It might come as a surprise to you that the concept of the audio book rental first became fashionable way back in the 1970's At that time, audio books began to proliferate as mass distribution began to kick in

An audio book is a relatively new format and one that arouses skepticism in many people, especially if they have been brought up to appreciate the written word This is unfortunate, because an audio book is very easy to use and, with the right hardware and software combination, many people could begin to appreciate a whole new world of story-telling and information

St Hilda's Abbey, Whitby Even as you bask in the sun on Whitby's sandy beaches, you cannot fail to be aware of the imposing and slightly sinister presence of the ruined Abbey, high on the East Cliff Situated on the eastern edge of Whitby, the Abbey is accessed by climbing the 199 stone steps that lead from the end of Church Street

Whitby's nautical heritage runs deep in the town's blood, and everywhere you go there are reminders of this affiliation - from the dark passageway leading to the old and evocatively-named Old Smuggler café, nestled unexpectedly between two modern shops on Baxtergate - to the more obvious reminders in and around the town's harbor