Monthly Archives: January 2017

Up Helly Aa – The Modern Day Viking Festival

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

This coming Tuesday sees one of the most spectacular event of the British cultural calendar though it is a long from most people in the British Isles. It is known as Up Helly Aa and takes place in the town … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Britannia, Culture, history, Life, Travel | Tagged history, Lerwick, Life, Scotland, Shetland, The Shetland Islands, Up Helly Aa, Vikings | 8 Comments

Remembering My Great Grandad Ernest Heard Who Died 100 Years Ago Today in Amarah, Iraq.

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Today marks the 100th anniversary of one of the biggest moments in 20th century history, if not for many people, at least for myself and perhaps a few others. For on this day, January 25th 1917, my Great Grandad Ernest … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, WW1 | Tagged Amara, Amarah, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Death, history, Iraq, Lest We Forget, Mesapotamia, Private Ernest Heard, Remembrance, WW1 | 17 Comments

Lion – The Movie Review

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

I’m not lucky in many ways but one thing I am fortunate in is that I really know what sort of movies I like. What I like is something substantial and thoughtful. The majority of films I see advertised … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Movies and Films, Popular Culture | Tagged Dev Patel, Film, Film Review, India, Life, Lion, Lion The Movie, movies, Saroo | 5 Comments

140 London Underground Facts

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Some people say that we are living in a post-fact world. This epic list of facts relating to the London Underground says otherwise! So whether you use it every day or just see it on movies, here are some facts … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Travel | Tagged England, Facts, history, Life, London, London Underground, The Tube, Trains, WW2 | 18 Comments

A History of Hacking – And how hacking got America into WW1

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Going by the furore in the media at the moment, one would be forgiven for thinking that the world is ending because of the likelihood that Russia has hacked into American computer systems. The truth is, this sort of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Science and Engineering, WW1, WW2 | Tagged Cyphers, GCHQ, Hacking, Life, Nigel de Grey, NSA, The Enigma Machine, WW1, Zimmerman Telegram | 4 Comments

The Bacton Altar Cloth Revealed To Be The Only Surviving Gown of Queen Elizabeth I

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

One of the things I like to do both when I am giving tours or merely pottering around the countryside in my own time is to stop off an explore village churches. Each one is a veritable box of delights … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, London, Religion and Faith, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Bacton Altar Cloth, church, county of herefordshire, Hampton Court Palace, Life, Queen Elizabeth I, St Faith Church Bacton | 6 Comments

Found! The Lost Welsh City Of Trellech

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Many people have their heroes, people that they might want to imitate. Maybe a film star, entrepreneur or scientist. Until now, I didn’t really have anyone… at least not alive but now I have in the unassuming form of Stuart … Continue reading →