Let’s take an imaginary journey to the British Empire’s last territorial acquisition. Hang onto your hat: it could get rough.
Posts Tagged ‘britain’
Thanks for Failing, Doctor Beeching
The bend widens out, and before me lies a toy train platform, built lifesized. I crunch up, moving from a path of gravel ballast onto sloping wooden planking. Before and behind me, the rails curve lazily away through the narrow valley, high escarpments on either side pressing inwards and making a sweaty day even closer. [...]
Soft and Prickly: Our Fickle Love Of The Countryside
When it comes to the British countryside, we don’t know which way to turn. In the 17th Century it was something we feared – a chaotic, violent place where Nature, red in tooth & claw, vied for a taste of your blood with bandits, highwaymen, smugglers, murderers and the clinically befuddled. Mention the countryside to [...]
What Is A Staycation?
As the leaves turn golden and Christmas approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to what truly sucked about 2009. Top of my list? “Staycations”. Oh, you horrible, horrible word – a wretched portmanteau of “stay” and “vacation” (and perhaps a silent “bullshit”). British media coverage has been intense. Every newspaper, every radio presenter – such as [...]
Train Travel In The New World Order
For some time now, I’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to secretly bring about a brave new global order. (I haven’t talked about it before now for hopefully obvious reasons). There will be many sweeping changes, and I look forward to discussing them with you – or, to be more specific, telling you about [...]
Foundations
There’s one rule you should always follow when dining out in York, and it’s this: look up. My home city is head-scratchingly complicated. Thinking of opening a restaurant within the walls of York? Welcome to a heritage minefield, where you can’t unlatch a window without applying for planning permission first. Everything around you is deeply [...]
British National Rail: 5 Ways To Make It Work For You
If you’re using the British rail system for the first time, or if you’re unaccustomed to doing so – you’re the rail network’s number one favourite customer. Why? Because you’re overpaying wildly. Train travel in this country is expensive enough to start with – the priciest in Europe. So it’s a tooth-loosening slap in the [...]
Workin’ on the Chain: 16 Reasons We Need Bikes
It’s the British National Bike Week – and on Thursday, I’ll be attending the University of York Cycle Fair (PDF). Please excuse me while I enthuse wildly on this subject. A Matter Of Fact Remember those long summer holidays where you bronzed your limbs by cycling helter-skelter down country paths, enjoying the movement of the [...]
Brisk
31st October 2006 Fevered Mutterings v.2 Swiping out of work at 5.45pm (can’t seem to shake off the habit of surfing the ‘Net for quarter of an hour – institutionalised by my lack of access at home until recently)….. It’s the Big Bald Security Guard. (At the back of my mind there’s a video clip [...]
