Compiled by Ruth Parker and showcasing Brita Lomba’s evocative photographs, this collection pays tribute to our oldest living companions – the majestic trees that grace South Africa’s wild and urban spaces, nourishing our intricate, often fragile ecosystems.

South Africans from a range of backgrounds – writers, conservationists, historians and tree lovers of all stripes – offer intimate tales of their encounters with these extraordinary beings: from forest giants to shade-giving childhood companions, from urban landmarks to remote desert dwellers, from mighty baobabs to storied vines. Each account distils the essence of a beloved tree and shows how its long life is interwoven with human culture and history.

The branches of this diverse selection bear rich fruits for readers with a passion for nature, history or photography. Tree Encounters is a moving homage to these quiet, powerful mainstays of the natural world – and a compelling plea for their protection.

Patriarg Tjaart van der Walt se verlede haal sy kleindogters in ná sy dood toe ’n gas onverwags by sy kleindogter, Lenore van der Walt, se bruilof opdaag. Die bewaringstatus van Bateleur Reservaat en Khulula Renosterskuiling word daardeur bedreig. Die gas wil met ’n mynbaas saamspan om ’n steenkoolmyn in die Laeveld te vestig.

Sikloon Dineo tref die reservaat langs die Mosambiek-grens en derduisende klimaatvlugtelinge word blootgestel aan mensehandel en ontvoerings. Die toenemende stel van slagysters vir bosslaghuisvleis lei ook tot ernstige vergrype teen diere.

Die drie Van der Walt-niggies – Lenore, Tarien en Bella – word meegesleur in die gety van ontheemding en dierevergrype. Ook op geestelike vlak is daar ’n vervreemding tussen die niggies en hul Skepper wanneer seer uit die verlede hul inhaal en hul binne-vrede moet vind om weer tuis by God te voel.

Romanse en nuwe vriendskappe te midde van natuurrampe en aanvalle deur insypelaars word ’n toevlug toe ’n bonkige huursoldaat en die Olifantbekoorder van die Laeveld tot die niggies se lewens toetree.

Police Chief Jesse Stone investigates the mystery behind a dead body found strewn with photos of murder victims and placed on top of $2 million in cash, before a mob of hit men converge on Paradise.

Just another day in Paradise . . .

Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with junk and trash is a man’s dead body. It’s a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal . . . until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims strewn around the corpse, on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.

Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Before long, Jesse has a price on his head as hit men converge on Paradise to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department. Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man’s life . . . before he winds up in the ground himself.

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan - a dazzling queer historical fantasy of war and destiny set in an epic alternate China, and sequel to Sunday Times bestselling She Who Became the Sun.

What would you give to win the world?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory – one that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.

However, Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial aspirations. Courtesan Madam Zhang plots to steal the throne for her husband. But scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang is even closer to the throne. He’s maneuverered his way to the capital, where his courtly games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history. In the process, he’d make a mockery of the warrior values his Mongol family loved more than him.

To stay in the game, Zhu must gamble everything on one bold move. A risky alliance with an old enemy: Ouyang, the brilliant but unstable eunuch general. All contenders will do whatever it takes to win. But when desire has no end, and ambition no limits, could the price be too high for even the most ruthless heart to bear?

Evelyn (Kathy Bates) is a middle-aged housewife, dissatisfied with her life. One day she meets an elderly lady, Mrs Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) who tells her a story of two young women in the 1930's on a journey through life and love.

The friendship of the two girls, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary Louise Parker) inspires Evelyn to improve her life and luck.

In the tradition of the old Southern storyteller, Fried Green Tomatoes' classic tale weaves together disparate lives and cherished times. A warm, touching and greatly amusing tale about the importance of love and friendship.

Seks, skoonma’s en skuld is ‘n blik op eietydse verhoudings se grootste uitdagings en oplossings deur iemand wat die seerder kant van die lewe en die liefde ken.

Elize Parker kyk met wysheid en insig na die tipiese uitdagings wat in briewe aan haar troostantekolom sowel as in navorsing en onderhoude vir verhoudingsartikels na vore gekom het. Seks, skoonma’s en skuld is van die grootste brandpunte en sy spreek die fynere detail hiervan aan.

Lees oor:

• Verhoudings met ekse en hoe om na die opbreek van verhoudings te herstel
• Die invloed van tegnologie op verhoudings soos Facebookaffairs
• Hoe om familiekrisisse af te weer en skoonfamilies te hanteer
• Hoe om ouers en kinders se soms stormagtige verhoudings te navigeer
• Hoe om veilig uit die greep van verslawings te kom
• Hoe om te maak as dinge in die slaapkamer verkeerd loop

While flying from New York to London US Federal Air Marshal Bill Marks (Neeson) receives text messages from an anonymous sender who is threatening to murder a passenger every 20 minutes until millions of dollars are deposited into an unnamed bank account.

Marks faces a race against time to find and restrain the person responsible but when the bank account is found out to be in his name he is accused of being the hijacker. As victims are claimed, Marks discovers a bomb on board the aircraft which only exacerbates his predicament.

Can he find the culprit in order to save the remaining passengers and prove his innocence?

A double bill of films set in India. Comedy-drama 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' (2011) follows the experiences of a group of elderly Brits who arrive to take up residence in a newly-opened retirement home in Bangalore, India. Despite its glossy publicity campaign, the Marigold turns out to be rather different from the refurbished luxury hotel advertised in the brochures. However, it soon begins to reveal some unexpected charms of its own. Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson and Maggie Smith star.

'Slumdog Millionaire' (2008), the rags-to-possible riches tale, was the winner of eight Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Jamal Malik (Patel) is an 18-year-old street kid from the slums of Mumbai. So what is he doing appearing on the Indian version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'? How can a young man from his background of poverty have acquired the knowledge to be only one correct answer away from winning 20 million rupees? With only one more question to be asked, however, the dream turns to nightmare. As the hooter sounds to signal the end of the show, Jamal is arrested and accused of cheating. No one can believe that he could really know all of the answers he has given. As Jamal tells the story of his life to the police, the reasons for his success begin to appear. Will Jamal be freed to hear the final question and, if so, will he know the answer?

"He's fire and brimstone. I'm shattered ice. I'll gladly burn beneath him until the world comes crumbling down."

As an assassin for the rebellion, Raeve’s job is to complete orders and never get caught. When a rival bounty hunter shatters her world, Raeve finds herself captured by the Guild of Nobles – a group of powerful fae.

Crushed by the loss of his great love, dragon rider Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to quell the never-ebbing ache in his chest, a clue lures him into the capital’s high-security prison where he stumbles upon the imprisoned Raeve …

Together, they seek truths that threaten to unravel everything they knew about their world – and each other.

Bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched will transport you into a world filled with magic, dragons and a love that blazes through the ages…

Spiralling fuel costs, frequent power cuts, 'energy wars' with fuel rich countries holding consumers to ransom - these are just some of the issues that are helping to ensure that microgeneration of power, at the individual building level, is becoming a more and more attractive option to 'grid power'.
In this book author Dave Parker describes the many and varied microgeneration options, from wind turbines and solar power to biomass and heatsinks, and even gives advice on how architects and developers can best access the increasingly large amount of government funding to help implement these strategies.
This book can help those in the building and construction industry to really make a difference in the fight against climate change, by explaining how to utilise the technology already within our reach.
* Comprehensive review of the latest technology available
* Shows how to assess/compare/combine the merits of the available systems
* Gives hard information on how to adopt appropriate microgeneration technology for a specific project

Simone de Beauvoir and Luce Irigaray famously insisted on their philosophical differences, and this mutual insistence has largely guided the reception of their thought. What does it mean to return to Simone de Beauvoir and Luce Irigaray in light of questions and problems of contemporary feminism, including intersectional and queer criticisms of their projects? How should we now take up, amplify, and surpass the horizons opened by their projects? Seeking answers to these questions, the essays in this volume return to Beauvoir and Irigaray to find what the two philosophers share. And as the authors make clear, the richness of Beauvoir and Irigaray's thought far exceeds the reductive parameters of the Eurocentric, bourgeois second-wave debates that have constrained interpretation of their work. The first section of this volume places Beauvoir and Irigaray in critical dialogue, exploring the place of the material and the corporeal in Beauvoir's thought and, in doing so, reading Beauvoir in a framework that goes beyond a theory of gender and the humanism of phenomenology. The essays in the second section of the volume take up the challenge of articulating points of dialogue between the two focal philosophers in logic, ethics, and politics. Combined, these essays resituate Beauvoir and Irigaray's work both historically and in light of contemporary demands, breaking new ground in feminist philosophy.

An authoritative text by the international experts in the field which presents a comprehensive review of the medical aspects of sports in relationto the following specific groups of clients: children and adolescents/ women/ veterans (the over 30s!)/ and special groups (those with specific medical conditions and the disabled). This approach by client group rather than by sport of type of injury is unique.Scholarly and comprehensive but also informative and easy to use Gives a multidisciplinary approach to problems in 4 specific groups of sports participants: children and adolescents, women, veterans (the over 30's!), those with specific disorders or disabilities.International editorial team International line up of contributors.Written by the leading clinicians in the field in the world

In 1907, a young girl was found dead in the Lyric Theatre, leaving behind an unwanted pregnancy and an abusive lover. On an otherwise quiet morning in 1891, a cartful of nitroglycerin exploded. The remains of the driver had to be gathered in a peck basket. The Cannonball Express lived up to its name in 1888, when an open switch caused it to shoot off the track, sending two cars flying. Local journalist A. Parker Burroughs resurrects these and other stories from southwestern Pennsylvania's shadowy past. From foul play at the Burgettstown Fair to the tragic murder of North Franklin's Thelma Young, follow the trail with Burroughs as he uncovers the crimes and intrigues of Washington County.

"What a pretty flower to keep locked in a big, rocky tower."

Nineteen years ago, I was plucked from the heart of a bloody massacre that spared nobody else. Small. Fragile. An enigma.

Now ward to a powerful High Master who knows too much and says too little, I lead a simple life, never straying from the confines of an imaginary line I've drawn around the castle grounds. Stay within. Never leave.

Out there, the monsters lurk. Inside, I'm safe … though at a cost far greater than the blood I drip into a goblet daily.

Toxic, unreciprocated love for a man who's utterly unavailable. My savior. My protector. My almost executioner. I can't help but be enamored with the arcane man who holds the power to pull my roots from the ground.

When voracious beasts spill across the land and threaten to fray the fabric of my tailored existence, the petals of reality will peel back to reveal an ugly truth. But in a castle puddled with secrets, none are greater than the one I've kept from myself.

No tower is tall enough to protect me from the horror that tore my life to shreds.

Book one in the Crystal Bloom series. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Eureka: General Surgery and Urology is an innovative book for medical students that fully integrates core science, clinical medicine and surgery. The book benefits from an engaging and authoritative text, written by specialists in the field, and has several key features to help you really understand the subject: Chapter starter questions - to get you thinking about the topic before you start reading Break out boxes which contain essential key knowledge Clinical cases to help you understand the material in a clinical context Unique graphic narratives which are especially useful for visual learners End of chapter answers to the starter questions A final self-assessment chapter of Single Best Answers to really help test and reinforce your knowledge The book starts with the First Principles chapter which clearly explains key concepts such as assessment of the patient fitness for surgery, patient consent and pain management. The Clinical Essentials chapter provides an overview of the symptoms and signs of surgical disease, investigations and management options. A series of disease-based chapters briefly describe, by system, relevant structure and function, history and examination and main surgical presentations, each chapter introduced by engaging clinical cases that feature unique graphic narratives. The Emergencies chapter covers the principles of immediate care in situations such as acute appendicitis. Finally, the Self-Assessment chapter comprises 80 multiple choice questions in clinical Single Best Answer format, to thoroughly test your understanding of the subject. The Eureka series of books are designed to be a 'one stop shop': they contain all the key information you need to know to succeed in your studies and pass your exams.

Crime drama starring Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, Michael Rapaport and Parker Posey. AJ (Levesque) is released from prison after serving a 13-year sentence for committing manslaughter in order to protect his friend Jack (Rapaport), a second-rate gangster and son of local mob boss Dr. Vic (Bruce Dern). AJ plans to set up his own business and lead a life free of crime but it is not long before he finds himself once again caught up in a murder, this time an accidental shooting at the hands of Jack. While trying to deal with the mishap Dr. Vic finds himself being investigated by the Louisiana Tax Board and things soon get out of hand. When Jack skips town, AJ realises that his friend's wife Claire (Posey), who has a history with AJ, and daughter Pepper (Juliette Goglia) are in danger and does all he can to save them.

All six episodes from the third season of the Welsh crime drama series starring Philip Madoc as DCI Noel Bain, who relies more on instinct than scientific evidence to track down criminals. Episodes are: 'Shadow Falls', 'Box', 'The Inner Life of Strangers', 'Colour Blind', 'Sound Bites', 'Engineer', 'Blood and Water' and 'The Little House in the Forest'.

Double bill of films set in India. In 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), John Madden directs an all-star cast of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup and Tom Wilkinson as a group of mature Brits who travel to India looking for a sunnier climate in which to retire. Despite its glossy publicity campaign, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful turns out to be rather different from the refurbished luxury hotel advertised in the brochures. However, as the previously lonely people grow closer, the hotel soon begins to reveal some unexpected charms of its own. 'Life of Pi' (2012) is an Academy Award-winning fantasy adventure based on Yann Martel's Booker Prize-winning novel. Suraj Sharma stars as Pi Patel, a 16-year-old zookeeper's son from Pondicherry who finds himself stranded on a small boat in the Pacific Ocean in the company of a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger following the shipwreck of the freighter on which he and his family were sailing for Canada. Over the course of several months Pi manages to survive on the meagre supplies of food and water he finds on the boat, and also takes up fishing, while in his half-delirious state he muses on various aspects of animal behaviour, religion and the meaning of life.

Documentary that sets out to tell the story of Status Quo's 50 year career as a band. Directed by Alan G. Parker, the documentary was supported by the group and saw the film crew given unprecedented access to the band. Indeed, the programme features the moment the original line-up of Status Quo reunited at Shepperton Studios - their first time together for 30 years. Brian May, Paul Weller, Cliff Richard and Midge Ure are among the fellow artists to pay tribute to the Quo and the extraordinary duration of their career.

How did the delphinium get its name? Which parts of the body lend their names to auriculas and orchids? Who are the gentian, lobelia and heuchera named after? Why are nasturtiums and antirrhinums connected? What does an everlasting pea have to do with Indian miniature paintings? These are some of the questions answered in Peter Parker's adventurous exploration of the mysteries of Botanical Latin. Evolved over many centuries and often thought to belong to the rarefied world of scholars and scientists, this invented language is in fact a very useful tool for everyday gardening. It allows us to find our way around nurseries; it sorts out confusions when two plants have the same English name; and it gives us all kinds of information about how big or small a plant will grow, what shape or colour it will develop, and what habitat it prefers. In his lively survey, Parker agues that Botanical Latin is not merely useful, but fun. The naming of plants draws upon geography, social and medical history, folklore, mythology, language, literature, the human body, the animal kingdom and all manner of ancient beliefs and superstitions. The book, beautifully illustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, includes handy lists of identifying adjectives, and takes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour and eccentricity.

What would you give to win the world?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory – one that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.

However, Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial aspirations. Courtesan Madam Zhang plots to steal the throne for her husband. But scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang is even closer to the throne. He’s maneuverered his way to the capital, where his courtly games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history. In the process, he’d make a mockery of the warrior values his Mongol family loved more than him.

To stay in the game, Zhu must gamble everything on one bold move. A risky alliance with an old enemy: Ouyang, the brilliant but unstable eunuch general. All contenders will do whatever it takes to win. But when desire has no end, and ambition no limits, could the price be too high for even the most ruthless heart to bear?