Cape to Cairo

Starting out from Cape Town in South Africa, there is plenty to see as the journey heads north. The scenery changes from green fields and vineyards such as Stellenbosch to the deserts and giant sand dunes of Namibia. It is only further north that the desert changes to savannah. There are numerous safaris to see wild animals in their natural habitat including hippopotamus, the most dangerous animal on the continent and walking with cheetahs.

There are close encounters with elephants in the Okavango and views of thousands of zebras before crossing the border in Zimbabwe. There are the magnificent Victoria Falls and a railway journey across the Zimbabwe countryside to Bulawayo with its great industrial centre and railway heritage.

On safari through the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, there is the opportunity for visitors to see all of the Big Five Game animals, the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. There are the Spice Islands, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where there is an opportunity to walk with gorillas and there were plenty more countries and experiences to enjoy and this was still only halfway up the continent to Cairo.

Kundalini – A Baptism of Fire

Who is the mystic, and what is the essence of their journey?

Across various traditions, the path of the mystic is often described in purposefully veiled language, each with its own unique approach.

In the tantric tradition, this is known as the twilight language, designed to protect the sacred mysteries. Similarly, in the Bible, Christ speaks in parables to those not yet privy to the secrets of the kingdom.

This veiled language is rich with symbols, requiring careful decoding to unravel the profound truths they hold.

This book seeks to lift the veil on these mysteries, exposing the transformative journey of the mystic – a path that all seekers of truth and meaning must inevitably traverse.

Through its pages, readers will gain insight into the hidden wisdom of the ages, illuminating the way for those who dare to embark on this timeless quest for self-discovery and enlightenment.

Finding Yourself Through Loss

I’ve come to understand that loss, while taking much, can also give. It can offer hope, strength, and most importantly, love. Such is the boundless love of God, who loved us so deeply that He gave His one and only Son to die for all of us—yes, all of us, including you—no matter what you have done (John 3:16). Sometimes, His love arrives shrouded in the darkness of loss, but even then, His promise remains unchanged: He came so that you and I may have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). So, beloved, as loss has taken from you, I ask: what has it given in return? Remember, perception is everything.

The Role of Rhetoric in Politics and the Media

The rise of rhetoric is a danger to liberal democracies and a powerful tool for the would-be autocrat. The danger lies in the ease with which sizeable parts of the population are persuaded to adopt the most implausible propositions, on the basis of nothing more than the assertions of a self-interested orator. On a daily basis it is these same techniques that drive all manner of conspiracy theories.The author hopes that by listing and explaining some of these rhetorical devices, the more gullible members of the public may recognise when they are being manipulated and resist it

What is Evidence? Understanding Rational Proof

This book is about evidence. Its purpose is to shed light on the nature of evidence and to do away with the mystique associated with the meaning of the word. Concepts falling within the subject are defined and explained, as are the different categories of evidence.

Without dealing with the question of causation, an explanation of the nature of evidence would not be complete. Part of a complete treatment of the subject is to explain the place and importance of causation. This, the book does, showing the reader how to identify causal relationships and how to answer the question of causation according to the context at hand.

Whether you are a student of law, a debater, or someone interested in assessing the evidentiary value of claims or arguments, this book, I trust, will be an indispensable aid to you.

Jim Wyllie's 'Flashing Lights'

From a Lake District farm to the pulsating heart of London’s nightlife, Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ charts an extraordinary path through UK clubland in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wyllie’s ascent is nothing short of remarkable: from entertaining holidaymakers at 16 to becoming the youngest Nightclub Manager in the Star Circuit’s history at 18, before becoming the owner of groundbreaking bars, restaurants and nightclubs in London’s West End.

This memoir offers a kaleidoscopic view of an era, blending hilarious anecdotes with personal reflections and cultural insights. Wyllie’s narrative defies simple categorization, presenting an easy read that invites deeper contemplation. It’s an intoxicating mix of showmanship and psychology, combining the spectacle of Barnum and Bailey with the wit of Del Boy, the insight of Freud, and the candor of Bridget Jones.

Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ captures the highs, lows, and everything in between of a life lived in the spotlight. Whether you’re nostalgic for the golden age of clubbing or curious about the machinations of nightlife, Wyllie’s story promises to enthrall and enlighten, offering a vibrant glimpse into the era that shaped modern club culture.

Living with the Voices of Watchers and Hope

Inside the mind of a Schizophrenic Scouser

This book tackles the stigmas surrounding mental illness with raw honesty and dark humour. From straitjackets to fearmongering, from serial killers to the boardroom, the protagonist navigates life under the constant weight of being watched – a prisoner in her own mind.

But when does psychosis become a threat to those who don’t understand it? For her, it’s not the voices in her head that are most frightening, but the people around her. With humour and small victories, she learns to cope in a world that often feels scarier than her own thoughts.

The Reluctant Outsider

This is the story of a life that took an unexpected turn, leading to priceless treasures and profound awakenings. George Dexton’s journey begins with the decision to emigrate to a distant land, followed by the commitments of marriage, raising a family, and starting a new business. As he battles for success and recognition, George’s marriage collapses, plunging him into a period of overindulgence and recklessness that eventually leads to the downfall of his business.

In the aftermath, an unexpected mystical experience brings confusion, spiraling George into depression and a deep philosophical quest. He explores the unknown depths of his mind, searching for meaning and freedom from what feels like a futile existence. Reluctantly pushing forward, he reaches a point of no return, still seeking a sense of purpose in a world that seems blind to his struggles.

Jalal Al-Ahmad

Jalal Al-Ahmad was a well-known writer in Persian literature and a man about whom a lot of criticism was directed. Because he was a favourite supporter of Mr. Khomeini, the streets and schools in Iran were named after him. This book attempts to examine his works, what he said and his life using existing documents.

Jalal Al-Ahmad was also a part of our contradictory society, and he was raised in it. He reflected his thoughts in his books, because he could as well have been tired of this contradictory life and looked for a better uniformity. He was against monotony and loved to create changes by moving in different directions to entertain himself. He was indifferent to the results, thus his contradictory works and writings shouldn’t be taken at face value. One must try to draw the truth out of contradictions.

The Basic Economic Framework of Sustainability

The number of questions related to climate, pollution, mass extinction, threats from technology, are on a rise. How to understand our place within the environment, how to create a link between our economy and the environment, how to evaluate natural resources compared to market values?

This book is seeking answers to the questions what sustainability means, what happens when our economy, our practice, our life, our political-economic establishment are unsustainable, if the reasonable and theoretically optimal use of resources does sum up to sustainability on the global scale, how technology affects sustainability, if there is anything missing from the Demand-Supply graph.

My work intends to answer the less pronounced questions like how to make decisions if our way of life is sustainable or not; in case our answer is not, what we should take into consideration when we look for the way forward.

Living the Dream!

This is the story of my life, from childhood struggles with polio to leaving home at seventeen for an apprenticeship with British Aircraft Corporation, working on the iconic Concorde. My career path took me through Westland Helicopters and British Rail, before a 22-year career at British Airways in London, where I became a Senior Airline Engineer, licensed to maintain a fleet of company aircraft.

After that, I turned to flying for pleasure and eventually became a Chief Flying Instructor, starting my own flying school. Over 36 years of training pilots, I experienced fourteen engine failures, three near misses, and two bird strikes—the most dramatic being a fight with a buzzard that smashed through the windscreen, hitting my student in the face, leaving him with a black eye and a split lip, and ending up draped around his neck like a scarf. I also survived a cockpit fire shortly after takeoff that burned my left leg.

Then there’s the story of a mild-mannered, religious pilot who became a good friend. He once told me about the day his ejection seat failed during a jet spin-out, sending him plummeting toward the ground. Resigned to death, he was saved by a voice in his head that he believed was God, offering the solution just in time.

Dicing With Death

While there was terrorist-related activity happening somewhere in Northern Ireland daily, Belfast bore the brunt of it, and the two-mile stretch of road between Willie’s home and the school had more than its share. He travelled that corridor of death to and from school every day. In school, he was prepared to put his life on the line protecting the rights of disaffected young people. He tried to keep the older boys out of the arms of the IRA, who would recruit them into the Fianna (Junior IRA), and out of reach of the security forces who would arrest them for petty crimes and then release them on condition that they became informers. He was ready to protect them against all comers. He walked the middle ground, neither on one side nor the other. The police and the soldiers were professionals. They could look after themselves. He did not support the IRA, nor take orders from them, nor allow himself to be used by them. He saw his role as protecting the young people in his care. He was walking on quicksand, knowing that if he put a foot wrong, he could vanish without a trace.