{"title":"Alan R Massen","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into the captivating worlds crafted by Alan R Massen. Explore thrilling narratives woven with suspense, action, and rich characters. Perfect for fans of gripping adventures and intricate plots.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"skiathos-a-greek-island-paradise-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396236","title":"Skiathos a Greek Island Paradise","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis beautifully illustrated book will take you through an incredible journey to the beautiful Greek Island of Skiathos which is the best known of the Sporades Islands. People are drawn by the allure of its beaches along with pretty villages, pine covered hills and a perfect climate. I have in the past written about my garden, my watercolour paintings and now I am focusing on our favourite Greek paradise island of Skiathos. Using examples of my artwork which have been produced by scanning holiday snaps into my computer and then using a piece of art software on my PC which gives them an Impressionist effect a bit like Monet. I have also included my written recollections and memories of the numerous holidays that we have spent at the Troulos Bay Hotel, the islands beaches and the many visits we have made to Skiathos Town and other resorts and places of interest over the years. The book starts with a brief island history followed by an extensive exploration of our paradise island of Skiathos.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49570930196753,"sku":"GOR009937182","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740977787153,"sku":"NIN9780993396236","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993396232_81d9e5e0-b09e-4d7f-a35c-491e157f068d.jpg?v=1750788883"},{"product_id":"being-greek-the-culture-of-the-people-of-greece-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559198","title":"Being Greek - The Culture of the People of Greece","description":"\u003cp\u003eBeing Greek - The Culture of the People of Greece. In this book we will consider the history, religion, geography, and other influences that have all helped shape the culture of the Greek people using words and pictures to tell the story of this wonderful land. Greece is a country located in south-east Europe located between the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The country of Greece includes many islands such as Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Skiathos, Thassos, Kefalonia and Zakynthos to name but a few. The places that you could visit in Greece are endless as there is something to suit everyone with a wealth of historical sites, sporting venues, walking trails, museums, landmarks, monuments, festivals, carnivals and beaches. In this book, we will meet some of the ancient gods, visit many of the important archaeological sites and learn something about the history, geography and religious beliefs of the Greek people. Then we will visit some of the best beaches, towns and villages on the mainland of Greece and the Islands before reading about some of the customs of the people who make up the country that is Greece. In 2018 I decided to write this book, that I hope will capture, the essence of Greece. It is called: Being Greek - The Culture of the People of Greece. It is a pictorial and descriptive journey to discover the Greek Gods, its mythology, its ancient sites of archaeological interest, the history, geography, religion, culture, its special places and finally some of the beliefs of its people. This is in an attempt to answer the question what is it about Greece, its people and its many Islands that people love so much and return to time and time again.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51011239346449,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51011243147537,"sku":"NIN9780993559198","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993559190.jpg?v=1750749639"},{"product_id":"sunshine-and-shades-on-kefalonia-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559129","title":"Sunshine and Shades on Kefalonia","description":"\u003cp\u003eSunshine and Shades is a pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and beauty of the Greek Paradise Island of Kefalonia in the blue Mediterranean Sea. Visit its tree covered hillsides and pretty villages that cascade down to the seashore. This really is a lovely Island. The magical Island of Kefalonia is one of Greece's most beautiful holiday destinations, every year thousands of tourists from all around the world visit its shores. The fame of this beautiful Island has increased world-wide over recent years. This was enhanced by Hollywood packing up and shipping out all their equipment and stars to Kefalonia, over ten years ago, to film the movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin. On Kefalonia there are mountains that will dwarf you, beaches that could front a Caribbean postcard, and waters with more glitter and shine than the Hope diamond. The Island of Kefalonia or Cephalonia is known by many names and can be called Kefallinia or Kephallenia. It is the largest of the Ionian Island in western Greece. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Island region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. The capital of Kefalonia or Cephalonia is Argostoli. The largest of all the Greek Ionian Islands, Kefalonia, as we have seen, enjoys a number of different spellings, which include Kefallonia, Kefallinia and even Cephallonia. However you choose to spell or pronounce these variations of Kefalonia, they all mean one thing, a superb holiday destination, with a rugged inner mountain range and some quite outstanding beaches and cliffs, and even some remains of a past Roman era. The beaches of Kefalonia are those that most people only dream of and combined with the plentiful sunshine, provide the perfect setting for a very memorable holiday.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51151419736337,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51151420195089,"sku":"GOR009997418","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51513354977553,"sku":"GOR014310013","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52858398376209,"sku":"NIN9780993559129","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993559123.jpg?v=1750820902"},{"product_id":"norfolk-the-county-of-my-birth-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396243","title":"Norfolk the County of my Birth","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Norfolk the County of my Birth' is the eighth book that I have had published. I have written about my garden, my watercolour painting, the Greek Island of Skiathos and now we are focusing on the county of my birth Norfolk. It is a celebration of the County of the author's birth in which Norfolk Watercolour Artist Alan R. Massen takes the reader on an artwork journey around Norfolk. I will be using examples of my artwork. These have been produced by scanning photographs into my computer and then using a piece of art software on my PC that gives them an Impressionist effect.a bit like Monet. I will also include some of my written recollections and memories of living and travelling around Norfolk.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51157053047057,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51157055963409,"sku":"NGR9780993396243","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740986208529,"sku":"NIN9780993396243","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993396240.jpg?v=1751365365"},{"product_id":"corfu-and-mainland-greece-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559150","title":"Corfu and Mainland Greece","description":"\u003cp\u003eCorfu and Mainland Greece is a pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and beauty of the Greek paradise Island of Corfu before we sail away on a trip to the mainland of Greece to visit some of the most important historical sites of ancient Greece. The Island of Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands. It is just off the West coast of Greece and is one of the most Northern Ionian Islands. Many are surprised to learn that the coast directly opposite Corfu is not Greece, but Albania. The narrow channel between Corfu and Albania, in places, is less than 2km. The sea on the East and North of Corfu is shallower whereas the sea on the Western Corfu coast is very deep. Corfu is the second-biggest of the Greek Ionian Islands and one of the most popular Island in Greece. Corfu almost resembles the shape of a bent leg (with a little imagination) in the Ionian Sea. The Island enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate along with excellent beaches making it a popular destination for holiday makers. It is very green compared to other Greek Islands: hot and dry summers along with winter rain creates lush vegetation which is dominated by over 2 million olive trees. These olive trees are the main cultivation, although Corfu's tourism now provides the most income for the Island. I have over the years holidayed on Corfu, Ithaca, Crete, Santorini, Thassos, Kefalonia and Skiathos to name but a few. I have also visited the major archaeological sites on the mainland of Greece as well as spending several days visiting the important sites in Athens itself. I hope you will enjoy, with me, the beautiful Greek Island of Corfu.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51157062549777,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51157065466129,"sku":"NGR9780993559150","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740994040081,"sku":"NIN9780993559150","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993559158.jpg?v=1751299274"},{"product_id":"mousehole-the-cornish-jewel-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559112","title":"Mousehole the Cornish Jewel","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book is a pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and splendour of the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. The village cascades down the steep hillside to its harbour. People have watched the boats come in and out of the harbour for centuries. \u003cstrong\u003eMousehole\u003c\/strong\u003e (pronounced Mowzel) is one of Cornwall's most picturesque hamlets; a stunning collection of yellow-lichened houses, built from the local finely grained Lamorna granite, huddled together around the inner edge of the harbour. Protected from the force of the sea coming across Mounts Bay by two sturdy breakwaters. So come with me and explore this little gem. There are very few places that can be found in the United Kingdom that have retained their original character and charm in the way that the tiny fishing village of Mousehole in Cornwall has. Susie and I really enjoyed our holiday to this small Cornish harbour nearly on the tip of England. In this book I will be taking you on a visual and text journey into the history, attractions and I will share with you the joy we found in wandering around the narrow streets of the village and the surrounding area during the time that we were there. We will then go on a wider exploration of many of the places and attractions that make Cornwall such a great place to visit. Mousehole really is the jewel in the crown of Cornwall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51157076771089,"sku":"NGR9780993559112","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52858398212369,"sku":"NIN9780993559112","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0993559115.jpg?v=1751235782"},{"product_id":"ibiza-island-of-dreams-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396267","title":"Ibiza Island of Dreams","description":"\u003cp\u003eIbiza Island of Dreams focuses on the paradise Spanish holiday island of Ibiza in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures by Norfolk watercolour artist Alan R. Massen. We have holidayed on the island in the past and it really is a journey into the sunshine. Situated just of the coast of Valencia, Ibiza is in the Spanish Balearic Islands and is known across the world as being the party capital of the world. But forget the stereotypical British abroad images you may have of Ibiza, this only accounts for a small part of the island. Step away from the noisy streets of San Antonio's infamous strip and you will find a magical island, which can cater for your every need.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe have had several of our summer holidays on Ibiza over the years and have always enjoyed ourselves. We have stayed in both San Antonio Bay and Portinatx and have toured the island by hire car and on the local buses. Head to the northern part of the island and you'll find a peaceful and tranquil destination, popular with families and hippies alike. On the south-east side of the island you will find the beautiful and historic Ibiza Town, as well as the hugely popular Playa D'en Bossa. Head West and you'll hit San Antonio. Although it is renowned for having some of the best nightclubs in the world, the island also has an absolutely beautiful coastline with dozens of tiny coves to discover, not to mention some of the most stylish hotels in the Mediterranean.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe have stayed in both apartments and hotels but have always on bed and breakfast basis so we could either have other meals where we were staying or more often than not venture out of the accommodation to sample the local dishes in restaurant's and\/or beach side cafes. Exploring in autumn and winter, you get much more of an idea of real life in Ibiza, particularly if you delve into the island's rich history too. Although the season gets going in May and winds down in October, the islands are beautiful in early spring when the almond blossom is out. Outside the hottest months of July and August, all the Balearics are good for activity holidays, whether easy or more challenging...\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740981915921,"sku":"NIN9780993396267","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396267.jpg?v=1763485724"},{"product_id":"flip-flops-and-shades-on-thassos-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396281","title":"Flip-flops and Shades on Thassos","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe paradise Greek holiday island of Thassos in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures. Thassos is the most northerly of the Greek islands in the Aegean island group and it lies just off the Macedonian coast in the north-east of mainland Greece. Fabulously wealthy in ancient times, thanks to large deposits of gold and marble, Thassos nowadays lies outside the top league of Greek holiday islands but it still has as much to offer the visitor. We have been there for our summer holidays on several occasions and enjoyed it very much. Most tourist arrive at Alexandra the Great International airport in Kavala which is on the mainland of Greece. Then it is a short ferry journey over to Thassos. The first time we went to Thassos we were not sure how the ferry journey would be after having travelled all day to get there. It was great and we loved it. I really added to the holiday experience for us.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo reach the accommodation at the resorts many visitors use the local taxis or the coaches provided by the tour operators. An excellent coast road almost rings the whole island, providing easy access to the many sandy beaches that pepper the attractive coastline. Strangely, Thassos fails to feature in many holiday brochures so it is something of a hidden gem and spared the holiday crowds that mar some of the Greek islands. Pine trees come right down to the shoreline on Thassos. The extensive pine trees that carpet most of Thassos have led to its being rightly dubbed the ' Emerald Isle' of Greece. We enjoyed the shade the pine trees gave when we sat under them on the beaches.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe beaches are mostly sandy and are dotted all around the coast with a wide variety on offer, from large, deep beaches with plenty of facilities to small, idyllic hideaway coves. Side roads branch inland to charming hill villages and to extensive tracts of dense woodland which have many walking trails to enjoy. Thassos may be off the main tourist trail but regular ferries run from Keramouti which is only a 10 minute ride from the airport at Kavala (Kavala Town featured above). Thassos is in the Northern Aegean Sea and is close to the coast of Thrace and the plain of the river Nestos but is geographically part of Macedonia. Thassos is a really beautiful island and a visit to its shores is highly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740984635665,"sku":"NIN9780993396281","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396281.jpg?v=1763485736"},{"product_id":"shades-and-flip-flops-on-zakynthos-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559136","title":"Shades and Flip-flops on Zakynthos","description":"\u003cp\u003eShades and Flip-flops on Zakynthos is a pictorial and descriptive journey through the history, geography and beauty of the Greek Paradise Island of Zakynthos which is set in the blue azure Mediterranean Sea. We will visit the many great beaches, resorts and villages on this really lovely holiday Island. The Island of Zakynthos or Zante as it is sometime known, is a Greek Island located in the Ionian Sea. Zakynthos is the third largest of the Ionian Islands and it covers an area of 410 km\u003csup\u003e2\u003c\/sup\u003e (158 square miles). The coastline of the Island is roughly 123 km (76 miles) in length. Zakynthos is a very popular tourist destination. It has an international airport which is served by many charter flights from all over northern Europe. It is located 300 km west from the capital of Greece Athens and 9.5 marine miles from the Peloponnese mainland coast from where a regular ferry service comes and goes to and from the Island of Zakynthos. The book contains a large selection of images. You know what they say a picture saves a thousand words.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740996170001,"sku":"NIN9780993559136","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"cyprus-the-pyramids-and-the-holy-land-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559174","title":"Cyprus, The Pyramids and the Holy Land","description":"\u003cp\u003eA pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and beauty of the paradise island of Cyprus then we venture onto the Holy Land to Jerusalem and Bethlehem before finishing our Journey in the land of the Pharaohs, Egypt to visit the Pyramids and the City of Cairo. Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an Island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, off the coasts of Syria and Turkey. Cyprus is the third largest and third most populous Island in the Mediterranean, and has been a member state of the European Union since May 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e 2004. It is located 40 miles south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel and Palestine and north of Egypt. This location makes it an ideal holiday destination where the visitor can enjoy the history and beauty of the Island or spend some time visiting the Pyramids and the Holy Land as part of their holiday experience. This is exactly what I did when I stayed on the Island. Places to visit on Cyprus are endless and there is something to suit everyone with a wealth of historic sites, walking trails, museums, landmarks, monuments, festivals, carnivals and quality shopping. In this book we will visit the great beaches, towns and villages on the lovely Island of Cyprus before going to see the Pyramids of Egypt and then visit the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. Cyprus is an island of legends that basks year-round in the light of the warm Mediterranean sun. It has a history that stretches back more than 10,000 years. It has seen civilizations come and go and been visited by the likes of Alexander the Great. Queen Cleopatra of ancient Egypt has ruled here. I hope that you will enjoy our visit to this lovely Island.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740997906705,"sku":"NIN9780993559174","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993559174.jpg?v=1763485794"},{"product_id":"crete-and-the-island-of-santorini-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559167","title":"Crete and the Island of Santorini","description":"\u003cp\u003eA pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and beauty of the Greek paradise islands of Crete and Santorini which are set in the warm blue Mediterranean Sea. Explore the pretty beaches, villages and towns of these two picture perfect island of Greece. The Islands of Crete and Santorini are part of Greece which is a country in south-east Europe located between the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. In this book we will visit the great beaches, towns and the villages on the lovely Greek Islands of Crete and Santorini. Crete is the largest Island in Greece and the fifth largest Island in the Mediterranean. Crete is an Island with an exquisite 1,000 kilometre-long coastline dotted with numerous coves, bays and peninsulas, which afford a multitude of soft, sandy beaches along the beautifully blue Mediterranean Sea. Crete as one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations. The Island of Santorini is classically known as Thera, and officially Thira, is an Island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast of Greece's mainland. It is the largest Island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. The Minoan civilisation was an Aegean Bronze Age civilisation that arose on the Islands of Crete, Santorini and other Aegean Islands and flourished from approximately 3650 to 1400 BC. I hope you enjoy reading about these two beautiful Greek Islands.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741006622993,"sku":"NIN9780993559167","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"majorca-island-in-the-sun-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396274","title":"Majorca Island in the Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003eMajorca Island in the Sun focuses on the paradise Spanish holiday island of Majorca in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures by Norfolk watercolour artist Alan R. Massen. We have holidayed on the island in the past and it really is a journey into the sunshine. Majorca, the largest island in the Balearics and it may make you think of beach resorts and holidays, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy both its coastline and the interior. It is a good idea, particularly in autumn and winter when the crowds have gone and the temperature is more suitable for outdoor activities. Susie and I have holidayed on Majorca in the past. During our summer two week holiday to the sunshine island of Majorca we have stayed in such resorts as Porto Colom, Magaluf, Porto de Pollenca, S'illot and Sa Coma and always had a great time. The beaches are lovely, the sea clear, blue and warm. This really is a beautiful island packed with things to do and places to go or you can just soak up the sun and enjoy a good book, swim or a long cold drink. One thing you must do is spend some time in the capitol Palma de Majorca and take the train to Soller to sample the oranges and visit as many of the lovely resorts that are all the way around the island.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741221187857,"sku":"NIN9780993396274","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396274.jpg?v=1763486730"},{"product_id":"retiring-to-our-garden-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396212","title":"Retiring to Our Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlan's two passions are watercolour painting and gardening. Following Alan's retirement in 2008, his wife suggested that he kept a gardening diary to record his experiences in the garden. In 2014 he published his first book, 'Retiring to the Garden - Year One'. He then went on to capture the changing seasons, animals, birds and the successes and failures of being a gardener in his Norfolk garden for another year, hence this book. This book, 'Retiring to Our Garden - Year Two', is full of interesting and informative information supported by numerous colour illustrations to give the reader an insight into how the gardening seasons influence the development of a garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741225087249,"sku":"NIN9780993396212","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396212.jpg?v=1763486745"},{"product_id":"mardle-and-a-troshin-in-norfolk-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396298","title":"Mardle and a Troshin' in Norfolk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Welcome to this the 13th book that I have had published. It is called \u003cstrong\u003eMardle and a Troshin' in Norfolk\u003c\/strong\u003e and as the title suggests it's an old Norfolk boy's ramblings on a journeying through ten months of my everyday life experiences of living in the county of my birth. Although we will start off learning something about the Norfolk dialect. I will not be using it in the main chapters of this book as I realise that nobody outside of Norfolk would have a clue what it meant. For example: hold you hard and co to heck it's a rum load of old Squit  See what I mean  The last sentence means: wait a moment he exclaimed what a load of old nonsense. Having reached the age of sixty six I have begun to realise that much of my life is behind me and that I am now beginning the downhill phase of my life towards the greatest adventure. Being an old person, I have noticed that every day, month and year goes by much quicker than it did before and most people are now much younger than myself. This realisation has helped me to focus on the here and now. I try every day to treasure and enjoy every moment, everything around me and smile as much as I can. To help me do this I have recently stopped smoking after more than fifty years, started walking the dogs most days and started a diet to reduce my current overweight self down to something much healthier. Whilst I enjoy reflecting on the fond memories of the past and the people that I have known I believe that you should always look to the future. It is not always healthy to spend too much time reflecting and remembering the past although it is important not to forget your past. So to help me to stop looking back to much I started ten months ago not only trying to enjoy every new day as much as I could but also to write down any key personal events and experiences I had as they happened. After ten months I had a significant number of diary entries of everyday events written down. So as I have done in some of the other books that I have written in the past I set about writing this book. I hope you will enjoy joining me in this personal journey of ten months in my life. The artwork in the book has been produced by either scanning photographs or my watercolour paintings into my computer and then using a piece of art software on my PC that gives them an Impressionist effect...a bit like Claude Monet. Before we set off I thought the non-Norfolk reader may enjoy some brief examples of the strange way Norfolk folk speak and a few of the peculiar words we use. The Norfolk dialect is not heard so often these days but it can still be heard in the Norfolk countryside and villages. So after you have experienced and marvelled at our rich heritage of Norfolk dialect and the way we communicate in Norfolk. As I have already mentioned I will not be using any of these words or expressions within the main body of my book however, my Norfolk roots may, however, inadvertently express themselves in the grammar that I use...\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741226168593,"sku":"NIN9780993396298","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396298.jpg?v=1763486749"},{"product_id":"art-inspired-by-a-rainbow-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396250","title":"Art Inspired by a Rainbow","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 2016, Alan R. Massen, the Norfolk watercolour artist, decided to produce this book which he hopes will take the reader on a pictorial journey using some of his favourite paintings and artworks. He believes that every picture tells a story and by using all the colours of the rainbow he hopes that the reader will be inspired to imagine the story behind each painting. I have been very lucky to have been born at a time when education, travel and finances has been available to me and this has permitted me to see many beautiful places, people, animals and other things which I have then tried to either capture in a watercolour painting, photograph or in more recent years by writing about my experiences and memories. This is the ninth book that I have had published. I am very grateful to my publisher Rainbow Publications UK for giving me the opportunity for my books to be read. I have, in the past, written about my garden, my watercolour paintings and took my readers on travels to such places as the Greek island of Skiathos, my Norfolk home, England the country of my birth and we have gone a Mardle and a Troshin' together. Now it is time to return to my watercolour paintings and artwork once more and for the reader to discover the story behind my images: \u003cstrong\u003eArt Inspired by a Rainbow\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741234327825,"sku":"NIN9780993396250","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396250.jpg?v=1763486781"},{"product_id":"retiring-to-our-garden-book-alan-r-massen-9780993396205","title":"Retiring to Our Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlan's two passions are watercolour painting and gardening. Following Alan's retirement in 2008, his wife suggested that he kept a gardening diary to record his experiences in the garden. In 2014 he published his first book, 'Retiring to the Garden - Year One'. He then went on to capture the changing seasons, animals, birds and the successes and failures of being a gardener in his Norfolk garden for another year, hence this book. This book, 'Retiring to Our Garden - Year Two', is full of interesting and informative information supported by numerous colour illustrations to give the reader an insight into how the gardening seasons influence the development of a garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741236785425,"sku":"NIN9780993396205","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993396205.jpg?v=1763486792"},{"product_id":"trips-into-my-mind-s-eye-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559143","title":"Trips into my Mind's Eye","description":"\u003cp\u003eTrips into my Mind's Eye is a journey using visual art with just a few words to guide the reader. The intention is to let each image tell its own story. It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. What we see stimulates our mind and gives us a better understanding of the world around us. I am inviting you to explore what story the picture suggests to you and to use your imagination to consider the inspiration behind each picture. This book is all about how I see the world through the eyes of imagery so each illustration in this book is accompanied by only a brief description. I hope that the artwork will tell you its own story. Whilst it is true that the artworks are in no particular order they are however, in a recognisable format. I have divided the book into a beginning (this introduction) then the journey which is the trip through my mind's eye of my artwork, before concluding with my acknowledgement of all those people who have helped me along the way. You will see numerous examples of my watercolour paintings and photographic artwork in this book which I have scanned onto my computer. Then I have used a piece of art software, to give the pictures an impressionist style finish, a bit like Claude Monet, to produce the illustrations. The pictures I have used are of loved ones, pets, people, places, animals and other things to tell this story. After all, a message can be sent and received either as words or pictures. Our mind then makes a story from the pictures we see with our eyes. We all need to make sense of things we encounter. I believe that a picture says a thousand words and that many people will, like me, prefer to view images rather than spending too much time reading about them. I hope you will enjoy our journey together so if you are ready lets go from words into pictures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741242323217,"sku":"NIN9780993559143","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993559143.jpg?v=1763486816"},{"product_id":"england-the-country-of-my-birth-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559105","title":"England the Country of my Birth","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhere do we come from? In this my 14\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e book that I have had published we will be travelling back in time to discover the answer to that often asked question where do we come from. This is a big question and in this book I will be looking at the country of my birth England and its history since time began to start my journey of discovery to find my roots and answer the question. Where do I come from? In one of my other books I wrote about Norfolk the County of My Birth and by doing this it inspired me to find out more about the country of my birth. In England we have the advantage of not just being English but also along with our friends from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we also belong to the wider family of Great Britain and the Commonwealth beyond. When I started to research the history of Great Britain before producing a draft of this book it soon became apparent to me that I would need to spend a lot of time reading and researching this vast topic area before I started to write this book. I found out that a TV programme called Time Team which was recorded over a twenty year period was being repeated on afternoon TV. As I had enjoyed this archeologically based factual programme, in the past I decided to watch it. The programme is introduced by Tony Robinson and featuring archaeologist Mick Ashley and Phil Harding and many other skilled contributors I decided to spend some time watching the re-runs. So using reference books, Internet, watching Time Team and making copious notes I began to get a deeper understanding of my past and the events and people that have shaped who I am today. Having done this what follows is my attempt at recording key milestones in our history from a personal perspective. So let's start our journey together by looking at the arrival of humans on the landmass we now call the Great Britain. We will look at some of the aspects of Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age Britain before moving into the modern era. I will be taking what is just my personal view of events during Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxon Britain, Norman Britain, Tudor and Stuart Britain before moving onto the Georgian, Victorian era and the Edwardian era. We will conclude our journey through the history of the island of my birth together by looking at aspects of the First and Second World Wars before finishing by coming right up to date.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52741256708369,"sku":"NIN9780993559105","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993559105.jpg?v=1763486867"},{"product_id":"greek-islands-in-the-sun-book-alan-r-massen-9780993559181","title":"Greek Islands in the Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreek Islands in the Sun is a journey to many of the beautiful paradise Greek holiday Islands set in the warm crystal clear Mediterranean azure blue sea. In this book we will explore, all of the paradise holiday Islands of Greece, from A to Z. Greece is a country in the south-east of Europe. It is located between the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The Greek Islands featured in this book are: Aegina, Agistri, Alonissos, Andros, Corfu, Crete, Evia, Hydra, Ikaria, Ios, Ithaca, Kalymnos, Kefalonia, Kos, Lefkas, Leros, Lesvos, Lipsi, Maganissi, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Patmos, Paxos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Skyros, Symi, Thassos and Zakynthos. Wherever, the mood takes you there is always a wealth of accommodation in Greece to suit all travellers including budget lodging, travel lodges, bed and breakfast and hotels. As you will see the places to visit in Greece are endless and there is something for everyone with a wealth of historic sites, walking trails, museums, landmarks, monuments, festivals, carnivals, beautiful scenery and of course holiday shopping opportunities  In this book we will visit the great beaches, towns and villages found on many of the lovely Islands featured that make up the wonderful country of Greece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":53518354317585,"sku":"NIN9780993559181","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780993559181.jpg?v=1778337464"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-alan-r-massen.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}