One of the Old Gits...

Harry Enfield is not a familiar name to most Americans, yet nearly everyone has heard him!  A well-established British comic, Enfield has long been heard on American televisions as the voice of the gnome in the Travelocity commercials!

As the Season Draws to a Close...

With the football season nearing its end, many of you will have seen the fantastic story of Leicester City, who have just clinched their first-ever top-tier league title in their 132-year history!  Of course, I am going to look at that here, but I will cover news from the other divisions too.

Somerset and St. Paul's...

Despite having a name that would indicate otherwise, one of the great English composers of the early Twentieth Century was Gustav Holst.  Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on the 21st September, 1874, Holst was born to an English mother, and a Swedish father with Latvian and German ancestry.

George Meredith...

Born in Portsmouth in 1828, George Meredith was an English novelist and poet.  Here, I am going to concentrate on Meredith's poetry.  A very prolific poet, Meredith wrote on many subjects, and here I will focus on his works about nature.

A City of Culture, Heritage, and People...

That's how the City of Liverpool is introduced on the Visit Liverpool website.  Of course, you'll all have heard of Liverpool, be it as a result of the Beatles, Liverpool F.C., or whatever.  Formerly in the historic county of Lancashire, it is now the centre of the new (well, new-ish) county of Merseyside, and here is a fascinating documentary about the port city...

Where They Live...

It's been a while since I travelled across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland, so I think another visit is well overdue!  I had touched on some of the basics in a previous post, but it's time to look at the most populous areas in the country...

From the Weekend...

As promised, here is an update from the English footy action at the weekend!  On an incredible couple of days of high drama and disappointment, there were few questions answered with a month of the season still to go...

North of the Border...

I have previously covered specific aspects of Scotland, but this time, I will deliberately be more vague!  In other words, I have just put together a wonderful selection of photographs to describe visually the beauty of the nation.

It Could Be a First...

With just a few games to go, the Premier League could certainly see history made this season, as the previously unfashionable Leicester City could end up as Champions!  Having been around since 1884 (the first 35 years as Leicester Fosse), they have never won the top tier in English footy, and neither have they won the F.A. Cup.

It's Goodnight from Me...

... and it's goodnight from him.  I am, of course, talking about the comedy legend, Ronnie Corbett CBE, who passed away this morning at the age of 85.  I know, it's sad that we are losing so many great figures from the world of entertainment, but here, I would like to leave you with some laughs.

I'm Back...

So, I'd just like to apologise for the totally unplanned break last week!  Of course, spring has now sprung, and I thought I would post something very, very British, which also conjures up wonderful images and feelings of a beautiful spring day.

A Change of Pace...

...and I mean that in more ways than one!  It has been very depressing recently, with all the tragic deaths in the British music industry, so it's time for something a little more cheerful.  In addition, everything here has been achieved at record pace!

It Gets Depressing, But...

You know, once again I hadn't planned on this, but the last few months have really saddened me, with all the great names in British music that have passed away.  Just a couple of days after posting last week's tribute to Sir George Martin, we lost the one of the biggest names in progressive rock, Keith Emerson.  He was just 71.

A Musician With Short Hair...

Today is a simple tribute to the passing of yet another legend.  Sir George Martin passed away earlier this week at the age of 90.  There are many detailed obituaries and tributes out there already, so I won't bother with duplicating any.

Above the Castle...

So, after last week's aerial offering from North of the Border, I thought I would check out some more of Rob Fallen's work.  Here is another superb video, this time covering Stirling Castle, the King's Knot, and Falleninch Farm.

Siorrachd Chlach Mhannainn...

Something a little different today!  The title of this post is - as you may have figured - not in English, but in Gaelic.  It means "Stone of Manau" (an ancient stone dating from pre-Christian times), and is the origin of the name of Britain's smallest historic county, Clackmannanshire.

There's Nowt Wrong Wi' Gala Luncheons (Part Two)...

Okay, following on from my last post, we will have a look at some of the words you might hear up in Yorkshire...

There's Nowt Wrong Wi' Gala Luncheons (Part One)...

Some of you may recognize the above phrase from a famous Monty Python sketch!  That's not the reason I have posted now, but it is a fine example of the subject about which I am to discuss.  I have mentioned before about the local accents and dialects in Britain, but one of the most fascinating - and best known - is that found in the wonderful county of Yorkshire.

Eric 'Winkle' Brown...

Once again, I had made plans to discuss a particular topic, but something came along which encouraged me to change my mind!  You probably won't be familiar with Eric Brown, but what an incredible story...

Spring is Here...

Well, almost!  It really is a nice day out there today, if a little on the windy side.  So, it seems like a good time to have a look at some music to reflect the mood of the moment.

Another Poem in the Dorset Dialect...

Just over a year ago, I posted a poem from an old book I found online.  The book was called Poems in the Dorset Dialect, and contained some fascinating works,  The poem I posted was called False Friends-Like; here is Our Abode in Arby Wood.

15th February...

Today is the 46th day of the year, and here are some of the events that occurred on this day throughout the ages.  Of course, these all relate to the United Kingdom!

It's a Cracker...

Unless you are familiar with Leck Fell in Lancashire, I'm sure you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about!  I know the British have some strange names for places and geographical features, but here are some that are likely to be totally unfamiliar.  Don't worry though, as unusually, this is something new for me too!

1967 Was a Very Good Year...

It certainly was musically, anyway!  It's been a while since I made a musical post, so here are three Top 20 hits from the UK Charts in 1967.  Of course, these are all British artists...

What a Carry On (Part Two)...

So, last time I listed all the films in the Carry On series.  I gave a small mention to some of the stars of the films, but now it's time to look at them in a little more detail.

Six Gold Martlets...

No, this isn't something from an alternative version of The Twelve Days of Christmas!  Martlets are simply small birds used as a heraldic design.  A type of swallow, they are traditionally depicted without feet.  Specifically, the English county of Sussex uses six gold martlets on a blue shield as the county flag, and this post is all about Sussex!

F.A.Cup 4th Round Results...

So, as I bounce back and forth between the current footy happenings in England and some classic comedies of fifty years ago, it's time to return to the present!  Here's what happened over the weekend, and what is going to happen!

What a Carry On (Part One)...

One of the most celebrated series of British films was the prolific, if remarkably low-budget, Carry On series of comedies.  Based on the bawdy seaside postcard humour, featuring frequent double entendre and sexual innuendo, they were very popular during the 1960's and '70's.  Unsurprisingly, they haven't dated very well, particular some of the later films...

F.A. Cup 4th Round...

Time to get right up to date with things again, and return to the great game of football!  This weekend sees the Fourth Round Proper of the F.A. Cup.  Looking at the draw, I must admit to being a little disappointed...

From Bugs to Bows...

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for not posting on Friday.  Secondly, I decided to follow on from last Wednesday's feature with another of London's finest - yet often ignored - museums.  It is another that I have yet to visit, but hopefully one day...

A Professor of Architecture...

With all the depressing posts of the last two or three weeks, it's time for a change...  Today we will have a quick look at one of London's hidden gems.  What makes this even better is that admission is free!

Roll Away the Stone...

We are only halfway through the first month of the year, and we have already said goodbye to a number of legendary rock musicians from a fabulous era.  The latest is Dale Griffin, drummer for Mott the Hoople.  He was 67.

Weep You No More...

People pass away every day, and of course, any death is sad, but the world of English show-business has been suffering from a very sad spell recently.  From the world, we have lost David Bowie, John Bradbury, and Lemmy.  Two greatly respected stars of stage and screen, Alan Rickman and Brian Bedford have gone too.  Finally, a great disc jockey and television presenter, Ed "Stewpot" Stewart.

Where Does That Come From (Part Two)?

A few months ago, I posted a list of foods that are associated with certain locations in the UK, as illustrated by the names.  If you'll pardon the pun, here is a second helping...

Planet Earth is Blue...

This wasn't what I had planned today, and I'm very sad...  You can probably guess that this post is to do with the sad passing of the music legend, David Bowie.  I'm not going to publish an obituary of my own thoughts on the great man, as there are multitudes still appearing as we speak.

On Yer Bike...

...motorbike, that is!  The Americans always boast about their Harley-Davidsons and Indian, the Japanese have their Yamahas and Kawasakis, and there are several other nations who are rightly proud of their motorcycle heritage.  One nation that doesn't immediately springs to mins - certainly not to the Americans, anyway - is Great Britain!

Hixon Train Crash...

Something that is sadly very common in the United States, even to this day, is rail accidents that occur on crossings (level crossings, as the British know them).  In the UK, they never have been a regular cause for concern.  Here is the story of one such incident, though...

What the Papers Say...

...or more precisely, what does it say about the papers?  One of the sad effects of the internet boom is the loss of popularity of of of the long-time staples of British life - the newspaper.  Newspapers are much more a part of the daily routine - or indeed, Sunday routine.

It's 2016...

...so I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year!  As usual, here is a video!.