Category: Travel

  • Dead Ringers 2 – a broken bell

    The Call of Bells ———————- For centuries the bells have called through countless ringers’ hands To come to worship, prayer and song the people of these lands The bells fell silent one by one as ringers went to war They’d heard the call to go to fight the war to end all wars Four years…

  • Berardo Gallery, Lisbon

    It started with a ‘bucket list’. After twenty years travelling Europe, the US and Africa there are a few places I still want to visit – and no, I don’t need anymore suggestions, thanks… In the past I have visited over 30 countries, but there are places I still want to go, experiences I still…

  • Dead Ringers

    It’s monumental. In WW1 1400 of Britain’s bell ringers died. What more fitting way to remember them than to recruit 1400 new bell ringers and have a ’ring-in’ on November 11th on the anniversary of the War? Monumental ambition wants a national muffled set of rings in the morning followed by full blast ringing of…

  • When will they ever Learn?

    Life expectancy of my son’s generation may even be lower than that of mine because of their obesity and associated problems. In recent years in the US, Australia and South Africa voices have been raised in favour of low carb diets as a way of reversing Type 2 without resort to drugs. Those voices, Atkins…

  • Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

    If you are a designer, you will enjoy Heatherwick’s spatial planning (I imaging the studio had much fun slicing toilet rolls in modelling) and the drama of the interiors. If you are in to art, then the exhibitions will be thought provoking and will leave you wanting to revisit.The building is a true cathedral devoted…

  • Paradise Lost

    In arcadia dogs go. Alex, in tune with his world, comments “one big wave would wash this clean”. He means houses too.

  • Lanzarote’s Eco-artist

    Lanzarote’s Eco-artist

    Lanzarote is considered by many César Manrique’s most important work of art. His work and influence have marked the external aspect of the island. The natives say that he has “made” Lanzarote. His desire to live with the volcanic lava led him to build his own house in the Taro de Tahiche, now open as…

  • Luxury on Rails

    Luxury on Rails

    The beauty of the country is showcased through the windows of this train, as are the local standards of service through the charm and courtesy of the staff. Design harks back to an age when grace and pleasure in travel were key ingredients of the experience, when comfort was more important than style alone

  • The Past is Another Country

    The Past is Another Country

    I enjoyed my bout of nostalgia even if it left me grieving for a nation sold down the river by its politicians. Thank goodness some care about our past, and are willing to give their time and pride to share it with others. You can enjoy these escape hatches too, there are 181 of them,…

  • Passion in Poznan

    Then there she was, the Beautiful Helena, fully revealed in all her glory. What a night time experience!

  • Hospitality Design Part 3

    the designer is in a position once ascribed to the fine artist as being the ‘elite of the servant classes’. The profession needs to address this weakness if it is to achieve the true status the press ascribes in its worship of design.

  • Hospitality Design Part 2

    More companies go bust when they take on marketing just as they realise they are in trouble. Your cashflow forecasting is a way of anticipating events enabling preventative action to be taken.. Also don’t ignore what the politicians are up to – they cause recessions.