1 January 2017 - 'BOLD JOURNEY' - SOON TO BE RELEASED

'BOLD JOURNEY'

- SOON TO BE RELEASED -

G'day folks,

I've just had my next three books printed, but they will naturally be released one at a time.  Here is the first one, due for release within weeks. What's it about? Here is the blurb ...

BLURB FOR 'BOLD JOURNEY':

When Severino Agnelli and his family migrate to Australia from Italy in 1954, his son, ‘Fozzie’, meets a beautiful girl, ‘Cat’ Ginelli, on the ship, and they become friends. The Agnelli and Ginelli families love Australia, work hard and forge friendships. Cat becomes a nurse and Fozzie a journalist, but tragedy strikes when Fozzie’s brother is killed in the Vietnam War, and Fozzie spirals into depression when his dad dies. Cat pleads with him to write the book he’s wanted to write – ‘Bold Journey’.

Fozzie flies to London, writes his book, and travels to Italy where he sees Cat interviewed on television, working as a nurse during a famine in Ethiopia. Inspired by Cat, Fozzie heads to Ethiopia to report on the famine, and his passionate reports are syndicated worldwide. Cat is unavailable, but Fozzie leaves a crucifix with her colleague; one Cat made for him in 1954. Returning to London to fight for the Ethiopians, he is hospitalised with meningitis, and Cat flies from Italy to keep a secret vigil by his bedside. Fozzie recovers, and Cat leaves London to get on with her life.

Attending an International Awards ceremony, Fozzie is stunned to win an award for Humanitarian Journalism. Minutes later, Cat is awarded an honour for Exceptional Courage. Will Cat accept her award? Will she and Fozzie finally meet up? Who nominated them for their awards?

WHAT INSPIRED THIS BOOK?

For many years I worked for the Australian Immigration Department, involved in all facets of Immigration: Approving resident status and citizenship, boarding large ships to meet new immigrants and stamp their passports, interviewing people and approving the issuance of Australian passports, and a raft of other activities. My involvement with migrants inspired me to travel the world and find out exactly where they came from, and that desire to travel and experience all there is, has never left me. 

ISSUES COVERED IN THIS BOOK:

Migrants, Italy, immigrants, new arrivals to Australia, romance, a famine in Ethiopia, the Vietnam War, death of a loved one, loyalty, friendships, and all the various struggles and experiences that beset immigrants to a new country. 

 PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK:

At the start of the book is a dedication: Dedicated to all those who left their country to start a new life in Australia. So, anyone who has done exactly that will relate to most of this book. However, trust me, there is a lilting romance threading its way through the book. Be prepared for the final chapter.

FACTS:

ISBN: 978 0 9946010 2 5

Length: 117 pages

SALES: Paperback and E-book

Price: To be advised.

Clancy's comment: Yep, all of my books cover a different topic. However, I bet this one will hook you in from page one. The cover photography is mine of course, and this particular cover shot was taken on my veranda whilst working on my laptop ... My trusty Nikon camera close by. It is a humming bird, waiting to suck the nectar from the flowers of an agapanthus plant.

Stay tuned!

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31 December 2016 - ROLLING PICTURES

ROLLING PICTURES

G'day folks,

Time to check out some rolling photographs as we say goodbye to 2016. Some of these might surprise you.

Clancy's comment: Some of these are very clever.

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30 December 2016 - MORE BRITISH SLANG

MORE BRITISH SLANG

G'day folks,

Time to enlighten you again with some more British slang. Brace yourself ...

Stuff - A recent headline in the New Statesman read "stuff the millennium". Using stuff in this context is a polite way of saying "f*** the millennium". Who cares! Stuff it! You can also say "stuff him" or "stuff her" meaning they can sod off. 

Suss - If you heard someone saying they had you sussed they would mean that they had you figured out! If you were going to suss out something it would mean the same thing. 

Sweet fanny adams - This means nothing or sod all. It is a substitute for "sweet f*** all". It is also shortened further to "sweet F A". 

Swotting - Swotting means to study hard, the same as cram does. Before exams we used to swot, not that it made any difference to some of us. If you swotted all the time, you would be called a swot - which is not a term of endearment! 

Ta - We said "ta" as kids in Liverpool for years before we even knew it was short for thanks. 

Table - We use this word in exactly the opposite way. To us a motion is tabled when it is brought to the table, or suggested for consideration. You table a motion when it is left for a later date. 

Taking the biscuit - If something really takes the biscuit, it means it out-does everything else and cannot be bettered. Some places in America they said takes the cake. 

Taking the mickey - See taking the piss. Variations include "taking the mick" and "taking the Michael". 

Taking the piss - One of the things Americans find hardest about the Brits is our sense of humour. It is obviously different and is mainly based on irony, sarcasm and an in-built desire to "take the piss". This has nothing to do with urine, but simply means making fun of someone. 

Talent - Talent is the same as totty. Checking out the talent means looking for the sexy young girls (or boys I suppose). 

Tara - Pronounced "churar", this is another word for cheerio or goodbye. Cilla Black, a scouse TV presenter has probably done most to promote the use of this word as she says it all the time on her programmes. 

Throw a spanner in the works - This is an expression that means to wreck something. 

Tickety-boo - If something is going well with no problems we would say it is tickety-boo. 

Tidy - Apart from the obvious meaning of neat, tidy also means that a woman is a looker, attractive or sexy. 

Clancy's comment: A rough lot, eh? It's almost like learning another language. Tara for now.

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