In this, the first volume of her autobiographical trilogy, Trisha reveals the heart-rending difficulties and dilemmas of growing up in a domineering and dysfunctional family, ridiculed, exploited and violently abused by vindictive, bullying siblings. Pat (her then name) finds it a struggle simply to survive, let alone make any sense of her life. Discovering, in her teens, an uncanny gift for clairvoyance further unsettles her, and those around her. Desperate to break free from the torments of her past and escape the negative cycle of her existence, she leaves home. Striving to build her confidence and create an independent life of her own. But neither the past, nor her family, will let her alone. Will she ever find the strength, acceptance and happiness - not to mention love in the shape of Mr Right - for which she so ardently yearns? Will 'Pat' ever throw off the shackles of her former self to become the confident, successful and fulfilled 'Trisha'?

Born in the Isle of Man of Irish/Welsh parentage, Noel Stuart nursed no other ambition than to work with animals. His lifelong passion for all creatures and his interest in complementary medicine for humans and non-humans alike combined to culminate in his eventual choice of career as a veterinary surgeon. Noel's work both as a vet and his second career as a writer is a rich tapestry of down-to-earth practice alongside a sense of healing power beyond science. This is balanced by a great sense of humour running a sparkling thread through all that he writes. Noel has studied such unusually diverse directions as dowsing and the effect of ley lines on cattle. He can claim distinction as being one of the earliest vets of his generation to treat fish and once had the dubious experience of counting an alligator as one of his patients! Noel now enjoys an active semi-retirement in Cornwall. He turns his hand enthusiastically to a wide range of endeavours from 'lollipop man' to school governor and Rotarian. He may be found working with the local writers' group, or travelling the world and being a guru to his many grandchildren.

Law as a profession was not Dikgang Moseneke's first choice. As a small boy he told his aunt that he wanted to be a traffic officer, but life had other plans for him. At the young age of 15, he was imprisoned for participating in anti-apartheid activities. During his ten years of incarceration, he completed his schooling by correspondence and earned two university degrees. Afterwards he studied law at the University of South Africa. Practising law during apartheid South Africa brought with it unique challenges, especially to professionals of colour, within a fraught political climate. After some years in general legal practice and at the Bar, and a brief segue into business, Moseneke was persuaded that he would best serve the country's young democracy by taking judicial office. All Rise covers his years on the bench, with particular focus on his 15-year term as a judge at South Africa's apex court, the Constitutional Court, including as the deputy chief justice. As a member of the team that drafted the interim Constitution, Moseneke was well placed to become one of the guardians of its final form. His insights into the Constitutional Court's structures, the personalities peopling it, the values it embodies, the human dramas that shook it and the cases that were brought to it make for fascinating reading. All Rise offers a unique, insider's view of how the judicial system operates at its best and how it responds when it is under fire. From the Constitutional Court of Arthur Chaskalson to the Mogoeng Mogoeng era, Moseneke's understated but astute commentary is a reflection on the country's ongoing but not altogether comfortable journey to a better life for all.

In 1985 Jennifer and Ian Hartley left their home, bought a caravan and moved to Cambridgeshire to witness against the sighting of Cruise missiles at RAF Molesworth. This memoir recounts their day to day life living in this unusual place and the dialogue they had with MPs, the military, police, peace campaigners, the local community and the church.

Jeremy Scanlon was born and educated in Massachusetts. Now he lives in this cottage illustrated on the back cover beside the canal. His wife, Dorothy Priest, was born in the cottage, daughter of the carpenter who built the canal's lock gates. Their hotel narrowboat carried paying guests over 60,000 miles along the lovely inland waterways of England and Wales. Here mine hosts enjoy a rare moment of tranquility in 'Unicorn's' saloon.

What ingredients do you need to brew a successful career in selling and marketing consumer goods? The lessons found in Nick Millers fascinating and motivating story will tell you. Nick Miller sold a lot of beer in his many years in the UK beer industry. Starting in the bingo halls and working mens clubs of East London, he soon moved up to promoting world-class beer brands into nationwide pub chains and supermarkets. Using a powerful blend of creativity, dedication and discipline alongside a smart sales and marketing strategy he and his team turned Peroni from a niche Italian import into the UK's premier lager. Later he took the helm at the craft beer minnow Meantime, where his magic touch led to the brand's turnaround and eventual sale to SABMiller for GBP120 million. In the Meantime distils all the lessons Nick picked up during his impressive career to show any leader how you can: Think strategically about selling and marketingMaximise the strengths of your teamFind the benefits in setbacks and barriersAnalyse your own strengths and weaknessesMotivate your team and enjoy yourself along the way Unlock the confidence to believe in your own abilities and your potential to aim high and succeed as you discover a disciplined way of thinking that can enable you to become as successful in your chosen industry as you want to be. And along the way, lighten the load with some amusing anecdotes and engaging tales from a career well lived. Cheers!

This is a small anthology of prose and poetry giving an insight into the mindset of artists living on the island of Hydra in Greece mainly in the mid 1980s. The doyen being the prolific English painter Anthony Kingsmill-Lunn 1926-1993 who studied at the Ecole de Paris under Andre Lothe and was an influential member of the Soho set in London and of the Hydra artist colony in the 1960s.

Born in North London in 1931, Bernard has led a varied and challenging life. After completing his National Service in the RAF he worked for 40 years in the Ophthalmic Industry, during which he set up and ran his own business, married with three children and three step-children. He now lives in Hertfordshire. After his retirement in 1996, his vivid memories as a child evacuee prompted him to write his memoirs. His poetry has appeared in anthologies, and his many local history articles have been published in provincial newspapers.

Dick Webb was a police officer for 30 years serving in the Metropolitan Police, Bolton Borough Police and latterly Greater Manchester Police. His career consisted of foot patrol, CID and then Regional Crime Squad. He has endeavoured not to mention names of people or streets so that at no time is he in breach of the Official Secrets Act. Or he gets his knuckles rapped. Now that he has retired and the children have flown the nest, the house is much roomier. Giving his rheumy body more room to ruminate. Whilst ruminating he enjoyed looking in the rear view mirror of life. What he saw, what he thought, is in this book for you, hopefully, to enjoy.

Vicky Unwin had always known her father - an erstwhile intelligence officer and respected United Nations diplomat - was Czech, but it was not until a stranger turned up on her doorstep that she discovered he was also Jewish. So began a quest to discover the truth about his past - one that perhaps would help answer the niggling doubts she had always had about her 'perfect' father. Finally persuading him to allow her to open a closely guarded cache of family books and papers, Vicky discovered the identity of her grandfather: the tormented author and diplomat Hermann Ungar, hugely controversial in both life and in death, who was a protege and possible lover of Thomas Mann, and a friend of Berthold Brecht and Stefan Zweig. How much of her father's child was Vicky - and how much of his father's child was he? As Vicky worked to uncover deeply buried family secrets, she would find herself slowly unpicking the lingering power of 'survivors' guilt' on the generations that followed the Holocaust, and would learn, via a deathbed confession, of the existence of a previously unknown sister. Together, the sisters attempted to come to terms with what had made their father into the deeply flawed, complex, yet charismatic man he has always been, journeying together through grief and heartache towards forgiveness.

In the midst of the most disastrous economic climate of Wall Street's history, one executive has weathered the storm more deftly than any other: Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. In 2008, while Dimon's competitors watched their companies crumble, JPMorgan not only survived, it made an astonishing $5 billion profit. Dimon's continued triumph in the face of an industry-wide meltdown has made him a paragon of finance.
In "Last Man Standing, "award-winning journalist Duff McDonald provides an unprecedented and deeply personal look at the extraordinary figure behind JPMorgan's success. Using countless hours of interviews with Dimon and his full circle of friends, family, and colleagues, this definitive biography is by far the most comprehensive portrait of the man known as the Savior of Wall Street.
Now, in an updated prologue, McDonald offers insight into the future of Wall Street and how Dimon will overcome the challenge of aggressive new regulation from Washington--and how he plans to continue to thrive as the world's preeminent banker.

What would make a young French aristocrat give up the dream career of being a British Airways pilot. Lady Luck helps him to miss certain death in Britain's worst air disaster but his best friend dies. It takes thirty years before he finds out the truth of the accident inquiry.

Too old to make a gap-year trip? At the age of forty-three, overweight and settled in a good job, what made Andy Fosker embark on just such an adventure, travelling to South America, the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, New Zealand and Australia? Ahead lay spectacular scenery, wondrous nature, unusual customs and cuisine, any number of flying, crawling and biting insects and perhaps most daunting of all, a test of his ability to be on his own for long periods of time. Follow Andy's journey through his diaries; what made him laugh and what made him sad, the highs and lows and the lasting memories of a momentous time in his life. The Diaries of Me - A Traveller, "The most amazing experience of my life. Travel broadens the mind and helps to reduce the waistline! If you have the opportunity to travel then grab it with both hands."

Can a tiny vehicle provide the space to rebuild a life? Thunderstone: a sculpted & fearless memoir from the award-winning author of Fifty Words for Snow

An exhilarating and often hilarious account of a dedicated fan addicted to the bittersweet experience of watching football during the dark days of football violence, when pre match entertainment usually consisted of a pie, a pint and a punch up.

Born in the Isle of Man of Irish/Welsh parentage, Noel Stuart nursed no other ambition than to work with animals. His lifelong passion and his interest in complimentary medicine combined to culminate in his eventual choice of career as a veterinary surgeon. His work as a vet and second career as a writer is a rich tapestry of down to earth practice alongside a sense of healing power beyond science. This is balanced by a great sense of humour running a sparkling thread through all that he writes. He can claim distinction as being one of the earlier vets to treat fish and has the dubious experience of treating "Daisy" an eight foot alligator. He has enjoyed being a 'lollipop man', school governor and Rotarian and also is a choir member. His first book, "It's a Dog's Life" using local marketing has sold out, and since then he has had a reprint. He is looking forward to similar success with "Man and Beast". In veterinary practice he has been faced with topless ladies in the consulting room and becoming bogged down in a dung heap whilst fleeing for his life. For millennia domestic animals have trained us to wait upon them hand and foot. Does your dog ever remind you that it is time for his morning walk? They even help us to live longer with their soothing ways. Children and animals by their nature always cut us down to size. Rachel Carter's children and dogs made sure of that. John Cregeen's cows also had him well trained to attend to their needs. All this adds up to a rich pot-pourri of life.

If you have ever wanted to know what impact your support for mission has, this book is for you. This series of letters home to supporters shows the deep relationship of care and love that grows between the missionary and their supporters and how supporters are in fact a vital link in the missionary's team. The writer is a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship, a Christian charity that has served people in some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of the world for over 60 years now and is a fascinating insight into the world of aviation, mission and teamwork.

So, why would someone walk for 113 days from country to country, crossing difficult terrain, avoiding detection, constantly fearing capture or worse? Pushing the boundaries of human endurance to the very edge? Would you do it for the sake of exploration and adventure, or is it simply for financial reward and recognition? What if you faced starvation, hardship and lived through four wars and still faced an uncertain future, a future of constant fear, torture and even a horrific end? When confronted with the impossible, we make impossible choices. This is a young boy's epic quest, forced to embark on a journey on foot, escaping a brutal regime from the Middle East to Europe - compelled to flee his country without an identity and travel over 7,000 kilometres, through 11 countries and face unimaginable adventures.

Eddie's life changed forever when he hauled himself out of the open sewage pit on the family farm. He had just saved an escaped pig from drowning, and suddenly he knew that he wasn't going to be a pig farmer! Then he remembered his Grandpa's words;- 'When you get to a certain age, it won't matter what you have, as long as you're comfortable, and have a roof over your head. What will matter is what you have done with your life. Whatever you do, don't follow the crowd, but do something different.' Eddie decided to do different and this is his dramatic story as events naturally unfolded over a 25-year period, between 1983 and 2008. First, Eddie served for three eventful years in Northern Ireland, during the height of 'The Troubles'. Then he backpacked around the world and upon his return to the UK, worked in several, but very different, jobs. However, everything changed when he became friends with a flamboyant character in the music business, and organised a massive festival, with no previous experience! Eight years later it was time for a new challenge. He sold everything to go and live in Brazil for five years, with no job, contacts or direction, and it was the best decision that he had ever made! But even so, nearly everything in Eddie's life had been a passing phase, apart from his passion for Chelsea FC, over land and sea. Are you worried about the future or trapped in the past? To do different is to examine the influences behind your choices because there is always a consequence. Why not create a world in your own image, and resist becoming a prisoner of individual or societal expectations. It's good to do different in a crazy world that always wants you to be somebody else.

Born a haemophiliac in 1944, not long before the end of WW11 when treatment of the condition was primitive if not altogether absent, a boy had to learn his limitations and when to push through the boundaries utilising a mix of cunning, observational skills, obscenity and charm to frustrate the efforts of the adult world to contain him. Having heard at too young an age a prediction that he would not survive to see his fourteenth birthday, anger simmered below the surface to break free in awe of no-one, puzzled by many and sent away to Corley Open Air School for the first five years of his education, then persecuted in an orthopaedic children's hospital he learned to mistrust authority in general, and developed a defiant attitude, determined to prove everyone wrong in every way. Even those he loved were viewed with suspicion and every word they uttered tested, accepted or rejected as he found necessary. Three years of the home tuition he loved followed the open air school; then special school tested his endurance and improved his patience but taught him little else.

The very word "autobiography" immediately suggests vanity and boasting of impressive achievements. Nothing could be further from the intentions of the author in this case. I take a fairly jaundiced view of my life and its shortcomings but hope that with the detachment of old age (I am 83) it may be possible to see past events as near to real as one can hope to achieve and as far as a fairly sombre temprament allows. I try to fit myself into the context of the time and place as seen by an old man and not in the full flood of emotion felt at the time. I am not suggesting my experiences are unique although in one sense they are. We only have one life and so can only know our own experiences and feelings albeit assuming that others have closely similar experiences and feelings. This after all is the basis of poetry or literature. I hope therefore that the reader will perhaps be able to share some of my feelings in a perhaps unusual but in no way extra-ordinary life.

Dick Webb was a police officer for 30 years serving in the Metropolitan Police, Bolton Borough Police and letterly Greater Manchester Police. His career consisted of foot patrol, CID and then Regional Crime Squad. He has endeavoured not to mention names of people or streets so that at no time is he in breach of the Official Secrets Act. Or he gets his knuckles rapped. Now that he has retired and the children have flown the next, the house is much roomier. giving his rheumy body more room to ruminate. Whilst ruminating he enjoyed looking in the rear view mirror of life. What he saw, what he thought, is in this book for you, hopefully, to enjoy.