The author, a retired newspaper editor, dug deeply into 50 years of memories and journalistic experiences when writing this book of short stories. Many of the tales, all of which are fictional, have a connection with weekly newspapers. Five stories are about a coal miner who learns shorthand while still down the pit and, against all the odds, lands a job as a reporter. When the author began his career as a trainee in 1955 colleagues told him of a man who, many years before, had made such a dramatic career change. The imagination has been used to capture the flavour of what life must have been like for an adult entrant to journalism many years ago. Another story connected with newspapers is about an elderly photographer who believes, wrongly, that his career has come to an end. Yet another describes the earth-shaking goings-on at a parish council meeting at which a young reporter obtains a scoop. Tales without a newspaper link range from one about a young girl who takes a train ride to danger after staying late at a dance to the story of a clash between two prize-winning gardeners. All profits from the book will be donated to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.