Guy Fawkes and all That!
I know it is two days since the event but for some reason, this year I have been really intrigued by the origins of Guy Fawkes Night/Bonfire night/Fireworks night. This stems from a friend of mine Neale, commenting on Facebook that you never see kids doing "Penny for the Guy" around the local area anymore. It is, it seems, a thing of the past. Like everyone else, I have always known that November the 5th was associated with Guy Fawkes and ...
Me and My Mates Down at the Tax Office!
I got a letter from the tax office the other day and this is what it said; We have now written to you three times asking for the overdue amount shown above (£1700.95 with interest) but our records show you still have not paid or contacted us. If you do not pay or contact us we may decide to contact a Debt Collecting Agency to collect this amount for us. I'm not sure if Costa Coffee, Google, Amazon or the likes of Peter Green get ...
‘Crap Towns’ Returns
Doesn't time fly. It is ten years since I received a gift from someone (one of the kids I expect) which was a book called 'Crap Towns.' This book was a best selling stocking filler listing the worst towns in Britain, describing urban sprawls, drug invested shut down shopping centres and explosions of crime. Most of the voting on these towns, it would appear, comes from disaffected folks from within or people voting on towns where their ...
Braving a Once in Year Storm!
When, in 1987, Michael Fish patronised a lady in Cornwall by ridiculing her warning of an impending hurricane, little did he know that from that day us Brits would never again have to concern ourselves with severe, moderate or even benign weather. Thankfully, since that day, mainly thanks to the quite brilliant BBC weather lady, Carol Kirkwood, we have always known when to put sun lotion on, wear a jumper, take a brolly or only travel if we ...
A Tale of Christianity, Marriage and Morals!
Many years ago I worked with a chap called Andrew who came from a prosperous Christian family who lived on the banks of the River Thames in Marlow. Andrew, a keen rower and a structural engineer in the City became, despite our different upbringings, a firm friend. On the few occasions I go to London I meet up with Andrew, who during the time I knew him, got married to Lorraine, a demure and very classically English lady who always came across ...