Taking tea is one of the quintessentially English occasions & who is a greater authority on the subject than the sumptuous Ritz London Hotel? This charming Edwardian-style book captures the essence of this traditional British pastime & provides us with all the expertise on the ceremony as well as the recipes. Stories about the legendary afternoon teas at The Ritz & fascinating details about the history of tea drinking are complemented with passages from such diverse writers as Charles Dickens to Oscar Wilde. Over fifty recipes are included for different kinds of afternoon tea specialities from delicate sandwiches strawberry shortcake & rose petal jam to crumpets & muffins for hearty teas in front of a roaring fire. The author gives an infallible guide to the many blends of tea & their suitability to particular occasions. Beautifully presented & delightfully illustrated this book is the perfect gift for tea drinkers everywhere. ...

Grace loves to swim & is getting into training for the school swimming gala. But when she sees nasty MSN messages calling her a show-off she starts to lose her confidence & can't stop worrying about what the cyber-bully will do next. She has to find out who's behind the messages before she loses her nerve completely. Filled with secrets hopes dreams & above all the power of friendship School Friends" is addictive reading for girls." ...

Into the cut-throat world of Corinium television comes Declan OHara a mega-star of great glamour & integrity with a radiant feckless wife a handsome son & two ravishing teenage daughters. Living rather too closely across the valley is Rupert Campbell-Black divorced & as dissolute as ever & now the Tory Minister for Sport. Declan needs only a few days at Corinium to realise that the Managing Director Lord Baddingham is a crook who has recruited him merely to help retain the franchise for Corinium. Baddingham has also enticed Cameron Cook a gorgeous but domineering woman executive to produce Declans programme. Declan & Cameron detest each other provoking a storm of controversy into which Rupert plunges with his usual abandon. As a rival group emerges to pitch for the franchise reputations ripen & decline true love blossoms & burns marriages are made & shattered & sex raises its (delicious) head at almost every throw as in bed & boardroom the race is on to capture the Cotswold Crown. ...

Thomas Howard founded a dynasty & staked his place in history through a self-serving ruthlessness that allowed no rival to stand in his way. But the true rivals of the Tudor court were those who stood alongside him: his wife & his mistress who would battle to the end for him! As Queen Catherine's maid & daughter of the Duke of Buckingham the future seems bright for Elizabeth Stafford. But when her father gives her hand to Thomas Howard third Duke of Norfolk the spirited young woman must sacrifice all for duty. Yet Elizabeth is surprised by her passion for her powerful new husb&. & when he takes on a mistress she is determined to fight for her love & her honour! Naive & vulnerable Bess Holland is easily charmed by the Duke of Norfolk doing his bidding in exchange for gifts & adoration. For years she & Elizabeth compete for his affections. But they are mere spectators to an obsession neither can rival: Norfolk's quest to weave the Howard name into the royal bloodline. The women's loyalties are tested as his schemes unfold -- among them the litigious marriage of his niece Anne Boleyn to King Henry VIII. But in an age of ruthless beheadings no self-serving motive goes unpunished -- & Elizabeth & Bess will have to fight a force more sinister than the executioner's axe! ...

Of the greatest rivalries in world football few stir the emotions more than the Manchester derby
- City v United. Rivals
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What a lot of islands the river makes said Ida. We must go exploring & sail around them all. & so begins a wonderful magical summer. Ida Oscar & Ping are staying with Idas great
- aunt at the ancient river
- encircled house of Green Knowe. They set out to chart the river in the canoe & soon discover that it has some surprising & mysterious secrets.

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The River Book is targeted at people who enjoy being outdoors & want to get the most out of their time spent by the water. It shows them all the things they can do to make the most of local rivers & streams & places where they can venture further afield for a fun relaxing or exhilarating day out. It

Includes:: lots of information on great rivers to visit & suggestions for rivers that are especially good for carrying out the activities suggested in the book. It combines fascinating facts about rivers & the plants & animals that live nearby with activities for children & adults. There is also a journal element that focuses on special times or sightings at particular rivers. Targeted at the 30 million plus people who enjoy rivers annually it can be enjoyed equally by armchair enthusiasts.

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Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands any more but stubborn as ever refuses to stay in hospital. He's determined to finish his last painting ' River Boy' before he goes. At first Jess can't understand his refusal to let go but then she too becomes involved in the mysterious painting. & when she meets the river boy himself she finds she is suddenly caught up in a challenge of her own that she must complete
- before it's too late.
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Ruth Rogers & Rose Gray have an unswervingly clear vision of how food should be cooked: they take immense care over the ingredients & cook them as simply as possible. But one vitally important element in the art of preparing good food is one which we have increasingly lost sight of: seasonality. If you cook food in its right season it will inevitably taste better. & thats what River Cafe Cookbook Green is all about. Divided into months the twelve chapters look at which vegetables herbs leaves fungi & fruits are at their best at any given time with information on how they are grown which varieties to select & how to prepare them. The focus is also on organic produce something in which Ruth & Rose have come to believe passionately. Meat & fish are certainly included in the book but the emphasis here is much more on vegetables pasta etc in line with the way we are increasingly eating today. Fully illustrated throughout & even larger than before the book is an education as well as a culinary treasure-trove. ...

The River Cafe Cook Book" is one of the most influential cookbooks to have been published this decade & is the winner of both the Glenfiddich Food Book of the Year & BCA Illustrated Book of the Year awards. Acclaimed for their innovative re-interpretation of Italian farmhouse cooking
- Cucina Rustica
- at the River Cafe restaurant Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers have produced an outstanding selection of recipes with an emphasis on uncomplicated food which is vibrant with flavour. Beautifully illustrated " The River Cafe Cook Book" is a wonderful guide to this approachable & exciting form of Italian cooking & a celebration of a great restaurant."

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