Yoga
Imprpove your balance, flexibility, strength and mental well being - take up yoga. Why not try Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philospohy
by Gregor Maehle
This book goes through the history of yoga, the fundamentals of breathing, bandhas, drishti, vinyasa and yoga terminology. The postures are clearly illustrated and come with instructions and practical tips. There is information on the philosophy and mythology of Yoga Sutra.
Whether you're just starting out or actually teaching yoga, this is an invaluable resource.
For those who prefer cars to motorcycles
Paolo Altiere & Marco Matteucci (Eds)
Everything you could possibly want to know about the fabulous Alpha Romeo, its history, its technical specifications, its huge array of models, its racing successes and its superb mechanics and designers is in here. And it is accompanied by a massive selection of photographs.
This is a beautiful two-volume set in a matching slipcase. There are two large quarto volumes with red boards and red dust jackets and the slipcase is red with green four-leaf clover motif. The text is in English, French and Italian so you get the added bonus of brushing up on your languages while perusing.
The Indian
The Indian: The History of a Classic American Motorcycle by Tod Rafferty
For all motorbike fans, this is a beautiful book with superb illustrations featuring the Indian Motorcycle COmpany. These days it's hard to believe that it was miles more successful than Harley Davidson in the past.
This is a history of the company, its racing successes, its manufacturing dominance, its beautifully built machines, and the sheer magic of the Indian name.
Feast your eyes on a huge range of models, including of course Burt Munro's famous Bonneville world record bike. Get a copy for yourself or a motorcycle enthusiast friend.
Margaret Atwood
Moral Disorder
Bluebeard's Egg
The Handmaid's Tale
The Blind Assassin
Oryx and Crake
Alias Grace
Cat's Eye
The Heart Goes Last
That's just a few. She's a very prolific writer not only of novels but also of short stories and poetry and she has also written quite a wide variety of non-fiction. See you in the shop,
Calligraphy
Perhaps you aren't keen on the idea of making leadlight windows as a hobby. Why not start with something less daunting such as calligraphy.
It is an art that you can learn from a book (of course). Once you get a bit of practice under your belt, you can do all sorts of jobs for your friends and family: wedding invitations, party invites, logos, announcements, graphic design, inscriptions, certificates, labels and annotation for maps.
The results can be really beautiful and the practising of the lettering can be therapeutic as well. COme on in and get a book to get you started.
Stained glass
Stained glass may not be as horrendously difficult as you think and the results are certainly impressive. Whether you want to make a leadlight window, a lamp, a bowl, a candle-holder, a decorated mirror or a small gift for a friend, there is an easy way to find out how to do it.
You can pop into the shop and buy a book which will soon have you cutting and grinding glass and nonchalantly using a kiln and brandishing a soldering iron like a pro. You can't beat books when it comes to learning how. We have a selection from basic introductions to full-scale cathedral windows.
cricket
Take this cricket quiz challenge and see if you know as much about the sport as you'd like to or whether you need to come in to the shop and grab a few cricket books to bone up.
1. Ian and Greg Chappell's grandfather also captained Australia. Who was he?
2. Who was the first New Zealand bowler to take five wickets in a one-day international?
3. Who was the first cricketer to complete the Australian double of 1000 runs and 50 wickets in a season?
4. Who captained New Zealand to their first-ever test victory over England in 1978?
5. What momentous event in the world of cricket occurred in 1848?
6. Who is the home side in an international match at CHurchill Park?
Answers
Victor Richardson /Richard Collings (5-23 v India 1976) /Gary Sobers
Mark Burgess / WG Grace was born / Fiji (Churchill Park is in Lautoka)
literature
I wonder how many of you remember this old Peanuts comic strip of Peppermint Patty and Marcie in the classroom - you can just about make it out in the photo but I've typed it below just in case your eyesight is as bad as mine.
Peppermint Patty: Yes, Ma'am? Charles Dickens.
Marcie: Sir, how did you know that?
Peppermint Patty: If you go to school long enough, sooner or later the answer is going to be Charles Dickens.
Clearly correct. So why not pop into the shop and pick up a copy of one of the Dickens' novels that you haven't yet read. You would't want a constant diet of Dickens but it's good to immerse yourself in one every once in a while. Assuming you haven't read them all (has anyone?), come on in and get a copy of one that's new to you. However, if you have read them all, treat yourself to The Annotated Dickens.
