Category Archives: Uncategorized

The cry of surprise in the title is not that it is any hospital, although I am sure all hospitals are special in their own way, but because this one is a world leader in what it does. The letters of GOSH are in capitals because they are an acronym for Great Ormand Street Hospital.Continue reading “GOSH! Peter Pan is in Hospital”

London is the capital of England and is still easily the largest, financially rich and holds more political power than either of the other three capital cities of the British Isles. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that London is still one of the great capital cities in the world. But, howContinue reading “Why London is London”

In 2023, Price Charles was coronated as King Charles III at a service in Westminster Abbey which, with a few exceptions, has seen such coronations for over 1,000 years. Besides  some new innovations, many parts of the service have survived from the beginning. And one of these is the Stone of Scone or as itContinue reading “How to get Stoned at a Coronation”

If for argument’s sake, we leave aside the religious aspects of Christmas along with the past festivals that were celebrated in the same season, we will look at how we arrived at three more modern elements of how we celebrate Christmas today. The aspects we will discuss are the Christmas tree, the Christmas card andContinue reading “A Victorian Christmas”

In 1666, London burned during the Great Fire. But that lasted for about four days. The fire I am about to discuss lasted one night and is thought to have destroyed more property than its predecessor. During the period of 1940 to 1941, London came under air attack from the German Luftwaffe. This time ofContinue reading “The Night London Burned”

Perhaps over the years, if we ask the question of which drinks sum up the British or in this case, the English, it might be the pint of real ale in a country pub or for maybe those wishing for a spirit, the gin and tonic. If you watch old movies, drinking a gin andContinue reading “Drunk for a Penny”

London is used to demonstrations and it has to be admitted that a minority of them can turn violent. And of course, London is not by any means the only city to experience such events. The Northern Ireland issue which has in one form or another, lasted for hundreds of years, has suffered its ownContinue reading “The First Bloody Sunday”

Muswell Hill is in north London and as its name suggests, it is high up overlooking London. And perhaps the most striking building there is Alexandra Palace or as is better known to Londoners, Ally Pally. It’s not an ancient palace as some in London and it was not designed to house members of theContinue reading “The Palace for Television”

One of the most interesting sights to see today in Greenwich, London, is the ship, the Cutty Sark. It sits in a specially built dry dock besides the Thames and close to the old Royal Naval Hospital. It is a museum and you can go on board and inspect its upper and lower decks. YouContinue reading “The Cutty Sark Tea Delivery”

During the 1930s most of us are aware of the rise of the far right in Germany in the form of the Nazi Party. Adolf Hitler was their leader and as we all know, it led to the breakout of World War II in 1939 until Germany lost in 1945. But Germany was not theContinue reading “The Battle of Cable Street”