14 Comments
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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Smile not simile!

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xbettyb13x's avatar

What an absolutely beautiful story…such vivid memories written so beautifully…very poignantly too and I love the wedding photograph of your parents..what an absolute treasure your father’s book is

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Thanks for your lovely comment Rachel. I really appreciate it!

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Notes from the North's avatar

Absolutely beautiful story. What a pleasure to read this! Thank you ❤️

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Thank you so much. It was so kind of you!

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Where now's avatar

I sometimes think that fathers are destined to be something of a mystery to us (to say nothing about a child’s lack of curiosity!) so it’s great that you have such a comprehensive account of your father’s time during the war. I think I will be left with a comprehensive set of haynes manuals!

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Question is, what will my children be left with? Can’t say. Certainly (I hope) no war time memories. No Haynes Manuals either (well maybe just one!).

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Katharine Hill's avatar

My goodness, Richard. I’m so glad your Dad wrote his book and that you found such great memories amongst the fish. I, too, was born in London just after the war (between VE and VJ days I believe) and I remember rationing. My Dad was a squadron leader in the RAF but I don’t think he talked much about it—or I wasn’t listening. My older sister may remember more. And the name Detmold rings a huge bell. Your wedding picture mirrors my parents except that Mum was not in uniform (she did something for the war effort somewhere near a base and her original fiancé died in a flight training crash—she met and married Daddy soon after). I, too, wish I had made more effort to talk to them both. Perhaps I’ll find some treasures in the attic. P. S. I did buy your own memoir to be enjoyed soon.

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Thanks Katharine. I already knew we were more or less contemporaries. I wasn’t born in London, but on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border. I lived in London for a few years in the late 60s/early 70s as a young lawyer but by then it had mostly recovered from the war. Oh and thank you for buying the Savage Poodle (presumably the Kindle version as I have not had a notification from Amazon to send you a hard copy). I hope it brings the occasional simile. R.

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Katharine Hill's avatar

Well, I have an actual book but it’s more like a paperback which arrived by post from “paper cavalier”. Purportedly £12.99 but I spent a whole lot more (I’m embarrassed to tell how much). Perhaps I might private message tomorrow.

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

It is a paperback book. I had little control over its production. The print is far too small. I think they were trying to save paper! If you can work Kindlle on your computer that version is easier to read - and 50% longer than the original. It is also very cheap!

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Katharine Hill's avatar

Just finished the last of the tales in my paperback. It’s been great bedtime reading. I look forward to more of the same either here or on the Kindle version.

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SeekingReason's avatar

A fantastic story! When you mentioned that your father had written something in the book, I was expecting a paragraph tucked into the many pages. This is an amazing piece of your own history and you’re lucky to have it. Thank you for sharing it!

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Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Thanks so much for responding. I really appreciate it.

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