Despite the title this series of short stories include humorous tales in the plenty, some instants that might bring tears, as well as an abundance of heart stopping moments that despite the odds they did all luckily survive. These tales cover the first ten years of the authors lives during which time they plummeted from their indulged affluent lifestyle to one of abject poverty. Falling from the cosseted benefits of comparative wealth to then endure true hardship. It also details the totally fearless kamikaze activities of their younger brother as they amused themselves in the vast expanse that was their daily playground. It relays many of the implausible antics three brothers got up to during their overindulged and certainly ungracious early childhood, generally with John just tagging along, - AND yes that is meant to be his get out clause! To add to their unfolding family woes their parents were forced to endure; out of control children, ill-chosen ‘friends’, calamitous unforeseen incidents, and ruinous financial decisions. These were among the many obstacles the family overcame in their quest to survive the late 1940s and early 1950s. And while in the mood for slandering the family, they added explosive fuel to the fire by including the unconventional and shady methods his parents undertook in a bid to survive post WW2. I am sure you will understand that whatever capers his brothers undertook, after the event they certainly counted upon John’s ‘silence’ as a demonstration of sibling loyalty, and this invariably included enduring like punishment for their misdemeanours too. Many is the time he uttered under his breath an inaudible “drag me into your ill-advised pranks again, and you are dead!” Hence the book title