The place to learn about the past and present,
The epic quest Keith Byrne (10) and Noel Murray (13) embarked on in 1985 when they managed to travel incognito to New York via planes, trains and, er, ferries. A metallic clang echoed down a bleak Darndale street. The clang of a fizzy-drink can being punted along by a young boy. His hair, fair and... Continue Reading →
You've all heard of fish 'n' chips, roast dinners and full English fry-ups but here is a list of seven dishes from across Great Britain that you have to try if you want to really immerse yourself in the culture. 1. Chicken Tikka Masala Like all the dishes in this list there are variances and... Continue Reading →
To build a solid, major road, hundreds of miles long in one hour defies belief, but that is what the Iowa State authorities performed in 1910. Read how they pulled it off. In the USA in 1910 the motorcar’s popularity was really taking off with the launch of the Model T Ford two years earlier.... Continue Reading →
Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama's towering skyline (elements.envato.com) The ‘Magic City’ was founded in 1871 and was planned from the very beginning to become the massive manufacturing hub it burgeoned into. Today, it is Alabama’s premier metropolis and is regarded as one of the US’s best places to earn a crust. Because the city was always planned to... Continue Reading →
Some towns are so closely linked to some of the world’s most popular foods and drinks they gave them their name. Here we take a look and find out why these places are such meccas for foodies and connoisseurs. Cheddar, UK West Country Farmhouse Cheddar (coombecastle.com) If you like any cheese at all it will... Continue Reading →
The tiny isle of Lundy has sheltered rebels, eccentrics and even a band of Barbary pirates. This is the story of Lundy’s rich history. Map showing Lundy to the south of the busy Bristol Channel (en.wikipedia.org) Lundy seems an innocuous island; sitting just 10 nautical miles (19km) off the Devon coastline, it’s a mere three... Continue Reading →
My experience of the Czechs and Prague after five years as an expat. (First published in Feb 2019) I arrived in Prague in late 2013 to pursue a life as an ESL teacher and to escape a humdrum existence in the UK, and I’m sure glad I did. The city was so darn great I... Continue Reading →
There are quite a few towns behind the names of famous… ‘stuff’. (the now-renamed) Asbestos in Canada or Balaklava in Ukraine are two examples. Some of these quirky towns really are the centre of the universe for fans of the ‘thing’ and, in this article, we find out about five of these towns, the connections... Continue Reading →
History and Things 