If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Early this week I had what passes as a moment of minor success at my workplace. I managed to secure an order from a customer.  This may sound mundane and indeed it isn’t the greatest achievement ever.  However I have been trying to win business from this customer for over 2 and a half years. … Continue reading If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Armistice Day – Remembrance Sunday

Sunday sees the third, final and probably by far the most important in the triumvirate of special days in the UK autumn calendar, Armistice Day. Regular readers of my blog will know that I take an interest in visiting memorials around the country (and indeed the world) and Sunday will see the whole nation do… Continue reading Armistice Day – Remembrance Sunday

Wiki-leaks, double standards and democracy – What have we got to preach about?

I was going to write something different today but having responded to a post on the ever excellent Tea with a Pirate regarding the Wikileaks scandal in London, Sweden and Ecuador at http://managuagunntoday.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/freedoms-just-another-word/  I was told that perhaps it was worthy of being a post in it’s own right and so here it is, a slightly… Continue reading Wiki-leaks, double standards and democracy – What have we got to preach about?

Remember, Remember The 5th Of November

The second in our group of 3 special days at this time of year is Guy Fawkes Night, now more commonly known as Bonfire Night. Not having an Independence Day or an official National Day, Guy Fawkes Night is a day that children look forward to for many weeks in the U.K.  From an early… Continue reading Remember, Remember The 5th Of November

Halloweens of past and present

This week sees the beginning of special part of the calendar which for various historic reasons see 3 of the most important events of the calendar taking place in what would otherwise be a dark and dreary part of the year. October 31st is of course Halloween and to celebrate we have a Full Moon,… Continue reading Halloweens of past and present

All about Attingham Park (and Croft Castle too)!

Today my blog returns us to the green hills of Shropshire and our final full day of our holiday towards the end of September.  We chose to spend our day at Attingham Park, a grand house a few miles east of Shrewsbury. Compared to the houses we had visited earlier, Attingham seemed to be on… Continue reading All about Attingham Park (and Croft Castle too)!

Corporate Tax Dodgers – Am I really more profitable than Starbucks?

Today I thought I would write about something just a little bit more serious and contemporary for a change.  Over recent weeks there has been an ever increasing furore regarding large multinational companies which are either completely avoiding paying Corporate taxes or paying a derisory sum.  In times past this has been overlooked but with… Continue reading Corporate Tax Dodgers – Am I really more profitable than Starbucks?

Petrol from thin air

Originally posted on The Political Idealist:
It might sound like complete science fiction, or at least a distant scientific advance, but it is being done now: the production of zero carbon petroleum from nothing more than air and water. What’s more, it’s happening in Britain. Today’s Independent features the news feature, and we could be…

A visit to Stokesay Castle and then Shrewsbury.

Resuming with postings of my recent week long holiday in Shropshire and we are now at thursday.  The floods and rains had subsided and we were in serious danger of seeing blue skies and indeed by mid-morning we were all started by the appearance of this yellow-white disc in the sky.   According to the history… Continue reading A visit to Stokesay Castle and then Shrewsbury.