The next heartbreaking book by Toni Maguire. Eight year old Marianne the eldest of five children was neglected by her slovenly mother & her violent alcoholic father. Uncared for & unkempt she was rejected at school by her peers & scarcely tolerated by her teachers. Only one person gave her the affection she craved; a neighbour who seeing the vulnerable child knew she was easy prey for his perverted desires. Little Lady he called her over the few months he groomed her. Less than twelve months later she was caught in a trap of fear
- if she talked she would be punished. With no one to turn to she kept their secret. At thirteen she fell pregnant. Still too frightened to speak out she refused to tell the social workers who the father was. Without family support the teenager gave birth to a daughter in the unmarried mothers home. Six weeks later the baby she had already grown to love was taken away for adoption. Marianne returned home but the neighbours abuse continued & a year later she was pregnant again. This time her father literally tried to beat the baby out of her but she failed to miscarry. Scared for her life & that of her babys she ran away from home carrying only a plastic bag stuffed with her few possessions. Marianne who still missed her first child desperately struggled to keep her second daughter. Two months after the birth she realized that for the babys sake she would have to hand her over for adoption. Helpless is Mariannes heartbreaking story as told the bestselling author of Dont Tell Mummy.
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This vibrant series spans over 170 destinations worldwide. It contains the most comprehensive list of UK guides currently available. It offers practical listings to suit varied budgets & tastes. Compact format quickly locates the top must see & do attractions. Imaginative suggestions reveal each destinations hidden gems. This title is organised by recognisable areas making orientation easy. ...

When the world of Armageddon is attacked by orks the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter are amongst those sent to liberate it. Chaplain Grimaldus & a band of Black Templars are charged with the defence of Hive Helsreach from the xenos invaders in one of the many battlezones. But as the orks numbers grow & the Space Marines dwindle Grimaldus faces a desperate last stand in an Imperial temple. Determined to sell their lives dearly will the Black Templars hold on long enough to be reinforced or will their sacrifice ultimately be in vain. ...

The original Helston Railway Preservation Society was formed at a meeting held in the Chy-an-Albany Hotel St Ives on the 18th May 2002. As the original Society was an un-incorporated association the Helston Railway Preservation Company Limited was formed on 16 February 2006 with powers to build & run a railway. This is a special not for profit company limited by guarantee. The objective of the company is to restore to running order & re-open as a heritage railway as much of the old Helston Branch Line as possible. The long term aim is to re-open a three mile section of the branch line between Nancegollan & Helston Water-ma-Trout. With the kind permission of the landowner a volunteer labour force drawn from the Companys Supporters started clearing the track bed at Trevarno Estate on Sunday 24th April 2005. Around a half mile section of the track bed has now been cleared. This latest volume in the series covering preserved lines is rather special as it covers a line that has gone from virtually zero to a working railway in a very short time. Chris Heaps knows the railway well having travelled on the line since childhood until closure by BR. Chris has sourced a remarkable collection of images from the past & the contrasting present day shots show a dramatic chenge. In parts the track bed has been obliterated but we see what the scene looked like all those years ago when the railway was in full operation. Where the revivalists have set to work the sheer hard work of these enthusiasts can be seen in the recreation of past days... ...

Sister Fidelma originally made her debut in short story form. The red-haired sharp-witted & astonishingly wise religieuse captured the hearts of many readers as she successfully tackled the most baffling of crimes in her other role as advocate of the law courts of Ireland using the ancient Brehon Law system. With its breathtaking range of settings & crimes & its fascinating insights into Celtic culture HEMLOCK AT VESPERS is guaranteed to entertain & intrigue. ...

We think the way we do because Socrates thought the way he did. His aphorism ' The unexamined life is not worth living' may have originated twenty-five centuries ago but it is a founding principle of modern life. Socrates lived & contributed to a city that nurtured key ingredients of contemporary civilisation
- democracy liberty science drama rational thought
- yet as he wrote nothing in his lifetime he himself is an enigmatic figure. The Hemlock Cup" gives Socrates the biography he deserves setting him in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean that was his home & dealing with him as he himself dealt with the world. Socrates was a soldier a lover a man of the people. He philosophised neither in grand educational establishments nor the courts of kings but in the squares & public arenas of Golden Age Athens. He lived through an age of extraordinary materialism in which a democratic culture turned to the glorification of its own city; when war was declared under the banner of democracy; & when tolerance turned into intimidation on streets once populated by the likes of Euripides Sophocles & Pericles. For seventy years he was a vigorous citizen of one of the greatest capitals on earth but then his beloved Athens turned on him condemning him to death by poison. Socrates' pursuit of personal liberty is a vibrant story that Athens did not want us to hear but which must be told. Bettany Hughes has painstakingly pieced together Socrates' life following in his footsteps across Greece & Asia Minor & examining the new archaeological discoveries that shed light on his world. In " The Hemlock Cup" she reveals the human heart of the man & relates a story that is as relevant now as it has ever been."

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The hen harrier is one of the iconic species of the bird world & its history is a mix of controversy persecution & recent patchy recovery. This book a dedicated study of the bird in N. Ireland for over two decades provides a detailed account of the life habits & prospects for the bird. The author presents much new information about the harrier in its continuing struggle to re-establish its hold despite high levels of persecution from man or predation by other species. Having spent thousands of hours over many years studying these birds he was rewarded by the discovery that this ground-nesting species was nesting in tall conifers in the forests of County Antrim
- the only country throughout their vast European range where this occurs annually. Other significant finds soon became apparent as did the discovery that red kites were nesting for the first time & marsh harriers had returned to nest for the first time in almost 200 years. The authors passion for the bird is obvious as he shares moments of excitement & sadness & he speaks frankly about the maltreatment & mismanagement of this elegant raptor over the years.
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Hilda is a small speckled hen. She is brave & very single-minded. When she hears that her aunt has just hatched five baby chicks she is very excited & cant wait to go & see them. There is a problem however
- her aunt lives five miles away. How will Hilda ever travel all the way to her farm? But she has her heart set on getting there & goes out to hitch a lift on a rubbish lorry a fire engine a scooter & even a steam roller! At first she is not very successful but she keeps trying because when Hilda makes up her mind nothing & no one can stop her... Maureen Lipman reads this classic childrens story about a bold & fearless little hen from bestselling author Jill Tomlinson whose books have been hugely popular for nearly thirty years. Told in clear simple language they are ideal for young listeners who can identify with the baby animals & their adventures. The Hen Who Wouldnt Give Up" is an enchanting tale that will appeal to any child who loves animals or who is determined & resourceful."
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A heart-warming story by Jill Tomlinson about a hen with as much pluck as she has cluck! Hilda is a small speckled hen. & when Hilda makes up her mind nothing can stop her. Hilda's auntie has just had a family of chicks & she's determined to visit them. But how is Hilda going to travel the five miles to her auntie's farm? Filled with gentle humour & comfort Jill Tomlinson's animal stories have been enjoyed by children who want to snuggle down with a good read for decades. This edition is stunningly illustrated by Paul Howard making The Hen Who Wouldn't Give Up an even more enjoyable story for young readers. ...