Category Archives: Popular Culture

Posts predominantly related to Popular Culture

The Legend of Jack O’ Legs – Hertfordshire’s answer to Robin Hood!

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

We all know the story of Robin Hood, Little John and the others in Sherwood Forest but where I live we have a similarly motivated though perhaps less successful and well-know figure and his name is Jack O’Legs who also stole … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Popular Culture | Tagged Baldock, church, County of Hertfordshire, Giant, Jack O'Legs, King Arthur, Legends, Robin Hood, Weston | 4 Comments

Coronavirus Diary 65 – Social Distancing at the Cinema with a blockbuster (Tenet) movie review

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Just before moving, I got myself an annual cinema card as going to the Pictures is my favourite pastime. I thought I’d move house and finally get to go to unlimited movies, cricket matches, Theatre productions. None of that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Movies and Films | Tagged Cinema, Cineworld, Coronavirus Diary, Diary, Mask, Movie Review, Social Distancing, Tenet | 3 Comments

Pineapples – From Regal luxury to 70’s chintz!

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Do you like Pineapples? I don’t know about you but I don’t really like them at all. They burn my tongue which is as good a reason as any not to like a food but there was a time when … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, Popular Culture | Tagged food, Gardening, King Charles II, Pineapple, royalty, Status Symbol | 1 Comment

I saw a sad, kind man headline the national news yesterday and I cried for he was me.

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

As many of you will know I’ve spent much of the last 6 months complaining, badgering, writing, harassing and generally making a nuisance of myself to the government in a polite and sarcastic fashion that is uniquely mine. I’m sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, News, television | Tagged Boris Johnson, Ellie Phillips, ExcludedUK, ForgottenLtd, ForgottenPAYE, Ivor Bennet, Mindthegaps, Rishi Sunak, Sky News, Suicide | 5 Comments

Coronavirus Diary 57 – Following in the footsteps of Count Dracula

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

When one thinks of Count Dracula it is natural to think of Transylvania in Romania with the dark foreboding forests and eerie castle or perhaps the ancient pathways and lonely hills of Whitby. However some of Dracula is actually set … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, Life, London, Popular Culture | Tagged Cemetery, Count Dracula, Dracula, Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, St John at Hampstead | 1 Comment

Remembering Ennio Morricone

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

I heard early yesterday morning of the death of film composer Ennio Morricone who provided the soundtrack to some of my favourite films. Born in Rome in 1928 while Italy was headed by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, Morricone learned music … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Movies and Films, News, Opinion | Tagged Ennio Morricone, Film music, Must | 2 Comments

Echo Chamber Politics – What’s wrong with being offended?

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

I don’t know how it is where you live but over here, everyone who is anyone conducts interviews or media broadcasts in front of bookshelves. One or two come over as very poor excuses for a bookshelf especially for a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, News, Politics, television | Tagged Bookcase, Churchill, echo chamber, Interview, Lloyd George, Michael Gove | 17 Comments

Coronavirus Diary 14 – Why thursday’s break the routine

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

If you’re anything like me then by now you’ve established some sort of routine, even if a very slack and boring one. It’s been over 3 weeks since the official the official notice to not go out unless necessary; 6 … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Popular Culture | Tagged Coronavirus, Coronavirus Diary, Covid19, Diary, National Theatre, NHS, One Man, Self isolation, Two Guvnors, West End | 2 Comments

Coronavirus Diary Supplemental – Self Isolating with a good book!

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

I wasn’t going to post anything today. Being cooped up inside for week after week and having a work in progress living room where one can live but not yet feel comfortable today offers a rare chance to go in … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, television, Travel | Tagged books, Central Asia, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Diary, Covid19, Planes Trains and Sinking Boats, reading, Spring, The Road To Oxania, Travelogue | 7 Comments

Coronavirus Diary 10 – Creatively Self-Isolating

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

One of the things I love is being creative. I’ve always wanted to be more creative. I’ve written books, penned magazine articles and had the odd television and radio appearance as a nominal ‘expert’ but ever since I creatively started … Continue reading →