‘Author’ was never a word I thought I’d ever see after
my name, but I did write a book and it was accepted by
AUSTIN MACAULEY PUBLISHERS LONDON…NEW YORK AND SHARJAH UAE.
‘Wow’ I thought and such excellent and friendly people to work with.
Well my book which I wrote over a six year period was released on April 28th.
‘MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE’ covers much of my early life.
It tells how my father from Parma in Italy became the first alien to be granted
citizenship of the Irish Free State.
I tell how he got lucky by becoming a favoured contractor with the British
company Mc. Naughton and Sons Ltd..This allowed him to establish his own
company and navigate through World War II in relative comfort.
In 1947 we toured Italy and on the way wound up in Dunkirk where my brother
Albert and I chased each other around the cobblestoned docks and bomb damaged
buildings.
In 1954 we returned to Italy and this time we spent three days in Foggia where
we had meetings with Padre Pio now St.Pio.
Starting in 1960 I relate my seagoing adventures in the Merchant Navy as a
seagoing Radio Officer. In case you think this might only be a book to be read
by my maritime compatriots, please allow me to say it’s intended for all
readers. The following is a brief extract;
MV POLAMHALL CALLSIGN MBMN
AT ANCHOR PORT SAID EGYPT SEPTEMBER 1961
I awoke the next morning to the sounds of laughter coming from the starboard
alleyway. I opened my eyes,blinked several times and said “What the f**king
hell?” This had the effect of increasing the laughter to hysterical levels. I
blinked again but no it was still there ….several lines of string running the
full length of my cabin adorned with small white souvenir camels…..leather
writing cases inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics..boxes of Turkish
delight……khaki coloured tropical shirts and shorts….Port Said bibles and other
things I can’t now remember. A little man I’ll call Ali dressed in a long white
Arab style dress seeing the look of incredulity on my face ….”Don’t worry Sir,
I got permission from your friends and I will give you a nice present when I
leave this afternoon”. My friends. Steve…..John …and Ian were now standing in
the doorway, somewhat more composed with just big grinning faces.
Please accept my invitation to become a TIME TRAVELER and together we’ll return
to the middle of the last century and enjoy the early morning of my life.
The book “MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE” Is now available to buy directly from
AUSTIN MACAULEY
..AMAZON WORLDWIDE….THE BOOK DEPOSITORY…..BARNES AND NOBLE as well as most
major on line retailers. It can also be ordered from any bookshop regardless of
whether it’s stocked.
CLICK ON LINK. PLEASE……
https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/memories-way-we-were
Thank you
D.D. ROCCA
AUTHOR
Post Views : 179