All the activities I've been involved in and inspiring people I've met. Something for everyone.
I started the project as a testament for my daughter, but it took on a life of its own and I started writing for anyone who might like to try the activities I've been involved with.
These are as dfiverse as skydiving, car and motorcycle racing, running a business, vintage clothes, dancing, inspirational people and dare I say it relationships.
Biographies are written about sportsmen barely out of diapers, but actually so many, so called, ordinary people lead fascinating lives and so much gets lost of the human experience, I'm not saying I'm exceptional, just unconventional, however I would encourage everyone to record their experience and knowledge for others.
I have two more books at the time of writing this and several more planned - both factual and novels.
Excerpt
OF LAND, SEA AND SKY
Escapades Of A Modern Day Adventurer And
Entrepreneur
For my wonderful daughter Francesca. If I can inspire you
to love life, your fellow man and the wonders of nature, I
will not have entirely failed you.
CONTENTS
Introduction 4
Chapter One - Growing Pains 9
Chapter Two - Careers Decisions 35
Chapter Three – Skydive 44
Chapter Four - The Legend Of Bob Acraman 56
Chapter Five - Interesting Doors Begin To Open 65
Chapter Six - Test Jumper 83
Chapter Seven - Display Jumper 92
Chapter Eight - Life As A Parachute Instructor 97
Chapter Nine - An End To The Skydiving Life 123
Chapter Ten - Making Money In The Real World 144
Chapter Eleven - Early Adventures With Car Racing 168
Chapter Twelve - The SEAT Works Team Soap Opera 188
Chapter Thirteen - Happiness And Pain 197
Chapter Fourteen - Racing A Van Dieman - The Final
Throw 202
Chapter Fifteen - Life As An Advertising Executive 217
Chapter Sixteen - Romeo And Juliet 233
Chapter Seventeen - Forwards And Back Again 240
Chapter Eighteen - The Switch To Motorcycle Racing 249
Chapter Nineteen - A Fresh Start In Sevenoaks 257
Chapter Twenty - Champion At Last 261
Chapter Twenty One - Difficulties In Docklands 271
Chapter Twenty Two – Entrepreneur 276
Chapter Twenty Three - Whirlwind Romance And
Marriage 295
OF LAND, SEA AND SKY
Chapter Twenty Four - The Goose That Lays The Golden
Egg Is An Illusive Bird 304
Chapter Twenty Five - Fatherhood, Bereavement, Divorce
315
Chapter Twenty Six - Swing Dancer 330
Chapter Twenty Seven - No Limits 347
Chapter Twenty Eight - A Racing Comeback At Daytona
360
Chapter Twenty Nine - The Siegfried Line 375
Chapter Thirty - Wannabee Actor 394
Chapter Thirty One - The Road To Dromina 401
Mostly Of Sea Chapter 1 442
Diary Of An Atlantic Crossing 451
Chapter 3 Skydive
During the few months I was at Inchcape I’d started a new
hobby. On my wages I couldn’t afford to go motor racing,
but I could afford to go skydiving. I read about the RSA
Parachute Club in my father’s Readers Digest. I hitchhiked
down to Thruxton near Andover and took a weekend
course. Students trained for around eight hours on
Saturday and jumped, weather permitting, on Sunday. Of
course as happens so often in the UK the weather on
Sunday did not permit. The result was that I telephoned
regularly to check the weather, and took a day off work,
mid week, to go and claim my jump.
I’d only ever been in an aeroplane once up until then. That
was the first commercial jet airliner, a DeHavilland Comet,
in this case operated by Dan Air. That was when I was
sixteen and went on a school skiing trip. The parachute
club at the time of my first jump was renting a Cessna 172,
a tiny aircraft, even as light aircraft go. There was room
for a pilot, who had the only seat, and then kneeling on the
floor, two parachutists and a jumpmaster. I was number
one, so I knelt at the front next to the pilot, with my left
hand across my front mounted reserve parachute, to
protect the handle, and my right hand on the dashboard of
the aeroplane. Behind me was Paul Young, dapper, tough,
ex Guards and French Foreign Legion, the no nonsense
jumpmaster. Behind the pilot and next to Paul was number
two, safely tucked up, well away from the open door.
Professional Reviews
From a reader in Sweden
I had a mentioning of the book from a dancing friend and got hold of a copy. As I myself have been travelling a bit in the world, mostly back-packing in my 20ies, and had a very active life before that. What was described to me about the book definitely created some interest. Some episodes just makes you laugh again and again, while some are highly dramatic, others are both sentimental and warm-hearted. The story of the book is build around a way to live your life that is “a bit” out of the ordinary. Still, in many parts of the book, one got remained about personal incidents and several came to recreate memories of a lot of personal incidents (and past girlfriends) – not always as extraordinary, but mostly highly memorable.
After having read it, and then re-read several of my favorite parts, I just had to buy five more copies. I have since given these away to people that I know have lived active lives. From these I have only been given very positive feedback. The most funny thing is that there is not two of us that have picked the same episode as our personal favorite. Mine is the wild and crasy description of the visit to Madagascar. Others have picked up the hotel episode in Scotland and someone else the building of the boat-house by the kids in their early teens - guided by the charismatic leader of the sailing club. A leader given a long very warm-hearted description. A person that came to have a life-long influence on the way Malc came to live his life.
So, get yourself a copy! By the way, why not do like I did, and become appreciated by your friends – buy an extra copy or two and give away; it works!
Alf.B.
From a reader in New Zealand
OF LAND SEA AND SKY by MALCOLM SNOOK
A Critique by a Reader
This book details the many and varied exploits of a modern day adventurer. It is written at the same breathtaking pace at which so many incidents have occurred in the often exciting life of Malcolm Snook. The author also gathers up interesting relevant anecdotes from the lives of his friends, lovers, teachers, pupils and competitors, with whom he has had contact as his own story unfolds. It is easy, when reading this book, to imagine that one is listening to Malcolm enjoying a yarn with friends in the local pub. His writing style is that of a conversationalist rather than an author, and his excitement is infectious as he involves himself in each new activity.
Of course, the reader needs to have his own sense of adventure with which to enjoy the fun, but it is not always necessary to jump out of an aeroplane or drive a fast car, in person, to taste the thrill of danger and speed. For the reader, Malcolm’s writing can stimulate an adrenaline rush as he describes the activities in which he indulges himself. These include sailing, sky diving, car and motor bike racing, dancing and involvement in business and the competitive world of advertising and marketing. He enjoys the ups and downs of life, often establishing long friendships with former rivals and opponents. Malcolm Snook clearly believes in making the most of any opportunity which comes his way and accordingly he lives life to the full.
For those who can mentally participate in other people’s adventures, by reading or hearing them described, this is a splendid book. It is written at a pace to keep the reader on his toes. It is never dull and is packed with information gathered by Malcolm as he moves from one learning experience to another. At times he seems overconfident of his own ability to match and surpass the efforts of more experienced people. However, he humbly admits that he is inclined to embarrass himself when reality leaves him licking his wounds as dreams of success are shattered or badly bruised. His fortunes with the ladies in his life are equally mixed, but his love for his daughter is an example and an encouragement for all fathers and any active or armchair adventurers, who have a love of land, sea and sky.
My memories as an immigrant professional woman in Ottawa, Canada 47 years ago. A new life after having survived the liberal war of a new country Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
The story of Ron Hull, paralyzed in a surgical accident back in the dreaded polio epidemic days, was able to overcome most of the stigma and stereotypes and "pass for normal" for 30 years. As Ron's paralysis increased gradually through the next 20
