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“Well-bred people arrive as nearly at the appointed dinner hour as they can. It is a very vulgar assumption of importance purposely to arrive half an hour behind time; besides the folly of allowing eight or ten hungry people such a tempting opportunity of discussing your foibles.”

It may be a hundred and fifty years since this essential etiquette bible was first published, but within its pages are some astute observations and timeless advice. Hints on Etiquette dispenses wisdom on decorum and all manner of matters, from the dinner table to marriage, and from smoking to fashion. For the best tips on fitting in with best society, this distinguished little book is in a class of its own.

The woman was one of those irritating expat types who felt she owed it to the world to impart on her all her superior knowledge of life in France. I realised that if I didn’t stop her now, she’d be bending my ear all the way to Bergerac.

‘Actually,’ I said, leaning in toward the woman, ‘I’m planning to integrate my way into the boxers of the first good-looking Frenchman I see. Can’t think of any better way to learn the language myself. You wouldn’t happen to know the French for “fancy a shag?” would you? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi just seems a bit nineteen-seventies these days.’

After one particularly bad day at work, advertising executive and confirmed city girl Melanie Jones decides to give up her old life in search of something new and simpler in South West France. With little knowledge of the country, even less of the language and just the memory of a disastrous school French exchange and a few day trips to Calais, she embarks on her adventure with a suitcase full of optimism and not a little bit of naivety. After all, how different can life in France be?

After a series of adventures with skirt-ripping tractors, handsome twin farmers, celebrity not-quite-beens, unusual toilets and a bonkers ex-pat community, all topped up, of course, with lashings of rosé, Melanie begins to discover that her new life in France isn’t quite what she’d thought it would be.

‘Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope’ Bill Cosby

‘My father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic’ Spike Milligan

When your precious offspring have hijacked the car and there’s a hole in your wallet the size of the Grand Canyon, kick back and relax with this hilarious book, crammed full of quips and quotes to remind you of why being a dad is the best job in the world.

When Samantha Brick’s life started to unravel – her company in liquidation, homeless, penniless and friendless, and on max-strength anti-depressants – it seemed that everything was going wrong. But a chance week away in France led to the most unexpected of all turn-arounds: a whirlwind romance with gun-toting, stubborn and ever-so-macho Pascal. It wasn’t until she moved in to his cottage in the beautiful Lot region in south-west France that she realised how shamefully ill-equipped she was for the country life.

Like Cinderella in reverse, Samantha had to learn to cook, clean, chop wood and keep house, as well as discovering how to be a step-mum to Pascal’s know-it-all ten-year-old son, finding love and happiness along the way.

When the little angels are driving you crazy and you’re one minivan away from being a personal taxi service, these wonderful quips and quotes are the perfect reminder of why being a mother is the best job in the world.

Some people don’t believe in heroes, but they haven’t met my dad

Celebrate all the things that make your dad the best with this little book, packed with top-quality quotes and statements to show him how much you love him. It is the perfect keepsake that will remind him again and again that he really is the best dad ever.

Who else could take on the role of best friend, counsellor and guardian and be so good at it?!

Celebrate everything you love about your mum with this little book, packed with hand-picked quotes and statements to show her how much she means to you. It is the perfect keepsake that will remind her again and again that she really is Mum in a million.

Are you a clueless romantic? Do you stumble over every compliment you offer your loved one? Let’s be honest: you need to stop trying to be the dreamy, passionate lover you desire to be – it’ll never work.

This book, packed with tongue-in-cheek quips and endearingly honest declarations of lukewarm love, is right up your street and the perfect gift to give to your other half (instead of that beautiful bouquet they’ll be expecting).

I love you more than I love cake. And I really like cake.
Romantic declarations don’t need to be all lovey-dovey: they can be amusingly honest or laced with profanity! Forget the mushy stuff you see in the movies – this book is loaded with down-to-earth proclamations and witty one-liners that will let a special someone know how you really feel.

I like you a lot more than I thought I would.

Telling somebody what they mean to you can be tricky. So avoid all those soppy clichés – and any potential awkwardness – by giving that special someone this sassy little book, full of tongue-in-cheek quips and endearingly honest declarations of grudging appreciation.

Show your dad how much he means to you with these fantastic vouchers. Packed with promises, from making his favourite meal to learning a new sport together, this gift will make your dad feel like a king.

Child: Dad, I’m hungry
Dad: Hello hungry, I’m Dad!
Celebrate the sense of humour that’s so bad it’s great with this ultimate collection of dad jokes. From cheesy one-liners to puns so terrible that they should probably be illegal, this book has it all – it’s sure to make you laugh and cry.

Perfect for dads and lovers of cheesy puns and one-liners, this pocket-sized collection offers a year’s worth of mirth suitable for all ages

There’s something very special about dad jokes – they’re always enjoyably terrible, sometimes quite witty and occasionally downright hilarious. So if you’re a dad looking to add to your collection of funnies, or you’d like to beat your old man at his own game, this is the book for you.

Packed into these pages are pithy wisecracks, comically cringeworthy puns, silly one-liners and enough other types of joke to last an entire year. Among the hundreds of groan-worthy gags you’ll find gems like:
– How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles.
– Why are balloons so expensive? Inflation.
– What do you call an elephant who doesn’t matter? Irrelephant.
– How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.
– Did you hear about the circus fire? It was in tents.

Unapologetically themselves, just like dads, these are jokes to inflict with glee on all the family.

Bursting with puzzles, quizzes, trivia and games, this dad-tastic annual packs in hours of fun for fathers everywhere!

Whether you’re keen to know where you rank on the leader board of all-time “cool dads”, want to try your hand at some perplexing puzzles or you just want to add some new dad-dancing moves to your already extensive repertoire, this annual does it all!

Includes:
– Dad style guides
– Delicious “dad recipes”
– Fascinating fact files
– A compendium of conundrums to solve

… and much, much more!

I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Hath led me – who knows how? –
To thy window chamber, sweet!
Percy Bysshe Shelley

What makes a man?


Forget the tired old rules about what a man should or shouldn’t be. Life’s just too short. Being a man is meant to be fun, thrilling and fulfilling. But there’s no harm in a few handy ideas to help you up your game – a style tip here, a life hack there, some adventures to boost your bucket list, even a recipe or two (for the barbecue and beyond). Man Stuff contains all this priceless wisdom and more, including a look at classic male hobbies like sport and technology as well as sound advice on health and fitness. Dive in and decide for yourself what kind of man you might be.

Date nights should be breathtaking occasions filled with fun, flirting and, most importantly, food!
Date Night Cookbook provides the perfect foodie accompaniments to your romantic plans, from baked bananas on the beach at sunset to campfire goodies underneath the stars. But whatever you do, do it with love.
Be it with your partner, fiancé, spouse or just a good friend, these DIY dates are creative, inexpensive and memorable. Happy cooking!
#datenightcookbook

‘At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year.’
Thomas Tusser

Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the festive period distract you from what should be the happiest time of the year. This indispensable gem of a book offers practical tips on everything from organising party games the whole family will enjoy to planning the all-important Christmas dinner, and will help ensure that Christmas is manageable, and more importantly, fun!

If I were paper
And you picked me from the pile,
I’d become for you a folded swan
Just to see you smile.

This collection of heartfelt poems and adorable illustrations captures some of the sweetest, most whimsical and romantic gestures that could ever be imagined – the perfect way to show your loved one just how much you care!

Show your special someone just how special they are!

This little book is filled with tips for sparking romance – from thoughtful surprises to dreamy date-night ideas – and brimming with amorous quotes to sweep your partner off their feet. Love is in the air!

I love you a latte!

You are one in a melon!

Time fries when I’m with you!

Show your partner how much you love them with this cute illustrated book, packed with punderful phrases and dreamy quotes.

A hug is all you need

There’s nothing quite like a hug, so open up your arms to this little book of heart-warming statements and adorable illustrations. Whether it’s a gentle embrace or a super-squishy squeeze, no one can resist the power of a simple hug.

Show your special someone just how precious they are with this little book filled with tips and ideas for sparking romance

When it comes to love, our actions speak louder than words. Whether you’re already in a relationship and looking for ways to keep things fresh, or you’re hoping for love to blossom and need some first-date ideas, this book will help you show your special someone just how you feel.

Inside you will find:
– Inspirational quotes from the world’s greatest romantics to get you in the mood for love.
– Practical advice on everything from where to spend loved-up days out to ideas for little tokens of affection that will help keep the fire in your heart burning.
– Top tips on understanding and appreciating your partner, helping you to enrich your existing relationship or nurture a new one.

With this book on your side, it won’t be long before love is in the air!

‘We are, each of us, angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another’ Luciano De Crescenzo 
‘Life is a flower of which love is the honey’ Victor Hugo

Charm your loved one with this beautifully designed gift book filled with carefully selected romantic words from classic and contemporary authors to show how much you care.