Category Archives: Uncategorized

Let me point out straightaway, this has nothing to do with gambling. Yes, Las Vegas is one of the most famous gambling cities in the world and although Mayfair might have one or two casinos, it is not what connects them in this instance. Las Vegas is also known for the ease at which couplesContinue reading “The Las Vegas of Mayfair”

I have written about King Edward VII before and how he had penchant for practical jokes and enjoyed being un-king-like. The sombre presentation and the seriousness of his duties were not for him. He wanted to have fun. So, what made him act like this? It was a common problem for many people, royal orContinue reading “The King Who was a Fireman”

This is the final tale of London hauntings for December and this one has a ghost who only appears, they say, on Christmas Day.     The frontage of Buckingham Palace is probably one of the best known buildings in the world. Many people believe that it is the home to Queen Elizabeth II. But itContinue reading “The Christmas Ghost of Buckingham Palace”

Let’s begin by travelling about one hundred and twenty miles west of London to the city of Bristol. Amongst many other fascinating tales about this city’s history, it is also famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Whether you cross it or pass underneath it, the setting and its design are impressive. It was built byContinue reading “The Bridge that went West”

If the title isn’t obvious, then substitute manure instead and you’ll get the idea. We need to go back to the Victorian era. The poor were very poor. Children were often at the bottom of the pile. And the streets of London as well as other towns and cities were completely ignored and uncared for.Continue reading “Sweeping S**t for a Living”

If you ever walk around the centre of London you will see many names of streets that may make you think. Where does that name come from? Is there a connection to anything that happened in this street in years past? Some are quite easy to deduce. Near St Paul’s is Milk Street and yes,Continue reading “Sordid Streets of London”

What is snuff? For those who don’t know, it is powdered tobacco and was the forerunner to smoking cigarettes. There are still snuff takers but it has fallen out in popularity over the years. Just as cigarettes can become an addiction, so could sniffing up snuff. In fact, in past years, it was classified inContinue reading “She Snuffed It – Literally”

Over the years there have been a few occasions when someone has tried to get inside Buckingham Palace in order to see the Queen. With the exception of one famous episode when an intruder got into the Queen’s bedroom and for a time talked to her before help arrived and he was arrested, most attemptsContinue reading “My New Address is Buckingham Palace”

Just north of Holborn Tube station is Red Lion Square. There is nothing particularly amazing about it, nor is there anything bad about it. It is made up of period houses, some new office buildings and a building of note which holds talks and other events; the Conway Hall. However, the origin of Red LionContinue reading “Red Lion Square or Red Blood Square?”

A strange title. Could it mean an artist who was so caught up in his profession that it almost imprisoned him from doing other things? No. What it means is that it should be taken more literally. This is about an artist who was commissioned by City of London to design a statue of QueenContinue reading “Prisoner of Art”