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I wrote the poems in this collection over a period of more than
four years - from 25 January 2012 (Before your life is through) to
22 June 2016 (Survive and thrive together).In March 2013, I went to
bed one night feeling absolutely fine and awoke the next morning
barely able to move, with no feeling at all in my right arm. I
spent a few months in absolute agony, unable to use my hands, I
wasn't able to do much for myself and could hardly walk before I
was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Treatment began
easing things a little but the following year I was dealt a second
blow when I was told that I also have Scleroderma, a rare disease
for which there is currently no cure. I decided then that I
couldn't give up. I had to fight all the way. I wanted to help
raise awareness and use my experiences to help others who are
encountering hardships to understand that our mind is a powerful
tool and whatever life brings, we can choose not to dwell on the
negatives and find something positive to focus on. The illnesses
reduced my physical capacity profoundly. They can often be
life-limiting and drastically reduce life expectancy. I have chosen
to let them give me a new perspective on life - how we have to
cherish everybody and every moment while we still can.If, through
my words, I can encourage even just one other person to connect
more deeply with life's riches, and develop new optimism, my life
won't have been in vain. I have selected the poems for this
collection specifically because I have a passionate wish to help
others to benefit from the very precious help and guidance I have
received. Alison Rhodes
IntroductionIn the summer of 2012, Paola Cannas, by then in her
80s, invited her son, Marco Vichi, to dine with her. At that
meeting, she asked him if he would read two of the poems that she
had written. She wanted to know if they were any good, and whether
or not he liked them. As he read them he was moved to tears by
their beauty, simplicity, honesty and goodness, and he felt sad
that he had not known his mother in this way before. He
subsequently collected together all her poems, some written on
scraps of paper, others in old jotters, all of them scattered in
drawers and boxes around her home.Marco , a well-established
author, wanted to be certain that his mother's poems were valued in
their own right - 'walking on their own legs' as he said. He
identified a possible publisher in Pisa - Felici Editore - but did
not at first reveal that the poems had been written by his mother.
He received a very quick response to say that the poems would be
published. Respiri e Sospiri - 'The little big book', as it became
known in Italy - was received with tumultuous applause across the
country. When Marco told his mother that the poems were to be
published, she said, 'I only wanted to see if you liked them. Do
you mean they liked them too?' Shortly before she died, Paola was
interviewed by the Florence newspaper Corriere Fiorentina.These
beautiful poems were written at various stages throughout Paola's
life. Using freeform verse, she draws the reader into each
situation and experience with some of the clarity, depth of vision
and gentle affection with which she was gifted. These poems speak
for themselves. Paola Cannas was born in Lucca in 1928, and lived
all her married life in Florence (Tuscany). She died in her beloved
Tuscany on 17 March 2013. She had very deep feeling for Sardinia -
the land of her forebears.* * * * *I translated these poems almost
immediately after reading them. I had been so moved by them that I
wanted my wife and friends to be able to read them, too. Paola's
dying wish was that any possible proceeds from publication of her
poems should go to charity. Her son, Marco, nominated Il Filo di
Juta (The Jute Thread), which, based in Florence, builds schools in
Bangladesh. In 2014, a school to teach literacy to the children of
Bangladesh was renamed 'The Paola Cannas School'.Having read the
translated poems, Augur Press wanted to make them available to the
English-speaking world.Bernard Wade, translator, Dublin, Ireland
and Lucca, Tuscany, April 2015. * * * * *When we received the first
sample of the translated versions of Paola Cannas' poems, we knew
immediately that this material carried a depth of focus that is
rare. And we knew that the poems had been translated by someone who
loved and really felt and experienced them in both their original
language and its translation. Meaning can be lost in the process of
translation, but in this case, the poetry has retained the original
vital message - sometimes gentle, sometimes forceful, always
powerful, filled with truth and spiritual wisdom. Mirabelle Maslin,
Augur Press, April 2015.
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Jasmine (Paperback)
Mirabelle Maslin; Edited by A. M. Maslin
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R338
Discovery Miles 3 380
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Out of stock
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This book provides a fascinating, detailed account of the family
background and social context in which the writer's eating disorder
developed and manifested. However, this book covers much more than
an account of the sufferer's lengthy struggle with anorexia nervosa
and its many effects. The book is about the author's lifelong work
to recover, and to understand the illness from a psychological and
spiritual perspective. It also includes broader discussion of
related social and ecological matters.
A parent's ability to be able to see and understand things through
the eyes of their child is fundamental. The child will come to feel
truly known by the parent, and the parent helps him to make sense
of what surrounds him. And where can true comfort be found? True
comfort arises from the knowledge of relationship that is based on
trust. And what about the needs of the child of the past that
dwells inside each 'adult' state. This book opens up a whole new
world of understanding for parents and carers.
The author documents her experience of the diagnosis and treatment
by plastic surgery of the lentigo maligna melanoma which was in,
above, and to the side of her left eyebrow. She also describes the
first appearance and the development of brown markings which were
the precursors of the lentigo maligna melanoma. The book directs
the reader to www.lentigomalignamelanoma.info where there is a
series of photographs with dates and descriptive captions. These
images show the early brown markings, the lentigo maligna melanoma
and stages of its treatment.
This is an eco-mystery, involving dolphin communication with
humans. Stephen is an American journalist whose career has become
aimless as he searches for a truly meaningful story. Suddenly his
life is turned upside down as he receives a cryptic text sent by
Jill, a glamorous war correspondent from his past. Now living
quietly in a corner of Northern Scotland, Jill enjoys the company
of dolphins near her cottage on the Moray coast. Possible romance
is sidelined, as far more urgent events prompted Jill into the
hurried contact with her one-time partner. She has stumbled upon a
puzzle that could affect the future of the entire world. An
ambassador dolphin called Spike has approached a young girl at
eerie Chanonry Point. He has a crucial message for mankind, and
needs Stephen and Jill to spread it worldwide to halt environmental
catastrophe.
Deep in the Cheshire countryside, Philip Thornton has created
'Field Fare' - a hotel with a special reputation for its game
dishes. The building contains a secret, known only to Philip.
Feeling lonely while her husband, Grant, is away, Teresa dines at
'Field Fare', and Philip entices her to sample a unique cordial.
When Teresa confides about her experience to Carrie, her young
herdresser, she learns that Carrie has had a similar encounter.
Could there be more? Concerned, Teresa approaches her friend,
Monica. Aided by Grant, they devise a plan...
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Miranda (Paperback)
Mirabelle Maslin; Cover design or artwork by Gregory Parsons
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R390
Discovery Miles 3 900
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Out of stock
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This is the first book in a series of self-help fiction titles. By
reading about the lives of fictional characters, the reader learns
much about how to unravel present day problems. The understanding
of stresses that began in childhood years casts light on why the
characters are struggling with the difficulties that they are
having now. Description on the back cover reads as follows: Newly
unemployed, Miranda is feeling directionless and dejected. Then she
encounters Kate, a former work colleague. Kate is now facing
redundancy. Their friendship is rekindled, and as the two women
share their problems and dilemmas, they begin to confide about
experiences that have affected their lives. Miranda had helped to
mother her two younger sisters when they were growing up, but they
rarely contact her and she feels puzzled and hurt by this. It
emerges that the impact upon Kate of her father's leaving when she
was young has many facets. Inspired by memories of her Granny Ann,
whose many stories delighted her, Miranda's creative self begins to
emerge, and Kate's vision of her own future matures. Miranda and
Kate gain confidence and optimism about self-employment, and their
personal relationships begin to flourish.
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Lynne (Paperback)
Mirabelle Maslin; Cover design or artwork by Gregory Parsons
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R375
Discovery Miles 3 750
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Out of stock
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This is the second book in a series of self-help fiction titles. By
reading about the lives of fictional characters, the reader learns
much about how to unravel present day problems. The understanding
of stresses that began earlier in life casts light on why the
characters are struggling with the difficulties that they are
having now. Description on the back cover reads as follows:
Victimised by the new office manager and worried about her mother's
health, Lynne feels at a very low ebb. When she decides to be more
open with her mother about her concerns, she is surprised to find
that they both benefit. Lynne's mother is determined to help her
daughter explore why she had lost interest in finding a partner for
herself, and she approaches the subject sensitively. Thus
supported, Lynne faces the challenge of preparing to look for a new
relationship. Together Lynne and her mother take a number of
positive steps that lead to change and enrichment of their lives.
This story takes place in a primary school in Scotland (where
pupils attend for seven years, class P1 to class P7.) It is
suitable for all readers aged eight and upwards. It is the last
week of the summer term. The teacher of the primary 6 class has
flu, and a supply teacher stands in for her. She turns out to be a
wonderful teacher, and also she has some great ideas for the summer
holidays. The 24 pupils in the class start to make plans for some
projects...
Soon after Nicholas' thirteenth birthday, his great-uncle John
reveals to him a secret -- handed down through hundreds of years to
the 'chosen one' in every second generation. John is very old. His
house has long since fallen into disrepair, and as Nicholas begins
to learn about the fifth key and the pledge, John falls ill. Facing
these new challenges and helping to repair John's house, Nicholas
begins to discover his maturing strengths. The unexpected
appearance of Jake, the traveller whom Nicholas has barely known as
his much older brother, heralds a sequence of events that could
never have been predicted, and a bond grows between the brothers
that evolves beyond the struggles of their ancestors and of Jake's
early life.
This is a historical novel, set in harsh times. There are many
threads to the plot - all of which contain much intrigue and
factual information about what life must have been like 300-400
years ago. One dark winter's night, an unseen force attacks Molly,
leaving her for dead. On their return from snaring rabbits, her
husband, Sam, and his brothers, James and Alec, discover her, and
slowly nurse her back to life. But she cannot speak. Determined to
avenge Molly and help her to regain her voice, the brothers search
for clues. Could her affliction be due to a curse? The birth of Sam
and Molly's son, Nathan, raises questions about his ancestry. Who
was Molly's father, and how did he meet his end? Might there be a
connection between violent events of long ago and Molly's present
state?
Orphaned by the age of ten, Emily lives with her Aunt Jane. While
preparing to move house, they come across an old diary of Jane's,
and she shows Emily some intriguing spiral patterns that appeared
in it just before she, Emily, was born. Clearly no passing
curiosity, these patterns begin to affect Emily in ways that no one
can understand, and as time passes, something momentous begins to
form in their lives.While studying at university, Emily meets
Barnaby. Sensing that they have been drawn together for a common
purpose, they discover that each carries a crucial part of an
unfinished puzzle from years past. It is only then that Emily's
true purpose is revealed.
I am a therapist of many years' experience. I have written this
collection of essays, short stories and reflections as my
contribution to helping any reader to see more clearly what is
happening in daily life in his or her immediate surroundings. The
subjects in this collection of writings are drawn from a broad
range of human experience, and they touch the daily lives of most
of us, whether or not this is apparent. In our society, we are
mostly helped to see what we are meant to see. But each household,
be it single person or more, has much that is hidden from view, and
society itself (the collective version of the household) shares
many tacitly-agreed 'blindnesses'. Those who comment openly upon
secrets and blindnesses find that they have a mixed reception. "The
Tale of the Emperor's New Clothes" is far from having lost its
relevance, and of course, we all accept that the world is not flat!
Much of our understanding of life is programmed in us by what we
have seen and experienced around us when we were small. Unless we
make considerable efforts to find ways in which we can view this
original patterning in an objective light, we are likely to
continue to enact the habits and belief systems which we absorbed
during our early years. Such causal links might not be obvious to
those who live life without looking sufficiently beneath the
surface, and the consequence of becoming aware of them can at times
provoke feelings of denial and shock. However, we must accept the
fundamental truth that full or partial obscurity only serves to
enhance the power of the links and their consequences.
Spiral patterns in a book, a strange tape of music from Russia, and
an oddly carved walking stick all have a profound effect on a group
of friends in England. Ellen is thirty-something and alone, until a
chance meeting with a young widower, Adam Thomas, starts a chain of
uncanny events which enthrall and endanger them both. Choice and
contingency, happenstance and coincidence all blend to bring the
two together, and lift the pall of loss covering their lives. A
rich backdrop of music, archaeology, books and plant lore enables
the author of Beyond the Veil to touch deeper issues of
bereavement, friendship, illness, recovery and the impact of
objects from the past on our lives. Altered states, heightened
sensitivities and unseen communications are also explored, as is
the nature of spiritual ecstasy, in a thoughtful novel that gives
separate paths an unusual and satisfying convergence The debut
novel from Mirabelle Maslin.
Fay is suffering from a mysterious illness. Her family and friends
are concerned about her. In her vulnerable state, she begins to be
affected by something more than intuition, and at first no one can
make sense of it. Alongside the preparation for her daughter's
wedding, she is drawn into new situations together with resonances
of lives that are long past, and at last the central meaning of her
struggles begins to emerge.
The main author of this book is a therapist of many years'
experience. It is predominantly about sexual abuse of children with
its long-term consequences and therapeutic aspects, but it is
couched in the arena of broader social comment. It is in two parts:
the first is presented as fiction, and the second is a number of
relevant submissions and essays. The final essay was written by a
psychiatrist - who is one of the editors.
Tracy is twelve. A change in holiday plans means she spends her
summer with her older cousin, Flora. Flora's mother, may, runs a
bed and breakfast business. Tracy doesn't know quite what to
expect... A kaleidoscope of events and encounters leads Tracy and
Flora into new experiences. Unfamiliar feelings and dilemmas
abound. The interweaving of relationships with friends, their
families and many others, gradually opens up a world of creative
possibilities for everyone. This book is suitable for readers of
all ages. Although it is a novel, it was written by a therapist
with the specific intention of helping people to understand their
feelings and communicate effectively about their emotional
dilemmas, with a consequent opening up of positive choices in life.
Spiral patterns in a book, a strange tape of music from Russia and
an oddly carved walking stick all have a profound effect on a group
of friends in England. Ellen is thirty-something and alone, until a
chance meeting with a young widower, Adam Thomas, starts a chain of
uncanny events which enthrall and endanger them both. Choice and
contingency, happenstance and coincidence all blend to bring the
two together, and lift the pall of loss covering their lives. A
rich backdrop of music, archaeology, books and plant lore enables
the author of 'Beyond the Veil' to touch deeper issues of
bereavement, friendship, illness, recovery and the impact of
objects from the past on our lives. Altered states, heightened
sensitivities and unseen communications are also explored, as is
the nature of spiritual ecstasy, in a thoughtful novel that gives
seperate paths an unusual and satisfying convergence.
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