I was intrigued to hear about the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta this year – on 15th June 2015. From 13th March – 1st September 2015, the British Library will be showcasing Magna Carta – Law, Liberty, Legacy, an intriguing exhibition which I can’t wait to visit. So – whilst waiting for March – a friend…
Sir Christopher Wren – the joker
My brief introduction to Windsor was delivered by the statement, “you know the story behind these pillars in our Guildhall, don’t you?”. The answer was no actually and an intriguing tale was then related. Windsor’s historic Guildhall, in the shadow of the Castle, was where HRH Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowlers were married in…
For Henry and England – Agincourt 600
In a year of multiple anniversaries, sometimes the lesser-known ones are forgotten. I hope this will not be the case for the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt – one of England’s most momentous historic battles which passed into legend, leading Shakespeare to pen his evocative Henry V. As we all know, the history of England…
Gong Hey Fat Choy!
Chinese New Year has always held a fascination for me – probably because its outside of my personal experience. Two years ago, I experienced a little of what it was like (see here) in Singapore and now – on my bucket list for 2016 – is a trip to experience it in another Asian country. For now though,…
HP: The Passion for Brown Sauce
The British are falling out of love with brown sauce according to the newspapers this weekend, citing a Mintel report indicating a drop of 19 per cent in sales last year. Can this be true, I wondered? My brain swiftly went into panic mode. It’s my fault. I haven’t bought HP Sauce since, well, I…
The story of the Christmas Tree
It has to be said, I love a good Christmas Tree. It brings a joy to my heart with the anticipation of Christmas and the start of a new, better year beyond. I was a little hazy on the origins of the Christmas tree however. It’s a northern Europe tradition, said my brother, and so…
With a name like Lowry, Manchester is my kinda town
With a name like mine, the most common question is – are you related to LS Lowry. Sadly, I am not. We do however share a great love of the arts and an admiration for urban grit so why oh why didn’t I visit the magnificent city of Manchester before now? When I did so,…
London’s Triumphal Arch
If you have ever wandered over onto the roundabout at Hyde Park Corner, you will have seen an arch, but it never occurred to me until reading more about it, that this was to celebrate Wellington’s victory over Napoleon so follows in fact from the Roman tradition of triumphal arches. Today it is known as…
Wellington Remembered
With all the furore concerning the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the Napoleonic Wars, it seemed an appropriate time to visit the Duke of Wellington’s home in Central London – sometimes referred to simply as Number One London. My friend Gill insisted on our walking through the pedestrian tunnels and I am…
Pawprint Series: Wimbledon Common
Every time I come up to town, with my faithful four legged friend in tow, we make a point of visiting Wimbledon Common – it is quite simply the most beautiful oasis of calm in the bustle of South London life. When I lived in London, this was my safety valve and I value it enormously –…
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