Enjoy a Real Victorian Christmas
Ann Evans is hoping for to experience a traditional Victorian Christmas over at Ironbridge. Take a trip back in time to experience a real Victorian Christmas with the...
Crisply confident Corsa is Vauxhall’s undeniable statement of brand intent
IAIN ROBERTSON Lighter, livelier and overall more likable, the all-new baby Vauxhall earns its on-road stripes with dynamic grace, more space and a smiling face, factors that enthuse Iain...
The Land Girls & Apple Orchards of the Stoke by Nayland Hotel
I’m sitting on a spacious decked terrace of a luxurious country lodge at Stoke by Nayland Hotel looking out over a landscape of undulating woodland, lakes and apple orchards....
Ranjit Recommends: Improv Combo
On Friday 20th December 2019, the London Improv Theatre will play host to Improv Combo. Indeed, the audience will be able to participate in creating the evening’s headlines as...
Harry’s Ramblings; Claremont story
The smell of burning building lingers on the seafront air five days after the conflagration that came very close to destroying the early Victorian Claremont Hotel in sedate Eastbourne....
What does ex-president Havel, hockey player Jágr, accidentally dropped an American bomb and communism have in common with the Dancing House in Prague?
The “Dancing House” is set on a property of great historical significance. There was a block of flats in place, which was accidentally destroyed in 1945 by an American...
Malta Diary Mary, Mary, quite contrary – how do Maltese gardens grow?
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Coming from a family of brothers that includes one of Malta’s most-loved, prominent and highly-famed stage and television comedians...
Lexus relents at last, with reveal of all-electric UX300e crossover
IAIN ROBERTSON The luxury arm of Toyota is the first to launch an EV, reports Iain Robertson, which is based on its much vaunted UX sporty SUV model, although...
Christmas Shopping in Tunisia
Christmas Markets in Europe and other countries are very popular at this time of the year, but I bet you’ve never thought of doing your Christmas shopping in Tunisia!...
Welsh Witterings: getting in a pickle
It’s that time of year again when I begin pickling onions. I like my pickled onions with a bit of bite and a good crunch and quite frankly most...
Looking Forward to Crufts 2020
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography. Every dog lover has heard of Crufts, but The Kennel Club’s work goes way beyond the famous show, as Ann Evans...
Steve’s Sojourns: The Corinth Canal
Having recently passed through the Corinth Canal myself on a small sailing ship I was amazed to see that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed that its 929-guest ship, Braemar,...
‘Where am I going next, doctor?’
The young trooper was lying in a makeshift hospital bed, about five miles back from the Front, superficial shrapnel wounds and lots of bandages around his left leg. ‘Summerdown...
Mumbai Memoir 115 – IFFI’s ‘Golden’ Moments!
It’s hard to take a break from all the exciting activities I pursue in Mumbai, but over the years, the month of November has shaped up to be a time...
Much enhanced Renault Captur builds on recent Clio platform upgrade
IAIN ROBERTSON Working to a more evolutionary than revolutionary ethos, reports Iain Robertson, Renault’s highly popular Captur continues its customer captivating process with a raft of satisfying design, engineering...
Malta Diary How green are our valleys? Malta and Gozo are full of them – beautiful, natural and picturesque
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: The Maltese word for valley is “wied”, from the Semitic, the equivalent in Arabic being...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Mumbai Memoir 114- Bell, Curtains & ‘Live Action’!
Maharashtra, the state of my origin, has exposed me to the Marathi culture. Besides the celebrations of various Marathi festivals like Padwa, Ganesh Festival, Dasra, Diwali, the culture has...
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...
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...
Kia XCeed leads with ‘First Edition’ tech and a plethora of tasty details
IAIN ROBERTSON Clever Kia knows precisely how to titivate and tease its customers, reports Iain Robertson, and loading up the specification is a sure-fire method of drawing attention, while...
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...
Trevor’s Wildlife Week; Eastbourne Oiled Swans Released.
Release Video: Original Rescue & Cleaning Video: The four oiled swans which were rescued a month ago in the Crumbles and Horsey Sewers at Eastbourne, have...
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...
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...
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...
Halloween through the world, how do you like to play at being scared? – World Meanderings (n°74)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny If Halloween was only celebrated in Anglo-Saxon countries for decades it now has invaded the whole world and each...