In these hilarious stories of perverse meetings, casual dates and romantic encounters, we are enthralled, saddened, inspired and surprised by the encounters we witness. McCall Smith, a master of the unexpected and a seamless storyteller, revels in offering us the quirky complications inherent in entanglements which human beings engineer for themselves - entanglements that can be shocking, edifying, compulsive, complicated and sometimes, completely disastrous. This is an exceptional collection of stories from an author whose rapidly growing audience delights in his extraordinary imagination and delicious insights into the endlessly fascinating peculiarities of the human condition.

Val was working as a land girl when the Americans arrived at the nearby airfield in 1944. Mike, a young American airman, came into her life soon after, and so too did Peter Woodhouse, a dog badly treated on a neighbouring farm and taken in by her aunt. Little persuasion was needed for Mike to take Peter Woodhouse to the airbase and over time he became the mascot of the American squad, flying with them whenever their Mosquitoes took to the skies. When their plane is shot down over Holland both Mike, and Peter Woodhouse are feared lost. But unknown to their loved ones at home, Mike, and Peter Woodhouse survived the crash. Taken in by the Dutch resistance and with the help of Ubi, a German officer, the pair to remain in hiding till the end of the war when they are reunited with Val. We then follow Val, Mike, and Peter Woodhouse as they rebuild a life in England. And Ubi as he returns to Germany at the end of the war and tries to build a new life for himself. His dream is to run a Wall of Death, a circus ring that pitts motorcyclists against gravity as they attempt to stay upright at ever increasing speed.

Local Author

On 4 August 2012 Jessica Ennis kicked off what some described as the greatest night in British sporting history. For her it was the end of a long, winding, and sometimes harrowing road. Nobody was under more pressure at the London Olympics than 'the face of the Games'. Yet Jessica delivered the heptathlon gold medal, and the huge outpouring of relief she showed afterwards hinted at the roller-coaster journey she had been on. Behind the smiles and politeness, Jessica has endured much. Bullied at school for being small, she proved to critics and rivals alike that size really didn't matter. Hers is an inspiring tale of following your dreams no matter what life throws at you. In 2008 Jessica thought her career might be over when she was injured on the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing. But she overcame this setback to rebuild her career and technique, becoming the world and European champion in successive years. Her biggest test was yet to come, though, when her rivals overhauled her in the build-up to London. Unbelievable is a refreshingly candid account of her rise to fame in a highly charged world in which body image issues and drug abuses lurk. From the unique pressures facing her, to behind-the-scenes glimpses into the greatest show on earth, and a revealing account of her love-hate relationship with her long-term coach, Jessica reveals the truth behind the smiles for the first time. Unbelievable includes exclusive behind-the-scenes photos. This is the story of how the girl next door became London's poster girl, and how an ordinary woman used an extraordinary talent to claim the title of the world's greatest all-round female sports star.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER! 'If you're after an in-depth medical or psychological insight into the menopause, I'm afraid you've opened the wrong book - I'm not a doctor . . . However, I am a woman and I do know how it feels to be menopausal, so this book is written from experience and the heart and I hope it makes you laugh and feel better.' JE Older and Wider is Jenny Eclair's hilarious, irreverent and refreshingly honest compendium of the menopause. From C for Carb-loading and G for Getting Your Shit Together to I for Invisibility and V for Vaginas, Jenny's whistle-stop tour of the menopause in all its glory will make you realise that it really isn't just you. Jenny will share the surprising lessons she has learnt along the way as well as her hard-won tips on the joy of cardigans, dealing with the empty nest (get a lodger) and keeping the lid on the pressure cooker of your temper (count to twenty, ten is never enough). As Jenny says, 'I can't say that I've emerged like a beautiful butterfly from some hideous old menopausal chrysalis and it would be a lie to say that I've found the 'old me' again. But what I have found is the 'new me' - and you know what? I'm completely cool with that.'

Easy and quick 30-minute recipes from Britain's best-loved healthy chef and the nation's favourite PE teacher, Joe Wicks. Bestselling author Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, presents this gorgeous book featuring more than a hundred nutritious recipes that are perfect for sharing. Proving once again that you don't need loads of time to cook great food, Joe’s 30-Minute Meals is packed with everyday healthy dishes that you'll want to make, time and time again. Most chapters are simply organized by main ingredient, making it easy to find a recipe for every occasion. Every recipe is labelled as either reduced-carb or carb-refuel, which makes this book a brilliant addition for those already familiar with Joe's popular Lean in 15 eating structure (carbs following workouts or on active days), but the meals are also enjoyable and tasty for all, whether you are following Joe's plan or not. If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing lunch like the Bang Bang Chicken Stir-Fry or something tasty to chuck in the oven at the end of a long day such as Joe’s Sausage and Mushroom Pie, Joe's 30-Minute Meals makes it easy to make a fuss-free, tasty plate of food, every single day. The man who kept the nation moving during lockdown, Joe has sold more than 3 million books in the UK alone. He has more than 4 million followers on social media, where fans share their journeys towards a leaner, fitter lifestyle. All of his books have been non-fiction number one bestsellers.

'I'm a huge fan of Barbara Pym' RICHARD OSMAN 'One of the most endearingly amusing English novels of the twentieth century' ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH Mildred Lathbury is one of those 'excellent women' who is often taken for granted. She is a godsend, 'capable of dealing with most of the stock situations of life - birth, marriage, death, the successful jumble sales, the garden fete spoilt by bad weather'. As such, she often gets herself embroiled in other people's lives - especially those of her glamorous new neighbours, the Napiers, whose marriage seems to be on the rocks. One cannot take sides in these matters, though it is tricky, especially as Mildred, teetering on the edge of spinsterhood, has a soft spot for dashing young Rockingham Napier. This is Barbara Pym's world at its funniest and most touching. 'I pick up her books with joy, as though I were meeting an old, dear friend who comforts me, extends my vision and makes me roar with laughter' Jilly Cooper

Christmas

Romance, friendship, joy and the possibility of happy endings: the heartwarming novel by number one bestseller, Katie Fforde. 'The queen of uplifting, feel good romance' AJ PEARCE 'Effortlessly lovable, warm and fun' CLOSER 'Katie Fforde is on sparkling form' INDEPENDENT 'Top-drawer romantic escapism' DAILY MAIL 'Like a good wedding, it will leave you wiping away the tears' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Warm, brilliant and full of love' HEAT 'Modern-day Austen. Great fun' RED 'This is the most perfect, feel-good read' THE SUN __________________ 1963: Lizzie has just arrived in London, determined to make the best of her new-found freedom. Her mother may be keen that she should have a conventional wedding in the country to a Suitable Man chosen by her . . . but she definitely wants to have some fun first. Soon Lizzie has cut her hair fashionably short, bought herself a minidress, and moved in with two of her best friends in a grand but run-down house in Belgravia. Before long, Lizzie's life is so exciting that she has forgotten all about her mother's marriage plans. All she can think about is that the handsome man she is falling in love with appears to be engaged to someone else . . . __________________ Praise for A Wedding in the Country . . . 'Thoroughly enjoyable!' 'A feel-good story you can curl up with' 'Beautifully written' 'The perfect book to relax with' 'An absolutely blissful read!' 'Katie Fforde at her best'

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