Category: News

Coronavirus Diary 12 – Small steps, big solutions

One of the things about self-isolating when you’re on your own is that there are very limited opportunities to speak and fewer still that anyone might answer back.   Yesterday I went to my front door and daringly opened it. There weren’t many people about even by curfew standards.  The little school opposite me remains open… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 12 – Small steps, big solutions

Revealing the remains of Eanswythe – An ancient Anglo-Saxon princess and Saint.

Exciting news has come out recently, at least exciting if ancient skeletal remains are your thing. An Anglo-Saxon princess who was one of England’s earliest Christian saints has been identified by scientists in a church in Kent. The remains have been found to Date from the mid-seventh century AD, the princess was the daughter of King Eadbald… Continue reading Revealing the remains of Eanswythe – An ancient Anglo-Saxon princess and Saint.

Coronavirus Diary 7 – I may well be going mad, well more mad anyway.

How is everyone?  We all still here?  That’s good. As I thought would be the case, some old fashioned values and community spirit have been returning.   I’ve been penned inside my home for a month or two really on top of the official 12 week ban I have on going outside except in dire emergencies.… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 7 – I may well be going mad, well more mad anyway.

The Queen homes in on being the longest serving monarch in history

Last week Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  became the fourth longest-serving monarch today, surpassing legendary Mayan ruler Pakal the Great. The Queen has surpassed  K’inich Janaab Pakal who ruled the Mayan city state of Palenque for 68 years and 33 days before his death in 683AD. The Queen obviously holds several records including her title as the longest-living… Continue reading The Queen homes in on being the longest serving monarch in history

Top 10 worst London (and global) pandemics in history

The current Coronavirus is just the latest in a really long line of pandemic outbreaks with London getting more than its fair share of them as it always does for good and for bad.  It isn’t much consolation as we all wait this thing out and the lucky ones get through it but it’s worth… Continue reading Top 10 worst London (and global) pandemics in history

The Coronavirus and me

Like almost everyone else, I’ve been watching the Coronavirus do its stuff from the last weeks of 2019 up to the present day and even though I don’t yet have it; it has affected me quite badly. As a tour guide in London I have not just lost all my bookings and earnings but I… Continue reading The Coronavirus and me

Mind The Gap – Someone pushed me under a London Underground Train!

If not your worst nightmare, it’s probably one that ranks near the very top of the worst nightmare list but on Friday morning, I got pushed and fell down the gap between a London Underground tube train and the platform. I’d picked up my lovely tourists at the Grosvenor in Victoria and was on a… Continue reading Mind The Gap – Someone pushed me under a London Underground Train!

Are pubs making a comeback?

Most people around the world know that British pubs are a national institution but from 2001 to 2018, 25% of our pubs closed due to the changing nature of our societies, work-life patterns, availability of cheaper drinks elsewhere and other factors such as the use of social-media which has reduced people actually going out and… Continue reading Are pubs making a comeback?

Queen Elizabeth I – Linguistic genius?

There are many things we may associate with the great Queen Elizabeth I from her famed private life,  glorious victories at sea particularly over the Spanish Armada and that famous speech at Tilbury.  As she put it, she may have had the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth I – Linguistic genius?