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Goodbye Mr Krupps
A vivid and entertaining account of one man’s extraordinary life, guided by a love of steam trains and an unerring vision to be an engine driver in the days when steam ruled the rails. See through the eyes of a small boy the first stirrings of this enduring passion as, in rapt fascination, he watches trains on the Hull & Barnsley main line in the 1940s, and witness the bucolic beauty of rural life, allied with the poverty and shear hard graft of farm work during the war years, when it seems his dream will be crushed by the daily grind and drudgery.
Share the author’s exuberance as, having hazarded all, he succeeds in joining the London & North Eastern Railway as a lad porter, before being introduced to the hallowed world of the Locomotive Department, progressing through the ranks to finally fulfil his dream. On this journey share his exhilaration as he thunders down the main line on a locomotive pushed to its limits, spewing fire and brimstone; and witness a host of steam train escapades, adventures, and mishaps, from the farcical to tragic.
Finally, travel with him to exotic Tanganyika/Tanzania in the 1960s where, during 12 years with East African Railways, he experiences the challenges of epic journeys through the heart of the sun-baked bush, breakdowns, derailments, flooded tracks, and violent mutiny, as well as the joy of driving the mighty and exemplary 30 Class, ending with the pinnacle of his career: that of becoming Locomotive Inspector.
£35.99 -
My Truth Might Not Be Yours
‘Anoscetia’ – The anxiety of not knowing ‘the real you’ (John Koenig).
McCabe never really knew her ‘real Anna’, going in search of this when she decided to go on the journey enclosed within these covers. A tale so common, yet so unfortunately rarely shared, McCabe details her life to share with those who might walk in similar (or not) shoes to her. McCabe’s poignant yet unfussy account of abuse at the hands of her guardians deals with this ‘taboo’ subject in ways that will open the eyes of those who have never experienced it yet, allow those who have, to find their own voice.
What will McCabe reveal? The taboo must be broken.
£12.99 -
Diary of a Wartime Unmarried Mother
This diary gives a remarkably vivid description of the life of Doreen Bates, a professional young woman, who went against the social norms of her time to intentionally have twins fathered by an older married, but childless, colleague in the Inland Revenue, where they both worked as Income Tax Inspectors. At the time the twins were born Doreen did not know if their father could, or would, form part of the family. In the event, he was able to make frequent visits and helped practically, emotionally and financially with the childrens’ upbringing.
The diary commences a few months after the twins were born. Doreen lived with them and a live-in nanny in South London where they experienced relentless days and nights of enemy bombing. In 1944 the twins and their nanny were evacuated to the incomparably safer and beautiful rural setting of a Wiltshire village where Doreen joined them for every weekend.
In contrast to the chaos and fear that accompanied the wartime conditions, Doreen’s emotional life is much less turbulent than in the previous volume of her diary. This reflects the profound satisfaction she felt as a result of achieving her dream of having children. She was a remarkably enlightened parent. Her recording of their lives in this diary is detailed, intimate, and often humorous. Historical happenings are mentioned, but form only the incidental backdrop to her domestic and professional life.
“Brimming with soul, passion, candour and wit, the diaries of Doreen Bates are an extraordinary read, giving a vivid insight into the life of a woman unvanquished by her time, a woman who leaps from the page so strikingly that you feel your pulse beating in time with hers. Edited in an act of great love and generosity by her children, they should take their place as one of the essential diaries of the twentieth century for the window they offer into another world, another heart.”
– Lucy Caldwell
£10.99 -
Chocolate Crackle Saturdays
The eighties were a totally rad time when denim was acceptable on both top and bottom. Hair gel wasn’t for neatness, but gravity defying style. Neon pink and blue were coupled together like vanilla ice cream and Ice Magic. The beige station wagon was the only vehicle for road trips and dingy motels were well rated. Eight-bit video games were new and thrilling, while movies were big and brave. McDonald's was part of the weekly diet and Pizza Hut reigned supreme. We loved it all, especially on Saturdays when chocolate crackles fuelled every Nintendo session and BMX adventure.
Join JP Pelosi as he fires up the DeLorean to whiz us back to the nexus of contemporary pop culture - the 1980s. Madonna, Pac-Man, Knight Rider, Chicken McNuggets, the video store and the Sony Walkman. It's all here, brought back to life in this nostalgic memoir about childhood joys, family life and the thrill of a perfect Saturday afternoon riding skateboards and trading football cards.
So, slip on your shutter shades, gang, pull up a Garfield-themed beanbag and let's relive the greatest decade ever!
£8.99 -
Macdonald of Aird, Macdonald of the Isles and A Voyage of Discovery
Like so many people who grew up not knowing their parents, it becomes something of a life’s journey to discover who they were, what kind of personality they had or anything that could explain one’s own personality traits. This book covers the human conditions of a broken bond between mother and child, the First World War, PTSD, and my discovery of my belonging to an important Scottish Clan. The fact that my mother never bonded with her own mother was perhaps the reason she fell for a smooth talking, well-educated man 20 years older than herself, who flattered her, made her feel special, but carefully concealed his own damaged personality. So, I start my journey with the birth of my mother. If there is such a thing, then my young mother certainly chose an unfortunate time to be born.
£9.99 -
Don't Worry, He Doesn't Bite
The vets on TV are always depicted as perfect clinicians, with sunshine and rainbows bursting out from their individual patients. But what media companies fail to show you are the more ‘uncommon’ cases, like a dog eating some used condoms, for example. This book aims to rectify this perception, specifically taking the reader on a journey through what life is like graduating as a veterinary surgeon. You will read about some pretty stupid cases my colleagues and I have experienced, all of which are true, though I must admit, I do have a habit of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story. So, sit back, relax, and take a break from this mundane existence we call life, as I show you the world through the eyes of a newly graduated veterinary surgeon.
£10.99 -
Pandemic in Paradise
Pandemic in Paradise tells my story of pregnancy during a global pandemic. From the challenges of lockdown to the raising of my first child, I share the ups and downs of my pregnancy journey under those strange, difficult, and unique circumstances. Despite the obstacles which COVID-19 and the lockdowns presented, it is also about celebrating the gift of my son.
£5.99 -
The River Never Left Her
In present-day Zürich, an American expat, Emily Benz, buys a set of personal archives at an online auction, setting off an investigation into the life of a British woman raised in the early part of the twentieth century in China. What seemed like an innocuous tin of bonbons sold by a grandson soon turns into a can of worms that can’t be closed again, revealing family dysfunction that stretches back generations, a fairy-tale childhood, four marriages and a liaison. Emily must reconcile the woman’s adult biography with the vivid memoir of China seen through the eyes of a child. This most unexpected memoir moves between China at the turn of the last century, scandal in the high society of 1920s England, and a tenacious widow living in the Switzerland of today.
£20.99 -
Squat Toilets and Chopsticks
How many times have you stood outside your door, or looked out the window and realised that all you see is just a little piece of sky? There is so much more than what you see above where you are. Under every little piece is a different culture, a different way of life, new experiences, places to see and a world of opportunity.
Travelling is perhaps one of the greatest opportunities to live a fulfilled life.
Experiencing different cultures or moving to a different country where nobody knows who you are allows you to live and enjoy an amazing life. Breaking out of comfort zones allows you to achieve so much. Perhaps you are seeking a change of career, new challenges, more exciting adventures, or a fresh start.
In his book, Squat Toilets and Chopsticks: Experiencing Life Through Travel, Philip Bryan takes you on a journey from a life-changing trip to Jordan and other countries including Cambodia, Australia, Israel and finally to China where he works as a high school English teacher.
This book shares his experiences, struggles, views, and life-changing moments.
In life, we are faced with many problems and uncertainties both in our personal and professional lives. Travelling can provide you with an opportunity to solve those and realise there is more to life. There is a world out there. Get out and live it.
£9.99 -
Transitions in My Life (Large Print Edition)
How does one move forward to a big and open world with many possibilities? Mary was always determined to broaden her horizons from her life in a tiny village in Guam. Mary is entrusted with a religious upbringing, and this is how she made connections to her world. You will see how the glimpses of a village girl made an abrupt and meaningful change to womanhood which gifted her a new perspective in life. Her simplicity of life took her to many milestones beyond this village.Mary’s professional aspirations empowered her to be more than a teacher role model. Mary embraced a childhood trauma from the school she attended. She relates this experience engagingly and memorably. She named it a project to herself. This task instilled her love for Second Language Teaching, making her a winner. These footsteps she walked allowed her to create adventure, to seek knowledge, to acknowledge receptivity to change and to find love.
£8.99 -
White to Black
Embark on a thrilling adventure through the vastness of Russia, starting from the frozen north within the Arctic Circle in the Hero City of Murmansk. Once the destination of many Allied Arctic convoys during the Second World War, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, Murmansk overlooks the majestic Arctic Sea.
Travel along the rivers and across the lakes of northern Russia, passing through historical cities brimming with captivating stories before reaching Moscow, the capital of the Tsars’ empire, with its iconic Kremlin, magnificent cathedrals, and opulent palaces.
Follow the mighty Volga River, journeying through significant historical cities, and arrive at Stalingrad, where the Russians made their valiant stand, turning the tide against the Nazi advance during the Great Patriotic War.
There is caviar to experience and a visit to Sochi, widely known for its hosting of the Winter Olympics in 2014. Working my way along the Black Sea Coast, I reach Sevastopol, the largest city in the Crimea which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and was Putin’s latest acquisition to his new Russian Empire. Discover what life is like in this region today.
£9.99 -
God and Chips
We all have busy lives with a million things to do and places to be. The author was no different until a life-changing episode did just that, changed his life forever. He recounts, often in minute detail and with a sense of humour, a growing awareness of the world around him as his perceptions of the reality of life unfolded.
Each new experience is told with breathtaking honesty and dissected thoroughly in plain English with even the most complex spiritual theories being challenged from this unique perspective. Every chapter reveals a deeper understanding and experience of life beyond that of the mundane, leading you ultimately to the source of all life and all creation. A true and incredible story that may challenge all you presently understand about your life here on this earth.
£7.99
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