On Saturday 14th December between 1 and 4pm, I will be at WH Smiths in Argyle Street, Glasgow to sign copies of The Time Jigsaw. I look forward to seeing you there.
Merry Christmas
Tuesday 25th December 1945
William Carsell-Brown came downstairs and gazed at the eight-foot tall Christmas tree which stood proudly in the hall. He spotted a red bauble on the brown lino floor, picked it up and put it back onto the decorated tree. William then walked into the warm living room towards a large rectangular brass rimmed mirror surrounded by green holly and white tinsel. The mirror was above the grey stone fireplace whose mantelpiece displayed a selection of Christmas greeting cards. William stood a safe distance from the open fireplace, looked downwards at the roaring coal fire then upwards whilst straightening his deep red necktie. He stood back from the mirror and stared into it. As Olivia entered the room, William smiled.
“It is appropriate for Christmas Day William, the necktie matches your white shirt and dark attire.”
“If I don’t wear it today, mother will carry out an inquisition!”
“I would presume so.”
William turned to face Olivia. “You look delightful darling.”
She walked over to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“The mistletoe is in the hall Olivia.” William laughed whilst admiring her elegant black dress.
Olivia adjusted her gold bracelet and stared at the clock on the dark wooden sideboard. “Gosh, is that the time? Your parents will soon be here!”
“Don’t worry darling, as usual you have everything under control.”
“Perhaps this Christmas I will be able to relax.”
“Darling, can I taste a piece of turkey?”
“No, you will have to wait until the meal is served.”
William smiled, “okay.”
Olivia walked over to the living room bay window. “We certainly got our white Christmas.”
William followed and stood beside her. “Later this evening, you can play the Bing Crosby recording of the song on the radiogram. The song is appropriate for this time of year, it also revives memories.”
“Yes, it does.” I wonder where James Carsell-Brown is at this festive time? Is he with his loved ones?
“A penny for them Olivia.”
She smiled, “just thinking of the past William.”
William hugged his pretty wife. “War is now over Olivia.”
I wasn’t thinking of the war.
“People can return to a happier way of life – however austere. Mind you, Clement Attlee’s post-war Labour Government will have their work cut out to improve the economy.”
“Given what happened during the war, we are fortunate to have our family together.”
William smiled, “and I still drive with caution.”
“Thanks to a certain individual.”
“I am grateful to him. Wherever James may be, I hope he is having a joyful Christmas.”
Olivia kissed William and then looked out of the frosty bay window. Thank you Mr Time Traveller for saving my husband’s life five years ago. Will we ever see you again? Merry Christmas wherever you are.
The Beach, Nice
This calm location provides the backdrop to a dramatic climax for the book’s final chapter, Circle of Time. Can the murder of a young innocent woman be averted by police officials? Time is of the essence and it is running out.
1967 The Summer of Music
In Britain, ‘pirate’ radio stations operated in coastal waters. The Beatles reached their musical peak in making the Sgt Pepper album. Procol Harum puzzled record listeners with the lyrics to a ‘Whiter Shade Of Pale’. Nancy Sinatra performed the theme song for the latest Bond film, ‘You Only Live Twice’. The Beatles not only held the top spot in Britain’s album chart but also in August topped the single charts. Their single ‘All You Need Is Love’ sold over million copies within a short space of time. Anita Harris recorded ‘Just Loving You’, written by Tom Springfield, brother of Dusty. If The Time Jigsaw is made into a film, this will be an ideal theme song. It is a romantic ballad which contains lyrics that reveal Abbie Anderson’s feelings for the time traveller.
1967 The Summer of Love
A term renowned for ‘hanging out’ in San Francisco plus other major American cities and used for the title of the penultimate chapter. A time synonymous for free love and taking drugs. In Britain, women’s contraception in the form of a birth control pill was introduced. For men, fashionable attire revolved around London’s Carnaby Street. The hot summer and culture of this year encouraged the birth of a permissive society. Shackles were discarded and a ‘wind of change’ in Britain had begun.
After twenty-seven years, Abigail Anderson is reunited with the time traveller. When they last met, Abigail was a young girl. Now in her mid-thirties, she is an attractive fun-loving lady. The summer of 1967 would turn out to be a special time for both of them.
Dunkirk 1940
In chapter 10, Lieutenant William Carsell-Brown and his squad have been ordered to head for the channel port of Dunkirk. An evacuation of allied troops will begin immediately in a bid to save them from being taken prisoner by the German army. All type of boats are sailing from Britain to Dunkirk on a vital rescue mission. Allied troops have been instructed to form an orderly queue on the beach at Dunkirk. This queue stretches out into the sea where troops stand up to their waist in water.
Ardennes Forest, May 1940
This is the most popular post on the site. Why not download The Time Jigsaw ebook and read about 1940?
German tank units head through the Ardennes forest towards Sedan on the east bank on the Meuse River. In the north, the battle has already started with Wehrmacht troops invading Holland Luxembourg and Belgium. British and French troops have advanced towards Belgium to meet the threat. However, Sedan is not well-fortified by French troops as it is deemed to be impenetrable. The German High Command thought otherwise.
Newhaven Harbour, Leith
A place close to where the time traveller’s grandfather lived and subsequent family grew up. A picturesque location which looks onto the River Forth and Fife coastline. Granton harbour is further west along the coast and in 1940 was a hive of activity filled with fishing boats.
RMS Queen Elizabeth
This is the ship mentioned in chapter 9. It was built at John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank, near Glasgow. Building was started in mid 1930 and the ship was launched in September 1938. It was named after Elizabeth, Queen Consort to King George VI. The ship was originally intended as a luxury ocean liner for passengers travelling from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, France. However, the proposed maiden voyage due for April 1940 was suspended in August 1939 due to the threat of war. It was intended to move the ship from Clydebank for security reasons. The RMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned by the Royal Navy as a troop ship. The Cunard colours were repainted battleship grey.
Leith Docks
After a meeting with Alan Struthers, James next adventure takes him to Edinburgh and specifically, the port of Leith. Struthers has an unconfirmed intelligence report that sabotage of the Royal Navy’s new ship, RMS Queen Elizabeth, could occur. He arranges for James to join the work force at Leith Docks and keep him informed of any unusual activity or behaviour.
The Time Jigsaw 