Comment: The book had me in tears. Damn good read, a refreshing change to all other military themed books and very entertaining.

Comment: First!I haven't read this book yet but if the book is only half as good as the evening Phil told us the stories it's really worth to give it a try.Thanks for the great dealer - evening from the very south west of germany.Best regards,Markus

Comment: Hi Woody, I was guilty of having a tear in my eye on several occasions; due to both laughter and emotion. If anyone out there is in any doubt about buying this book, I can assure you it is superb. It is not a war mongering account of an over-exaggerating soldier, simply the facts as they were with every emotion attached. After 22 years of being married to the Army, my wife hates squaddies with a passion. She reluctantly read the book and cried for ages. Thanks for the memories Woody - Max

Comment: You've come a long way from Mosquito Bites, the 4 page 350 sqn camp supplement from Wisconsin 2000. Great stuff Phil, always the comedian. BTW you missed off kite flying and hogging the karaoke mike from the interest and hobbies preface. Rgds Brinky.

Comment: I bought the book to read on holiday, read the first page and never put it down. Still the same bloke who was absolutely raving as an 18year old apprentice bus fitter mechanic, Phil has always had a great talent to spin a yarn, and this book, with the right publicity can be very succesful. When are you on Richard & Judy then?. Next book, adventures of the skateboarding forklift truck salesman?

Well done it was a great read.

From a bloke from West Brom!!!!!

Comment: It was a brave thing to do writing a book putting all your thoughts and emotions down in ink for the world to see. A fantastic read. It was easy to follow and very discriptive of all the senses which allowed the reader to feel they were in the authors shoes or boots as the case may be.

Comment: Met Phill at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham(where he kept nicking our blueberry muffins from our stand) Just ordered the book and taking it on holiday for a good read. Before it was published i read the sections that were on the web site..........the bit about looking in the fridge and it was still the same food there as it was when you looked half an hour ago.............i do that !Look forward to seeing it in the Sunday Times top 10 best sellers

Comment: Great to hear the books out, enjoyed the emails ya sent back, cant wait to read it ... be safe

Comment: What a good read!! It has opened my eyes. I thought we looked after our lads better than this, which makes it all the more remarkable how successful we are. Well done, glad it was a happy ending for you and your family.

Comment: I'm endebted to Keith Hay for lending me his copy of your superb book. Having spent 40 years sending tourists to Arabia including Iraq, once I started to read of your experiences I read till I was finished. I admire the bravery of you chaps in Iraq but especially your courage in putting pen to paper. Clearly behind every great soldier one finds a remarkable wife & family who must be very proud of you and of what you have done and written. All the best Jim Smith

Name: Lin Holmes

Comment: Dear Phil, Kerry and family Just reviewing the website made me cry - especially the wedding pics! Congratulations. I will be buying the book to read on holiday in Florida in September. I'll remove all my mascara before I start! Well done and good luck! Lin

Comment: Great book Phil i have passed it on to Lucie. It maybe my only chance of fame if they make a film about you. Anyway well done mate i dont think i could have endured what went on.

Comment: I didn't need the bookmark, I just couldn't put it down, Woody sure does have a way with words. Thanks 

Comment: Phil, I must congratulate you for providing me with both an entertaining and tearful read; the book was great. What a hell hole of a place you describe and I dont mean the M6.

Comment: What can i say about this book other than FANTASTIC. Great read helped with the pictures couldnt put the thing down until finished. Best book I've read by far!!!

Comment: The book was really good. My dad bought the book as he is a solider too, and I picked it up after him and loved every page of it.

Comment: Hiya Woody, The Book is great, even better as I am in it!!! it's something for me to keep forever to remind me of the time we were all there!!!! The book is now doing the rounds of my family and friends and I have nothing but good reviews from them all.

Comment: Phil, thanks for providing me with some fascinating and different holiday reading material. I only read about 1 book a year so you were v.priveledged!. I just could not have gone through what you went through - a couple of nights away from my family is too much for me. So I am full of admiration. Thankyou for doing what I couldn't, and also for recounting such an interesting story! Cheers, Mike.

Comment: The 1st book that's not took me a year to read. A great book that had me and the Mrs in tears. Thanks again .

Comment: I know cos I was there with you .Brilliant book mate, I haven't talked to any of my familly until it was finished, noow i'm in the dog house. The dog looks great in my house coat and slippers. Well done mate i'll have mine out next year...called 'back in bits'.

Comment: Well Woody you did manage to have me in tears again!! (the first time being on the drill square during my recruit training) Really moving book couldn't put it down!! so i guess your house is safe!!

Comment: It has taken me some time to post my comments because as the RAO I have to deal with ongoing problems of those excellent TA soldiers who deployed to Iraq (not you of course Woody). An excellent read which captured the real problems of the part time soldier, from mobilisation, to finally coming home to their families. I admire you all.

Comment: Hi Buddy, I finally got round to finishing the book on leave and what a book. I'm not much of a reader but this fist class account of your tour made it very hard to put down and eager to read the next chapter. A very emotional, (funny and sometimes sad) account of what you went through buddy and what a strong and supportive family you have. Your accounts show the good sides but more important where the Army needs to improve. Best wishes buddy and I still have ya mini forklift from RESTART CADRE.

Comment: Was on an exchange program to the UK and got to meet Woody. While I was there I read the book and it was wonderfull. Brought back alot of memories since I was in Iraq about the same time as Woody. The book also made me drop a few tears, and also made me laugh. The book will always be with me and bring back the wonderfull memories of Woody. Thank you for writing such a wonderfull book.

Comment: As a Director of Barloworld I must thank you very much for such an inspiring book, I am very proud of you as a member of the Barloworld family and I hope that the book has had wide circulation within the BW group. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the role my son played in the army in other theatres before he had to retire due to injury. Thank you

Comment: Superb! It's an Emotional Rollercoaster showing what being in that enviroment is really about. The Groundhog Day feelings that do not romance the experience. From Chair envy, to top cover. This book allows the reader to receive an insight into the human cost of an active tour away from home and loved ones.

Comment: Two words best describe this book – “SPOT ON!!” As an ex-Sgt in the TA, I was also mobilised and served in Iraq from June-Nov 03 with the RLC. This book relives the memories of the emotions and stresses that every TA soldier who has been mobilised went through – from the heartrenching goodbyes to family, friends and loved ones, to being catapulted into the front line of danger; whilst also having to cope in the intense heat (day and night), red-hot sand being thrown in your face from the sandstorms, and the constant awareness that some extremist may fancy his chances against you today. This book is a must for anyone who takes washing machines, flushing toilets and cold running water (in the middle of August) for granted!!!

Comment: Phil, finally read it and thoroughly enjoyed it, I could relate to all the funny bits and it brought back many memories. If you attend Chilwell open day this year we'll chat and i'll tell you a story about bayonet practice at Tidworth. Well done and good luck to you and your family. Regards Budge

Comment: Hi Phil, was given your book as a present by my aunt and uncle in Essex (I believe your wife is my Uncle John's neice) anyway, what a fantastic read, I couldn't put the book down. You had me laughing and crying all at the same time. The book is now doing the rounds within my family. You are an inspiration to us all, please pass on my reagards to your wife and family.

Comment: My dear old thing, what a ripping yarn! I felt like a Scouser - buying dodgy goods from the back of your saloon. I finished the book within a day. Quoting the cider advert 'What a refreshing change' to read an account that oozed reality and not hyperbole. I laughed, gigled and shouted out loud 'THAT'S SO TRUE' on many occasions.  Are you prepared to talk to the 'Blue Rinse Mafia' of the W.I.?  'Oh Young Man!'

Comment: Hi PhilI have just finished your book, sorry I didn´t have the time to do it earlier but you know what it´s like in the forklift truck business:-) Nice work. A Very good book indeed, but I also enjoyed the stories in live version...so when are you bringing you beautiful family over here...?

Comment: I met Phil at Chatsworth show a couple of weeks back and got a copy of his book. As I approach the final two chapters I am just as hooked as I was at the start!!! This is simply the best read of my life, with a stunning mixture of honesty, humour and emotion, providing a facinating insight into life within the theatre of war in Iraq. Well done Phil & thanks for a great read!

Comment: Hi Phil. I just wanted to thank you for such a great read! I dont think I have ever enjoyed a book so much. Being a family man myself I could empathise with your difficulties in leaving and missing your family, and admire your bravery in embracing the challange...dont know if I could have done the same (I left the forces before I was married) and write about it with such humour!! Cheers mate, keep in touch, Paul

Comment: That book is great, the plastic chair is so spot on, I had chair rage on a number of times. Thank you, like a dad of three I could so relate to what you said. Well done. When's the next one Philip McNab !!