New Cupra Formentor sounds formidable, or perhaps it is just unhappy with taking a back Seat.
IAIN ROBERTSON Pondering over the potential of VW’s Seat division as a malcontent, Iain Robertson can see its value but not the premium status of its sub-plot Cupra and...
Malta Diary Intricate, precious and a labour of love – but very sadly dying out The art and skill of hand-woven Malta and Gozo cotton lace
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: In Maltese, the word “bizilla” primarily means an intricate handmade lace weave in a significant pattern. However, the word...
Art In The Savill Garden
Colour, shape, form and composition, ever-changing, ever growing. Nature is art. It surprises us every hour, every day. A flower opening its petals, droplets of water balancing on leafy...
Welsh Witterings – An alternative to Nut Roast: Pumpkin and Hazelnut Roast
If you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional nut roast, this Pumpkin and Hazelnut Roast is sure to delight. Many nut roast recipes contain very strong flavours...
Taxi Noir: Behind the Silk Curtain
It’s fair to say that food plays a central role in my life. My working day is planned around meal times, and when I’m not working, I’m either eating...
If you like your hot hatch cocktail shaken and stirred, invest in a Renault Megane RS
IAIN ROBERTSON Both RS 300 and RS Trophy versions of the Megane have been under the surgeon’s knife, highlights Iain Robertson, in the process underscoring a pair of the...
Two Great New CDs.
Broken Road by Ben Hemming Ben Hemming’s fourth album, recorded in Norway at Velvet Recordings, was produced by Nick Terry (The Libertines, Ian Brown, The Klaxtons.) Nu-Bluesman Ben said,...
Harry’s Ramblings Seafront Refreshment
by Harry Pope Eastbourne’s seafront is unique in the whole of the UK. Why? Because no commercial outlets are allowed on the seafront, due to it being owned since...
VW knows that if you wait long enough for a bus, three come at once and Clubsport GTi falls into the category
IAIN ROBERTSON Having been exceptionally critical of the ‘Golfate’, as Iain Robertson has christened the eighth generation of the popular German hatchback, following the RenaultSport Megane and Hyundai i30N,...
Volvo makes electricity an high-priced commodity in its new XC40 P8
IAIN ROBERTSON With the sole intention of making its mark, or yuan, reports Iain Robertson, Volvo loads-up its first EV version of the much-admired XC40 with every imaginable bell-and-whistle,...
A sunny autumn city-break in Athens – World Meanderings (n°100)
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Being just back from a three weeks tour in Greece we can assure you that Greece is one of the...
Malta Diary Valletta’s St John’s Co-Cathedral – one of the most renowned and beautiful in the world
Baroque art and history at its best ALBERT FENECH e/mail: salina46af@gmail,com Facebook: There were two aspects to the Knight Hospitaliers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem;...
Explore Coventry’s War Memorial Park
Ann Evans continues to explore Coventry’s parks, join her at the War Memorial Park. Coventry’s War Memorial Park has been a popular place to walk, relax, exercise...
Karl’s Chronicles; Hailsham – A Town Less Ordinary
Take a walk through any small town with its row of retail, a cluster of banks, net-curtained tea rooms, an austere parish church, and perhaps like a disorganised uncle,...
Latest BMW Mini connects the dots for spiciest Works variant yet
IAIN ROBERTSON Although BMW regards its 20 years old version of the Mini as an ‘icon’, Iain Robertson holds fast on the 61 years old Issigonis original for the...
Rachel´s Wanderings – Photographer, Stunning Scenery and Figgy Bread
A travelling interlude in this time of uncertainty was a welcome break. A break that took us to a town of inland Andalucia that we hadn´t been to before –...
Harry’s Ramblings Fleeting Celebrities
by Harry Pope Mary Berry smiled at me. Just the once, mind you, but it was memorable. At the time I had no idea who she was, it was...
Pedalo-ing in the Park
“Come in number 6” we heard from the banks of The Serpentine. Our hour of discovery was up. We pedalled fast and steered our bright blue floating fibreglass boat...
Try to ignore the ‘schnozz’ on the latest BMW 128ti, as it is what lies behind it that matters most!
IAIN ROBERTSON Cyrano de Bergerac was a Gallic novelist, playwright and duellist, highlights Iain Robertson, yet he will forever be remembered for possessing a most sizeable nose, a factor...
“La Grande Odyssée”, the most spectacular dog sled race in Europe – Meanderings through France n° 221
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Once again from 9 to 20 January 2021 international mushers and their dogs will be ready to conquer one...
Vauxhall prays that motorists’ lives will be mocked without a Mokka!
IAIN ROBERTSON Stymied by ‘lockdown’, the latest Corsa has enjoyed zero market wiggle-room before PSA Group’s insistent and unrelenting product planners weigh-in with the forthcoming crossover variant, about which...
Malta Diary When Malta turned RED – not politically but in bricks, stone and mortar!
Sadly most of these buildings are no longer with us ALBERT FENECH e/mail: salina46af@gmail,com Facebook: Perhaps not many people are aware of the effect of different colours...
Welsh Witterings: Coconut and Brazil Nut Curry – a Delicious Vegan Dish
This creamy Coconut and Brazil Nut Curry is perfect served with brown rice to soak up the creamy nutty sauce. A perfect quick and healthy dish and it...
Caludon Castle Park
Photos by Rob Tysall and Ann Evans Ann Evans discovers the local parks in Coventry; this week it’s Caludon Castle Park. If nothing else, the restrictions imposed...
Beautiful Botanical Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a fascinating collection of living plants, trees and shrubs, either ‘growing out’ in the vast parklands or in the historic glasshouses and nurseries....
What is a Gratin?
Gratin is the name of any dish that is topped with cheese, breadcrumbs, or a mixture of them both. It’s a very cheap, versatile dish that nearly always turns...
Harry’s Ramblings Cricket disaster
by Harry Pope When I was a lad in the 1950s, Sir Harry Secombe lived, like me, in Cheam. This is a suburb of Sutton on the northern border...
MG elects for ‘conventional’ approach to its latest MG5 EV estate car
IAIN ROBERTSON Describing the atmosphere as ‘heavy with irony’, Iain Robertson reviews the new MG5 SW and appreciates its ‘compact Passat’ stance, mainly because it is NOT an SUV...
Back to Greece: Zakynthos Island could boast being Greece paradise island
Back to Greece. Zakynthos Island could boast being Greece paradise island By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Even if you won’t find any ancient Greek monument on...
Harry’s Ramblings Facebook Forum
by Harry Pope I like Facebook, find it chatty and accessible, Twitter tends to be a little bit silly, and Linkedin is for professionals wanting to keep in contact....
Malta Diary The Royal Naval Bighi Hospital – one of the best in Europe during its era Now an interactive Esplora science and technology museum and a major attraction
ALBERT FENECH e/mail: salina46af@gmail,com Facebook: Villa Bighi is one of the most iconic buildings on the inner rim of the majestic Valletta Grand Harbour. The central original villa...
Eat Safe at Oakman Inns
Oakman Inns are extending their Eat Out To Help Out scheme through October, Ann Evans has the details. Following the new 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants, owner...
Can PSE actually boost the brand, or is Peugeot’s business acumen forever Sino-tainted?
IAIN ROBERTSON Unsure of whether to revel in Peugeot’s latest launch, or to chuckle at its inherent wit, Iain Robertson questions the logic of relaunching ‘Peugeot Sport Engineered’, which...
Rachel´s Wandering´s in Spain – Still Masked, Breathless and a Grandma
Compulsory mask wearing still has not got me beaten. Every opportunity, opening the office door or car door, and it is whipped off! I’m not as quick to...
Harry’s Ramblings My Oscar for Extra of the Year, by Harry Pope
by Harry Pope October 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of my starring role in the re-make of the Graham Greene novel; Brighton Rock. Wherever you look, I am popping...
It’s all about the ‘schnozz’, as far as BMW’s new M3 and M4 are concerned
IAIN ROBERTSON Having focused earlier this year on the changing face of BMW, Iain Robertson believed that familiarity with the Munich firm’s much-altered grille outline and the slow but...
2021: A year to rediscover Napoleon – Meanderings through France n° 220
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Whether we like him or not Napoleon surely leaves no-one indifferent. 2021 is the year of the 200th anniversary of his...
Malta Diary Street Games our children used to play – healthy, communicative, innocent outdoor activity
Today its sickly solarity indoor laptops, ipads and play stations featuring rubbish ALBERT FENECH e/mail: salina46af@gmail,com Facebook: Unless you lived on a major thoroughfare, a main road or...
Welsh Witterings: Strawberry Fool Recipe
British strawberries are now in abundance and I have the perfect recipe for using up a strawberry glut. This recipe looks great served in pretty glasses and is a...
It’s All Happening at Hatton and Gaydon
Whilst things are changing on a daily basis due to Covid-19, three Covid – safe events are planned for the coming weekends around Warwick. Ann Evans has...