Monthly Archives: February 2019

The Robocops of Kinshasa

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Central Africa might not be your first guess when it comes to thinking of robocops but for the last 5 years or so in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been using them in increasing numbers in … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, News, Science and Engineering | Tagged Africa, Cars, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Life, Police, Robocop, Robots | Leave a comment

The Tintagel Bridge over the troubled waters of King Arthur

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

There are few places in the world where history and legend intermix so thoroughly and so naturally as at Tintagel in Cornwall. Following the retreat of the Romans from Britannia, from about the 5th to the 7th century AD it … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, News | Tagged Britain, castles, Cornwall, English Heritage, King Arthur, Legends, Merlin, Tintagel | 2 Comments

Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

One of the perks of doing guided tours is coming across unexpected treasures. Many of the places I visit are off the usual tourist-track but no matter how many times I go out on walks, I find new things almost … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Religion and Faith | Tagged Barbican, churches, City of London, John Milton, Milton, Paradise Lost, Poetry, Roman Walking Tour, St Giles Cripplegate | 3 Comments

Samphire Hoe – The newest part of England

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

There are almost countless things to see in the county of Kent from Chartwell House in the north, Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and all manner of Roman sites. Of course what is perhaps more famous than them all are the … Continue reading →

Posted in geography, Life, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Channel Tunnel, County of Kent, Dover, English Channel, Kent, Land reclamation, Samphire, Samphire Hoe, White Cliffs of Dover | 6 Comments

The tragic tale of Gelert the trusted hound of King Llwelyn The Great

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

These days people travel to Snowdonia in North West Wales for the incredible old castles and villages and particularly the rugged, wild landscapes and outdoor pursuits. It was a lot different in the thirteen-century when as with much of Britain … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, Travel | Tagged Beddgelert, Gelert, King Llwelyn The Great, Legends, Myths, Snowdonia, Wales | 5 Comments

Taking a ride on the Shields Ferry

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Last summer when I was walking Hadrian’s Wall on my fundraising trip, I took a brief diversion on the way to see Bede’s chapel at Jarrow and the ancestral home of of George Washington in the aptly named Washington Hall. … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, Life, Northumberland and Durham, Travel | Tagged Newcastle, North Shields, Shields Ferry, South Shields, Stan Laurel, Tyne, Tyne & Wear Metro | 1 Comment

National Sickie Day – Good and stupid reasons to take a day off work.

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

According to national statistics the first Monday in February is the day when people are most likely to pull a sickie. One of the factors attributed to this is the first payday since Christmas, meaning people have been out celebrating … Continue reading →