Monthly Archives: August 2017

A walk along the Grand Union Canal

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

It’s been a very warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekend in London and I managed to wangle it so that I didn’t spend every minute of it working. During a few hours of spare time I decided to go on … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Science and Engineering, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Canals, hertfordshire, Star Wars, The Grand Union Canal, Tours, Travel, walks | 5 Comments

The London fences made from stretchers

Posted on August 26, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Famously many of the iron and steel railings in the U.K. were removed and melted down to help the war effort in WW2. Whether a large city park or a private residence, chances are if there was a traditional style … Continue reading →

Posted in history, London, Science and Engineering, WW2 | Tagged Air Raid Protection Officers, ARP Stretcher Fences, history, Life, Stretcher Fences, The Blitz, Ye Olde England Tours | 6 Comments

Of Mice And Men – The smallest monument in London

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

I’ve known about the mice of Philpot Lane for a year when I started researching for a forthcoming London Attractions book which I am working on but it was only on Tuesday that I finally set my eyes upon it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Philpot Lane Mice, The Great Fire of London, The Monument | 6 Comments

The festival of Raksha Bandhan

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Two weeks ago today on August 7th, was the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Originating with the Hindu faith in India (though long observed by Sikhs too), it centres on a ceremony wherein a sister will tie a Rakhi (a simple … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Religion and Faith | Tagged Faith, Family, Hindu, India, Rakhi, Raksha Bandhan, Sikh | 6 Comments

When did travelling become such hell?

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

I am a little unusual I admit, I quite like travelling by public transport and I always have. I don’t see driving a car as superior and much prefer to pay someone to do that for me so along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Opinion, Travel | Tagged Bus, children, Commuting, etiquette, London, London Underground, Manners, Trains, Travel | 9 Comments

Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

From time to time, I have written about iconic and pioneering women in relative recent history, well recent by British standards 🙂 I also sometimes write about the Middle-East which is actually the one area of life that I can … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, WW1 | Tagged Baghdad, Gertrude Bell, Iraq, Islam, Lawrence of Arabia, Lest We Forget, Mesapotamia, Sykes-Picot, WW1 | 19 Comments

The Great American Eclipse and harbingers of doom!

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

With the Solar Eclipse about to hit the USA and a partial eclipse in many other places including the UK, it interesting to note that what is now a special tourist event was once something to be feared. Whilst it … Continue reading →