Category Archives: Life

Posts predominantly related to Life.

Do you have confidence in anyone? Or is the world incompetent?

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

I don’t know about you but since I was about 3 years of age, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that the world is populated largely by incompetent people. This is a feeling that has increased exponentially to the level where … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, News, Opinion | Tagged Arriva, Brexit, Diane Abbott, EU, Incompetence, Labour, Theresa May, Vote of no-confidence, Watford, Yodel | 12 Comments

The original 9 principles of the police

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

There had been many attempts at upholding law and order over the centuries. Groups of Night Watchmen and organisations such as the Bow Street Runners came and went, doing the best they could but the concept of a professional police did … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, News | Tagged Bobby, Larry The Cat, Metropolitan Police, Parliament, Police, Robert Peel, Sir Robert Peel | Leave a comment

Introducing The Tulip – Londons slightly erotic looking skyscraper

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

It says something about how much development is occurring in London and also for the longevity of my blog that my 2014 post entitled Looking Up At London is now thoroughly out of date. I’ve written other blogs about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cool Britannia, Life, London, News | Tagged Architecture, Construction, London, Skyscapers, The Scalpel, The Tulip, Towers | Leave a comment

Words that are becoming extinct

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Life | Tagged Betrumped, Endangered words, English, Etymology, Idioms, Straight from the Horse's Mouth, Words | 3 Comments

The famous farting lamp of London

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

Last week I wrote on The Great Stink of 1868. By chance todays post is on a related subject. Many people will be aware that in the Victorian age, much of London was lit with gas lamps and in deed … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Science and Engineering | Tagged Carting Lane, Joseph Webb, London, Sewage lamp, Sewers, The Savoy, Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp | 9 Comments

The Anglo-Saxon exhibition at the British Library

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Life, Religion and Faith | Tagged Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Saxon Exhibition, Beowulf, British Library, Codex Amiatinus, The Domesday Book, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, The Lindisfarne Illuminated Manuscripts | 4 Comments

The Great Stink of 1858

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

If like me, you suffered through the blazing London summer of 2018 with seemingly wall to wall sunshine heat and humidity from Easter to the end of September, squashed on your commute in airless tube trains and wondering how you’d … Continue reading →