Conclusions of a Cock-Eyed Optimist

This is the continuing story of the life and times of Nigel Quiney. The previous three volumes dealt with his life living in London from 1939, the war years, discovering he was gay in his teens and the start of traveling. They dealt with his business life and his searching for love and adventure in London and the cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles where he travelled regularly. Running two businesses and travelling to distant parts of the Far East including China in the 'seventies this volume deals with the last three decades during which he met up with David Evans who became his lover and later they became civil partners when the law was changed to allow it. In this last volume, the early work of growing his businesses culminated in 1996 by their being sold allowing early retirement at the age of fifty-seven. This volume incorporates stories about the serious side of business as well as recounting some humorous tales of business abroad and dealing with the different cultures that he discovered. Finally this is a story of success after working for over forty years and the enduring quality of his loving partnership with David Evans. This volume will produce tears of sadness as well as smiles and joy as middle-age slides into the next chapter of his life and will prove, if such a thing is necessary, that being gay does not preclude a hugely satisfactory way of living.