In population terms, Liverpool isn't a vast city (dwarfed by Birmingham, say), but it looms colossal in the history (recorded & mythical) of the British Isles, & in fact the world. Real Liverpool is Niall Griffiths' antidote to the flood of mawkish twaddle that will appear in the build-up to 2008 when Liverpool is European City of Culture. It showcases Griffiths' love/hate relationship with the city, its maritime & merchant histories, class divisions, sectarian divides, Celtic influences, & the siege mentality underpinning the celebrated Scouse humour. Nor does he flinch from Liverpool's dark side: the drugs, the urban blight, the fallout from Thatcherism, the internecine violence. Jamie Bulger, Heysel, Hillsborough, the Dockers' Strike, the Toxeth Riots, all of these & more are discussed. Real Liverpool is underpinned by a strong autobiographical element which details the author's birth & formative years in the city, his movement away from it, & the abiding pull it exerts. In addition, Griffiths interviews many people closely connected to the city, from personal friends & family members to artists & workers. From the Wirral to Warrington, Anfield to Everton, Bottle to Diddyl&, Griffiths criss-crosses the city by the Ferry & through the Tunnels, from John Lennon airport to the racecourse & down the docks, building a picture of a city which, whatever its faults, is never dull. ...

Eating a hot buttered lobster roll is like taking a mini-vacation: it conjures the scent of salt in the air & the crash of waves on the rocks the essence of a day at the beach in Maine. Now, with Real Maine Food you can re-create this humble delicacy as well as more than 100 other Maine dishes at home. Maine has developed its own distinctive regional cuisine, characterized foremost by the excellent seafood caught off its pristine coast but also by the wild blueberries, potatoes, & other produce from its rich soils. The authors take a ride on a nineteenth-century schooner, build a beach clambake, & judge a pie-eating contest at a state fair all in search of the best recipes from accomplished small-town home cooks as well as renowned restaurants & food artisans. Among the dishes are Smoked Haddock & Leek Pie, Lobster Gruyere Grilled Cheese, Crab & Corn Frittata, Blueberry Pancakes, & Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies. Real Maine Food taps into the magic that draws visitors to the state year after year. ...

Every man has faced that emergency where a car needs to be broken into & hot-wired; just as every man needs to be able to mix the perfect dry Martini. The world is a dangerous & unpredictable place; a man never knows when he might be called upon to start a fire with just a coke can, win at croquet or drive a T34 tank. Twigger has plenty of experience of facing down bears, building coracles, swimming with sharks
- now he shows every man how to cook a hedgehog, commit hara-kiri & land a Boeing 747.
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Mexican food is more popular than ever. Ben Fordham & Felipe Fuentes Cruz aim to deliver everything that is exciting & fresh about Mexican food to the people of Britain with their restaurant, Benito`s Hat. From the beaches of Baja & Cancun to the mountains of the Sierra Madre, Mexico has an incredible variety of vibrant flavours to offer. All of this rich culinary culture has inspired Benito`s Hat`s delicious burritos, tacos, soups & salads. Ben Fordham & Mexican chef Felipe have created a cookbook offering their favourite dishes from their restaurants, plus many more from Felipe`s collection of authentic recipes. You`ll find Starters; Soups & Salads; Main Dishes; Side Dishes; Salsas; Desserts; & Drinks. Mouth-watering recipes include guacamole with homemade corn tortilla chips, burritos with beef birria, pico de gallo & salsa brava, tacos with prawns & paprika, refried beans with chorizo, Mexican flan, ice cold margaritas & refreshing non-alcoholic juices. ...

Have you ever wondered what exactly does go bump in the night? From mysteries like Shackleton`s ghostly companion to the Loch Ness Monster & friends, read the amazing evidence about these mysterious cases & make up your own mind. Things are not always what they seem
- until they are, then you might wish you had never asked!
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Do space & time truly exist? What is reality made of? Can we understand its deep texture? Scientist Carlo Rovelli has spent his whole life exploring these questions & pushing the boundaries of what we know. In this mind-expanding book, he shows how our understanding of reality has changed throughout centuries, from Democritus to loop quantum gravity. Taking us on a wondrous journey, he invites us to imagine a whole new world where black holes are waiting to explode, spacetime is made up of grains, & infinity does not exist -- a vast universe still largely undiscovered. ...

Really Feely Baby Animals is a touch-&-feel baby animals book for preschoolers packed with fluffy patches, bumpy patterns, & tactile glitter, which little ones will find really fun & really feely! Meet the cuddly kitten, the furry donkey foal, the puppy with a glittery ball, & other adorable baby animals on the five double-page spreads. Gentle text builds knowledge, & invites you to pat & tickle, as you find out each baby animal`s name & learn about its features. From the amazing, 3-D, raised-picture effect cover, to the incredibly tactile insides, Really Feely Baby Animals is beautifully made & sure to delight preschoolers. ...

Really Feely Farm is a touch-&-feel baby animals book for preschoolers packed with fluffy patches, bumpy patterns, & tactile glitter, which little ones will find really fun & really feely! Meet the fluffy duckling, the woolly sheep, the squidgy-nosed piglet, & other farm animals on the five double-page spreads. Gentle text builds knowledge, & invites you to pat & tickle, as you find out each farm animal`s name & learn about its features. From the amazing, 3-D, raised-picture effect cover, to the incredibly tactile insides, Really Feely Farm is beautifully made & sure to delight preschoolers. ...

With texture patches, bumpy patterns, & tactile glitter, babies & toddlers will find this touch-&-feel wild animals book really fun & really feely! Meet the stripy tiger cub, the elephant calf with big flappy ears, the scaly chameleon, & other favourite wild animals. Gentle text builds knowledge, & invites you to explore as you find out the name of each wild animal & learn about its features. From the amazing, 3-D, raised-picture effect cover, to the incredibly tactile insides, Really Wild Animals is beautifully made & sure to delight preschoolers. ...

A book that will delight every cat lover, full of wise & unforgettable life lessons, each paired with the perfect photo. Cats are the ultimate savants, possessing intelligence, poise, & sass in equal measure. They know when to play it cool, & when to pounce; when to fly solo, & when to cuddle up. Entertaining, unpredictable, & just a bit wild, cats encourage us to explore, take chances, & live on the edge—just as if we too had nine lives. Cynthia L. Copel&, author of the bestselling Really Important Stuff My Dog Has Taught Me & Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me, now turns her attention to our mysterious feline friends. Every page of this full-color gift book is a joyful reminder of what’s important in life. Like Confidence: “ Insist on a seat at the table.” Curiosity: “ Have more questions than answers.” Adventure: “ Sometimes you have to leap before you look.” Individuality: “ You’ll be remembered for what sets you apart.” Kindness: “ Recognize the power of your purr.” & Solitude: “ Find your own square of sunshine.” ...