IantoPF Interviews scarytaff
A worldly "Taff" speaks of his experience with undersea engineering, published works, and more!
1. I know what a "Taff" is but most at Hubpages don't so could you tell us why you chose "Scarytaff'"
A “Taff” is a person who was born and bred in Wales and it's a nickname we get tagged with in the armed forces, and locally as a term of endearment. 'Scarytaff' came from my bother-in-law. He came into the kitchen when I was preparing a stew and noticed the red chillies I had chopped up that were ready to go in. "You're not putting all those chillies in are you?" he queried. When I told him, 'Yes I am.' He said, 'That's a bit scary, Taff.'
2. Your profile shows you as a retired undersea engineer. What did that work entail and is it as adventurous as it sounds?
I guess it was pretty adventurous because I never knew what country I'd go to next, what notice I'd get before travelling, or what new people I'd meet. One day I was plastering a wall in the bedroom when the phone rang. An hour later, I'd dropped the tools leaving my wife to clear up and was driving a hire car 500 miles to Edinburgh to fit a ship and sail on it. That was when Piper Alpha blew up in the North Sea. But most of the time it was routine, repetitive work.
I did get to travel worldwide for many years, though. I would fly to the country where the agency had a job for me and meet with the Survey Company people who needed the job done. Sometimes it would be a location for a new pipeline, or an area to survey for an oil rig to be placed on. We used equipment that we could scan the seabed with to locate any hazards in the area as well as penetrate the seabed to shallow depths to show up hidden objects. See my hubs: Marine Surveys, A Nightmare Job, and A Nightmare Job Part 2. I'd fit the equipment to the ship, then sail on it and operate the equipment, repair it if it went wrong and complete the survey. Sometimes it took weeks, other times months.
3. Your job took you to many countries all over the world, if you could go back to just one country where would that be and why?
I loved Vietnam. We were not there very long, just a matter of a few weeks, but it was a beautiful country. The people were friendly, very willing to help and very hard workers.
4. Personally, I can't boil an egg but you have a number of Hubs on cooking. What brought you to such a love of the kitchen?
My Mother was a great cook. She cooked for the local Fire Service during the last war. She taught all of her sons, six of us, to cook from a very early age. I was on a course with the Sea Cadets at a Royal Naval establishment when I was fourteen and on our first day the instructor asked if anyone was interested in cooking. My hand shot up. I was sent to the galley to carry the food back for the class. It was cans of cold beans and bread. I learned never to volunteer again. But I still love cooking and if I see something done on a TV programme, I've got to try it.
5. As well as Hubpages you have a number of books published. Tell us something about them.
I've always loved writing and could always be found scribbling notes in my rest periods at sea. I'd write the notes up when I got home. My first book, “The National Heroes,” is a story of conscripts in the Royal Navy who serve their time on a destroyer and get involved with the Suez Crisis of 1956 where they are decorated for gallantry.
“Innocent on the Run” is the story of a young lad's burning ambition to go to sea. He is offered a job on a ship sailing to America, and when in Port, he misses his ship and is stranded. He goes on the run, thinking that he'll be thrown in jail as an illegal immigrant. He's kidnapped by bank robbers but manages to escape, taking their loot with him, but is hounded by the gang who follow him across Texas to get their money back and kill him in the process.
“White Slaves,” is the adventure of a vastly overweight, cowardly private detective whose bungling gets him caught by white slavers who are sending beautiful girls out to the harems of the Middle East. He is threatened to be made a eunuch by the Arab in charge, terrifying the life out of him. There's humour, love and adventure in that one.
“Mayhem in the Valleys” is a book written in the idiom of the Welsh valleys. Todger, Danny and Wassname Williams are three geriatric delinquents who cause mayhem wherever they go. From burning down the Legion Hall to brewing their own liquor, then trying to blow up the Welsh Assembly Government, they cause chaos in their town.
“Hislop's Nigerian Nightmare” is the continuing story of Hislop, the overweight cowardly detective. His mission this time is to travel to Nigeria to uncover the operation of thieves who are stealing expensive cars in the U.K. and shipping the parts out to Nigeria. He is captured by bandits and held to ransom, while his assistant in Nigeria solves the case.
I had to write a cookery book after reading of the horrifying additives that manufacturers were putting in our food. “Succulent Savouries” is a selection of the foods I love to prepare and cook. From home made sausages to French Cassoulet, I try them all.
Anyone is welcome to read chapters of my books on my website: www.dericbarryfictionbooks.com
I self publish with Lulu.com
6.Who has influenced you the most in your life?
My brothers. They taught me to stand on my own two feet. The lessons were hard sometimes, and I'd have to fight, but it made me determined to succeed, whether it was in a fight or attaining a goal in life.
7. What brought you to Hubpages?
I searched the net for sites that encouraged writers. I joined WeBook and Authonomy, but never seemed to get any encouragement. I read other peoples books and gave critiques when asked to do so but it was all one sided. When I found Hubpages, everything changed. I began to enjoy myself. People genuinely wanted to help, by offering free advice and encouragement, friendship and truth. The site stimulates the writer to greater things, I think.
8. What do you consider to be your best Hub so far?
That's a difficult one. I know some people love History and others are not too keen on it. I personally love to learn of the great events and milestones that shaped our history. What bad luck King Harold was blessed with after defeating the Viking Harald Hardrada who was invading Northern Britain, then having to hurry back to Hastings, at the other end of the country, where William of Normandy was invading in the South. His men were exhausted and William was successful. So changed the whole history of Britain.
But I think my best hub so far is Ancient Britons It took me weeks of research, reading history books before I could put it into a hub.
9. What do you like the most about Hubpages?
The willingness of everyone to tolerate their fellow writers. To offer advice and encouragement freely and without gain. I've met some really nice people and have been given sound advice by many experts in their fields on Hubpages. I thank them all for their continued support. I spend a long time each day HubHopping. What a great facility that is. To be able to read such a diverse collection of hubs is very satisfying.
10. Tells us something about yourself that we do not know.
Difficult. My life is an open book, if you'll pardon the pun. I have a lovely wife, who spoils me endlessly, even now after 45 years of marriage, and a great family. Two daughters and three grandchildren who are a constant source of fun and pride. I am content.
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