Month: December 2015

Crude Economics

There has been a significant downward move in oil prices – North Sea Brent is around $36. It got up to about $115 in 2014. That’s old hat but there is something else significant happening.

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Categorised as Business

Doctor….Who?

Dr. Keel was the star of a TV programme that ran for nine years in the 1960s and was briefly revived in the 1970s. I’m misleading you because he was only the star in the first series after which his side-kick supplanted him and the programme became famous. 

Albinia

A goddaughter had her first child on St. Stephen’s Day, known in the UK as Boxing Day, this year. Mother and daughter are both well and the chosen names are Meredith Grace Albinia.

Eating en Famille/Famiglia

The London restaurant scene is dominated by a small number of companies that own a  biggish selection of restaurants in central London that have appealing menus, slightly less appealing prices but are always reliable and with excellent service. Today I’m going to tell you about a few family owned restaurants.

Off To The Races

The King George VI Chase  will be run over three miles at Kempton Park later today. At least one reader here will be watching and I’d like to congratulate her on being elected to the Jockey Club this year.

Stocking Fillers

These are two inexpensive things I have come across this year that proved to be transforming.

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice has just passed and the days are getting longer again. Pagans and Druids gather at Stonehenge to observe this which looks to me pretty dull. If you’d like to see something more spectacular travel to Ireland and Co. Meath.

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Categorised as History

Pickwick

At this time of year my thoughts turn to opening a bottle of something sweet. The approach of Christmas turns me into Mr. Pickwick.

Something Old, Something New

It’s usually something old on here so, for a change, here’s something new; talking statues. The first one I saw was Queen Victoria in Kensington Gardens.

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Categorised as Art, History

Spottiswoode

Does London need a new £500 million concert venue? The rather ugly roundabout where the Museum of London is now (it’s moving to Smithfield Market) is the proposed site, located between the Barbican and St Paul’s. Maybe we would do better to stick to George’s long term economic plan and build flats and offices that… Continue reading Spottiswoode