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Books > Sport & Leisure > Humour
Charlie's introduction to his blog put it best: "A lifetime in
marketing actually equips a man for very little... Now pushing 58,
I realise with some horror that it is a full half century since I
last took cycling remotely seriously. If this trip does not go
well, I might leave it as long until my next attempt. In September
2012, seven friends of varying fitness and circumference,
accompanied by an elderly camper-wagon and driver, are cycling from
France to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain." Despite
being well past their prime they cycled up the equivalent of Mount
Everest plus a bit as they crossed the Pyrenees, the Montes de Oca,
the Montes de Leon, and the Cantabrian Mountains, in the process
expending over 20,000 calories each (according to Susie's iPhone
App), most of which were put back on each evening. They cycled in
the footsteps of 1,000 years of history, marveled at the art and
architecture accumulated over the centuries, and at times crashed
into it. They visited the sites of miracles and pondered their
meaning, and crossed the 200 meter bridge at Hospital de Orbigo
which in 1434 was the site of a month long jousting tournament.
They experienced the highs and lows of triumph and disaster, and
felt compelled to test the efficiency of the Spanish medical
system. Comment on the blog from Barnaby: "God, troops...it is epic
reading and I am on the edge of my seat as I follow your progress
on my map." The De-Caff Camino is in turn amusing, informative,
easy reading and irreverent, and yet is imbued throughout with the
greatest respect for the history and traditions of the Camino and
those who have written their names into its lore. Improbably
arriving at their destination after two weeks and 500 miles on the
road, the author offers some forthright advice to the Vatican on
how to enhance the experience for pilgrims at last achieving their
goal after so much exertion, self-sacrifice and denial. The De-Caff
Camino is an essential and most entertaining addition to the body
of knowledge of The Way of St James.
What if you quit your job . . .
Sold everything . . .
and bought a small hotel on the beach . . .
South of Cancun, Mexico and down a long narrow road ending in
turquoise blue water, you will find Soliman Bay. Here is where most
people's dreams are found, a small bay, white sand and palm trees,
and a reef just offshore full of colorful fish. If you are
visiting, the dream looks real, but if you intend on staying the
locals have one bit of advice - guard your sanity.
Though it may not seem possible, this comedy you are about to
read is 99% true. Names have been changed to protect the
innocent.
May you laugh at our expense.
We like Jeff Goldblum. You like Jeff Goldblum. Helen McClory really
likes Jeff Goldblum. The Goldblum Variations is a collection of
flash fiction, stories and games on the one and only Jeff Goldblum
as he, and alternate versions of himself, travels through the known
(and unknown) universe in a mighty celebration of weird and
wonderful Goldbluminess. Maybe he's cooking, maybe he's wearing a
nice jumper, maybe he's reading this very book. The possibilities
are endless. Treat yourself, because all that glitters is Goldblum.
Ask anyone who knows him: Paddy Pest is a real character.
Paddy is an Australian crime fighter with a dubious Irish
background, an overwhelming abundance of confidence, and a handful
of bad habits. His enthusiasm for finding trouble is only exceeded
by his incompetence.
Fortunately, his pal and sometime sidekick, Stormy Weathers, is
usually available to rescue him from his ill-advised forays into
foolish and reckless situations-frequently involving the fairer
sex. From Yvette Baguette, the delightfully French gendarme, to
Paddy's nemesis, Nadia Nickoff-the minx from Minsk-Paddy is a
lady's man all the way.
Murder and mayhem are all in a day's work for this Aussie crime
fighter. He needs his wits to survive the onslaught of the
disreputable rogues and villains who are out to get him. Paddy's
life is one big, unbelievable adventure after another. And now,
he's got a certain lady on a certain train who needs his help-or
does she?
The world needs someone like Paddy Pest-and if you doubt that,
just ask him
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