Tag: Books

Writing a book in 365 days – 333/334

Days 333 and 334

Writing exercise – Include a love story, a catchy song, and a misunderstanding

…

Was it possible that one person could make a difference?  Yes!

My head and heart were still reeling the next morning, while battling with the effects of lack of sleep, euphoria was running at an all-time high, and the lyrics of ‘I could have danced all night’ were running through my head.

That night, it had been very hard to get to sleep, my mind going over every detail.  Was I writing more into this than there was?  Quite likely.  I would have to find some way of putting it all into some sort of perspective.  We just got along.  We were compatible.  We were not lovers or candidates for an affair.  That was not what I wanted, nor, I’m sure, did Katrina.  It had to be business as usual.

I was looking out the window again, down at the many people pouring out of the railway station on their way to work.  This morning, I viewed them in a different light, as people who, like I, no doubt had the same struggles, the same feelings, the same highs and lows.  No longer did I think I was the only one who could have problems.

Being a bad-tempered, forever-angry manager seemed to be part of the job.  It didn’t take long; after I’d assumed the position, I started to fit the mould.  I guess, after the last manager, the staff had every right to expect more of the same, and I’m afraid I hadn’t let them down.  It wasn’t hard because if you gave them an inch, they took a mile. 

I started with all the best intentions.  Then, as the rot set in at home, it had a great deal of influence at work.  As despondency closed in from all sides, relations on all fronts deteriorated.  Amazingly, I could see it all quite clearly, where things had been going wrong.  Was it symbolic that the sun came out at that precise moment, bathing me in a shaft of sunlight and warmth through the clouds?

Jenny came in with the morning mail.  As was customary, she would put it on the desk, and, if there was anything important, bring it to my attention and leave.  I had heard rumours she was less than impressed with me, but it was hard to find anything out.  Certainly, most mornings, I didn’t so much as acknowledge her existence.

“How are you this morning?”  I turned to catch her just as she was leaving.

She stopped.  “Very well, thank you.”  Her tone was slightly apprehensive.

“I know it’s probably a little late, but I apologise for being the cranky old bastard in the past, and I have greatly appreciated the work you have been doing for me all this time.”

Her apprehension changed to surprise.  “Thank you.”

“And for not going over to Whiteside when they offered it to you.”

“That was easy.  You were the lesser of the two evils.”

I smiled, trying to disarm her fears.  She looked at me, expecting a trap.  I’d also heard about Whiteside.  “I guess, in the fullness of time, when they write the history of this place, it will count for something to be known as the ‘lesser of two evils’.  But to more important things.  What’s really going on in this place?”

It took a while to break down the apprehension.  She had every right to be wary, but I finally convinced her that I was not the monster I was made out to be.  I also knew, discovering quite by accident, she was the editor of the unofficial staff newspaper.  She had a great sense of humour, as well as journalistic ability, which few knew about.

It was a great session, leading up to the morning tea break.  She gave me a rather potted history of each of the people in the department, pointing out, in her opinion, she added quick, their good and bad points.  When I asked her about my colleagues, she was a little more guarded, but I found out enough to satisfy my curiosity.

As she was going, perhaps finally deciding our new working relationship was sufficiently amicable, she asked, “Is there anything going on between you and Katrina?”

I looked at her and smiled.  “No.  As much as everyone would like it, I’m afraid our only claim to fame is morning tea and lunch on the odd occasion.  Still, if people think there is, it won’t matter what I say, will it?”

“No.  I’m afraid not.  You are up against a strange mentality here.”

“What do you think?”

“Does it matter?”

“It may seem odd to you, but yes.”

“She has the extraordinary quality of bringing people out of themselves.  Personally, I believe you.  From my experience working for you, I know you are one of the few with integrity.  And if you did go off the rails, I wouldn’t hold it against you.  This place manages to do it to everyone eventually.”

I deliberately did not go up to the tearoom to see Katrina.  Not that I didn’t want to, but I suspected my face would be a little like an open book, and I needed time to get my thoughts and emotions under control.

She came up to see me mid-morning about a minor administrative problem, which could easily be solved over the phone.  When she came in, I looked up, a felt a little quickening in my heart rate, but otherwise tried to look normal.  The business matter was resolved quickly, but she made no attempt to leave.

“We missed you at tea.”

“Work is piling up.”

“It has nothing to do with us?”

She was direct, and it was as if she could read my thoughts.

“I’m just a bit worried about what people are saying.”

She shook her head.  “Whatever for?”

“You should hardly want to have your name linked to mine in having a sordid affair.”

“Sordid, hey?  I’ve never had a sordid affair.  Is that an offer?”

I felt embarrassed.  Normally, I wouldn’t dream of talking to any woman in this manner.  “You know what I mean.”

“I think I do, and I’m flattered you have considered my feelings.  It’s a rare quality some of your contemporaries should take note of.  But you should not give a damn about what anyone thinks.  You and I know the truth, so we can have the last laugh on all of them.”

She made it sound all too easy, but I was sure it wasn’t quite the way she put it.  We were, unfortunately, up against human nature.  For many, it would be impossible to see that we could be just friends.  And for me?  Or her?  Perhaps it should end here.

“Do you seriously think that’s possible?”  I looked at her, perhaps for the first time, in a different light.  She was quite beautiful, with the look and personality to drive some men to distraction.

I had put my ear to the ground, and she was one of the few women who excited most of the men in this company.  One had even told me his secret desires at one management party, such was the lack of serious topics.  It angered me that my mind could sink to their level.

“I like you, John.  I like you a lot.  You’re going to have to make up your own mind about that.  I have.  What happens from here is up to you.”  With that said, she left me in more turmoil than I needed.

For several days, I went home earlier than usual to see if I could sort out some of the problems at home.  I took the children aside, one at a time, and had a long talk with them.  They thought it was rather novel that I should talk to them at all, but seemed to be willing to give it a chance.

Perhaps it was something I should have done long before this, but it was something that had slipped.  Once, when they were young, I spent more time with them.  Of course, then I was a lowly clerk, without the pressures of promotion.

How much of our interaction with family was lost as we worked our way up the ladder of success?  It was all from a business point of view, not personal, and it was true that the more successful we became in the company, the less successful we were at home.

I had a number of long talks with Joan, taking her to dinner, and spending a weekend away from the children on our own.  There was still some of the feeling we had for each other lurking beneath the hostility.  At times, we had arguments, but they were less intense, and relations were better.

Our discussions, however, were not on the same level as those I could have with Katrina.  Katrina had, in some unimaginable way, opened up a little of me, the real me, I’d not known before.

Whilst we had maintained a relatively platonic relationship, I had set aside any other feelings.  We still had the occasional cup of coffee or quick lunch, but it didn’t have the same feel to it, and she’d noticed it but said nothing.  I missed her, being with her, expressing my feelings.  Being myself, the newly discovered me.

Even Jenny, my new sounding board, said she’d noticed a subtle change.  In fact, at the end of one of our morning briefings, she added the observation, “You should not dwell too much on what other people think.  If you do, you will always be unhappy.”

I knew what she meant.  I leaned back in my chair, hands behind my head, and looked deep into my soul.  What did I want?  What did I feel?  Should I run with it, or run away from it?

I’d known the answer to that long before I picked up the phone.

…

©  Charles Heath  2025

Writing a book in 365 days – 333/334

Days 333 and 334

Writing exercise – Include a love story, a catchy song, and a misunderstanding

…

Was it possible that one person could make a difference?  Yes!

My head and heart were still reeling the next morning, while battling with the effects of lack of sleep, euphoria was running at an all-time high, and the lyrics of ‘I could have danced all night’ were running through my head.

That night, it had been very hard to get to sleep, my mind going over every detail.  Was I writing more into this than there was?  Quite likely.  I would have to find some way of putting it all into some sort of perspective.  We just got along.  We were compatible.  We were not lovers or candidates for an affair.  That was not what I wanted, nor, I’m sure, did Katrina.  It had to be business as usual.

I was looking out the window again, down at the many people pouring out of the railway station on their way to work.  This morning, I viewed them in a different light, as people who, like I, no doubt had the same struggles, the same feelings, the same highs and lows.  No longer did I think I was the only one who could have problems.

Being a bad-tempered, forever-angry manager seemed to be part of the job.  It didn’t take long; after I’d assumed the position, I started to fit the mould.  I guess, after the last manager, the staff had every right to expect more of the same, and I’m afraid I hadn’t let them down.  It wasn’t hard because if you gave them an inch, they took a mile. 

I started with all the best intentions.  Then, as the rot set in at home, it had a great deal of influence at work.  As despondency closed in from all sides, relations on all fronts deteriorated.  Amazingly, I could see it all quite clearly, where things had been going wrong.  Was it symbolic that the sun came out at that precise moment, bathing me in a shaft of sunlight and warmth through the clouds?

Jenny came in with the morning mail.  As was customary, she would put it on the desk, and, if there was anything important, bring it to my attention and leave.  I had heard rumours she was less than impressed with me, but it was hard to find anything out.  Certainly, most mornings, I didn’t so much as acknowledge her existence.

“How are you this morning?”  I turned to catch her just as she was leaving.

She stopped.  “Very well, thank you.”  Her tone was slightly apprehensive.

“I know it’s probably a little late, but I apologise for being the cranky old bastard in the past, and I have greatly appreciated the work you have been doing for me all this time.”

Her apprehension changed to surprise.  “Thank you.”

“And for not going over to Whiteside when they offered it to you.”

“That was easy.  You were the lesser of the two evils.”

I smiled, trying to disarm her fears.  She looked at me, expecting a trap.  I’d also heard about Whiteside.  “I guess, in the fullness of time, when they write the history of this place, it will count for something to be known as the ‘lesser of two evils’.  But to more important things.  What’s really going on in this place?”

It took a while to break down the apprehension.  She had every right to be wary, but I finally convinced her that I was not the monster I was made out to be.  I also knew, discovering quite by accident, she was the editor of the unofficial staff newspaper.  She had a great sense of humour, as well as journalistic ability, which few knew about.

It was a great session, leading up to the morning tea break.  She gave me a rather potted history of each of the people in the department, pointing out, in her opinion, she added quick, their good and bad points.  When I asked her about my colleagues, she was a little more guarded, but I found out enough to satisfy my curiosity.

As she was going, perhaps finally deciding our new working relationship was sufficiently amicable, she asked, “Is there anything going on between you and Katrina?”

I looked at her and smiled.  “No.  As much as everyone would like it, I’m afraid our only claim to fame is morning tea and lunch on the odd occasion.  Still, if people think there is, it won’t matter what I say, will it?”

“No.  I’m afraid not.  You are up against a strange mentality here.”

“What do you think?”

“Does it matter?”

“It may seem odd to you, but yes.”

“She has the extraordinary quality of bringing people out of themselves.  Personally, I believe you.  From my experience working for you, I know you are one of the few with integrity.  And if you did go off the rails, I wouldn’t hold it against you.  This place manages to do it to everyone eventually.”

I deliberately did not go up to the tearoom to see Katrina.  Not that I didn’t want to, but I suspected my face would be a little like an open book, and I needed time to get my thoughts and emotions under control.

She came up to see me mid-morning about a minor administrative problem, which could easily be solved over the phone.  When she came in, I looked up, a felt a little quickening in my heart rate, but otherwise tried to look normal.  The business matter was resolved quickly, but she made no attempt to leave.

“We missed you at tea.”

“Work is piling up.”

“It has nothing to do with us?”

She was direct, and it was as if she could read my thoughts.

“I’m just a bit worried about what people are saying.”

She shook her head.  “Whatever for?”

“You should hardly want to have your name linked to mine in having a sordid affair.”

“Sordid, hey?  I’ve never had a sordid affair.  Is that an offer?”

I felt embarrassed.  Normally, I wouldn’t dream of talking to any woman in this manner.  “You know what I mean.”

“I think I do, and I’m flattered you have considered my feelings.  It’s a rare quality some of your contemporaries should take note of.  But you should not give a damn about what anyone thinks.  You and I know the truth, so we can have the last laugh on all of them.”

She made it sound all too easy, but I was sure it wasn’t quite the way she put it.  We were, unfortunately, up against human nature.  For many, it would be impossible to see that we could be just friends.  And for me?  Or her?  Perhaps it should end here.

“Do you seriously think that’s possible?”  I looked at her, perhaps for the first time, in a different light.  She was quite beautiful, with the look and personality to drive some men to distraction.

I had put my ear to the ground, and she was one of the few women who excited most of the men in this company.  One had even told me his secret desires at one management party, such was the lack of serious topics.  It angered me that my mind could sink to their level.

“I like you, John.  I like you a lot.  You’re going to have to make up your own mind about that.  I have.  What happens from here is up to you.”  With that said, she left me in more turmoil than I needed.

For several days, I went home earlier than usual to see if I could sort out some of the problems at home.  I took the children aside, one at a time, and had a long talk with them.  They thought it was rather novel that I should talk to them at all, but seemed to be willing to give it a chance.

Perhaps it was something I should have done long before this, but it was something that had slipped.  Once, when they were young, I spent more time with them.  Of course, then I was a lowly clerk, without the pressures of promotion.

How much of our interaction with family was lost as we worked our way up the ladder of success?  It was all from a business point of view, not personal, and it was true that the more successful we became in the company, the less successful we were at home.

I had a number of long talks with Joan, taking her to dinner, and spending a weekend away from the children on our own.  There was still some of the feeling we had for each other lurking beneath the hostility.  At times, we had arguments, but they were less intense, and relations were better.

Our discussions, however, were not on the same level as those I could have with Katrina.  Katrina had, in some unimaginable way, opened up a little of me, the real me, I’d not known before.

Whilst we had maintained a relatively platonic relationship, I had set aside any other feelings.  We still had the occasional cup of coffee or quick lunch, but it didn’t have the same feel to it, and she’d noticed it but said nothing.  I missed her, being with her, expressing my feelings.  Being myself, the newly discovered me.

Even Jenny, my new sounding board, said she’d noticed a subtle change.  In fact, at the end of one of our morning briefings, she added the observation, “You should not dwell too much on what other people think.  If you do, you will always be unhappy.”

I knew what she meant.  I leaned back in my chair, hands behind my head, and looked deep into my soul.  What did I want?  What did I feel?  Should I run with it, or run away from it?

I’d known the answer to that long before I picked up the phone.

…

©  Charles Heath  2025

Third son of a Duke – The research behind the story – 16

All stories require some form of research, quite often to place a character in a place at a particular time, especially if it is in a historical context. This series will take you through what it was like in 1914 through 1916.

…

The Strategic Function of the British Army in Egypt, 1915: Defence, Staging, and the Western Front Pipeline

I. Introduction: Egypt as the Strategic Nexus of the British Empire in WWI

Geopolitical and Strategic Context of Egypt (1914-1915)

At the onset of the First World War, Egypt occupied a singularly crucial position within the structure of the British Empire, primarily due to the Suez Canal. Opened in 1869, the canal was recognised as the vital artery, or the “jugular vein,” connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, offering the shortest possible route between Britain and its dominions in India, Asia, and East Africa.1 Maintaining control of this waterway was not merely a matter of regional security but an absolute imperative for the overall logistical integrity of the imperial war effort, ensuring the rapid transport of troops, supplies, and commercial goods to Europe.2

The military formation responsible for administering the armed forces in the region was the Force in Egypt (FiE), established in August 1914 and initially commanded by Major General Julian Byng, who was later replaced by General John Maxwell in September 1914.4 Politically, Egypt was formally declared a British Protectorate on 18 December 1914, solidifying British military control, a necessary measure following Britain and France’s declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire on 5 November 1914, and the subsequent Ottoman Sultan’s proclamation of a Jihad.3

Initial Strategic Ambiguity and the 1915 Priority Shift

In the earliest months of the war (late 1914), before the direct Ottoman threat fully materialised, the strategic value of the FiE was somewhat ambiguous. Initially, several elements of the force were considered available surplus and were sent to Europe to participate in the fighting on the Western Front.4 This early troop transfer demonstrated that the British High Command viewed the Egyptian garrison, at that time, as a potential reserve force for the main theatre of war.

However, the subsequent direct threat posed by the Ottoman Empire—which quickly materialised in February 1915 with a significant raid on the Suez Canal—instantly re-prioritised the FiE’s mandate.2 The overriding strategic imperative became the defence of the Canal, requiring a standing force of approximately 30,000 troops.4 This critical shift meant that Egypt ceased functioning as a manpower reservoir for the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Any available troop capacity, particularly from the Dominions, was immediately diverted to the new strategic offensive aimed at neutralising the Ottoman threat: the Gallipoli Campaign. Consequently, the primary function of Egypt in the 1915 calendar year was twofold: Suez Canal defence and serving as the staging and logistical base for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) destined for Gallipoli. The evidence demonstrates that Egypt was definitely not used as a primary training pipeline for fresh British (UK) soldiers destined for the Western Front during 1915.

II. The Dual Roles of Egypt in 1915: Defence and Staging

The Defence of the Suez Canal: FiE’s Primary Mandate

The Force in Egypt’s foundational objective throughout 1915 was the protection of the Suez Canal.4 Following the declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire, the security of this waterway, which prevented British Empire troops from being cut off from Europe, became paramount.2

The initial force deployed for defence, under General Maxwell, was composed largely of Imperial contingents, reflecting Britain’s global military reach and the prioritisation of UK troops for the Western Front in late 1914. Key elements included the 10th and 11th Indian Divisions, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, and the Bikaner Camel Corps, supported by elements of Indian and Egyptian Army Artillery.4 This defence force totalled around 30,000 troops.5

The anticipated Ottoman offensive materialised in February 1915. Turkish forces crossed the Sinai Peninsula and attempted to breach the defences on the Canal. The British, having fortified the length of the Canal and expecting the attack, successfully repulsed the assault over two days.2 The Ottoman attack was a failure, resulting in the loss of nearly 2,000 troops, while British losses were minimal (32 killed, 130 wounded).5 Following the raid, the British strategy evolved, extending defences from the western bank to the eastern bank of the canal, a costly, manpower-intensive commitment that tied down a substantial force throughout 1915 and 1916.2

The ANZAC Training Pipeline (Confirmation of Staging Role)

Egypt’s secondary, but equally important, role in early 1915 was to serve as the training and mobilisation centre for Dominion troops intended for combat. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), collectively forming the ANZAC Corps, were originally intended to train in England. However, the decision was made to divert them to Egypt in December 1914, primarily because the military camps in England were overcrowded and unsuitable for housing so many men through the winter months.7

The main facility established was Mena Camp, a vast training ground situated near the Giza Pyramids, about 16 kilometres from Cairo, which housed approximately 25,000 soldiers at its peak.7 Other training areas, such as Moascar near Ismailia, were also utilised by the 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions.9 Training was arduous, six days a week, involving marching across sand dunes and deserts in full marching order, exposing troops to extremes of heat and cold.8

The nature of this training environment—desert operations and movement in arid conditions 8—was highly relevant for the impending operations in the Middle Eastern theatre (Gallipoli, and later Sinai and Palestine). This environment was fundamentally unsuitable and strategically irrelevant for preparing troops for the static, trench warfare of the Western Front, where different technical and survival skills were required. The specialised training context provided in Egypt underscores that the forces stationed there were being prepared for operations against the Ottoman Empire, confirming that Egypt was focused on the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) pipeline, not the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) pipeline, in 1915. Following several months of preparation, the ANZAC Corps were duly deployed to the Gallipoli Peninsula starting in April 1915.10

III. British (UK) Troops in Egypt (1915): The Gallipoli Staging Hub

Egypt as the Operational Base for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF)

Following the decision to open an offensive against the Ottoman Empire at Gallipoli, Egypt became the indispensable operational base for the entire campaign.13 This base provided essential logistics, handling the transit of troops and vast quantities of supplies to the Dardanelles. Furthermore, the extensive medical infrastructure, including hospitals like the 2nd Australian General Hospital established at Mena House, received and treated the sick and wounded evacuated from the peninsula.9

Deployment of UK Regular and Territorial Divisions (The 1915 Flow)

The UK military units that passed through Egypt during 1915 were universally channeled toward the Gallipoli theatre, reinforcing the conclusion that Egypt’s function was MEF-specific in that year.

  1. The 29th Division (Regular Army): This division, often referred to as the ‘Immortal’ division, was an elite force assembled in England from regular battalions recalled from garrisons worldwide.14 It was integral to the initial offensive. The 29th Division sailed via Egypt in March 1915, arriving at the peninsula to conduct the critical landing at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915.12 Their time in Egypt was brief—a logistical staging operation—not a sustained training period specifically designed for future deployment to the Western Front.17
  2. Territorial Force (TF) Reinforcements: As the Gallipoli campaign devolved into attritional deadlock, UK Territorial Force units were deployed. The 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, mobilized in England and subsequently numbered the 53rd (Welsh) Division 18, embarked from Devonport between 14 and 19 July 1915.19 They sailed via Alexandria and landed at Suvla Bay on 9 August 1915.18 The commitment of this large UK formation to the MEF, routing through Egypt, demonstrates a key strategic priority of 1915: dedicating UK manpower to the secondary, Ottoman theatre.22

This commitment occurred despite the precarious manpower situation facing the British Army overall in 1915, which saw the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) overstretched and struggling to replace losses from a system that was slowly training and equipping millions of volunteers (Kitchener’s New Armies).23 The fact that UK territorial and regular units were funnelled into the MEF through Egypt confirms that the movement of UK troops via Egypt was solely focused on supporting the eastern campaign during that year.

IV. The Western Front Training Question: Analysing the BEF Pipeline

The Conventional BEF Training Structure (The UK/France Model)

The training regimen for British soldiers destined for the Western Front (the BEF) in 1915 followed a standardised and logical geographical path. Initial basic training for volunteers and Territorial reinforcements was conducted extensively across the United Kingdom, often overwhelming the existing barracks and necessitating the conversion of thousands of public buildings into temporary training centres.24 Once this fundamental training was completed, advanced instruction, acclimatisation, and specialised training specific to trench warfare were established in the vast rear areas of France and Belgium.24 This system was designed to be as direct and efficient as possible, maintaining a continuous flow of manpower to the BEF, which reached a size of 247,400 fighting men by 1915.26

Assessment: Why Egypt Was Not a BEF Training Base in 1915

The logistical and strategic realities of 1915 argue strongly against the idea that Egypt was used for training UK troops specifically for France.

First, using Egypt as a training base for the BEF would have represented a highly inefficient and circuitous logistical route. Troops recruited in the UK or the Dominions would have been shipped thousands of kilometres to Egypt, trained in an inappropriate desert environment, and then shipped thousands of kilometres back across the Mediterranean to France. This would have bypassed the established, highly efficient, and industrialised pipeline running directly from UK ports to the Western Front.27

Second, the manpower in Egypt was already fundamentally tied to theatre-specific objectives. The defence of the Canal and the support of the massive Gallipoli operation required a standing garrison and extensive logistical support staff.13 Diverting personnel or resources to train fresh BEF recruits would have compromised the core missions in the Middle East.

Therefore, the historical record indicates that UK military authorities did not establish specialised training camps for British troops destined for the Western Front in Egypt during 1915. The British units that staged there were either brief transients on their way to Gallipoli (e.g., the 29th and 53rd Divisions) or veteran units resting and recuperating, preparing for deployment to the secondary campaign.

The dedication of Egypt as the primary logistical and staging base for the MEF, handling all supplies, sick, and wounded for Gallipoli 13, functioned as a critical strategic pressure valve for the British military system. By accommodating the vast logistical requirements of the eastern campaign, the Egyptian base prevented this logistical weight from destabilising or collapsing the already strained infrastructure supporting the Western Front in 1915.23 While Egypt did not contribute trained manpower directly to the BEF in 1915, it was vital in sustaining the war on two fronts simultaneously.

V. Egypt’s Transition: The Post-Gallipoli Shift and the 1916 Flow to France

The military role of Egypt underwent a dramatic transformation at the close of 1915, a shift that is critical for understanding the chronological parameters of the user’s query.

The December 1915 Flood: The Return of the MEF

The failed Gallipoli Campaign concluded with the complete evacuation of Allied forces by January 1916.28 Starting in December 1915, the remaining forces of the MEF, including large numbers of seasoned UK, ANZAC, and other Imperial troops, were withdrawn and returned to Egypt.4 The Force in Egypt, which had been reduced mainly to a “training and reinforcement camp” during the Gallipoli offensive 4, now swelled with veteran combat divisions. For example, the 53rd (Welsh) Division, having suffered massive casualties at Gallipoli, arrived back in Egypt around 20 December 1915 for rest, refitting, and future deployment.20

The 1916 Reallocation: Egypt as a Source for the BEF

The concentration of experienced troops in Egypt immediately transformed its strategic status. With the growing scale of operations expected on the Western Front, particularly the massive offensive planned for the Somme, there was an intense demand for veteran fighting formations to reinforce the BEF.23 Egypt now housed a large strategic reserve of combat-tested units.

Crucially, the 29th Division, which had spent 1915 fighting solely at Gallipoli, rested briefly in Egypt (January to February 1916) and then received definitive orders on 25 February 1916 to move to France.17 The division embarked in March and began concentrating east of Pont Remy between 15 and 29 March, thus becoming a major fighting force on the Western Front.17

This transfer of the 29th Division confirms that Egypt did function as a strategic staging ground for UK troops destined for France—but this role only materialised after the evacuation of Gallipoli, beginning in the calendar year 1916. Following this reallocation, the FiE was formally merged with the remainder of the MEF to create the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) in March 1916.4 The EEF was then dedicated entirely to the defence of the Canal and the subsequent prosecution of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.30

VI. Conclusion: A Multi-Functional Imperial Base

The role of the British Army in Egypt during 1915 was multifaceted but sharply delimited by the strategic priorities of the war’s Eastern theatre. Egypt was established as a vital imperial base with three key operational functions: the necessary garrisoning and defence of the Suez Canal, primarily undertaken by Indian and Egyptian forces; the primary training and mobilization hub for the ANZAC Corps destined for Gallipoli; and the critical logistical staging base for all UK Regular and Territorial forces (such as the 29th and 53rd Divisions) committed to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF).

Final Determination

In a specific answer to the query regarding whether Egypt was used for training British (UK) soldiers for France in 1915, the comprehensive evidence strongly indicates No.

The UK training system for the Western Front remained decentralised in the United Kingdom and industrialised in the rear areas of France. The British units that trained and staged extensively in Egypt were primarily the ANZAC Corps. The veteran UK units that eventually fought on the Western Front, originating from Egypt—most notably the 29th Division—did not transfer to France until after the Gallipoli evacuation, commencing in 1916. Thus, in the calendar year 1915, the manpower allocated to Egypt was rigidly defined by the need to secure the Canal and prosecute the Gallipoli campaign.

The following data summarises the composition and disposition of forces in Egypt during the critical period of 1915.

Table 1: Composition and Primary Role of Key Forces in Egypt (1915)

Formation TypeExample Units PresentApproximate StrengthPrimary Role in Egypt (1915)Destination from Egypt
Imperial Garrison (FiE)10th & 11th Indian Divisions, Bikaner Camel Corps~30,000Defence of the Suez CanalEgypt/Sinai
Dominion Expeditionary ForceANZAC Corps (AIF/NZEF)~25,000Training/MobilizationGallipoli (MEF)
UK Regular (Staging)29th Division15,000+Staging/Immediate DeploymentGallipoli (MEF)
UK Territorial Force (TF)53rd (Welsh) Division15,000+Staging/ReinforcementGallipoli (MEF)

Table 2: Key British Troop Movements from Egypt to External Theatres (1915-1916)

Unit/FormationDate Arrived in EgyptKey Activity in EgyptDate Departed EgyptDestinationCausal Relationship to Query
ANZAC CorpsDecember 1914Training (Mena/Moascar)April 1915GallipoliConfirms 1915 training role, but not for UK troops/France.
29th Division (UK Regular)March 1915StagingApril 1915GallipoliUK troop passage in 1915 for MEF, not BEF.
53rd (Welsh) Division (TF)July 1915StagingAugust 1915GallipoliUK TF units prioritized for MEF in 1915.
29th Division (UK Regular)January 1916 (Returned)Rest/ReorganisationMarch 1916France (Western Front)Shows Egypt becoming a BEF staging post, but only after 1915.

Research for the writing of a thriller – 3

Background material used in creating a location, an explosive situation, and characters to bring it alive – the story – A Score to Settle

…

The assistant who is anything but…

…

The Ghost in the Cell Block: When Undercover Becomes Ultimate Sentence

In the murky world of espionage, there are missions measured in months, and then there are missions measured in souls. Few agents ever truly pay the ultimate price, but some lose something far more valuable than life: they lose the self.

This is the volatile, razor-sharp reality facing Kaelen, the subject of a disastrous operation that has already cost her everything—including her name.

The Line That Dissolved

Kaelen wasn’t just working undercover; she became the cover. For years, she anchored herself so deeply into the shadows of a powerful criminal network that the defining line between her identity and her fabricated persona ceased to exist. She was the ghost that haunted the operation, successful beyond all measure, yet utterly unreachable.

When the signal came to extract, she refused. She had become indispensible, and in her drug-fueled, identity-splintered mind, standing down meant abandoning the mission—a mission that had superseded her marriage, her career, and her sanity.

She was literally dragged out—a reluctant, raging captive forced back into the daylight. Tragedy followed immediately: her husband, the last tether to her real life, was found violently murdered. The evidence was planted, the frame solidified, and Kaelen—a high-value operative now deemed unstable, drug-addled, and a convenient scapegoat—was sent down.

Her destination: a maximum-security women’s correctional facility. Her sentence: recovery and consequence. Her reality: a broken mind and a terrifying, blank space where the memory of her husband’s death should be.

The Crucible: Fodder for the Spies

Maximum security is rarely a place for healing; it is a pressure cooker designed to break the already broken. Kaelen is locked in the system, trying to navigate the agonizing fog of withdrawal while serving time for a crime she can’t remember committing and almost certainly didn’t. Her past genius is now overshadowed by her present fragility.

She is, precisely because of her profound damage and her unique skillset, now the perfect asset—or the perfect piece of wreckage—for the shadowy figures who still move the chess pieces.

Enter Rook.

Rook is the definition of a world-weary spy. A brilliant operative who has spent decades operating alone, he has finally hit a wall. He needs eyes and hands in a place where only the forgotten reside. He needs an asset who is underestimated, disposable, and capable of operating without definable allegiance. He needs Kaelen.

Their partnership is a forced marriage of necessity and paranoia. Rook is risking his career; Kaelen is risking her tenuous grip on reality. Kaelen can handle herself—years of deep immersion have given her instincts sharper than the correctional officers’ blades—but the question isn’t about ability. It’s about commitment.

The Volatile Equation

The spy business necessitates unfortunate bedfellows, and the prison environment multiplies the toxicity exponentially. Trust is the most expensive and dangerous currency.

Rook needs Kaelen to infiltrate the prison’s black market economy, which he suspects is tied to the very network she once served, and possibly, to her husband’s murder. But the mission demands that Kaelen remain clean, focused, and loyal—a set of demands entirely counter to the chaos that defines her current existence.

Will she lapse? The craving for the numbing oblivion of the drugs is a constant siren call, especially as fragments of the disastrous undercover mission begin to surface, threatening to shatter her fragile new identity. She made promises to herself, resolutions forged in the cold light of detox, but the darkness she inhabited is waiting for her return.

The prison walls are closing in. Every inmate, every guard, and every whisper could be an informant, a threat, or the unfortunate bedfellow Rook warned her about. They are operating within a system designed to punish, but which is now being used to execute a far more dangerous agenda.

Kaelen’s recovery is crucial, but her relapse could be catastrophic. In this volatile cage, the stakes aren’t just about freedom or vengeance; they are about stopping a localized crisis that threatens to blow the lid off the entire espionage world, taking Rook, Kaelen, and everyone around them with it.

Research for the writing of a thriller – 3

Background material used in creating a location, an explosive situation, and characters to bring it alive – the story – A Score to Settle

…

The assistant who is anything but…

…

The Ghost in the Cell Block: When Undercover Becomes Ultimate Sentence

In the murky world of espionage, there are missions measured in months, and then there are missions measured in souls. Few agents ever truly pay the ultimate price, but some lose something far more valuable than life: they lose the self.

This is the volatile, razor-sharp reality facing Kaelen, the subject of a disastrous operation that has already cost her everything—including her name.

The Line That Dissolved

Kaelen wasn’t just working undercover; she became the cover. For years, she anchored herself so deeply into the shadows of a powerful criminal network that the defining line between her identity and her fabricated persona ceased to exist. She was the ghost that haunted the operation, successful beyond all measure, yet utterly unreachable.

When the signal came to extract, she refused. She had become indispensible, and in her drug-fueled, identity-splintered mind, standing down meant abandoning the mission—a mission that had superseded her marriage, her career, and her sanity.

She was literally dragged out—a reluctant, raging captive forced back into the daylight. Tragedy followed immediately: her husband, the last tether to her real life, was found violently murdered. The evidence was planted, the frame solidified, and Kaelen—a high-value operative now deemed unstable, drug-addled, and a convenient scapegoat—was sent down.

Her destination: a maximum-security women’s correctional facility. Her sentence: recovery and consequence. Her reality: a broken mind and a terrifying, blank space where the memory of her husband’s death should be.

The Crucible: Fodder for the Spies

Maximum security is rarely a place for healing; it is a pressure cooker designed to break the already broken. Kaelen is locked in the system, trying to navigate the agonizing fog of withdrawal while serving time for a crime she can’t remember committing and almost certainly didn’t. Her past genius is now overshadowed by her present fragility.

She is, precisely because of her profound damage and her unique skillset, now the perfect asset—or the perfect piece of wreckage—for the shadowy figures who still move the chess pieces.

Enter Rook.

Rook is the definition of a world-weary spy. A brilliant operative who has spent decades operating alone, he has finally hit a wall. He needs eyes and hands in a place where only the forgotten reside. He needs an asset who is underestimated, disposable, and capable of operating without definable allegiance. He needs Kaelen.

Their partnership is a forced marriage of necessity and paranoia. Rook is risking his career; Kaelen is risking her tenuous grip on reality. Kaelen can handle herself—years of deep immersion have given her instincts sharper than the correctional officers’ blades—but the question isn’t about ability. It’s about commitment.

The Volatile Equation

The spy business necessitates unfortunate bedfellows, and the prison environment multiplies the toxicity exponentially. Trust is the most expensive and dangerous currency.

Rook needs Kaelen to infiltrate the prison’s black market economy, which he suspects is tied to the very network she once served, and possibly, to her husband’s murder. But the mission demands that Kaelen remain clean, focused, and loyal—a set of demands entirely counter to the chaos that defines her current existence.

Will she lapse? The craving for the numbing oblivion of the drugs is a constant siren call, especially as fragments of the disastrous undercover mission begin to surface, threatening to shatter her fragile new identity. She made promises to herself, resolutions forged in the cold light of detox, but the darkness she inhabited is waiting for her return.

The prison walls are closing in. Every inmate, every guard, and every whisper could be an informant, a threat, or the unfortunate bedfellow Rook warned her about. They are operating within a system designed to punish, but which is now being used to execute a far more dangerous agenda.

Kaelen’s recovery is crucial, but her relapse could be catastrophic. In this volatile cage, the stakes aren’t just about freedom or vengeance; they are about stopping a localized crisis that threatens to blow the lid off the entire espionage world, taking Rook, Kaelen, and everyone around them with it.

Harry Walthenson, Private Detective – the second case – A case of finding the “Flying Dutchman”

…

What starts as a search for a missing husband soon develops into an unbelievable story of treachery, lies, and incredible riches.

…

It was meant to remain buried long enough for the dust to settle on what was once an unpalatable truth, when enough time had passed, and those who had been willing to wait could reap the rewards.

The problem was, no one knew where that treasure was hidden or the location of the logbook that held the secret.

At stake, billions of dollars’ worth of stolen Nazi loot brought to the United States in an anonymous tramp steamer and hidden in a specially constructed vault under a specifically owned plot of land on the once docklands of New York.

It may have remained hidden and unknown to only a few, if it had not been for a mere obscure detail being overheard …

… by our intrepid, newly minted private detective, Harry Walthenson …

… and it would have remained buried.

Now, through a series of unrelated events, or are they, that well-kept secret is out there, and Harry will not stop until the whole truth is uncovered.

Even if it almost costs him his life.  Again.

Third son of a Duke – The research behind the story – 15

All stories require some form of research, quite often to place a character in a place at a particular time, especially if it is in a historical context. This series will take you through what it was like in 1914 through 1916.

…

Mena Camp Training and Deployment (April 1915)

1. Trench Warfare Conditioning at Mena Camp, Egypt

The British and Dominion troops (primarily ANZACs) stationed at Mena Camp near the Pyramids from December 1914 through early 1915 received extensive military training, but it was generally considered inadequate for the complex, industrialised nature of Western Front trench warfare.

A. The Focus of Training

The curriculum was heavily influenced by traditional pre-war British doctrine and the immediate need to defend the Suez Canal, resulting in conditioning focused primarily on:

  • Discipline and Drill: Intense route marches in full kit across the deep desert sand to build stamina and discipline. The aim was to “harden” the men for active service.
  • Musketry and Field Tactics: Extensive rifle practice and training in basic field formations and manoeuvres, adapted for the open terrain of the desert.
  • Rudimentary Trenches: While they did dig and occupy practice trenches, these were often created for the purpose of defending the linear positions of the Suez Canal against a Turkish attack (which did occur in February 1915). This training lacked the crucial elements that defined the Western Front:
    • No Bombing/Grenades: Many troops arrived without even seeing a modern hand grenade (a “bomb”) or knowing how to use one.
    • No Periscopes or Wire Tactics: They lacked training in the use of periscopes for observation or tactics for cutting and navigating dense barbed wire defenses.
    • No Gas Warfare: The chemical attacks that defined the Western Front had not yet become standard, so this conditioning was absent.

In short, the training was excellent for physical fitness and basic soldiering but poorly prepared the men for the static, subterranean, machine-gun-dominated battles of Europe.

B. The Missing “Western Front” Element

Training staff at Mena relied on textbooks and older doctrine. There was very little intelligence or doctrine flowing directly from the horrific realities of the trenches in France and Belgium (where the stalemate was already in full swing). As such, the conditioning was for a war of movement that had already ceased to exist on the main European front.

2. Deployment Destinations

For the troops training in Egypt in April 1915, the overwhelming majority of British, Australian, and New Zealand forces were not sent to the Western Front.

A. Immediate Destination: The Gallipoli Campaign

The primary and immediate destination for almost all troops (British territorial divisions, ANZACs, and other reinforcements) mobilised from Egypt in April 1915 was the Gallipoli Peninsula (The Dardanelles).

  • The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), commanded by General Sir Ian Hamilton, was assembling in Egypt to launch the amphibious assault designed to capture Constantinople and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war.
  • In the weeks leading up to April 25, 1915, forces were moved from Egypt to staging posts like the Greek island of Lemnos for final preparations before the famous landings at Anzac Cove and Cape Helles.
  • Your enlisted Englishman, arriving in April 1915, would almost certainly have been deployed to Gallipoli if his special orders related to infantry service or staff work supporting the MEF.

B. The Western Front Deployment (Later in the War)

The large-scale movement of these forces to the Western Front only occurred after the failure and eventual evacuation of Gallipoli (late 1915 and early 1916).

  • 1916: In early 1916, the surviving ANZAC divisions were expanded and reorganised in Egypt before being transferred to France and Belgium. They entered the trenches of the Western Front and suffered massive casualties at battles like Pozières and Fromelles (part of the Battle of the Somme in 1916).
  • British Divisions: Several British divisions (such as the 31st and 54th) that had been brought to Egypt to protect the Suez Canal or support the MEF were also transferred to France in early 1916.
  • Remaining Forces: Other British and Empire forces remained in Egypt to form the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), which was tasked with defending the Canal and launching the later successful campaigns into Palestine and Syria against the Ottoman Turks.

Writing a book in 365 days – 332

Day 332

From First Draft to Focused Masterpiece: How to Narrow Your Writing Target

Introduction: The Freedom of the First Draft
Crossing the finish line of your first draft is a triumph. The blank page is no more, and your ideas are finally spilling out. Yet, beneath that satisfaction often lingers an unspoken truth: the work isn’t done. Now comes the equally critical (and often underrated) task: narrowing the target. This phase transforms an amorphous draft into a sharp, impactful piece that resonates deeply with its audience. Think of it as sculpting the raw marble of your thoughts into a statue with purpose. Let’s explore how to do this with intention and clarity.

The Power of the First Draft

Before diving into refinement, it’s important to honour the messy beauty of your first draft. It’s a “get it out” stage—where creativity flows unfiltered, and every idea, no matter how half-baked, is welcomed. But here’s the thing: first drafts are not meant to be final products. They’re blueprints, prototypes, or even “vessels of possibility.” The magic happens next, when you take a step back and ask, “What is this really trying to say?”

Step 1: Identify Your Core Message

The first step in narrowing your target is distilling your work down to its essence. Ask yourself:

  • What is the single most important takeaway?
  • What changes do I want the reader to experience?

Write this down in a single sentence. If your draft aims to persuade, what’s the one action you want your reader to take? If it’s a story, what’s the central theme or emotion you want to evoke? This core message becomes your compass during the editing phase.

Example:

  • Vague: “Climate change is a problem that affects us all, and we need to do something about it.”
  • Narrowed: “Rising ocean temperatures are accelerating coastal erosion—here’s how you can advocate for immediate policy change in your community.”

The narrowed version focuses on a specific cause (ocean temperatures), effect (coastal erosion), and a clear call to action (advocacy and policy).

Step 2: Cut What Doesn’t Serve the Core

Once you have clarity on your message, ruthlessly edit out anything that doesn’t amplify it. This includes:

  • Tangential anecdotes: A personal story might have been fun to write, but if it doesn’t tie back to your point, it’s a detour.
  • Jargon or fluff: Replace vague phrases like “a lot of people” with specific data or terms.
  • Redundant sections: Are two paragraphs exploring the same idea? Consolidate.

Pro Tip: Use the “kill your darlings” mantra, but with a twist. If a line makes you cringe but still feels essential, it might belong. The goal isn’t to erase creativity—it’s to eliminate clutter.

Step 3: Refine Your Audience Focus

Know your reader’s face. The more specific you are about your audience’s needs, the sharper your focus. Ask:

  • Who is most likely to engage with this?
  • What do they need to know, feel, or do?

If your draft is for a niche audience (e.g., organic farmers, tech startups, grieving parents), tailor your language, examples, and structure to speak directly to them. Narrowing your audience isn’t about exclusion—it’s about connection.

Example:
A post about healthy eating for adolescent athletes versus busy working parents will require fundamentally different angles, even if the topic is the same.

Step 4: Use Feedback to Sharpen the Edge

Once you’ve narrowed your draft, seek feedback. Ask your beta readers or editors:

  • “Is the main point clear?”
  • “Did anything feel off-topic or confusing?”
  • “Where did I lose you?”

Their honest responses will highlight where your focus is strong and areas that need tightening.

Conclusion: From Broad to Bold

Narrowing your target isn’t about stifling creativity—it’s about amplifying it. By focusing on one core message, one audience, and one action, you create writing that’s not just heard but felt. So, after your first draft, give yourself permission to dig deeper. Prune, polish, and focus until your work becomes a beacon of clarity.

Your Turn: Grab a pen and write your core message in one sentence. If you can’t sum up your draft in a tweet, keep refining.

Final Thought: A narrow target may seem limiting, but it’s the very thing that turns a sea of words into a sea change.

Writing a book in 365 days – 332

Day 332

From First Draft to Focused Masterpiece: How to Narrow Your Writing Target

Introduction: The Freedom of the First Draft
Crossing the finish line of your first draft is a triumph. The blank page is no more, and your ideas are finally spilling out. Yet, beneath that satisfaction often lingers an unspoken truth: the work isn’t done. Now comes the equally critical (and often underrated) task: narrowing the target. This phase transforms an amorphous draft into a sharp, impactful piece that resonates deeply with its audience. Think of it as sculpting the raw marble of your thoughts into a statue with purpose. Let’s explore how to do this with intention and clarity.

The Power of the First Draft

Before diving into refinement, it’s important to honour the messy beauty of your first draft. It’s a “get it out” stage—where creativity flows unfiltered, and every idea, no matter how half-baked, is welcomed. But here’s the thing: first drafts are not meant to be final products. They’re blueprints, prototypes, or even “vessels of possibility.” The magic happens next, when you take a step back and ask, “What is this really trying to say?”

Step 1: Identify Your Core Message

The first step in narrowing your target is distilling your work down to its essence. Ask yourself:

  • What is the single most important takeaway?
  • What changes do I want the reader to experience?

Write this down in a single sentence. If your draft aims to persuade, what’s the one action you want your reader to take? If it’s a story, what’s the central theme or emotion you want to evoke? This core message becomes your compass during the editing phase.

Example:

  • Vague: “Climate change is a problem that affects us all, and we need to do something about it.”
  • Narrowed: “Rising ocean temperatures are accelerating coastal erosion—here’s how you can advocate for immediate policy change in your community.”

The narrowed version focuses on a specific cause (ocean temperatures), effect (coastal erosion), and a clear call to action (advocacy and policy).

Step 2: Cut What Doesn’t Serve the Core

Once you have clarity on your message, ruthlessly edit out anything that doesn’t amplify it. This includes:

  • Tangential anecdotes: A personal story might have been fun to write, but if it doesn’t tie back to your point, it’s a detour.
  • Jargon or fluff: Replace vague phrases like “a lot of people” with specific data or terms.
  • Redundant sections: Are two paragraphs exploring the same idea? Consolidate.

Pro Tip: Use the “kill your darlings” mantra, but with a twist. If a line makes you cringe but still feels essential, it might belong. The goal isn’t to erase creativity—it’s to eliminate clutter.

Step 3: Refine Your Audience Focus

Know your reader’s face. The more specific you are about your audience’s needs, the sharper your focus. Ask:

  • Who is most likely to engage with this?
  • What do they need to know, feel, or do?

If your draft is for a niche audience (e.g., organic farmers, tech startups, grieving parents), tailor your language, examples, and structure to speak directly to them. Narrowing your audience isn’t about exclusion—it’s about connection.

Example:
A post about healthy eating for adolescent athletes versus busy working parents will require fundamentally different angles, even if the topic is the same.

Step 4: Use Feedback to Sharpen the Edge

Once you’ve narrowed your draft, seek feedback. Ask your beta readers or editors:

  • “Is the main point clear?”
  • “Did anything feel off-topic or confusing?”
  • “Where did I lose you?”

Their honest responses will highlight where your focus is strong and areas that need tightening.

Conclusion: From Broad to Bold

Narrowing your target isn’t about stifling creativity—it’s about amplifying it. By focusing on one core message, one audience, and one action, you create writing that’s not just heard but felt. So, after your first draft, give yourself permission to dig deeper. Prune, polish, and focus until your work becomes a beacon of clarity.

Your Turn: Grab a pen and write your core message in one sentence. If you can’t sum up your draft in a tweet, keep refining.

Final Thought: A narrow target may seem limiting, but it’s the very thing that turns a sea of words into a sea change.

The story behind the story – Echoes from the Past

The novel ‘Echoes from the past’ started out as a short story I wrote about 30 years ago, titled ‘The birthday’.

My idea was to take a normal person out of their comfort zone and led on a short but very frightening journey to a place where a surprise birthday party had been arranged.

Thus the very large man with a scar and a red tie was created.

So was the friend with the limousine who worked as a pilot.

So were the two women, Wendy and Angelina, who were Flight Attendants that the pilot friend asked to join the conspiracy.

I was going to rework the short story, then about ten pages long, into something a little more.

And like all re-writes, especially those I have anything to do with, it turned into a novel.

There was motivation.  I had told some colleagues at the place where I worked at the time that I liked writing, and they wanted a sample.  I was going to give them the re-worked short story.  Instead, I gave them ‘Echoes from the past’

Originally it was not set anywhere in particular.

But when considering a location, I had, at the time, recently been to New York in December, and visited Brooklyn and Queens, as well as a lot of New York itself.  We were there for New Years, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

One evening we were out late, and finished up in Brooklyn Heights, near the waterfront, and there was rain and snow, it was cold and wet, and there were apartment buildings shimmering in the street light, and I thought, this is the place where my main character will live.

It had a very spooky atmosphere, the sort where ghosts would not be unexpected.  I felt more than one shiver go up and down my spine in the few minutes I was there.

I had taken notes, as I always do, of everywhere we went so I had a ready supply of locations I could use, changing the names in some cases.

Fifth Avenue near the Rockefeller center is amazing at first light, and late at night with the Seasonal decorations and lights.

The original main character was a shy and man of few friends, hence not expecting the surprise party.  I enhanced that shyness into purposely lonely because of an issue from his past that leaves him always looking over his shoulder and ready to move on at the slightest hint of trouble.  No friends, no relationships, just a very low profile.

Then I thought, what if he breaks the cardinal rule, and begins a relationship?

But it is also as much an exploration of a damaged soul, as it is the search for a normal life, without having any idea what normal was, and how the understanding of one person can sometimes make all the difference in what we may think or feel.

And, of course, I wanted a happy ending.

Except for the bad guys.

Get it here:  https://amzn.to/2CYKxu4

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