along the south Wales coast from our current home on Barry Island. After training, he ended up in North Africa, where, much to his surprise it seemed, he ended up as a gunner in the newly-formed RAF Regiment. He may have been one of its founding members.
It seems he spent a lot of time on desert airfields being attacked by the Luftwaffe. He also caught malaria and when his squadron moved on to Sicily, he spent time in a hospital on the flanks of Mount Etna. On discharge, he crossed the Messina Strait and caught up with his unit as they advanced through Italy. Following this, he returned to the UK, before re-joining the action in France after D-Day. He defended a succession of airfields as allied forces moved east into Germany.
He was always reluctant to say too much about his experiences, and he quickly became emotional about the loss of life. This may be explained by one conversation in which he revealed that he'd spent a lot of time picking up bodies in the aftermath of raids on the various airfields he'd helped defend. It may also explain why he never had his medals mounted and rarely, if ever, attended remembrance events; although he had planned to go to yesterday's ceremony in Ludlow. Alas, he died a few days before. I laid a cross for him.
Arthur Johnson, 1922-2019. Rest in peace.
22 October 2019 - The last month or so has included a restaurant review, a couple of visits to the theatre and rugby matches, and a few talks. The highlight though was a weekend in York for the 40th anniversary reunion of my RAF flying training course: No 43 Course at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, the period that forms the bulk of Shropshire Blue, Vol 2, On The Buffet. Four of our instructors and all the surviving members of the Course were there - sadly, two have passed away, one within the last twelve months. Two of our number plus partners had travelled from Honk Kong and New Zealand respectively, which shows dedication above and beyond. It was an enjoyable and, at times, a moving occasion.
One of my talks was to a unit I used to command, the University of Wales Air Squadron. I found them in good spirits as I related the stories of some of the pilots of the Battle of Britain, young men who were a similar age to the men and women in the audience. One man I feature is Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson, the recipient of the only Victoria Cross awarded during the Battle.
On 16th August 1940, his squadron was attacked and he was injured in the eye, leg and foot - his trouser leg was blown off - and his Hurricane caught fire. He unstrapped and was preparing to jump when a Messerschmitt Bf110 flashed past. Despite the flames, he got back in and fired at the Messerschmitt until he could bear the heat no longer, at which point he baled out. On the way down he was shot in the backside by an over-zealous member of the Home Guard - luckily with a shotgun rather than a rifle. On hearing while recovering in hospital that he was to be awarded the VC, he telegraphed his wife to say, Just got VC. Not sure why. Sadly, this doubt about his worthiness plagued him until he died in an air accident in India in 1945.
I took the photo opposite during a recent visit to Tangmere Aviation Museum. With apologies for the quality, it shows a famous painting of James Nicolson's exploit, plus the uniform jacket he was wearing on the day. I think the fire damage provides a telling illustration of his bravery.
One of my talks was to a unit I used to command, the University of Wales Air Squadron. I found them in good spirits as I related the stories of some of the pilots of the Battle of Britain, young men who were a similar age to the men and women in the audience. One man I feature is Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson, the recipient of the only Victoria Cross awarded during the Battle.
On 16th August 1940, his squadron was attacked and he was injured in the eye, leg and foot - his trouser leg was blown off - and his Hurricane caught fire. He unstrapped and was preparing to jump when a Messerschmitt Bf110 flashed past. Despite the flames, he got back in and fired at the Messerschmitt until he could bear the heat no longer, at which point he baled out. On the way down he was shot in the backside by an over-zealous member of the Home Guard - luckily with a shotgun rather than a rifle. On hearing while recovering in hospital that he was to be awarded the VC, he telegraphed his wife to say, Just got VC. Not sure why. Sadly, this doubt about his worthiness plagued him until he died in an air accident in India in 1945.
I took the photo opposite during a recent visit to Tangmere Aviation Museum. With apologies for the quality, it shows a famous painting of James Nicolson's exploit, plus the uniform jacket he was wearing on the day. I think the fire damage provides a telling illustration of his bravery.
12 September 2019 - I've just returned from Chichester where I have to admit the turnout for an evening to meet Kurt Turchan, the curator of the website allspitfirepilots, was a little disappointing. Nonetheless some moving stories were exchanged and those that did attend went away with a couple of Spitfire beer glasses each - which have been in my garage since the postponement of Kurt's last trip two years ago! It also provided an opportunity for me to meet a fellow writer of military fiction and an old colleague from my RAF days at Tangmere Aviation Musuem - always worth a visit.
The highlight of the month was a week of walking in several Norwegian national parks to the north of Bergen. The scenery was stunning and I hope the photos below convey at least some of the majesty of the sights we saw. What they can't convey is the thunderous noise of the rivers and waterfalls, or the full effects of climate change, especially on the glaciers.
On the writing front, I'm enjoying re-living some of the high spots of my time on the Hercules Operational Conversion Unit for volume 3 of Shropshire Blue.
The highlight of the month was a week of walking in several Norwegian national parks to the north of Bergen. The scenery was stunning and I hope the photos below convey at least some of the majesty of the sights we saw. What they can't convey is the thunderous noise of the rivers and waterfalls, or the full effects of climate change, especially on the glaciers.
On the writing front, I'm enjoying re-living some of the high spots of my time on the Hercules Operational Conversion Unit for volume 3 of Shropshire Blue.
13 August 2019 - Firstly, I had some very heartwarming feedback about A Local Hero, the story about my boyhood hero, Battle of Britian pilot, Laurie Whitbread, aired last month on Celtica on-line radio station. I'm proud to say that producer, Bill Everatt, has added it to the Celtica Archive page, where it can be found alongside my website banner picture.
Otherwise, in and around grandparenting duties, it has been a month of real contrast, with a stunning walk up Skirrid Fawr near Abergavenny and another up the Taff Trail from Radyr and around the woods surrounding Castell Coch. And after conventional trips to the theatre and cinema, our music experiences seemed to go from the sublime to the ridiculous. We started with two trips to the Welsh Proms, the first, One Small Step, with a moon-landing theme, the second, The Last Night, always a stirring occasion; and we finished with a trip to the Bloodstock metal music festival with our son, where the standout bands were Powerwolf and Sabaton, both great showmen as well as great musicians. And on Saturday, we're off to watch the Wales v England rugby match at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. After the defeat of Wales at Twickenham last week, this return match should be a real humdinger.
On the way back from Bloodstock, we visited the National Memorial Arboretum, always a moving place. It now has more than 300 memorials to military and civilian organisations scattered among its grounds.
Otherwise, in and around grandparenting duties, it has been a month of real contrast, with a stunning walk up Skirrid Fawr near Abergavenny and another up the Taff Trail from Radyr and around the woods surrounding Castell Coch. And after conventional trips to the theatre and cinema, our music experiences seemed to go from the sublime to the ridiculous. We started with two trips to the Welsh Proms, the first, One Small Step, with a moon-landing theme, the second, The Last Night, always a stirring occasion; and we finished with a trip to the Bloodstock metal music festival with our son, where the standout bands were Powerwolf and Sabaton, both great showmen as well as great musicians. And on Saturday, we're off to watch the Wales v England rugby match at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. After the defeat of Wales at Twickenham last week, this return match should be a real humdinger.
On the way back from Bloodstock, we visited the National Memorial Arboretum, always a moving place. It now has more than 300 memorials to military and civilian organisations scattered among its grounds.
5 July 2019 - I'm delighted to say that my 12-minute narration of A Local Hero, the story about my home-town Battle of Britain hero, Laurie Whitbread - shot down and killed at the height of the Battle - is streaming 24/7 until 7th August. It can be accessed by clicking on the thumbnail of Dave Carrington and his show, Squaring The Circle, on celticaradio.com. And I'm equally delighted that it’s accompanied by an evocative soundtrack from music royalty, the Violaris family.
Tony Violaris is a world-renowned producer, arranger, composer, writer and musician. Over the years, he’s produced and contributed to an amazing range of musical projects, while also writing, producing and playing for artists as varied as Demis Roussos, LaToya Jackson and Plácido Damingo. His son, Adam, is a musical prodigy, a prolific and award-winning composer who also writes film and TV music; and daughter, Elena, is a recording artist with a brilliant best-selling album, Rainstriker (co-written and produced by Adam and Tony), while her credits include writing and singing songs on several major television series’ as well as performing alongside stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins and Lesley Garret.
Adam provided the musical underscore for one of my earlier stories on Celtica Radio and he and Tony developed a wider interest in my writing. They especially liked A Local Hero, and became co-conspirators in my efforts to have Laurie’s story reach a wider audience, So when Celtica offered to air the story, Tony said the family would provide the soundtrack. Not only is this a tremendous privilege for me, but the music and the skill of Celtica producer, Bill Everatt, have, I think, added a whole new dimension to the story, giving it a real emotional punch.
Tony Violaris is a world-renowned producer, arranger, composer, writer and musician. Over the years, he’s produced and contributed to an amazing range of musical projects, while also writing, producing and playing for artists as varied as Demis Roussos, LaToya Jackson and Plácido Damingo. His son, Adam, is a musical prodigy, a prolific and award-winning composer who also writes film and TV music; and daughter, Elena, is a recording artist with a brilliant best-selling album, Rainstriker (co-written and produced by Adam and Tony), while her credits include writing and singing songs on several major television series’ as well as performing alongside stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins and Lesley Garret.
Adam provided the musical underscore for one of my earlier stories on Celtica Radio and he and Tony developed a wider interest in my writing. They especially liked A Local Hero, and became co-conspirators in my efforts to have Laurie’s story reach a wider audience, So when Celtica offered to air the story, Tony said the family would provide the soundtrack. Not only is this a tremendous privilege for me, but the music and the skill of Celtica producer, Bill Everatt, have, I think, added a whole new dimension to the story, giving it a real emotional punch.
Buzz Aldrin on the moon
29 June 2019 - A few months ago, I was very disappointed by the film, Moon Landing, but I can thoroughly recommend the documentary, Apollo 11, which we watched at the cinema this afternoon. It is a straightforward timeline of archive footage (without narration) from the hours before launch until the ticker-tape parades on the return of the astronauts to Earth. All the visuals are stunning, and even though you know the outcome, the tension as the various countdowns unfold is almost unbearable, none more so than that for the firing of the lunar module engine to launch them from the lunar surface. A great film.
I was always a fan of aviation and space exploration, so I was a very excited 14-year old when Apollo 11 went to the moon. Fourteen years later, I was fortunate to spend three weeks flying a C-130 in and out of Cape Canaveral, and to see the sixth space shuttle launch. A later visit to the Kennedy Space Centre with my family was also a life highlight. Apollo 11 brought all those memories flooding back.
I was always a fan of aviation and space exploration, so I was a very excited 14-year old when Apollo 11 went to the moon. Fourteen years later, I was fortunate to spend three weeks flying a C-130 in and out of Cape Canaveral, and to see the sixth space shuttle launch. A later visit to the Kennedy Space Centre with my family was also a life highlight. Apollo 11 brought all those memories flooding back.
23 June 2019 - The main reason for this post is to share a few photos below, taken yesterday during a walk along the South Wales coast from Llantwit Major to Barry Island. After a long period of poor weather, it was a beautiful day - raining again today though - full of beautiful views along and across the Bristol Channel, as well as wildlife and wild flowers. A great day.
Otherwise, appearing on Radio Cardiff on Tuesday and doing my 202nd talk on Wednesday.
Otherwise, appearing on Radio Cardiff on Tuesday and doing my 202nd talk on Wednesday.
Another Hercules formating on ours over
the South Atlantic in 1983
4 June 2019 - Tomorrow I'm going to complete my 200th public speaking engagement, and appropriately enough I'll be presenting for the tenth time in ten years to the very same organisation that booked my first talk: Barry Probus 1. I'm very grateful for their loyalty, but if they book me again next year, they'll either have to start at the beginning or sit and listen to me talking about my holiday snaps! Or, of course, I may come up with another talk.
On the writing front, I'm enjoying digging up the memories of my time on the C-130 Hercules for the third volume of Shropshire Blue.
Finally, the pictures below are of our latest European walking holiday, this time in the beautiful Garfagnano region of Tuscany, in northern Italy. The only dampener (pun intended) was the weather, with heavy rain on the day we walked through the village of Campocatino where David Bowie was among the cast of a western filmed there - Il Mio West.
On the writing front, I'm enjoying digging up the memories of my time on the C-130 Hercules for the third volume of Shropshire Blue.
Finally, the pictures below are of our latest European walking holiday, this time in the beautiful Garfagnano region of Tuscany, in northern Italy. The only dampener (pun intended) was the weather, with heavy rain on the day we walked through the village of Campocatino where David Bowie was among the cast of a western filmed there - Il Mio West.
Laurie Whitbread's Grave
24 April 2019 - A couple of developments to mention this week. Firstly the latest edition of Ludlow Heritage magazine has included at Pages 5 and 6 my piece on Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot who was an inspiration for my RAF career, and to whom I dedicated Wings Over Summer. And hopefully, the same piece will be aired on Celtica radio in the next month or so. I'm really excited about the way it's been produced, about which I'll say more nearer the date it's to be aired.
13 April 2019 - Another relatively quiet month, although the first night of my three-day giveaway of Wings Over Summer on Amazon caused a sharp intake of breath. When I logged on the first morning, it was to discover that I'd given away 1500 copies, the vast majority in the US. I considered pulling the deal, but as it turned out, the rate slowed down. After three days, I'd given away 1785 copies, 1680 in the US. I suppose it sounds like madness, but I did it because the sales had slowed to a trickle, and it has led to a renewal of interest. Wings Over Malta is currently the subject of a reduction in price, which will last for the rest of this weekend.
The photos are from a lovely walk Geraldine and I did along the Wye Valley last weekend.
The photos are from a lovely walk Geraldine and I did along the Wye Valley last weekend.
3 March 2019 - A relatively quiet month, with my titles selling reasonably well, and both volumes of Shropshire Blue spending long periods in the top ten in the Amazon categories of Cold War and Air Force Biographies, and Aviation. Sometime in the next week, I intend to run a promotion in which Wings Over Summer will be free for several days. My appearance on Radio Cardiff also seemed to go well, with Ceri Stennet inviting me back to talk about Egypt in a month or so.
Geraldine and I enjoyed the tremendous atmosphere in Cardiff's Principality Stadium when Wales took on England at rugby. But she enjoyed the result more, as Wales once again knocked the wheels off England's chariot. We've also enjoyed a few Cardiff Blues home games, a play, Rebus, the Banff Mountain Film Festival, and a couple of films.
But perhaps the highlight of the month was a walk in the Brecon Beacons during the heatwave in the last week of February. I really do worry about the climate, but it was very pleasant in the hills, as the photographs below testify.
Geraldine and I enjoyed the tremendous atmosphere in Cardiff's Principality Stadium when Wales took on England at rugby. But she enjoyed the result more, as Wales once again knocked the wheels off England's chariot. We've also enjoyed a few Cardiff Blues home games, a play, Rebus, the Banff Mountain Film Festival, and a couple of films.
But perhaps the highlight of the month was a walk in the Brecon Beacons during the heatwave in the last week of February. I really do worry about the climate, but it was very pleasant in the hills, as the photographs below testify.
A TSR2 at the RAF Museum, Cosford
4 February 2019 - The new year has been kind so far. I did a couple of book signings in Shropshire, and they went well enough for me to be invited back to both venues in the summer. My first couple of talks of the year were also well received.
On the book front, On The Buffet has continued to do well in a modest way, spending long periods as the Number One Bestseller in Cold War Biographies, as Amazon so flatteringly puts it. It continues to generate a modest resurgence in my other titles, for which I'm grateful.
Finally, the photograph was taken on a recent visit to the RAF Museum at Cosford. It is of the TSR2, the ground-breaking aircraft that never was, cancelled before it came into RAF service.
On the book front, On The Buffet has continued to do well in a modest way, spending long periods as the Number One Bestseller in Cold War Biographies, as Amazon so flatteringly puts it. It continues to generate a modest resurgence in my other titles, for which I'm grateful.
Finally, the photograph was taken on a recent visit to the RAF Museum at Cosford. It is of the TSR2, the ground-breaking aircraft that never was, cancelled before it came into RAF service.
Four Generations
3 January 2019 - Firstly, a very happy new year to all. I hope 2019 produces all you want of it.
After the sadness of last month's funeral of my flying training mate, Bawb, the year ended on brighter notes, with sales of On The Buffet doing well, without worrying the likes of JK Rowling. It has spent most of the time in the top ten in the Amazon ebook categories of Aviation, Cold War and Air Force biographies (today it is 3, 1 and 4 respectively), and is currently in the top 10,000 ebooks on Amazon - which is more impressive than it sounds.
On the music front, my email buddy, Marco Iannello, has a new album for download, Piano Explorations. I love it. I also can't get enough of Rainstriker, by Eleni Violaris. And on Celtica, Bill Everatt's show, 60's Extra is an entertaining romp through the characters and music that led to the rock and prog giants of the era.
The photograph was taken on Boxing Day and is of four generations - Geraldine, her father (97 in less than two weeks), me, our daughter, Sarah, and her daughter, Lara (two and a half).
After the sadness of last month's funeral of my flying training mate, Bawb, the year ended on brighter notes, with sales of On The Buffet doing well, without worrying the likes of JK Rowling. It has spent most of the time in the top ten in the Amazon ebook categories of Aviation, Cold War and Air Force biographies (today it is 3, 1 and 4 respectively), and is currently in the top 10,000 ebooks on Amazon - which is more impressive than it sounds.
On the music front, my email buddy, Marco Iannello, has a new album for download, Piano Explorations. I love it. I also can't get enough of Rainstriker, by Eleni Violaris. And on Celtica, Bill Everatt's show, 60's Extra is an entertaining romp through the characters and music that led to the rock and prog giants of the era.
The photograph was taken on Boxing Day and is of four generations - Geraldine, her father (97 in less than two weeks), me, our daughter, Sarah, and her daughter, Lara (two and a half).
18 December 2018 - Sadly I have a funeral to go to on Friday. A member of my first RAF flying training course, Robert Alston - known to us a Bawb - has died in his late 50s after a couple of years undergoing treatment for a brain tumour(s). As far as I can recall, he was the youngest of our course, joining the RAF straight from school at the age of 18. I particularly remember his puppyish enthusiasm, and although the puppyish aspect diminished with age and experience, the enthusiasm never did. He was one of many to be chopped from pilot training, but went on to pass a course with an even worse chop rate and become an air traffic controller. On leaving the RAF, he became a chartered surveyor in Suffolk.
I lost four friends from subsequent flying training courses to flying accidents, but until now, 43 Course had been luckier, with all of us surviving our flying careers, although Bawb is the second of us to go. I remember him as an all-round good guy, with no venom or side to his character at all. He really would do anything for anybody, and before the illness took its toll, he provided me with invaluable help in the research stage of my latest volume of memoir, On The Buffet.
43 Course will mark the 40th anniversary of the start of our course in York in September next year, and Bawb's absence will leave a gaping hole. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. Rest in peace.
I lost four friends from subsequent flying training courses to flying accidents, but until now, 43 Course had been luckier, with all of us surviving our flying careers, although Bawb is the second of us to go. I remember him as an all-round good guy, with no venom or side to his character at all. He really would do anything for anybody, and before the illness took its toll, he provided me with invaluable help in the research stage of my latest volume of memoir, On The Buffet.
43 Course will mark the 40th anniversary of the start of our course in York in September next year, and Bawb's absence will leave a gaping hole. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. Rest in peace.
17 November 2018 - I was so pleased with the cover Martin Butler designed for Shropshire Blue, Vol 2, that I asked him to do the same for Vol 1, and I'm in the process of uploading the result to the e-book and paperback editions of that title. I hope you agree that it's a change for the better.
Geraldine and I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema and both of us found it quite emotional, especially the Live Aid sequences. If you read my short story, Band Aid, you'll get an inkling of why the period has an effect on me. But there's another reason. Like most of the country, we watched the Live Aid concert held several months after my own brief trip to Ethiopia. When The Cars performed their song, Drive, the television showed images of the famine, including starving toddlers sitting in the dirt. Lying in front of the television was our two-month old son, the epitome of well-fed good health. The contrast reduced Geraldine and I to tears. Hence our emotion at the film.
My appearance on Radio Cardiff went well and I've been invited back in January. And a few days ago, I did my final talk of the year - the Battle For Malta to the National Service Association at RAF Cosford. Afterwards, we had a thoroughly enjoyable visit to the RAF Museum there, including a look round the Cold War exhibition, and their conservation centre, which was holding an open day.
Geraldine and I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema and both of us found it quite emotional, especially the Live Aid sequences. If you read my short story, Band Aid, you'll get an inkling of why the period has an effect on me. But there's another reason. Like most of the country, we watched the Live Aid concert held several months after my own brief trip to Ethiopia. When The Cars performed their song, Drive, the television showed images of the famine, including starving toddlers sitting in the dirt. Lying in front of the television was our two-month old son, the epitome of well-fed good health. The contrast reduced Geraldine and I to tears. Hence our emotion at the film.
My appearance on Radio Cardiff went well and I've been invited back in January. And a few days ago, I did my final talk of the year - the Battle For Malta to the National Service Association at RAF Cosford. Afterwards, we had a thoroughly enjoyable visit to the RAF Museum there, including a look round the Cold War exhibition, and their conservation centre, which was holding an open day.
4 November 2018 - After reviewing a proof of and making a few minor alterations, the paperback of On The Buffet is finally available through Amazon alongside the e-book.
Otherwise it has been a busy and enjoyable month, with a marvellous walking holiday on the Amalfi Coast of western Italy - some photos below, a couple of talks, two trips to Wembley to see the American Football and one to Cardiff's Pricipality (Millennium) Stadium for the Wales v Scotland autumn international rugby match, won by Wales. And this afternoon we're going to another rugby match, Cardiff Blues v Italian side, Zebre, which will be the last match of Welsh rugby legend, Gethin Jenkins, retiring after 195 games for the Blues, 129 for Wales and numerous tests on three British and Irish Lions tours. At 37, surely his body deserves a rest!
At 9am on Tuesday, I'm appearing again on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In, mainly to talk about the centenary of the Royal Air Force, but I'm sure I'll also get an opportunity to talk about On The Buffet.
Otherwise it has been a busy and enjoyable month, with a marvellous walking holiday on the Amalfi Coast of western Italy - some photos below, a couple of talks, two trips to Wembley to see the American Football and one to Cardiff's Pricipality (Millennium) Stadium for the Wales v Scotland autumn international rugby match, won by Wales. And this afternoon we're going to another rugby match, Cardiff Blues v Italian side, Zebre, which will be the last match of Welsh rugby legend, Gethin Jenkins, retiring after 195 games for the Blues, 129 for Wales and numerous tests on three British and Irish Lions tours. At 37, surely his body deserves a rest!
At 9am on Tuesday, I'm appearing again on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In, mainly to talk about the centenary of the Royal Air Force, but I'm sure I'll also get an opportunity to talk about On The Buffet.
2 October 2018 - With apologies to those who have been waiting patiently for me to get round to it, I'm delighted to say that I have just published the ebook of On The Buffet, the second volume of my memoir, Shropshire Blue, A Shropshire Lad in the RAF on Amazon. The paperback will be delayed a little because I have to review a proof copy which may take some time to arrive.
On The Buffet follows on from my commissioning at the end of Preparation For Flight to cover my progress through RAF pilot training, from the run up to first solo, to the thrills of spinning and aerobatics, the advanced skills of navigation and formation flying, and my personal demon, instrument flying. For me, it was a bloody difficult journey, but in the end I gained my wings and could look forward to life on the front line as a C-130 Hercules pilot. This period, which included the Falklands War, will be the subject of the third volume of Shropshire Blue.
I am very grateful to Martin Butler for the cover design, and an extract on spinning can be read through this link.
On The Buffet follows on from my commissioning at the end of Preparation For Flight to cover my progress through RAF pilot training, from the run up to first solo, to the thrills of spinning and aerobatics, the advanced skills of navigation and formation flying, and my personal demon, instrument flying. For me, it was a bloody difficult journey, but in the end I gained my wings and could look forward to life on the front line as a C-130 Hercules pilot. This period, which included the Falklands War, will be the subject of the third volume of Shropshire Blue.
I am very grateful to Martin Butler for the cover design, and an extract on spinning can be read through this link.
Formula X yacht airborne on its foils
11 September 2018 - Another month of contrasts, starting with an afternoon watching the annual Extreme Sailing event in Cardiff Bay. Unlike the last few years, there was a stiff breeze, which made the sailing in the natural amphitheatre of the Bay that much more exciting. And if the yacht in the photo looks as if it's airborne, it is, gliding above the water on two thin foils that howl in the wind. Quite a spectacle.
I always suffer a few butterflies before a talk, especially when waiting to see whether my laptop and projector will communicate with one another. But I've rarely been more nervous than when delivering the tribute at an uncle's funeral in Shropshire at the end of August. I knew Uncle Tom was popular, but just how popular became evident when we entered the large village church at Diddlebury. All bar the seats reserved for family were taken and people were standing everywhere, including behind the altar rail. And needless to say, having left Shropshire 45 years ago, all bar a few were strangers to me. I was shaking with nerves as the time to say my piece approached, but I managed to do it and hope I did my uncle justice.
I was much less nervous appearing on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In, this morning. After a first appearance in May, he'd invited me back to speak about the Battle of Britain. I hope I did that subject justice as well.
I always suffer a few butterflies before a talk, especially when waiting to see whether my laptop and projector will communicate with one another. But I've rarely been more nervous than when delivering the tribute at an uncle's funeral in Shropshire at the end of August. I knew Uncle Tom was popular, but just how popular became evident when we entered the large village church at Diddlebury. All bar the seats reserved for family were taken and people were standing everywhere, including behind the altar rail. And needless to say, having left Shropshire 45 years ago, all bar a few were strangers to me. I was shaking with nerves as the time to say my piece approached, but I managed to do it and hope I did my uncle justice.
I was much less nervous appearing on Ceri Stennet's Radio Cardiff show, Come On In, this morning. After a first appearance in May, he'd invited me back to speak about the Battle of Britain. I hope I did that subject justice as well.
15 August 2018 - One of the highlights of the last month was a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire. In acres of grounds it contains an array of impressive memorials to military and civilian organisations. I specifically wanted to see the Halton Grove, the memorial to the RAF Apprentice scheme, because about ten years ago I paid for an engraved paving stone for my own 123rd Entry. Below are photographs of a small selection of the memorials.
A book signing at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms went well and they're now stocking Shropshire Blue. Elsewhere though, after a month of reasonably good sales in July, things have slowed down markedly. Perhaps the release of Shropshire Blue Vol 2, On The Buffet, will generate more interest. On that note, I hope to have it out as an ebook in the next month or so, and Martin Butler has once again designed a great cover, which I'll share on a future post.
Another highlight was spending the day with our son at the Bloodstock Metal Festival. And the highlight of the day was a fantastic set by our current favourite band, Nightwish. Check them out. They may change some of your perceptions about metal music. Other musical highlights of the past month included two visits to the Welsh Proms and the film, Mama Mia 2, which I challenge anyone to sit through without smiling, or even, in places, crying.
A book signing at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms went well and they're now stocking Shropshire Blue. Elsewhere though, after a month of reasonably good sales in July, things have slowed down markedly. Perhaps the release of Shropshire Blue Vol 2, On The Buffet, will generate more interest. On that note, I hope to have it out as an ebook in the next month or so, and Martin Butler has once again designed a great cover, which I'll share on a future post.
Another highlight was spending the day with our son at the Bloodstock Metal Festival. And the highlight of the day was a fantastic set by our current favourite band, Nightwish. Check them out. They may change some of your perceptions about metal music. Other musical highlights of the past month included two visits to the Welsh Proms and the film, Mama Mia 2, which I challenge anyone to sit through without smiling, or even, in places, crying.
Geoffrey Wellum, age 19
21 July 2018 - I was very sad to hear of the death on Wednesday of Geoffrey Wellum, the youngest pilot to fight in the Battle of Britain. It seems especially sad as it comes hot on the heels of the death of another inspirational veteran, Tom Neil. Geoffrey's memoir of his experiences in the Second World War, First Light, was one of the inspirations for both Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta. But even more inspirational was hearing him speak at a dinner at RAF College Cranwell in 2002. His words captivated a room full of experienced RAF aircrew. One part of his speech has always stayed with me.
During the Battle of Britain, they sometimes saw two sunrises, the first up at 25,000 feet as they engaged overwhelming numbers of enemy aircraft, the second when they landed 15 minutes later. During those 15 minutes, he may have seen and/or heard one, two or three of his friends die. And he knew he was going to have to fly against similar odds several more times that day, and get up and do the same again the next day, and the next. I could tell that everyone in the room was wondering how they would have coped. I certainly was.
On a lighter note, on Tuesday I thoroughly enjoyed the film Spitfire, shown in cinemas as part of the RAF Centenary celebrations. It included fantastic aerial shots of current Spitfires as well as interviews with Geoffrey Wellum and Tom Neil.
During the Battle of Britain, they sometimes saw two sunrises, the first up at 25,000 feet as they engaged overwhelming numbers of enemy aircraft, the second when they landed 15 minutes later. During those 15 minutes, he may have seen and/or heard one, two or three of his friends die. And he knew he was going to have to fly against similar odds several more times that day, and get up and do the same again the next day, and the next. I could tell that everyone in the room was wondering how they would have coped. I certainly was.
On a lighter note, on Tuesday I thoroughly enjoyed the film Spitfire, shown in cinemas as part of the RAF Centenary celebrations. It included fantastic aerial shots of current Spitfires as well as interviews with Geoffrey Wellum and Tom Neil.
8 July 2018 - Geraldine and I had a great week walking in the Austrian Tyrol. The weather was kind and the scenery spectacular, as I hope you can tell from the pictures below. As usual, although we walked every day, burning plenty of calories on the way, the excellent food in the hotel and the stops at mountain huts for coffee and cake meant we put on weight rather than lose it. Never mind. It was a holiday after all.
The next weekend was spent in Swansea for the city's Air Show. As usual, the highlights for me were the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the latter unfortunately confined to a couple of flypasts because of encroaching storms. The Lancaster especially is so valuable and delicate that they try not to fly it in rain! I'm looking forward to seeing them again this Tuesday in the flypast over Central London to commemorate 100 years of the RAF.
The next weekend was spent in Swansea for the city's Air Show. As usual, the highlights for me were the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the latter unfortunately confined to a couple of flypasts because of encroaching storms. The Lancaster especially is so valuable and delicate that they try not to fly it in rain! I'm looking forward to seeing them again this Tuesday in the flypast over Central London to commemorate 100 years of the RAF.
11 June 2018 - I keep mentioning grandparenting duties. Well, we've just passed the milestone of our granddaughter's second birthday and I couldn't resist sharing a couple of images of her, one with the Duplo bricks her mother used to play with a couple of decades ago, and one of her riding her first bike. She has been a pleasure to look after and I hope we can continue in the same vein. Elsewhere, I have continued to make progress with On The Buffet, while completing a couple of talks and enjoying trips to the cinema to see Deadpool 2 and Solo. Yesterday, we returned to see the Volvo Round the World Race yachts sailing past the point on which we live. They were a magnificent sight.
With Ceri Stennett of Radio Cardiff
22 May 2018 - Another two weeks of contrast, with a couple of talks, a visit to Manchester to see our son, a trip to the cinema to enjoy The Avengers - Infinity War, a stiff walk in the Brecons and an appearance on Radio Cardiff.
Radio Cardiff is a volunteer-run radio station airing to about 27,000 listeners in and around Cardiff. I appeared on Come On In, a weekly 2-hour music and chat show starting at 9am on Tuesdays and hosted by Ceri Stennett. (The link is to the show on which I appeared, and I am the first guest.) While the records were playing, I was interested to hear about Ceri, a fellow writer (about football) and someone with a long pedigree in the theatre business. His father, Stan Stennett, was a well known variety and television performer, appearing in and running theatres all over the UK as well as featuring in the Black and White Minstrel Show, Coronation Street and Crossroads on the tele. He was also a keen private pilot and used to fly between gigs, often with his family - including the dog and the goldfish - in the aircraft. It seems I may be invited back to talk about my talks, and maybe even the Battle of Britain in September.
Radio Cardiff is a volunteer-run radio station airing to about 27,000 listeners in and around Cardiff. I appeared on Come On In, a weekly 2-hour music and chat show starting at 9am on Tuesdays and hosted by Ceri Stennett. (The link is to the show on which I appeared, and I am the first guest.) While the records were playing, I was interested to hear about Ceri, a fellow writer (about football) and someone with a long pedigree in the theatre business. His father, Stan Stennett, was a well known variety and television performer, appearing in and running theatres all over the UK as well as featuring in the Black and White Minstrel Show, Coronation Street and Crossroads on the tele. He was also a keen private pilot and used to fly between gigs, often with his family - including the dog and the goldfish - in the aircraft. It seems I may be invited back to talk about my talks, and maybe even the Battle of Britain in September.
7 May 2018 - Over the last few weeks, I've been making good progress with Shropshire Blue Vol 2 - On The Buffet - as well as enjoying some cracking rugby matches, including Cardiff Blues beating Pau to reach the final of the European Challenge Cup - which we hope to watch on a big screen at the Arms Park this Friday evening.
The real reason for this post, though, is to show another few days of contrast, from walking among the waterfalls of Glyn Neath on Friday, to walking round Ludlow castle on our monthly visit to the town on Sunday, to a packed Barry Island on the warmest early May Bank Holiday Monday on record. Variety is the spice of life and we seem to be getting plenty of it at the moment.
The real reason for this post, though, is to show another few days of contrast, from walking among the waterfalls of Glyn Neath on Friday, to walking round Ludlow castle on our monthly visit to the town on Sunday, to a packed Barry Island on the warmest early May Bank Holiday Monday on record. Variety is the spice of life and we seem to be getting plenty of it at the moment.
23 April 2018 - What more could an author ask of a book launch than to sell every copy of their latest book? But that’s exactly what happened to Jan Marsh at our meet the author event last Thursday, when her new historical novel, Love in the Limelight – A Drury Lane Romance, sold out.
In a packed Dotty Pots in Penarth, Jan was supported by me and the four other Tiny Writers. From left to right in the accompanying picture, we are: Robert Darke, author of The Accidental Courier, a fast-paced thriller set in his home town of Cardiff; Pam Cockerill, whose memoir, Seven Year Hitch, is a humorous account of family life in Barry and Cardiff in the 50s and 60s; Jan Marsh, for whom Love in the Limelight is a departure from her Foxwood trilogy; K J Rabane, author of the hugely successful Who is Sarah Lawson? and other Richie Stevens novels; Iona Jenkins, author of award-winning poetry collection, Heartsong, and the Lumenor series, popular with young teens and adults; and me, the Barry-Island author of Second World War aviation novels, Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta.
We each spoke for a few minutes about our writing and latest projects, before Jan read a short passage from Love in the Limelight. After a lively question and answer session, the evening finished with the chance to buy our books, which many did. All our titles are for sale as ebooks or paperbacks on Amazon.
In a packed Dotty Pots in Penarth, Jan was supported by me and the four other Tiny Writers. From left to right in the accompanying picture, we are: Robert Darke, author of The Accidental Courier, a fast-paced thriller set in his home town of Cardiff; Pam Cockerill, whose memoir, Seven Year Hitch, is a humorous account of family life in Barry and Cardiff in the 50s and 60s; Jan Marsh, for whom Love in the Limelight is a departure from her Foxwood trilogy; K J Rabane, author of the hugely successful Who is Sarah Lawson? and other Richie Stevens novels; Iona Jenkins, author of award-winning poetry collection, Heartsong, and the Lumenor series, popular with young teens and adults; and me, the Barry-Island author of Second World War aviation novels, Wings Over Summer and Wings Over Malta.
We each spoke for a few minutes about our writing and latest projects, before Jan read a short passage from Love in the Limelight. After a lively question and answer session, the evening finished with the chance to buy our books, which many did. All our titles are for sale as ebooks or paperbacks on Amazon.
4 April 2018 - Over the couple of years since I met Italian musician, Marco Iannello, at a gig in Manchester, he's been building an impressive portfolio of music, partly as a result of a rising tide of commissions. These include a suite to accompany a Viking festival in Italy (which will eventually appear as a CD); music for short films and videos; and accompaniment for a number of bands from countries as far apart as the USA, Ireland and the Netherlands. Marco has just updated his website to include his music. I may be biased but I think it's all marvellous and I often listen to it on loop as I write. I'd heartily recommend that you dip in and have a listen too. (He also has work on YouTube.)
Lunch in celebration of the Centenary of the Royal Air Force
Many of you will be aware that Sunday 1st April was the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. A few days before, the group of veterans who meet every few months for lunch in the Cardiff and County Club in central Cardiff decided to dress up for a celebratory lunch. As you can see from the accompanying photograph (for which I wish I'd straightened my tie), those that could find and fit into their Mess Kit wore that.
Many of us had served for about a third of the RAF's 100 years, and between us we spanned more than half its existence, from the 1950s until well into the current century. As usual, we sat around and told very similar war stories to the ones we'd told a few months before, but it was, as always, great fun. A toast to the Royal Air Force was given by our only guest, Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards Royal Naval Reserve, a past Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan.
Many of us had served for about a third of the RAF's 100 years, and between us we spanned more than half its existence, from the 1950s until well into the current century. As usual, we sat around and told very similar war stories to the ones we'd told a few months before, but it was, as always, great fun. A toast to the Royal Air Force was given by our only guest, Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards Royal Naval Reserve, a past Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan.
21 March 2018 - A month of contrasts. We were hit quite badly by the snow in early March, with the easterly winds blowing snow through the vents in our loft. We only discovered this with the thaw, when a couple of leaks appeared in our bedroom ceiling. Everyone on the estate has the same vent system - to stop the roofs lifting off in high winds - and all had leaked to a greater or lesser extent, a few ending up with snowdrifts in their lofts! We caught our leaks early, so no major damage done, but some were not so lucky, including those who store belongings among the eaves. Anyway, we'd hunkered down for a couple of days, watching a white tornado of snow rise above our front lawn. It was only on the Saturday that we discovered we couldn't have left Barry Island even if we'd wanted to. It was cut off, and we cancelled a planned visit to Ludlow. The next weekend we flew out of Bristol for a very enjoyable four-night city break in Lisbon, where, although they were suffering storms, it was at least ten degrees warmer. And then, a couple of days after we got back, the snow returned and we had to cancel our re-scheduled visit to Ludlow. Hopefully, we'll get there this weekend. Otherwise, a quiet month of grandparenting duties, some writing, a talk and attending a couple of Cardiff Blues victories at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire
8 February 2018 - I was saddened to read of the death of Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire (on 19 Feb at the age of 72), the first senior officer 'of my era' that I can remember passing away. I met him on several occasions, two of which were memorable, for me at least.
He was commanding officer of 1 Squadron during the Falklands war, when they flew their Harriers from HMS Hermes. During the war, his aircraft was hit on a couple of occasions and he survived a crash landing. On a later visit to the Islands, he was forced to eject into the sea after an engine failure, being picked up by a Sea King. From then on, he rose steadily through the ranks, commanding RAF Cottesmore and filling a range of staff appointments.
When I was commanding the University of London Air Squadron, he was guest of honour at my first annual dinner, by which time he was an air marshal and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, (Programmes and Personnel) in the MOD. During my speech, I had a brain fade, forgetting the name of one of the senior Army officers I was due to thank, someone I knew well and respected. When I sat down, embarrassed and disappointed, Sir Peter leaned across and said not to worry, it was something he'd done many times. A small gesture, but much appreciated.
The next time we met, he was Chief of the Air Staff and I was a couple of days into my four and a half-month stint commanding the RAF detachment at Italian Air Force base Gioia del Colle in southern Italy. We'd had a dinner on the evening of his arrival and I picked him up from his hotel the next morning and drove him to the airfield for a briefing before he toured the detachment. Apparently, I drove part of the way on the wrong side of the road. Whether the air marshal had noticed, I don't know, but he never said anything. His staff did though, berating me for trying to kill the head of the RAF!
Although he must have had a hard edge, I found him unfailingly polite and thoughtful - in a way that some senior officers aren't. Rest in peace.
He was commanding officer of 1 Squadron during the Falklands war, when they flew their Harriers from HMS Hermes. During the war, his aircraft was hit on a couple of occasions and he survived a crash landing. On a later visit to the Islands, he was forced to eject into the sea after an engine failure, being picked up by a Sea King. From then on, he rose steadily through the ranks, commanding RAF Cottesmore and filling a range of staff appointments.
When I was commanding the University of London Air Squadron, he was guest of honour at my first annual dinner, by which time he was an air marshal and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, (Programmes and Personnel) in the MOD. During my speech, I had a brain fade, forgetting the name of one of the senior Army officers I was due to thank, someone I knew well and respected. When I sat down, embarrassed and disappointed, Sir Peter leaned across and said not to worry, it was something he'd done many times. A small gesture, but much appreciated.
The next time we met, he was Chief of the Air Staff and I was a couple of days into my four and a half-month stint commanding the RAF detachment at Italian Air Force base Gioia del Colle in southern Italy. We'd had a dinner on the evening of his arrival and I picked him up from his hotel the next morning and drove him to the airfield for a briefing before he toured the detachment. Apparently, I drove part of the way on the wrong side of the road. Whether the air marshal had noticed, I don't know, but he never said anything. His staff did though, berating me for trying to kill the head of the RAF!
Although he must have had a hard edge, I found him unfailingly polite and thoughtful - in a way that some senior officers aren't. Rest in peace.
7 February 2018 - Freed of grandparenting duties last Friday, Geraldine and I had a pleasant walk up the Taff Trail from Merthyr Tydfil to Pontsticill Reservoir. From the reservoir, we had a great view of two of the highest points in the Brecons, Pen Y Fan and Cribyn, both covered in snow. I also took a picture of something I don't remember seeing before, and which I thought looked quite sinister, like the jaws of a sandworm from the sci-fi novel, Dune. A little research revealed that they say it's a bell-mouth spillway and valve tower. But they would say that, wouldn't they?
Elsewhere, after a quiet start to the year, during which I've made significant progress with Shropshire Blue, Vol 2, February has been more exciting. On Saturday, we were in the Principality Stadium to see Wales beat Scotland 34-7. The atmosphere was fantastic and I really enjoyed belting out both national anthems. And then, a few seats along, someone stood up and began playing the bagpipes. From then on, about every 15 minutes, he played a couple of tunes. It failed to inspire Scotland, but those who've read Shropshire Blue Vol 1 will guess the effect it had on me. (Every working day for the three years of my RAF apprentice training, I marched behind a pipe band, covering nearly 2,000 miles in total.)
On Sunday night, I stayed up to watch the Superbowl, another great sporting event in which the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots. My son and I hope to see the Eagles play at Wembley this October.
On Sunday night, I stayed up to watch the Superbowl, another great sporting event in which the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots. My son and I hope to see the Eagles play at Wembley this October.
Sky a few minutes after sunset from our bedroom window
20 December 2017 - During a beautiful walk on Barry Island a couple of days ago, we witnessed spectacular views as the sun set over the north Devon coast. And when we were back in the house a few minutes later, the sky turned a stunning shade of dark salmon. I couldn't resist sharing the picture opposite - taken from our bedroom window - and using it as a medium to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a new year that fulfills all your wishes.
We thoroughly enjoyed the final Wales rugby match of the autumn series, partly because they beat the South Africans 24-22, but also because most of the tries were scored in the corner beneath our seats. Cardiff Blues also ground out an impressive victory (14-6) against Sale in atrocious conditions this Sunday. Elsewhere, we've enjoyed a short break in Exeter, a trip to the Wales Millennium Centre to see Miss Saigon, and to the cinema to see The Last Jedi. I've had some more positive book reviews, but sales continue at a trickle and I really must get round to publishing Volume 2 of Shropshire Blue next year.
Finally, I'm proud to share that the toy knitted by Geraldine (picture a few posts down - July 2017), raised £100 at a charity auction from which the proceeds will go to children suffering problems with speech and language.
We thoroughly enjoyed the final Wales rugby match of the autumn series, partly because they beat the South Africans 24-22, but also because most of the tries were scored in the corner beneath our seats. Cardiff Blues also ground out an impressive victory (14-6) against Sale in atrocious conditions this Sunday. Elsewhere, we've enjoyed a short break in Exeter, a trip to the Wales Millennium Centre to see Miss Saigon, and to the cinema to see The Last Jedi. I've had some more positive book reviews, but sales continue at a trickle and I really must get round to publishing Volume 2 of Shropshire Blue next year.
Finally, I'm proud to share that the toy knitted by Geraldine (picture a few posts down - July 2017), raised £100 at a charity auction from which the proceeds will go to children suffering problems with speech and language.
Sophie Lancaster
30 November 2017 - The highlight of this month was attending the Sophie Lancaster Festival at Rebellion Bar in Manchester with our son last weekend. Sophie was a 20-year old who, as the photo shows, styled herself as a Goth. On 11th August 2007, she was beaten to death by a gang of youths in a park in Bacup, Lancashire. Her boyfriend was lucky to survive. Their only crime was to be different. I may have noted the story at the time, but it was brought home when I attended the Bloodstock metal festival with my son a couple of years ago. The largest tent housed the Sophie Lancaster Stage, named in her honour, and one of the bands I enjoyed - and who Geraldine I subsequently saw in Cardiff - Delain, sing a song titled, 'We Are The Others,' also dedicated to Sophie. Movingly, Sophie's mother and sister attended the Sophie Festival on the Sunday, which would have been Sophie's 31st birthday. The proceeds of the Festival went to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting intolerance, prejudice and hatred.
In other news, I completed three talks, moving slowly west from The Mumbles, Swansea, to Porthcawl and then Cardiff. My final talk of the year, The Battle of Britain, given at Barry War Museum, garnered them their largest ever audience.
We also watched a great game of rugby between Wales and Australia earlier in the month. Although Wales lost on that occasion, we hope they'll beat South Africa when we sit in the Principality Stadium again on Saturday.
In other news, I completed three talks, moving slowly west from The Mumbles, Swansea, to Porthcawl and then Cardiff. My final talk of the year, The Battle of Britain, given at Barry War Museum, garnered them their largest ever audience.
We also watched a great game of rugby between Wales and Australia earlier in the month. Although Wales lost on that occasion, we hope they'll beat South Africa when we sit in the Principality Stadium again on Saturday.
Hercules over the South Atlantic
30 October 2017 - A month with several personal highlights, the foremost the annual visit to an American Football game in London with my son. This year it was the Los Angeles Rams v the Arizona Cardinals at Twickenham. There hadn't been much daylight between the teams this season, so the result, 33-0 to the Rams, was a quite a surprise. A great weekend in London, though, including watching Blade Runner 2049 in a cinema on Leicester Square. This weekend, I attended the RAF Club, again in London, for the annual dinner of the University of London Air Squadron Ex-Members' Association. A glittering night among some very interesting people, including five who were students on the squadron when I was a flying instructor.
On the writing front, the highlight for me was a marvellous review on Amazon from one of the volunteers at Tangmere Aviation Museum. A self-confessed stickler for detail, he described Wings Over Summer as 'a masterpiece of historical fiction,' and later in the same review as, 'the finest historical fiction book of the Battle of Britain ever written'. I can stand any amount of that sort of flattery!
I also completed three talks, the most memorable to fifty-odd folk packed into a Nissen Hut on Shobdon airfield, the home of the Herefordshire Aero Club. Presenting the first of my three RAF talks, from Shropshire to the Falklands, to such a knowledgeable audience was a bit daunting, but they seemed to enjoy it - and so did I. Among the audience was someone I hadn't seen for years. We rubbed alongside one another several times during our careers, as apprentices, Hercules pilots and flying instructors. He's now an airline pilot. It was great to see him again. And then, on the way out to my car in the dark, two Hercules transited the airfield at low level. Nice of them to lay on a flypast!
On the writing front, the highlight for me was a marvellous review on Amazon from one of the volunteers at Tangmere Aviation Museum. A self-confessed stickler for detail, he described Wings Over Summer as 'a masterpiece of historical fiction,' and later in the same review as, 'the finest historical fiction book of the Battle of Britain ever written'. I can stand any amount of that sort of flattery!
I also completed three talks, the most memorable to fifty-odd folk packed into a Nissen Hut on Shobdon airfield, the home of the Herefordshire Aero Club. Presenting the first of my three RAF talks, from Shropshire to the Falklands, to such a knowledgeable audience was a bit daunting, but they seemed to enjoy it - and so did I. Among the audience was someone I hadn't seen for years. We rubbed alongside one another several times during our careers, as apprentices, Hercules pilots and flying instructors. He's now an airline pilot. It was great to see him again. And then, on the way out to my car in the dark, two Hercules transited the airfield at low level. Nice of them to lay on a flypast!
30 September 2017 - As promised, some more photographs from our Canadian Rockies walking holiday. All the scenery and wildlife was amazing and I found it very difficult to reduce the 300 images I finally retained to this nine. The final tally of mammals seen was Grizzly Bear (including a mother and three cubs), Black Bear, Moose, Elk, White-Tailed and Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, Pine Marten, Black, Red and Ground Squirrel and Chipmunk.
Dave Honeyman and Ward Cameron (sometimes assisted by Dave's son William) were excellent guides whose love for the landscape and its wildlife shone through. They were also excellent companions. If we we were to go back independently, we'd certainly call on Dave's firm, Canadian Rockies Alpine, to guide us. We've also become avid listeners to Ward's Mountain Nature Podcast which, in easily digestible chunks, will tell you all you could ever wish to know about the Canadian Rockies and its Parks. Finally, if you're thinking of walking independently, a good place to start would be the trekking website of the man behind allspitfirepilots. It is trailpeak.com.
Dave Honeyman and Ward Cameron (sometimes assisted by Dave's son William) were excellent guides whose love for the landscape and its wildlife shone through. They were also excellent companions. If we we were to go back independently, we'd certainly call on Dave's firm, Canadian Rockies Alpine, to guide us. We've also become avid listeners to Ward's Mountain Nature Podcast which, in easily digestible chunks, will tell you all you could ever wish to know about the Canadian Rockies and its Parks. Finally, if you're thinking of walking independently, a good place to start would be the trekking website of the man behind allspitfirepilots. It is trailpeak.com.
26 September 2017 - A Close Encounter With The Boss - We've just returned from a walking holiday in the Canadian Rockies. Preparing to set out on the first walk, our group gathered by a wooden bridge over the Vermilion River. Suddenly, someone shouted, 'Bear!' And there, no more than 15 yards away on the other side of the shallow river was an enormous Grizzly Bear. My immediate feeling was one of excitement. Although the brochure had mentioned bears, I'd taken it with a pinch of salt, thinking the chances of actually seeing one were pretty remote. How wrong could you be?
The commanding voices of our previously mild-mannered guides left us in no doubt of the danger the Grizzly posed. It could have crossed the stream in a couple of strides. Brandishing the bear sprays that usually hung from their waists, they ushered us back to our vans. And then, on the other side of the bank, we spotted two young women. They were no more than five yards from the bear and hadn't seen it. When they did, the inevitable happened. They screamed and ran for the bridge, taking no notice of our guides' attempts to make them back away slowly.
In the end, we all survived, and, as the bear wandered up the track we'd planned to take, we made alternative plans. Our guides were visibly shaken. Bears rarely attack, and certainly not larger groups like ours. But the two young women seemed to have had a very narrow escape. And study of the photos we'd taken revealed that the bear was the dominant male in Banff National Park, known as The Boss. He varies in weight throughout the year, but when we saw him, approaching hibernation time, he was likely to have been near his peak of 325kg - 51 stone.
It was quite a start to the holiday, and I'm pleased to say there were many more wildlife encounters. I'll post some more pictures when I've sorted them all out. For the moment though, here are some images of the Bear, the close up having been taken by a retired doctor in our group, Roger Peppiatt.
The commanding voices of our previously mild-mannered guides left us in no doubt of the danger the Grizzly posed. It could have crossed the stream in a couple of strides. Brandishing the bear sprays that usually hung from their waists, they ushered us back to our vans. And then, on the other side of the bank, we spotted two young women. They were no more than five yards from the bear and hadn't seen it. When they did, the inevitable happened. They screamed and ran for the bridge, taking no notice of our guides' attempts to make them back away slowly.
In the end, we all survived, and, as the bear wandered up the track we'd planned to take, we made alternative plans. Our guides were visibly shaken. Bears rarely attack, and certainly not larger groups like ours. But the two young women seemed to have had a very narrow escape. And study of the photos we'd taken revealed that the bear was the dominant male in Banff National Park, known as The Boss. He varies in weight throughout the year, but when we saw him, approaching hibernation time, he was likely to have been near his peak of 325kg - 51 stone.
It was quite a start to the holiday, and I'm pleased to say there were many more wildlife encounters. I'll post some more pictures when I've sorted them all out. For the moment though, here are some images of the Bear, the close up having been taken by a retired doctor in our group, Roger Peppiatt.
4 September 2017 - On one of our regular visits to my home town of Ludlow, I dropped off some of my books at the local independent book shop, where they continue to sell steadily. It always makes me wonder how many books I might have sold if I'd secured an agent and publisher, and my titles appeared in a wider selection of book shops. But it was not to be, and beyond these infrequent musings, I really am very content with the self-publication route I chose to follow.
Then, having visited the graves of my parents and Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot to whom Wings Over Summer is dedicated, I ambled back through the town and into the local Oxfam Book Shop. There, I was surprised to find a copy of Wings Over Summer. It's the first time I've seen one of my titles in a charity shop, and I didn't know whether to be pleased or disappointed. In the end, I chose pleasure. Somehow, seeing it sitting there among the John Grisham and James Paterson titles seemed like a rite of passage, another milestone on the way to being an established author.
Then, having visited the graves of my parents and Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot to whom Wings Over Summer is dedicated, I ambled back through the town and into the local Oxfam Book Shop. There, I was surprised to find a copy of Wings Over Summer. It's the first time I've seen one of my titles in a charity shop, and I didn't know whether to be pleased or disappointed. In the end, I chose pleasure. Somehow, seeing it sitting there among the John Grisham and James Paterson titles seemed like a rite of passage, another milestone on the way to being an established author.
8 August 2017 - After two years when poor weather prevented their visits, the Red Arrows returned to display over Barry Island on Sunday. The photographs below were taken by fellow writer, Robert Darke, a much more talented photographer than me - because of the glare, I couldn't even find the aircraft in my viewfinder! As usual, the display was fantastic, and inevitably it rekindled memories of flying with Red 2 on a full display practice over RAF Scampton in June 2003. It was one of the highlights of my life and is the event which opens my first volume of memoir, Shropshire Blue.
After the crash of the Hunter at Shoreham, all displays have to be attended by an adviser from the Civil Aviation Authority. The one who turned up to observe the Barry Island display was a retired RAF pilot I first met on Ascension Island in 1982. Small world.
I'll try not to sound too desperate, because it is a natural process, but sales of all my titles on Amazon have slowed to a trickle. Any help in generating renewed interest would be much appreciated. I guess what I really need to do is publish another title, and to that end I'm still working on Shropshire Blue Vol 2.
After the crash of the Hunter at Shoreham, all displays have to be attended by an adviser from the Civil Aviation Authority. The one who turned up to observe the Barry Island display was a retired RAF pilot I first met on Ascension Island in 1982. Small world.
I'll try not to sound too desperate, because it is a natural process, but sales of all my titles on Amazon have slowed to a trickle. Any help in generating renewed interest would be much appreciated. I guess what I really need to do is publish another title, and to that end I'm still working on Shropshire Blue Vol 2.
22 July 2017 - Geraldine and I went to see the movie, Dunkirk, yesterday. We really enjoyed it, and I was especially pleased to see a public vindication of the RAF's role in the evacuation hit the mainstream after all these years. For good reason, in the film, the impressive scenes of Spitfires taking on the Luftwaffe take place at low level in sight of the soldiers and sailors on the beach and in the ships. In reality, most of the action was up at 25,000 feet, beyond the beaches, so those on the ground rarely saw a British aircraft. This led to the belief that the RAF had let down the Army and Navy - which was untrue. Take 92 Squadron. In his book, First Light, Geoffrey Wellum explains that on the first day over Dunkirk - the day after his arrival - 92 Squadron lost five pilots, including the CO. (Roger Bushel, who became a POW and mastermind of the Great Escape. He was one of 50 escapers shot by the Gestapo on the orders of Hitler.) Even so, the Squadron received abuse from the Army, even having to vacate a pub to avoid a confrontation. I hope Christopher Nolan's film will go some way toward setting the record straight.
On a lighter note, the attached picture is an example of Geraldine's crafting skills. She has made the jester to raise money for a childrens' health charity in a 'guess the name' competition.
On a lighter note, the attached picture is an example of Geraldine's crafting skills. She has made the jester to raise money for a childrens' health charity in a 'guess the name' competition.
19 June 2017 - A quiet period at the moment, with just the odd talk and babysitting to interrupt my writing. But I thought I'd share a few photos that demonstrate the variety in our lives. On Saturday, Geraldine and I walked up and around the Blorenge, a prominent hill above Abergavenny that gives stunning 360 degree views of south Wales. We probably saw about 100 people, 80 in and around the car park feeding the wild ponies. And then, on Sunday, we walked out of our door and round Barry Island, which was full to the brim with holidaymakers. On a similar day when we moved here 12 years ago there would have been a few hundred. Then came Gavin and Stacey, and the rest is history...
Lara, aged one.
7 June 2017 - A double celebration today. Our granddaughter, Lara, is one year old. To say she continues to light up her lives is an understatement. She is simply marvellous. And it is the fortieth anniversary of the day Geraldine and I met on the 7 June 1977. I have always found it easy to remember, because it was the day of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. I was at home on leave from RAF Scampton and saw Geraldine with a girl with whom I used to go to school. I latched on, and the rest is history. For me, it was love at first sight, but I can't help thinking Geraldine would have had a much lesser sentence for murder.
On the writing front, the muse seems to be on me at the moment, and I'm making good progress with Shropshire Blue, Volume 2. I've also had some heartening reviews and emails, including one from an old RAF colleague who now flies for Cathay Pacific, and whose son is finding Wings Over Malta invaluable as a primer for an up-coming visit to Malta.
On the writing front, the muse seems to be on me at the moment, and I'm making good progress with Shropshire Blue, Volume 2. I've also had some heartening reviews and emails, including one from an old RAF colleague who now flies for Cathay Pacific, and whose son is finding Wings Over Malta invaluable as a primer for an up-coming visit to Malta.
Ascension airfield in April 1982
25 May 2017 - Barry Probus 1 seemed to enjoy my first rendition of Return to Ascension, so much so that they booked The Battle For Malta for next year - the 9th talk I will have presented to this organization. Over the last few weeks, I've had several emails from people who've enjoyed Shropshire Blue Volume 1. They've all asked about the progress of Volume 2. All I can say is that it is progressing and I hope to finish it in the next few months.
We were in Manchester to see our son at the weekend, which meant another visit to the Rebellion Bar for an evening of metal music. On this occasion, three of the four bands were a bit heavy for us - the genre name of Grind gives an indication of why we found some of it heavy-going. But the band Prognosis saved our night, and we really enjoyed the beer and the atmosphere again. Following this visit, it was especially sad to see the city caught up in a bombing atrocity. For once I agree with President Trump, the perpetrators really are losers.
We were in Manchester to see our son at the weekend, which meant another visit to the Rebellion Bar for an evening of metal music. On this occasion, three of the four bands were a bit heavy for us - the genre name of Grind gives an indication of why we found some of it heavy-going. But the band Prognosis saved our night, and we really enjoyed the beer and the atmosphere again. Following this visit, it was especially sad to see the city caught up in a bombing atrocity. For once I agree with President Trump, the perpetrators really are losers.
View over Ascension from Sisters Peak
10 May 2017 - I now offer a 13th talk, titled Return to Ascension Island, the tiny volcanic speck in the South Atlantic that became the staging post for the Falklands War in 1982. I visited 17 times during what was a very exciting time for the Island, and me. I also vowed to return and did so - with Geraldine - in 2016, 32 years after my last visit. We had a magical ten days. The illustrated talk is about the geology, wildlife and history of the Island, operations from there during and after the Falklands War, and my visits.
I've just visited the RAF Club in London, where Steve Dean, a flying instructor on the University of London Air Squadron when I commanded it in the 90s, was dined out after 30 years in the Royal Air Force. The dinner was attended by people from every period of his life and career, including his father. It was a glittering occasion, one I felt privileged to attend. I especially enjoyed sitting on a table with several of my old students.
Steve's next job is either a fantastic opportunity or a poison chalice. He's responsible for ensuring a memorial to the British involvement in the D-Day landings is on a hillside above Sword Beach by 6th June 2019. I wish him all the luck in the world.
I've just visited the RAF Club in London, where Steve Dean, a flying instructor on the University of London Air Squadron when I commanded it in the 90s, was dined out after 30 years in the Royal Air Force. The dinner was attended by people from every period of his life and career, including his father. It was a glittering occasion, one I felt privileged to attend. I especially enjoyed sitting on a table with several of my old students.
Steve's next job is either a fantastic opportunity or a poison chalice. He's responsible for ensuring a memorial to the British involvement in the D-Day landings is on a hillside above Sword Beach by 6th June 2019. I wish him all the luck in the world.
5 April 2017 - Apart from a few instances in previous posts, I tend not to include my holiday snaps - but - we've just returned from a marvellous walking holiday in the Aitana district of south-eastern Spain (about 30 minutes inland from Benidorm). It included the helicopter recovery of one of our party, who slipped and dislocated/fractured a wrist and gashed a leg. There was no way she could continue the walk to the nearest track, so the helicopter was called. Operated by the Fire Service, it arrived within 15 minutes and she was off the mountain 16 minutes later. After X-rays, plastering, and an overnight stay, she was released from hospital to fly home with the rest of her party 24 hours later. An impressive response, I thought.
2 March 2017 - For the next month, another of my prize-winning short stories is being read on Dave Carrington's show, Squaring The Circle, on Celtica Internet Radio. The story, Courting Disaster, is different from my usual fare, and the comedic element is certainly brought out by both the reading and the background music - by Tony and Adam Violaris, a father and son, Adam most famous for his film and television music and father, Tony, for having composed for Greek singer, Demis Roussos.
Overnight, a reviewer said of Wings Over Summer that it was, 'Quite possibly the best novel of the Battle of Britain'. I've said before that I can take any amount of flattery, and comments like that certainly make all the hours of writing worthwhile.
Finally, a couple of nights ago, I had an email from an ex flying student of mine who now flies Boeing 787s. He was in Narita, Japan, and had just been woken up by an earthquake, which turned out to be magnitude 4.6, centred near Fukushima. (Dangerous place, Fukushima!) It reminded me that, although I've never experienced an earthquake, I have flown around Etna when it was erupting in the 80s and, on one of our walking holidays, Geraldine and I stood about half a mile from one of the fissures on Stromboli and witnessed several eruptions.
Overnight, a reviewer said of Wings Over Summer that it was, 'Quite possibly the best novel of the Battle of Britain'. I've said before that I can take any amount of flattery, and comments like that certainly make all the hours of writing worthwhile.
Finally, a couple of nights ago, I had an email from an ex flying student of mine who now flies Boeing 787s. He was in Narita, Japan, and had just been woken up by an earthquake, which turned out to be magnitude 4.6, centred near Fukushima. (Dangerous place, Fukushima!) It reminded me that, although I've never experienced an earthquake, I have flown around Etna when it was erupting in the 80s and, on one of our walking holidays, Geraldine and I stood about half a mile from one of the fissures on Stromboli and witnessed several eruptions.
25 February 2017 – I’ve mentioned the website allspitfirepilots several times. It was set up about 18 months ago by Canadian, Kurt Turchan, and since then it has grown in leaps and bounds, with hundreds – thousands - of Spitfire pilots and aircraft profiles added, some with amazing images and stories. Most of the contributions have been added by enthusiasts. I’ve even added a few myself, including Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town who inspired my RAF career and writing.
And now, Kurt has announced that he’s visiting the UK this summer. Starting at Tangmere, he aims to cycle round as many Battle of Britain locations as he can fit in, promoting the site as he goes. He hopes people will join him for some or all of his ride, or just meet up in a pub in the evenings for a chat. He also hopes to arrange an evening or two – perhaps at Biggin Hill and Duxord – concentrating on some of the more unusual stories on the site, and including the odd short talk by me and maybe others, plus the chance to drink beer and walk away with one of these distinctive glasses.
He’s always looking for people to add to the site, just a pilot name or aircraft number would be welcome, bare bones to which other contributors can add flesh, or you can add some detail to existing profiles. But now, he’d also love to hear from anyone interested in joining him for part or all of his bike ride, attending an event – or hosting one – or just appearing at some stage to say hello. He can be reached through the contact area of allspitfirepilots
And now, Kurt has announced that he’s visiting the UK this summer. Starting at Tangmere, he aims to cycle round as many Battle of Britain locations as he can fit in, promoting the site as he goes. He hopes people will join him for some or all of his ride, or just meet up in a pub in the evenings for a chat. He also hopes to arrange an evening or two – perhaps at Biggin Hill and Duxord – concentrating on some of the more unusual stories on the site, and including the odd short talk by me and maybe others, plus the chance to drink beer and walk away with one of these distinctive glasses.
He’s always looking for people to add to the site, just a pilot name or aircraft number would be welcome, bare bones to which other contributors can add flesh, or you can add some detail to existing profiles. But now, he’d also love to hear from anyone interested in joining him for part or all of his bike ride, attending an event – or hosting one – or just appearing at some stage to say hello. He can be reached through the contact area of allspitfirepilots
22 January 2017 - The first outing of my new talk, The Battle For Malta, seemed to be enjoyed by the Cardiff branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society on Wednesday evening. Although I had to gloss over a few lapses of memory, I too was pleased, especially when, in addition to my small fee, they decided to donate £100 to the Spitfire Society, a charity which aims to promote the memory of the Supermarine Spitfire in all its guises. If you have any interest in the Spitfire, I would recommend joining the Society, if only to receive their excellent newsletters and magazine.
I was heartened by an email I received this week from a reader. He had read Shropshire Blue three times and was on his third reading of Wings Over Malta. Because they tend to get overlooked, he was particularly fulsome about my focus on the groundcrew, who serviced the aircraft on Malta under the harshest of conditions. I can take any amount of flattery, so this was much appreciated.
And finally, Geraldine and I did a coast walk between Porthcawl and Port Talbot yesterday. I mention it because of the contrast we saw between natural beauty, industrial vigour - in the form of the Port Talbot steelworks - and industrial decay. Very sobering, as was the amount of plastic rubbish of all sorts along the tide line.
I was heartened by an email I received this week from a reader. He had read Shropshire Blue three times and was on his third reading of Wings Over Malta. Because they tend to get overlooked, he was particularly fulsome about my focus on the groundcrew, who serviced the aircraft on Malta under the harshest of conditions. I can take any amount of flattery, so this was much appreciated.
And finally, Geraldine and I did a coast walk between Porthcawl and Port Talbot yesterday. I mention it because of the contrast we saw between natural beauty, industrial vigour - in the form of the Port Talbot steelworks - and industrial decay. Very sobering, as was the amount of plastic rubbish of all sorts along the tide line.
1 January 2017 - Hard to believe, but here we are at the start of another year. Firstly, thanks to all those who have taken an interest in my work during 2016, and welcome to any new visitors. I hope 2017 is everything you want it to be.
Geraldine and I had a marvellous Christmas break, including family time and a magical walk in the Brecons. We we ended up among what must have been thousands of people - I'd forgotten the Tuesday after Christmas was a bank holiday - walking up Corn Ddu and Pen y Fan, the two hills in the middle photograph below. But we'd already visited the glacial lake below the hills, Llyn Cwm Llwch, where we'd spent 30 minutes in glorious isolation and eaten first lunch. On May Day each year, a secret gate used to open on the shore to reveal a passage to an island hidden in the centre of the lake. Once there, visitors found themselves in a beautiful garden and treated to a feast by the resident fairies. The only rule was that nothing could be taken back to the world of men. Of course, one visitor stole a flower and the gate has never opened since - not even for us.
Geraldine and I had a marvellous Christmas break, including family time and a magical walk in the Brecons. We we ended up among what must have been thousands of people - I'd forgotten the Tuesday after Christmas was a bank holiday - walking up Corn Ddu and Pen y Fan, the two hills in the middle photograph below. But we'd already visited the glacial lake below the hills, Llyn Cwm Llwch, where we'd spent 30 minutes in glorious isolation and eaten first lunch. On May Day each year, a secret gate used to open on the shore to reveal a passage to an island hidden in the centre of the lake. Once there, visitors found themselves in a beautiful garden and treated to a feast by the resident fairies. The only rule was that nothing could be taken back to the world of men. Of course, one visitor stole a flower and the gate has never opened since - not even for us.
8 December 2016 - This morning, I passed 20,000 book sales when Wings Over Summer clocked up its 16,669th sale. I don't suppose J K Rowling will be sweating unduly at the competition, but as a self-published and self-publicising writer, I'm over the moon to have achieved the milsestone.
Other recent events have included an article in the RAF Apprentice association magazine, the Haltonian, and a very positive review of Wings Over Malta in Spitfire, the Spitfire Society magazine. I'd recommend anyone with an interest in the aircraft to join the Spitfire Society, and to take a look at the website allspitfirepilots, which is a mine of information about those that flew it.
I have also finally finished working up my talk on the Battle For Malta, which will be presented for the first time to the Cardiff Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society in January. My last talk of this year, From Lincoln to Tokyo, will be given to the Penarth Local History Society tonight.
Other recent events have included an article in the RAF Apprentice association magazine, the Haltonian, and a very positive review of Wings Over Malta in Spitfire, the Spitfire Society magazine. I'd recommend anyone with an interest in the aircraft to join the Spitfire Society, and to take a look at the website allspitfirepilots, which is a mine of information about those that flew it.
I have also finally finished working up my talk on the Battle For Malta, which will be presented for the first time to the Cardiff Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society in January. My last talk of this year, From Lincoln to Tokyo, will be given to the Penarth Local History Society tonight.
23 November 2016 - It's been a relatively busy month since my last post. At the end of October, I travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to a reunion with about 30 of my Apprentice entry on the 40th anniversary of our graduation from RAF Halton after 3 years of training to become aircraft technicians in the airframe and propulsion trades. It was a good craic. I've also given a few talks; been to a cracking gig by symphonic metal band, Delain; attended a talk on life, the universe and everything by Professor Brian Cox; and two autumn rugby internationals: Wales v Argentina, which Wales scraped 24-20 - and was a poor game - and Wales v Japan, which was excellent, although Wales were lucky to run out winners with a last gasp drop goal to make it 33-30. Until the weather broke over the last few days, we've had some beautiful walks, with the trees looking especially splendid this autumn. There have also been some lovely sunsets, like that pictured over Barry Island's new iconic icon. On the writing side, I'm continuing with the tales of my flying training for Shropshire Blue, Volume Two, and am close to finishing a talk on the Battle of Malta, which I'll present for the first time to the Cardiff branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society in January.
22 October 2016 - One of my short stories, Courting Disaster, has just been published in the November Issue (#181) of Writers' Forum magazine. It can be read by clicking on the title in the previous sentence or through my Writing - Short Story page.
I have also finally added a piece about Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town of Ludlow to whom Wings Over Summer is dedicated. Titled, A Local Hero, it can be read through this link or through my Writing - Short Story page. I visited his grave this weekend on a visit to Ludlow.
Elsewhere, life goes along pleasantly. I am writing the second volume of Shropshire Blue, which is about my flying training, and also a new talk on the Battle For Malta. My son and I had a good weekend in London, including the American Football at Wembley (Indianapolis Colts v Jacksonville Jaguars), and a visit to London Zoo, where we saw (but did not release) the male silverback gorilla! Geraldine and I are enjoying our visits to the rubgy at Cardiff Arms Park - partly because Cardiff Blues are doing much better this season - and we are looking forward to attending two of the autumn internationals, Wales v Argentina and Wales v Japan. And finally, and most importantly, our grand-daughter Lara - now 19 weeks old - continues to light up our lives.
I have also finally added a piece about Laurie Whitbread, the Battle of Britain pilot from my home town of Ludlow to whom Wings Over Summer is dedicated. Titled, A Local Hero, it can be read through this link or through my Writing - Short Story page. I visited his grave this weekend on a visit to Ludlow.
Elsewhere, life goes along pleasantly. I am writing the second volume of Shropshire Blue, which is about my flying training, and also a new talk on the Battle For Malta. My son and I had a good weekend in London, including the American Football at Wembley (Indianapolis Colts v Jacksonville Jaguars), and a visit to London Zoo, where we saw (but did not release) the male silverback gorilla! Geraldine and I are enjoying our visits to the rubgy at Cardiff Arms Park - partly because Cardiff Blues are doing much better this season - and we are looking forward to attending two of the autumn internationals, Wales v Argentina and Wales v Japan. And finally, and most importantly, our grand-daughter Lara - now 19 weeks old - continues to light up our lives.
15 September 2016 - Geraldine and I have just returned from five days in Berlin. It was quite a nostalgic visit for me. On my two previous visits, the Berlin Wall was an all-pervading presence. On the first, in 1981, I flew along one of the three air corridors into the City in a Jetstream, on the final test of my flying training. The second visit was three years later when, as a Hercules co-pilot, I flew in with officers from the RAF Staff College down the back. On a fascinating trip, we got to pass through Checkpoint Charlie and spend a morning in the East, and then to fly over the whole City at 1500 feet, with the ramp and door open so that the Staff College students could look down on one of the likely flashpoints of the Cold War. On both occasions, the Wall looked suitably sinister. The attached picture of Checkpoint Charlie now makes it look more benign, unless you think the enemy is cholesterol!
10 September 2016 - My three talks at the Barry At War Weekend seemed to go down well, although the weather on the Saturday was foul and few visitors ventured onto a wet and windy Barry Island. The Sunday was much better, and busier. As you can see from the attached photograph, I put my uniform on for the first time in 11 years. Considering it had been in the attic all that time, after a dry clean, it looked as good as new, and it still fits; in fact, it was a little big! I'm not sure if and when I'll wear it again, but it was fun to do the Battle of Britain talks wearing the right 'rig'.
The event was saddened by the loss of Eileen Younghusband, another local author and public speaker who had died at the age of 95. Eileen was a WAAF officer during the Second World War and had worked in the Filter Room of the Fighter Command Headquarters at Bentley Priory, and on the teams plotting the locations of V2 rocket launch sites so that they could be attacked before they were dismantled and moved. A fascinating lady.
The event was saddened by the loss of Eileen Younghusband, another local author and public speaker who had died at the age of 95. Eileen was a WAAF officer during the Second World War and had worked in the Filter Room of the Fighter Command Headquarters at Bentley Priory, and on the teams plotting the locations of V2 rocket launch sites so that they could be attacked before they were dismantled and moved. A fascinating lady.
20 August 2016 - Wings Over Malta has just passed 1,000 sales. As mentioned in several earlier posts, its sales are slower than those of Wings Over Summer, but given that I wasn't sure whether anyone would want to read any of my books, I'm delighted that nearly 20,000 have now done so, and that the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. I'm delighted to be doing another book signing in Ludlow's Castle Book Shop between 11.00 and 12.30 on Saturday 27th August.
One of my short stories, Courting Disaster, has one third prize in the Writers' Forum monthly short story competition. First prize still eludes me, but one day... The story will appear in Issue 181 of the magazine in November, after which I'll post it on my Writing -Short Story page.
Elsewhere, I've just completed my first restaurant review for the Cardiff Food and Drink Guide for some while. We had a lovely meal in a 16th Century malthouse that is now a quirky restaurant in Llantwit Major, called Illtud's 216 - Illtud after the Welsh saint and 216 after the number of gallons of beer that filled the wagons leaving the malthouse. In preparing for the review, I was surprised to see how many of my old reviews survive in Food and Drink Guide booklets and on their website.
One of my short stories, Courting Disaster, has one third prize in the Writers' Forum monthly short story competition. First prize still eludes me, but one day... The story will appear in Issue 181 of the magazine in November, after which I'll post it on my Writing -Short Story page.
Elsewhere, I've just completed my first restaurant review for the Cardiff Food and Drink Guide for some while. We had a lovely meal in a 16th Century malthouse that is now a quirky restaurant in Llantwit Major, called Illtud's 216 - Illtud after the Welsh saint and 216 after the number of gallons of beer that filled the wagons leaving the malthouse. In preparing for the review, I was surprised to see how many of my old reviews survive in Food and Drink Guide booklets and on their website.
10 August 2016 - It hardly seems possible, but yesterday I competed my 150th and 151st public speaking engagements, giving Shropshire to the Falklands to the Parkinson's UK Cardiff branch, and Extreme Everest to the Powerhouse Friendship Group in Llanedeyrn, Cardiff. Over the next few weeks, I intend to add a couple more talks to my list: Return to Ascension Island, and The Battle for Malta; and I'm excited at the prospect of giving 30-minute talks on the Battle of Britain and Pilots of the Battle of Britain on both days of the Barry Wartime Weekend (Barry Island Station on 3rd and 4th September). I'm also looking forward to giving a talk at the MOD Corsham Battle of Britain Anniversary Ball.
1 August 2016 - We've just spent a very enjoyable weekend in Manchester with our son. One of the highlights was an unexpected afternoon and evening in the Rebellion Bar, an alternative music venue that was hosting a free festival of metal bands. The highlight of that for us was a fantastic performance by a local band, Impavidus, who play melodic death metal. Their set was performed with tremendous energy and provided a real shot in the arm. I loved it and their EP has already enlivened a couple of otherwise dull car journeys. Another very enjoyable band was A Clockwork Opera.
12 June 2016 - This was a week with several items of news to pass on, by far the most important being the birth of our first grandchild, Lara Holly, weighing in at 7lb 4oz at 2.12pm on 7th June, the 39th anniversary of the day my wife and I met - although I'm not sure that has any bearing on anything. When it comes to newborn babies, I tend not to see what all the fuss is about. But, in the case of Lara, I have to make an exception: she's perfect, and soooo beautiful...
A few days ago, I completed an interview with fellow writer, Jan Marsh, which now appears on her website as a blog. Jan is the author of books in the Foxwood series, about a group of people co-living in a large country house. Her books, Living Space, and Foxwood - Another Year, are available on Amazon.
Another member of the Tiny Writers of Penarth, Iona Jenkins, has published her first book, The Unicorn Gate, on Amazon. A magical fantasy aimed at 9-13 year olds, it is already doing very well in the Sword and Sorcery category.
Wings Over Malta has also had a plug on another website, that belonging to 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron, the squadron Jack joins when he arrives in Malta. I sent them a piece about Wings Over Malta and it appeared on their website the same evening. So many thanks to 249 Squadron Association.
A few days ago, I completed an interview with fellow writer, Jan Marsh, which now appears on her website as a blog. Jan is the author of books in the Foxwood series, about a group of people co-living in a large country house. Her books, Living Space, and Foxwood - Another Year, are available on Amazon.
Another member of the Tiny Writers of Penarth, Iona Jenkins, has published her first book, The Unicorn Gate, on Amazon. A magical fantasy aimed at 9-13 year olds, it is already doing very well in the Sword and Sorcery category.
Wings Over Malta has also had a plug on another website, that belonging to 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron, the squadron Jack joins when he arrives in Malta. I sent them a piece about Wings Over Malta and it appeared on their website the same evening. So many thanks to 249 Squadron Association.
9 May 2016 - I am delighted to announce that, after almost three years of research and writing, I have just published my second aviation novel, Wings Over Malta, on Amazon. After a few weeks trying to get publicity in the local press in south Wales and Shropshire, I will start thinking about writing the second volume of my memoir, Shropshire Blue.
And in an embarrassment of riches, this Wednesday evening at 8pm, my prize-winning story, A Scrap of Hope, will be broadcast on Dave Carrington's show, Squaring the Circle, on Celtica internet radio station. It will then be available for about a month on their archive.
And in an embarrassment of riches, this Wednesday evening at 8pm, my prize-winning story, A Scrap of Hope, will be broadcast on Dave Carrington's show, Squaring the Circle, on Celtica internet radio station. It will then be available for about a month on their archive.
28 February 2016 – Geraldine and I have just returned from nine days on Ascension Island, a tiny lump of volcanic rock in the middle of the South Atlantic 4,200 miles from the UK. The Island was the staging post for the recapture of the Falklands in April/May 1982. As a C-130 Hercules co-pilot, I flew in 17 times between April 1982 and January 1985, initially for little more than a few hours as freight bound for the Task Force or the Falklands was unloaded, but later, when I became a Hercules tanker co-pilot, for periods of two weeks, during which we flew halfway to the Falklands to give fuel to the Airbridge Hercules that flew on to the Islands. I was a keen walker and, on my days off, I loved walking Ascension’s volcanic landscape. I’d always wanted to go back, and when I found out there was an Ascension Island Travel Agency, I decided to go ahead and book. My only concern arose out of the knowledge that memory is a strange thing. Had I over-romanticized the place in the last 30 years or so? And if so, would Geraldine like it?
We flew out overnight on an RAF Voyager, the Airbus 330 tanker-cum-freighter. When the aircraft doors opened at 8.15 am, we stepped out under bright blue skies and a temperature already in the high 20s Celsius. This was the weather for the whole 9 days, a little warm for walking at times, but no other complaints. The Island seemed hotter and greener than I remembered, and the hotel driver confirmed that it had become, warmer, wetter and greener over the last 30 years.
To cut a long story short, Geraldine loved the place and we walked every day, retreating to the cooler paths on Green Mountain when those on the coast or the lower volcanic craters became too hot. We saw all the Island’s contrasting scenery and much of its wildlife, including green turtles laying their eggs and making their way back to the sea. It is a magical place.
To cut a long story short, Geraldine loved the place and we walked every day, retreating to the cooler paths on Green Mountain when those on the coast or the lower volcanic craters became too hot. We saw all the Island’s contrasting scenery and much of its wildlife, including green turtles laying their eggs and making their way back to the sea. It is a magical place.
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25 November 2015 - On Saturday, I attended a reunion dinner of the Ex-Members Association of the University of London Air Squadron, the unit on which I was a flying instructor from 1985 to 88, and went on to command from 1996 to 98. It was great to meet ex-members from the 1940s upwards, but the highlight for me was the attendance of seven students from my time as an instructor. I had a great time chewing the fat with them.
The day before, Geraldine and I completed a circular walk taking in many of the waterfalls in Glyn Neath. After several days of heavy rain, they were suitably spectacular. The highlight was walking behind the waterfall pictured, Sgwd Eira. We got soaked, but it was worth it. |
21 September 2015 - A contact in Canada has constructed a marvellous website giving details of all Spitfire pilots (allspitfirepilots.org) and their aircraft. I'd encourage anyone with an interest to have a look or, better still, add to the site, which is likely to expand to include other aircraft types, such as the Hurricane. The site is very simple to use and I've added details of Laurie Whitbread, the pilot from my home town to whom Wings Over Summer is dedicated. The developer is now interested in contacting individuals or organisations who might be interested in acting as curators to take the project forward.
14 August 2015 - I'm happy to report another second prize in the Writers' Forum short story competition. A Scrap of Hope imagines events at Peenemunde leading up to Operation Hydra, the RAF attack on the V2 terror weapon site on the night of 17/18 August 1943. The story will appear in Issue 169 of Writers' Forum, after which I will put a copy on my Writing/Short Story page.
Another example of the pleasantries that divert me from writing is my 60th birthday present from my son. We've just spent 4 days at a metal music festival - Bloodstock at Catton Park in the English Midlands. The weather couldn't have been better, and if I didn't get all the bands, some were magical. And what could be better than spending 4 days with your son, listening to music and drinking beer?
Another example of the pleasantries that divert me from writing is my 60th birthday present from my son. We've just spent 4 days at a metal music festival - Bloodstock at Catton Park in the English Midlands. The weather couldn't have been better, and if I didn't get all the bands, some were magical. And what could be better than spending 4 days with your son, listening to music and drinking beer?
Flying above Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley
11 July 2015 - During the month of July 2015, another of my short stories, Band Aid, is airing on Dave Carrington's show, Squaring The Circle, on Celtica internet radio station. Based on the true story of an eventful flight out of Ethiopia by an RAF C-130 Hercules on which I was the co-pilot, it is set in the time of the Ethiopian famine in 1984. You may or may not remember that a few days after Michael Buerk made his memorable 'biblical famine' report, two RAF Hercules were shuttling grain from Addis Ababa to rough strips in the north of the country close to feeding stations in the famine areas. The operation went on for several months. Band Aid can be read on my Writing - short story - page.
15 May 2015 - I'm still working away at Wings Over Malta, but life continues to intervene, and luckily for me, usually in the most pleasant fashion. The latest interruption was as pleasant as they come: our daughter's wedding. She and her fiancé chose the venue, The Bear Hotel in Cowbridge, many months ago and it turned out to be an inspired choice. The staff were really helpful throughout the process, from the big things, like menus, timings and room layouts, to the smaller but important things such as booking guest rooms. The couple (and Geraldine) had put so much effort into the day - making the floral displays and decorations for the wedding and reception rooms, etc - that I dreaded anything going wrong. But it all went off brilliantly, and not least because the staff of the hotel could not have been more positive, smiling and helpful.
And, as I think you can see from this picture, the couple looked radiant throughout. It was a great day.
And, as I think you can see from this picture, the couple looked radiant throughout. It was a great day.
22 March 2015 - This morning, Geraldine and I walked up Corn Ddu and Pen Y Fan with the BBC Wales weather-man, Derek Brockway, and 50 other hardy souls. As you can see from the picture of us with Derek on Corn Ddu, it was a bit cold and dreary at first. But, by the time we'd reached the top of Pen Y Fan (the summit in the background), the weather had cleared and we had beautiful views on the descent. Between us, Geraldine and I raised £416 for Velindre, the charity cancer hospital in Cardiff.
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10 December 2014 - This Monday, I went into the BBC Wales studios in Llandaff, Cardiff, to record an interview with Phil Rickman, the presenter of the BBC Radio Wales book programme, Phil The Shelf. (The sound quality of the interview he did on his phone in the Castle Book Shop in Ludlow a month ago wasn't good enough.) The interview will provide an update on the progress of Wings Over Summer (which has now sold over 12,500 copies), as it is two years since I received the good review on the Shelfstarters section of the programme which led me (eventually) to self-publish on Amazon. Phil The Shelf will air on BBC Radio Wales at 1.30pm on Saturday 20th December - repeated at 6.05pm on Sunday the 21st.
29 August 2014 - One of my prize-winning short stories, The End of the Line, a tale of loss and revenge, can be heard on Dave Carrington's, Squaring The Circle, show on Celtica internet radio station for the rest of August and most of September, when it moves to his archive page for a month.
I have also become a contributor to a quarterly free paper in my home town, The Ludlow Ledger. This month, they have included an extract from Shropshire Blue about the Powell family's annual, one day, summer holiday in Borth, a seaside resort on the west Wales coast above Aberystwyth (recently featured in the BBC Wales thriller, Hinterland). I dug out the picture opposite to accompany the piece. It shows mum, dad, younger brother, Brian, and me at a cousin's wedding in the early 1960s. I was surprised to see my dad holding a cigarette, as I only ever remember him smoking a pipe. Future editions of the Ledger may include some of my short stories.
I have also become a contributor to a quarterly free paper in my home town, The Ludlow Ledger. This month, they have included an extract from Shropshire Blue about the Powell family's annual, one day, summer holiday in Borth, a seaside resort on the west Wales coast above Aberystwyth (recently featured in the BBC Wales thriller, Hinterland). I dug out the picture opposite to accompany the piece. It shows mum, dad, younger brother, Brian, and me at a cousin's wedding in the early 1960s. I was surprised to see my dad holding a cigarette, as I only ever remember him smoking a pipe. Future editions of the Ledger may include some of my short stories.
20 July 2014 - Last night, sales of Wings Over Summer passed the 10,000 mark, with just under 6,000 in the US, a small, but seemingly growing, number in Australia and Canada, and a few in most other Amazon markets. I'm delighted and wish to pass on my thanks to all those who have bought my books, especially those that have taken the time to write such positive and encouraging reviews. Given that I published the book hoping sales would take off in the run up to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain next year, I'm not sure now whether I've published too early (and that it has peaked), or whether it will still be selling then. I guess only time will tell.
I'm also very pleased that Shropshire Blue has passed 1400 sales, but believe the review with an excellent narrative but only one star has continued to hamper sales in the States. A Royal Australian Air Force veteran who read and enjoyed it, and saw parallels with his own training at the RAAF Radio School, put a piece in his very vibrant and entertaining association magazine (radschool.org.au). The wonders of the internet.
I'm also very pleased that Shropshire Blue has passed 1400 sales, but believe the review with an excellent narrative but only one star has continued to hamper sales in the States. A Royal Australian Air Force veteran who read and enjoyed it, and saw parallels with his own training at the RAAF Radio School, put a piece in his very vibrant and entertaining association magazine (radschool.org.au). The wonders of the internet.
An RAF headstone at Ta Qali Cemetery
March 2014 On a recent visit to Malta, I found all the Second World War museums and sites fascinating, but was particularly impressed with the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta and the Malta Aviation Museum at Ta Qali, near Mdina. The Aviation Museum is largely run by volunteers and tends to suffer from the fact that tour guides earn more from taking their parties to the nearby Craft Village. If you're on a tour that's given time at the Craft Village, I'd suggest nipping the 50 yards across the road to the Aviation Museum. It is well worth the effort. There is a Commonwealth War Cemetery nearby, although most of the RAF graves are in the Capuccini Naval Cemetery at Kalkara - on the Three Cities side of the Grand Harbour, across from Valletta (on the way to Fort Rinella).
November 2013 - Death of Tony Iveson Sadly, the Battle of Britain veteran I interviewed during my research, Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, died on 5th November 2013. I hope Wings Over Summer will stand as a fitting tribute to him and others like him.
August 2013 - Progress of Wings Over Summer
Book signing in my home town of Ludlow
Since June 2013, when Wings Over Summer became available as an e-book and paperback on Amazon, I've been amazed at its progress. I obviously hoped for a few sales, but I was aiming at it starting to arouse interest in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2015 - a two year lead time. That it is already selling in the thousands and has received such positive reviews, both in the UK and the US, has been a source of great delight.
Book Signing I've just done a book signing in Ludlow, the town on the English/Welsh border where I grew up. There, I met Delme Whitbread, the nephew of the pilot to whom I dedicated the book. His uncle, Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread, was killed when shot down by a Messerschmitt 109 over Rochester in Kent on 20th September 1940. Delme presented me with the photograph of Laurie you can see on the desk at the book signing. It was a very special moment for me, especially as he reiterated how delighted the family were at the dedication of Wings Over Summer. The picture now sits on my desk at home.
Book Signing I've just done a book signing in Ludlow, the town on the English/Welsh border where I grew up. There, I met Delme Whitbread, the nephew of the pilot to whom I dedicated the book. His uncle, Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread, was killed when shot down by a Messerschmitt 109 over Rochester in Kent on 20th September 1940. Delme presented me with the photograph of Laurie you can see on the desk at the book signing. It was a very special moment for me, especially as he reiterated how delighted the family were at the dedication of Wings Over Summer. The picture now sits on my desk at home.
