20th Century
South American Journey, Part One
More writings by uncle, John Alldridge. This time he is reporting from South America in 1960 for the Birmingham Evening Mail – Jerry F I am writing this at a window seven floors up above [more…]
Culture
Arts
A Food Trip to Malaga
Around the year 800 BC the Phoenicians founded a port in southern Spain which they named “Malaca” which means to salt. At the east of the natural harbour, in an area where the bullring stands [more…]
Arts
Elementary, my dear Watson – Pt Platinum
Here we are again, off on our elementary excursions. As I have mentioned before, I hope to ensure that at least one element is included from each of the eighteen Groups of the Periodic Table [more…]
Arts
Shake A Spear(e)
William Shakespeare devised new words and countless plot tropes that still appear in everyday life. Famous quotes from his plays are easily recognisable; phrases like “To be or not to be,” “wherefore art thou, Romeo,” [more…]
18th Century
Oh, What a Circus!
If one were of a particularly cynical nature, one might think that a piece with this title might have been written to comment upon the near unbelievable social and political culture we find ourselves living [more…]
Arts
Postcard From November, Part Six
Happy Birthday to Me My birthday is November 4th and as a child my main memory of it was always of my parents laying on a party for my friends who all turned up bearing [more…]
21st Century
A View From The Greenhouse; On Matters Monarchical And Sartorial
The sheep are back. The rent for the ground is conditional, a bit like having a caravan at the seaside, on it only being “occupied” for a maximum ten months of the year. Consequently, although [more…]
Arts
Religious Meaning of the Coronation of King Edward VII
The article below was originally published in May 1902 before the coronation of King Edward VII the following June. It was written by Mrs. A. Murray Smith and originally published in the monthly Pall Mall [more…]
Culture
Postcard From Marrakech
Introduction For my 50th birthday, as I didn’t have my children all available, I decided to experience Marrakech. A lot of people recommended it, so decided it was a good time of year to visit [more…]