Lifestyle, sport & leisure – The Bell Bookshop

Here comes the fun

Emma — Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH?
Ben Aitken wasn’t. Increasingly flat and decreasingly zen, he knew that something had to change. So he joined a lawn bowls club. About a week later, he continued his assault on the doldrums by taking a cheerleading class. Then – with an almost entirely reformed selfhood winking appealingly on the horizon- he went cold-water swimming and was back to square one.
Despite the inevitable setbacks and missteps, it was becoming clear to Aitken that the very pursuit of fun was a great route to feeling less naff. And so he made a vow to go after the f-stuff with as much gusto as he could muster. (Starting with the crossword.)

Over the next year, he filled his calendar with a plethora of potentially pleasurable pursuits. He did things he’d never done before but reckoned could be fun (a pilgrimage in Spain, afternoon bingo); things whose fun-factor was less obvious and more down-to-earth (volunteering in a charity shop, sitting on a bench); and things he wasn’t at all sure about but were fun according to other people (improv, wakeboarding, learning Welsh).

Although the results were mixed, the author’s year of making merry left him feeling undoubtedly … better. Which invites the question: if fun is such a reliable mood-swinger, shouldn’t we be having more of it?

The World’s Strongest Book

Emma — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Go behind the scenes with Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall as we follow his incredible journey from World’s Strongest Man to competing in ‘The Heaviest Boxing Match in History’ against his nemesis Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson. ‘No human can visualise the impossible like this man’ Jason StathamTHE BEASTIn 2017 Eddie Hall became the World’s Strongest Man. He was the first person to pull half a tonne off the floor when everybody else said it was impossible, setting a new World Record. Impossible is a recurring theme in Eddie’s life – from the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to the pinnacle of Strongman – at every step on his journey he has blasted through the obstacles in his way. THE BOXING MATCHNow, Eddie brings you into the heart of his training camp as he prepares for his greatest challenge yet – a boxing ring showdown with his nemesis, Hafthor Bjornsson. Witness Eddie’s two-year journey as he transforms his body and mind from strength athlete to titan weight boxer. Get ringside access to Eddie’s formidable mindset, he reflects on the lessons he’s learned over the course of his life and draws on them to overcome each new setback. Featuring training diaries, 10 rounds of mental preparation and contributions from iconic friends including Ross Edgley, James Haskell, Paddy McGuinness, his family and inner circle, this is Eddie as you have never witnessed him before: 100 per cent authentic, honest and raw.

Serena Sews

Emma — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Forget fast fashion and cheap trends – Serena Baker is here to help you craft the sustainable wardrobe of your dreams!In 2021, Serena Baker became the youngest ever – and first Scottish – winner of The Great British Sewing Bee. She thrilled the judges with her incredible attention to detail and wowed viewers with her distinctive ‘refashioning projects’, putting sustainability at the heart of her creations. Whether you’re brand new to sewing or already know the ropes but fancy trying something a little different, Serena will take you on a journey to reinvent your wardrobe.In Serena Sews, you’ll learn how to:- master must-have skills – from zip insertion to pressing perfection – to boost your sewing confidence and give your garments a professional finish- work with basic pattern blocks to adapt and rework as you build your repertoire- ‘refashion’ existing items like an oversized shirt into a summer dress, or an old pair of jeans into a cute crop top- save money and work sustainably by choosing pre-loved garments and fabrics for your projectsSerena Sews breathes fresh life into the craft of sewing to make one-off, versatile, long-lasting items to cherish. The magic of this approach makes Serena Sews a book to come back to again and again. It’s brimming full of sewing happiness – for you, your friends and family, and the planet.

Go Camping

Emma — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Say yes to new adventures! This beautiful book is brimming with tips, recipes, activities and more to help you plan your perfect trip and discover the joys of camping in the great outdoors.

Camping is one of life’s purest pleasures. It’s a way to escape the frantic pace of the everyday, to get back to nature and to discover new experiences – and nothing comes close to the joy of sleeping under the stars.

Packed with ideas for first-time campers and seasoned experts alike, this book is sure to inspire your next trip and help you create memories to last a lifetime. Within these pages you will find:

Handy camping hacks
Delicious recipes
Foraging tips
Bushcraft basics
Wild camping advice
Inspiration for your travel bucket-list

? And much more! Whether you’re seeking a relaxing natural getaway or an intrepid wilderness adventure, the great outdoors is waiting for you. So, pack your bag, pick up your tent and go camping!

Strandings

Emma — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

‘Wild and wonderful … I doubt anyone will ever match Strandings for its sheer bravura, its wry insight, and its absolute, engulfing, and brilliantly enlivening whaleheadedness’PHILIP HOARE, ALBERT AND THE WHALE’Addictive and scandalously fascinating’ Caught by the RiverWhen Peter Riley was thirteen, a woman with blue hair and a comet tattoo asked him to help load the jaw of a sperm whale into the back of a Volvo 245. The encounter set Riley on a decades-long quest to make sense of what had happened.Enter the secretive world of whale scavengers. When a whale washes up on one of Britain’s coasts, a fugitive community descends to claim trophies from the carcass. Some are driven by magical beliefs. Some are motivated by profit: there is a black market for everything from ambergris to whaletooth sex toys. But for others, the need goes much deeper.Join Riley on a tour of a stranded kingdom’s weird outer reaches, where nothing is as it seems. Meet witches, pedlars, fetishists, conspiracy theorists and fallen aristocrats. And prepare for a final revelation, as the mystery of the comet woman tangles with the enigmatic symbol of Leviathan itself, beached on Britain’s fatal shore.

Emma Raducanu

Emma — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Read all about superstar tennis champion, Emma Raducanu!

The incredible winner of the 2021 US Open has shot to fame and straight into the hearts of the world. Emerging as one of the most influential young sports stars not just for her own generation, but for decades, her rise has been meteoric.

This former Wimbledon wildcard has the whole planet talking about her as the first British female player to win a Grand Slam title in over 40 years – all without dropping a single set.

Emma Raducanu, A Life Story is the perfect way to discover the fascinating facts and inspirational moments from the life of this young star.

A Life Story: this gripping series throws the reader directly into the lives of modern society’s most influential figures. With striking black-and-white illustration along with timelines and fun facts.

Also in the series:

Katherine Johnson: A Life Story
Stephen Hawking: A Life Story
Alan Turing: A Life Story
Rosalind Franklin: A Life Story
David Attenborough: A Life Story
Serena Williams: A Life Story
Captain Tom Moore: A Life Story

Petersham Nurseries

Emma — Thu, 20 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Lying nine miles or so southwest of London between Richmond and Ham, Petersham is a place apart. There’s no high street as such and, though there are a good number of historic houses and a charming, if somewhat hidden, 18th century village lock-up, none are open to the public. By car, it would be easy to miss it entirely…

This is Petersham Nurseries and this is its story.

Over 20 years ago, Francesco and Gael Boglione decided to buy Petersham Nurseries, a small plant nursery behind their home, never thinking that it would go on to shape their lives in the most joyful and extraordinary ways. This book charts that journey, incorporating stories of the couple’s pasts – from Francesco’s travels in Afghanistan, India and Nepal to Gael’s career as a model – and illuminating how the nurseries developed in line with their commitment to nature, integrity and family.

Combining the story of the Boglione family in their own words with stunning colour photographs, archive photography, sketches of the changing seasons, recipes and styling tips, this is an evocative and inspiring portrait of one of the most unique businesses in the UK today.

That Will Be England Gone

Emma — Thu, 06 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

When Michael Henderson visited Trent Bridge for the first day of the 2019 cricket season, he used 800 words to tell The Times readers that this would be the last season of county cricket as we understood the game. Next year we shall have The Hundred, whatever that may be, and championship cricket will be diminished to the point of invisibility. The summer of 2019 is interesting in other ways. There was a World Cup in this country, which England weren't expected to win. And there was the Ashes series. But this book would not be about the World Cup or the Australia series, with one notable exception. This text is a tour d'horizon of cricket, from April to September, in England. Partly autobiographical, Henderson revisits places that shaped his love of the game, in order to understand how cricket has changed in his lifetime.

The illustrated self-care bible edited by Rachel Newcombe

Emma — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The Illustrated Self-Care Bible guides you through every component of an essential self-care routine, with detailed descriptions and step-by-step exercises.

Learn key breathing techniques through yoga, Pilates, and more, to ensure a sense of calm and focus to combat stress and anxiety, strengthening your emotional resilience and compassion toward yourself and others for a greater sense of well-being. Discover helpful tips on better sleep and a balanced diet. Find the physical wellness program that best suits your life and goals and learn how to make it a regular part of your routine. And finally, ensure your life balance is taken care of by maintaining your social wellness. As critical to a healthy balance as your body and mind, a focus on friendships and kindness, curiosity and creativity, will ensure that you feel supported, nurtured, and loved.

This beautiful and comprehensive guide to maintaining self-care through everyday practice will leave you feeling focused, energized, and positive-ready to face the world as your best self.