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    The End of the Line
    The End of the Line
    The End of the Line
    Ebook115 pages1 hour

    The End of the Line

    By Craig Lock

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This work is my small contribution to South Africa. Here in exile, I daily think of and cry for my 'beloved country'.
    Even from this distance, I am happy and extremely optimistic that things will work out for all its inhabitants. I believe
    one day there will be peace and prosperity for all.
    October 1993.

    In THE END OF THE LINE, Craig Lock has created a passionate tale of South Africa.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCraig Lock
    Release dateFeb 16, 2011
    ISBN9781927157121
    The End of the Line
    Author

    Craig Lock

    I’ve been writing about my passions since 1993.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 EVERYWHERECraig 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 earthquake here in "Sleepy Hollow" last week with buildings damaged. It made international news!********Craig has a 'passion' for writing books that tell stories about people doing positive things in this often so hard, sometimes unkind world, occasionally cruel, yet always amazing world - true stories that leave the reader feeling uplifted, empowered and hopefully even inspired. Craig's mission is to encourage people to believe in themselves and try to help inspire people around the world to achieve their goals and dreams in life, whatever they may be.www.craiglockbooks.com and www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.htmlThe various books* that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at:http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock(e-books http://www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/craigs-ebooksand http://www.creativekis.com/amazon.html* Hard copies and e-books - fiction and non-fiction: novels, self help, personal growth, inspiration, travel, humour and money books.All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children -MINE!PSDon''t worry about the world ending today...its already tomorrow in little scenic and tranquil New Zealand

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      Book preview

      The End of the Line - Craig Lock

      The End of the Line

      by Craig Lock

      Copyright 2007 Craig Lock

      All Rights Reserved,

      No reproduction in any form without

      the permission of the Author,

      Craig Lock clock@slingshot.co.nz

      Copies of this ebook can be ordered from

      https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock

      This book is available in print at

      http://stores.lulu.com/craiglock

      Bill Rosoman

      PO Box 4155

      Hamilton East 3247

      New Zealand

      Smashwords Edition

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/leftfieldnz and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ISBN 978-1-927157-12-1

      Table of Contents

      TOP

      Sea and Sand

      About the Author

      Acknowledgement

      Chapter One:

      Chapter Two: Happy Days

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Part Two Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five: After February 1990

      Chapter Six

      Part Three

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three: One Line Ends, Another Beckons

      Chapter Four: The New Line

      Appendix One

      Appendix Two

      Appendix Three

      Appendix Four

      A story based on fact in the dark days of grand apartheid, but with the rich promise and hope that a new South Africa can bring.

      First Published 1995 (as 'Handbook to Survive the Nineties')

      Sea and Sand

      Sea and sand

      My love My land,

      God bless Africa

      Sea and sand

      My love My land,

      God bless Africa

      But more the South of Africa Where we live....

      Bless the angry mountains

      And the smiling hills

      Where the cool water spills

      To heal the earth's brow

      Bless the children of South Africa

      The white children

      And the black children

      But more the black children

      Who lost the sea and the sand

      That they may not lose love

      For white children

      Whose fathers raped the land....

      Sea and sand

      My love My land,

      God bless Africa

      Many sunsets

      Gold and crimson

      Have dripped on the horizon, Weeping for the dying day.

      Many dawns have risen

      In timely resurrection

      From their cradles of light

      Sunsets and dawns Dawns and sunsets I have seen them all

      But when,

      Oh when will I see that day

      When love will walk the common way

      To heal my wounded people

      And break the shackles around their hearts?

      - Don Mattera.

      I love that poem.

      TOP

      About the Author

      Craig Lock was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He is presently living in beautiful tranquil New Zealand. He hopes to visit the beloved country of his birth one day (and see his family), if he can afford the air-fare. Working in the life assurance industry for too many years, he started writing full-time just over a year ago - a classic case of the wrong person in the wrong job.

      The author is a sports-watching fanatic (couch potato), which is why he is a writer who churns out book after book...as well as hopefully saving him and his twin teenage boys from poverty.

      AUTHOR'S NOTE

      Whilst this story is largely based on fact (especially Part One), Parts Two and Three are fiction based on actual events in South Africa. People in the literary world call this

      form of writing 'faction' (fiction + facts). I have changed some names, so that any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely co-incidental.

      This book is dedicated to the diverse peoples of South Africa who one day will live in harmony, peace and prosperity in the beloved and beautiful country in spite of their great differences and the divisions of the past.

      I hope to one day be able to see that happen. I would like to thank my beloved and wonderful wife Marie, a New Zealander with a great love for Africa, for the love, help, support and encouragement in writing this manuscript. She also unselfishly gave me the opportunity to indulge in any creative talents that I may have. Here on the other side of the world, it has not been easy yearning for the magic of South Africa, it's vastness and even the smell of the air. So Marie, thanks for helping to lift me in my down days as well as your large contribution with this work as well as the tiresome task of proof-reading. Thanks also to Birgitta of Minerva Press for her excellent proof reading.

      I have used a number of unique South African words and expressions. I have put the translation in brackets for foreign readers.

      Also thank you New Zealand, another beautiful but vastly different country for offering me the peace and tranquillity to write. The inspiration came from my heart.

      Gisborne, New Zealand. October 1993.

      TOP

      Acknowledgement

      Living away from South Africa in these turbulent years, I read everything I could lay my hands on about my country. On one of my many visits to the local library I came across

      a report from Stanley Uys from Cape Town in the

      Guardian Weekly of 7th September 1974. I have based my story on this report, though some names have been changed. Part One of the manuscript is based on this report. Parts Two and Three are fiction, but are based on actual historical events in South Africa. Incidentally I knew Stanley Uys's son Eugene at the time when I was a politically naive schoolboy and enjoyed many visits to their home and meeting Stanley and Edna who were true patriots. I believe they are still living in London. Names

      dropping as usual!

      TOP

      Chapter One:

      It was a typical Cape winter's day. The wind had been howling from the north-west for a number of days already. The sky was grey as I looked out of the train window towards the mountain and Devil's Peak to the left. The rain pelted down and the bleak atmosphere even permeated through to the faces of my fellow passengers on the train. Sullen white faces peered down at 'The Cape Times', not sparing a look at their fellow passengers.

      Amidst the stony faced silence however, I was happy. After all, life was wonderful. I had finished school and I had then been unleashed on the world. I had got a job soon afterwards and now it was a wonderful experience earning some money. I had already been working for three months and commuting from Claremont, where I lived, to central Cape Town, wasn't so bad. It was only when I was late that my boss at the office of Sun Oil would growl at me. I used to catch the 7.25 train every morning which would get me there in time for my 8am. start. However, sometimes there were delays at Salt River station, or in heavy rain like today. The train then would stand still for what seemed like hours while agitated passengers looked at their watches anxiously (as if to stop time passing by) and like me, imagined their bosses wrath descending upon them.

      It was just that kind of day that bleak Monday morning, when all of a sudden the train screeched to a halt just outside Observatory station on the main line. The standing passengers lurched forward, even those holding on to the straps. Sighs of exasperation came forth from frustrated mouths at yet another delay. It really was going to be one of those days if the week started off like this - a real black Monday. People in the crowded rush-hour train started leaning out of the windows. I couldn't see much because I didn't have a seat. Only those fortunate enough to live some way down the line like in Fish Hoek or sometimes Diep River, stood much chance of reading the paper seated in comfort. Having climbed aboard at Claremont, I stood near the doors packed closely next to my fellow passengers like sardines.

      People then started talking excitedly amongst themselves. I saw the train driver in his white coat walking next to the tracks back toward Zervs station. In the sombre grey of morning his white coat matched his face

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