Overview

Growing up a Protestant in Catholic Ireland during the 1950s and '60s had its moments... and in the coastal town of Arklow, they were overwhelmingly good. Common struggles to make ends meet, stay healthy and raise happy families created a spirit of community that largely transcended any theological differences. Children played together, adults worked, sang and drank together, and when they went their separate ways, they did so in a spirit of equanimity. In this engaging memoir, Richard Ruxton draws on a rich vein of characters, their idiosyncrasies, foibles and plenty of childish 'divilment' to create a story full of Irish humour about the people and places that coloured his young life and eased the 'duration' of his school years. Throughout, he paints a picture of times which, though simpler, were not without their own complications, tragedies and triumphs, where surviving on one's wits was an art form best kept to yourself.

Full Product Details

Author:   Richard Ruxton
Publisher:   Mosaique Press
Imprint:   Mosaique Press
ISBN:  

9781906852603

ISBN 10:   190685260
Pages:   286
Publication Date:   15 June 2022
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1. 'Once upon a time in the Fishery' 2. 'The school around the corner' 3. 'Where have all the good times gone?' 4. 'He fell through the door' 5. 'Kids are the greatest fun' 6. 'O mio babbino caro' 7. 'In a pew losing my religion' 8. 'Everybody needs good neighbours' 9. 'Bells were ringing out for Christmas Day' 10. 'It's hard to bear' 11. 'Riddle of the Sand Dunes' 12. 'A world where I could go' 13. 'Lord don't stop the carnival' 14. 'No more working for a week or two' 15. 'Too much sun will burn' 16. 'It's a rich man's game' 17. 'Who shaves the barber?' 18. 'Pretty soon you're going to get older' 19. 'Keep still and draw another breath' 20. 'One mad dog and his master watched' 21. 'I wish today could be tomorrow' 22. 'We gotta get out of this place' 23. 'Life was Medium Cool' 24. 'Fed up? Turn the Beatles up instead' 25. 'East Coast girls are hip' 26. 'Dancing on the beach in a hippie hat' 27. 'Hot town, summer in the city' 28. 'The folks on the hill' 29. 'In the heat of a hot summer night' 30. 'Turn and face the strange' 31. 'Take me from this road' 32. 'Nuclear seemed unclear' 33. 'Closing books and long last looks' Afterthoughts

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Author Information

Richard Ruxton grew up in the Irish town of Arklow, as did his wife and family. They emigrated to England where he surprised himself with a successful career in industrial engineering, college lecturing and consulting. He and his wife now live in rural France, where Richard finds inspiration for writing and other activities, such as sampling local wines, designed to distract from any real work. A life-long lover of pirate radio, classic rock music and obscure cultural references, he has drawn on his long-forgotten duties at a water treatment plant for the title of this memoir. River Clarified Filtered Soft is his first book.

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