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Royal Gardeners
By Alan Titchmarsh. 2003
Alan Titchmarsh takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of Britains royal gardens from medieval times to the…
present day. Taking in existing royal gardens as well as many that now only exist in paintings, Alan uncovers the stories behind the gardens and the colourful monarchs who created them. From Hampton Court Palace to Kew Palace and Gardens, to Osborne House and through to the modern day developments at the Prince of Wales' home at Highgrove, Alan takes a highly personal canter through Britains gardening heritage. Fully illustrated with original plans, designs, letters, planting records and full colour diagrams of the major surviving gardens, this is a sumptuous book charting some of the most outstanding gardens in Britain.The Repair Shop: A Make Do and Mend Handbook
By Karen Farrington. 2019
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND OFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE HIT BBC SERIESBBC’s The Repair Shop is a place where Britain’s…
most skilled and caring craftspeople rescue and resurrect items that owners thought were beyond saving. Their shared love of craft has helped hundreds of people recover and relive cherished memories, and inspired millions to rediscover their own prized possessions. The skill required to properly restore those items may be beyond most of us, but there are small things we can all do to care for the items we love the most. How do you replenish the stuffing in your child’s beloved, tatty teddy bear, for instance? Or remove a water mark left on your wooden table? What’s the best way to prevent your leather from cracking?Direct from the Repair Shop's 'Workshop of Dreams', this ‘make do and mend’ guide collects advice and stories from each of the show’s experts, to help you understand and care for those aging treasures and heirlooms around your house or gathering dust in the garage. Whether it’s wood, ceramics, leather or silverware, you will get to know your materials, tools and terms from Britain’s best, as the Repair Shop experts share their tips on restoring and conserving, reveal their favourite tools, and provide a series of small, manageable projects that help tackle the most common problems that occur in their given medium. Their book, like the show it accompanies, with help you safeguard your sentimental legacy for generations to come.The Price of Water in Finistère
By Bodil Malmsten. 2001
'In the same way as there's a partner for every person, there's a place. All you have to do is…
find the one that's yours among the billions that belong to someone else, you have to be awake, you have to choose.' With this conviction in mind, acclaimed Swedish writer Bodil Malmsten abandons her native country at the age of fifty-five and settles in Brittany. At the heart of this memoir is the conviction that the happiness to be found in Finistère will not allow itself to be, cannot be, expressed in writing. Embroidered around this seeming paradox are poignant, outraged and thought-provoking observations on the widest range of subjects: how not to buy plants, the elicit pleasures of bargain-hunting, the misery of writer's block, social democracy, racism, tulipomania, the stubbornness of bank managers, the controlling of moles and slugs, death, political hypocrisy, the delights of wild weather. Malmsten's passion and humour shine through every episode she describes, however minor, offering the reader a window onto a solitary life at once touching, thought-provoking and, occasionally, hilarious.The Pocket Enquire Within: A guide to the niceties and necessities of Victorian domestic life
By George Armstrong. 2010
What is the correct way to carve a partridge?How should leeches be applied?How can egg whites be used to repair…
broken china?First published in 1856, Enquire Within rapidly became the indispensable guide to Victorian domestic life. Packed with words of wisdom and pithy advice, it covered everything from entertaining and etiquette to household management, and took in considered discussion of such arcane matters as how singing might prevent consumption, and which ointments will remove freckles, not to mention why chess should on no account ever be played at a ball.This new, charmingly illustrated pocket-sized edition contains a selection of hints and tips that not only provide a fascinating insight into the day-to-day life of Victorian Britain, but also, in places, reveal timeless wisdom that we would do well to heed today.The Pippa Guide: Live Your Best Life
By Pippa O'Connor Ormond. 2019
"I think anyone can do anything they want to do. I really believe that."Style icon and savvy businesswoman Pippa O'Connor…
Ormond believes that anything is achievable if you put your mind to it.In this honest and revealing guide to modern life, Pippa shares some of her personal moments, experiences and life lessons that have shaped her into the person she is today. From excelling at work, to making your house a home, styling your wardrobe and perfecting your beauty routine, nurturing family and friendships while promoting self-care, Pippa will reveal her most valuable tips for bringing positivity and happiness into your life."I'm always practising gratitude. No matter what you have in life, once you are grateful for it, it manifests more. 100%."Perfect Money Saving
By Smita Talati. 2011
- Do you find you're always strapped for cash at the end of the month?- Are you worried about paying…
your credit card bills?- Would you like some practical advice on how to make your money go further?Perfect Money Saving is the essential guide for anyone who wants to take control of their finances. Covering everything from home-made presents to cheaper mortgages, it gives step-by-step guidance on how to cut your costs without giving up the things you enjoy. With sections on debt management and your financial portfolio, as well as a month-by-month breakdown showing where and when to grab the best bargains, Perfect Money Saving has all you need to make the most of every penny.The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips, each book contains all you need to get it right first time.A Passion For Trees: The Legacy Of John Evelyn
By Maggie Campbell-Culver. 2006
Given the extent of his influence on 17th-century life, and his lasting impact on the British landscape it is remarkable…
that no book has been written before about John Evelyn. He was a longstanding friend of Samuel Pepys (who wrote of him, ' A most excellent person he is, and must be allowed a little for conceitedness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above others.'), a founder-member of the Royal Society and a prolific writer and diarist. He was an early advocate of the garden city but his most important work was Sylva: a Discourse of Forest Trees. Sylva was presented to the Royal Society to promote the planting of timber trees 'for the supply of the Navy, the employment and advantage of the poor as well as the ornamenting of the nation.' He was responsible for the first great raft of tree-planting and for a great influx of tree introductions to Britain.Maggie Campbell-Culver's book, like Sylva, has at its core a section detailing the characteristics, history and uses of 33 trees incorporating the advice Evelyn gave and demonstrating its relevance still in the 20th-century. Not only was Evelyn probably the first horticultural writer to show an appreciation of the aesthetic benefits of trees in our landscape, he is shown to be a founder-father of the modern conservation movement.The Origin Of Plants: The People And Plants That Have Shaped Britain's Garden History
By Maggie Campbell-Culver. 2004
A fascinating history of Britain's plant biodiversity and a unique account of how our garden landscape has been transformed over…
1000 years, from 200 species of plant in the year 1000 to the astonishing variety of plants we can all see today. Thousands of plants have been introduced into Britain since 1066 by travellers, warriors, explorers and plant hunters - plants that we now take for granted such as rhododendron from the Far East, gladiolus from Africa and exotic plants like the monkey puzzle tree from Chile.Both a plant history and a useful reference book, Maggie Campbell-Culver has researched the provenance and often strange histories of many of the thousands of plants, exploring the quirky and sometimes rude nature of the plants, giving them a personality all of their own and setting them in their social context. The text is supported by beautiful contemporary paintings and modern photographs in 2 x 8 pp colour sections.One Place de l’Eglise: A Year in Provence for the 21st century
By Trevor Dolby. 2022
Escape to Languedoc in this poignant and transportative true account of life in a beautifully restored house in the south…
of France'Wonderful, exquisitely written, laugh-out-loud funny, profoundly moving. An utter joy and a treat to read from first to last' JAMES HOLLAND'Dolby writes with genuine emotion. He writes beautifully about life in a French village' DAILY MAIL___________An Englishman's home is his castle. But what if it's French?One Place de L'Eglise is a thousand-year-old Languedoc ruin. Leaky, crumbling, lacking basic amenities, it is ignored by the local villagers. But for Londoners Trevor and Kaz it is love at first sight. Over the years they turn the house into a home, navigating floods and freezing winters. Here, these two English find their place - their bar, their baker, their builder (ignore him at your peril).And gradually they learn slower joys - scents of thyme and lavender, warm sun on stone, nights hung with stars, silence in the hills, the secrets of fig jam.One Place de L'Eglise is a love letter - to a house, a village, a country - from an outsider who discovers you can never be a stranger when you're made to feel so at home.___________'Irresistible, a timeless story' MICHAEL PALIN 'Elegant, captivating, and sprinkled with self-deprecating humour. Dolby is a writer of abundant talent' PETER KERR, author of Snowball OrangesNotes from a Small Kitchen Island: ‘I want to eat every single recipe in this book’ Nigella Lawson
By Debora Robertson. 2022
Discover the cookbook you'll never want to live without, filled with the secrets to creating delicious home-cooked meals every single…
day'I want to eat every single recipe in this book' NIGELLA LAWSON'There are wonderful tales and recipes here, and lots of wisdom. It's approachable, anchored in real life and a joy to read. I want more' DIANA HENRY'A wonderful book full of inspiring, simple and time-saving recipes. This should be an everyday book for everybody' TOM KERRIDGE_________Debora Robertson, home cook and renowned food writer, tells how, from the least promising of culinary starts, she learned to love cooking and transformed her cosy kitchen into the beating heart of her home.Through her stories and recipes, she will whisk you away to hot summers in Languedoc and balmy weeknights in London, revealing the life-changing dishes that made her. Bound together with life- and dinner-saving lessons, Debora has written the essential kitchen companion for every home cook.From the tastes of Debora's childhood to the recipes she discovered on her travels, to the food she cooks every day . . .· Leek and ham hock steamed pudding· Slow roast lamb with Durham salad· Meemaw's Texan margarita pie· The best recipe for roast chicken· Delicious plum cakeDebora will take you by the hand and tell you everything you'll ever need to know about cooking food you'll love time and time again._________'Foodies will love this joyful cookbook full of must-try recipes and funny anecdotes' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGNo Nettles Required: The Reassuring Truth About Wildlife Gardening
By Ken Thompson. 2006
In 2003 a MORI poll for the Royal Horticultural Society revealed that an extraordinary number of us are interested in…
attracting wildlife into our gardens. It also indicated, however, that many of us have no idea how to go about it. Information is sparse, and public opinion seems to suggest that gardens that are plentiful in wildlife are unattractive, expensive to upkeep and hard work to maintain. But this couldn't be further from the truth.In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson explains that encouraging wildlife is actually entirely compatible with ordinary gardening, costs next to nothing and is almost completely effortless. Packed with helpful hints and tips, the book shows us how easy it is to fill our gardens with everything from foxes, frogs and mice to butterflies, ladybirds and literally thousands of fascinating creepy-crawlies. Why should we? Because we'll be promoting the biodiversity of the UK, we'll be reconnecting with nature, getting more from our gardens, and we'll be doing our plants a favour.The New Book of Apples
By Joan Morgan. 1993
This extraordinary book contains in one unique volume, the most wide-ranging history of apples ever written and a detailed survey…
of over 2,000 of the world's apple varieties. Beautifully illustrated with 32 exquisite colour paintings, the last edition of this book received many accolades and was quickly recognised as a classic. Complete with a fully revised directory covering all the varieties of apple to be found in the world's largest apple collection, The New Book of Apples includes full historical, geographical and botanical details as well as tasting notes on each type of apple. Exploring the role of apples in cooking, cider making, gardening, myth and medicine, this is an indispensable reference guide.My Secret Garden
By Alan Titchmarsh. 2012
After moving from the Barleywood garden where he hosted BBC Gardeners' World for seven years, Alan Titchmarsh set up home…
in an old farmhouse a few miles down the road, and went about planting his own private eden away from the public eye. In this horticultural memoir Alan finally reveals all about this secret garden, explaining with his trademark warmth the personal stories behind its design and evolution. Accompanied by beautiful photographs taken by Jonathan Buckley throughout the eight years in which the garden has been made, My Secret Garden allows us access to all of the successes and failures of this diverse and ambitious project.Comprising many different styles and spaces - from an acre of formal beds and ponds to wild flower meadows and a stunning winter garden - Alan's tales of development and cultivation will be applicable to all gardeners. With the plot encompassing fruit trees, a handsome greenhouse and wildlife-friendly plantings, gardeners of all styles and levels of expertise will find something to enjoy. Driven by Alan's infectious and informative style, My Secret Garden is a fascinating, amusing and inspiring book.My Life on a Hillside Allotment
By Terry Walton. 2009
'Every time he appears on the programme we feel that life is worth living. He has that power to lift…
your spirits.' ? Jeremy VineTerry Walton has kept an allotment in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales for over fifty years. He started when he was four, helping on his father's plot on the side of the mountain, cutting bracken and collecting sheep manure to feed the vegetables. He was farming his own plot at eleven and he went on to build an allotment empire, selling his vegetables and flowers to local customers. The proceeds paid for his first car, a canary yellow Ford Popular, when he was just seventeen. Then, in 2006, after half a decade of happy gardening, Terry's allotment was adopted by the Jeremy Vine Show and he became an unlikely media star. In this absorbing and entertaining memoir, Terry documents how the valley has changed over the years, his own conversion to organic gardening, and the colourful characters he meets; interspersing his anecdotes with topical tips, family recipes and quirky line drawings.My Life on a Hillside Allotment is the perfect read for gardeners, allotmenteers and anyone who loves the great outdoors.Mum Knows Best
By Jo Hanks, Mark Hanks. 2011
How to you save a curdled custard?How do you keep mice out of the home?How do you stop moths eating…
your woollens?How do you get chewing gum out of a five-year-old's hair?Or get rid of his veruccas?And cure hiccoughs in a trice?The answers to all these every day dilemmas, and many, many more, are at hand in this nifty little encyclopaedia of essential things every mum needs to know.Mrs Brown's Family Handbook
By Brendan O'Carroll. 2013
Uncover hilarious and unique insights into the Brown family, in Brendan O'Carroll's first official book on his NTA winning comic…
creation Mrs Brown's Boys.Millions od us have wondered: how does Agnes Brown do it? Keeping her end up while seven grown-up children tear about the fecking place like the eejits don't have a home to go to.Packed with Mammy's tips for keeping a perfect family - or at least, just a family - as well as contributions from her children, neighbours and other hangers on, Mrs Brown's Family Handbook dispenses endless advice in her fecking fantastic style.You'll learn: Why every mammy's secret weapon is the tea towel The dos and don'ts of cleaning up Granddad What Dermot doesn't know about farting (not much) What Winnie knows about seks (not enough) All about the Five-Sausages-A-Day Diet (hint: contains sausages) From Maria, all about pain relief in child birth (if it's free, fecking take it)The must-have gift for any Mrs Brown fan, Mrs Brown's Family Handbook is perfect for equally large and chaotic families, or those in small families curious about what they're missing...Brendan O'Carroll is an Irish writer, producer, comedian, actor, director and author. He is best known for playing Agnes Brown in Mrs Brown's Boys, which won the best sitcom BAFTA in 2012 and best comedy at the National Television Awards 2020. He has written four films and nine comedy shows, including The Course (1995) and The Last Wedding (1999). He has also published seven novels, including The Mammy, The Scrapper and The Young Wan - a number of which have been translated into 12 languages.A Modern Herbal
By Alys Fowler. 2019
THE BEST GARDENING BOOKS OF THE YEAR - GARDENS ILLUSTRATED'Informative and enthusiastic' i PaperPLANT-BASED MEDICINE FOR A CALMER, HEALTHIER LIFE…
It's easy to turn to the pharmacy when we're stressed, sick or feeling under the weather, but what if you turned to your garden instead?In this accessible and easy to use manual, horticultural expert, former Gardener's World presenter and Guardian columnist, Alys Fowler, shows how to take control of your health by adopting a more natural lifestyle. For thousands of years, people who had no access to clinical medicine knew how to boost their well-being by using the ingredients they found in plants. Herbs are the people's medicine; often freely available and abundant, they are ready and waiting to be plucked from around you to soothe and heal your body and mind. With guides for how to use and grow over 100 herbs - for example how to use fennel for indigestion, camomile for anxiety and nettle for hayfever - you'll soon be heading into the garden, rather than opening the medicine cabinet. Offering a fusion of botanical, practical, cultural and historical information, A Modern Herbal reveals how common herbs are the simple, cleansing way to better health and happiness.AS SEEN IN THE GUARDIAN'An important and accessible herbal for the 21st century . . . For anyone delving into herbs for the first time or those who want to broaden their herbal repertoire in the garden and home, this book is much needed' Gardens IllustratedMinimal: How to simplify your life and live sustainably
By Madeleine Olivia. 2020
Love yourself. Love the planet. We are facing an urgent climate crisis and we must all take action now. However,…
it can be difficult to know where to start when bombarded with overwhelming facts and statistics every day. We all want to make a difference, but what can we do? Minimal makes simple and sustainable living attainable for everyone, using practical tips for all areas of everyday life to reduce your impact on the earth. Leading environmentalist Madeleine Olivia shares her insights on how to care for yourself in a more eco-friendly way, as well as how to introduce a mindful approach to your habits. This includes how to declutter your life, reduce your waste and consumption, recipes for eating seasonally and making your own natural beauty and cleaning products. Learn how to minimise the areas that aren’t giving you anything back and discover a happier and more fulfilled life, while looking after the Earth we share.Live, Laugh, Laundry: A calming guide to keeping your clothes clean – and you happy
By Laura Mountford. 2023
In this essential guide to all things laundry, much-loved online cleaning expert Laura Mountford shows us how we can all…
do our laundry better, so that we feel happier and calmer every day. With self-care tips to incorporate into your routine and beautiful line drawings throughout, in this book you'll find:- A guide to must-have products & laundry symbols- Instructions on how to wash any clothing/fabric- Troubleshooting for common mistakes- Tips for being more eco-friendly & saving money- and much more!Helping you feel less overwhelmed and full of new ideas that will make you excited to put on your next wash, Live Laugh Laundry is the soothing and useful guide we all need to the life-changing magic of laundry.'My laundry routine has helped me hugely on difficult days - I'd love for it to do the same for you.'Lizzie Zipmouth
By Jacqueline Wilson. 2000
Lizzie refuses to speak. She doesn't want to talk to Rory or Jake, her new stepbrothers. Or to Sam, their…
dad. Or even to her mum. She's completely fed up with having to join a new family, and nothing can convince her to speak to them. Not football, not pizza, not a new bedroom. That is, until she meets Great-Gran - a member of the new family who is even more stubborn than she is . . .