In April 2006 a small British peace-keeping force was sent to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Within weeks they were cut off & besieged by some of the world`s toughest fighters: the infamous Taliban, who were determined to send the foreigners home again. Defence Secretary John Reid had hoped that Operation Herrick 4 could be accomplished without a shot being fired; instead, the Army was drawn into the fiercest fighting it had seen for fifty years. Millions of bullets & thousands of lives have been expended since then in an under-publicized but bitter conflict whose end is still not in sight. Some people consider it the fourth Anglo-Afghan War since Victorian times. How on earth did this happen? & what is it like for the troops on the front line of the ` War on Terror`? James Fergusson takes us to the dark heart of the battle zone. Here, in their own words & for the first time, are the young veterans of Herrick 4. Here, unmasked, are the civilian & military officials responsible for planning & executing the operation. Here, too, are the Taliban themselves, to whom Fergusson gained unique & extraordinary access. Controversial, fascinating & occasionally downright terrifying, ”A Million Bullets” analyses the sorry slide into war in Helmand & asks this most troubling question: could Britain perhaps have avoided the violence altogether? ...

` We are all frazzled, all of us...` Five hundred years ago no one died of stress: we invented this concept & now we let it rule us. Ruby Wax shows us how to de-frazzle for good by making simple changes that give us time to breathe, reflect & live in the moment. Let Ruby be your guide to a healthier, happier you. You`ve nothing to lose but your stress... ...

Enter an incredible world of magical beasts, dare to draw near to their captivating powers, & discover the spellbinding stories of 16 favourite mythical creatures from around the world. Venture into this world & you`ll discover why griffins collect a gem called agate, how to put out dragon fire, how mischievous elves can cause terrible nightmares, & much, much more. A Miscellany of Magical Beasts is a beautiful, luxurious gift book showcasing a fascinating menagerie of creatures from the world`s timeless mythologies & legends. Presented in an incredible package with spectacular cover finishes, it is sure to be treasured by fantasy enthusiasts. Each beast is beautifully illustrated with rich, enchanting artworks, accompanied by amazing facts. Five feature spreads take a different approach to each particular beast
- including a gleaming guide to the world`s dragons & an enchanting introduction to elf spells & tricks. Imaginative flourishes such as cutaways showing constellations (see where Pegasus`s story ends), & a die-cut linking the lustrous feathers of the phoenix with those of the terrifying harpies, make this a truly inspiring exploration of some wonderfully strange creatures. List of beasts included: phoenix, harpy, griffin, Pegasus, dragons, elves, unicorn, centaur, mermaids & mermen, werewolf, troll, sphinx, basilisk, Cerberus, giant, chimera
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Master the art of mixology with these easy infographic cocktail recipes. Preparing a first-class cocktail relies upon understanding the ingredients & the complex alchemy of how they work together. In this book, each beautifully designed infographic presents the measurements in easy-to-see glass proportions & instructs on which garnish & type of glass should be used for each drink. From coolers & coladas to slings, sours & screws, this book

Includes:: over 200 recipes for both old favourites & modern inventions. An informative introduction gives details on equipment needed, glassware, bar stocking & the basic techniques to get you started. Whether you like Gin, Tequila, Rum, Vodka, Champagne or Whisky, this book is a must-have for any cocktail drinker.

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In A Modern Italian Table, author Veronica Lavenia presents more than 100 natural, healthy recipes that embody the beauty & goodness of simple, sustainable food, made with unrefined ingredients, with a true Italian twist. With a world increasingly awakening to the viability of sustainability, natural cuisine is no longer the `snob alternative` but an ever-expanding new era in food. True Italian modern cuisine has always favoured natural, simple cuisine
- rich in fruits & vegetables in season, you won`t find anything `processed` in this book.
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Suresh Singh tells the candid & sometimes surprising story of his father Joginder Singh who came to Spitalfields in 1949. Joginder sacrificed a life in the Punjab to work in Britain & send money home, yet he found himself in his element living among the mishmash of people who inhabited the streets around Brick Lane. Born & bred in London, his son Suresh became the first Punjabi punk, playing drums for Spizzenergi & touring with Siouxsie & the Banshees. A MODEST LIVING

Includes:: a selection of Sikh recipes.

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` In December 1937 I crossed the Pyrenees from France
- two days on foot through the snow.` Laurie Lee was still a young man when
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A Monsoon Feast comprises seven short stories by renowned writers from Kerala (India) & Singapore that provide deep insights on the various concerns & ways of life of both communities. The collection

Includes:: stories by well-known author Shashi Tharoor, Commonwealth Writers` Prize-winning author of 12 books, including The Great Indian Novel, & inaugural Singapore Literature Prize winner & popular author Suchen Christine Lim. A unique literary collaboration, A Monsoon Feast intimately connects the reader to the heart of two similar & yet different cultures. Across the seas, the winds blow between two lands, whispering back & forth what is seen, heard, tasted, smelt, felt in each place: the green trees, the tropical heat, the lush rain, the peoples of enterprise & culture, the aromas of different flavours & more. A Monsoon Feast is the point at which these winds intermingle, their conversation celebrating the best of what Singapore & Kerala have to offer.

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Oxfordshire, 1947. Exhausted by the war & nursing a tragic secret, Kit Smallwood flees to Wickam Farm to recuperate. There she throws herself into helping Daisy set up a charity sending midwives to India. Daisy`s plan is fraught with danger. With newly-acquired Independence, many of India`s people furiously resent the English for withdrawing so quickly, blaming them for the riots that left millions dead. When Kit meets Anto, a handsome, complicated but charming trainee doctor nearing the end of his English education, she falls utterly in love. Anto makes her laugh & marriage should be the easiest thing in the world. But when he informs his family that he is shortly to return home with an English bride, his parents are appalled. Despite being Anglo-Indian herself, Kit`s own mother is equally horrified. She has spent most of her life trying to erase a painful past & losing her daughter to an Indian man is her worst fear realized. As they journey to a new life in India, Kit begins to realize the seriousness of what she has undertaken. Thrown into the heart of a traditional Indian family in a rapidly changing world, Kit has much to learn about the nature of home & the depth of her love for Anto. ...

An extraordinarily moving novel about coming to terms with loss. The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn`t the monster Conor`s been expecting. He`s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he`s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness & the wind & the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. & it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous & painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults. ...