"A Snowdrop in Salalah - The Full Circle",is an uproariously funny,honest and bittersweet account of a young RAF Policemans journey through the early part of his career.It describes in touching and heartwarming detail how having left home for the first time, he fought to be accepted by his peers,and exposes the reader to some of the pitfalls he encountered owing to his inexperience.The main focus of the book is to share with the reader the humerous incidents which either occurred naturally, or were instigated by him and his colleagues,and to demonstrate to the reader,what life in the barrack room was like during the 1970's.
The book also covers occurrences of a more serious nature and describes the effect they had on the author and his colleagues, and seeks to demonstrate the authors thoughts and feelings as he enjoyed these experiences.The book takes the reader through a four month period of the deniable conflict in Oman during 1972,when he found himself being shot at,and describes to the reader how he and his colleagues coped with these life changing experiences by retaining their sense of humour.
Following his return from Salalah,he was posted to RAF Germany,to an operational front line fighter base.There the story continues,with the description of incidents he encountered as a station Policeman.
Upon his discharge from the RAF,the book then follows his career into the British Fire and Rescue service during the period where stress related illnesses,such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,(PTSD) and Severe Reactive Depression,(SRD) were regarded somewhat sceptically by the management,and demonstrates how the lack of education and understanding of these matters in general, had diverse and sometimes tragic consequences.Unfortunately,the author did,in fact become ill with the two conditions mentioned previously.Having been fit and well all his life,he suddenly and inexplicably found himself suffering a severe and debilitating period of Mental illness.The account graphically describes the feelings and thoughts he experienced during this time,and highlights the desperation, lonliness and fear, one can feel during such a period.However,owing to the encouragement, interventions and support of several warm,kind,caring and dedicated people,his family included,all of which which proved invaluable to him,he made a full recovery.The success of the authors recovery was highlighted to him during a conversation which took place several years later, when the Psychiartist who initially treated him when he first became ill,offered him a job on the most prestigious ward in the Hospital.Hence the title,"The Full circle".
The latter part of the book is concerned with encouraging people affected by Mental health issues,to recognise they need help,and tries to convince both those affected and their loved ones that there is no longer a stigma attached to these illnesses and people should not feel embarrassed about addressing the problem.It is hoped that the book will also prove useful to the families and loved ones of those affected and assist them to recognise the signs and symptoms and perhaps help them to deal with an illness they may witness.It is felt that given the current climate concerning the involvment of British troops in theatres of conflict, and the mental health issues which will surely arise later,this book will prove valuable,and will show that full recovery can be made.
The book also covers occurrences of a more serious nature and describes the effect they had on the author and his colleagues, and seeks to demonstrate the authors thoughts and feelings as he enjoyed these experiences.The book takes the reader through a four month period of the deniable conflict in Oman during 1972,when he found himself being shot at,and describes to the reader how he and his colleagues coped with these life changing experiences by retaining their sense of humour.
Following his return from Salalah,he was posted to RAF Germany,to an operational front line fighter base.There the story continues,with the description of incidents he encountered as a station Policeman.
Upon his discharge from the RAF,the book then follows his career into the British Fire and Rescue service during the period where stress related illnesses,such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,(PTSD) and Severe Reactive Depression,(SRD) were regarded somewhat sceptically by the management,and demonstrates how the lack of education and understanding of these matters in general, had diverse and sometimes tragic consequences.Unfortunately,the author did,in fact become ill with the two conditions mentioned previously.Having been fit and well all his life,he suddenly and inexplicably found himself suffering a severe and debilitating period of Mental illness.The account graphically describes the feelings and thoughts he experienced during this time,and highlights the desperation, lonliness and fear, one can feel during such a period.However,owing to the encouragement, interventions and support of several warm,kind,caring and dedicated people,his family included,all of which which proved invaluable to him,he made a full recovery.The success of the authors recovery was highlighted to him during a conversation which took place several years later, when the Psychiartist who initially treated him when he first became ill,offered him a job on the most prestigious ward in the Hospital.Hence the title,"The Full circle".
The latter part of the book is concerned with encouraging people affected by Mental health issues,to recognise they need help,and tries to convince both those affected and their loved ones that there is no longer a stigma attached to these illnesses and people should not feel embarrassed about addressing the problem.It is hoped that the book will also prove useful to the families and loved ones of those affected and assist them to recognise the signs and symptoms and perhaps help them to deal with an illness they may witness.It is felt that given the current climate concerning the involvment of British troops in theatres of conflict, and the mental health issues which will surely arise later,this book will prove valuable,and will show that full recovery can be made.
