Oscar's Story

Mr. Pariyal shared Oscar’s Pedigree file with a reverence akin to the way we share janampatris (horoscopes). Oscar’s pedigree status was pretty impressive and his grandfather seemed to be the outstanding one for winning dog shows on intelligence, obedience besides his alpha male looks.

Oscar’s father had a rather strange name – “Casper” – and had not followed in his illustrious father’s footsteps. Casper had either not participated in dog shows or failed to make a mark in them. Oscar’s parents and grandparents were based in Bangalore.

The little Labrador had travelled afar to make Mumbai his home.

We consoled ourselves that sometimes genes skip a generation and Oscar would be like his illustrious grandfather. We were not disappointed; he had intelligence in ample measure and the only thing he needed was obedience.

Seeing Is Believing

Can a witch’s curse from 1630 force her accuser to haunt the Heath Common?

Can dreams predicting the future come true? Who or what saved a woman trapped in a wrecked vehicle? Is there an angel in the Holy Trinity Church Knaresborough? Do UFOs exist or are they figments of our imagination? Did the children really see the reptilian man in their bedroom? If so, was it linked to their father’s involvement with UFOs and the Ouija board. Is a battle still raging on the Portobella Estate in Wakefield, and who are the ghostly children?

There are many more factual accounts to be discovered in Seeing Is Believing; stories that will make the most sceptical of readers wonder at the mystery that surrounds us.

Elisa believes that all hauntings, poltergeist, ghosts, angels, UFOs etc, are all natural phenomena that have been with us throughout time.

Understanding Tarot

At the heart of Pam Richards’ new book, Understanding Tarot, is a detailed guide to the imagery and symbolism of each of the 78 cards in the tarot deck. This book uses as its reference point the classic tarot deck known as ‘Rider-Waite-Smith’, which was designed by Arthur Edward Waite and then drawn and brought to life by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Readers who wish to learn more about the images of this extraordinary deck will find this book very helpful.

Understanding Tarot is intended to be a companion for all tarot students, with whatever deck they love, whether they are completely new to the subject or an experienced enthusiast looking to broaden their view of this wonderful deck of cards. Both the upright and reversed meanings of each card are given, and for those new to tarot, in these sections you will find keywords for each displayed in bold-italic text, and an ‘In a Nutshell’ section, which both give a quick glance at the cards without delving into the deeper elements of the book.

Whether you wish to understand each card in detail or use them for psychic development, this book has you covered.

Killer Sudoku and Other Puzzles - How Do They Do That?

A book of many puzzles mostly in the Sudoku family, many of which are Killer Sudoku. There are many hints as to how these puzzles are made. Also included Kakuro, Futoshiki, Hittori, Slitherlink and others. Try your hand at the original puzzles, as invented in the eighteenth century by the great Swiss mathematician, Leonhard Euler.

The Soul of a House: Adventures in Building an Antique Retirement Account

Antiques aren't for everyone but Arthur Vanderbilt's enthusiasm in The Soul of a House makes it seem like they absolutely should be. A nineteenth century clipper on a rough sea, a Chinese vase, a knickknacks box, a Hepplewhite, who knows what can be found in an old money American country house when it goes up for sale, curtains and all. But that is only the start: what about the thrill of the auction when an item fetches triple the purchase price? What about that rare piece that you get home only to discover it is worth millions? For Arthur Vanderbilt, antiques are alive with history, alive with that part of a family now gone, the arm of a chair worn smooth because that is where the dog rested its head every night.The Soul of a House is a fascinating read for those with any interest in the world of antiques as a hobby or a business.