Monthly Archives: July 2017

I’ve just had my DNA tested

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

I’ve always wanted to have my DNA tested and short of getting myself arrested, it seemed the best way to do this was to pay for one of those home-delivery kits. It must be said that I know quite a … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life | Tagged British, DNA, DNA Test, English, family history, Genealogy, Scottish, Viking, Welsh | 10 Comments

They Called It Passchendaele

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

For the last three years or so, I have been post occasional extracts from my WW1 concise history book Lest We Forget, published by Endeavour Press of London. July 31st marks the centennial of yet another of the landmark actions … Continue reading →

Posted in history, writing, WW1 | Tagged First World War, Lest We Forget, Passchendaele, Remembrance, Tyne Cot, Western Front, World War 1, WW1, Ypres | 5 Comments

The Do’s and Dont’s when you meet The Queen

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

If you are ever fortunate or indeed unfortunate enough to meet The Queen then there are certain protocols that are expected. Indeed when meeting any royal, there are rules about who can speak first, where to look, what to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Britannia, Life, News | Tagged China, chivalry, Commonwealth Day, etiquette, Life, Manners, President XI, Royal Family, The Queen | 7 Comments

Prince Eustace and Joffrey

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Once again, much of the television watching world is gripped by the latest installments of Game of Thrones. Not myself sadly as I don’t have access to the channel that broadcasts it in the U.K. so face another long and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Popular Culture, television | Tagged Empress Matilda, England, Game of Thrones, Henry Fitz Empress, King Stephen, Prince Eustace, Prince Joffrey, Purple Wedding, war | 1 Comment

Predicting the weather with Old Wives Tales

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Most of us are familiar with Old Wives Tales, traditional pearls of wisdom from sources lost through the ages but seemingly tapping into an eternal truth that is only revealed to older married women whose only qualification is a lifetime … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, Life | Tagged English, Idioms, Life, Old Wives Tales, Red Sky At Night, Sayings, Straight from the Horse's Mouth, Weather | 4 Comments

My new tour – Sacred, Secret, Gardens of London

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

One of the joys of doing walking tours around London is that I often come across new areas, secret oasis almost, in the midst of one the largest and busiest cities in the world. I find that my tourists often … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Britannia, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Christopher Wren, churches, City of London, London, Private Tours, ruins, St Dunstan's in the East | 13 Comments

Missing Mam, 4 years on.

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

It’s now well over 4 years since I unexpectedly lost my mother and though I would very much like to say things have settled into a new normal, they really haven’t. Or if they have then the new normal really … Continue reading →