Taxi Noir: Great British Pubs – The Bartons Arms, Birmingham
As an aficionado of traditional British pubs it’s always a pleasure to visit the Bartons Arms in Birmingham. This stunning pub presents an outstanding example of classic pub...
New Octavia is genuinely new for Skoda as it ventures further upmarket
IAIN ROBERTSON Invariably Golf-based and always classified as such, reports Iain Robertson, has never hindered the Octavia model’s perpetual hunt for recognition, which has been helped immeasurably by a...
Welsh Witterings: Making the Christmas Cake
My Christmas preparations always start with making the cake and this is something that I get the whole family involved in. Some people like to make their Christmas cake...
A TIMELY REMINDER FROM DOGS TRUST
Photographs courtesy of Dogs Trust Christmas is coming, and Ann Evans joins Dogs Trust in reminding everyone that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. With Christmas...
Being safe on ‘smart’ motorways is essential
IAIN ROBERTSON Introducing so-called ‘smart’ motorways on our roads network may have seemed like a good idea but, suggests Iain Robertson, as with a lot of half-baked decisions made...
Steve’s Sojourns: Sailing around the Peloponnese, Day 1
Your first impression of the Galileo is of old-world opulence. Walking through the lovely dining room set for dinner you can’t help but be impressed. Once we’re settled...
Scottish Group The Tannahill Weavers Nominated for Folk Band of the Year!
It was nearly three years ago since I’d last seen The Tannahill Weavers and they were absolutely brilliant, so when I heard they were playing in Sussex again I...
Ranjit Recommends: German Cornejo’s Tango Fire
Tango Fire at Sadler’s Wells Peacock theatre is certainly flaming hot in talent and delivery! All dancers are presented in meticulous and fussy embroidery that is most evident when...
Sippin’ Sherry in Spain
Tio Pepe, Sandeman, Harveys, cream or dry – does sherry bring memories of a family Christmas – that sweet tipple, enjoyed once a year, before tucking into the festive...
Is there anybody there?
Items moving mysteriously, things disappearing one day to somehow magically return a few days later, strange smells, all the signs of a haunting. Elms Avenue, Eastbourne, is a road...
Back to the Chequers for Dinner
The Ashdown Forest has always been a favourite Tourist area. And the Chequers Inn in Maresfield is a very popular place for a meal, to spend the night, or...
November 17 three times differently
November 17, known worldwide as International Student Day, refers to two historical milestones in the Czech Republic that are half a century apart: the closure of Czech universities in...
Provence forever at the foot of Sainte-Victoire – Meanderings through France n° 203
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Provence shelters a small valley stretching at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain. It’s called Vallée de l’Arc. Its...
Steve’s Sojourns. Berwick-upon-Tweed, Walled Town of the North
They used to be big on fighting in Berwick-upon-Tweed. In fact they once declared war on Russia. Probably no other town in Britain has had such a long and...
A Place to Stay The Costwold House Hotel, Chipping Campden, UK The aristocrat of accommodation in Chipping Camden
By Ann Mealor Located right on the high street in quaint and picturesque Chipping Camden stands the elegantly tasteful Cotswold House Hotel. Looking every inch the aristocrat, this recently...
Malta Diary Submarine HMS Urge found on the seabed after 77 years – historic find on the misery and heartbreak of World War II around the Maltese Islands
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: On 27th April, 1942, at the height of World War II, the Royal Navy’s submarine...
Aston Martin’s inbuilt ‘WOW!’ factor continues to inspire Great Britishness
IAIN ROBERTSON When Great British carmaker Aston Martin announced a £6m twin-car subscription offer, Iain Robertson found it tough to disguise his disbelief, although, with the first reliability trials...
Welsh Witterings: Christmas is Coming but its Spirit is Lost
It’s that time of year where my inbox seems to fill up with Christmas offers and gift ideas. Suddenly it seems that a type of mild hysteria about last...
LEAM COMIC CON
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Leamington Spa held it’s 5th Leam Comic Con recently, Ann Evans went along to see what it was all about....
Ranjit Recommends: Fame The Musical
30 years since its inception, Fame The Musical makes another scintillating appearance at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre in London. Indeed, Fame The Musical gathers its inspiration from the 1980...
Entry-level XC40 confirms the Sino-Swedish firm’s engineering finesse
IAIN ROBERTSON Having commenced building its own engines, rather than relying on buying them in, writes Iain Robertson, Volvo risked criticism but none has been forthcoming, mainly because they...
Rachel´s Wanderings in Spain – 12 – In My Element, Quick Trips and Spanish Wooden Doors
There aren´t many jobs where you get to see every bit of someone´s house! I have to say I love looking at houses, seeing basements and attics, master...
Grisly Crumbles Murder
‘You do love me, don’t you Pat?’ ‘Of course I do.’ ‘And you will leave your wife, won’t you?’ ‘Of course.’ ‘Before the baby comes‘ ‘My darling girl, you...
Gareth Butterfield takes the mighty Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for a test drive
UNTIL fairly recently, the Land Rover Defender was one of the last mainstream cars on sale that looked pretty much the same as it did when its original version...
Steve’s Sojourns, Hadrian’s Wall
The sun settled down as an orange disc behind the stark outline of Hadrian’s Wall, one of those once in life time moments you know you have to photograph...
A great inaugural cruise for “Norwegian Encore” – World Meanderings (n°75)
By Annick Dournes I had the privilege to attend the inaugural cruise of “Norwegian Encore”, the brand new cruise ship launched by Norwegian Cruise Line. With...
A Place to Stay – Palacio de Oñate, Guadix, Andalusia
Guadix is well-known for its troglodyte districts but it wasn’t a cave that took me there on a recent visit. It wasn’t the first time I’d been by any...
Lap of luxury A8 adopts plug-in electrification as Audi’s top model
IAIN ROBERTSON Having committed to a major electrification programme, the latest model to make the conversion is Audi’s senior league, super luxury contender, the A8, which Iain Robertson describes...
Malta Diary The softer side of the town of Hamrun – and misconceptions of its history; Chocolate Galore!
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: The town of Hamrun is one of the “youngest” in Malta (about 200 years since...
Welsh Witterings: Grab your Tin Hat
This week I went off to Hawthorne Trenches, in Elham near Canterbury. The trenches have been recreated at a working farm, by the farm owners nineteen year old...
Taxi Noir: The Truth about Cats & Dogs
I’ve spoken a bit in recent articles about the passengers I pick up in my taxi, but not all our passengers are human, of course. We are obliged to...
Think you know your Rugby Football?
Think you know all about the game of Rugby Football? Ann Evans has come up with some facts that may surprise you. Depending who you support, rugby...
Ranjit Recommends: Sunday Shoreditch Secret Food Tour
Shoreditch represents the past and present of London’s storied history in its decor and character. Our tour guide Joe kicks off proceedings with a timeline of how the area...
Steve’s Sojourns: The Northern Lights
The first time you see the Northern Lights, or to be strictly accurate the aurora borealis, is a moment that will stay with you for the rest of your...
Harry’s Ramblings, Split
Next to Italy, on the eastern end of the northern Mediterranean, there used to be a country called Yugoslavia. This part of the coast has been fought over by...
Gareth Butterfield tests the handsome new Peugeot 508SW
IF you think about it, it’s been a long time since there’s been a genuinely desirable estate car in the mainstream. Ever since the SUV boom investment in saloon...
Trevor’s Wildlife Week; Difficult Duck Rescue at Pells Pond Lewes.
Rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) and the RSPCA were jointly involved in a rescue mission to catch a male mallard duck at the Pells...
Magnificent Sokol house in Brandýs nad Orlicí
There are buildings that will interest you at first sight. Something like love at first sight. Just with the building. One of these charismatic buildings is the Sokol house...
Steve’s Sojourns: Birdwatching in Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is one of the hidden delights of birdwatching in Scotland. For many years it has been in the shadow of nearby Mull, there’s actually a ferry connecting the...
Break out the flags! It’s time to be proud again! Bloodhound LSR is on-track
IAIN ROBERTSON Great Britain’s Land Speed Record car has arrived safely at the Hakskeenpan desert, Northern Cape, South Africa, states Iain Robertson, its home for the next month as the...