Roger Ling was born out in the sticks of rural Essex, and considers himself to be a true Essex bumpkin, and although he has lived most of his later life in the town, and ran a country pub in the wilds of Suffolk and a restaurant at the sea-side, he is still a country boy at heart. Take a walk on the wild side is a sideways look at life though his eyes, It takes a strange mind to come up with the first poem he ever wrote at the age of fifty. They turned one of our barns, into a pub And it tickles me a bit To see them posh folks eating, Where my bullocks used to shit. Most of the poems are quite irreverent and non P C, and Roger makes no apology for that as he said if you think you may be offended don't read it, although you will be missing a treat if you don't. The book is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud or at least raise a smile. Telling tales from his childhood in the nineteen fifties his rebellious teenage years in the nineteen sixties right up to date, as by his own admission as a grumpy old man. This book solves the problem of "what shall we buy grandad or grandma" as most generations especially baby boomers will recognise someone they knew or still know, so let's have some fun and perhaps shed a tear as we join him. Walking on the wild side The author would like to thank Gordon Parkinson for his brilliant drawings and my partner Rosalie and our friend Jan for their support and encouragement in the production of this book

A highly informative, entertaining, and slightly irreverent look at one of life's great ceremonies Exposing the real-life insanity behind those picture-perfect wedding days, this collection comforts the soon-to-be-married with the knowledge that one's "perfect day" doesn't have to be quite so perfect. This volume of wedding anecdotes, superstitions, and jokes--with some statistics thrown in--features both dream wedding days and disasters. Fresher in perspective than a how-to guide, it offers a trousseau of tips and short-cuts from the photographers and author and from other couples who have been there--all stunningly illustrated by real photos of real people enjoying real weddings.

Feline stressed? Would you like a cat-alyst to purr-fect peace in your life? Ever watched enviously as your furry friend finds a sunbeam and stretches out on it - on your bed - as you rush to catch the bus? Follow this sound advice, straight from the moggie's mouth, and maybe you can achieve catitude too. This is a humorous guide to finding and appreciating - cat-style - those peaceful moments amid the chaos and stress of working and domestic life. It's no coincidence that your cat has decided to sleep on your keyboard, or your tax return, or that report you should have finished last week. They're saying, "Pay me attention and why not get me some food while you're at it"... but they're also saying, "Find the stillness within the detail, amid the tumult, of your hectic life. Take some time for you to be you." Probably. This is a cat's guide to beating anxiety, appreciating the moment and being mindful. So look around you, take some time to smell the catnip, take a lint roller to your hairy trousers, and try some Meowditation. Eleanor Abraham is a Glasgow-based writer and editor. Based on an idea by Liz Small