Are British really obsessed with weather

Earlier this week I posted about whether the widely known stereotype of us British having bad teeth had any validity?  In the end, it had none at all and we can rest easy knowing there are few with more healthy or well-maintained teeth than us. Today I’m going to deal with another stereotype, namely are… Continue reading Are British really obsessed with weather

Do the British really have bad teeth?

This week I thought that I would write a few articles regarding stereotypes of what others around the world think of us British.  Some of them are well-founded and some of them are less so. Today, I’d like to get my teeth into the often repeated mantra that people in Britain have really bad teeth.  It’s… Continue reading Do the British really have bad teeth?

Happy 100th Birthday Granddad

Today is a special day as my Granddad, Harold Stanley Heard, was born 100 years ago today on March 5th 1916.  It seems such a long time ago when you think about it.  20 of those periods would take you back to Jesus.  Of course, Granddad didn’t really get close to making his centenary and… Continue reading Happy 100th Birthday Granddad

Twitter Etiquette – Is Twitter just for twits?

That’s the question I’m asking myself after doing my best to use this apparently essential social media tool.  Firstly to declare my interest as they say on political shows, I’m not much one for Social Media.  I just see most of it as a waste of time and resources with the resources being my time… Continue reading Twitter Etiquette – Is Twitter just for twits?

The Drowned Village of Dunwich

There are several places around Britain that are said could be the location of the mythical Atlantis.  Last year I wrote about Doggerland in the North Sea, another possible location are the Isle of Scilly which in recorded history were once a larger landmass before the sea levels rose and people were forced to live… Continue reading The Drowned Village of Dunwich

The Return of The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman is one of the most famous names in locomotion and with a history as grand as its reputation.  The Flying Scotsman is an express passenger train service that has run the 392 miles between London and Edinburgh since 1862 and which continues to this day.   Of course, a number of trains… Continue reading The Return of The Flying Scotsman

The Battle of Verdun 100 years on.

France and its military have something of poor reputation amongst many.  Centuries of rivalry with Britain where it increasingly came off second best, its requirement to be rescued in WW1 and quick capitulation in WW2 coupled with  decisions to stay out of recent major wars mean that we all forget that there were many events… Continue reading The Battle of Verdun 100 years on.

How The Blind Can See With Sounds (& me too)

Many people know that creatures like Bats and Dolphins navigate by sonar like systems but is unknown to many is that blind humans can do so too.  In recent years, there have been more and more documentaries and reports on this phenomenon and the vast majority of people seem very much shocked by this.  How… Continue reading How The Blind Can See With Sounds (& me too)

Rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.

At this time of year, my back garden so often looks like it has taken a real battering from months of incessant rain, sometimes snow and many weeks of seemingly constant gales or worse.   Sometimes a tree will blow over or even snap meaning our beloved garden has a gaping hole in it.  Of… Continue reading Rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.

Sights of Old Spitalfield Market

Last weekend I visited one of my favourite London markets, Spitalfields. There has been a market at Spitalfields since 1638 when King Charles I granted a licence for root vegetables to be sold there and over the centuries it grew bigger and expanded. However as the 20th century progresses, it began to fall into disrepair… Continue reading Sights of Old Spitalfield Market