July 1943...the tide of the Second World War appeared finally to be turning in favour of the Allies. Having driven the Axis powers out of North Africa Prime Minister Winston Churchill successfully argued for an invasion of Italy & an advance up through what he mistakenly described as the soft underbelly of Europe. The first phase of the invasion of German-occupied Europe was to be the invasion of Sicily the date for which was set for 9 July 1945. Subsequently codenamed Operation HUSKY & primarily an amphibious operation of unprecedented scale & complexity the Allied plan included the first ever large-scale use of airborne forces. These fledgling formations were however in the main untested in battle. The scene was set for a series of airborne operations littered with examples of tragedy heroism but an over-riding determination to win at all costs. Glider Pilots in Sicily tells the dramatic & often moving story of the men of the 1st Battalion The Glider Pilot Regiment & their role in the invasion. At the time of the landings the regiment had been in existence for less than two years. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Chatterton its officers & men had been trained to be in Chattertons own words Total Soldiers: pilots in the air & highly trained infantrymen on the ground. The Total Soldier concept & The Glider Pilot Regiments motto Nothing is Impossible were however to be tested to the full during the battle for Sicily. This is the account of The Glider Pilot Regiments baptism of fire & the story of a remarkable group of men who in spite of the presence of enemy fighters flew unarmed & unescorted Horsa gliders across the Bay of Biscay in broad daylight. Men who assembled unfamiliar American gliders from packing crates using the manufacturers technical manuals thereafter living in the empty crates in the middle of the North African Desert while they learned to fly their new gliders & then test flew them by day & night. Some subsequently flew on the first gliderborne coup de main operation mounted by British airborne forces thereafter taking part in the epic battle for the vital bridge of the Ponte Grande while others transported the gliderborne elements of 1st Parachute Brigade in its attack on the Ponte Primosole. Using personal accounts many of which are previously unpublished this book tells the heroic & sometimes tragic story of the events that followed when the British 1st Airborne Division attempted a series of large scale airborne landings on Sicily in July 1943. ...

Gliding is for everyone who has ever dreamt of riding the air currents with the view stretching to the horizon & with barely a sound to disturb the moment. Written by an experienced instructor this book guides you through the first steps to realising that dream & goes on to explore the many opportunities offered by this compelling & existing sport. ...

After your first flight youll be hooked on this superb sport. Why? Its much more challenging than powered flight
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In his seminal book Life After Life" Dr Raymond Moody introduced the near-death experience (NDE) to the world sharing the true stories of those who have returned from the brink of death. In this stunning sequel Dr Moody returns to the area in which he made his name & provides compelling new evidence that NDEs are not the mere biological products of brains in the process of shutting down. Here he shares the eyewitness accounts of those who have shared the experiences of the dying: the empathic death experiences that occur when those gathered at the bedsides of the dying have their own visions of the afterlife. Brimming with case studies & drawing upon a lifetimes research as well as recent findings this important new book will change the way we think about death. As the baby-boomer generation begins to lose those they love & international scientific research continues in this area Dr Raymond Moodys book could not be more timely." ...

Trudy Harris began her career with Hospice in 1981 eventually becoming the president of the Hospice Foundation for Caring. This collection of more than forty true stories of Harriss patients offers readers an incredible glimpse at what lies beyond & what the living can learn from the dying. Her patients have described to her visions of angels & loved ones who have gone on before the sounds of ethereal music colors that did not exist on earth. She has been with hundreds of patients as they took their last breaths & knows the kinds of questions that both the dying & the loved ones they are leaving behind ask. * What do you say to a loved one who is dying? * What happens when we die? * How can you make a dying friend feel safe? * Does a dying person really see angels hear music or see friends & family members who have already died? Tender heartbreaking & eye-opening Glimpses of Heaven offers a window into the world beyond & life after death. ...

Consuelo Vanderbilt was young beautiful & the heir to a vast family fortune. She was also deeply in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to fulfil her social ambitions & marry an English Duke. Leaving her life in America she came to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 & took up residence in her new home
- Blenheim Palace. The 9th Duchess gives unique first-hand insight into life at the very pinnacle of English society in the Edwardian era. An unsnobbish but often amused observer of the intricate hierarchy both upstairs & downstairs at Blenheim Palace she is also a revealing witness to the glittering balls huge weekend parties & major state occasions she attended or hosted. Here are her encounters with every important figure of the day
- from Queen Victoria Edward V11 & Queen Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas Prince Metternich & the young Winston Churchill. This intimate richly enjoyable memoir is a wonderfully revealing portrait of a golden age.

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From the earliest days of her career supermodel Fleur Savagar has been nicknamed the Glitter Baby. The illegitimate daughter of a world-famous movie star she had been brought up by her mother & stepfather & deliberately starved of emotional love. So much so that she has spent most of her nineteen years looking for it in all the wrong places. Fleur is an ugly duckling who refuses to believe she's turned into a swan. Now an actress she finds herself falling for her co-star tough guy Jake Koranda. However all her illusions are shattered when she discovers that she has been betrayed by those closest to her. Disillusioned & destitute Fleur embarks on a voyage of self discovery determined to reinvent herself... ...

Enter a magical world of friendship & fun! In the sixth book of the first Secret Kingdom series every fairy in the kingdom is at Glitter Beach to watch the magic being renewed in the kingdom for another year. But Queen Malice is also nearby... Can Ellie Summer & Jasmine save the glitter dust & keep the magic alive? Secret Kingdom is a brand new series full of the things girls love most: special friendships secrets & magical adventures. Newly confident readers will be swept away by the magical stories of three children whose courage & resourcefulness save a fantastical land from disaster. Full of all the things little girls love best: special friendships secrets & magical adventures all set in an incredible kingdom! Eye-catching illustrations throughout. Become best friends with Ellie Summer & Jasmine
- plus Trixi the pixie! Help Ellie Summer & Jasmine save the Secret Kingdom from wicked Queen Malice & her naughty storm sprites. A new exciting adventure in each & every book.
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Discover a fresh modern approach to girls' passions & interests. Offering everything from arts & crafts to keeping fit & handling friendships this bumper book has everything a young girl needs to know! Discover the events & activities that shape the lives of young girls. This title offers fun hands-on activities as well as inspiring ideas that build creativity & confidence. ...

The strictly girls love getting dressed up. Use the stickers in the middle of the book to help you change Bella & her friends into their costumes. Stick in sequinned skirts twinkly tiaras & floaty feather boas then watch the girls foxtrot up the red carpet & rumba down the catwalk. Let's dance! With over 300 stickers! A must-have for anyone who has ever wished they could be a part of the glamorous world of Strictly Come Dancing. Strictly Come Dancing (or Dancing with the Stars as it is known in the US) is a key BBC one show & can be seen in over 75 countries with approximate worldwide viewing figures standing at 250 million. It was the UK's highest rating programme of 2012 excluding The Olympics Euro 2012 & The Diamond Jubilee Concert. ...