A funny, practical and crucial guide for women facing the life-changing prospect of returning to work after having children. Told by journalist, creative consultant and mother of two, Dolly Jones, The Ladder Down aims to be the definitive companion for parents navigating this complicated juggle (and for those thinking of doing so). When Dolly had her children, the idea of returning to work felt daunting. The thought of having to combine the challenges of career and family was unfamiliar yet, despite it being the experience of so many millions of women, she struggled to find material to help galvanise and reassure her; and to make her feel that anything was possible. In this book, Dolly aims to change all of that and provide women with practical advice, as well interweaving her own personal experiences. Told in an empowering and engaging way, The Ladder Down is a gift for the next generation of women taking on the trials, absurdities, challenges and general amusement involved in combining work and motherhood; one that will inspire and celebrate the women taking it on. Dolly will also combine anecdotal stories, life-hacks and guilt-avoidance strategies from a diverse range of women in a wide variety of industries – from fashion designers to taxi drivers, journalists to actors, lawyers to doctors, bankers, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs – to normalise the potential daily catastrophes in the life of a working mother. It will also feature serious advice from employers, employment lawyers and health specialists to boost knowledge and confidence; to act as a “ladder down� to the next generation of working women from a generation who have experimented their way to making it work.

A Sunday Times top-ten title in 2007 and a bestseller ever since, I Before E (Except after C) has continued to inform and entertain its many readers. Offering reminders of mnemonics from our youth and containing countless more to help us in adult life, this handy collection contains all the memory aids you'll ever need to know: from well-known rhymes, mnemonics, and memorable sayings to a selection of more modern methods of boosting one's failing memory. I Before E (Except after C) will ensure you'll never struggle to remember names, dates, facts, figures and events ever again!

Becoming a grandparent is one of life's true joys, but your new role comes with a lot to think about! This handy book is packed with simple tips and advice, from bonding with the little ones to supporting the new parents, to guide you through those magical first steps with the newest members of your family.

A little book on the Swedish tradition of fika—the twice-daily coffee break—including facts, quotes, tips, and 20 sweet and savory recipes.  While the Danish concept of hygge as caught on around the globe, so has lagom—its Swedish counterpart. An essential part of the lagom lifestyle, fika is the simple art of taking a break—sometimes twice a day—to enjoy a warm beverage and sweet treat with friends. This delightful gift book offers an introduction to the tradition along with recipes to help you establish your own fika practice.

Bread was first made at least 14,000 years ago, and this magical alchemy of grain, yeast, and water has been sustaining people ever since. Today, there is not a country in the world that does not enjoy some form of bread as part of their culinary tradition. The story of bread is the story of civilization – but bread is so much more than a food. It's also a symbol of community and 'breaking bread' a metaphor for shared blessings. The Little Book About Bread is a celebration of this ancient foodstuff in all its fabulous forms. From sourdough to focaccia and from challah to brioche, it's crammed with fascinating history, fabulous quotes and handy hints and tips. It's little, yes – but large when it comes to shouting about the joy of bread in all its many guises.

A charming celebration of all things snow. Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow? Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It's the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games - of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It's the weather of childhood - the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves. Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice - the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white... 'Super-cute... Packed full of snowy snippets' Sunday Express

Welcome to the world of Little Chef where kids are empowered in the kitchen and the best memories are made with the people they love, created by Danielle Kartes of Rustic Joyful Food! From food preparation and beginner kitchen skills to simple starter recipes, this grandma and me cookbook is the perfect tool to introduce kids ages 4 and up to the joys of cooking. Time spent with Grandma making something delicious is the most fun! A grandma storybook unlike any other! The perfect cooking and baking gift for the grandma who means so much to you and your little chefs, this kids cookbook is full of foods they will both love to cook together! Kids will feel proud of what they cook up while strengthening that special familial bond. Along with recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts are tips for creating traditions and finding ways to celebrate the everyday wonderfulness of just being together. This new series from author and food stylist Danielle Kartes of Rustic Joyful Food is sure to please the littlest of chefs through the shared joy of cooking!

Newcastle is England's most northerly city and shares a long history with Gateshead, its neighbour on the south side of the River Tyne. The two, city and town respectively, are a heady mix of the old and new; both were industrial powerhouses during the 19th Century that have successfully embraced recent change, reinventing themselves as vibrant places of entertainment and culture. With this book in hand, journey over and under the Tyne to discover treasures such as the steam turbine ship Turbinia, a sleekly streamlined example of north-eastern mechanical know-how; wander across the wide-open space of the Town Moor, where President Jimmy Carter has the right to graze cattle; take in Saltwell Towers, an eccentric castle in the leafy surroundings of Saltwell Park; then top it all off with a pint in a pub where the ghost of Charles I may well make an appearance. Written by a Geordie, this book will help you explore the quirkier side of both Newcastle and Gateshead, and discover their hidden gems.

Cracking... full of running gems, realities and giggles. Nice work!' - Martin Yelling, Marathon Talk 'Lovely - very impressive' - TalkSPORT 'From now on, if anyone I know mentions that they want to start running, this will be my first recommendation' - Stuart Heritage Best Books of 2021: Sport - Waterstones selection The Runner's Code explores the unwritten rules of everyday running and is essential reading for anyone who marvels at marathons, tears round the track or simply plods round the park. Filled with smart advice and brilliantly knowing humour, this unique celebration of running takes the newbie and veteran alike through the secret, nuanced and blindingly obvious rules of running to answer all the important questions, such as: - What's the correct etiquette for acknowledging other runners? - What should you do if you get 'caught short' on a run? - And exactly how many times can you ask colleagues for marathon sponsorship? The book is packed with plenty of need-to-know information to help you deliver your best running performance, such as coping with different weather conditions, advice on kit and clothing (how many miles can a pair of trainers last, and is it ever appropriate to run in a mankini?) and pavement etiquette (overtaking dawdling pedestrians on a busy street). There are also sections on getting the best race-day nutrition, finding the perfect running headspace and gaining maximum joy from your running. The Runner's Code features exclusive contributions from BBC presenters Nicky Campbell and Louise Minchin, sports writer Henry Winter, and leading running authors Anna McNuff, Paul Tonkinson, Rachel Cullen, Martin Yelling, Liz Yelling, Helen Croydon and Michael Stocks. They each brilliantly reveal what they love and what they hate about running. Written by journalist, author and self-confessed running nut Chas Newkey-Burden, The Runner's Code will help us to all run better and more responsibly, while reminding us of the joy and, at times, the wonderful absurdity of running.

'Heart-swelling in its wholesomeness' - Gina Martin 'A reminder of the life-changing power of empathy' - Emma Gannon Why are you kind? Could you be kinder? The kindness we owe one another goes far beyond everyday gestures like taking out the neighbour's bins - although it's important not to downplay those small acts. Kindness can also mean much more. In this timely, insightful guide, Henry James Garrett lays out the case for developing a strong, courageous, moral kindness, one that will help you fight cruelty and make the world a more empathetic place. Building on his academic studies in metaethics and using his signature sweet animal cartoons, Henry explores the sources and the limitations of human empathy and the many ways, big and small, that we can work toward being our best and kindest selves. A world in which everyone was the fully-empathetic of version of themselves would be a very kind world indeed. And that's the world this book will move us toward.

What could be a more tempting Christmas gift than a compendium of David Sedaris's best stories, selected by the author himself? From a spectacular career spanning almost three decades, these stories have become modern classics and are now for the first time collected in one volume. For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to read without laughing. Now, for the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work. In these stories, Sedaris shops for rare taxidermy, hitchhikes with a lady quadriplegic, and spits a lozenge into a fellow traveler's lap. He drowns a mouse in a bucket, struggles to say 'give it to me' in five languages and hand-feeds a carnivorous bird. But if all you expect to find in Sedaris's work is the deft and sharply observed comedy for which he became renowned, you may be surprised to discover that his words bring more warmth than mockery, more fellow-feeling than derision. Nowhere is this clearer than in his writing about his loved ones. In these pages, Sedaris explores falling in love and staying together, recognizing his own aging not in the mirror but in the faces of his siblings, losing one parent and coming to terms - at long last - with the other. Taken together, the stories in The Best of Me reveal the wonder and delight Sedaris takes in the surprises life brings him. No experience, he sees, is quite as he expected - it's often harder, more fraught and certainly weirder - but sometimes it is also much richer and more wonderful. Full of joy, generosity, and the incisive humor that has led David Sedaris to be called 'the funniest man alive' (Time Out New York), The Best of Me spans a career spent watching and learning and laughing - quite often at himself - and invites readers deep into the world of one of the most brilliant and original writers of our time.

'This is a marvellous, endlessly illuminating book ... It doesn't go on the shelf alongside other critics; it goes on the shelf alongside Dickens' Howard Jacobson ___________________ Discover the tricks of a literary master in this essential guide to the fictional world of Charles Dickens. From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters? What was Dickens's favourite way of killing his characters? When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost? Why is Dickens's trickery only fully realised when his novels are read aloud? In thirteen entertaining and wonderfully insightful essays, John Mullan explores the literary machinations of Dickens's eccentric genius, from his delight in cliches to his rendering of smells and his outrageous use of coincidences. A treat for all lovers of Dickens, this essential companion puts his audacity, originality and brilliance on full display. 'Brilliantly sharp ... Mullan makes us see that Charles Dickens was one of the most artful, which is to say skilled, writers the world has ever seen' Mail on Sunday 'Put it on your Christmas list and spend the post-goose collapse reading the good bits aloud' Laura Freeman 'Even if you know a lot about Dickens you will find revelations in this book, and if you know nothing about him it will be the perfect appetiser' The Times, The best paperbacks of 2021

What makes a perfect husband? In this tongue-in-cheek guide, illustrated by Heath Robinson's inimitable cartoons and contraptions, there are many charmingly old-fashioned tips for how to succeed in almost all aspects of married life. First published in 1937, this delightful book gives an insight into how the roles of both wife and husband were viewed at the time and pokes gentle fun at them both. The perfect husband presses his own trousers; he can tend the lawn and entertain the baby simultaneously by means of two simple attachments to the garden roller; he can peel onions behind his back, with the help of a mirror, and thus avoid tears; he can make a vacuum cleaner and he even has a device to help him climb the stairs silently after a late night out with the boys. When offered the choice of a glass of milk or a Manhattan, he will choose the former. With chapters on courtship and proposal, the wedding, early married life, bringing up children, sports and hobbies, domestic difficulties and middle age, this book makes a highly amusing gift for those who are considering tying the knot or wish to celebrate wedded bliss.

A stocking-fodder sensation of classic Christmas carols told through the brilliantly British medium of pun, by the internationally renowned Guardian cartoonist, Martin Rowson. Carol Carnage takes the first verse and chorus line of five world-famous carols and renders them into stunning pen-and-ink puns, brimming with English eccentricity, invention and Christmas-crackerly bawdiness. Whether it is the frosty beauty of In the Bleak Midwinter maliciously misheard as the vomit-spackled Ian the Greek, Mid-wine Tour or the trumpeting joy of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen spitefully styled as a husband and wife drunkenly heckling one another in Got Dressed Yet Mary? Gin Till Morn!, the internationally renowned cartoonist Martin Rowson unrepentantly takes aim at po-faced carol enthusiasts and dangerously earnest Christmassers the world over.

The popular and reliable New King James Version, now with the enhanced readability of Thomas Nelson's custom NKJV font, is the perfect gift. The NKJV Deluxe Gift Bible is a great way to celebrate graduations, baptisms, birthdays, or special achievements. This beautifully crafted Bible comes in a variety of Leathersoft (TM) covers and includes gilded page edges, a ribbon marker, a presentation page, the words of Christ in red, full-color maps, charts, and a dictionary-concordance. Features Include: Improved readability of the Thomas Nelson NKJV Font Words of Christ in red Easy-to-use dictionary-concordance Miracles and parables of Jesus Ribbon marker Gilded page edges Presentation page Full-color maps8.1-point print size

Err, I think you mean Downward Cat How can you tell whether your cat is purrfecting its Sphinx pose or just being, well, a cat? You may think your cat is just a naturally bendy weirdo, but the truth is, they're probably one of the growing number of Zen Yogi Cats - and this book is here to expose what happens when yoga and cats collide. Whether they're paws-ing to enjoy their morning Sun Salutations, working on their flexibility, searching for the divine (laser) light or exhaling hairballs, these cats are getting their om-meow on in the world of Cat Yoga.

This book offers a fresh take on the Victorian notion of expressing oneself with the symbolic language of flowers. Happy Day features bright, cheery flowers with uplifting sentiments. Each spread features a flower that "flips up" from the page, a brief description of the flower's meaning, and its special message for the recipient. When all of the blossoms are popped up, the book can be displayed on a desk just like a vase of flowers.

Illuminating, enriching and wholly delightful, inside you'll find more than 500 stirring quotes to inspire you, enrich you and enchant you. Whether you're hoping to revisit some of cinema's greatest moments, rediscover a much-loved writer or simply to explore new music, this wonderful box set is the perfect treat for any lover of the arts. Sample Quotes: 'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.' - George R.R. Martin 'I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.' - Ludwig Van Beethoven 'If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.' - Louis Armstrong 'Cinema is a matter of what is in the frame and what's out.' - Martin Scorsese Contents: Book 1: Books - A celebration of writing, reading and the power of the written word to educate, enlighten and entertain us. Inside there are beautifully crafted lines from some of the world's finest authors, quotes that express the joy of reading and writing, as well as wonderful passages from some of the greatest books ever written. Book 2: Music - From the classical era to modern day, you'll discover a curation of lines from composers, musicians and writers. Find out what music means to those who love it most, the classical musicians, composers and the music devotees. Covering the sheer breadth of musical tastes, it inspires you to play, listen and explore new music from all around the world. Book 3: Movies - Explore the power of cinema to challenge, inspire and change our moods from movies made by the world's best filmmakers and actors. Unearth rousing quotes from skilful filmmakers, find fresh viewing inspiration and enjoy lines from some of the best movies ever made, covering all decades and genres and revisiting some of cinema's greatest moments.

All the drinking games you'll need for the perfect night out... or in! Drinking is great, right? But not on your own. That's sad. Thankfully, The Little Book of Drinking Games is here to help you - and your friends - find an excuse to get drunk and let your hair down. Jam-packed with more than 50 drinking games of all shapes and sizes, this pocket compendium will have you thinking, drinking and pint-sinking in no time. The Little Book of Drinking Games contains the best classic drinking games (that you're usually too drunk to remember the rules to), games inspired by your favourite movies and TV shows as well as a few games that are destined to become new traditions. Ice-Cube Raft Race: Just like the legendary pub relay, Boat Race, but on a much smaller scale. Essential Supplies: An ice-cube tray, shots of your favourite spirit and plenty of straws. Borrow an ice-cube tray from the bar/your kitchen, and fill the compartments with a spirit or strong beer. If it's a tray with two rows of sections, all the better as one player can take the left side, racing another player who takes the right. The idea is to drink each compartment dry through a straw, before moving on to the next one, and then the next, until all of the compartments have been emptied. Whoever finishes first wins and condemns the loser to a forfeit of their choice.

"We'll always have Paris," croons Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca "to a young Ingrid Bergman. F. Scott Fitzgerald commented that "the best of America drifts to Paris." But, should one never get the opportunity to visit Paris, one might take consolation in the words of critic William Hazlitt, who called it a "beast of a city." Be it praise or colorful invective, everyone, it seems, has something to say about the city and this slender volume--filled with wise, witty, and sometimes scandalous quotes--presents the full range of impressions it has made.
"Paris in Quotations" takes readers on a one-of-a-kind tour of the City of Lights, in which we hear from the likes of Moliere and Thomas Gold Appleton, who thought that, "When good Americans die, they go to Paris." For centuries, Paris has reigned over the popular imagination. For those planning a visit, this collection will be warmly welcomed.

Penned by the very first Crayon Activist, Bellen Woodard, this picture book will tug at readers' heartstrings and inspire them to make a difference! Some call it the skin-colour crayon. I've heard it many times before. But this time when I pass the peach-coloured crayon to him, something in me feels different. When Bellen Woodard's classmates referred to 'the skin-colour' crayon she knew just how important it was that everyone understood that 'skin can be any number of beautiful colours.' This stunning picture book spreads Bellen's message of inclusivity, empowerment, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of leaders. Bellen created the More Than Peach Project and crayons with every single kid in mind to transform the crayon industry and grow the way we see our world. And Bellen has done just that! Includes back matter about becoming a leader and improving your community just like Bellen did! The perfect picture book for little activists everywhere, reminding readers of how important their voices are! Wonderfully colourful and emotive illustrations from Fanny Leim that bring the story to life on every page!

As functional as it is beautiful, this substantial book presents some of the world's greatest art in an elegant package that will look good at home or in the office. Every day offers a different, exquisitely reproduced artwork from a variety of eras, genres, and media; quotations to ponder, surprise, and delight; and ample space to record birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates as well as personal notes and reflections. There's art for every taste and from every period: prehistory and ancient Egypt; Medieval and Renaissance; Impressionist, Abstract, and Modern. Featured artists include, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, Caravaggio, Titian, Hiroshige, El Greco, Vermeer, Turner, Monet, van Gogh, Cassatt, Kandinsky, Klee, Picasso, and others. This book's global and historical collection of images makes it the perfect gift for lovers of art and will offer inspiration every day of the year.

We live in turbulent times, and it often seems as if we've only just got used to the world as it is before it changes beyond all recognition yet again. In our hectic, fact-paced lives, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances is a must - and also much easier said than done. The Little Book of Resilience offers guidance for when the scales of life are tipped and resilience seems to be in short supply. Packed full of wise words from some of the world's best-known figures - from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day personalities - this book will show you how to cultivate physical, psychological and emotional resilience in order to cope during challenging times. Sample Quotes: 'Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected.' Jamais Cascio 'It's not the absence of fear. It's overcoming it. Sometimes you've got to blast through and have faith.' Emma Watson 'If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.' Shane Koyczan

A love letter between children and their mothers from poet Jessica Urlichs, with stunning illustrations by Sarah Reinhardt that make this a delightful gift for mothers of all ages and a beautiful book to share with children.

From infancy to childhood, through the teenage years and into adulthood, the love between a mother and child is a bond like no other. This heartwarming book of verse by bestselling author and poet Jessica Urlichs is a celebration of this inimitable bond.

If you have ever wanted to know more about the fascinating history of Britain's Royal Family, then look no further: The Book of Royal Useless Information is jam-packed with surprising, shocking and hilarious facts. DID YOU KNOW? King Richard the Lionheart was gay. Charles I liked to place his 18-inch court dwarf between half-loaves of bread and pretend to eat him. Elizabeth I said she bathed once every three months whether she needed it or not. Henry VII was the last English king to win his throne on the field of battle. The Queen uses black blotting paper so people can't see what she's written. Wallis Simpson admonished her lover, Edward VIII, with the joke: 'You can't abdicate and eat it.' Bestselling authors Noel Botham and Bruce Montague irreverently present everything you could ever possibly want to know about the Royals - and a little bit more! So raise the Union Flag, feed the corgis, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and enjoy this truly mind-boggling collection of totally useless information.