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After the Fire
Following a freak house fire, Frank is forced to travel once more - to darkest Sunbury.‘Your husband is in hospital, and the house is on fire.’Madge listens to this phone message from Kingston police in disbelief. What has Frank done now? Has he been burning crumpets again? And what can she do about it? She is three hours out from Kingston and heading to the Chilterns!Frank and Madge are about to face the most challenging year of their lives. Rendered nearly homeless, cut off from the internet, it’s a rollercoaster ride of daily dramas and madcap meetings they never dreamt could come their way. And in the background bubbles the all-important will their insurance claim be approved or will they be forced to live as down-and-outs?
201 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2023
1 person want to read
About the author
Frank Kusy
26 books83 followersBorn and raised in the fog-shrouded streets of 1960s London, and with more than 30 years of travel writing experience under his belt, aspiring Buddhist and incorrigible cat-lover Frank Kusy is a SUNDAY TRIBUNE RECOMMENDED AUTHOR and a four-time Gold Medal Winner on the Harper Collins Authonomy site. He has been awarded the AIA Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence for his flagship book 'Rupee Millionaires', and has been a featured author on several promotional sites, including BookBub, Pixel of Ink, Indie Book Bargains and FreeBooksy. His books have received international press acclaim, and have made the Kindle Top 100 List several times, his first published book, 'Kevin and I in India', climbing as high as #5. In April 2015 his children's book 'Ginger the Gangster Cat' won a Gold medal on the prestigious Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 6 to 8 year olds, though this and the sequel 'Ginger the Buddha Cat' appeal as much to adults as to children.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2024
Even reading the Prologue and the photo of the Birthday card his wife Andrea sent to Frank was mind boggling! 'Oh, yes, the house burnt down' What an absolute nightmare. An ongoing nightmare for Frank and Madge.
Poor Frank was alone in the house when he was woken by Firefighters bursting into his home. Safe but traumatised as was Madge when she was contacted and so sadly was Sparky, Frank's beloved cat.
However with amazing humour and fortitude they cope with losing most of their possessions and being rendered homeless. I can't even imagine being decanted to a hotel room and somehow trying to continue to do the normal everyday things as before. I love the way the various events are described by both Frank and Madge, and with great honesty! The photos were an added bonus - I really liked them.
There's plenty to make you laugh like Renee, the eccentric yoga instructor - I'm sure they really get a buzz out out of those classes! Fortunately they have a very conscientious loss adjuster and a number of very kind and dependable friends who help them through the months. It's both tear jerking and heart warming. I was so happy when the ordeal was finally over and they moved back into their newly restored home. And Sparky? He's happily settled in his new home too. It's another winner from Frank.
Poor Frank was alone in the house when he was woken by Firefighters bursting into his home. Safe but traumatised as was Madge when she was contacted and so sadly was Sparky, Frank's beloved cat.
However with amazing humour and fortitude they cope with losing most of their possessions and being rendered homeless. I can't even imagine being decanted to a hotel room and somehow trying to continue to do the normal everyday things as before. I love the way the various events are described by both Frank and Madge, and with great honesty! The photos were an added bonus - I really liked them.
There's plenty to make you laugh like Renee, the eccentric yoga instructor - I'm sure they really get a buzz out out of those classes! Fortunately they have a very conscientious loss adjuster and a number of very kind and dependable friends who help them through the months. It's both tear jerking and heart warming. I was so happy when the ordeal was finally over and they moved back into their newly restored home. And Sparky? He's happily settled in his new home too. It's another winner from Frank.
January 19, 2024
A rollercoaster ride from Tragedy to Comedy to Happy ever after...
Phew! what rollercoaster ride this book has been for me. One of Frank Kusy's best.
We start with a tragic fire and near death experience for Frank where he and his wife Madge lost nearly all their personal belongings and treasured momentos scarring their precious Cat Sparkey of ever living in their home again ending like a Phoenix literally rising from the Ashes in the end.
The consequence of which we get to hear about their being uprooted and living in whatever was available to great discomfort, meeting with an unbelievable assortment of characters and so much kindness along the way.
This story, despite the Tragedy and frustrations never lacks a sense of humour. There is so much laughter along this journey from a home that sorely needed some TLC, being accidentally suffering a kitchen fire that made the whole house unlivable to ending up as a brand new home that gave them a whole new start to their lives. Well deserved after the year of hell they went through but with resilience and the help of dear friends and a kind and diligent loss adjuster survived it all. Even Sparkey ended up jn a pampered and loving new home. Certainly a very good read.
Phew! what rollercoaster ride this book has been for me. One of Frank Kusy's best.
We start with a tragic fire and near death experience for Frank where he and his wife Madge lost nearly all their personal belongings and treasured momentos scarring their precious Cat Sparkey of ever living in their home again ending like a Phoenix literally rising from the Ashes in the end.
The consequence of which we get to hear about their being uprooted and living in whatever was available to great discomfort, meeting with an unbelievable assortment of characters and so much kindness along the way.
This story, despite the Tragedy and frustrations never lacks a sense of humour. There is so much laughter along this journey from a home that sorely needed some TLC, being accidentally suffering a kitchen fire that made the whole house unlivable to ending up as a brand new home that gave them a whole new start to their lives. Well deserved after the year of hell they went through but with resilience and the help of dear friends and a kind and diligent loss adjuster survived it all. Even Sparkey ended up jn a pampered and loving new home. Certainly a very good read.
December 17, 2023
As Madge leaves the house to go to stay with a friend for a few days, she wakes Frank to ask if he's been burning crumpets....
I've read and loved all Frank's memoirs, but I never expected this development. Rescued from their burning house, Frank and Madge have to cope with losing most of their treasured belongings, the threat of homelessness - and a displaced cat. Told in Frank's usual inimitable way, this is the story of a traumatic year. But don't expect it to be all doom and gloom, because Frank can find the humor in most situations. As ever, the supporting characters make the story. Renee, the gym instructor, is a fabulous tyrant who bullies them into keeping fit. And Dennis (you will remember him if you read one of Frank's previous books, The Clueless Companion) is a whacky soul, hoping to use his rescue dog as a babe magnet. How a couple of pensioners survived the crisis, and remained a couple, is a wonderful story, and I definitely recommend it.
I've read and loved all Frank's memoirs, but I never expected this development. Rescued from their burning house, Frank and Madge have to cope with losing most of their treasured belongings, the threat of homelessness - and a displaced cat. Told in Frank's usual inimitable way, this is the story of a traumatic year. But don't expect it to be all doom and gloom, because Frank can find the humor in most situations. As ever, the supporting characters make the story. Renee, the gym instructor, is a fabulous tyrant who bullies them into keeping fit. And Dennis (you will remember him if you read one of Frank's previous books, The Clueless Companion) is a whacky soul, hoping to use his rescue dog as a babe magnet. How a couple of pensioners survived the crisis, and remained a couple, is a wonderful story, and I definitely recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews