Hobbies
Crossword No. 235
First correct entry out of ‘the hat’ wins the last of my silver Britannias & a mug! Email entries to me by 6.00 pm Friday, subject ‘Crossword’. Contact here on email Winner of Crossword 234 [more…]
Hobbies
18th Century
One Small Step for Man… Brindley and the Trent and Mersey Canal
In an earlier piece, I mentioned the Trent and Mersey Canal, with its company headquarters in Stone, hinting that its history and the political shenanigans behind its construction might be worth an article in its [more…]
20th Century
Champagne, a Plan and A Philosopher
On New Year’s Eve 1946, my uncle reviewed his first year at home since the end of the War for the Manchester Evening News. It would seem that at times he was finding it hard [more…]
19th Century
The Rise and Fall of the Needle Gun 1841-1874
The Needle Gun Every once in a while in all fields of engineering there comes along an innovation that so revolutionises the existing technology that it makes long accepted ways of doing things obsolete and [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week One Hundred and Fifty-Eight
Monday Good morning you lot. When I woke up this morning, I had to think hard to work out what day it was. It felt like Sunday with the lack of noise emanating from the [more…]
20th Century
Nostalgia Album, Admired From Nevers to Carlisle
Admired from Nevers to Carlisle As my grandfather’s Ford 8 made its intrepid conquest of the 7,000ft high Pyrenean pass of Col de Tourmalet during the return trip from Gibraltar to Carlisle, we fell upon [more…]
20th Century
GP Crossword Tribute
1 Across: Her Majesty The Queen, 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022. May she rest in God’s eternal peace. © Richard Puller 2022
Drinking
The Geek’s Guide To Ageing Your Own Homemade Whisky
This is the final missive of my guide on home distillation using the Still Spirits equipment. The previous post is here: The Geek’s Guide To Distilling Commercial Grade Whisky For £8 A Litre Bottle In [more…]
Arts
The best video games ever?
Brooding, dark and utterly compelling, The Ultima Underworld games came along at a point where PC gaming was just starting to become something more than a hobby enjoyed by spotty teenage boys. Following the success [more…]