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Dancing in the Rain
It's often said that life is not about sheltering from the storm, but dancing in the rain. And this old adage has certainly been the driving philosophy of how Diana Crevatin has chosen to live her life, even in the face of crippling multiple sclerosis (M.S.), which she was diagnosed with at just twenty-seven. Faced with the worst news of her life, she chose not to let anything hold her back and has continued to live her life to the fullest. Even now, over thirty years later and bound to a wheelchair, she chooses to 'dance in the rain'. Now, for the first time, Diana has chosen to share her story firsthand. Whether you're in a similar predicament yourself or reading out of curiosity, this book will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.
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Did I Wake You, Pet?
Her back hurt, her head hurt, her legs ached, her lips were split and bleeding, her nose felt numb and she could feel her cheek swelling up under her eye. He still had his arm around her shoulders. She was sobbing quietly, and as she took each step, she wished that the police would come running up the stairs behind them and that she would be safe. But there was silence. No one was standing in the stairs, just the silence after the chaos.After this last, worst beating, she managed to seek help from her employers, who transferred her to another branch of the bank 400 miles away. Changing her name, she moved her address to step away from the horror of ten years of abuse and find a chance to start again"”a chance to change her life without going back. This is a story of hope for victims of abuse everywhere.
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Kommunalka Child
Nine months after she was conceived as a way to contribute to population growth, just like every other Soviet kid, Kommunalka Child was harvested from a cabbage patch. She was brought up in a bilingual family in a communal apartment in Riga. As she was searching for a place in the world, the Soviet way of life slowly collapsed in the face of Western luxuries.Kommunalka Child takes its time-travellers onboard and triggers the reader’s personal memories and senses of smell, taste and touch. The cinematic storytelling in these funny, touching, embarrassing and absurd illustrated micro-memoirs reveals what life was like in the last decade of the Soviet Union, all through the eyes of a Latvian child.
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Last Touch
Dean Jamieson was murdered on 04/04/2006, leaving an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who held him dear. Dean's mother, Josephine, pens a devastating novel that is a deeply intimate and personal examination of the life and death of her child and the grief that accompanies such a loss.Jamieson critiques the landscape following an untimely death; the support of the social sector and the police, the role of the media and reportage and the effect on family.Jamieson's prose, whilst at times visceral, portrays the emotional weight of burying a child but offers, amongst the darkness, hope. This is a work, whilst being intimate, that transcends the personal and offers solidarity to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
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Memories of the Way We Were
I stood in front of the headstone which read ‘Rita Rocca Nee Tomlin (15/6/1942 - 21/10/2020)’ and thought, ‘Is this all there is? Her name on a headstone with mine to follow.’I remembered a warm May Day in 1948, when we both kneeled at the same altar waiting for a priest to give us our first taste of Jesus.She, in her white dress, was wondering if the day would yield enough for a new doll and pram, while I wondered if mine would yield enough for roller skates and maybe a new football.I recalled the honeymoon in Jersey in 1963, Miss World at the Royal Albert Hall in 1980, and the ball that followed at the Savoy Hotel.I said, “Sorry girl, I can’t give you a Taj Mahal, but I will write a book, which will hopefully make us more than just names on a tombstone.”
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My Life Without Drink
In My Life Without Drink the author takes the reader through a life where insecurity in childhood is carried forward to the adult years when alcohol is taken up as a means of coping. Through marriage, childbirth, estrangement and brushes with the law, the author slides in and out of dependency but always succumbs to the craving described as trying “to get that ‘high’ feeling again and again but it is well-nigh impossible.”How she turns things around must be an inspiration to those who can see no way out of a terrible ‘disease’ that can afflict anyone at any time.A short book on a long and painful story with an ending full of hope: “I walked out free and have been sober for seventeen years.”The author has also written a delightful children’s story called ‘Bertie the Croc’, which you will find towards the end of this book.
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Not Without Her Children
Leaving family, friends, and all her belongings behind, single mother Mandy, flees from the Netherlands with her two young children. Secretly emigrating to Australia, she escapes her vicious perpetrator to start a new life in a country she had never set foot in before. Mandy’s story spans the globe. In her childhood, she grew up in Africa and her ex-husband, Janus, originally from India, married Mandy to start a new life in Europe. After ten years of marriage, when Mandy finally announced the divorce, she faced Janus’ faked suicide, attempted kidnapping of their children to India and domestic violence. Mandy shielded her children from the ‘ice aged’ child protection system in the Netherlands, which blindly stood up for Janus’ rights with no regard for the suffering this created. To fight for a new life in Australia with her children, Mandy digs deep inside herself. She faces abuse of international law, fighting every step of the way—for her children. They are her everything. A disaster is inevitable, yet, there is hope…
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Please, Let Me Sleep
Please, Let Me Sleep is a relatable and humorous take on a topic that will surely resonate with readers. As the author candidly shares her experiences, readers will find themselves nodding in agreement and chuckling at the absurdity of it all. In a world where stress seems to be the norm, from mortgages to job insecurity to global conflicts, this book offers a welcome escape from the chaos.Amidst the challenging times we face today, including the COVID pandemic and the rising concerns about school bullying and drug use, parenting can feel like an overwhelming and joyless task. This book offers a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of parenthood, reminding readers that it’s okay to laugh at the challenges we face.The author’s sense of humour and upbeat attitude are evident throughout the book, making it a perfect antidote to the stresses of daily life. Whether you’re looking for a quick laugh or a way to unwind at the end of a long day, Please, Let Me Sleep is sure to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.
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Sharpening the Weapons of Peace
Colonel Wilkinson spent 31 years in the British Army with the Royal Artillery, commando and parachute brigades and special forces. In his last job in the army, he was the principal author of the first British Joint Warfare Publication (JWP 3-50 Peace Support Operations). During his military service he gradually came to the understanding that the achievement of peace required a comprehensive approach that addressed the causes and consequences of conflict and not just the symptoms. These thoughts were crystallised during his four years as a senior research fellow at the Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College, London. After King’s College, he was deployed as the international advisor to President Kagame in Rwanda for one year and President Karzai in Afghanistan for two years before supporting the National Security Advisor in Baghdad for three years. More recently, he spent fifteen months in the occupied Palestinian territories before deploying to Somalia for three years to support the President and Minister of Internal Security. These positions have given Colonel Wilkinson a unique perspective of international intervention operations. Many others have written of their observations from the outside looking in, Colonel Wilkinson has had the privilege of being part of the host government looking out. Many may find his observations unsettling!
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Tales from a Women's Doctor
This is an account of the life of an obstetrician and gynaecologist. It features his successes and failures, his sadness and joy, his trauma and relief and his exposure to problems in other cultures. It is all seen through the lens of a robust Christian faith.
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The Chronicles of Donald Drinkwater
Donald invites you along on his diverse travels through life. Experience his humble beginnings and the challenges growing up in post-war Britain. The story is packed with all the thrills and spills of a long and varied career. In these pages you’ll discover:How to identify your own true value and make the best of yourselfHow to stop being the victim of bulliesHow to be a team player whilst maintaining your individualityHow to break free from situations that own youHow to understand other people and their nature.Join him in his work as a hotel porter. Come aboard the ships of the British Merchant Navy and experience his maritime tales that will warm the cockles of your heart. Take the back seat in the Daimler as he chauffeurs you in comfort. Accompany him as he opens a fish and chip shop. For all animal lovers, follow Donald in his crusade to help animals when he enrols as an RSPCA inspector. Travel with him when he comes to the rescue of animals and birds.Work with Donald in his administrative role as marine personnel officer and experience his interaction with many colleagues. Above all, just enjoy!
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The Crate Escape
In 1962, when air-travel was in its infancy, a nineteen-year-old boy who felt trapped in Melbourne, Australia, made up his mind that he was going to return to his homeland in the United Kingdom. He was prevented from doing so by both lack of documentation and the funds required.Putting an idea to work without the thought of losing his life, he became the first person in history to fly for nearly five days in a crate across the Pacific Ocean.
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