This book is the story of a single woman’s service in the colonies and travels
throughout the globe. It begins in Tanganyika where Miss Bell worked for the
groundnuts scheme and where she falls under the spell of Africa, a feeling which never
leaves her for the next twenty years.
As a high ranking Personal Secretary she faced many difficulties in countries which
were emerging in “the winds of change” and when she became dispensable her career
continued in many countries including Cyprus, Australia and the South Pacific.
A keen sportswoman (she was golf correspondent for “Northern News” in Northern
Rhodesia for many years) her hobbies also included tennis , swimming and ski-ing,
and in one chapter she writes a vivid description of hunting and shooting of wildlife.
As a young woman she clearly enjoyed the social life with its many parties and all
this is recounted in great detail.
During the transitional period of change of power in various countries, government
servants like Miss Bell found it unacceptable, and her memoirs give some indication of
her feelings. For readers who like a factual account of events as they occurred, this
book is written by some one with a keen sense of humour and a spirit of adventure.
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