Between 1947 and 1963, every able-bodied male in Britain turned seventeen was required by Act of Parliament to do two years’ service in one of the Armed Forces (with the inevitable variations and exceptions). In the course of those fifteen years, over two and a half million young men were drafted into uniform of one colour or another. Seventy-five per cent found themselves in the Army. Human nature being what it is, that meant that a sizeable proportion or them formed, or cherished, the ambition to become an officer, to hold the Queen’s Commission. That’s a lot of ambition. The successful ones among them would have to undergo some fairly intensive training before that commission was granted. That meant that, before anything else could happen, the authorities had to make up their minds which aspirants seemed to be the most likely prospects. Put in military terms, how did ‘they’ locate and select their ‘Potential Leaders’? This is an account of what happened to a typical national serviceman who found himself drafted into a ‘Potential Leader’ platoon for his ten weeks’ basic training – in this case in the Army. How did he get there? Why did the Army put him there? And what did they do in the succeeding ten weeks to reassure themselves that they hadn’t made a mistake? It made for an eventful, and at times slightly mysterious ten weeks.

Originally titled 'Love Has No Gender', Pip's story began over 30 years ago at a time of ignorance and misinformation. It is a true story of a journey into the unknown. A lifetime later this tale is still as fresh and as frightening as it was then.A percentage of the royalties for this book will be donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust.

A heartwarming story of an adorable bloodhound with a nose that takes her on fun and far away on adventures.

So, you want to experience the ultimate overseas adventure? Whether you're a gap year student or young traveller, taking a sabbatical or career break, a parent or guardian wanting to travel with your children, or in retirement and looking for your next adventure - The Big Trip is for you. Advice and information in this comprehensive companion, now in its 4th edition, has been thoroughly revised and updated to include expert tips and recommendations that will help you create and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime dream adventure abroad. We've also added a new section about how to use your time away to turn your life's passion into a new career, with advice on gaining professional accreditation in climbing, mountaineering, diving, sailing, snowsports, wildlife guiding and more. There's also a chapter on accessible travel by Martin Heng for specialist destination and travel advice for those with a disability. Improved accommodation advice now covers everything from cheap and cheerful digs for budget backpackers to higher-end hotels for those wishing to spend more. Experiences include: Blackwater rafting through eerie glow-worm-lit Waitomo Caves in New Zealand Attempting a Tibetan kora (pilgrimage) around Mt Kailash, Asia's most sacred mountain Surfing your way along Hawaii's best beach breaks Getting down and dirty at the Boryeong Mud Festival in Korea Discovering your top temple at Angkor Wat in Cambodia Volunteering on a marine conservation project off the coast of Madagascar Learning to speak Italian at an institute in the heart of Rome Stirring your soul along the sacred, ghat-lined Ganges in Varanasi, India Learning to make Balinese dishes worthy of paradise Climbing to Bhutan's iconic cliff-clinging monastery, Taktshang Goemba Taking a tandem hang-gliding flight from Pedra Bonita over Rio de Janeiro Qualifying to teach everything from English to skiing, diving and mountaineering The Big Trip is your ticket to all this and more: Essential pre-trip planning: health, safety, kit, costs, tickets (new tips such as five apps to keep you safe, nine best ways to save on air tickets online) Volunteering and working abroad: from freelancing and fruit picking to yacht-crewing and teaching Regional overviews, maps and a diverse range of road-tested itineraries Tips and stories from experts and travellers, who range from teenagers to seniors and those travelling with their kids Comprehensive directory of essential resources About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

From an Aurora Award-winning author, a new sci-fi novel follows three intrepid humans caught up in a conflict that stretches across time and space. Biologist Julie E. Czerneda's new standalone science fiction novel, To Each This World follows a desperate mission to reconnect with long lost sleeper ships, sent centuries earlier from Earth to settle distant worlds. A trio of Humans must work with their mysterious alien allies to rescue any descendants they can find on those worlds. Something is out there, determined to claim the cosmos for itself, and only on Earth will Humans be safe. Or will they? The challenge isn’t just to communicate with your own kind after generations have passed. It’s to understand what isn’t your kind at all. And how far will trust take you, when the truth depends on what you are?