For those serving at sea, professionally connected with the sea or just interested in ships for their own sake, this book provides a refreshing insight into a range of nautical subjects with something for everyone. Born some 33 years ago of a need for shipbrokers to understand the sea-going subjects to undertake the examinations for the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, this updated & expanded version, now of interest to a wider audience, owes its existence to the unexpected interest Bernadette showed in explanations of ships viewed from the window of the author’s office overlooking the port. ...

The engaging sequel to Nicholas Drayson`s much-loved A Guide to the Birds of East Africa sees the return of Mr Malik & the East African Ornithological Society. Mr Malik has been busy planning the Asadi Club`s annual safari. Yet a series of crimes puts the club`s very existence at risk. It is up to Mr Malik & Co. to solve a decades-old murder, recover the club mascot & identify, once & for all, the most dangerous beast in Africa. Not to mention his only daughter may
- or may not
- be getting married in a week. Will Mr Malik again prevail over Kenyan politics, a reluctant bride & buried secrets?

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A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica is a beautifully produced paperback of substantial size which goes into considerable detail on the subject of the birds of Costa Rica. Hundreds of bird types are illustrated in colour, & given detailed & systematic descriptions of their appearance, habits, calls, nests, rarity & geographical distribution. ...

Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn't notice him in a Nairobi street
- except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted
...

For lovers of Alexander Mc Call Smith, Nicholas Drayson introduces the charming Mr Malik & the East African Ornithological Society in ”A Guide to the Birds of East Africa”. Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn`t notice him in a Nairobi street
- except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted comb-over
- but beneath his unprepossessing exterior lie a warm heart & a secret passion. Not even his closest friends know it, but Mr Malik is head-over-heels in love with the leader of the local Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa. Little can he imagine the hurdles that lie before him. Even as he plucks up the courage to ask for Rose`s h&, thieves, potential kidnappers & corrupt officials, not to mention one particularly determined love rival, seem destined to thwart Mr Malik`s chances. Will an Indian gentleman in the heart of Africa be defeated by the many obstacles that stand between him & his heart`s desire? Or will honour & decency prevail? ”A funny, ingenious & touching love story”. (Joanne Harris, ” The Times”). ”A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to ” The No.1 Ladies` Detective Agency” books, but it`s original &, if anything, has more depth”. (” Daily Mail”). ” Sweet, charming & utterly wonderful on the subject of birds”. (” Metro”). Nicholas Drayson was born in England & has lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology & a Ph D in 19th century Australian natural history writing. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya & Australia, writing for publications such as the ” Daily Telegraph” & ” Australian Geographic”. He is the author of three other novels, ” Confessing a Murder”, ” Love & the Platypus” & ”A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa”.

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Eating out in Venice can be a traumatic affair
- especially for your wallet
- yet the local food has much to offer the inquiring

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The Greatest show on earth has arrived. The year 2012 sees the Olympic Games coming to the UK for the third time in their history. They have been seven years in the making & it will be many years before their sporting & cultural inheritance fades. This book celebrates Britain`s achievement in winning the XXX Olympiad by presenting a concise but thorough chronicle of the Games from Ancient Greece to London 2012. It is often forgotten that London previously hosted the Games in 1908 & 1948, & the progress of the Olympic dream very much matches the turbulent annals of that entire century. The book chronicles those years of international sporting achievement, particularly from London 1948 to the present day. But this account is not justabout athletic prowess. Each Olympics has had its own particular story of rivalry, infighting, political chicanery or financial disaster
- &, on occasions, violent tragedy. The thrills, joys & dramas of the past are all in this concise handbook, to be used as a companion to the spectacular sporting saga being enacted in London 2012.
...

This is a stunningly illustrated journey through the spectacular wildlife of Spain, Portugal & Gibraltar. A Guide to Wild Spain, Portugal & Gibraltar is a unique book that brings together the history of exploration of the Iberian Peninsula in the 19th Century with the current state of its wild places & wildlife. The authors re-trace the footsteps taken by British naturalists based in Gibraltar & Jerez over a hundred years ago. They explore the length & breadth of the peninsula, from the Strait of Gibraltar in the south to the Pyrenees in the north. This exquisitely illustrated book is intended for all those with an interest in the natural history of Spain, Portugal & Gibraltar. It tells the reader where to go to find particular species & to witness natural phenomena like the migration of birds of prey. But it also tells how this has changed, often for the worse, but happily sometimes also for the better. In essence, this book is a 21st Century snapshot of one of Europe`s ecologically richest lands. ...

Fur & fiction combine in this retelling of Charles Dickens`s most famous novel, adorably adapted with an all-star cast of guinea pigs. In the misery of a workhouse, a poor, fluffy little orphan called Oliver Twist is fed on nothing but thin air & even thinner gruel. By squeaking a fateful question
- ` Please, sir, I want some more`
- he unwittingly sparks a series of events that lead him to the smoke & grime of the big city, where he encounters a host of four-legged friends & foes such as the crafty Fagin, mischievous Artful Dodger, faithful Nancy & treacherous Bill Sikes, who sweep young Oliver off of his paws & into the underworld of Victorian London.

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This handbook offers an inspirational resource for those who want to discover more about the thousands of miles of Scotland`s spectacular coastline
- from its stunning geology & diverse marine & bird life to its coastal culture, with its fishing ports, fresh cuisine, arts communities, ancient monuments & colourful local traditions. Featuring achingly beautiful pristine coves & beaches, quirky highlights of island life & sites for exploring our history or spotting wildlife, this handbook is for beachcombers, rockpoolers, wild swimmers, birdwatchers, hikers, history buffs, sailors, walkers, dreamers...
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