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The Bucket: Memories of an Inattentive Childhood
by Allan AhlbergThe Bucket by Allan Ahlberg - the enthralling childhood story one of Britain's best-loved children's authors'My mother, who was not my mother, I see her now, her raw red cleaner's hands twisting away at her apron as she struggled to speak. Adoption was a shameful business then in many people's eyes, the babies being mostly illegitimate. Better not speak of it.'Allan Ahlberg was adopted as a baby. In 1938 he was picked up in London by his new mother and taken back to Oldbury in the Black Country. Now one of the most successful children's book writers in the world, in The Bucket he describes an oddly enchanted childhood lived out in an industrial town during the 1940s, in conditions which today we might describe as 'deprived'. He writes of a father in overalls smelling of wood shavings and oil, of a tough and fiercely protective mother who cries when he discovers that he is adopted, of life assurance policies ('£6 if the child dies under age 3') and fearsome bacon slicers, of half-remembered trips to his mother's sister's grave and to the bluebell woods. And of his first days at school: 'Allan could do much better. He is most inattentive and dreamy at times' (school report, December 1946).Using a mix of prose and poetry, supported by new drawings by his daughter Jessica and old photographs, The Bucket retrieves a childhood which lovers of Ahlberg's classic picturebooks The Baby's Catalogue, Burglar Bill and Peepo! might feel they have glimpsed before but which are now exquisitely brought to life.This beautiful, exquisitely designed book, which will also appeal to fans of Gervase Phinn, Alan Bennett, Roald Dahl and Nigel Slater's Toast, will be loved by generations of Ahlberg fans.'Allan Ahlberg has a string of children's classics to his name' Nicolette Jones, GuardianBorn in Croydon but brought up by his adopted parents in the Black Country town of Oldbury, Allan Ahlberg held jobs as a gravedigger, postman and plumber's mate before becoming a teacher. He taught for ten years before collaborating with his wife Janet on a series of much-loved, now classic children's picture books including Peepo!, Burglar Bill, Cops and Robbers, Each Peach Pear Plum, Woof!, Heard it in the Playground, Please Mrs Butler, The Boyhood of Burglar Bill, The Pencil, Friendly Matches, The Improbable Cat, Goldilocks, My Brother's Ghost, The Mighty Slide, Collected Poems, The Boy, the Wolf, the Sheep and the Lettuce and The Ha Ha Bonk Book.
Buried Alive! (Biscuit Barrel #1)
by Jacqueline WilsonTim can't wait to go on holiday - especially as he gets to bring his friend Biscuits along. But their trip unexpectedly becomes truly, terribly adventurous when an encounter with two local bully-boys threatens to disrupt the fun. Narrated by Tim and interspersed with revealing, illustrated extracts from Tim and Biscuits's holiday diaries, this is a wondefully enjoyable story from one of the most popular writers around that both girls and boys will love.
Bunker Man
by Duncan McLeanIt is the North-west coast of Scotland and there's a stranger in town - a shambling silent hulk of a man, face hooded even at the height of summer. He hangs around school playgrounds, laughing; leers through bedroom windows; camps out in a filthy old concrete pillbox. Meanwhile, Rob and Karen, newly married, settle into their new life together. Rob has been taken on as a janitor in the local school and begins to hear about the hooded man. Unpleasant things begin to happen. Unspeakable things. It is time for a showdown. It is time to find the Bunker Man.
Bundt: 120 recipes for every occasion, from everyday bakes to fabulous celebration cakes
by Melanie JohnsonThe Ultimate Bundt Cook Book120 fabulous recipes for Bundt cakes, ice cream Bundts, breads and bun Bundts for elevenses, deserts, afternoon tea, birthday and every celebration. Elevate humble sandwich cakes into show-stopping Bundts to wow your friends and family. Cut slices to reveal swirls, hearts and even a surprise Easter bunny. Made using a wide range of strikingly beautiful traditional and new pans designed by bakeware specialists Nordicware, Bundt cakes both taste and look spectacular and whether for afternoon tea or a festive celebration, they are the perfect centrepiece for any table.Chapters include everyday Bundts, fruit Bundts, a whole section on chocolate Bundts, Bundts with 'star' quality, swirl Bundts, jelly and ice cream Bundts, as well as breads, bun Bundts and cro-nuts and a spectacular special celebration chapter with children's birthday, Valentine's day, Easter, Mother's Day, Halloween and Christmas Bundts. There truly is a Bundt for everyone from kitchen novices to baking pros. Tantalise and indulge your tastebuds with classic recipes, new flavours and top techniques that are nothing short of baking wizardry. Recipes include Cookies 'n' cream Bundt, Victoria 'Bundtwich', Salted Miso Caramel Bundt, Blueberry cheesecake buns, Bundtnuts with passion fruit glaze, Strawberry trifle Bundt and Babka Bundts and the show-stopping chocolate, rose and pistachio with chocolate ganache, Valentine's Bundt with a heart in every slice and the stunning Christmas Tree Bundt.
The Bumper Book of Bravery
by Charlie NortonThe Bumper Book of Bravery recounts tales of incredible courage the world over, from the mythical to the modern, and from New York to New Zealand:Take to the seas and marvel at the first voyage around the world. Dare to go deeper and discover record-setting underwater feats, as well as the French free-diver who refused to learn her limits.Stay on land with Samurai warriors, Roman emperor gladiators and Genghis Khan's lethal Mongolian army.Reach for the skies through balloonists, fantastic flying machines and female fighter pilots.Go underground with the ultimate masters of espionage, including Russian spies, honey-traps and ruthless CIA-trained Tibetan agents.From ocean depths to giddy heights and everything in between, The Bumper Book of Bravery will awaken the adventurer and hero inside of us all.
The Bumper Book For The Loo: Facts and figures, stats and stories – an unputdownable treat of trivia
by Mitchell SymonsWhen Mitchell Symons wrote his extraordinary bestsellers This Book, That Book and The Other Book - all neatly combined in one sensational volume, The Ultimate Loo Book - he was judged by many to be the King of Trivia. Now, inThe Bumper Book for the Loo, this supremo of weird and wonderful, astonishing and inexplicable facts, figures, stats and stories returns with a super selection of trivialistic treats - each one more remarkable and, yes, even more trivial than anything he's compiled before. For example, did you know that...·The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 a.m... ·There was once an internet rumour that Belgium doesn't exist... ·In 1830, King Louis XIX ruled France for just 15 minutes...·All mammals have jaws but only humans have chins...·Peru has more pyramids than Egypt...Packed to the rafters with all manner of useful and useless information, lists of the biggest, the smallest, the best and the worst, The Bumper Book for the Loo is a hilarious compendium of endless delights - and a hugely entertaining, unputdownable feat of nonsense!
Bump It Up: The Dynamic, Flexible Exercise and Healthy Eating Plan For Before, During and After Pregnancy
by Professor Greg WhyteThe ultimate, easy-to-follow guide to how to be fit, active and healthy - before, during and after pregnancy - from Professor Greg Whyte OBE: consultant to numerous sportswomen and celebrities, and the performance expert behind the incredible Comic Relief and Sports Relief challenges. Complete with accessible advice and illustrated exercise programs, this is the only pregnancy guide you'll ever need...'I loved being active while pregnant. Being fitter made the first few weeks easier and Greg's new book provides fantastic support and guidance on how to exercise throughout pregnancy' -- Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medalist, world record holder and mum'Greg's new book provides a wonderful companion for mums-to-be' -- Sally Gunnell, OBE, Olympic gold medallist, world record holder and mum'Every pregnant woman should read this book' -- ***** Reader review'One of the best pregnancy books out there' -- ***** Reader review'An incredible book - great to get straight forward, clear advice' -- ***** Reader review'Pitched at an understandable level, with lots of useful information' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************************BUMP IT UP clears away the confusion and dispels the many myths surrounding exercise and pregnancy to offer invaluable guidance on how to exercise safely and eat healthily through each trimester and beyond.Professor Greg Whyte OBE, a father of three, explains how the right exercise and a healthy, balanced lifestyle will ...· boost your chances of conception· help you to be fit and relaxed through each stage of your pregnancy· reduce your stress levels as you prepare for labour· keep you energized and active as you adapt to the demands of motherhoodGuiding you through each trimester, Greg provides an easy-to-follow, fully illustrated exercise programme suitable for all levels of fitness, and a healthy eating plan, which includes expert guidance on nutrition and a range of delicious and adaptable recipes created by an award-winning food writer.Designed to keep you feeling on top form, and with an inspirational foreword by mum and celebrity fitness expert Davina McCall, BUMP IT UP is both practical and empowering - a one-stop-shop for essential advice on how to be fit, active and healthy before, during and after pregnancy.
The Bump Class: An Expert Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
by Marina Fogle Dr Chiara Hunt"This is one of the best books I have read on the subject" The Sun"Fresh, witty and reassuringly down-to-earth" You MagazineFed up with advice that did not take into account a less than perfect pregnancy, Dr Chiara Hunt and Marina Fogle set up their pregnancy course, The Bump Class, in London in 2013. They wanted to help prepare new mothers thoroughly for the birth of their babies and instil in them the joy and happiness of birth, no matter what the method, time or setting of the labour.This book is a pragmatic and honest look at pregnancy, giving pregnant women and new mothers sensible and practical advice on what is to be expected (as well as the often unexpected!) in a friendly and open manner. Chiara and Marina believe that there is no such thing as a “normal” pregnancy or birth – every woman is different and that should be celebrated, not ignored.The Bump Class is filled with charming illustrations, impartial advice, style tips and hilarious anecdotes from both of the authors, as well as personal stories from the women who have been welcomed onto their course. This book will provide every pregnant woman with the support and reassurance that is so essential at the most crucial time in any woman’s life.
Bumble
by Alison PrinceBumble the hamster, so called because of his big bum, belongs to Rosie. He knows it's his job to keep Rosie happy. He entertains her with Pocket Diving, Ear Tickling and Finger Balancing. But when he tries Hide and Seek, Rosie's parents panic and insist Bumble has to stay in his cage. Rosie still feeds him delicious things, but Bumble's getting bored - and fat! Then mice arrive in the house. Rosie's parents are horrified, Rosie isn't happy - and Bumble is frantic. if things go on like this, he'll lose his job. He has to come up with a plan, and quickly...
Bulletproof: How Not to Get Fired When the Credit Crunch Hits
by Mark C ScottIn these uncertain times, the credit crunch is affecting everyone.With job losses on the rise and redundancy a looming threat, Bulletproof is the ultimate how-to guide to protecting your job. Written by a leading industry professional with years of experience in the business field, Bulletproof provides step-by-step practical advice about how to give yourself a competitive edge so that you can dodge the redundancy bullet. Bulletproof shows you how you can change the rules of the game, develop your own tactical advantage and actively embrace a strategy for long term survival - taking back control of your employment prospects to ensure you keep and succeed at any job!
Bullet Proof
by Matt Croucher GCAFGHANISTAN, FEBRUARY 2008: in an out-of-control, dangerous country torn apart by war, littered with Taliban guerrilla forces and thousands of miles from home, Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, a Royal Marine with 40 Commando, accidentally activates a grenade whilst on a covert patrol behind enemy lines. With only a split second to react, Croucher's instincts kick in and he throws himself beside the grenade, reasoning that saving the lives of his three comrades was worth the likelihood of losing his own. Miraculously, and against all the odds, Croucher survived, and mere hours later was taking part in a gun battle against local insurgent fighters, demonstrating a raw, unique courage and devotion to military duty that would later see him awarded the George Cross - a distinction bestowed only on those who perform acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. Croucher's George Cross would make him famous around the world. But his story is much more than just one heroic act in isolation. His is a life of bullets, blood and loyalty, and of lives saved and lives taken. From a young marine aged 19, when he was one of the first 200 Allied soldiers to invade Iraq back in 2003 as part of an elite force of British Marines and US Special Forces, through to his second tour of duty in 2004, when he suffered a fractured skull following a roadside bomb attack, only to return to action just a week later, and then being thrust into hellish Afghanistan, Croucher has seen vicious fighting, intense gun battles, roadside ambushes, and witnessed the death and injury of close colleagues on an almost daily basis. This is his incredible story: a searing, vivid, non-stop account of one man's heroism and courage under fire, in the most gruelling combat environment since the Second World War.
Built on a Lie: The Rise and Fall of Neil Woodford and the Fate of Middle England’s Money
by Owen WalkerHe was the most celebrated and successful British investor of his generation - but it was all built on a lie. Neil Woodford spent years beating the market; betting against the dot com bubble and the banks before the financial crash in 2008, making blockbuster returns for investors and earning himself a reputation of 'the man who made Middle England rich'.But, in 2019, Woodford's asset management company collapsed, trapping hundreds of thousands of rainy-day savers in his flagship fund and hanging £3.6 billion in the balance.In Built on a Lie, Financial Times reporter Owen Walker reveals the disastrous failings of Woodford, the greed at the heart of his operation and the full, jaw-dropping story of Europe's biggest investment scandal in a decade.'Vital financial journalism with heart' Emma Barnett, broadcaster'This is a must read!' Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats'Reads like a rip roaring tale of a corporate high wire act' John McDonnell, former Shadow Chancellor'Should be sold with a bottle of blood-pressure pills' Edward Lucas, The Time
Built for Speed
by John McGuinnessGo on the ride of your life with the racing legend himself**with a thrilling NEW CHAPTER on John’s dramatic 2017 crash**‘Then I was there myself, just another face in the crowd, watching the bikes fly by. The smells, the noise and the speed were all there for me to experience. It was like a massive injection in my head and it just blew my mind. I knew within seconds that I was going to be a TT racer. I didn’t know how or what I was going to have to do to achieve this, and my dad wasn’t going to be keen. Everyone around me was aware of the dangers, but from that moment I knew I had to do it.’John McGuinness is one of the all-time giants of road racing, with a huge host of victories to his name. But his easy humour and down-to-earth attitude off the bike have always kept people guessing: what’s the truth about the man inside the helmet, that has kept him at the top of such a sport for over 20 years?His autobiography tells the whole story, from his humble beginnings in Morecambe and getting his first bike at the age of 3, to working as a bricklayer and cockle fisherman before deciding to follow his dream, and finally to his many victories in the most dangerous sporting event on the planet. He tells of what it takes to be a champion in such an exacting sport, and to keep winning even though all logic tells you to stop – and when so many of your fellow racers are paying the ultimate price for doing it. This thrilling autobiography gets into the head of the man who stares death in the face, and doesn’t even flinch.
Building: Letters 1960-1975
by Isaiah BerlinIn the period covered here (1960–75) Isaiah Berlin creates Wolfson College, Oxford; John F. Kennedy becomes US President (and is assassinated); Berlin dines with JFK on the day he is told of the Soviet missile bases in Cuba; the Six-Day Arab–Israeli war of 1967 creates problems that are still with us today; Richard M. Nixon succeeds Johnson as US President and resigns over Watergate; and the long agony of the Vietnam War grinds on in the background.At the same time Berlin publishes some of his most important work, including Four Essays on Liberty – the key texts of his liberal pluralism – and the essays later included in Vico and Herder. He talks on the radio, appears on television and in documentary films and gives numerous lectures, especially his celebrated Mellon Lectures, later published as The Roots of Romanticism.Behind these public events is a constant stream of gossip and commentary, acerbic humour and warm personal feeling. Berlin writes about an enormous range of topics to a sometimes dazzling cast of correspondents. This new volume leaves no doubt that Berlin is one of the very best letter-writers of the twentieth century.
The Builders: How a Small Group of Property Developers Fuelled the Building Boom and Transformed Ireland
by Frank McDonald Kathy SheridanIn the past fifteen years, Ireland has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the EU to one of the richest in the world. Of all the factors in this extraordinary transformation, none has been more prominent than the astonishing boom in construction. In The Builders, Frank McDonald and Kathy Sheridan tell the stories of these men and of the changes - physical and psychological - they have brought about. The story of Ireland's property developers has been the great untold story of the boom - until now.'Essential reading' Sunday Business Post
Build a Bonfire: How Football Fans United to Save Brighton and Hove Albion
by Paul Hodson Stephen NorthHow would you feel if your football club was bought by a businessman who saw your ground as real estate? And what if your ground was demolished leaving you with nowhere to play next season? Many fans believe that when Bill Archer, a Blackburn-based entrepreneur, bought Brighton and Hove Albion, he had no passion for the club or the game but rather saw an opportunity to make a profit. If so, he made the fatal mistake of misjudging football fans. In July 1995, Brighton's local daily paper led its front page with the headline 'Seagulls Migrate', announcing that the Goldstone Ground was to be sold to a property developer for £7.4 million and that 'home' games were to be played at Portsmouth. All this without one word of consultation with the fans. What followed was the biggest campaign in the history of football to save a club. Drawing on dozens of interviews with people directly involved - the fans, the FA, the players and the management - Build a Bonfire dramatically traces the progress of the two-year fight with the board: two years of despair, absurdity and solidarity. In so doing, the book not only explores implications for other clubs, in a world where the battle lines between football and money are being drawn ever tighter, but also creates a picture of that strange and wonderful thing: the football fan. And having lived through the crisis and listened to the fans, the authors can offer their Ten Essential Steps to Depose your Club Chairman, should the need arise . . .
Buffalo Cake and Indian Pudding
by Dr A. W. ChaseTravelling physician, salesman, author and self-made man, Dr Chase dispensed remedies all over America during the late nineteenth century, collecting recipes and domestic tips from the people he met along the way. His self-published books became celebrated US bestsellers and were the household Bibles of their day.Containing recipes for American-style treats, such as Boston cream cakes, Kentucky Corn Dodgers and pumpkin pie, as well as genial advice on baking bread and testing whether a cake is cooked, this is a treasure trove of culinary wisdom from the homesteads of a still rural, pioneering United States.
Buddhist Scriptures
by Donald LopezWhile Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.
Buddhism For Bears
by Chris RiddellBears are seriously underestimated creatures when it comes to spirituality and religious feeling. For the first time, this book recognises their huge potential and offers ursine students of Buddhism everywhere the opportunity to focus their skills and follow the path to enlightenment. From the meditation to the essential concepts of Zen, all the fundamentals are set out here in a series of concise interpretations of Buddhist teaching. Wonderfully illustrated by well-known illustrator Chris Riddell, this is the perfect gift with a difference.
The Buddha in Me, The Buddha in You: A Handbook for Happiness
by David HareDo you want to be happier? Find inner calm? Enjoy a rich and rewarding life? Here's how... The Buddha in Me, the Buddha in You combines the tried-and-tested wisdom of Nichiren Buddhism with the best of popular psychology and personal development, making this a brilliant guide to how life works, and how to get the most from it. Nichiren Buddhism differs from other Buddhist schools in its focus on the here-and-now, and places great importance on individual growth as the starting point for a better world. This, combined with powerful techniques such as NLP, mindfulness, journalling and coaching, makes The Buddha in Me, the Buddha in You the quintessential handbook for happiness.'Buddha' simply means someone who is awakened - yet while Nichiren Buddhists will find fascinating insights into their practice, there is no need to follow a spiritual path to benefit from this book. Through his experience as an internationally acclaimed life coach and practising Buddhist, author David Hare shows us how to wake up to our own potential and that of those around us – to discover everyday enlightenment.
The Buddha In Daily Life: An Introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin
by Richard Causton CaustonNichiren Daishonin Buddhism encourages the belief that, through its faith and practices, spiritual and material blessings and benefits can be available to everyone in this life. Needs can be met, and success achieved, not merely for oneself but for others (and the world) through dedication to the Lotus Sutra, a central teaching of Buddhism. It combines these personal objectives with the commitment to world peace, ecology and the easing of suffering, especially, AIDS. Attracting such well known followers as Jeff Banks, Sandie Shaw, Tina Turner and Roberto Baggio, Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism is rooted in a Buddhist tradition going back to the teachings of Nichiren in the 13th century, and is part of an international movement based in Japan.
The Buddha, Geoff and Me: A Modern Story
by Edward Canfor-DumasEd is having a hard time - at work, in his love life and, well, generally. Then he meets an unlikely Buddhist - who drinks and smokes and talks his kind of language. Bit by bit, things begin to change...Ed doesn't always take Geoff's advice. Or, when he does he lapses at the crucial moment. His path to understanding is not a straight one, especially as life keeps throwing more and more 'stuff' at him. Often he fails - like most of us, in fact. But sometimes he manages to get it right. And when he does, surprising things begin to happen ...In The Buddha, Geoff and Me Edward Canfor-Dumas brings all his skills to bear in an absorbing story of everyday city life, where the characters stand out with all their human strengths and weaknesses, and the ending brings Ed - and perhaps all of us? - a hope we didn't necessarily expect.The Buddha, Geoff and Me - for anyone who's ever begun to wonder what the whole damn thing is all about ...
Britons Through Negro Spectacles (Black Britain: Writing Back #10)
by ABC Merriman-Labor'We shall therefore confine our walk to Central London where people meet on business during the day, and to West London where they meet for pleasure at night. If you will walk about the first City in the British Empire arm in arm with Merriman-Labor, you are sure to see Britons in merriment and at labour, by night and by day, in West and Central London.'In Britons Through Negro Spectacles Merriman-Labor takes us on a joyous, intoxicating tour of London at the turn of the 20th century.Slyly subverting the colonial gaze usually placed on Africa, he introduces us to the citizens, culture and customs of Britain with a mischievous glint in his eye.This incredible work of social commentary feels a century ahead of its time, and provides unique insights into the intersection between empire, race and community at this important moment in history.Selected by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, this series rediscovers and celebrates pioneering books depicting black Britain that remap the nation.
British Woodland: How to explore the secret world of our forests
by Ray MearsNobody sees and understands woodland better than Ray Mears.With deep natural history knowledge and practical woodcraft skills, gained over a lifetime of learning from the world's last remaining indigenous peoples, Ray offers a different way to experience our wooded landscapes. He challenges the old concepts. He looks to our ancestors and shows how man's hand in shaping woodland is critical. We are not separate from nature, we just need to ensure that our interactions have a positive impact.With the emphasis on interaction, British Woodland is structured by usage. We learn that sycamore and clematis are among the best woods for burning, pine and oak help us navigate, and hawthorn and beech have edible leaves. Rope can be made from willow, utensils and tools from hazel, and historically, weapons were made from yew and wych elm.With Ray as our guide, encouraging this sense of connection to individual trees, our appreciation of wooded landscapes will change. We can learn how to live inclusively in nature, for our own wellbeing and enjoyment, and also for the future of our planet.
British Society Since 1945: The Penguin Social History of Britain
by Arthur MarwickHigh and popular culture; family, race, gender and class relations; sexual attitudes and material conditions; science and technology - the diversity of social developments in Britain from 1945 to 2002 are thoroughly explored in this new edition of aclassic text.'Something of a tour de force... Without serious distortion or omission he moves dexterously through a wide variety of sources, ranging from poetry through film and novels to opinion polls.. it is astonishing how much he gets in' Times Educational Supplement'An enjoyable, readable, usable achievement which leads the field' John Vincent, Sunday Times