A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a heartwarming and honest autobiographical book that tells the story of a woman’s life-changing journey alongside her partner, who has come out as transgender and now goes by the name Cassie. Through this compelling and intimate memoir, readers will gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of managing family life, raising children, and navigating a shifting dynamic in a long-term relationship. The author’s candid reflections on their journey together to explore new dimensions of love and intimacy, provide a refreshing perspective on gender and sexuality. From attending LGBT Pride events to exploring nightclubs and meeting supportive people along the way, this book is a tribute to the joys and surprises of life’s unexpected journeys. With humour, compassion, and love, A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of gender identity, and the transformative power of human connection.

A Crude Vision

A tale of unlikely success: of a man’s journey in oil exploration across four continents before he climbs the foothills of the London Stock Exchange. An often lonely voyage of ambition and irrational perseverance, where knowing who you’re not is just as important as knowing who you are.

“The particular morning, standing in silence in my punt, musket in hand, looking out southward to the end of the earth that was the Caspian Sea horizon, I concluded that we must sell.”

A Dramatic Inheritance

Get ready for a whirlwind ride as this book takes you on a captivating journey through the tumultuous life of the author’s mother. Beginning with her affair with the author’s father in 1935, the story delves into the complexities of their relationship, including two abortions, familial conflicts, and a marriage that was granted permission by an investigating Magistrate. Tragically, the story takes a sharp turn with the sudden death of the author’s father in a motorbike accident.

As the author’s mother navigates through the aftermath of this tragedy, the book explores her subsequent loves and children, all while weaving in a powerful thread of mental health struggles, including suicides, incest, and numerous deaths over the years. One particularly intriguing aspect of the story is the long romantic liaison between the author’s mother and a Chelmsford Royal Commission doctor, who later confesses to the affair.

The book also offers a unique glimpse into the functioning of a modern family coping with immense stress. With a compelling narrative and a richly detailed account of the author’s family history, this book is sure to keep you hooked until the very end.

A Foot in Both Camps

Susie is a four-year-old determined child born in the UK, whose parents have come to the UK from the Caribbean during the Windrush years in the late 1950s to help with rebuilding the country after the Second World War. A battle of wills ensues between the diminutive, wiry and strong-willed Susie and her overbearing and towering father who commands obedience from not only Susie and her siblings, but also her mother.

Although tender in years, Susie develops a stoicism which is remarkable for her age, and risks being ostracised from her family with her steely determination to stand up to her father. She is faced with negotiating the juxtaposition of conflict between two opposing cultures, which creates an internal tug of war and cultural confusion. Her identity is challenged, with Susie questioning where she really belongs. With the odds stacked against her, we see a strength of spirit which shines through and never diminishes. Even in the face of adversity, she pushes herself towards what looks like an uncertain future, determined to succeed come what may.

A Gift for Carers

This book was written following the author's personal struggle with the psychological and physical pressures of caring for his mum. His experiences and research led him to develop a solution which counters the devastating effects of what the medical world refers to as "Caregiver Syndrome." He identifies seven areas that make for a joyful life. This book is packed full of stories that will educate, inform and inspire the reader to create a better life and future. The author's engaging style will ensure that you definitely will not want to put this book down. After reading this book you will enjoy:

• Higher levels of self-esteem
• An improvement in your physical health
• A greater understanding of yourself and others
• A powerful mindset
• A more optimistic outlook
• The ability to handle change
• The confidence just to be yourself
• Greater focus and a sense of direction
• A general feeling of contentment and well-being.

A Glimmer of Hope

This is a true account of what I thought was a second chance of love and happiness after a sequence of life altering events. I was ready to begin a new chapter in my life, and that is exactly how it began. Little did I know that my vulnerability was being taken advantage of, for what I thought was a blossoming new relationship quickly turned into a violent and fearful fight for survival after three years.

I have recorded my story in the hope to raise awareness about domestic abuse but to also show any survivors that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Here is my story.

A Glimpse of North Sudan

North Sudan is a largely unknown, thought-to-be-unsafe land. A Glimpse of North Sudan aims to correct that. This book is far more than a travelogue. From diaries and photographs of a safe, non-alcoholic, wonderful holiday, it tells of a short tour of a smiling poor people with an ancient, frequently violent history, pyramids and tombs in royal cemeteries with wonderful paintings and reliefs to behold. It is a largely desert country but where the Blue and White Niles combine to form a majestic life-giving river on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, there are descriptions of black Sudanese pharaohs of Egypt, the lifestyle of a Bedouin family along with British involvement in ruling the country (a section on the Battle of Omdurman led by Kitchener with a young, ambitious Winston Churchill in the ranks) and of the civil wars since independence in 1956. Finally, it suggests a way out of the cul-de-sac of poverty and deprivation. This book is a must-read for the general-interest reader of a forgotten, though fascinating, land.

A Guide to Successful Substitute Teaching

This book is intended to be used by individuals, which have entered the educational field, who must go through the substitute teaching experience. In order to obtain a contracted position, individuals must gain experience only obtainable through substitute teaching.

A Handbook for New Company Directors

Ever wanted to be a company director? Want to find out exactly what company directors do? This is a handbook for new board directors. It gives a thorough grounding in what a new board director (private, government and not-for-profit) needs to know to become and operate as a functioning, professional company board director. It is also a useful handbook and instruction manual for the experienced director to refer to for those complex and difficult decisions.

A Happé Ending

Every life comes to an end. It's inevitable. But not all deaths have to mean the end, they can also create new beginnings. When Nicola met Pete in her local pub, she never thought they'd be married with two kids within three years and she'd be widowed within ten. This is a true story of life, death, sadness, grief, irony and strength. And ultimately happiness. Life isn't easy and dealing with death is even harder.

A History of London Boroughs Through Beer Goggles (South East Edition)

Discover facts, fiction, trivia and history of some of London’s boroughs that you may not have known before.

All of this done whilst visiting some very interesting pubs and getting some exercise to boot!

Why not read and discover about a reputed spy for Russia, who lived in a quiet suburb unbeknownst to her neighbours for decades after WWII? Or learn about Her Majesty the Queen’s beasts and what they mean? Find out about the Fighting Temeraire and the part it played in the Battle of Trafalgar. And finally, uncover the Great Fires of London, but not the one everyone talks about.

A wealth of factoids which will astound your friends and family and could very well prepare you for some quiz nights!

A Hitchhiker's Triptych

John Gardiner worked as a journalist and media advisor for more than 40 years. He has travelled extensively across the world throughout his life. His book A Hitchhiker’s Triptych covers six months of his first journey into England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland during the turbulent days of the early 1970s. It was the time of the Troubles in Ireland. The Arabs also were holding the West to ransom with oil embargoes. John wanders head-on into these and other major world issues during his hitchhiking adventures.

His book is a superb exploration of life on the road during the 1970s. How easy it was to hitchhike in those days. Stick out a thumb and land a ride. A Hitchhiker’s Triptych is intriguing. It explores a wanderer’s life during far simpler times. Decades before the internet and instant news feeds. This is a journey pre-digital. A step back in time where adventure is achieved simply by standing beside a highway and sticking out a thumb. Wonders and wisdom found over that next hill.