Most Popular Books by Michael Whelan

Michael and Helen Whelan believed that life after the birth of their first child would be the most amazing adventure. But at 14 months of age, their precious son Charlie''s development seemed to stall and Michael and Helen began to realise that something was wrong. Referred to a paediatrician by their GP, they were given the shattering news: Charlie was autistic. For Michael and Helen, this diagnosis was bewildering, frightening and heartbreaking; neither was really sure what autism was or what it meant to Charlie''s, and their family''s, future. The Other Country is Michael Whelan''s account of what happened next - the obstacles they faced, the treatments they tried and the people they met. The Whelans story is one of triumphs and setbacks, of tests and uncertainties, and above all, of dedication and love.

"The tradition of prayer within the Catholic church is rich and varied and complex. There are many people and themes and practices and sources that could be usefully studied. A much larger book would be required to do that however. In this beautifully presented and easy-to-follow new book, readers will be guided to find the enormous riches and complexity of the Catholic prayer tradition; enough practical guidance to enable them to begin, or perhaps to simply refine and deepen, their practice of prayer; as well as encouragement to go on exploring the possibilities in prayer for them personally, their families, friends and the wider community. This is for both gift and task. First of all it is gift. We begin with what God has done, is doing and will continue to do. What is on offer is god''s loving and liberating presence, all the time in all things. Secondly, we respond most fundamentally, this means waking up, becoming aware of what is going on throughout the cosmos, in each and every moment, person, event and thing. Oddly enough, waking up requires constant and consistent work. It is an ongoing task. That task is by way of facilitation rather than mastery. We do whatever we can to become present to the Presence, at all times, in all things.This is the way we will speak of prayer throughout this little book - being present to the Presence. Our focus will therefore be primarily on attitudes and dispositions rather than acts and rituals. It is the prayerful person we are most interested in, rather than the person who says prayers, the prayerful life rather than the mastery. We do whatever we can to become present to the Presence, at all times, in all things."

Many hydrophobic pollutants can be emitted to agricultural soils if sewage sludge is used as a fertiliser. The fate and effects of pollutants in such receiving environments are relatively poorly understood compared with our knowledge of chemical behaviour and impact in surface waters. One chemical of particular concern is triclosan because it has antimicrobial properties which could affect important soil functions. Triclosan is hydrophobic, which means it will sorb appreciably to organic solids and is not readily biodegradable. It is also used extensively in personal care products. These factors have prompted considerable attention in the literature with respect to its environmental profile. In recent years, this attention has shifted away from the water environment to terrestrial systems. This thesis bridges some of the knowledge gaps considering the fate (specifically mineralisation, primary degradation and the formation of bound residues) and the effects (to the soil function and phenotype) of triclosan in soils amended with biosolids. Cont/d.

Each waking day that strange summer, a current fresh, unwritten, woke moving out of nothing in a still half sleeping head. It pulled and reached, sometimes gentle under a breeze, sometimes wild under a wind. Rising. Ebbing. Rising. . . By breakfast it had shaped into words on the blank page of the soul. Poems of summer.