Not all those that wander are lost...
Under the unforgiving heat of the Spanish sky and in a country scorched by tourism, one man flees the coastal ghettos in search of recipes for living another life. He is accompanied by a chef who can only ever look down and a ghostly hound who can only see beyond everything. Together, though the magnifying glass of one small town, they discover another history of people, culture, climate and some of the most relevant recipes for living in the 21st century.
Find out why Inside The Tortilla is: 'not your typical expat handbook' and why novelist Mark Radcliffe wrote: 'I'd recommend this to anyone visiting Spain regardless of whether they are going to discover the country or to turn red near Malaga; at worst it made me feel a more authentic tourist. At best, if helped me see a country.'
And discover:
- How to live in a Medieval barrio
- How to report an amputated hand
- How to defraud a bank
- How to initiate a Cheese Revolution,
- How to sing to the Toilet Roll King,
- How to celebrate the history of the tapa
- How to employ Passive Activity to learn a language
- How to get a dog from hell off your roof
'Absolute delight, this book will appeal to all who crave the authentic earthy experience of living in another culture. Funny moving heart-warming, great story, real characters, marvellous hound.'
'Like Spain's most famous dish, Inside the Tortilla is a book that looks simple at first glance, but in reality has much more to it than meets the eye.'
In 1937, George Orwell spent six months witnessing the rise and fall of a popular revolution on the streets of Barcelona and Catalonia. Alone amongst his contemporaries, Orwell understood what the success or failure of that Spanish Revolution would mean for the rest of the world.
1984 And The Spanish Civil War explores the background to the Civil War and the hidden anarchist revolution within a revolution. As Orwell arrives in Catalunya, he observes something bright and new in the world. But when Orwell returns from fighting on the front, he is confronted by the Communists conducting a misinformation campaign against this revolutionary spirit and he is forced to flee from their purges. He returns home to England, where he begins to write his account, but finds few are prepared to listen. In order to tell his story, he writes literally (Homage to Catalunya), then when that fails, he adopts the structure of allegory (Animal Farm) and finally that of a dystopian fictional Britain in 1984.
Yet publication is a constant struggle for Orwell in a world that refuses to criticise the role of the USSR. Though he dies in despair, his words are not lost, for their message is picked up once more on the streets of the same country he fought for back in the 1930's.
Praise for 1984 and The Spanish Civil War:
'Paul has achieved in a concise volume what others have failed in far more voluminous accounts.'
'An interesting read if you are new to Orwell or the Civil War in Spain...Highly recommended'.
The Forgotten Stories from Spain Series brings you accounts of human bravery and spirit at a moment of unleashed cruelty during the Spanish Civil War. Stories of co-operation that have a universal message, as relevant to the world today, as it was in Spain during the 1930's.
So many disciplines promise happiness, security, health, wisdom or enlightenment, but few deliver more than just words. Yet, when you fuse together an ancient eastern practice with a thoroughly 21st century take - you create something beautifully intriguing and inspiringly new that encompasses so many of these qualities: Bean Curd Boxing.Combining the simplicity of Tai Chi, the soft wisdom of the ancient sages and a tender light-hearted approach to learning, the Manual of Bean Curd Boxing shows you: * How to absorb the basics of these arts into your daily activities with no sweat and no stress* How to remain tranquil and calm under the stress of daily encounters * How to perfect the ancient art of 'doing without doing' in order to softly Get Things Done * How to become a slow ninja amongst a planet of speed freaks In a world of Information Overload, the Manual of Bean Curd Boxing offers an alternative source of wisdom: practical and original exercises for re-learning good posture, good breathing habits and building powerful new energy boosting habits.
The True Story of the Canadian Doctor and Ambulance driver that came to help a city in exodus. Try to imagine that the city of Malaga is to be evacuated overnight. 150.000 people will have to walk 200km along the coastal road in search of a safe refuge whilst being pursued by Italian tanks, bombed by German aircraft and shelled by Rebel Nationalist ships. Unarmed men, women and children will be shot from planes or killed by blasts from the boats that pursue them off-shore, their bodies will be left at the roadside, abandoned to the chaos and inhumanity of adults at war. There will be little food, transport or fresh water. Nourished only by hope and driven by fear, exposed to the elements and to enemy fire, they will walk through the day and through the night. Many will be too weak to reach the safe port of Almería and will only survive because a an ambulance and a Canadian doctor comes to help. A doctor who will later be accused of spying and betrayal, and will be unwillingly pushed out of Spain by the very people he had come to assist.The Forgotten Stories from Spain Series brings you accounts of human bravery and spirit at a moment of unleashed cruelty during the Spanish Civil War. Stories of co-operation that have a universal message that remains as relevant to the world today, as it was in Spain during the 1930's.
Everything you need to know about Tai Chi, including how to find a class...what happens in a class...how long it takes to learn...the difference between the styles and a unique history of the art in China and its travels to the West. See below for a complete list of the 50 Questions that the book answers. This fascinating audio version of the book is full of insights, anecdotes, facts and humour about the world of Tai Chi.
The Question and Answer format makes it easy to digest, so you will not only understand this ancient and noble art, but more importantly, feel empowered to choose the class of Tai Chi that is right for you. Written and narrated by Paul Read (the teapotmonk), he is an author, podcaster and on-line Instructor with over 25 years experience of teaching Tai Chi in both the UK and Spain. He conveys the essence of Tai Chi in a delightful, entertaining and easily understandable way. Below is a complete list of the 50 Questions that appear in the book:
Q1. Why learn Tai Chi?
Q2. What happens in a Tai Chi Class?
Q3. What does 'Yielding', 'Sticking' and 'Rooting' mean?
Q4. What does 'Tai Chi Chuan' mean?
Q5. What's the difference between Tai Chi, Tai Chi Chuan and T'ai Chi Ch'uan?
Q6. What about Tai Ji?
Quan and Tai Chi?
Q7. Will I have to wear a Chinese Silk Uniform if I join a Class?
Q8. Will I have to wear those Little Flat Black Shoes?
Q9. Where did it all begin?
Q10. Can you give me a more straightforward version?
Q11. How did Tai Chi arrive in the West?
Q12. What are the main Styles of Tai Chi?
Q13. How are the schools different from one another?
Q14. Which Style would be better to learn?
Q15. Is it important to learn Tai Chi from a Chinese Practitioner?
Q16. What is the Form?
Q17. What is the best way to learn the Form?
Q18. How long does the Form take to learn?
Q19. Are there different Forms?
Q20. Why bother with a Long Form when you can learn the Short Form?
Q21. Why should I practice in public?
Q22. Is Tai Chi a Martial Art?
Q23. Do I need to learn a Weapon too?
Q24. But are Swords not expensive?
Q25. What if I have no interest in competing or the martial applications?
Q26. So what are the other applications of Tai Chi, if not martial?
Q27. Will Tai Chi help my Toothache go away?
Q28. Can you not say specifically how Tai Chi will improve my physical health?
Q29. What about my 96 year-old Aunt? She says she want to learn too?
Q30. What about my two-year-old Niece, is there an optimal age to start learning Tai Chi?
Q31. I have heard it said that Tai Chi is a Form of "Moving Meditation". What does this mean?
Q32. Why do my Knees Ache after practice?
Q33. What is Ch'i Energy?
Q34. Where is this Ch'i?
Q35. Is it the same as the energy channels my Acupuncturist talks about?
Q36: What is Chi Gung?
Q37. What has Philosophy to do with Tai Chi?
Q38. Should I 'Be like Water my Friend'?
Q39. Wu Who?
Q40. Why would I want to do with Less?
Q41. Where does the Yin Yang Symbol fit into all of this?
Q42. What is the Book of Changes about?
Q43. What about the other classic book, The Tao Te Ching?
Q44. Can you learn Tai Chi from a DVD?
Q45. Wasn't David Carrad
