Page Title

Synopsis

Chapter 1 Opens with the birth of our firstborn, a son, in March 1957, when I have been deeply involved rehearsing the part of 'Don José' in Bizet's opera of 'Carmen'. Then at party laid on to mark its success I'm not able to give a full rendition of the 'Flower Song' aria from this opera...

And next morning I can't move, and a visiting doctor decides to send me to hospital. As a result, after a stream of diverse happenings I am

diagnosed as suffering Encephalitis Lethargica (Sleepy Sickness): an 'EL-ish' state to me!

The story follows me going to work as a draughtsman for Park Gate Iron & Steel Co. in Rawmarsh near Rotherham, when I qualify as a

Grad.I.Mech.E: which leads to a job change in 'Corby', Northants. Here our second son is born with a 'Twisted Gut', which needs to be operated on.

Chapter 2 November 1962 sees me taking on a Project Manager post with the 'Bristol' firm of Strachan & Henshaw Ltd, mainly concerning the Steel Industry. As time goes on I have number of visits abroad, such as France, Germany - plus East Germany, Hungary and Israel; and a lengthy stay in South Africa: where I worked in Johannesburg on a specific project; before visiting Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and many other spots in the country, plus Lorenço Marques, in Mozambique. On my way back to the UK, I go to Salisbury and visit firms in Que Que and Geilo, in

Rhodesia, and fit in a quick trip to Livingstone to see the Victoria Falls, before making for home...

On the 2nd February 1966 Marlene, my better half, gives birth to a daughter, whom we decided to call Joanna: after Johannesburg, I suppose. Then she suddenly dies at the age of eighteen months suffering from 'Virus Pneumonia' causing us a whole lot of grief...

We end up, through the church; adopting a daughter we call Karen to ease the pain. The chapter ends with us taking a motoring holiday in Norway.

Chapter 3 Opens up in late October 1972 as I return to the firm following my visit to a Company in Paris: this leading me to being called in by my boss to learn my services in the firm are to be discontinued. Not quite ten years!

The shock of this is softened a touch by a sum of eighteen month's salary, but this didn't qualm Marlene's reaction when I arrived home with the news.

As the months went by I managed to obtain short-term contract work in the Bristol area. But this didn't stop me applying for other positions.

Then, one evening with friends, going into business is chewed over and we end up going for a Newsagent, Confectioner & Tobacconist business. i

Chapter 4 The day of moving in arrives during early summer of 1973. It was a business that had a poor show of goods on show, but, it being on a long lease, with suitable living space; we approach the new life in spite of many unanswered questions and it doesn't take us long to improve things.

Then one day, when I decide to investigate an old cellar under the building used mainly by our Grocer neighbour; I meet some archaeological types who are working on stones dug up from a local church cemetery. Over the next day or so Marlene becomes upset early one morning with what turns out to be a ghost, when the archaeological types take back with the stones...

Selling the business I take on a job with a firm of Bristol Consultants that only lasts for a few months. Meanwhile we have sold the business and I end up going back to a Company in Doncaster I worked for in the 1950's. Then I hear I'm being offered a job I applied for in Saudi Arabia...

Chapter 5 January 1977 sees me taking on a Contracts Engineer position with 'Aramco' in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia , where, as one of a group of British entrants I end up living in a multi-accommodation in the nearest coastal town of AL Khobar, sharing it with another new entrant. One of my early duties is to join a class to study Arabic and I quickly settle into my new position. We are later on moved into the Dhahran camp into what was known as a Multi Accommodation Unit (MAU).

Chapters 6 &7 Mind you, I then had to take one of the strangest driving tests I'd known, before they allow me to drive on the Saudi roads. Then my first drive is to north of Dhahran to a place called 'Ras Tanura' in what seemed like a huge 'Chevrolet Impala' car that was the finest way of learning about the road system; as I handled the beast. Then Arthur, the mate I first met the day we arrived in Dhahran; can't believe his eyes when I park it of a car outside the MAU. Pestering me to let him have a drive I allow him to and he's like a 'dog-with-two-tails'...

Chapter 8 My first leave is coincident with King Khalid's return from a British Hospital, when he deals out some holiday, coincident with my first leave extra holidays; and I go on my first two week leave seven days early. Mind you, flying out from Dhahran our flight is escorted by a flight of the Saudi Arabian air force planes! A most frighteningly wonderful experience, believe me. Once home we go to stay with friends, Dave and Bab's, in Guernsey.

Life goes on with Aramco for two years to when I am back to looking for another position. And a Project Engineer position Algeria is the outcome, for which they send me to language school to learn French. My father dies at a time I can't really afford to break off my French lessons…

Chapter 9 The flight to Algeria was passable, but I found Algiers airport rather chaotic: and, on arrival in 'Annaba', my destination, I ran into

trouble with the Customs' people:

'Ah non monsieur, jai une Attestation ici!' I shouted to cloth ears, adding 'Voici!' as I waved the form of approval the Algerian Consulate had

issued.

We argue endlessly until a supervisor butts in, and I end up with the loss of no more than a girlie magazine. Together with George, another

entrant, we end up in a place called Sereidi, a small town lying a thousand metres above a town called Annaba on the coast.

I meet up with resistance in the office I go into and it is only when my sidekick, Ian, invites me to dinner that I learn about site's many problems.

Chapter 10 George finally agrees to try driving to work only to find he hasn't the guts to get it to the bottom of the hill; leaving me to do the driving, as usual...

I spend more time on the Port site where the main contractor, mainly (FCB) 'Five Cailles Babcock' is establishing itself. Viewing the structural alterations Ian had spoken of, I prayed we wouldn't see a repeat of that sort of problem.

Then, as I hear from the Town Office I'm to pick up a new car. Did this mean George would be getting his own vehicle?

Chapters 11,12 & 13 The Personnel Manager spoke to me about the advantages of being on a Married. Marlene agrees and she, Martin our son and daughter Karen come out to join me: Leaving Jeremy, now working, is left to look after the house, car and 'Sally' the dog.

Taking a holiday with them we motor down to Touggourt, passing through Batna and Biskra.

We go to the old Roman town of Timgad and, the heat on the edge of the Sahara desert is quite something.

Surprisingly we met George, his wife Sandy with their two kids Simon and Sarah; who tag on to us to 'Touggourt' on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

The swimming pool is in the process of being cleaned out and a lot of fun ensues. Marlene, the two kids and decide to travel south into the desert to a place called 'Quargla' and on the way we see a caravan of Bedouins trekking northwards, the leader of coming over to warn us of a 'Shamaat' (sandstorm) ahead.

Gingerly we drive on to where the road is totally blocked, causing us to gingerly return to the hotel.

Chapter 14 The holy month of 'Ramadan' brings on a serious water problem and, finding it difficult to handle such a restriction, Marlene falls out with Algeria. She can't get away from the place soon enough, and leaves me feeling very lonely.

There follows a long section of getting too much attention from Lorraine and, when I learn how her husband on gone on the 'Hadj' in 'Mecca'

I learn how wives left behind had mostly been left facing poverty and know I have to watch myself.

Chapter 15 The site then suffers a serious structural failure at the new wagon loading facility I'm working on and, to cut a long story short. In spite of the fact that my 'oppo' admits to an oversight, I go into another "EL-ish' state that more or less spells out the end of my time in Algeria...

One year down the line and I would be reaching my fiftieth birthday.

So, much to Marlene's distaste, I spend a lot of time trying to get a get a position on a New Town Project in Al-Jubail, north of Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia.

Chapter 16 Returning as one of a number joining this new town project I am amazed to see the size of it and spend two years on the project; getting on well with it all. Then, while I'm getting ready to go on my end-of-contract leave; an American colleague pesters me to give him some information on a new contract that I refuse to do - adding how he might ask my neighbour.

At home on leave I then receive notice of contract termination: followed by a letter written in red ink form the same American, who uses the term 'poofter' that Marlene interprets as meaning me.

Things get to be bad between us and she continues to call me a 'poofter'...!

Chapters 17 18 & 19 Going on to take up a position with Kuwait Oil Co, I use up my spare time with Dinghy sailing and the 'Kuwait Little

Theatre'. Then when I'm 'on leave' our marital relations worsen. Divorce is unavoidable.

Chapter 20 Thus November 1987 sees me having a serious relapse of that"EL-ish state' and I undergo tests to learn my problem is 'Multiple Sclerosis'.

From then on I begin taking that wonderful Steroid 'Prednisolone'...

I still apply for other senior positions such as Commercial Manager on the Channel Tunnel Project and Commercial Manager with London Underground.

Chapter 21 The position of Commercial Manager on London Underground's new 'Underground Ticketing System' is the first to come through with an offer and I join them in April 1988 and do so for five years to when I accept early retirement in April 1993.

Chapter 22 My ex-wife, Marlene, suddenly dies in June 1994 shortly after her 60th birthday: this leaving us all shaken to the core.

Karen, who had been having a drug's problem, goes to a place of treatment in Plymouth, and ends up disowning her brothers and myself.

This all badly affects me and, via steerage by my GP; I am moved, in April '99, into this 'Sheltered Accommodation' flat...

Chapter 23 May 2002 sees me going to a branch hospital of the 'Bristol Royal Infirmary' for a double-hernia operation. All goes well until I am due to return home and in spite of being held back for another day and I arrive home with a slow-to-heal right-hand scar and daily visits by a nurse. This worsens and I end up going back to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for their attention. And this is the final chapter of 'In Spite of'...

Basically an Invalid Scooter has become my best way of getting around: whenever the winter weather is kind to me, that is...

NOTE: on December 29, 2005, I followed up an invite from a newly located Optician to have an (over 60's) eye test. I did and the examiner told me I had a 'Cataract' on both eyes and how glasses couldn't be recommended until they had been operated on.

Thus they operated my right eye on the 4, May 2006, and my left eye on the 5, December 2006: my 76th birthday being in November...