When ‘Will’ is More Than ‘Won’t’ - Your Journey Begins

I’ve always been a dreamer, wanting more from life than it was giving me, whilst still making the best of what it did.

I never thought in my darkest moments, or wildest dreams, that one day I would, with my partner of ten years David, find myself in a Land Rover we called Lizzybus driving around the world.

If I had imagined this, it would have been nothing like the reality of it, of blistering hot desserts, snow-covered mountains, civil wars, and uprisings, with our life depending on each other and Lizzybus.

From the very first moment I stepped foot on African soil, I wrote about the reality of living two feet from your other half 24 hours a day. The intimacy, hygiene, isolation, and loneliness, so far removed from my life to this point. But slowly, without even realizing it, it became part of me, and me it, seeing only the wonder, the joy, and the privilege.

By The Way

Think you know football? Not like Bob Cass you don't.By The Way recounts Bob's glorious life in sports journalism and gives you a first-hand account of every football story that ever mattered. From the Hillsborough Disaster through to Fergie's retirement and Cloughie's rise to the top of the European Game; and not forgetting Gazza's inglorious exit from the England squad. Packed with insight into the world of professional sport and crammed with hilarious anecdotes from every major name in the business, By The Way is a must for all fans of the beautiful game.You've read his stories... now read the story BEHIND the stories.

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.  

Praying for Strawberries

Have you ever wondered what an Autism Assistance Dog does? Or about the unique perspective of a person living with autism?Through his mother's diary, follow nine-year-old Lachlan's journey with his new friend 'Itsal' the Labrador, as they navigate the world together, with Lachlan achieving one of his many dreams and goals - learning to surf!Read about the fantastic improvements Itsal makes to Lachlan's life, and how he strengthens and supports Lachlan and his family. 'Praying for Strawberries is a remarkable story of the daily, real-life events of a mother, a child and a family who have been blessed as they travel with each other on a journey where each day unfolds with many surprises not planned for. It is this uncertainty that can be both exhilarating and challenging. The reader will not remain untouched.' Trevor R Parmenter AM, Professor EmeritusSydney Medical School, University of Sydney    

Me

Ron Pearson was born in Bramley, Leeds on August 12, 1924. He began writing this book on August 12, 2021, his 97^th birthday. After a childhood beset by illness, he left school at 14, and took a job packing parcels in a multiple tailoring factory, not for him. He moved on to packing parcels general muggins at an advertising agency at 50 pence a week, which he loved. His career in advertising was interrupted by a four-and-a-half-year spell in the army on ‘Special Operations’. Returning to civvy street, his career culminated in being appointed Managing Director and then Chairman of one of Yorkshire’s most respected advertising agencies. He was a local actor for almost 50 years including the renowned Bradford Alhambra and Playhouse.

There are some sad moments outnumbered by many hilarious ones. Ron’s beloved wife, Pat, died in 2017 after 66 years of happy marriage.

The list of ‘celebrities’ he has met is impressive, including Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Hollywood’s Marlene Dietrich, George Raft, Sir Ralph Richardson, George Best, Jackie Charlton, Harry Worth, Alan Bennett etc.

Stones on the Camino; or, What It Was Like

Lilly, a senior lady, would never have dreamt of doing the Camino de Santiago. Yet, one day, she just took off and started this arduous pilgrimage, walking 800 km all alone through the north of Spain. Lilly’s handicaps, as a result of previous brain surgery, made traveling on her own sometimes hazardous.

On these pages, she draws the reader into the beautiful, peaceful, and happy pilgrim world, relating some of the incredible stories she heard. She listens to Stuart when he talks about the agonizing search for his younger brother at Ground Zero, and to Alexander from Peru, who had twenty siblings, all by the same mother. We hear about the lady who was struggling to get away from an abusive, narcissistic partner.

At an almost hidden level, this story lifts a few veils off Lilly’s own marriage. We also get to know David, who saved Lilly’s life during a night of thunderstorms, which was, by the way, not the first time her life was in danger. David returns in quite an unexpected manner in the last few pages of these Camino tales, adding more magic to an exceptional journey.

Finding Yourself Through Loss

I’ve come to understand that loss, while taking much, can also give. It can offer hope, strength, and most importantly, love. Such is the boundless love of God, who loved us so deeply that He gave His one and only Son to die for all of us—yes, all of us, including you—no matter what you have done (John 3:16). Sometimes, His love arrives shrouded in the darkness of loss, but even then, His promise remains unchanged: He came so that you and I may have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). So, beloved, as loss has taken from you, I ask: what has it given in return? Remember, perception is everything.

Memory Stick

Crafty, cunning and certainly clever, Memory Stick is a firework display of different literary styles and genres. Crammed with detail and facts. Just like a memory stick.

Book club readers have described this first volume of Oliver Milner’s entertaining autobiography as “William Boyd and Bill Bryson meet James Herriot and Sue Townsend.”

Structurally Memory Stick is based around 134 footnotes, taken from opensource Wiki history references, between 1961 and 1987. The story starts in wet and windy North Yorkshire. Flies to Nigeria. Flies back again. Goes back to Nigeria. Flies back again. Neil Armstrong lands on the moon. Olly goes to Wales. Takes in Norwich, ends up in London. Tames a penguin, and then…?

Just download Memory Stick, it gets rather interesting.

Painting the Mosque for Christmas?

This is the story of one person. An errand boy, junior artist, car washer, cub, scout, choirboy, glass runner, wine waiter, postman, tomato plant and faggot stripper, potato picker, life guard, scout leader, canoe instructor, teacher, cattle rancher, polo player, forest and sawmill manager, head of English, logger, general manager, managing director, importer, exporter, businessman, outdoor pursuits instructor, fund raiser, headmaster, principal, CEO, school founder, advisor and appraiser, mentor, model, poet, playwright, writer and actor in the UK and many countries of Central, Southern and Western Africa through good times and bad.

The author deals sympathetically with the nostalgia of a post-war childhood in Bristol, detailing with many of the joys and problems of childhood before leaping into adulthood with entertaining narrative and dialogue.

Africa takes hold with many incidents and observations backed by humour and acute observations of post-colonial developments. Life was never dull and he has sat on crocodiles and slept with lions as well as experiencing coups and unrest where some humour can still be found. He has met royalty and personalities from a wide mixture of society and has also been a friend of presidents and heads of state – herein lies a tantalising mix of European and African life in a kaleidoscopic presentation of humour, pathos, seriousness and shrewd observation.

Pony Tales and Other Irish Stories

Read tales of an Irish rural childhood, travelling the world with horses and policing London on horseback.

Born into a loving family on an Irish farm. Started to ride aged six, got bucked off too often, gave up! Started again on a different pony; got the hang of it, leading to a lifetime love for and career with horses. Represented Ireland at Pony Club and intervarsity levels. Travelled as groom with an Irish international three-day-eventer. Rode racehorses in Chantilly and Brisbane. Stock ponies and barrel racers in the Outback. Police horses in London. And there’s still so much ahead.

Fortunate. That’s what I feel…

Ripping the Veil

Anglers are not always perceived to be the most rational of people. For those who get involved in rod fishing, what might start as a curiosity, gradually becomes a passion that often develops into a full-blown, all-consuming addiction. Apparently, there is no cure. Repeated scenarios of utter failure, near-drowning, broken relationships and disarming exhaustion only whet the appetite for renewed effort. No wonder the non-angling majority considers the whole venture as incomprehensible and one of insanity.

However, the angling body is no small minority. It will happily embrace the label of ‘insane’ if that is what it takes to sustain what, for those who are smitten, is no less than a lifestyle. These are the people who are driven to explore what lies beneath the water’s surface. They thrive on the thrill of revealing the secrets of a hidden world. For them, ripping the veil between air and water is not a casual option but a glorious and compulsive expression of evolutionary history – a relic strategy of survival. At least, this is their excuse.

Second-Best Luck

Fancy retirement right across the globe? Learning to speak a foreign language (Australian)? Too easy; don’t be a wuss, mite! Herein, you will find travel, exploration, how not to buy a house, how to build a harpsichord; how to cope with a second hysterectomy, coronary bypass, two different and simultaneous serious cancers. No worries; she’ll be right, mite! Consider Orshtraya on differing scales; the conurbation that is Canberra; the 90-mile straight which is just a blip in the landscape driving across the Great Australian Bite, Mite; the deeply soothing silence of the outback.

Seriously, sport: this sometimes humorous volume is travelogue, retirement manual, and medical aid, all in one. It has a sporting chance of really helping anyone terrified with recent news of cancer or other really serious illness. We all need help.