We Were Tourists

Jim Toomey was already a successful drummer when he became a part of a new group, The Tourists, in the late seventies. He formed the group with Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Peet Coombes and Eddie Chin.From their early beginnings in London, finding their sound and their voice, through their success, their recordings, TV appearances, and their tours across the world, this is the story of The Tourists, told by the man sitting behind the drums.In a series of anecdotes and tales of the band's journey, we gain insight into the inner workings of a successful band; the fun and success, but also the work, the creativity, the pressures of seemingly endless tours, the good and the bad sides of the business, and the all too familiar trajectory of a band which sowed the seeds of music which endure 40 years later.

Who Cares Who Wins

Adventures start at some point!The author was born just after the end of World War Two.He used to leave home at 4am at eight years of age on the horse and carts and in the evenings would go chimney sweeping.When he was older he spent a few years in the military. Multiple migrations, including the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ program then followed.After this came over 30 years of global ‘itchy foot syndrome’ full of exciting ever-changing lifestyles ranging from: rich, skint, happy, and sad.In the following 30 years, there came numerous diagnoses: anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, mental health issues, strokes, various dementia and divorce.Then along came Mike’s saviours: grandchildren, hiding and losing his disabilities within their love and warm hugs.Every day’s an adventure.

Wild Imaginings: A Brontë Childhood

This book will take you into the lives of the six Brontë children who were raised in Haworth Parsonage on the edge of the West Yorkshire Moors. Discover the world of a Victorian childhood and how the children dealt with isolation, the harsh education system and death. Read about how the children used the graveyard surrounding their garden as a playground and how they found solace in making up stories of imaginary islands, kingdoms and people. Reality and imagination mingled and spread so that they lived in a fantasy world of ghosts, horror, religion, disease, war, scientific discovery, love and humor; here anything could happen. Learn about the background to the childhood of those who were to become such remarkable authors. This book is as accurate in its factual content as it is fascinating in its fantasy.

Working at the End of the World: An Antarctic Diary

This honest, terrifying as well as humorous account of travelling and working in the magnificence of Antarctica will allow the reader to visualize and feel the harshness and beauty of the great white continent.The main body of the book is the diary account of a two-person deep field research trip. This is about being out in the remote mountains and glaciers facing up to extreme adversity in the coldest place on the planet while retaining one’s sense of humour; the psychology of spending time tent-bound in extreme isolation with just one other person and an honest reflection at the sad moments while being in a storm-bound tent, dwelling on life back in England. There is humour throughout, and the real and honest fear that one feels when in truly dire situations hundreds of miles from safety. The opening chapters look at the author's six-week ocean journey from England to Antarctica on the research ship ‘The RRS John Biscoe’.

Yoga De-Mystified

"Shiv Sharma is an inspiring yoga teacher who is also a scientist. His upbringing in India gave him a sound understanding of the development of Indian philosophy whilst his subsequent scientific training instilled an essential desire to explain the world and seek justification for whatever is asserted. As a yoga teacher, he applies these principles by separating what is non-testable, or downright wrong, from what is measurable, understandable and repeatable; his mantra in class is to question, understand and apply well-directed effort." - Dave Plummer, ex-Head of Medical Imaging, University College London Hospital and Lesley Whitby

Now and Evermore

Embark on a thrilling journey through the kaleidoscope of Sarojini’s extraordinary life, where happiness dances hand in hand with adventure, and every page brims with excitement and wonder. From the heartwarming highs to the adrenaline-pumping escapades, she has been graced with a life overflowing with joy and contentment.

Prepare to be swept away by the enchanting tapestry of Sarojini’s remarkable adventures and captivating experiences. This book isn’t just a story; it’s an invitation to join her on a rollercoaster of emotions, where every moment is a treasure waiting to be uncovered.

So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a ride of a lifetime. Dive into the pages of Sarojini’s book and let the magic of her world ignite your own sense of wonder and delight.

Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Happy reading!

The House Is Burning

It’s the 1950s and mounting political unrest consumes Rwanda. With fading monarchy, intensifying colonial rule and whispers of rebellion, countless native families find age-old traditions under attack.

For Abel A. Nkunda’s family, the shifting climate grows increasingly hostile. As powers vie for control around them, they face a painful choice: take flight to save all they cherish or stay to watch it burn.

Venturing into remote wilds in search of refuge, grandparents lead young Abel towards an uncertain future. With each step into the unknown, doubts arise. Can a foreign haven truly preserve their sacred cattle herding heritage from extinction?

Follow the Nkundas’ quest across a changing landscape where long-held customs blink at the brink. Will new mountains shelter this household from escalating threats? Or will the life they knew go up in smoke? Immerse yourself in one family’s struggle to find safe harbour for endangered livelihoods and identity before the house left behind is reduced to ashes.

A Leadership Shift

Rooted in over 40 years of seasoned experience and rigorous scholarly research, A Leadership Shift beckons leaders towards a courageous transformation in organizational ethos. This pioneering narrative seamlessly translates intricate scholarly theories into a practical, proven implementation methodology, illuminated through a real-world case study. It’s the first of its kind, melding profound subjects like organizational oneness, quantum field linkage to leadership, the human biofield’s potency, and the ripple effects of thoughts and spiritual emotions in the workplace, into a comprehensible step-by-step methodology for leaders.

The discourse extends into gender diversity and the ramifications of women empowerment programs, converging multiple facets into a singular vista. While various scholars have shed light on the subjects broached in this book, its distinctiveness emanates from melding science with practical experience and morphing it into a tangible methodology to tackle genuine organizational challenges.

A Leadership Shift not only unveils the science of evolving a culture to attain organizational oneness but invites readers to perceive the human dynamo from a fresh lens and foster a leadership metamorphosis to unlock workplace potential. It demystifies the science and the method, making it accessible for leaders to adopt and apply sans complexity.

Offering a structured methodology to aid leaders in overhauling organizational culture and ingraining change capabilities within the system, this book elucidates the methodology, provides a meticulous depiction of its implementation, and the ensuing outcomes. Bolstered by over 160 scholarly citations, four decades of global know-how, and academic action research, A Leadership Shift demonstrates the profound impact of this methodology on organizational performance, fuelled by an enhanced sense of belonging within the organization.

Me

Ron Pearson was born in Bramley, Leeds on August 12, 1924. He began writing this book on August 12, 2021, his 97th 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.

Lady Bean and Family

Lady Bean and Family, the follow-up to Gerald and Usanna Stribling’s Mr Cabbage and Family, is an in-depth exploration of the world of leguminous plants, presenting a blend of historical, botanical, and culinary perspectives. This book details the development of beans throughout history, examining their botanical structure, emphasizing their nutritional importance and even discussing their sometimes surprising cultural role. The authors share expert knowledge on various aspects of bean cultivation and storage, highlighting different methods of preservation and discussing the health benefits and diverse uses of beans.The narrative takes readers on a global journey, culminating in an extensive collection of recipes that showcase beans in various forms. From savoury snacks popular in the Americas to traditional soybean-based dishes from China and Japan, and even classic French culinary delights, the book provides a wide array of options for cooking enthusiasts and food lovers.Ideal for readers with an interest in food history, botany, and gastronomy, Lady Bean and Family is an informative resource that offers a comprehensive look at one of the world’s most versatile and nutritious plant families.

The Tale of a Dream

In The Tale of a Dream, an octogenarian author embarks on a reflective expedition through the archives of her mind. With a quest to understand how events, people, and experiences have moulded her life, she aims to unearth universal truths and a sense of purpose. What begins as a straightforward analytical endeavour transforms into a fascinating odyssey where patterns and connections manifest with surprising ease, as if the puzzle pieces of her life were falling into place on their own.Seemingly without effort, her fragmented thoughts coalesce into a coherent philosophy that she terms ‘Taoist-Existentialism.’ This innovative approach harmonizes natural wisdom with intellectual insights, and fuses the primal elements of nature with the complex algorithms of technology, illuminating the untapped potential within evolving humanity.Guided solely by the currents of her thoughts and absent any preconceived notions, the author delves into life’s multifaceted questions. While many queries find answers, the eternal ‘why?’ remains intriguingly elusive, as it has for philosophers and thinkers throughout history.The Tale of a Dream invites you to explore the landscape of human experience, asking you to reconsider what you thought you knew while urging you to ponder what you have yet to discover.

Manias, Casinos, Bubbles and Crashes

With incomparable wisdom, writing and analytical skills, and wit, world renowned economist E. Ray Canterbery traces the history of the major speculative episodes in the world economy over the last three centuries. He begins with Tulipmania and ends with bitcoin speculation in exposing the way in which normally sane people display reckless abandon in the pursuit of profit. Canterbery shows how our notoriously short financial memory is what creates the conditions for market collapse. Throughout, the market is considered sacrosanct, much to the regret of the losers. By recognizing certain signs and understanding what causes them we can guard against future collapses and have a better hold on the country’s (and our own) financial destiny.