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The Padre was a Hooker
The commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” would seem to make it unlikely that a committed Christian would ever choose to pursue a career in the armed forces, where killing the enemy is, at the very least, a real possibility.
Becoming an army chaplain might well be seen as an even more astonishing choice for someone seeking to serve God.
And yet, the British armed forces have had chaplains since the beginning of warfare itself. Men and women from the traditional established churches who accompany the troops into the very face of the foe, seeking to care for the spiritual and moral welfare of the troops.
Despite all the changes in the society and warfare, the decrease in church attendance and the weakening of the spiritual profile of our nation, military leaders still want a padre to accompany them into action.
For 40 years, Stephen Blakey was one of these padres. With humour and insight, he shares the joys and the struggles of being the ‘man of God’ amongst what is sometime a pretty ungodly community.
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The Road to Westminster
Nothing in life is impossible provided you never lose sight of your goal and are willing to be flexible at all times and totally dedicated to achieving your aims. Setbacks crop up at the most inconvenient times, but they give you the opportunity to make changes, accept new challenges and achieve your targets in ways you could never have thought possible.
Never give up, never lose sight of your objectives. Be ruthless when assessing your progress. Take chances when you need to. Everyone needs to speculate to accumulate. Go for it at all times.£3.50 -
The Secret Back Door
In this gripping autobiography, I share my experience of holding on when everyone else let go. With every ounce of strength, I gripped tight, silently screaming on the inside, unable to surrender or relinquish my right to live my own life. Despite the choices of those around me, I had none of my own.
My sanity teetered on the edge between a frenzied, rabid dog and an existence of task-oriented groundhog days. I didn’t recognize myself, yet the merry-go-round kept turning, and I couldn’t step off. I had already witnessed more than my eyes should have seen, but leaving wasn’t an option.
The reason why? She devoted her life to protecting me from bullies, silently absorbing their scorn. Now the tables have turned, and it’s my turn to protect her. No matter the cost, I vowed to love her, keep her safe, and give her my undivided attention and lifelong support. We’re in this together, no matter how long it takes.
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The Story of Lord Leon and the Gaffer Above
The Story of Lord Leon and the Gaffer Above is a true story to inspire you on the journey of life. Leon Parrish’s story will show you that anybody can transform their own world.
If you have ever wished that you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, then the author has a simple message for you: why spend your life wishing when you can fulfil any dream by just doing things yourself?
So jump aboard the train of self-belief and make it happen. Enjoy Leon’s journey, and more importantly, find ways to enjoy your own. And always keep smiling.
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The Unspoken Identity
What will you do upon waking up and discovering that you have two vaginas, two cervixes and two wombs? How would you feel? How do you explain it to your friends and family?
This and many other questions led to the story you are about to read. Elizabeth a young vibrant lady, full of life was just like many of you. However, she never knew that her challenging health journey as a young woman growing up was all part of the big discovery that would unfold later in her adult life.
Elizabeth, curious in her nature, decided to seek answers for her chronic pains, fatigue and recurrent infections. She knew something was not quite right but could not confirm what it was. Read her story to discover how she was diagnosed with this rare biological abnormality and her quest to share her findings with the rest of the world.
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The Voice, the Face
This is a quite extraordinary story. Martin Muncaster describes his life experiences in a way which has surprises in every chapter. He writes in detail, often with very personal and emotional descriptions, about many aspects of his family. The book starts with a life-threatening road accident followed by even more challenging incidents. He goes on to describe how, as a young man from a somewhat aristocratic family background, he had to adjust himself to life on the ‘lower deck’ for part of his National Service in the Royal Navy, but eventually, after much hard work and perseverance, acquired the coveted commission (and cap badge!). And it was this same determination and personal strength which carried him through the ups and downs of his life and his career in broadcasting.
Along the way, there are many lighter anecdotes, starting from his early days at stage school, then working as an actor in Canada before returning to pursue his career in television and radio. As a well-known presenter, he had an insight into the world of both commercial television and the BBC, and he describes his encounters with many well-known people including Sir Laurence Olivier and Richard Dimbleby. In the background throughout the book is the inspiration provided by his father, the renowned marine and landscape artist, Claude Muncaster.
There are also vivid descriptions of travel experiences in South Africa, Canada and Scotland, but it is all interspersed with family and personal tragedies which remind the reader that even familiar faces and voices have another private life we don’t know of.
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The Weird Way Round
A 40-year-old Sydney-based Englishman at a personal and professional crossroads in his life embarks on four months of solo global travel, which he resolutely refuses to accept might be best described as an exercise in ‘finding himself’. Epic landscapes, humorous encounters with an eclectic mix of Airbnb hosts, a late-in-life induction into dating apps and a keen eye for the curious and bizarre combine to turn the trip into a thought-provoking adventure. From unexplained crimes in Panama, sex tourism in Costa Rica and disastrous dating in Guatemala through to hire-car burial in the Californian desert and an encounter with a toothless lady in a bar in San Francisco, it’s a story about strange and unpredictable things that happen when you hit the road in search of the unknown.
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There was Once a Street in Bethnal Green
Derek Houghton was born and bred in London’s East End, Bethnal Green, when horses and carts were just as predominant on its streets as motorised vehicles. It was at a time when National Health was not even a dream, or any kind of benefit existed, the only benefit available was by taking the “Means Test” (Dole Money) that most East Enders were too proud to take. Poverty was never any stranger to their doors, unemployment was rife, and the pawnshops did a roaring trade. People then could walk the streets in safety, the streets were the children’s playgrounds, where they played unhindered. As hard as times were, neighbours showed great compassion in helping each other. Each street was like a village, where everybody knew everyone else. World War II was to bring about an even stronger bond with each other. Above all, it was the love of a street – “Our Street.”
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There's No Balls in Bingo!
Julian loves Mondays and, of course, challenges. An author who writes about his life, having been there and done it! Starting his career in bingo in the ’60s with ping-pong balls, mainly in converted cinemas, Julian went through ups and downs with 30 to 2,400 people playing bingo at any one time. Julian was instrumental as managing director of the first legalised bingo in South Africa in 1998... but it all started some 30 years previously.
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They Call Me Jake
In this captivating memoir, Jakob, a Welsh-born Australian, takes readers on a remarkable journey that begins with a troubled youth and a life-changing decision. After running into legal trouble as a teenager, his family sends him off to sea on Scandinavian ships, where Jakob finds himself working out of Brooklyn, New York, joining ships engaged in global trade. It’s the era of rock and roll, with an atmosphere of freedom, free-spiritedness, and indulgence. However, tired of the endless partying and constant financial struggle, Jakob sets his sights on a new path.
He travels to England, enrolls in a navigational school, and earns his license as a ship’s deck officer. But his thirst for adventure and reinvention leads him to an unexpected destination - Israel. Jakob’s love for the kibbutz lifestyle and a young woman on the kibbutz captures his heart. However, as war disrupts the region, their relationship crumbles, and Jakob finds solace in a hippie commune on the sunny shores of Eilat. Through ups and downs, Jakob’s journey takes him across continents, from the Canadian Arctic to Thailand and beyond. His tale is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of a meaningful life amidst the challenges and uncertainties of a rapidly changing world.
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The British in Italy
The British in Italy is a fascinating exploration of the enduring relationship between the English and Italians, dating back to the times of Shakespeare, Leghorn, The Grand Tour, Florence, and Venice, up to the cataclysmic events of World War II. The author draws parallels between Victorian England’s progress and the Italian Renaissance, particularly the British presence in Italy during the 19th century.
In a unique approach, the author embarks on a journey through Italy, beginning in the Alps and continuing on foot and by bicycle from Monviso to Trieste, then down to Sicily. Along the way, he rediscovers the forgotten Anglo-Saxon characters who played a significant role in shaping Italy’s cultural, artistic, and scientific landscape, such as the true Count of Montecristo, textile industrialists, inventors, painters, archaeologists, botanists, and travelers.
Their stories are intertwined with the author’s encounters, memories, lost friends, legends, and conversations, providing a rich tapestry of Italy’s diverse history and culture. The book is a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and insight, revealing Italy's layers of history and culture from a unique Anglo-Saxon perspective. As Doctor Johnson aptly said, “A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see.” This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to discover the true heart of Italy and the enduring bond between the English and Italians.
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The Red Thread
The Red Thread is the true story of an expat woman’s struggle to complete her family while living in India.
After shunning infertility treatment and adopting her first child, Sarah knows that family is created from love not DNA, so she sets out to replicate the fairy-tale experience of her daughter’s adoption from Cambodia. But things are not as straightforward this time.
After choosing a baby to adopt, Sarah comes up against the risks of child trafficking and an imminent Cambodian law change that will shut down all adoptions and potentially subject her baby to life in an orphanage for the years to come. As Sarah battles government bureaucracy to free her child, the only thing that binds them together is the Buddhist red threads tied to both their wrists that symbolise courage and bravery.
The Red Thread is an emotional journey of a mother’s battle to get to her child. It is a tale about one woman’s commitment and perseverance to overcome hurdles, and her blind hope to help a child. It is a story of love.
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