The case for choosing Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury as the place to light the Paralympic flame every four years. What do the following locations have to do with the Paralympic tradition? Parliament House, Canberra. The Hephaestus Temple in Athens. And the Temple of Heaven, Beijing. All of them suitably solemn and dignified locations, I’m sure,… Continue reading
How I fell for the oldest trick in the pickpocket’s book
“Never give a sucker an even break.” That’s the rule they work to at the entrance gate to Ephesus in Turkey, and why should they make an exception for me? WC Fields was simply expressing a far older truth in the musical Poppy in 1923. I’m sure purses were regularly lifted in Roman times here,… Continue reading →
British turbine designer one of first to catch business wind from Olympics
One of the mysteries of London 2012 is the line of seven wind turbines, their blades spinning in an elegant triple helix form, right in the middle of Olympic Park. Quietrevolution’s QR5 technology is not exactly new – you may have seen similar turbines made by the company in other public locations, in shopping centers,… Continue reading →
Pembrokeshire, county of castles, coves and film star sands.
The eye was piercing. The gaze was imperious. The message an unspoken “Do you know who’s in control around here?” Eventually, of course, the human in boots, inching forward as quietly as he could along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, prevailed over the haughty feathered hunter perched on a fence post. I was no more than… Continue reading →
McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish: could it win an Olympic gold for sustainablity?
What did the joyous, good-natured Olympic torch-bearing carnival that passed through my local town of Aylesbury this week have to do with saving the planet, or even little parts of it? I counted a dozen police motorcyclists, half as many police cars, official torch support vehicles and a convoy of big promotional sponsors’ trucks. And… Continue reading →
Back in the masterpiece city: Rome revisited
Rome is a masterpiece packed with wonders, ranging from some of the world’s finest art to the most exquisite cappuchino. The writer, an eternal fan, has just been back to top up his list of things to do in one of his favourite places. Site seeker Rome’s great sites, St Peter’s, the Piazza Navona,… Continue reading →