Pavilioned in Splendour

Earlier this week I alluded to the remarkable success of the Great Exhibition of 1851. The credit often goes to Prince Albert but it was the brainchild of a civil servant, Henry Cole, among much else the inventor of the Christmas card. Joseph Paxton lent a hand, designing the Crystal Palace to house the exhibits… Continue reading Pavilioned in Splendour

A Great Exhibition

I like reading lists. A chap called Ben Schott has taken advantage of my predilection by publishing books of them that he calls Miscellanies. Here is a list (not one of his) that interests me.

Caroline

Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night in the North Sea – so long ago there were no wind farms or oil rigs – a funny looking boat bobbed around.

Boring is Best

  There has been nothing to get excited about in the UK stock market recently. The FTSE 100 has been moving sideways, at best, for about three years.

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A Venetian Aperitivo

Campari is no rarity on British shelves but, until the last few years, Aperol was hard to buy. I used to ask a friend to bring a bottle back when she was in Italy. Now Aperol is ubiquitous.

Kiva

ˈkiːvə/ noun a chamber, built wholly or partly underground, used by male Pueblo Indians for religious rites.

And Now The Shipping Forecast

Peter Jefferson read the Shipping Forecast on the BBC for more than forty years so it’s likely that he has lulled you to sleep a few times.

Posh Salt

My youngest god-daughter, Dorelia, is fashion-forward. She came back from a trip to Paris with her father with two birthday presents for me.