Long Road To The Manse

About the Book

LONG ROAD TO THE MANSE. By Gerald Gossage.

About This Book.. This true story starts with a 13 year old Choir Boy who wants to follow his Mother's Jesus. He is fighting 111 Health,   lack of education, and frustration with his view of the world and the church. The book concludes with him leaving College and University for the Manse of his first church then aged 37.

The 'road' is full of humorous and interesting situations when he does almost every kind of work a man can think of, Lift attendant, Civil Servant, factory worker, office and shop work. A House Master to children, Motor mechanic, Actor, Preacher, Tea boy and Manager, and more.

Set in the years 1937 to 1960 there are memories of war torn-,blitzed London with miracle escapes from bombs and Doodle Bugs, Nostalgic looks at shop girls when they lived in poor conditions over the shop. And the pre war Pawnbroker.

We see him facing girl temptations where only God can deliver him, and later on marriage and family life. And through all these adventures he consistently holds to a belief that God has a plan for his life, and he must find it.

In the end he gives up looking for God's plan, and then God steps in with a box of miracles which continue to the very last page.

This book will cause laughter, sometimes a tear perhaps, will certainly entertain, and maybe make the reader ask "could something in this book be Just for me !"

Comments of a few who have read this before publishing.

"What a nice read. Pity there are not more books like this, they make you feel

happy, and good"

I really enjoyed your book, It is well written and of real interest. I'm not a

religious man and therefore not so keen on the God-slot, but I admire your

sincerity and without that the book would be spoiled. Keep it just as it is and

try to get it published, if you write another I would buy it. Very Good work.

Read your book by accident, couldn't put it down .Excellent, interesting and

enjoyable. Would love to see it in print.

(Another Book is coming soon "Long Road of Miracles")

About the Author

It was in a raging Heat-Wave on the 12^th July 1924, that a mother looked for the first time on her new infant, and yelled tenderly "Ahhhr!!". And the author was reluctantly accepted into a loving family. They had to be loving, for I had such a mass of black hair on my head no baby comb would touch it.

My Father had left the first world war behind with lung trouble and was told to find work outdoors or he would not live long, so after several efforts, he turned his passionate hobby of gardening into a daily living, so we did well in the Spring and Summer but woe to us if the Winter was hard.

Sydenham, in South East London was a quiet and pleasant area of Kent then, near enough for easy access to the City, but almost country side.

I grew up in a world of horse drawn traffic with exciting new forms of transport like the first omnibuses and Southern Rail steam trains, and later the electric system. Trams in the middle of the main streets, and milk delivered to the door in large churns from which was measured into your jug on the door step a gill or pint.

Shop keepers stood behind their counters and were subservient and keen to serve you. And the policeman who saw me across the road to school usually had an apple in his pocket for those who were good.

Like most people in those days my parents went to church every Sunday, my only brother was in the choir, and God and The Church became my greatest joy, and has remained so ever since.

I have always had appallingly ill health so I left school at fourteen from the bottom of the class, and was of little use to employers, I was also sure that I could do something special for society and God with my life, so years were lost looking for what I was supposed to do.

Did I make it ? you will have to read this book to find out, and if you are still not sure, get my next book "Long Road Of Miracles". People tell me that you will enjoy both books.