Moorgate Tube Crash...

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the worst ever accident involving a London Underground train.  I was only twelve years old at the time, but I remember it well.  It is incredible to think it is now forty years since that fateful day.

On The Western Front...

Time to travel back a hundred years, to the terrible days of WWI.  Here are some of the British poems of the era.

Neither Wilfred Owen nor Rupert Brooke survived the conflict, with Owen being killed in action just a week before the Armistice,  Brooke died from sepsis following a mosquito bite while sailing for Gallipoli with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.  Owen and Siegfried Sassoon were both decorated (Military Cross) for bravery.

The City of Dreaming Spires...

...is a term coined by the poet Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) to describe the city of Oxford.  The county town of Oxfordshire, it is the 52nd most populous city in the United Kingdom, and is 51 miles north-west of London.

What Does it Mean?...

It's been a while since I posted one of these, so here is another little quiz - mostly for the benefit of my non-British friends!  Here are a number of words and phrases commonly used in Britain (or they were common years ago), and I would like you to identify them and their meanings.

The Epsom Cluster (Part Two)...

Following on from Monday's post about the Epsom hospitals, here are some videos I have managed to unearth.  Sadly, there don't seem to be any actual documentaries available, as they would be truly fascinating.  We will have to make do with some urban exploration (unfortunately a little stagey in places, I must admit) before the wonderful old buildings were demolished.

The Epsom Cluster (Part One)...

Departing from the jolly postings of last week, today sees the first in a series of posts of a much darker nature.  Living in Surrey, I was literally surrounded by a number of psychiatric hospitals - or as they were commonly known back then, lunatic asylums.  I'm not sure of the reason behind the proliferation of such establishments in the area, but there were quite a few,

In particular, there was a group of hospitals near about 10 minutes away from where I lived.  I will be covering the hospitals in more detail later, but here is a brief overview of the "Epsom Cluster".

Friday Fun...

Seeing as today is the dreaded Friday 13th, I figured I would ease the tension with something light-hearted.  I have mentioned before about regional comedy and folk songs, so here is a small selection of fun music with a local and/or regional twist.,

Shut It, You Tart!...

I know I already posted this on my Facebook page, but really, it was too good not to share again!  Of course, this is not a complete collection of British accents, but there are far more than many non-Britons realise.

Cruising Down the River...

...the River Thames, that is.

With a total length of 236 miles, the Thames is the second longest river in the U.K.  Rising at Thames Head (quite appropriate, eh?) in Gloucestershire, it passes through Oxford, Windsor, and London, before entering the North Sea via the Thames Estuary (between the counties of Essex and Kent).

Munich Air Disaster...

Today is the 57th anniversary of one of the worst sporting disasters in history, when an aircraft carrying the Manchester Utd F.C. team crashed on take-off.  Twenty-three of the forty-four passengers and crew perished on that tragic day.

At the Bottom of the Garden...

Great Britain is home to some of the most wonderful scenery found anywhere in the world.  Much of this is found in the simple landscape of the garden, and here are some of the most beautiful public gardens you will ever see.

A Bag of M&M's...

I know what you are probably thinking, but this is not about the yummy candy.  Rather, it is just something a little peculiar that ran through my mind a few days ago.  It's simply a list (with small biographies) of British celebrities - past and present - from the entertainment industry, who just happen to have the initials "M.M."  Some you may know, but there are definitely a few you won't!