Philanthropy at Christmas comes in many forms whether it is sending money to an appeal, donating to a food bank or possibly even volunteering to serve Christmas dinner to those who find themselves homeless. I’m afraid I can only own up to one of these and its not the last one. I came across a… Continue reading Ham Yard, an apt setting
Tag: History
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting…..stolen!
I came across a seasonal tale recently, one that Charles Dickens if he’d been alive at the time might have woven into one of his stories about the metropolis. It’s a tale with a lesson, one that warns against greed during the festive season. It also goes to show that as today Christmas to some… Continue reading Christmas is coming, the goose is getting…..stolen!
“Why was the Snowman sorting through the carrots?”
The answer can only be found in one place and that is the inside of a Christmas cracker, for it is one of the many terrible jokes that have become a festive institution. What has the Christmas cracker and a rather hideous drinking fountain have in common? No that’s not another one, this is a… Continue reading “Why was the Snowman sorting through the carrots?”
……and then two come along at once
“Where was the first underground railway built?” Anoraks and general know it all’s will sneer slightly at the simplicity of the question, but for you dear reader who does have a life, the answer is the Metropolitan Railway, officially opened on the 9th January 1863. The line ran from Paddington to Farringdon. A slightly more… Continue reading ……and then two come along at once
Life’s a beach
I recently came across an article on the BBC website regarding the photographer and artist Julia Fullerton-Batten. Julia recently won a gold prize in the Association of Photographers Photography Awards project category for her series Old Father Thames, which reimagines scenes from the river’s storied past. It’s a great collection of very atmospheric imaginings based… Continue reading Life’s a beach
Silent Sunday
Shedding some light on the subject
We take the ability to see and function once the sun has gone down as a matter of fact thing, even possibly an inalienable right to have electric light at our beck and call. Once the power goes off for any length of time we’re plunged into a problem our ancestors faced every day and… Continue reading Shedding some light on the subject
Alight at Holborn for the British Museum
“Excuse me“, said the American lady, her I suppose husband hanging back a little sheepishly, “Can you direct me to the British Museum?” Well I could do better than that I was going to walk past it, so I accompanied them on the short five minute stroll. On the way they told me that they… Continue reading Alight at Holborn for the British Museum
Some straws but no camel
The Millennium Bridge which crosses the River Thames between St Paul’s and Bankside has been shut over the last couple of weeks for it’s annual clean and maintenance. Standing on the north bank and surveying the bridge there seems to be nothing different, apart from the workmen engaged in the task, but if you study… Continue reading Some straws but no camel
An 18th century Argos?
Tidying up today, I came across a box full of my old business cards. It’s a very old institution, presenting a card to prospective customers, although by the time I finished my business career it seemed a little antiquated and had been replaced by texting a profile. Every now and again I come across images… Continue reading An 18th century Argos?
A LONDON MISCELLANY 