The Bronx was out-of-limits during my first trip to New York. The staff at the YMCA told me not to go there. It was too dangerous. This time it was a different story. In India, I met various people in our homestay in Varanasi. One of them was Paul, an artist from New York. When … Continue reading / view photos The Bronx
Category: Culture
Brooklyn
Last week, I was looking at photos from my last trip abroad, which was to the USA almost three years ago. I noticed that I hadn’t written about my last week in New York (NY). It’s difficult to believe it was such a long time ago. I was again reminded of the photos when I … Continue reading / view photos Brooklyn
Leaving Shuna
After one of our walks in Shuna, Cath found what looked like a tick on her arm. Ticks can be harmless but also dangerous, causing Lyme Disease. This prompted all of us to inspect ourselves. When Cath looked at the back of my arm, she saw a tick. It was embedded in my skin — … Continue reading / view photos Leaving Shuna
Ironbridge
An impromptu diversion took us to Ironbridge in Shropshire, possibly the heart of the Industrial Revolution. En route, I found a walk in the area that passed many of the places that were key to the industrial era. The walk itself quickly rose into Lloyd’s Coppice then continued to Coalport. We crossed the River Severn … Continue reading / view photos Ironbridge
The old normal — in Kew and Tate Modern
This was the first weekend that felt normal since the start of the pandemic last year. That’s not to say everything is back to the way it was or will be soon. Like our last weekend of freedom before the pandemic, we had a full weekend of activity. On Saturday, we started with lunch at … Continue reading / view photos The old normal — in Kew and Tate Modern
Squid Game
This Netflix thriller has become a global phenomenon. I watched the first episode to see what the fuss was about. It was compelling viewing and now I’ve finished the whole series. There has been much coverage about the violence in the show. This is a shame because the violence is of a particular sort (people … Continue reading Squid Game
A man gotta have a code
A friend organises film nights and, many years ago, an elderly member recommended the TV series The Wire to me. I was somewhat hesitant to start watching a five-season drama but he persuaded me to watch the first season, whilst simultaneously giving me the five-season DVD boxset. When I watched episode one, something wasn’t quite … Continue reading A man gotta have a code
Battle Cry of Freedom
When I was in the USA, I was exposed to parts of American history. It was mostly odd facts like California was once part of Mexico or the history of independence in Boston. I became curious, especially about the American Civil War, a pivotal event in American history. I’ve just finished reading Battle Cry of … Continue reading Battle Cry of Freedom
There’s a light beyond these woods
Like so much music, I think I discovered Nanci Griffith whilst listening to Whispering Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 in the Nineties. Her voice, musical storytelling, guitar playing, and melodies instantly appealed to me. I think she’s classified as a folk singer but there was country in the music too. She’s probably the only … Continue reading There’s a light beyond these woods
Can we have two golds?
As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ended, I was reminded of the London 2012 games . I remember how excited everyone around me was. And when the opening ceremony celebrated the best of British, it heralded what would be a wonderful Olympics. The demand for tickets at London 2012 was high. Of the tickets I applied … Continue reading Can we have two golds?