20th Century
Childhood Memories
At the end of August 1939 my maternal grandmother took the decision that her children would not be evacuated because of the war. My grandfather had little say in the matter and accepted that if [more…]
AÑO NUEVO
Cooking
A Short Guide to Coffee (noun) Café Kaw-fee
At various stages of its journey from Arabia through Turkey and into Europe, coffee has been known as the Devil’s Brew and the forerunner of Viagra. The fact that it made it to England is [more…]
Photography
Postcard From Spain
The dawn cacophony begins with palomas who settle on the roof terrace just before 6am. At one time I thought that they all sang the same song, but if you listen you can hear a [more…]
Arts
Basilica Santuario Santo Stefano – The Seven Churches of Bologna
It is a short walk from the twin towers, past the oldest house in Bologna, to Via Santo Stefano. For the most part the journey is under a colonnade of stone, cast in cool shadow [more…]
Arts
The Origins of Terms and Phrases
There are terms and phrases which remain in use today, despite the fact they were coined many years or many centuries ago. In some cases it is quite remarkable that they have survived and stand [more…]
Arts
To Wawa and Beyond
The rooster started crowing at 3 am, which then set the dogs off. The barking went on for a while then a motorbike without a silencer went roaring past. It must have been 3-45am when [more…]
Media
Not Many People Know That
A Maurice Micklewhite List of Interesting Facts In 1973 Peter Sellers appeared on the Michael Parkinson show and did an absolutely perfect impression of the actor Michael Caine who was obsessed with amazing facts. The [more…]
16th Century
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcala de Henares on the 29th September 1547, the second son of Rodrigo de Cervantes and Leonor de Cortinas. His father led a precarious and unsettled life as an [more…]
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…]