Category: Culture

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry

The internet is always full of cat videos and cat memes and I thought I would try to raise the bar a little by bringing up the marvellous poem by Christopher Smart, a poet and mystic who led an eventful life at a time when religion and science were competing for the greatest minds in… Continue reading For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry

Christmas Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral & my new favourite hymn ‘Oh Holy Night’

Before we get to the reason I started this post, I thought you might like to see a few photos of when I went to Christmas Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral. We had to queue for over 2 hours to get in but it was all more than worthwhile. As you can see, St Paul’s… Continue reading Christmas Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral & my new favourite hymn ‘Oh Holy Night’

Words that are becoming extinct

Like many of us, I am a big fan of and user of words.  One of my most popular blog posts is 102 great words that aren’t in English but should be102 great words that aren’t in English but should be. I’m also a fan of etymology, the study of the origin of words and… Continue reading Words that are becoming extinct

The Anglo-Saxon exhibition at the British Library

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get to visit an incredible new exhibition at the British Library all about the Anglo-Saxons.  Despite going past the building almost every day for 25 years, I’ve never been in it before (I avidly visited the old building) and it is one of if not the… Continue reading The Anglo-Saxon exhibition at the British Library

A long farewell to Rick, a bitter-sweet scene with Hershel…. The Walking Dead.

Its not often I write a third blog post in a week.  I’m writing this on Tuesday, having just watched the latest instalment of The Walking Dead. I’ve been a long time fan of the Walking Dead television show.  It’s quality has waned somewhat in the last 2 or 3 years.  Previously known for gripping… Continue reading A long farewell to Rick, a bitter-sweet scene with Hershel…. The Walking Dead.

My latest ‘mini’ horror movie – Bad Dream?

It’s become something of a tradition for my friend and I to make a Halloween inspired video and I thought I would share this years effort. Bizarrely, whilst all the other young children would and still do watch cute shows, all of my favourite shows and films were adult historical/war, sci-fi and in horror and I… Continue reading My latest ‘mini’ horror movie – Bad Dream?

The Kazakhstan art exhibition in a disused London power station

Whilst out and about scouting a new walking tour in the East End of London, I had the good fortune to come across one of those hidden treasures which I still do so regularly even after all my exploration. Going along old Wapping High Street, one of the most unexpected sights you might see is… Continue reading The Kazakhstan art exhibition in a disused London power station

How do you like your tea?

We are often labelled a nation of animal lovers, gardeners, shopkeepers, queue-ers, weather-watchers, good manners and apologising etc etc but surely there are few things that we are better known for than for our love of a good cup of tea. I don’t drink coffee, I don’t even like the smell.  All those stupid and ever… Continue reading How do you like your tea?

So long Harlan Ellison, writer of my favourite hour of TV ever… The City on the Edge of Forever

On Saturday I was sad to wake to the news of the death of the writer of my favourite hour of episodic television and indeed many peoples favourite hour.  Harlan Ellison the writer of the beloved original Star Trek episode City On The Edge of Forever has died at the age of 84. Harlan is… Continue reading So long Harlan Ellison, writer of my favourite hour of TV ever… The City on the Edge of Forever