Category: Life

Posts predominantly related to Life.

Saving the home of the Gunpowder Plotters Last Stand

With Remember Remember The Fifth of November having just taken place a few days ago, it’s interesting that a pivotal site related to the plot to blow up Parliament has just been given protection. After their failure to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James I in November 1605, the gunpowder plotters fled to Holbeche… Continue reading Saving the home of the Gunpowder Plotters Last Stand

Meeting King ‘Kev’in Keegan

Back in 1983 my football team, Newcastle United, signed the then England Captain Kevin Keegan. I remember writing to him as a young boy and being incredibly happy when a few weeks later I received a signed photo back. It had pride of place in my bedroom on the windowsill which retrospectively might not have… Continue reading Meeting King ‘Kev’in Keegan

Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire at the Guildhall

A few weeks ago, on opening day actually, I went to see a new exhibition at the Guildhall Art Gallery which features over 200 items dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, many of them viewable for the first time.  There is a wide range of historical items, royal, military, ecclesiastical, and theatrical… Continue reading Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire at the Guildhall

How to spot when a London bridge is undergoing repair work

Having reached its third decade of use, the Millennium Bridge in London has been closed for repairs, maintenance and a thorough cleaning. I use the Millennium Bridge several times a week and its one of my favourite bridges if only for the amazing views it affords. There is also lots of miniature artworks that some… Continue reading How to spot when a London bridge is undergoing repair work

A notorious local murder 200 years ago today!

Originally I started composing this blog post for halloween but then I noticed how today is the anniversary of this awful crime so I thought it was rather fitting to post today. Just 3 or 4 miles from where I live is the scarily affluent town of Radlett, brimming with actors, socialites and premier league… Continue reading A notorious local murder 200 years ago today!

My sneak-peak inside the Raffles OWO Hotel

A few days ago after 9 years or so of waiting, the Raffles OWO Hotel opened in Whitehall to a great fanfare of a no-expense party with royalty and other high-status people. Obviously it will come as no surprise to you to learn that I too was there, yes about 9 hours after the party… Continue reading My sneak-peak inside the Raffles OWO Hotel

John Clayton – The man who planted the most famous tree in the world!

Not many people have heard of John Clayton but most of us have enjoyed his farsighted benevolence even if from a distance. There is a saying that a person is truly generous when they plant a tree that they will never live to see mature. If that is the case then there are few better… Continue reading John Clayton – The man who planted the most famous tree in the world!

Remembering the felled tree at Sycamore Gap

I wasn’t sure what I would post today. I have lots of material but some of them are quite in depth and take an hour or three to write and the busy summer tourist season in London shows no sign of ending. Sadly a few days ago something happened in the news that made my… Continue reading Remembering the felled tree at Sycamore Gap

Standing under the shoulders of giants

A few days ago I was fortunate to be invited on a private behind the scenes tour of the Guildhall in the City of London. Imagine that, me on a tour! It’s one of a handful of buildings I’ve always wanted to look around that I’ve never properly been in. I did once get a… Continue reading Standing under the shoulders of giants