By turns hilarious revelatory & desperately sad here is the autobiography of the man whose TV & stage appearances such as Hello Dolly! Some Mothers Do Ave Em & The Phantom of the Opera have made him a national institution. The story of the true identity of his father which is behind this books title leads into an evocative depiction of his tender childhood years. Whilst all the men were away at war Crawford was surrounded by loving women. For him this was an idyllic wartime childhood but the return of the men in peacetime signalled darker times to come. Crawfords infectious enjoyment of stage work illumines his account of his early struggles to make a name for himself in the theatre business & his early failures with girls are lifted by his abiding sense of the absurd. Both in his private life & his work as a successful actor & TV comedian he begins a lifetimes habit of pratfalls that he would later turn to good use in the character of Frank Spencer in smash hit 1970s TV comedy show Some Mothers Do Ave Em. His talent for mimicry makes the great personalities in his life come alive on the page; people he has worked with including Benjamin Britten who taught him to sing John Lennon
- with whom he shared a villa
- & Oliver Reed Michael Winner Barbra Steisand Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra.

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Parchment craft has quickly established itself as a popular hobby allowing you to create beautiful cards boxes bookmarks & gift tags personalized for the recipient. Parchment Craft" with its clear instructions is an ideal introduction for beginners wanting to learn the basic skills." ...

Things you didnt know about France: you burnt Joan of Arc!; smuggling live chickens into rugby matches is patriotic; how many times to kiss on the cheek; where not to cross the road; French guns dont go bang; what do you call a party? bon appetit is vulgar; a six-pack is a bar of chocolate; the dangers of being called Peter or Penny; your smallest finger is your ear finger; the importance of Wednesdays; how to tip & when to celebrate Christmas? Forget the French you learnt at school. Based on twenty years of hard-won knowledge Pardon My French" takes you through all the words you need to survive shows how & why they work & steers you past all the pitfalls & potential embarrassments of speaking French in France. From sugar-cube etiquette to why the Marseillaise is all about slaughtering Austrians & Prussians as bloodily as possible Charles Timoney lays bare the Gallic mindset alongside their bizarre language. Covering all areas of everyday life from eating & drinking to travel work & crucially swearing & sounding like a teenager this is not just the most entertaining but also the most useful book on France & the French youll ever read." ...

London 1930. Maisie Dobbs the renowned psychologist & investigator receives a most unusual request. She must prove that Sir Cedric Lawton's son Ralph really is dead. This is a case that will challenge Maisie in unexpected ways for Ralph Lawton was an aviator shot down by enemy fire in 1917. To get to the bottom of the mystery Maisie must travel to the former battlefields of northern France where she served as a nurse in the Great War & where ghosts of her past still linger. As her investigation moves closer to the truth Maisie soon uncovers the secrets & lies that some people would prefer remain buried. ...

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing & reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Ava is sick & tired of her parents always telling her what to do. Nag nag nag. Why can't she have the kind of parents that let her eat sweets all day? Or parents who never make her go to bed or eat vegetables? Then she sees an advert for the Parent Swap Shop & Ava knows it's time to trade in the old ones for a new & enhanced Mum & Dad. ...

The first book on self-harm written for parents by parents. An ever-increasing number of young people are turning to self-harm in order to cope with the pressures of modern living & this poses a huge problem for parents & others who care for them. This book provides the answers you need to questions such as: * How do I know whether my child is self-harming? * How should I approach my child? * What help & treatment is available to us? * What can I do to help my child? * How have other parents coped? Full of the real-life experiences of other parents who have been there this is a practical book that will inform & support you through this difficult time. ...

Prompts range from the classic ('A list of your [child's]first words' & 'A list of the best & most challenging parts of parenting') to the loveably idiosyncratic ('A list of your [child's] biggest tantrums' & 'A list of white lies & made-up stories we told you'). ...

For parents of children with Asperger Syndrome ordinary parenting just doesnt always do it
- AS kids need a different approach.
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Having a baby is an incredible experience & the ultimate responsibility! Parenting is a job that you start with no training at all
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Ian & his wife Samantha were the proud parents of a beautiful seven-month old baby boy Max when Sam died suddenly from a heart attack. Overnight he became a sole parent. Ian gave up his job at an electrical firm to look after Max who is now seven. Ian shares what he learned after being thrown into the parenting deep end
- his story is told with humour & pathos & will be of help to any new father single or not. The book is an account of one mans struggle to deal with the sudden & dramatic loss of his wife at the same time giving up his job as young successful business executive to take care of his seven-month-old son. An abrupt & remarkable career & life change. As well as covering the pain shock & devastation of being widowed Parenting with Balls also gives an account of what its like to be suddenly thrust into a world dominated by women. Ian emphasises that while it felt like the most natural thing in the world
- for him to look after a child
- it wasnt instantly accepted by other people or by other parents in general. The book will hopefully start to engage the reader into perhaps thinking differently about men as parents in the future.


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