Search Results for: Lifestyle

It’s time to embrace the slower pace!

There’s no denying it – you’re OLD, but that comes with a lot of perks. You can say the most outrageous things and somehow get away with it. You can dress however you damn well please. And after learning from so many mistakes, you’re now as wise as you are wizened. It’s your time to recline, and this hilarious book will show you how it’s done.

You may never now become a rock star or regain the waist size you had at 18. You have taken a sudden interest in bleeding your radiators and figuring out the best route by road to anywhere in the country.

On the bright side, you can feel smug that you have better grammar than a university student and don’t have to dig out your embarrassing passport photo to get into pubs or buy alcohol.

Did you hear about…
The Tennessee student who jumped into a laundry chute that was actually a trash compactor?
The Swiss statesman butchered by an axe-wielding bear?
The ancient Greek playwright struck by a tortoise falling from the sky?
Over the ages, death has come in some very unpredictable forms. This irreverent little book gathers together some of the most peculiar and outrageous ways that people across the globe have met their untimely ends. Whether shocking or silly, these true stories are proof at least that the grim reaper has a strange sense of humour.

How much land is there altogether?’ I asked. ‘About thirteen acres,’ said the estate agent. ‘Whatever would you do with that much land? It’s an awful lot to upkeep.’ I grinned. No problem! ‘I’d keep llamas and fly balloons!’

A dilapidated, rat-infested stone barn might not be many people’s vision of a potential dream home. But for Richard and Al, the cavernous, oak-beamed building in a sleepy hamlet in the Limousin region of France is perfect.

Tussles with French bureaucracy and fierce storms do little to dampen their resolve as they immerse themselves in this quiet corner of France. Told by a well-intentioned if often hapless do-it-yourselfer, Richard’s hilarious and heartwarming tale of a new life in France resounds to the Gallic refrain, ‘Bon courage!’

You know you’re a rugby fanatic when…
… your Facebook profile photo is a close-up of your latest injury.
… you own more replica shirts than work ones.
If this sounds all too familiar, read one to discover whether you’re truly obsessed with the odd-shaped ball or just one player short of a scrum!

Curate the ultimate crystal collection and bring harmony to mind, body and spirit with this modern guide to these enchanting stones

They’re striking, precious and have long been prized for their beauty, but have you ever tapped into the extraordinary magic of crystals?

The grand powers attributed to these little stones are infinite, and this book is here to help enhance your everyday life by revealing the practical and spiritual benefits each crystal has to offer. Crystals can bring positivity and prosperity into your life, and the easy-to-follow information in this book offers guidance on choosing the right crystal for your needs and harnessing their awesome healing energies.

This is the ideal guide for ardent and aspiring crystal lovers alike. Discover how to make the most of your collection with simple tips on the best methods of cleansing, charging and storing your crystals. Featuring detailed crystal profiles complete with beautiful colour photos and key information on dozens of stones – from their identifiable features to their unique energies – these pages contain everything you need to know to feel the full force of these natural treasures.

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, amusing anecdotes and captivating stories and quotes from the world of football, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of the beautiful game.

This collection of verbal and visual challenges will help you stay sharp and stimulated as you embark on a new chapter in life

Retirement is incredibly rich with possibilities – it’s just a question of how to fill all that free time. Well, now that you’ve earned many an hour of peaceful freedom, how about a puzzle or two to prove you’re still as clever as you always were?

From quick-fire trivia questions to more leisurely crosswords and sudoku, whether you’re a recent retiree, approaching the big day or have been enjoying your freedom for years, there’s plenty in these pages to keep you busy and set your mind purring.

Inside you will find a rich variety of puzzles for all tastes, including these:

– Find a whole new set of hobbies within a raft of word searches

– Spot the differences between various comical scenarios you might find yourself in

– Shuffle a bunch of anagrams to locate some objects that could come in handy

– Tackle the pictorial problems posed by a variety of rebus puzzles

These books are practical, light-hearted approaches to the very serious business of giving up smoking, getting fit, understanding computers and starting one’s own company.

THE TRIATHLON: A TRUE TEST OF ENDURANCE AND FITNESS

Capturing the discipline, the anguish, the fortitude and the joy that are all key elements of training for and competing in a triathlon, these stunning photographs showcase one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Includes inspirational and motivational quotes to encourage all triathletes.

Marathons make you miserable, but they also give you the most unlikely and the most indescribable pleasures. It’s a world that I love – a world unlocked when you dress up in lycra, put plasters on your nipples and run 26.2 miles in the company of upwards of 30,000 complete strangers. Phil Hewitt, who has completed over 25 marathons in conditions ranging from blistering heat to snow and ice, distils his personal experiences into a light-hearted account of his adventures along the way from Berlin to New York, and explores our growing fascination with marathon running. This story of an ordinary guy’s addiction to running marathons – an addiction hundreds of thousands share – looks at the highs and lows, the motivation that keeps you going when your body is crying out to stop, and tries to answer the ultimate question, ‘Why do you do it?’

Remember all the small falsehoods you were told as a child, from carrots helping you see in the dark to Santa checking up on your behaviour all year round? This book will guarantee laughs as you reminisce on the bizarre tales your younger self believed. And if you now have your own little rascals to look after, it might provide you with some invaluable lies for when you want them to behave. Sometimes it’s the only way!

When you’re stuck at your desk day after day, do you find yourself daydreaming about a glamorous occupation, such as a racing driver, an astronaut or a stunt double? The adrenaline rush and prestige of these extreme jobs is one thing, but have you ever considered the practicalities?

This compelling book unravels the mysteries and exposes the pitfalls of the world’s most dangerous jobs, giving a fascinating insight into the working lives of those who regularly stare death in the face rather than the usual mounds of paperwork.

You’ll be prepped and ready to live life on the edge!

Paula Reid has completed 92 things on her list of things to do before she dies, including sailing around the world, walking on hot coals, paddling the Mekong and the Thames, and diving with great white sharks! She is also a successful coach and leadership trainer, with testimonials from numerous multinational companies. She lives in London.

Oh dear. It seems that our furry friends have picked up some very bad language –just what exactly do those vets say to our pets in the consulting room when we’re not there?

From gutter-mouthed guppies to Fidos that say ‘f***!’, Foul-Mouthed Pets combines comical and cute photos with inappropriate captions to tickle the belly of animal lovers everywhere.

What seems to be the problem?

Your job is rewarding, but if you’re going to be faced with the horrors of the human body, you’re going to need survival skills:
Think positively: At least you aren’t suffering from these ailments. Well, not yet…
Reassure yourself: One day you will be able to retire – assuming you survive that long.

This mischievous little book will help see you through your years as a doctor with tongue-in-cheek advice and cheeky illustrations.

Tips and ideas to help you survive your uni years, from freshers week to final exams

You’ve been waiting for the time you head off to university since you started school and now that you’ve got the grades (well done!), and a place on your chosen course, you’re so close to experiencing student life. Helping you to make the most of your time there, this little book is packed with information and advice, including:

– Household hacks such as how to personalize your room
– Budget tips for making that student loan go further
– Studying tips – from note-taking to ways to beat exam stress
– DIY ideas for all your fancy-dress needs.
Whether your passion is society life, drinking shots or studying, your university experience will hold both new adventures and fresh challenges. This guide is packed with tips to help you survive and thrive at uni, from pulling an all-nighter in the library to an all-nighter at the club.

It’s time to wave goodbye to free home-cooked meals and say hello to freedom!

Full of senior sagacity and elderly erudition, this hilarious survival guide is on hand to show you that it really is the life in your years that counts

Now that you’re a senior, you’ll come to realize that there is nothing that can’t be fixed by a quick trip to the garden centre, that your “bad back” will reliably get you out of any tricky situation and that it’s now socially acceptable to call anyone younger than you “Dear” rather than remember their actual name. In other words, now the real fun begins!

Encouraging you to laugh, embrace life and enjoy the ride, the pearls of wisdom in this no-nonsense handbook will guide you through all the pleasures and pitfalls of your latter years.

Filled with original illustrations and tongue-in-cheek advice on how to keep those grey cells active and the cobwebs at bay, The Little Instruction Book for Seniors will make the perfect gift for retirees or a milestone birthday.

Identity theft is a horrifying and traumatic experience. It’s easy to imagine the frustration at being wrongly denied a credit card or loan. Worse are the sleepless nights after threatening phone calls from creditors anxious to retrieve cash loaned in your name. It can also be much more serious.

Identity theft is linked to organised crime: illegal immigration and human trafficking, drug couriers, and money laundering. For these criminals, identity theft is a way of avoiding detection. Home Office figures estimate that identity fraud costs the UK economy £1.72 billion a year. It is a growth industry that affects everyone.

If you have never been the victim of identity theft, count yourself lucky. But luck is not enough. This audiobook is essential for everyone, as we are all potential victims. Learn how to protect yourself against it, how to spot the warning signs, and what to do if you think someone may have stolen your identity.

The future is ours – let’s enjoy it! This hilarious fully illustrated book will help ease you into this strange and perplexing new stage of your life.

After all those years of routine you’re suddenly free! You’re bound to be a bit nervous – it is your first time. No more being bossed about – well, apart from by your other half, of course. No more getting up at the crack of dawn to go to work – though at your age you may have to get up at the crack of dawn anyway to use the loo. No more wage slavery – er, no more wages…

But it’s going to be fine, because you can now do what you want to do – within reason, naturally. Within these pages you’ll discover:

– What your new job as “retiree” involves, the hours (all of them) and the pay (let’s face it, if anyone advertised a job with this salary, no one would take it)
– Conversations you will no longer have to have
– Things you no longer have to feel guilty about
– Pursuits for bored retirees
– Truths that will slowly dawn on you
– Ways to supplement your pension
…and all the other perks (and niggles) that come with your new position (and no, we don’t mean “horizontal on the sofa”).

Do you find you have plenty of time on your hands these days?

Instead of wracking your brain for something to do, challenge your mind and have hours of fun with this delightful puzzle book. With everything from tricky crosswords, word searches, anagram puzzles and sudokus to simpler brain-teasers such as spot the differences, mazes and trivia questions, this LARGE PRINT edition means you won’t even need your glasses… wherever you put them.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that people love parks

As horizons shrank, we took stock. At first, a sense of panic set in: nowhere to go, nothing to do…

Then we all went to the park, and we realized something: we need greenery – we crave it.

Whether we’re in Colombia or Korea, America or Australia, urban parks are places where we can find calm amid the chaos. They can also (more often than we may realize) conceal intriguing hidden histories, and can tell us something about modern life in our frenzied world, too.

With fondness and humour, travel writer Tom Chesshyre recalls 50 of his favourite urban parks from across the world, in a love letter to the green escapes that bring us joy in our cities.

It’s time to celebrate the end of an era – and the start of a whole new one!

Ah, retirement – from here on out it’s all lazy lie-ins, pleasant afternoons in the garden (or the garden centre), long lunches with friends and evenings spent in a comfy chair in front of the fire, right?

Wrong! Welcome to a world where you’re halfway to the office before you realize you don’t work there any more, you somehow seem to have even less free time than before to do all the things you need to do, and suddenly daytime TV seems a whole lot more appealing than it ever used to…

This indispensable handbook, packed with amusing illustrations, is here to guide you through the pleasures and pitfalls of being retired. Most importantly, though, it’ll teach you how to how to make sure you always get a decent afternoon nap.

This book is perfect gift for retirees, offering tongue-in-cheek advice on how to make the most of their new-found freedom.

Freedom at last! But there’s an awfully long time between cornflakes and cocoa, and a limit to how many sudokus you can do. You need survival skills:

FINANCIAL WIZARDRY: how to get three cups of tea out of one bag.
SPARKLING CONVERSATION: 300 different ways to discuss the weather.

This mischievous little book will help you enjoy your golden years with tongue-in-cheek advice and cheeky illustrations.

‘It had been so amazingly hot that I felt myself about to dissolve into a kind of crème brûlée on the road, so I bought some super-power Number 8 suncream. This had the word ‘Bronzante’ on it, and must have contained some dye or other chemical because my knees stayed brown until February.’
Fed up with questions about what he was going to do when he retired, Edward decided to get on his bicycle and ride from Le Havre to the Mediterranean. Armed with a tent and a smattering of French, he struggled in Normandy to get directions from old men tipsy on Calvados by 9 a.m., and hit his stride on the towpath of the Burgundy canal. He explored the mystery of what an ouvrier eats for lunch, and was barred from a swimming pool because his trunks were too decent.
Through the Rhône and down to Provence and the Camargue, Enfield is witty and informative as always.
Edward Enfield lives in Sussex with his wife and writes regularly for The Oldie magazine.