Jane Austen’s most popular novel, and, many might argue, the most perfect novel in the English language, Pride and Prejudice, was first published 200 years ago, on January 28th, 1813. I wrote the following, after a recent visit to Derbyshire. ———— We are in deepest Derbyshire, climbing a steep rutted track lined with ancient trees. A dunnock… Continue reading
Edinburgh’s Caledonian joins elite list of restored hotels from railways’ glory days
Are we entering a new age of the great railway hotel? The Renaissance St Pancras, in London, which opened in 2011, set a very high standard. And another restored hotel in the capital, the new Andaz Liverpool Street, is another impressive reminder of the days when all the major train companies kept a hotel of… Continue reading →
Cities sign deal for a low carbon future
Boris Johnson may have built a great big snowman of denial on the Department of Climate Change’s lawn, but the fact remains: the overwhelming consensus among scientists is that Global Warming is real, and we need to act. Where, though, is that action going to come from? It must come from government clearly, as… Continue reading →
Could a zero-energy city in the desert become Middle East’s big new tourist attraction
As a journalist, I have been involved in travel for many years, writing about destinations and countries and experiences, and reading what other people have to say. Leisure travel is supposed to be about rewarding, restful, restorative experiences. It can also be instructional and informative and, in the words of the cliche, mind broadening. The… Continue reading →
Masdar – future city in the desert reaches its zero-energy present
This is a revised version of an article I wrote in 2008. A number of the features described have already been built. ———- Imagine a new city about the size of Exeter where they will not use a drop of oil, an ounce of fossil fuel, or produce a breath of carbon dioxide to change the… Continue reading →
Taking 3D printing to the next level – one London firm’s expansion plans
Where in the world will 3D printing take us? I think we can now pose the question in such dramatic terms, with the very real expectation that something exciting is going to happen over the next few years. It is clear now that the industry is past its novelty stage, where, apart from some rarefied… Continue reading →