Padre Pio was a stigmatic mystic & wonder-worker & he is arguably Irelands favourite saint. Compiled by award-winning journalist Colm Keane this remarkable collection of stories is crammed full of miracles & cures attributed to Padre Pios intercession. There are accounts of scientifically inexplicable recoveries from cancer heart disease & brain damage along with revivals from blood clots strokes multiple sclerosis & life-threatening viral infections. Also featured are visions apparitions & supernormal coincidences. Elsewhere in the book early Irish pilgrims speak of trail-blazing journeys to San Giovanni Rotondo in the 1950s & 60s while visits by devotees to Padre Pios beatification in 1999 & his canonisation in 2002 are vividly recounted. Using personal testimonies Padre Pio: The Irish Connection" documents the widespread influence of this complex & intriguing Italian saint who bore the wounds of Christ for half a century until his death in 1968." ...

Padstow Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour this is an exciting examination of Padstow the famous streets & the famous faces & what they meant to the people of this Cornish town throughout the 19th & into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos readers can see the historical context in which they are set & through the authors factual captions for every picture & carefully-selected choice of images the reader can achieve a reliable view of this towns history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events & watch the changing face of this charming town as Malcolm Mc Carthy guides us through Padstows winding streets. There is something for everyone here whether they have lived in the area all their lives or whether they are just visiting this beautiful part of Cornwall. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society. ...

Paella is Spains best-loved dish popular the world over & perfect to cook for friends. The definitive home-cooking manual on paella from the renowned expert Alberto Herraiz. Explains everything you need to know in order to cook authentic paella at home showing the basics step by step & covering all the techniques & ingredients. Contains 116 recipes for numerous varieties of paella from the most simple to lesser-known regional variations. ...

For Sophie Page the job of warden at Elmcote Hall is a dream come true. The beauty of the old house & the overgrown grounds speaks to her love of nature. As a venue for weddings films & exotic parties the Hall draws curious & intersting people including the handsome Richard Fox & his friends
- who are equally alluring & more puzzling still. Sophie suspects that Fox is responsible for the sexually charged events taking place by night in the woods around the Hall. However he is only carrying on a tradition; Elmcotes Victorian owner
- the eccentric occultist Elgar Vaughan
- used the grounds for Dionysian sex rituals & now its Sophies turn to find out just how much fun can be had with the old ways of worship.


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GThe Pagan Stone had stood for hundreds of years long before three boys gathered around it to spill their blood in a bond of brotherhood unwittingly releasing a force bent on destruction.. . Gage Turner has been running from his past for a long time. The son of an abusive drunk his childhood in the small town of Hawkins Hollow was tough
- his only solace his friendship with Fox O' Dell & Caleb Hawkins. But aged ten the boys unleashed evil on their town: every seven years murder & mayhem reign & each cycle is more extreme than the last. Now Gage has returned home to help his friends save Hawkins Hollow but a lifetime as a loner has made him wary of emotional ties. & who can make plans for the future when their present is so uncertain? For unless they find a way to use the Pagan Stone against the demonic force everything they know & love will be destroyed.. .
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' Paganism' is an evocative word that even today conjures up deep-seated emotions & prejudices. Until recently it was primarily a derogatory term used by Christians to describe the non-Christian cultures confronted & vanquished by their Churches. For some it evokes images of sacrifice & barbaric behaviour while for others it symbolises a peace-loving nature-worshipping spiritual relationship with the earth. This Very Short Introduction explores the meaning of paganism
- through a chronological overview of the attitudes towards its practices & beliefs
- from the ancient world through to the present day. Owen Davies largely looks at paganism through the eyes of the Christian world & how over the centuries notions & representations of its nature were shaped by religious conflict power struggles colonialism & scholarship. Despite the expansion of Christianity & Islam Pagan cultures continue to exist around the world whilst in the West new formations of paganism constitute one of the fastest-growing religions. Focussing on paganism in Europe but exploring the nature of paganism globally Davies looks at how Europeans discovered new cultures through colonial expansion missionary work & anthropological study. Contemporary social paganism can be a liberating & social force & the idea of a global Pagan theology is now on the religious map. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable.

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Nya has a secret she must never share...A gift she must never use... And a sister whose life depends on both. This astonishing debut novel is the first in the epic dystopian fantasy adventure trilogy THE HEALING WARS. Fifteen-year-old Nya is one of Gevegs many orphans; she survives on odd jobs & optimism in a city crippled by a failed war for independence. Nya has a deadly secret. She is a Taker someone who can extract pain & injury from others but with unusual differences. Her sister Tali & other normal Takers become Healers League apprentices & put their extracted pain into enchanted metal pynvium. But Nya cant dump pain in this way. All she can do is shift it from person to person. When Nyas secret is revealed to the pain merchants & the Healers League she is flung into danger. Then a ferry accident floods the city with injured Takers start disappearing from the Healers League & Nyas strange abilities are suddenly in dem&. Her principles & endurance are tested to the limit when Nyas deadly powers become the only thing that can save her sisters life. ...

Discover how can you turn your brother into a zombie slave & why you are breathing poison right now! With a fantastic new cover look & extra horrible bits at the back of the book this best-selling title is sure to be a huge hit with a new generation of Horrible Science readers. ...

Pains on Trains is the perfect way to take the tedium out of commuting guaranteed to become as indispensable to the seasoned traveller as the blow--up pillow & water sterilising tablets. In Pains on Trains Andrew Holmes & Matthew Reeves set their sights on the scourge of the modern office worker -- other office workers who clog up trains buses boats & planes with their annoying habits & depressing clothes. Pains on Trains is dedicated to the rush--hour veteran & consists of a a pain--spottinga guide to the very worst people you meet on your daily commute. Each painful character is illustrated in their usual context & supported by a short narrative. ...

This is a fully illustrated practical guide to the art of decorating paper mostly with paint but also with bleach varnish glue dye or whatever else you may have to hand! It features over 130 simple techniques especially tried & tested on paper presented in an easy-to-follow step-by-step style that is accessible to both beginners & more experienced artists & papercrafters. The paint effects & ideas demonstrated make use of basic techniques that can lead to richer & more interesting results depending upon how they are layered & applied. Readers will be inspired to produce stunning paper scrapbooks stationery giftwrap cards & a whole host of other quirky items that will make unique gifts for friends & family alike. It demonstrates how to make use of everyday household objects from tea leaves to nail varnish as well as more traditional crafting materials such as gold leaf. ...