Food Forever at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, the botanic gardens in West London, is one of the most relaxing places to spend a day in London. I’ve been a member for a few years now and regularly go there to relax. It’s lovely just to wonder amongst the variety of plants. They also regularly have new exhibitions. I remember enjoying … Continue reading / view photos Food Forever at Kew Gardens

Friendship, connecting, and Chess Valley

After my walk this weekend, I had some random thoughts about friendship and the role the internet plays in connecting people together in various ways, from WhatsApp to Facebook. There are many ways of communicating via the internet and they have emerged for various reasons. There is the obvious need for connection that human beings … Continue reading / view photos Friendship, connecting, and Chess Valley

Queueing for chips in Margate

When we got to Broadstairs (by train) and started to walk to Margate, we realised that the Viking Trail looked familiar. Then we remembered that we had walked the trail in reverse last year! Last year, the UK was coming out of lockdown in May and therefore the beaches and trail were largely deserted. This … Continue reading / view photos Queueing for chips in Margate

Brummie bull

The star of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games‘ opening ceremony was the mechanical bull. Ten metres tall and weighing 2.5 tonnes, it was moved to Centenary Square near the central library during the Games. The bull was due to be dismantled after the Games. However, it has already become a big visitor attraction. Despite appearances, … Continue reading / view photos Brummie bull

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

I vaguely remember visiting Birmingham about 30 years ago. It was dour and uninspiring. If you’ve not been to Birmingham recently, it’s a different place: a modern city with a high percentage of young people. The Commonwealth Games have added a buzz to the UK’s second largest city. The centre looks vibrant, the trams are … Continue reading / view photos Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Westminster in May

I spent quite a lot of May and early June in Central London. On a walk a couple of months ago, a friend mentioned that the backstreets of Westminster are worth walking around. A few weeks later, we followed the Westminster Hidden London walk. You see many iconic sights: St James (and its Pelicans), the … Continue reading / view photos Westminster in May

Walking in North London

Last weekend was spent in North London. I forgot how rural it can be. On Saturday, I met a friend for an improvised walk from Finchley Central to Moat Mount and back. Along the way, we popped into the Sail & Anchor Coffee for a light lunch. It turned out to be a friendly small … Continue reading / view photos Walking in North London

ABBA Voyage

When I was growing up, my family watched the Eurovision Song Contest every year. It was essential viewing. I briefly stopped watching the Contest whilst at university but resumed after I left. It’s become a much more professional affair nowadays but I enjoyed the days when countries sang in their own languages and dressed in … Continue reading / view photos ABBA Voyage

Norse mythology

In his introduction to Norse Mythology, Neil Gaiman says that many Norse myths have been lost. By the time these stories were transmitted in folktales, retellings, poems and prose, Christianity had already displaced the worship of the Norse gods. Prior to reading Neil Gaiman’s version of the Norse myths, my only knowledge came from reading … Continue reading Norse mythology

Marvellous Multiverse

The other day, I went to see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with a friend. She’s one of the few people I know who enjoys watching Marvel films as much as I do. This may be because she works as a visual effects artist who creates the “special effects” (as they were once … Continue reading Marvellous Multiverse