Category: News

A Brief History of the Penny

As the modern era of a cashless society rolls relentlessly onwards and due to inflation the value of it ever decreasing, the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has raised the prospect that like the half pence in the 1980’s the Penny be removed from circulation.  The fact that the banking chief claims to rarely… Continue reading A Brief History of the Penny

The Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth

The Fourth Plinth is probably the most famous public art commission in the world and it all began back in 1994 when after 150 years with an empty plinth, Prue Leith, then chair of the Royal Society of Arts wrote a letter to the Evening Standard suggesting that something should be done about the empty… Continue reading The Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth

There’s English and there’s English.

Language is very important to all of us, which ever one it is that we speak.  Over 20,000 people a year read my old post on 102 Words That Aren’t In English But Should Be 102 Words That Aren’t In English But Should Be.  A few weeks ago however a report appeared that put the cat… Continue reading There’s English and there’s English.

James Bulger 25 years on – the crime that shocked the nation.

25 years ago this week, a crime shook Britain and the city of Liverpool in particular with such revulsion that no-one who was alive at the time will ever forget.  It was a crime where society sank to a new low and thankfully in the intervening years, nothing quite so sickening has ever happened since.… Continue reading James Bulger 25 years on – the crime that shocked the nation.

Busting the myth of London being a Rainy city

If there is one thing that tourists ask me when I’m out with them it is Brexit or Donald Trump.  If there is a second thing they ask me it is about the weather.    For some reason, people have the idea that it always rains in London and really it couldn’t be further from… Continue reading Busting the myth of London being a Rainy city

Sport brings people together – How Cricket is creating a new future for Rwanda

We all know that sport has a unique ability to bring people together from all around the world and those of us who have travelled to places a little less ordinary know that there are few better ways to make friends quickly than with a smile and a ball. Though there are many examples, there… Continue reading Sport brings people together – How Cricket is creating a new future for Rwanda

Why is sorry the hardest word? – The modern stars with their non-apologies

Some years ago I wrote an Unapologic Guide To Saying Sorry but I feel there are some celebrities who might need a refresh. If you’re anything like me, the chances are that before last week you’d never heard of Logan Paul, perhaps you still haven’t and if so, I’m really sorry to bring him up.  I’m… Continue reading Why is sorry the hardest word? – The modern stars with their non-apologies

The castle at the bottom of a Turkish Lake

  It has been thought by many that the breaching of the Bosphurus thousands of years near present day Istanbul may have given rise to the accounts of the legendary Great Flood not just with Noah in the Holy Bible but in various other ancient texts. When the area was flooded, no doubt thousands of… Continue reading The castle at the bottom of a Turkish Lake

How did countries get their names?

Have you ever wondered why your country has the name it has (in the English language anyway)? How did England get its name? There are two reasons and they are possibly linked. As with countless other countries, the name is largely down to a tribe of early settlers in this case the 5th Century Angles.… Continue reading How did countries get their names?