Even in the modern world with a trained police force it can be hard to catch criminals Centuries ago life was so much more vulnerable in many ways and there was a greater sense of community and with much fewer in the way of state assets. In medieval England, the best arrangement was the so-called… Continue reading Raising a Hue and Cry
Tag: Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
50 sayings that are off to the knackers yard!
A few years ago I wrote a book called My New Book – Straight from the Horse’s Mouth : 100 Idioms, their Meanings and Origins which always sells quite by my standards, especially at Christmas. Words and sayings have been such a rich source of our culture and often inspired by history, even if it is… Continue reading 50 sayings that are off to the knackers yard!
It’s not exactly rocket science nor brain surgery come to that!
I remember a few years ago as I waited with anticipation for a tourist who was going to be the very first to experience a brand new tour. I had offered to meet him at his hotel but he insisted that he was happy using the London Underground and that he was only 3 or… Continue reading It’s not exactly rocket science nor brain surgery come to that!
My offering of Christmas goodies! Books and Video Tours
I must be the most useless blogger the world has ever seen at least when it comes to self-publicity. Here I am with a new book that came out at the end of August and I’ve never even mentioned it AND it is an official #1 best seller. If I ever had motivation or ambition… Continue reading My offering of Christmas goodies! Books and Video Tours
A piss-poor history of urine
I’m going to try not to use the P word too much in this post, as tempting as it is as that would be taking the Pee but urine has actually had a long history of practical uses especially in medicine. None other than Pliny the Elder back in Rome recommended fresh urine for the… Continue reading A piss-poor history of urine
To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
Have you ever heard of the phrase “on tenterhooks”? It has come to mean being in a state of tension, uneasiness, anxiety, or suspense, and that is because tenterhooks were once very common sights indeed. Tenterhooks aren’t the big hooks you might see in a meat market or butches but are instead related to the cloth… Continue reading To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
Words that are becoming extinct
Like many of us, I am a big fan of and user of words. One of my most popular blog posts is 102 great words that aren’t in English but should be102 great words that aren’t in English but should be. I’m also a fan of etymology, the study of the origin of words and… Continue reading Words that are becoming extinct
Farewell 2017, hello 2018!
Well this is my final blog post for the year. It’s been a busy old year with over 116,000 readers at the time of writing so thank-you everyone for giving me reasons to carry on blogging and sharing my questionable wisdom, hidden areas of history and occasional tourist related posts. 2017 saw the release of… Continue reading Farewell 2017, hello 2018!
Predicting the weather with Old Wives Tales
Most of us are familiar with Old Wives Tales, traditional pearls of wisdom from sources lost through the ages but seemingly tapping into an eternal truth that is only revealed to older married women whose only qualification is a lifetime of experience. They cover all areas of life but not least the weather. Despite being… Continue reading Predicting the weather with Old Wives Tales
Two choicest Idioms – Butter Up & As Mad As A Hatter
A few weeks ago my new book, Straight From The Horse’s Mouth was released in Paperback and Kindle formats and I have been waiting for it to work its way through onto Apple iBooks. As it is now live, I thought I would post up two of the 101 idioms that make up Straight… Continue reading Two choicest Idioms – Butter Up & As Mad As A Hatter
Stephen Liddell 