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Books > Fiction > True stories > Endurance & survival
Beyond These Eyes is the biography of one of the most inspiring,
courageous and incredible young men to be living on our planet at
this time in history. Professional surfer Derek Rabelo is fearless
in the ocean. The unique characteristic of this young man, though,
is that he is blind, having been born with congenital glaucoma. He
is famous for his big wave courage, riding life-threatening
monsters at Pipeline, Jaws and Mavericks in Northern California,
and most recently surfing 50 foot waves in Nazare, Portugal. This
is an unbelievable attempt for anyone, but a miracle if you are
blind. Beyond These Eyes takes you on an extraordinary journey of
Derek's life. From the time of his birth, the anguish and then
devotion and love of his family, to his time now as a married man
and his devotion to his wife, Madeline. His strong faith and love
for God has enabled him to achieve the miraculous. Derek tours the
world to speak to people of all ages to encourage and inspire them
to take the limitations off their thinking.
At 12.35 a.m. on the 29th April 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran
Sukumaran were led out in front of firing squad. Strapped to wooden
crosses, they prayed and sang, staring straight ahead at their
killers. On that day, the Indonesian government did not execute two
drug smugglers, they executed a pastor and a painter. But who were
Andrew and Myuran? In 2005, the selfish recklessness of youth and
lure of drugs, money, fast cars and a better life led them and
seven other Australians into a smuggling plot to import eight
kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Unbeknownst to
them all, the Australian Federal Police knew their plan and tipped
off the Indonesian police. Charged with drug trafficking, Myuran
and Andrew were found guilty and sentenced to death. Andrew was 22
years old. Myuran was 24. Cindy Wockner was the Indonesian
correspondent for News Limited when the Bali Nine were caught. For
a decade she covered their story and she got to know Myuran, Andrew
and their families very well. She watched them transform from
angry, defiant young men into fully rehabilitated good people. This
is the intimate, and untold, story of Andrew and Myuran; of their
childhoods and what turned them to drugs, what happened in their
ten years in Kerokoban Prison, the numerous legal appeals, the
political fallout and the growing worldwide pleas for mercy that
saw vigils held around Australia. It will show their rehabilitation
and their focus on helping others - of Andrew's growing commitment
to his faith and Myu's burgeoning artistic talent. It will show the
boys they were and the men they became in a potent cautionary tale
and a poignant reminder of what we all lose when we ignore the
power of mercy.
Robin Sheppard had always seemed liked a lucky guy! Proud father of
two sons: Sam the eldest (the musical/wordy one) and Charlie (the
artistic/sporty one). Still good friends with his first wife
Georgina and partnered by the effervescent and indomitable Suzanne
when his hitherto contented life took a different turn. He had
bounded through 50 years of an unfettered existence. A universe
largely comprising five star hotels set in manicured gardens, with
fine wines and outrageous flower arrangements, separating
well-heeled customers in which the `anticipation of need' was
paramount. After growing up in Bath he had become an hotelier who
delighted in operating some of the very best of Britain's hotels,
winning hotel of the year prizes along the way, before founding
with some like-minded chums, their own specialist hotel operating
group. Ending up in London he presided over an empire of a dozen or
so glamorous hotels which featured architecture of the grade one
variety, decadent decor, period fixtures in Capability parkland
surroundings, and food of the highest standard. His was an
untroubled workplace. Taking time out along the way to invent the
truly iconic, deep blue, skittle shaped, Ty-Nant mineral water and
then a niche adult soft drinks business. He became an entrepreneur
without even knowing it and a role model for many a novice hotel
student along the way. Then things changed.
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