Autobiographies are usually the preserve of celebrities or politicians - those who were born great, achieved greatness or had greatness thrust upon them. Patrick Behan falls into none of the above categories. In the 87 years he spent on this planet, he lived an ordinary life, seldom straying from his native Dublin. He was not a witness to momentous events - he simply got on with his life and raised his family as best he could. A popular fallacy is that an ordinary life is, by extension, uninteresting. In this random sequence of tales and reminiscences, we are led through a life full of fascinating memories, combined with recollections of a local history that is fast fading from human memory. Whether it is driving the turf by horse and cart into Dublin city centre, or watching film star Tom Mix ride a white horse up James' Street in full cowboy regalia, the reader is treated to a slice of Dublin life, as seen from the point of view of one of its ordinary citizens.
In August 1914, on the outbreak of the First World War, there was enormous pressure on men to enlist in Kitchener's New Armies, supplementing the tiny regular army and Territorial Force. This pressure was intense, and posters, the entreaties of local worthies, and an apparently indiscriminate scattering of white feathers, all exacerbated masculine sensitivity. We are all familiar, if only through BBC TV's 'Dad's Army', with the Home Guard of the Second World War. Far less is known of their First World War equivalent: the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC). Like their counter-parts in WW2, the VTC comprised those who were too old, too young, too unfit or too indispensable to serve in the regular forces. They fought for the right to be armed, uniformed and trained; to be employed on meaningful duties; and at first, to exist at all. This book explores the origins, development and structure of the VTC, along with those who belonged to the many supporting medical, transport, police and youth organisations who kept the home fires burning or, in some cases, tried to put them out. The VTC arose from the need of those men who were forced to stay at home to be seen to be doing their bit. They saw the removal of the bulk of both the regular army and the Territorial Force to the Western Front as their opportunity to prepare to resist the expected German invasion of Britain, and as a way of countering accusations of shirking, or even cowardice.
“UNUSUAL AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE” - The comments of a retired Metropolitan Police Dog Sergeant who had proofread a book written by Tim Clements. Discover the extraordinary life of a dedicated police officer in this captivating memoir. Unveiling experiences never encountered by senior officers, the author’s manuscript has finally been published. For thirty years, the author served as a Constable in Kent Police, immersing himself in a diverse range of extraordinary circumstances alongside the routine demands of the job. From handling peculiar cases to engaging in day-to-day police work, he delves into a myriad of encounters that defined his career. As his grandson faces bullying, the author aims to inspire by showcasing that hard work, humour, and a thirst for learning can conquer anything. This expanded edition delves deeper into grassroots policing, revealing the satisfaction and worth found in one of the most challenging occupations. From bustling communities to solitary patrols covering vast areas, witness the author’s time in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, culminating in his role as the community officer for the Otford area.
A look at the season of Christmas and winter through the medium of light verse, 'The Arse End of the Year' chronicles the build up to the festive season, the solstice, the day itself and the post-Christmas slothfulness, together with aspects of the cold and dreary winter season so beloved by, well, not many people actually. From the reindeer shaped blips on the air traffic controllers' screen, to the disappearing cheese portions; from forgetting auld acquaintance to the difficulty of burying dead bodies in frosty weather, Peter Goulding gives us a uniquely personal insight into the season in his inimitable style, not that many people would want to imitate it.
Peter Goulding's fourth, or maybe fifth, (who's counting?) book of comic verse again delves the murky depths of the poet's imagination. There are still plenty of poems about murdering his wife and disposing of her body but there are darker poems too - the proliferation of tomatoes on Jupiter, the birth of Princess Charlotte and his critiques of the counties of Tipperary and Offaly, to name but four. His mind, which, to be frank, would be put to much better use, learning a trade or simply vegetating, is again employed solving many of the world's problems in rhyming couplets, villanelles and other fiendish weapons of mass destruction. Comes with a cultural health warning.
Shaye and Grandad must solve a Mystery. Something so incredible it would blow your mind. What lies in wait for the two Adventurers only time will tell? When Shaye woke on what seemed like any other normal day he never expected even in his wildest dreams to be searching for hidden treasure. Or, to be stuck in a dark cellar with an odd smelling Zombie with false teeth and a Big wonky eye. Inside the big old creepy house, there are hidden rooms and secret passages and strange things you couldn’t imagine seeing even in the scariest films. William, Shaye’s grandad had decided to visit his oldest friends at the end of the road care home. A house once owned by Sir Edward Cranach an industrialist with a love of gold. Old Terry Chapman had found a strange little book in the library with five clues to where the gold is buried, but they are not alone in this quest, someone is watching them. Who is the shadowy figure? And can Shaye, grandad and his friends find the gold before the stranger? An Amazing fun Children's illustrated Mystery and Adventure book.
The Poetry Exchange is an award-winning podcast and project that celebrates the role poetry plays in people's lives. In their first anthology, Fiona Bennett and Michael Shaeffer draw on ten years of archival material to bring together a collection of poems chosen by readers that know them as friends, presented alongside their personal stories of connection. Featuring Brian Cox on John Clare, Andrew Scott on George Herbert, Maxine Peake on Tony Harrison and many more, in this gathering of poems you can reacquaint yourself with old friends, perhaps make some new ones, and enjoy the companionship poetry can offer us. Friends that offer connection and solidarity. Friends that help us wrestle with difficult things. Friends that name our experiences. Friends that comfort and help us move forward. Friends we admire.
After the phenomenal success of The Storm Whale and On Sudden Hill, this new book by Benji Davies deals with the emotional topic of losing a grandparent. Subtly told, this beautifully illustrated book tackles a difficult subject with great sensitivity and depth. At the bottom of Syd’s garden, through the gate and past the tree, is Grandad’s house. Syd can let himself in any time he likes. But one day when Syd comes to call, Grandad isn’t in any of the usual places. He’s in the attic, where he ushers Syd through a door, and the two of them journey to a wild, beautiful island awash in color where Grandad decides he will remain. So Syd hugs Grandad one last time and sets sail for home. Visiting Grandad’s house at the bottom of the garden again, he finds it just the same as it’s always been — except that Grandad isn’t there anymore. Sure to provide comfort to young children struggling to understand loss, Benji Davies’s tale is a sensitive and beautiful reminder that our loved ones live on in our memories long after they’re gone. Praise for Grandad's Island: 'Davies’s elegantly rough illustrations, evoking a child’s paintings, tap into the imagination of death with little fuss, and his story declines to offer kids instruction on how to feel. Indeed, Grandad’s Island doesn’t mention death at all, but is deeply in touch with the ways in which loss and abundance commingle in the mind, correcting and assuaging each other.' The New York Times Book Review 'The creator of The Storm Whale (2014) offers another thoughtful picture book guaranteed to spark discussion...Recommend to young families dealing with loss, especially those who prefer to gloss over the scientific realities.' Booklist Online 'As with The Storm Whale, Davies offers a story of loneliness and togetherness distinguished by understated, deeply felt emotions and a nautical milieu.' Publishers Weekly 'This book is innovative and useful as a way to talk about the idea of loss—without ever referring to actual death. Parents and educators can use this to talk with a child about how it’s normal to be sad and miss loved ones...Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations make this a fine choice to use with the youngest of audiences. Since death isn’t directly specified, this title also works for when a child’s loved one is moving far away. An excellent vehicle to gently approach the topic of loss. Recommended for collections needing these types of materials.' School Library Journal 'Grandad's Island by British author-illustrator Benji Davies (The Storm Whale; Bizzy Bear series) celebrates a close grandfather-grandson relationship with warmth and style. Whether it's read as a picture book about love, loss or just missing someone who isn't around anymore, it's a charmer. Cheerful cinematic spreads invite young readers into all sorts of intriguing places, from a cozy attic full of curiosities like a turtle teapot, to a vast ship's deck, to the deep jungle of an island paradise.' Shelf Awareness for Readers 'A resonant, layered tale that will only gain in texture as its readers get older.' USA Today Books from the World of the Storm Whale: The Storm Whale The Storm Whale in Winter Grandma Bird Also by Benji Davies: On Sudden Hill, written by Linda Sarah When the Dragons Came, written by Naomi Kefford and Lynne Moore Jump on Board the Animal Train, written by Naomi Kefford and Lynne Moore
Spending seven months in Orkney during 2015 and 2016 in order to delve into the secrets of the islands, Richard Clubley was keen to get as many local views as possible. He gathered interviews with lighthouse keepers, farmers, archaeologists and climbers – and many others! On dreich afternoons during the short days of winter, Richard ate home bakes with locals and recorded their memories. It was at one such hearth that someone said, 'You know about so-and-so of course, you come to Orkney all the time, so how could you not know?'. Richard didn't know. While there are still a lot of unearthed stories hidden in Orkney, Richard has collected a fair few in this beautifully illustrated book. Richard Clubley loves Scotland's islands, but it is Orkney that has stolen his heart. In this book, he portrays the northern Scottish islands fairly and honestly, with stories that even Orkney locals may not have heard before. Travellers from elsewhere will be charmed by Richard's descriptions of the Orkney landscape and way of life.
