Bøger af Desmond Collins

A quirky anthology of five different, but positive short stories. Based on a caring sense of family and community which will appeal to many from different walks of life.Desmond Collins has lived most of his life in or near Wellington, New Zealand. He enjoys the steep bush-clad hills and landlocked harbour that dominate the city. The air is fresh and the wind frequently gusts over eighty kilometres per hour. He currently lives in a Victorian cottage that was built in 1880. The garden is packed with fruit trees, flowering plants and vegetables in a scene reminiscent of a somewhat unkempt English cottage garden. For many years he and his wife cared for a very disabled daughter. This raised questions about spiritual beliefs, choices made for a variety of reasons, and life priorities. It also meant there was time to let his mind wander and dream up 'what if' scenarios. The stories here are some of the results.

Secret rooms, hidden treasure...In the early nineteenth century, New Zealand was established as the most remote colony of the British Empire. Land was bought and sometimes stolen from resident Maori tribes to establish settlements. Wellington, later to become the capital city, was first settled by Europeans in 1840. During the remainder of the nineteenth century, the city grew rapidly onto the surrounding hills.Today, the inner suburbs still contain many wooden villas and cottages built during that Victorian era. Many of the builders and early owners are unknown and later owners doing repairs and renovations sometimes discover secrets from the past hidden within their homes.This story describes three generations of a Wellington family and the effect on their lives from some very surprising discoveries.

A concise, clearly written 1973 introduction to the early past of Britain and Europe from the beginnings up to the twelfth century AD, which presents archaeological research in a readily understandable form. A major virtue of this book is the way in which it brings into focus all the separate strands of evidence to present a coherent narrative development.