The Best of Health

60 years ago, being a medical student entailed some hair-raising encounters in the course of training like giving a general anaesthetic without help or instruction, simply because you were the only help available; or assisting in emergency surgery when there was nobody else available.

Distinguished doctors thronged the corridors of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Long after the war there was still a vivid memory of Burma and Libya.

Find out why an elderly theatre orderly hinted darkly at “a doctor who got to Dunkirk four days ahead of the field hospital team”. Get a new slant on the Penicillin story and read why the old NHS system in Edinburgh avoided “bed blockers”.

Here is an account of the almost explosive expansion of hospital medicine into ICUs – cardiac arrest teams, coronary care units, positive pressure ventilation, renal dialysis, etc. It was a time of medical progress and high morale.

The Big Wall Feeling

Mum, Dad and primary school aged, Jacob, live happily and simply with their cat, Marley, somewhere in Australia. When new neighbours move in next door, although they have the identical family set up (but no cat), their perceived differences passively prevent there being any contact between the families. Only Marley doesn’t notice this big wall feeling and moves happily between the families until the night of the big storm…

Told through the adventures of two primary school aged boys and a cat called Marley, this beautifully illustrated picture book tackles Australia’s very real issues with intercultural acceptance. Ali, Jacob and Marley’s story shows how simple it is to embrace cultural diversity and value individual difference.

The Bigamist

Harry Boulton, a successful consultant for a global corporation, finds himself in a downward spiral after losing a substantial sum of money gambling and being fired from his job in Brussels. The added pressure of receiving a letter from his wife in New York asking for a child only compounds his stress. With mounting debts to a dangerous loan shark known as Spider and the weight of two marriages to navigate, Harry reaches the brink of despair and makes a devastating decision.

But just as he is about to pull the trigger, fate intervenes and gives him a second chance. Determined to turn his life around, Harry takes on a new job and sets out to make amends with the two women in his life. However, when his wives unexpectedly meet in Sydney, where he has found a fresh start, the stage is set for a heart-pounding confrontation that could determine the rest of Harry’s days.

Harry’s journey is a thrilling roller coaster ride of personal redemption, filled with twists and turns that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. With a gripping plot, dynamic characters, and intense action, this book explores the limits of love, loyalty, and the human spirit.

The Bio-lien Demigod

“I’ve been stabbed! I’m bleeding! I’ll never get to do the things I’ve always wanted! Learn a new language, open a Christmas restaurant for the holidays, have a fight with Jason Statham!

…The wound… it’s gone!?

Well, to be fair, it’s not the weirdest thing that’s happened so far.”

If someone told you their parents were killed by a superhero, would you believe them?

Legeromei was only a young boy when his parents were killed by a bionic superhero. And now, eight years later, he’s being hunted by the people who worked for his parents. He wants answers to why they want him, and to why he’s going through some serious pubescent changes.

All he wants to do is spend time with his new friends and the girl he likes. Can he figure out what’s going on before Christmas?

Aliens, Demigods, and bionic humans…what could go right?

The Bitterest PLC To Swallow

If you’ve ever worked in a pub, currently work in one, or simply have an interest in the history and evolution of pubs, Neil’s book is a must-read. In this insightful and entertaining memoir, Neil shares his experiences and observations about working in local estate pubs during a time when they were the heart and soul of their respective communities.

Through humorous anecdotes and blunt opinions, Neil highlights the many challenges faced by pub owners and workers in the modern era. From policies that leave him screaming to people who make him swear, Neil pulls no punches in his assessment of the pub industry.

The book also explores the transformation of local estate pubs into modern-day branded establishments, such as curry houses and convenience stores. Neil’s revelations are sure to surprise and shock readers, and may even cause them to question the value and quality of the food and drink they pay for in these establishments.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Neil takes readers on a trip down memory lane, revisiting the fun pubs of the 80s before they became bitter PLCs. Through Neil’s vivid storytelling, readers will laugh, cringe, and even taste the history of these once-beloved establishments.

In the end, Neil offers his take on what happened to pubs and what they have become. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and evolution of pubs, and may just make you think twice about where you choose to spend your hard-earned wages.

The Black Willows

A young man named Tommy goes missing in a dense, isolated and unforgiving forest located 45 minutes outside the small town of Jennifer's Ridge. Months pass and there is no trace of him, with his family stricken with grief and the local police having no luck on locating him. His older brother, Jason; and childhood friend, Pete, team up with the local rangers to comb through the forest and bring him home…but they are not alone, the shadows hide ancient evils as they march further into the abyss, the trees seem to reach out and grab them, trying to warn the men as they track through. But they use this fear to push on, to bring Tommy home…to not let the Black Willows claim him as its own.

The Blackpool Landlady and Son

When 18-year-old Helen Ashton meets Joe McCarthy on the moors of Northumberland she instantly falls in love, certain that her humdrum life had taken a new turn. And for several years it did.

On the eve of the First World War, Helen learns that she is pregnant with Joe’s child, but before she can tell him, he enlists in the army and is despatched to war. She never heard from Joe again, and believed him dead.

When their son, Ben, was born, Helen, in mounting desperation, agreed to marry a retired police inspector with whom she had two children.

In time, her husband of convenience leaves Helen for another woman, and she finds herself on her own in the coastal resort of Blackpool with three young children with only a penurious future to look forward to. But fate intervenes, and with growing confidence Helen turns their home into a holiday hotel and begins welcoming guests. From one she learns that her beloved Joe had not died, but had been discharged into a sanatorium where he languished, a shadow of his former self, depressed, uncertain, confused … and lost, lacking the courage to reconnect with Helen.

By the time of Helen’s death, Joe is living a reclusive life, and his son, Ben, married with children of his own, takes over the Blackpool hotel. It is Ben’s wife, childhood friend Mary, who tracks down Ben’s father, finally persuading Ben to meet him … on the day Joe dies.

The Blossoming Lotus

Embark on a transformative voyage of self-exploration and recovery with The Blossoming Lotus.
Through moments of heartache, betrayal, hope, joy, poverty, despair, self-loathing, self-love, homelessness, and friendship, the writer learns to love all aspects of herself, recognising that, much like the Lotus Flower that flourishes in murky waters, all of us have the potential to mature into beautiful and powerful beings.
This collection of poems, written over the past decade, represents a powerful and inspiring message of hope.
‘I hope you enjoy reading this collection.
My prayer is for my messages to reach those
who need them the most.’
Sylvie

The Blue Canvas

A blend of interesting poetry inspired by everyday life things such as the weather, holidays, food, or life in general. Written during lockdown when home-schooling was the new norm, this anthology of poems helps us to remember, be thankful, and be grateful. Listening to the news during the pandemic made people believe that each day was a blessing, and that people should do their best to value their family, friends, and neighbours, and not take each other for granted.

The Blue Mist

The science of human factors is often overlooked, yet it is pivotal in the pursuit of safety. Understanding what makes us tick, our behaviours and how we interact with others, and the ability to visualise potential threats and errors has many advantages. Such as developing better interpersonal and communication skills, which can assist in growing your leadership or team working skills. The ability to see threats and errors can improve safety, reduce costs, and increase productivity.

The Blue Mist is a personal guidebook on human factors; through the author’s experiences and research, the reader can explore and learn the basic human factor concepts. Extensive research in well-known disasters such as the Ladbrook Grove rail disaster, The Costa Concordia Grounding, and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter accident, together with the author’s accounts of incidents and accidents, combine to give an informative and fascinating insight.

The field of human factors developed by the aviation industry is becoming recognised as a critical element in many other sectors. Adopted as a safety element in the shipping, rail, and medical sectors, it has increased safety and reduced accidents. This book assists both novice and experienced human factor advocates and is an excellent tool in exploring the human factor concepts and values.

The Book and the Ring

On Torka, Baroness Penelope Birkenwood, Brenosian Ambassador to Genna, is visited by a member of the Council of Magic and told of a dark spirit in the world looking to exploit divisions and create instability. Penelope is tasked with stopping it with the aid of a ring.

George, the young and inexperienced king of Brenos, is being urged by some of his advisors to marry Suzannah, niece of King Francis of Amerton. But doing this will involve a major change of foreign policy which others oppose. When Penelope returns, they make a decision which turns everything upside down.

Another country, Korinth, is engaged in a long-running feud with Amerton, under its seemingly mad queen, Marilyn.

Penelope is cast on a journey in which she will need to use her wits and diplomatic skills to ease tensions between nations and prevent the dark spirit’s power from leading Torka to disaster…

‘The Book and the Ring is an immersive and intricately woven work of fantasy. As with Anne Hampton’s previous books, her skill with word-building is as nuanced as it is wide-reaching: from the first page we are introduced to a vibrant new world with a cast of characters who guide us through the story, using natural dialogue which successfully avoids being over-expository. The relevant themes of the book are dealt with tactfully and do not detract from the plot or risk becoming too political.’ – Stefanie Seaton, Editor, Austin Macauley Publishers

The Boot Room

For many years, the football transfer window has been a dominant topic in news columns, with fans increasingly glued to social media for updates on their clubs. The Boot Room delves into the intricacies of the transfer window, tracing its evolution from its inception to its current form, shaped by data-led scouting.

Author Andrew Judge engages with a diverse range of football insiders, from finance experts discussing the state of football finances to Sky Sports reporters on the front lines during deadline day. He takes readers inside the boardroom with a club secretary on Transfer Deadline Day and into the physio’s room, where medical teams race against time to complete player medicals with millions at stake.

The book also examines the impact of data-led scouting on Youth Academies, featuring insights from one of England’s highly regarded Youth Coaches. In an era of growing fake news in football, Judge explores the challenges fans face in distinguishing fact from fiction in transfer news, which captivates the football world for a few months each year.

Through conversations with scouts, fans, and analysts, The Boot Room reveals the transfer window’s significance and the profound effect fake rumours can have on football players themselves.