John Balmforth provides readers with a look at the history of Virgin Trains as they celebrate 15 years of service. Emerging from the franchising process in the 1990s Virgin Trains although branded as a single entity was in fact the product of two distinct franchises: the West Coast Main Line & Inter City Cross-Country. The two franchises were to a considerable extent amongst the most difficult on offer
- the former as a result of its ageing infrastructure & rolling stock & the latter due to the convoluted route network over which it operated
- & in its early years of operation Virgin Trains suffered significant adverse comment. However as the WCML modernisation scheme was gradually completed & as the new high-speed Voyager & Pendelino units came into service so the performance of the franchises enhanced as did the companys reputation. However come franchise renewal the Cross-Country franchise was modified & reallocated to Arriva leaving Virgin Trains to continue operating the West Coast franchise. This album will mark the 15th anniversary of Virgin Trains & will be packed with colour illustrations portraying the evolution of Virgin Trains operations over the period from 1997 to 2012.

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This title is about England's forgotten Queen. England 1469. A daughter of Warwick the Kingmaker Anne Neville cannot dictate her own future. Her marriage will be political made purely to advance her family's interests. But at the age of fourteen her father's treason forces her into exile & into an uneasy betrothal with Edward of Lancaster. Edward is changeable & completely controlled by his powerful mother Margaret of Anjou. In a hostile impoverished court Anne finds herself at the mercy of other's whims. On her wedding night the audience assembled to witness her bedding instead witnesses a royal humiliation. At the point of consummation Queen Margaret forbids the act. Anne went to her husband's bed a virgin & she will remain so. The battle for the crown of England rages & Anne's husband must fight for his cause. But he is foully done to death by Richard Duke of Gloucester
- a man who twice before has been betrothed to Anne. Anne must decide where her loyalties lie. & during the reign of King Edward the wrong decision could mean death.
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Sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory the author of The Other Boleyn Girl. Elizabeth I has acceded to the throne of England a position she has waited & schemed for all her life. She is surrounded by advisers all convinced that a young woman cannot form political judgements. Elizabeth feels that she can rely on just one man: her oldest friend Robert Dudley. It is soon plain that he is more than merely a friend. In a house in the countryside waits a very different woman Amy Robsart
- Robert's wife. She has no taste for life at court & longs for the day when her husband will return home. She has loved him since she was a girl but now they are adults she hardly sees him. Meanwhile the pressure grows for Elizabeth to marry for it is unthinkable that a queen should rule on her own. Elizabeth's preference is clear but he is unavailable. But what if the unthinkable were to happen... Philippa Gregory blends passion personalities & politics in this stunning novel of the Tudor court & a country divided.
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Getting old? Get over it! For too long those in short skirts have been telling us oldies we dont matter: youre out of touch! Get out of the way grandma! The next generation is coming through. Well enough is enough. Because getting old is great. For a start you no longer need to care what anyone thinks. You can let
- if youve got any left
- your hair down. No one will tell you off for grumbling. & no one minds if you forget (or pretend to forget) who youre talking to. Being rude has never been so easy
- or liberating. & thats not all you can get away with now that youve seen it all (and done most of it)... Let Virginia Ironside take you through the top twenty reasons why getting old is good for you
- & let the young & dumb keep their callow youth!



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This prize-winning biography newly revised sees Virginia Woolf as she saw herself. The first to set out the private life behind the well-known facts of her public career A Writers Life rocks back & forth between memories & art to reveal an explorer of the infinite oddity of the human position. Instead of the doom-&-death often imposed on women of genius here is the robust walker & seeker for what was fertile in her intimacies in womens nature & in resistance to power. This edition brings out her ideas for biography itself: to fall on a life like a roll of heavy waters...laying bare the pebbles on the shore of the soul. ...

With his trademark blend of knowledge insight & wit Dadhichi shares his predictions & reveals what 2013 will hold for you. Your focus is centred squarely on your career & reputation this year Virgo. You can expect growth in your professional life & finances but make sure this is not at the expense of your colleagues. If you make an effort to balance your work with your relationships this year is sure to be a good one. In Dadhichis horoscope for Virgo you will discover which star signs can stimulate your body & your mind how to make the most of your detail-oriented nature in the workplace & what 2013 has in store for you. YOUR STARS WILL REVEAL Monthly & daily predictions for 2013 Insights into the Virgo woman man & child Which star signs you are best matched with as well as who to avoid in the areas of love friendship & the workplace Ways to harness your career potential & tips for financial success ...

Virtual Light"
- a gripping techno-thriller from William Gibson bestselling author of " Neuromancer". " Audacious witty & passionate.
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By considering The Virtuoso Teacher & how a teacher might attain virtuoso status renowned educator & writer Paul Harris delves into the core issues of being a teacher & the teaching process. A fascinating look at topics such as: self-awareness & the importance of emotional intelligence getting the best out of pupils dealing with challenging pupils asking the right questions creating a master-plan taking the stress out of learning teaching for the right reasons. This seminal book is an inspirational read for all music teachers encouraging everyone to consider themselves in a new & uplifted light & transform their teaching. ...

The story of viruses & humanity is a story of fear & ignorance of grief & heartbreak & of great bravery & sacrifice. Michael Oldstone tells all these stories as he illuminates the history of the devastating diseases that have tormented humanity focusing mostly on the most famous viruses. Oldstone begins with smallpox polio & measles. Nearly 300 million people were killed by smallpox in this century alone & the author presents a vivid account of the long campaign to eradicate this lethal killer. Oldstone then describes the fascinating viruses that have captured headlines in more recent years: Ebola Hantavirus mad cow disease (a frightening illness made worse by government mishandling & secrecy) & of course AIDS. & he tells us of the many scientists watching & waiting even now for the next great plague monitoring influenza strains to see whether the deadly variant from 1918--a viral strain that killed over 20 million people in 1918-1919--will make a comeback. For this revised edition Oldstone

Includes:: discussions of new viruses like SARS bird flu virally caused cancers chronic wasting disease & West Nile & fully updates the original text with new findings on particular viruses. Viruses Plagues & History paints a sweeping portrait of humanitys long-standing conflict with our unseen viral enemies. Oldstones book is a vivid history of a fascinating field & a highly reliable dispatch from an eminent researcher on the front line of this ongoing campaign.

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Heather Cynster has been waiting her whole life to find what her older brothers Gabriel & Lucifer have found: love. Not the pleasant marriage that most of society enters into but the passion-filled adventure-packed kind of love that shed seen fulfill the lives of her brothers & cousins. But whats a girl to do when her hero just isnt showing up? If shes a Cynster she takes finding him into her own hands. Determined to actively search in places she hasnt yet ventured Heathers journey to Scotland is rudely interrupted by a kidnapper. As she & her would-be rescuer Timothy Danvers Viscount Breckenridge team up to bring her kidnapper to justice & foil his grand scheme Heather begins to realize that theres more to be gained than just her freedom.. . ...