I'LL DO IT MY WAY (An Autobiography)

I'LL DO IT MY WAY (An Autobiography)

MY STORY: Just the real story of my rather eventful life.

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Author: Craig Lock
Length: 207 page(s)
Written: Feb 2011
Sales Rank: - XinXii Sales Rank
Views: 267

Category: Biographies & Memoirs » Memoirs  |  Work: Story / Narration
Keywords: biography, auto-biography, Craig Lock, memoirs

As my dear mother once said, “I’ve been riding the rapids of life..."

DIARY OF A ROLLING STONE

and HOW I HAVE JUST THROWN A DOUBLE SIX TO START A NEW STABLE LIFE.

I don't know why "the hell" I am writing this story of my life; because probably nobody will believe it, but my friends (who are a motley collection of out of the ordinary crazy individuals, as opposed to my dear wife's rather "straight-laced" friends) have suggested that this account of my life could be a hilarious best seller. We shall see!
*
I am writing these first words on a Jumbo jet bound for New Zealand... and who knows what! I am a 39 year old male, who has been working in Cape Town as the Life Manager of a dynamic insurance brokerage, marking time to join my wife, Marie and twin sons, Gareth and Sean in New Zealand. They have gone there 6 weeks ago on our second immigration to NZ (4th actually in 4 years...so we have had plenty of practice runs). We are going there for a dull stable life of bottling jams, pickling bums, er sorry buns and especially picking noses and endless cups of tea (as my dear mother says, all Kiwis do that - pick their noses, except for “straight” Round Tablers and Rotarians, who don’t do it at functions!). So I guess I’ll have to learn how to pick my nose to be accepted In “Godzone”. Please excuse my dear “crazy” wife (must have got the “bug” from your author, but indeed she has a heart of gold.
RIP our chaotic crazy existence so far.
*
I think that I have always been a bit different to the "normal run of the mill sort of person"; so let's start at the beginning and maybe we can understand why my life has been waylaid (and I have been laid) by many tributaries off the beaten track.
I am now starting this account of my life on an aeroplane heading for the other side of the planet: the idyllic South Pacific islands of New Zealand to rejoin my family there and a new future. What will happen to me and my family there? We shall see...

October 1989...high up in the sky

As my dear mother once said, “I’ve been riding the rapids of life in all my years”; so now its rather nice to be becalmed here in these calm waters. Yes, here in the haven and at the same time, the harbour of “Sleepy Hollow”, we are sheltered from the storms of life. And this is the reason why I have been able to write so prolifically. Something that I like very much and a craft that gives me great satisfaction.
*
Though I don’t know why the story of my “insignificant little life” should be so interesting as to have written a book about it. However, my dear wife, Marie said that it may be fascinating and inspirational to others! She also said it might HELP other people having a battle in the “game of life”.

I really don’t know about all that. I think I’m really quite an “ordinary bloke”. Anyway, whatever the “boss” says, gets done. . So here is my story, true “ekse”…
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About the Author

Craig Lock | Author on XinXii.com

Member since: Feb 2011
Publications on XinXii:  53
I’ve been writing about my passions since 1993.

The various books that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at creativekiwis.com/books.html and lulu.com/craiglock (* Hard copies and e-books – fiction and non-fiction: novels on South Africa, self help, personal growth, inspiration, travel, humour and money books).
 
Craig has been involved in the corporate world (life assurance) for over twenty years in South Africa, Australia (briefly) and New Zealand. However, through a strange set of circumstances and finding himself in a small town near the bottom of the world ...and with nothing else to do, he started writing. Five published books later (well they turned out to be a vanity publisher and he and his family lost everything, their life savings, including the kitchen sink* - that episode is a book in itself!).

Now many years later, “recovering“, having written another twenty manuscripts (on widely differing subjects - well what else is there to do here?)... this is where Craig is in the "journey/adventure" that is life.

Craig has taught at the local Polytechnic, as well as running a successful creative writing course (not teaching sheep!). Together with his “technowhizz”friend, Bill Rosoman, he was the author of (as far as we know) the first creative writing course on the internet and this has developed to new writing and publishing courses we have introduced on our new Creative Kiwis.com website (www.creative kiwis.com)

* that’s a metaphor, btw (“by the way”)

Craig has many varied interests and passions. He is particularly interested in the field of psychology – studying the human mind and what makes different people "tick-tock grandfather clock". He is fascinated by the "overlap between psychology and the dimension of spirituality".
One of his missions in life is helping people make the most of their hidden potential and so finding their niche in life... so that they are happy.

Craig’s various books probably tell more about his rather "eventful" life best (no one could believe it!). He writes books with serious messages and themes, then as a contrast "rather crazy, wacky stuff"…to keep him sane here. As an ‘anonymouse’ person wrote: "All of us are born mad; some of us remain so."

Well nothing else much happens in quiet provincial New Zealand, other than headlines like "Golf Ball Thrown at Policeman" and "Beach Toilet Closed for Season.". True!

The “writer” loves to encourage and empower people to be the best they can possibly be, and to create what they want in life. Craig has learnt plenty from the "school of life" (still "battered and bruised") and also from a few "hard knocks on the head". He is an extensive world traveller (on a "shoestring budget") and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his lifes savings on airfares. He is still sliding down the razor blade of life on the beautiful undiscovered island that is New Zealand, somewhere near the bottom (rude!) of the world near Antarctica. There he talks to the 60 million sheep!

So here goes…
# HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
Craig Lock is an extensive world traveller and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his life's savings on airfares. He is still 'sliding down the razor blade of life', stuck on a deserted (other than a few brilliant rugby players) island at the bottom of the world near Antarctica, where he is 'trying to throw a double six' to get off and go out into the real world - but he doesn't know where!

In the style of Bill Bryson, HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE tells tales of his hilarious hair-raising adventures in his younger years through 'Grate' Britain and the Continent.

‘’Dropped out in Godzone‘’: Craig Lock's humorous travel book about his adventures in provincial New Zealand... One man and his family - and their experiences "Down Under".

The author and his wife contrast life in colourful, vibrant South Africa with calm and kindly New Zealand - and with large dashes of humour offer much understanding of, and sympathy with the social attitudes of the two worlds.

A new immigrant's impressions of life in provincial New Zealand (after coming from a large city in South Africa) ... and there were one or two rather funny adventures, nay escapades in "Sleepy Hollow" from time to time!

REVIEW:
"DROPPED OUT IN GODZONE is an original and agreeable piece of work. The picture it gives of New Zealand- to one who has never been there- has a ring of complete authenticity. The feeling of the country is relaxed, and perhaps rather unstimulating, but we get an overall impression from the writer that he views his time there with some affection, and above all with tolerance."

This book breathes a natural humour and kindliness, which is what gives it the individual character that is so appealing.

Autobiography has a particular value as a literary form. It is a shared kind of writing and I'll continue to bang the drum. It is unusual to encounter two such different manuscripts from the same author. Both (THE END OF THE LINE is the other book) have quality and share an easy and assured writing style that is a pleasure to read. Both of these short books are of first rate quality."

Craig is presently working on his latest novel 'The Awakened Spirit', based on some true and inspiring stories of the indomitable human spirit, that lies within each one of us. Stories of endless possibilities.

He firmly believes in the motto: "Find what you love doing, then you will never have to do a days work in your life." Craig is certain he has found his niche in life... anyway, what other job would be suitable for him?

##
PPS: Well there WAS a big earththquake here in "Sleepy Hollow" a few years back with buildings damaged. It made international news (but so tragic about the recent Christchurch quakes)!

Don't worry about the world ending today...
as it's already tomorrow in little scenic and tranquil New Zealand

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