One of my favourite films of all time is the Wim Wenders film The Wings of Desire known in German as Der Himmel uber Berlin. It won the Best Film at Cannes in 1987. Some of the magic of this film comes from the music (Nick Cave, U2), the acting (Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin) andContinue reading “Poetry and music from the film ‘Wings of Desire’ (Der Himmel uber Berlin)”
Category Archives: History
Thirty great medieval epithets for people and beasts
Why do we say a gaggle of geese, a flock of sheep, a pride of lions or a swarm of bees? Well it harks back to medieval times when sportsmen grouped together collectives of beasties to refer to them in movement or attributing a quality to them – presumably while the poor creatures ran awayContinue reading “Thirty great medieval epithets for people and beasts”
A Brief History of Auckland’s 53 Volatile Volcanoes
There are approximately 53 volcanoes in Auckland, which have over thousands of years produced an array of interesting lagoons, tuft rings and lava flows in Auckland city. The biggest, most active and most visible volcano – Rangitoto sits on an island of the same name in Auckland harbour.
The ancient and elusive fairisle of Hy Brasil
Hy Brasil is a mysterious phantom island that was thought to exist off the west coast of Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean for hundreds of years. The area being nautically challenging for seafarers, it was an elusive and mysterious place, hailed in pre-Christian times as being the Celtic Elysium or land of promise. During ChristianContinue reading “The ancient and elusive fairisle of Hy Brasil”
Before Time Began: Latin Quotes on Ancient Sundials
Ancient sundials of Greece, Egypt and Babylon often featured provocative and emotional expressions in Latin. They were succinct and powerful calls to action which were designed to waken up the senses and peel back the blinkers on what really matters. These concise messages highlighted the passing of time, mortality, life, death and enjoying one’s briefContinue reading “Before Time Began: Latin Quotes on Ancient Sundials”
The Most Exquisite Tiny Books in the World
For all of the bookworms, here are some of the most exquisitely rendered miniature books in the world. As a warm up, here’s a picture of the bombed-out Holland House library in London during WW2. The message was loud and clear. Readers won’t be perturbed from doing what they love, no matter what else isContinue reading “The Most Exquisite Tiny Books in the World”
History: The dizzying world of alchemy and the philosopher’s stone in medieval times
The word alchemy is derived from the Arabic root “kimia”, from the Coptic “khem” (referring to the fertile black soil of the Nile delta). The word “alchemy” alludes to the dark mystery of the primordial or First Matter (the Khem).
History: The history of the Forth and Clyde Canal
Above is a map of the first part of the canal which stretches from Lochrin Basin to Falkirk Wheel over a distance of 32 miles. The remainder of the canal after that goes to Glasgow and turns into the Clyde River. See more detail. Originally opened in 1789, the Forth and Clyde Canal crossed theContinue reading “History: The history of the Forth and Clyde Canal”
Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today
The beautiful burgh of Linlithgow charmed the pants off me when I went there in 2012. The town sits astride the Forth and Clyde Canal (which I’ve written on extensively) which is around half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. There’s a train link on Scotrail which goes between cities that takes you there, and there’s aContinue reading “Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today”
Verner Panton: The Daring Spirit of 60’s Design
Verner Panton (1926-1998) is remembered for his bold, daring furniture design and aesthetic which embodied the fun and turbulent times of the 1960’s and 1970’s. His most famous pieces are the S chair, which became the world´s first one-piece moulded plastic chair, the cone chair and the flowerpot lamps. Born in 1926 Panton initially began hisContinue reading “Verner Panton: The Daring Spirit of 60’s Design”
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