Search results for ""luath press ltd""

Meet Davie McCall – not your average henchman. Abused and tormented by his father for fifteen years, there is a darkness in him searching for a way out. Under the wing of Glasgow’s Godfather, Joe ‘the Tailor’ Klein, he flourishes. Joe the Tailor may be a killer, but there are some lines he won’t cross, and Davie agrees with his strict moral code. He doesn’t like drugs. He won’t condone foul language. He abhors violence against women. When the Tailor refuses to be part of Glasgow’s new drug trade, the hits start rolling. It’s every man for himself as the entire criminal underworld turns on itself, and Davie is well and truly caught up in the action. But an attractive young reporter makes him wonder if he can leave his life of crime behind and Davie must learn the hard way that you cannot change what you are. Blood City is a novel set in Glasgow’s underworld at a time when it was undergoing a seismic shift. A tale of violence, corruption and betrayal, loyalties will be tested and friendships torn apart.

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Can Gala resist the ties that bind, or will she be drawn once more into a world skewed by fear and suspicion? To avoid being caught in the web of her father’s self-delusion, she fled to another continent.Now she has returned, she must confront the unbearable weight of her past. A flawed father is seen clearly at last through his daughter’s eyes in a multi-layered narrative that echoes the shifts and loops of memory.Delicately drawn in fragments of memory, Pelmanism is a moving journey of self-discovery. With her father’s breakdown, Gala finds herself pulled back into the toxic family dynamics she thought she had eluded. Through ripples of the past, we begin to piece together the reality of a family that has lived a lie for as long as she can remember. But what kind of truth can memory really offer?

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Is Scottish independence incompatible with ‘Labour values’?Are ‘Labour values’ being realised within the Union?How much really divides Yes campaigners from Labour voters?Why Not? Scotland, Labour and Independence is a passionate and often personal appeal to Labour voters (and other progressive Scots) to consider the social, economic and political gains that could be won with Scottish self-government. Bringing together a range of diverse voices – some from within the Labour Party, some from within the SNP, some from the non-aligned Left – it presents the social justice case for a Yes vote and argues that independence offers the clearest route forward for socialist and centre-left Scotland.Urgent, original and provocative, Why Not? is a vital contribution to the independence debate – and essential reading for all Scots.

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The political and civil criticism found in the poetry of Robert Burns has influenced readers for over two centuries. The emotional impact reached high levels when the poems were read by people who have lost their liberty, prisoners in HMP Kilmarnock. From the city which gave birth to Burns’ first poetry volume, a workshop within prison led to new inspired creations according to different personal backgrounds. Independence in these new poems is desired not only for Scotland, but also for contemporary slaves, war victims and immigrants. On a personal level, independence from substances and mental illness is also at stake; because the worst enemy often fought against, is our own self. This collection includes the original sources of inspiration, beloved poems by Burns. Among them, To a Mouse, A Man’s A Man for A’ That, and Tree of Liberty. The poems are accompanied by images of Burns’ manuscripts and paintings from the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. A moving and impressive collection from independent minds being nostalgic about the carefree past or wondering whether liberty was ever acquired.

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The referee. You can’t have a game without one. The most hated man (or woman) in football but you have to invite one to every game. Enjoy a laugh at the antics and wicked humour of Scottish referee Big Erchie, a powerhouse at five foot five, and a top grade referee who strikes fear into he hearts of managers and players alike as he stringently applies the laws of the game. But Big Erchie is burdened with a terrible secret… He’s a Stirling Albion supporter.

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Jeremy Duncan chronologically traces the history and changes of the city of Perth throughout the 20th Century. He pays special attention to local politics, the history of crime, health, schooling and religion. Duncan also highlights the fascinating transitions in arts, fashion, sport, transport and the city buildings. Alongside plenty of images, both archive and modern, Duncan provides a thoroughly researched account of the history of Perth which takes the reader on a revealing journey from past to present.

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Scotland: The Growing Divide is the follow-up to Scotland: The Road Divides, which was released in 2007 to significant media interest across the UK. A book ahead of its time, several of the conclusions and predictions in The Road Divides have now become a political reality.Five years on, and now facing a referendum on Scottish independence in autumn 2014, the authors focus on the changing face of politics and what that means for both Scotland and the UK. With a thorough discussion of the arguments reaching several provocative conclusions, this is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the future of this country.

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The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates East from West and divides those river basin areas which drain towards the North Sea on the one hand, and those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It meanders from Peel Fell on the English border all the way to the top at Duncansby Head: over 754 miles (1,200km) through almost every kind of terrain. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down almost every major river valley, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Walking with Wildness leads the reader through breathtaking, hitherto mostly unknown landscapes, providing valuable advice for walkers on the way.

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The Tinker and the Student is the second volume of David Campbell’s biography of acclaimed Scottish storyteller Duncan Williamson. This volume chronicles Williamson’s life from the time he met his second wife, the young American student Linda Jane Headlee, until his death in November 2007. Campbell recounts how Linda played a pivotal role in bringing Williamson’s stories out of the travelling world to the wider community, and in doing so shows the impact that Williamson made on the lives of the people he came into contact with.

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Dealing with grammar in a modern way, with modern terminology, this book gives readers an understanding of the way language works. Providing readers with the vocabulary to think about and discuss Scots, English and other Modern languages, Modren Scots Grammar fits with the Curriculum for Excellence in that it provides the grounding for readers to undertake further exploration and discover language for themselves. Furthermore, this book aims to give readers confidence in using the Scots language. It is important for young Scots today to realise that Scots is not just bad English, but a language in its own right. Increasing understanding of the differences between the two will improve the use of both.

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This book is the complete guide to all of the games played by Hearts in European competitions since the club become only the third Scottish team to enter the European Cup. With contributions from several prominent Hearts players and celebrity fans, including Ken Stott and Scott Wilson, From Athens to Zagreb will evoke forgotten memories amongst fans of all ages.

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Inspired by the rediscovery of an Urdu phrasebook, Ransford takes the reader on a journey to explore the differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’, linking the reader to a world now lost to most. These poems question what it is to be both British and Indian, drawing on the author’s memories and experiences to celebrate and uncover an ‘Indian’ self. This collection of poems reveals the influences that have been formative over four decades of Tessa Ransford’s writings.

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Which river has half the distilleries in Scotland found along its length and in its surrounding glens? Why were monks at the forefront of developing whisky? Which Speyside distillery has an annual migration of toads? How did Glenrothes distillery expel its ghost?Robin Laing - singer-songwriter, author of The Whisky Muse, and chair of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Tasting Panel - set out to visit every distillery in the Speyside area, from Benromach to Tomintoul, and presents a guide to each of them here. There are descriptions of over 50 distilleries in Speyside, including The Macallan, The Glenlivet, Cardhu, Aberlour, Glenfiddich and Glengrant.Each entry is part history, part travelogue and part commentary on the changes in the whisky industry. Includes personal musings by the author, stories associated with the distillery and snippets of poetry and song. Laing's 'spirit' guide in his journey is Alfred Barnard, author of 1887's The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom. Barnard visited many of the same distilleries that Laing visits now and similarly left his impressions of the state of the facilities and the beauty of the surroundings. Much of this present book compares what Barnard found with what exists now, and the differences - and similarities - are often fascinating.

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Time is running out for four-year-old Sebastian Zair. A rare blood disorder means that a stem-cell transplant is his only hope of surviving past childhood. His mother places her trust in the Pemberton Fertility Centre and a controversial IVF procedure which will allow her to select an embryo that is the same tissue type as Sebastian - to create a saviour sibling. But what she doesn't know is that the sword of Damocles is hanging over the Pemberton. A Nigerian couple, the Opakanjos, have just given birth to twins through IVF, but only one is their biological child. Someone has made a monumental mistake. With a major enquiry under way and pro-life campaigners on the warpath, both families are faced with agonising personal choices as well as the intrusions of an unscrupulous journalist. Will they break under the strain? Will Sebastian survive?

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An Experiment in Compassion shifts between Stevie's life as an alcoholic and his sober life where he forges a relationship with his girlfriend and estranged son. Following a myriad of characters and their stories, this piece of fiction provides an emotional and intense insight into the world of alcoholism whilst exploring themes of revenge and forgiveness.

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Ossian is a collection of epic poems that bring out the figure of the hero, Fingal, which name comes from Scots Gaelic Fionnghall, meaning 'White Stranger'. The poems where originally written in Gaelic and translated by James MacPherson into English, although there is a long lasting debate about the authenticity of the poems, since some historians believe MacPherson wrote them himself, whilst Irish historians hold that Ossian has its roots in Irish myths, not Scottish. Despite the debate, The Poems of Ossian achieved international success and have been compared with Homer's Iliad, inspiring many later writers such as Walter Scott and Goethe.

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For the first time in years Gussie can run, climb and jump. Every breath she takes is easier now, and every step more confident, but Gussie can't help wondering about her doner. Was she young? Had she been very sick or was there an accident? And with her new life comes a whole new set of problems. She is going back to school at last - but she doesn't know anyone her own age, with the exception of Siobhan, the girl she hates most in the world. With school not meeting up to her expectations, Gussie turns to her old pastimes of bird watching and photography, but troubling news awaits her there too. And the lightning strikes and Gussie must act at once.

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Alistair Findlay's compilation of poems about social work shows the reader that the world they are living in is often shaped by poverty. Not much has been written about the stories that fill social worker's lives, and Findlay offers sad, sometimes absurd, insights. He creates poems for everyone who wants to know what goes on behind closed doors.

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Life Sentence follows on from Rab Wilson's ground-breaking collection of poems Accent of the Mind. In this new collection Rab investigates Scottish ancient legends, conflicts throughout history, and contemporary political issues; is inspired by a cultural exchange visit to Ireland; and, presents a powerful sequence containing nine sonnets entitled "Quake", based on the themes and ideas suggested to him by earthquakes. This impressive new collection is written in traditional south-west Scots, in standard English and, in Burns tradition, often a combination of the two. This is some of the finest and most innovative contemporary Scottish poetry, above all because it is inspired by life, as Rab Wilson highlights in the title poem, "Fir life is whit we are sentenced to".

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With so many people looking to leave the rat-race and start their own bed and breakfast in the country, Heads on Pillows give readers a personal glimpse into the unique world of B&Bs, where owners open up their own homes for guests to enjoy. This book offers witty anecdotes, personal experiences and helpful hints to anyone who aspires to enter the trade, from an award-winning B&B owner. From its modest beginnings as a single room B&B to the first five star Bed and Breakfast in the northern counties of Scotland, follow the story of the Sheiling and its owner. Part autobiography and part 'how to' guide Heads on Pillows is both informative and entertaining. This true account charts the growth and the development of the Scottish tourist trade, especially in the Highlands where the Sheiling is located, and offers through the experience of over 30 years an unparalleled insight into the Bed and Breakfast trade that is so enticing to so many. Foreword by Peter Lederer, Chairman of VisitScotland and managing director of the famous Gleneagles hotel.

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Caroline's husband abandons her (bad move) for Stacie Gracie, his assistant at the meat counter, and incurs more wrath than he anticipated. Caroline, her five sisters, mother and granny, all with a penchant for witchery, invoke the lethal spell of the Six Black Candles. A natural reaction to the break up of a marriage? Set in present day Irish Catholic Coatbridge, Six Black Candles is bound together by the ropes of traditional storytelling and the strength of female familial relationships. Bubbling under the cauldron of superstition, witchcraft and religion is the heat of revenge; and the love and venom of sisterhood.

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This is an articulatory reference guide for actors and anyone fascinated by the modern Scots language. This book focuses on the particular dialects and accents of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh. With particular attention to the pronunciation and sounds of modern urban Scots, this guide is ideal for those studying it for theatrical purposes who want to honour unique regional accents or simply those studying language and linguistics.

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After his death from Motor Neurone Disease, Adam O'Neill's wife Naomi discovers the diary he kept of his illness, from diagnosis to death. Through this she is able to trace the development of Adam's fight against the disease, the issues from his past it forces him to face and the stigma and quandaries it presents. As he searches for allies in his desire for release from the disease which imprisons him, Naomi struggles with the guilt of her own secret.

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Did you know that the Declaration of Independence was based on a Scottish declaration of independence from the English from nearly 700 years ago? This book will take you from the days of William 'Braveheart' Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence in Scotland, to the days when Scottish and Irish people emigrated to the American Colonies and helped George Washington and Thomas Jefferson fight for freedom in America during the Revolutionary War. Follow the thread from Scotland to America and come to understand how important one ended up being to the other in the development of democracy.

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From local legend, newspaper reports and family history, Alistair Findlay has pieced together a comprehensive documentary of Scotland's shale mining industry; of the people, communities and generations of families involved, and the cultural and political impact of the industry. Enlivened throughout with numerous photographs, drawings, poetry and short stories, this incredible history of human courage, endurance and endeavour will appeal to any reader with an interest in Scotland's social and cultural history.

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There are many books about William Shakespeare but few written for the visitor which deal so thoroughly with his life, works and associated sites. Keith Cheetham, historian, dramatist and lifelong fan of the Bard, sets off in search of the places that shaped Shakespeare's life. From cottage to mighty castle, royal palace to battlefield, country village to vibrant metropolis, Keith investigates the locations that informed some of the greatest plays and poetry the world has ever known.

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Sonny Jim McConaughy is no stranger to trouble. He blackmails his lawyer, scams the insurance company, drinks, takes drugs and sleeps around. However, Sonny Jim has stumbled into more trouble than even he can handle, waking up to find himself accused of attempted murder with no memory of the previous drunken night. So his girlfriend Rhonda, determined to stop him destroying them both, pits herself against him in a desperate battle of attrition. A book to make you laugh and cringe throughout, filled with grit, realism, dark humour and a hilarious cast of misfits.

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The bite of the tsetse fly - a burning sting into the skin - causes a descent into violent fever and aching pains. Severe bouts of insomnia are followed by mental deterioration, disruption of the nervous system, coma and ultimately death.Sleeping sickness, also known as Human African trypanosomiasis, is one of Africa's major killers. It puts 60 million people at risk of infection, occurs in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and claims the lives of many thousands of people every year. Transmitted by the tsetse fly, trypanosomiasis affects both humans and cattle. The animal form of the disease severely limits livestock production and farming, and in people the toxic effects of the treatment for the brain disease can be as painful and dangerous as the disease itself. Existing in the shadow of malaria and AIDS, it is an overlooked disease, ignored by pharmaceutical companies and largely neglected by the western world.Peter Kennedy has devoted much of his working life to researching sleeping sickness in Africa, and his autobiographical account shares not only his trials and experiences, evoking our empathy with the affected patients, but an explanation of the disease, including its history and its future. Interwoven with African geography, his compassionate story reveals what it is like to be a young doctor falling in love with Africa, and tells of his building of a vocation in the search for a cure for this cruel disease.

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'Each recipe is quick and easy to prepare using simple and inexpensive ingredients. By following the serving suggestions you will be able to offer your baby nutritious balanced meals. Even if you have never cooked before, the clear instructions will guide you to success. "First Foods Fast" by Lara Boyd proves that weaning your baby on home-cooking is a viable alternative for even the busiest of parents' - Judy More BSc. Dip. Nut. & Diet. SRD, Chair - Paediatric Group of the British Dietetic Association.

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Scholars have long known that the Grail is essentially legendary, a mystic symbol forever sought by those seeking Enlightenment, a quest in which the search is as important as the result. Time and again it has been said that the Grail is a construct of mystical Christian ideas and motifs from the ancient oral tradition of the Celtic-speaking peoples of Britain. There is much to commend this view, but now, drawing on decades of research in his native Scotland, in a major new contribution to the Grail legend, the field historian and folklorist Stuart McHardy traces the origin of the idea of fertility and regeneration back beyond the time of the Celtic warrior tribes of Britain to a truly ancient, physical source. This is a physical source as dynamic and awesome today as it was in prehistory when humans first encountered it and began to weave the myths that grew into the Legend of the Holy Grail.

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Jules Verne is the author of many classic, world-famous novels such as Around the World in 80 Days and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. In this brand-new translation of The Blockade Runners, Verne moves seamlessly between Scotland and the southern states of the US during the American Civil War. With the southern harbours effectively sealed by the North, Scottish industrialist James Playfair must run a daring Federalist blockade of a Charleston harbour in an effort to trade supplies for cotton and to rescue a young girl's father, held prisoner by the Confederates. As the blockade grows tighter, will Playfair risk all to save the man, or will he head back to Scotland in safety with his hold full of precious cotton? The Blockade Runners is a translation of Les Forceurs de Blocus (1871). As a novella, it was originally included along with A Floating City in the first English and French editions.

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This City Now sets out to retrieve the hidden architectural, cultural and historical riches of some of Glasgows working-class districts. Many who enjoy the fruits of Glasgows recent gentrification may be surprised and delighted by the gems which Ian Mitchell has uncovered beyond the usual haunts.

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Inveraray, Oban, Kintyre, Glencoe, Loch Awe, Loch Lomond, Appin, Islay - all the glories of Argyll are described in this book. From Dumbarton to Campletown and north to Loch Etive there is a great wealth of beauty unmatched in Scotland. It is a quiet and lonely land, a land still unspoiled, a land of history and legend, a land of unsurpassed glory. Tom Atkinson describes it all, writing with deep insight into the land he loves. There could be no better guide to its beauties and history. Once Atkinson has taken you there, these lands can never feel lonely.

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This collection of short stories by Dilys Rose is chiefly concerned with exploring the human spirit, through acute observation of human behaviour and detailed imagery.

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... hillwalking is only one of the passions in my life. In my experience, those who love the mountains are passionate people who are passionate about many things. That said, there are times, as I describe herein, when I simply have to go to the hills. - RALPH STORER Ralph Storer's highly entertaining exploration of the lure of the hills is underpinned by hard-won experience - he has climbed extensively in the British Isles, Europe and the American West, though his abiding love is the Scottish Highlands. His breezy anecdotes of waling and climbing around the world in all sorts of conditions are gripping and full of fun. This man has done more things in a sleeping bag than sleep, and in The Joy of Hillwalking he cheerfully tells all. His sense of humour is as irrepressible as his relish for adventurous ascents, but he doesn't have his head in the clouds when it comes to serious issues such as public access and conservation.

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Let the powder clouds of Holi - the festival of colour - cover you in purple, pink and green. Be mesmerised by the proud hooded cobra weaving its charm. Join a wedding wrapped up in reams of yellow silk and incense and alive with the swish of green kilts and the sound of bagpipes. Watch the snow melt on the crest of soft dawns and feel the slash of rain against your numb cheek as the wind races across from the North Sea. Read Bashabi Fraser's poetry and experience a swirl of emotions and images. A Bengali poet living in Scotland, Bashabi Fraser creatively spans the different worlds she inhabits, celebrating the contrasts of the two countries whilst also finding commonality. Focussing on clear themes and issues - displacement, removal, belonging, identity, war - her poetry is vibrant with feeling and comes alive in an outrageous game of sound patterns.

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A bus driver by day, Mr Finch is a widely-read poet with a many influences apparent in this collection of his work. Born in the lowlands of Scotland of Irish/English parentage, he is influenced by the greats: Brain Boru, Chaucer, and MacDiarmind. The themes of his poems are drawn from the varied careers he has pursued in the past and from his strong Christian beliefs, and a deep sense of history is evident. This collection is a mix Scots and English.

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This is a fascinating insight into a macho, male-dominated world where reality is so grotesquely distorted from the public perception. Read it, believe it, because sometimes the truth is far more incredible than fiction.TERRY BUTCHER, Captain of England Football TeamHer husband found her by the roadside, delirious and choking on her own vomit. Gemma Morgan was 33, happily married with two young children, an outstanding army service record and a first-class international sporting career. But underneath she was a wreck, surviving on a cocktail of vodka, Valium and sleeping pills.Misogyny, sexual abuse and toxic masculinity had been the daily realities of her Army career long before being deployed unarmed and unsupported to the blood and mayhem of a war zone.When Gemma gave birth to a baby girl, motherhood left her lost and alienated, a soldier who had deliberately suppressed her femininity with no idea how to cope.Tog

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By examining the book, the play and the film, Choose Life, Choose Leith both critically analyses the Trainspotting phenomenon in its various forms, and contextualises the importance of the location of Leith and the culture of 1980s Britain. Looking in detail at the history of Leith, the drug culture, the spread of HIV/AIDs, and how Trainspotting affected drug policy, Leith and the Scottish Identity, the book highlights the importance of Trainspotting. Choose Life, Choose Leith acts as a reference book, a record of the times and a background as to the history that led to the real-life situation and the publication of the book.

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From the co-founder of the SFSA and SFSA resident writer comes a dive into what it is about Scottish football than truly captures us. With contributions from the likes of Henry McLeish, Gordon Duncan, Hugh Carter, Tommy McAllister, Tom Miller, Ben Patterson, Colin Campbell, Alan Thompson – and many, many more – this book takes you from club to club, exploring what it is they love about their local teams and football itself.From Rangers to Falkirk to Dundee United, there is something for every fan of football here. This labour of love will look through not only the history of each of these teams, but the personal story each person has with them. Profits from Truly the People’s Game: Why We Love Scottish Football will be going to support Fans for Foodbanks and the SFSA’s work with Play Soccer Malawi.Scottish football is always a hot topic for fans and those associated. It will also make an ideal gift for any fan this Christmas. Covering a large variety of clubs, any fan can pick up this book and find something of their interest.

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We are in a small boat in the company of six Arran men on their way to sit on the Jury at the Court of Session in Inverary. No sooner has the boat left Brodick in Arran than things start to go wrong and in the conflict that arises the men begin to reveal their own sins.Travelling through the South-west corner of the Gealtacht in the early 19th century we get a flavour of life in the area before it would be altered for ever under the influence of the great changes happening in the wider world. Each character's fate is bound in different ways to these changes and how they deal with them together.Will the group manage reach the court in Inverary and if the do will they be competent to judge their fellow men with clear consciences?

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I’m relieved to find such things are there, in spite of hunger and carnageunder the same moon, and my place in their terrible chain; glad that my mother’s hands, after long years of sustaining us all, will place on her table, once again, her annual offerings at tomorrow’s feast. From Late Night Christmas ShoppingTomorrow’s Feast is Stevenson’s third poetry collection and reflects the challenges of today’s world. At the forefront of the poet’s consciousness here is the legacy faced by the next generation. In many ways, as the title implies, the book is a tribute to youth. Its scope is wide and deep, profoundly personal as well as political, employing a range of poetic forms, including a virtuosic libretto in verse, a contemporary retelling of Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner set during the refugee crisis.

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The unsurpassable strangeness of the island resides in the chasmic gulf between the naturally evolved and the negligently created, between Scarp and scrap, between the sublime and the substandard. - Jonathan Meades Writer, journalist and film-maker Jonathan Meades and photographer Alex Boyd present a unique exploration of ''The Isle of Rust'', better known as Lewis and Harris. A decade on from Meades'' landmark series ''Off Kilter'', described by The Telegraph as ''a masterpiece'', Boyd returns to the island, spending two years documenting the stunning landscapes of the Outer Hebrides, a strange, sometimes rusty paradise. Alongside Meades'' insightful observations and explorations of the island, Boyd's photography captures the rugged and austere beauty of the place, from the bays and mountains of Harris, to the moorland shacks of Lewis.

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An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless.1.6 billion live in sub-standard housing.But how can such a simple game like football tackle such a complex problem? Mel Young and Peter Barr tell the story of the million homeless people in 70 countries who have taken part in the Homeless World Cup since it was founded in 2003 and the positive impact it has on the players and everyone else involved, including spectators. From refugees to drug addicts, orphans and the poorest of the poor, to homeless people from the world's richest countries, we read about the moving human drama behind the event and find out how a ball can change the world.Home Game provides an insight into the birth of the Homeless World Cup and how it has become such a global phenomenon, by looking at more than just facts. It shows how the power of sport can help excluded people transform their own lives and how the event has transformed attitudes to homelessness.

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These are tough times.Prices spiralling! Climate change! International tension! Pandemics! It’s not hard to find things to worry about.But Scottish grannies can be an oasis of calm. Their wit and wisdom, their compassion and knowhow, their measured good sense and withering reproaches are exactly what is required.Scottish grannies are reassuring. They are relevant. And they need to be heard.

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One long walk divided into lots of short walks taking you all the way round Skye's rugged coastline. Skye's plethora of peninsulas and sea-lochs contain awesome cliffs, remote beaches, storm tossed sea-stacks, natural arches, ancient duns, romantic castles, poignant Clearance settlements, tidal islands and idyllic secluded corners. If you want to experience Skye in all its fascinating wealth of popular tourist haunts and hidden treasures, then let this book take you on a continuous 360-mile coastal walk around this mythical black island. You will soon find that there is a lot more to discover than the celebrated Cuillin ridge, mecca for walkers and climbers from all over the world. Andrew Dempster took one month to walk the whole coastline, he describes not just a geographical journey along the intricacies of Skye's coastline but also a historical journey from prehistoric fortified duns to legendary castles, from the distressing remains of black-houses to the stark geometry of the Skye bridge.

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The Company of Scotland was established by an act of parliament. It planned a colony that would announce itself in a founding declaration, and govern itself by a set of rules and ordinances. These were the founding principles of a new society. Together with basic ideas and practices in economics, politics, religion, medicine, navigation and law, these principles were tested to destruction. They are presented here as The Fundamentals of New Caledonia - an historical fiction of a new world.

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In its short lifetime of 100 years, the crofting system of landholding has had profound effects upon Scotland. In this book, the author presents vivid descriptions of crofting life, past and present, in a deeply-researched social history.

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