In this hilarious collection of cautionary tales & anecdotes George East discusses all the delights & drawbacks of finding buying & restoring French property. HOME & DRY IN FRANCE follows the early adventures of George & Donella East as they make every mistake in the (not-then-written) book about how & how not to buy a second home across the Channel. Tellingly subtitled A YEAR IN PURGATORY the book is much more than a listing of all the awful pitfalls awaiting the innocent abroad: it is the hilarious & always entertaining account of how a couple set out with a dream
- & came close to turning it in to a nightmare.
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This trenchant & illuminating book by one of Africa's most influential & celebrated writers is a major statement on the importance & dangers of stories one in which Achebe makes telling use of his personal experiences to examine the political nature of culture & specifically literature. It is the weaving of the personal into the bigger picture that makes Home & Exile so remarkable & affecting. It's the closest we are likely to get by way of Achebe's autobiography but it is also a brilliantly argued critique of imperialism. Achebe challenges the way the West has appropriated Africa with a particular emphasis on how 'imperialist' literature has been used to justify its dispossession & degradation. Above all this is a book that articulates persuasively why literature matters. Stories are a real source of power in the world Achebe concludes & to imitate the literature of another culture is to give that power away. ...

This book contains satisfying suppers for a variety of occasions from everyday midweek meals to home entertaining. Recipes are simple & easy to prepare & range from those suitable after a tough day at work such as Rare Seared Tuna with Grapefruit Salsa to Mexican Beef Burritos with Chunky Guacamole designed for fun informal entertaining & Courgette Basil & Chilli Linguine that maximise taste & flavour whilst keeping to a budget. Chapters include: Everyday
- packed with recipes destined to become old favourites that you can cook time & again; Watching the Pennies with cheap exciting ideas suitable for a night in for one or entertaining friends; Posh Nosh for more extravagant & indulgent recipes perfect for special occasions & celebrations; & Fancy a Drink? provides refreshing accompaniments to food ideas.
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This work is a continuous text made up of extracts from Dorothy Wordsworths Journal" & a selection of her brothers poems. Dorothy Wordsworth kept her journal because I shall give William pleasure by it. In doing so she never dreamt that she was giving future readers not only the chance to enjoy her fresh & sensitive delight in the beauties that surrounded her at Grasmere but also a rare opportunity to observe the progress of a poets mind. Colette Clarks skilful & perceptive arrangement of Dorothys entries alongside Williams poems throws a unique light on his creative process & shows how the interdependence of brother & sister was a vital part in the writing of many of his great poems. By reading these poems in relation to the journal it is possible to trace the processes by which they were committed to paper & so achieve a fuller understanding of them. A writer in her own right Dorothy kept her journal sparse in personal & emotional detail. Yet there is nevertheless a deep emotional undercurrent running beneath the surface which only falters when William marries Mary Hutchinson. Never again was Dorothy to achieve the freedom spontaneity & the limpidly beautiful prose with which she infused & irradiated the Grasmere journals." ...

Nothing lifts the heart like the smell of a cake baking the first slice of a warm homemade tart a hot muffin with your coffee in the morning or a steamed pudding on a cold night. There are a few simple secrets to making home baking wonderful. Whether youre cooking cakes meringues pastries biscuits or puddings you will discover in Home Bake" how to make them the best. The books simple cakes include classics such as Genoise Sponge & Light Fruit Cake alongside more surprising recipes such as Apple & Honey Crumble Sponge. There are flour-free cakes muffins & cupcakes too
- from the Marshmallow Muffin to the Chai-tea Cupcake. Delicious puddings are also made easy. Discover how to make the perfect Baked Lemon Cheesecake or a simple Blueberry Cheesecake. Create a gorgeous Steamed Sticky Toffee Pudding or a glamorous Hot Ginger Bread Souffle. Or learn the simple tricks behind a great Tarte Tatin or a delicious Bakewell Tart. Delicious recipes simple tricks...this book contains everything you need to know to make gorgeous homemade bakes."
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* Make your own wine beer ale cider or cordials at home * Information on ingredients techniques & the all-essential brewing kit * Over 90 recipes suitable for any ability Ever wondered how to make your own beer cider or fruit wine? Home Brew provides the recipes techniques & essential information to get you started as well as the low-down on the kit needed. Handy tips & guidance will ensure that before long you are enjoying your own brew. Brewing 'your own' is the perfect way to make the most of seasonal fruits & gluts & there are recipes for every taste
- from scrumptious blackberry wine to sparkling cider fruity cherry beer or non-alcoholic ginger beer.
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There can be little more satisfying than taking your first sip of delicious home-brewed beer. In this step-by-step guide beer & brewing expert Ted Bruning shows how easy it can be to make your own beer wine & cider with just basic equipment & a few key skills. Made without the unnecessary chemicals & additives added to shop-bought drinks the beverages featured in this book will appeal to anyone seeking a more self-sufficient lifestyle. With guidelines for each step of the way from what equipment you'll need & advice on different malts & ingredients how to mash & boil through to how to bottle your finished product. Accompanied by colour illustrations of the equipment & ingredients & a detailed guide to suppliers shops & home brewing societies. Home Brewing provides clear instructions & handy hints for beginners & delicious recipes for those already adept; this guide is the perfect way to enjoy the fruits vegetables & grains of the season in the most delicious way! ...

Moving house is officially one of life's most stressful experiences with many nasty traps awaiting the unwary. Collapsing chains abortive fees gazundering gazumping & hidden mortgage penalties can all prove ruinously expensive & emotionally devastating. So before entering the property jungle it's essential to know what you're doing. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an old hand the good news is that the Home Buying & Selling Manual" will put you firmly in the driving seat so you can confidently manage your own sale & purchase
- & save money. Haynes have made the experience as painless as possible enabling you to take control of each step in the process. Despite the credit crunch market downturns have always presented big opportunities & there are rich pickings for those who know the rules. But in recent years the advent of the Internet HIPs & e-conveyancing have transformed the way houses need to be sold & purchases funded. Recognised as one of the most comprehensive book available on this subject this manual is divided into separate parts devoted exclusively to buying & selling. Each stage is clearly explained in plain English backed up with hundreds of fascinating colour photos. All common problems are covered with plenty of tried & tested solutions provided. The conveyancing process is explained in full along with advice on how to get the best from estate agents solicitors surveyors & auctioneers as well as how to get the right mortgage when supply is rationed."
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Award-winning chef & restaurateur Neven Maguire shows everyday cooks how to achieve kitchen success with his indispensible new culinary guide & cookbook. Determined to raise the standards of home cooking Neven Maguire transfers his expertise from the restaurant to the kitchen offering expert advice to the novice & experienced cook alike. In his straightforward & friendly way Neven coaches the reader through essential kitchen skills reinforcing the fundamentals such as basic equipment & cooking terminology before moving on to demystify more advanced techniques like mastering knife skills & preparing meat & fish. Accompanying Nevens in-depth knowledge are 130 impeccable recipes derived from his own highly-regarded & award-winning menu all adapted for the home cook. With recipes ranging from easy to advanced there are ideas here for every course including extras such as breads canapes condiments & cocktails. Step-by-step instructions & Nevens insightful hints & tips show you how to use your newly-acquired skills & techniques to achieve faultless results. With its clean user-friendly design stunning food photography & Nevens endless encouragement this book will give every cook a little bit of know-how & plenty of new-found confidence in their own ability. RECIPES INCLUDE: * Red Onion Olive & Rosemary Focaccia * Carrot Ginger & Honey Soup * Chicken Liver Pate with Fig Jam * Gratin of Hake Prawns & Basil on a bed of Spinach * Toulouse Sausages with Creamy Apple & Potato Mash & Red Onion Gravy * Wild Mushroom Strudel * Amaretti Baked Peaches with Mascarpone Cream * White Chocolate Tiramisu * Apple & Mint Vodka * Classic Madeira Sauce ...

Bestselling TV cook Rachel Allen feeds her family & yours with a collection of easy & delicious recipes that everyone will love plus handy kitchen tips & tricks to make your life easier. In this her sixth cookbook Rachel shows how easy it is to feed your family great food every day. From school run to bedtime Rachel has suggestions that even the fussiest eater will love. Treat your loved-ones to nourishing delicious food with this indispensable inspirational recipe collection full of wise words clever hints & tips & above all Rachels irresistible recipes. CHAPTER BREAKDOWN
- Breakfast & Brunch
- Lunch
- Sunday Lunch
- Supper
- Snacks & treats
- Baby Food
- Desserts
- Sweets
- Basics
- Plus handy sections explaining meal planning home freezing healthy eating & much more!









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