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 cloth bracelet) on the wrist of her brother as a symbol of her love and… Continue reading The festival of Raksha Bandhan
Category: Life
When did travelling become such hell?
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 anything from 1 to 50 fellow humans, hire a chauffer in the form of a… Continue reading When did travelling become such hell?
Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen
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 actually claim to have some academic expertise. So I have finally taken the opportunity to… Continue reading Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen
The Great American Eclipse and harbingers of doom!
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 is quite well known that comets were once harbingers of doom in days gone by… Continue reading The Great American Eclipse and harbingers of doom!
What type of sleeper are you?
We’re all used to dividing ourselves between Early-Birds and Night Owls depending on our natural predilection for when we get up and are at our best. I’m very much an Early Bird, I don’t own an alarm clock and indeed have never been woken by one. I get up around 5am almost every day and even… Continue reading What type of sleeper are you?
Peter The Wild Boy
In the summer of 1725 an uncouth youth was found in the forest of Hertswold near Hameln in northern Germany. It was thought the boy was aged about 10 years old though he walked on all fours and fed on grass and leaves. ‘A naked, brownish, ‘A naked, brownish, black haired creature’, he would run… Continue reading Peter The Wild Boy
I’ve just had my DNA tested
I’ve always wanted to have my DNA tested and short of getting myself arrested, it seemed the best way to do this was to pay for one of those home-delivery kits. It must be said that I know quite a lot about my likely heritage and have written before about being related to various Anglo-Saxon… Continue reading I’ve just had my DNA tested
The Do’s and Dont’s when you meet The Queen
If you are ever fortunate or indeed unfortunate enough to meet The Queen then there are certain protocols that are expected. Indeed when meeting any royal, there are rules about who can speak first, where to look, what to call them, how you should stand and when you should sit. It is a mysterious… Continue reading The Do’s and Dont’s when you meet The Queen
Prince Eustace and Joffrey
Once again, much of the television watching world is gripped by the latest installments of Game of Thrones. Not myself sadly as I don’t have access to the channel that broadcasts it in the U.K. so face another long and perilous 7 months before the next Bluray Boxset comes out. As incredible as it may… Continue reading Prince Eustace and Joffrey
Predicting the weather with Old Wives Tales
Most of us are familiar with Old Wives Tales, traditional pearls of wisdom from sources lost through the ages but seemingly tapping into an eternal truth that is only revealed to older married women whose only qualification is a lifetime of experience. They cover all areas of life but not least the weather. Despite being… Continue reading Predicting the weather with Old Wives Tales
Stephen Liddell 