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Birdwatchingwatching: One Year, Two Men, Three Rules, Ten Thousand Birds
by Alex HorneAlex Horne is not a birdwatcher. But his dad is, so with the prospect of fatherhood looming on his own horizon, Alex decided there was no better time to really get to know both his father and his father's favourite hobby. So he challenged his dad to a Big Year: from 1 January to 31 December they would each try to spot as many birds as possible; the one who spied the most species would be the victor. Along the way Alex would find out what makes his dad tick, pick up a bit of fatherly wisdom and perhaps even 'get into' birdwatching himself.Join Alex as he journeys from Barnes to Bahrain in this charming tale of obsession, manliness, fathers and sons, and the highly amusing twists and turns of a year-long bird race.
London Walks: London Walks
by David TuckerLondon Walks is the award-winning original walking tour company. Written by the expert and knowledgeable guides who lead the walks, London Stories is the perfect way to discover the rich history of London and its hidden gems, including:Sinister London - haunted London and Jack the Ripper.Literary London - from Shakespeare to Dickens.Public Houses - the old pubs of Soho. Mystery and Secrets - the city's hidden past.A Tale of Two Cities - Westminster and the Square Mile.Perfect for tourists who want to experience London life beyond Trafalgar Square as well as for Londoners keen to step off the Circle Line and discover the secrets on their own doorstep, London Stories offers a fascinating glimpse into the capital's rich history. With photos, maps and illustrations to bring the stories to life, London Stories is for those who love London, written by those who know it best.
The Longest Climb: The Last Great Overland Quest
by Dominic FaulknerThe Longest Climb is the utterly compelling account of Dominic and his team's expedition from the Dead Sea to the peak of Everest. His team EverestMax were the first ever to make this extraordinary journey. Following an old Victorian route, Dominic cycled through Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India on his way to Tibet and the bottom of the world's highest mountain. From trying to find a wireless connection in Damascus and setting fire to the team's support vehicle in order to thaw the engine in Iran, to deciding whether or not to share the little oxygen they had and risk their own lives in order to try to save another climber, and beating their Austrian nemesis Gerry Winkler to the top, The Longest Climb is a high-octane combination of the huge personal risk, fascinating cultural insight, and momentary farce that make up a major expedition. But The Longest Climb is not simply a memoir of an expedition. It is also the moving account of Dominic's struggle to finally accept the heartbreaking loss of his father to cancer when Dominic was just six. As he fights illness, broken equipment, lack of money and the hardest season of Everest history to make the top, Dominic also discusses what has driven him up this mountain. The answers are as affecting as they are extraordinary.
India Booms: The Breathtaking Development and Influence of Modern India
by John FarndonThe ancient birthplace of some of the world's major religions and now a modern nuclear power, India is experiencing spectacular economic growth. In twenty-five years its population will overtake that of China, making it one of the most populous and rapidly-developing countries in the world. We all need to know more about this intriguing country.John Farndon explores the changing face of modern-day India and its fundamental contradictions. The country is leading the world in cutting edge technology and research, but it is also home to 40 per cent of the world's malnourished children. It is a liberal democracy, yet its political processes are influenced by some of the most conservative religious ideas in the world. The booming economy is at times both global and archaic. Getting to the heart of these inconsistencies, Farndon gives a fascinating insight into the country as it is now and as it will be in the future, and reveals how the changes in India will affect us all.
China Rises: How China's Astonishing Growth Will Change the World
by John FarndonWith a population of 1¼ billion people and the world's second largest economy, China is fast becoming one of the most powerful and important countries in the world. But while it is one of the world's oldest civilisations, China refuses to conform to expectations. The country's controversial policies, ranging from the one child policy to the repression of opposition groups, have placed it at odds with other world powers, and yet its influence in the world is growing ever stronger. We all need to know more about this fascinating country. John Farndon explores the changing face of modern China and its fundamental contradictions, as a communist state where business is booming, as a nation that continues to support North Korea even as it develops its relationships with the West. Getting to the heart of these and other inconsistencies, Farndon gives a fascinating introduction to the country as it is now and as it will be in the future, revealing how China's changing face will affect us all.
Arctic Diary: Surviving on thin ice
by Sir Richard Branson Sam BransonIt's hardly a surprise to discover that Sam Branson has a love of adventure and a real concern about our future in a world where the climate is changing rapidly. Journeying into the heart of the Arctic wilderness with his father and a film crew, Sam explores the changing landscape and the lives of the native Inuit people who have survived in a relentlessly inhospitable environment for 5000 years.Sleeping on frozen seas and encountering majestic polar bears, Sam and his father embark together on a winter expedition which Sam must ultimately complete on his own, finding new depths of resilience and courage in a formidable and breathtaking landscape.
Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting into Space
by Sir Richard BransonAs far back as stories go, pioneers have reached for the skies. In the last two hundred years, they have mastered the air and made the modern world possible. Today they are bringing outer space within our reach. They're inventors and toymakers, amateurs and adventurers, visionaries, dreamers and, yes, crackpots. Some have called them irresponsible, even dangerous. But Richard Branson has met many of them. He has worked with them, funded them, and flown with them. He admires them, and trusts them, and thinks they and their kind are our future. In this book Richard Branson looks at the history of flight through the stories and people who have inspired him throughout his life. In these pages you will find tales of miraculous rescues; of records made and broken; of surprising feats of endurance and survival, including some of his own adventures, as well as developments in the future of air travel (and space travel). It is a story of pioneers, and of course it includes the world famous Montgolfiers and the Wright brothers, but he also wants to describe some of the lesser-known trailblazers. People like Tony Jannus, who in 1914 created the first scheduled commercial flight in the world, flying his passengers over the waters of Tampa Bay at an altitude of just fifty feet! The 'bird man' Leo Valentin, who in the 1950s jumped from 9,000 feet with wooden wings attached to his shoulders. And Branson's friend Steve Fossett, who dedicated his life to breaking records and having adventures. This is their story. It is also, in a small way, his own.
Out of the Ashes: The Remarkable Rise and Rise of the Afghanistan cricket team
by Tim AlboneCool Runnings meets Joseph O'Neill's Netherland in an inspiring and feel-good story of bravery and sporting success from a country so widely known for war and extremism. This is the true story of the Afghanistan cricket team and their extraordinary attempt to join the world's elite cricketing nations. That this devastated nation should be able to field a cricket team at all, let alone one as successful as this, is an unbelievable achievement. Seven years ago, in a country which does not have a real cricket pitch even today, there was no national team. But a group of young Afghan men, exiled by war, learnt to play in the smashed concrete of refugee camps, and have risen from obscurity to the groomed grass pitches of international cricket.With unlimited access, Tim Albone travelled alongside the team for the two years, charting the players' progress from refugees in Pakistan to the brink of international sporting stardom. Far from being bogged down in cricket jargon, this tale of a gang of dedicated, charismatic, occasionally exasperating young men seeking triumph out of disaster is one that will move and inspire everyone.Foreword by Mike Atherton.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum of Baked Beans: My Search for Britain's Maddest Museums
by Hunter Davies'I am fascinated by people turning their daft dreams into a reality. How did they do it and why?'Driven by his own passion for collecting Hunter Davies has packed his notepad and set off in search of Britain's maddest museums. As he explores these hidden gems he soon discovers that they are everywhere and that they celebrate just about everything, from lawnmowers in Southport to pencils in Keswick.But as Hunter travels up and down the country he comes to realise that it isn't only the collections that are fascinating, it's also the people who have put them together. Whether they're a man who loves his Heinz so much he's changed his name to Captain Beany or a kleptomaniac Vintage Radio buff, these eccentric collectors are Britain's finest and could live in no other country in the world.Once you discover these museums and get to know their curators, Great Britain won't look quite the same again...
In Shackleton's Footsteps: A Return to the Heart of the Antarctic
by Henry WorsleyOn the 29th of October 1908, a party of four men, led by Ernest Shackleton, set out to be the first to reach the South Pole. Three months later, their mission was in ruins and they faced certain death if they carried on. Just 97 miles from the South Pole, Shackleton turned back. One hundred years on, in October 2008, a team that included descendants of that original party, led by Henry Worsley, set out from Shackleton's hut to celebrate the centenary of his expedition by retracing the exact 870 mile route and going on to finish the last 97 miles. This captivating book explores the history of the original expedition and reasons behind its failure, while capturing the meticulous planning, fundraising and training for the new expedition. There is also the team's first days on the ice, Christmas on the polar plateau, the brutal reality of crossing the Beardmore Glacier and the final miles to the South Pole. In Shackleton's Footsteps is a unique story of adventure, pioneering spirit and man's triumph over nature.
The Man Who Climbs Trees
by James Aldred'A book of heart-stopping bravery and endurance' -- Helen Macdonald'A great read – incredible adventures and a dramatic new perspective' -- Chris Packham'[A] delightful, endlessly fascinating book' -- Daily Mail BOOK OF THE WEEKThis is the story of a professional British tree climber, cameraman and adventurer, who has made a career out of travelling the world, filming wildlife for the BBC and climbing trees with people like David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Helen Macdonald.James's climbs take him to breathtaking locations as he scales the most incredible and majestic trees on the planet. On the way he meets native tribes, gets attacked by African bees, climbs alongside gorillas, chased by elephants, and spends his nights in a hammock pitched high in the branches with only the stars above him.This book blends incredible stories of scrapes and bruises in the branches with a new way of looking at life high above the daily grind, up into the canopy of the forest.
A Bike Ride: 12,000 miles around the world
by Anne MustoeWhen ex-headmistress Anne Mustoe gave up her job, bought a bike and took to the road, she couldn't even mend a puncture. 12,000 miles and 15 months later, she was home. Her epic solo journey took her around the world, through Europe, India, the Far East and the United States. From Thessaloniki to Uttar Pradesh, from Chumphon to Singapore, she faced downpours, blizzards and blistering deserts, political turmoil and amorous waiters - alternated with great kindness from strangers along the way. A Bike Ride is the first in the series of Anne Mustoe's successful and inspiring travelogues.
Lone Traveller: One Woman, Two Wheels and the World
by Anne Mustoe'You don't have to be twenty, male and an ace mechanic to set out on a great journey. I've cycled round the world twice now. I'm not young, I'm not sporty, I never train and I still can't tell a sprocket from a chainring or mend a puncture.'So speaks Anne Mustoe in the opening to this fascinating record of her second epic journey cycling around the globe from East to West. Using historical routes as her inspiration, Anne followed the ancient Roman roads to Lisbon, travelled across South America with the Conquistadors, pursued Captain Cook over the Pacific to Australia and Indonesia and followed the caravans along the fabled Silk Road from Xi'an to Rome.
Walking the Amazon: 860 Days. The Impossible Task. The Incredible Journey
by Ed StaffordIn April 2008, Ed Stafford began his attempt to become the first man ever to walk the entire length of the River Amazon. Nearly two and a half years later, he had crossed the whole of South America to reach the mouth of the colossal river.With danger a constant companion - outwitting alligators, jaguars, pit vipers and electric eels, not to mention overcoming the hurdles of injuries and relentless tropical storms - Ed's journey demanded extreme physical and mental strength. Often warned by natives that he would die, Ed even found himself pursued by machete-wielding tribesmen and detained for murder.However, Ed's journey was an adventure with a purpose: to help raise people's awareness of environmental issues. Ed had unprecedented access to indigenous communities and witnessed the devastating effects of the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest first-hand. His story of disappearing tribes and loss of habitats concerns us all.Ultimately though, Walking the Amazon is an account of a world-first expedition that takes readers on the most daring journey along the world's greatest river and through the most bio-diverse habitat on earth.
The Natural Navigator Pocket Guide
by Tristan GooleyStarting with a simple question - 'Which way am I looking?' - Tristan Gooley blends natural science, myth, folklore and the history of travel to introduce you to the rare and ancient art of finding your way using nature's own sign-posts, from the feel of a rock to the look of the moon.With Tristan's help, you'll learn why some trees grow the way they do and how they can help you find your way in the countryside. You'll discover how it's possible to find North simply by looking at a puddle and how natural signs can be used to navigate on the open ocean and in the heart of the city. Wonderfully detailed and full of fascinating stories, this is a glorious exploration of the rediscovered art of natural navigation.The Natural Navigator Pocket Guide is a user-friendly, practical book and the beautiful illustrations are a useful tool to help travellers on their instrument-free journey.
Amber, Furs and Cockleshells: Bike Rides with Pilgrims and Merchants
by Anne MustoeMyriad wonderful characters populate the pages of Anne Mustoe's fascinating book as she pedals along three very different, but equally evocative, roads - the Amber Route from the Baltic to the Adriatic, the Santa Fe Trail from the Missouri River to New Mexico and the Pilgrims' Way of St James from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela. Battling against ferocious winds in Jutland, blizzards in the Rockies, traffic jams of cyclists along the Danube and menus in Czech, Hungarian and Basque, Mustoe survives with her usual fortitude and wry humour, even when she is knocked off her bike by a short-sighted nonagenarian in a Fiat Panda.
Cleopatra's Needle: Two Wheels by the Water to Cairo
by Anne MustoeIt was a blustery April morning on the Thames Embankment in London when Anne Mustoe set out on a phenomenal lone cycle ride - to the original site of Cleopatra's Needle at Heliopolis in Egypt. Leaving behind home comforts, she set herself the challenge of travelling close to water wherever possible - via the Seine and the Rhone, then alongside the Burgundy canal, the Po and the Venetian Lagoon. Before she would reach her final waterway - the evocative Nile - Ms Mustoe would encounter the dusty yet beguiling Near East: Turkey, Syria, the Lebanon and finally Egypt itself. Anne Mustoe weaves a story of exquisite detail laced with the understated humour that has become her hallmark.
Escaping The Winter: All You Need To Know About Spending The Winter Abroad
by Anne MustoeThe British winter: rain, heavy; trains, cancelled; Christmas, expensive. How many times have you thought that there might be an alternative to grey skies and cold weather- one that will not break the bank?Wintering abroad used to be the preserve of the very wealthy, yet since the advent of cheaper, easier travel, anyone who has the time to spare can escape the winter... and even save some money in the process,No one knows more about ascaping the British winter than acclaimed travel write Anne Mustoe, who has happily spent every Christmas overseas since 1987. Internationally renowned for her entertaining and heroic journeys cycling around the world, the irrepressible Ms Mustoe has put together an invaluable, no-nonesense reference book that is essential reading for anyone who is thinking of fleeing the British Isles during the winter months.Practical and thorough, Escaping The Winter is packed with all the advice you need to successfully make your escape, whether you crave rural isolation in a mountain hideaway or want to mix with the locals in a busy small town, including:- Choosing the right destination for you budget and requirements- Managing your finances and letting your property- Packing for an extended holiday- Making new friends and staying in touch with those back home- Staying safe and healthy- Getting around.If you thought of another British winter fills you with dread, then this is the bood for you.
Two Wheels In The Dust: From Kathmandu to Kandy
by Anne MustoeIndia is no place for the faint-hearted cyclist. The streets are jammed with cars, busses, rickshaws, animals, fortune-tellers, barbers, beggars and people sleeping or cooking. Following the success of her two previous outings, A Bike Ride and Lone Traveller, adventuresome ex-headmistress Anne Mustoe donned the cycle helmet once more and set out on an exhilarating journey round the Indian subcontinent. Beginning in Kathmandu in Nepal and ending in the tranquil hill town of Kandy in Sri Lanka, Anne's amazing journey is told with keen observation and the relish of the open road.
Where The Hell Is Tuvalu?: How I became the law man of the world's fourth-smallest country
by Philip EllsHow does a young City lawyer end up as the People's Lawyer of the fourth-smallest country in the world, 18,000 kilometres from home?We've all thought about getting off the treadmill, turning life on its head and doing something worthwhile. Philip Ells dreamed of turquoise seas, sandy beaches and palm trees, and he found these in the tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu. But neither his Voluntary Service Overseas briefing pack nor his legal training could prepare him for what happened there.He learned to deal with rapes, murders, incest, the unforgivable crime of pig theft and to look a shark in the eye. But he never dared ask the octogenarian Tuvaluan chief why he sat immobilised by a massive rock permanently resting on his groin.Well, you wouldn't, would you?This is the story of a UK lawyer colliding with a Pacific island culture. The fallout is moving, dramatic, bewildering and often hilarious.
Out of London Walks: Great escapes by Britain’s best walking tour company
by Stephen Barnett David TuckerEnjoy all that out of London has to offer, and discover the heritage and history behind the scenes in some of England's most picturesque places, such as Bath, Canterbury, Royal Winchester and Stratford. With stories and advice drawn from the expertise and knowledge of the famous London Walks Company and its small army of guides, this book is perfect for tourists who want to experience English life beyond Trafalgar Square, as well as for Londoners keen to step off the Circle Line and discover the secrets just beyond their own doorstep. With photos, maps and illustrations, Out of London Walks contains all the best day trips from the capital city – the ideal companion of the out of London rambler.
Mad Dogs and Englishmen: A Year of Things to See and Do in England
by Tom Jones‘England is a country which requires more than a second look, an amazingly diverse place, offering almost-unlimited landscapes, culture and history, and a diversity of opportunities which is unrivalled anywhere else in the world.’ Tired of London, Tired of Life author Tom Jones, has come up with another gem. In Mad Dogs and Englishmen he presents us with a seasonal snapshot of things to do in England at any time of the year, come rain or come shine.Using a mixture of unique seasonal events and interesting places to visit (all presented in attractive bite-sized entries), Mad Dogs and Englishmen is a browsable gift book aimed at those who are interested in getting to know their home country better as well as tourists seeking to make the most of their stay in England.In more than 220 pages Tom Jones demonstrates the diversity of England as a country; presenting interesting, unusual and thought-provoking things to do which also enlighten the reader, and convey the message that England is a great place to live and explore all year round.
Naked and Marooned: One Man. One Island. One Epic Survival Story
by Ed Stafford‘I stood on the beach truly alone for the first time. I would not see another person for sixty days. I was on an uninhabited tropical island and I had nothing with me to help me survive. No food, no equipment, no knife and not even any clothes. All I had was my camera kit so that I could intimately record my self-inflicted sentence.’ What if you were abandoned on a tropical island with no food or water, no basic equipment, not even a knife, and no clothes – could you survive? Extreme adventurer Ed Stafford isn’t sure, but he’s about to find out as he pushes himself to the limit in this gripping and inspirational test of human survival. For sixty days, with only his explorer’s instinct and a video camera to record his experiences, Ed faces the ultimate feat of physical and mental endurance. He confronts blazing heat and brutal loneliness; eats snails to escape starvation and battles illness, dehydration and fatigue in what is his most dangerous, and at times life-threatening, challenge to date. This epic story of survival, full of exhilarating highs and devastating lows, is told with raw emotion and captivating honesty. This book will leave you amazed and exhausted.
Little London: Child-friendly Days Out and Fun Things To Do
by Sunshine Jackson Kate HodgesLittle London is full of fun and fascinating things to do with little adventurers in the big city. Get out and about and inspire your children’s imaginations! Full of the capital's best-kept secrets, just waiting to be discovered, Little London contains over two hundred things to do all year round, all over the city, and best of all, most of them are free. Bursting with activities, day trips and a few games, recipes and craft makes, there’s lots of ideas to keep tiny toddlers and older boys and girls entertained, and plenty for the big kids to enjoy too! With so much to do and so much to see, Little London’s handpicked activities are combined with handy tips and all the essential information you need to make planning family days out fun and fuss-free. Turn the city into your secret playground with Little London! Here are just some of the events and activities you can find in this book: Get creative at the National Gallery’s family Sundays Experience a Victorian school day at the Ragged School Museum Explore the exotic plants and animals in the Barbican Conservatory Mess about on the river at the Canalway Cavalcade Celebrate Chinese New Year with your own homemade spring rolls Take part in The Big Garden Birdwatch Go behind the scenes with The National Theatre backstage tours Discover London’s top city farms Make your own pin-hole camera Dress up for the Day of the Dead celebrations Enjoy the festive fun at the Scandinavian Christmas Market
Mindful London: How to Find Calm and Contentment in the Chaos of the City
by Tessa WattMindful London invites you to slow down, wake up and be present to the everyday in a more meaningful way, in one of the world’s greatest cities. For Londoners and visitors looking to enhance their experience of the city, and for those curious about mindfulness, this is your essential guide. Features quiet and peaceful places to retreat to in the middle of the chaos, from the silence and sanctuary of libraries, museums and churches to the rejuvenating influence of nature found in London’s myriad green spaces and waterways. Includes suggestions for things to do that will help you de-stress and re-energise, from yoga and tai chi to wild swimming and other more restorative forms of exercise, to mindful ways to appreciate London’s architecture, art and music, as well as the city’s more informal sights and sounds. However, mindfulness is really all about being more present, awake and aware in all elements of our daily lives. At the core of this book you will find simple mindfulness exercises, reflections and reminders that are easy to incorporate into your busy day: on the Tube, bus or walking to work, while eating a quick lunch, working out at the gym, waiting in a queue or at the red light. Mindful London is the secret to living a more balanced life in the big city. Features: – The best green spaces, waterways and wildlife, and the importance of nature to mindful city living – How to take a fresh look at art and notice the city’s everyday architectural details – Exercises for mindful commuting, whether you are on the bus, the train or walking to work – Peaceful interiors, hideaways and sanctuaries – Mindful listening, from music to the sounds of the city – Yoga, tai chi, mindful running, wild swimming and other forms of mindful movement – Practical mindfulness techniques to try throughout and a guide to mindfulness and meditation centres, groups, events and courses