The Ultimate Soothing Tokyo Lullaby: Book and Bed

This is a novel concept that could only be conceived by the Japanese. A bed and book hostel. This captures the very essence of snuggling comfort- falling asleep while reading a good book! The Book and Bed Hostel is a bookshop that’s also a hostel and allows bibliophiles to hire out a nest-like bunk bedContinue reading “The Ultimate Soothing Tokyo Lullaby: Book and Bed”

Objects With A Story. Object 1: The Tiny Book

I found this tiny old leatherbound book in the home of a woman I was looking after in Wales about six years ago. I liked looking after the woman and living in her ancient thatch-roofed house in the middle of nowhere. The serenity was perfect. And yet precisely because it was so serene, I gotContinue reading “Objects With A Story. Object 1: The Tiny Book”

British Roundabout Porn and The Battle of Hastings

In Britain there is a unique subset of people who are fascinated and obsessed with roundabouts. Not your average concrete roundabouts with some paving or a few weeds in the middle. But rather your fancy, pond or windmill in the centre roundabouts. A few years back, the Time Team revealed that a key point in theContinue reading “British Roundabout Porn and The Battle of Hastings”

The story of a mysterious mermaid in Milford Haven 1795 A.D.

The 18th century was a time of British exploration, rapidly growing technology and restless souls wanting to travel. Many people from the well-to-do class including a woman called Mrs. Morgan wrote of her adventures and then had it all conveniently bundled, printed and distributed as Mrs. Morgan’s Tour of Milford Haven, published in 1795 and thenContinue reading “The story of a mysterious mermaid in Milford Haven 1795 A.D.”

Join me for an operatic journey at the speed of light

If you’re like me and tend to gaze up at the night sky and wonder about life and the meaning of it all then you can’t help but be swept up in the events of the past few weeks. NASA estimates that 1 billion earth-like planets in our galaxy alone NASA New Horizons Crew findContinue reading “Join me for an operatic journey at the speed of light”

Lapland Over Four Splendid Seasons

Lapland straddles the northern-most regions within Sweden and Finland. Yet this place is more than merely the legendary hideout of Santa, it sparkles all year round with serene natural beauty. Whatever the reason and whatever the season, you should go there. Spring The spring in Lapland is brief and boisterous, with many creatures all clamouring toContinue reading “Lapland Over Four Splendid Seasons”

Eclipse Hunting For Star-gazing Dreamers

A solar eclipse is an awe-inspiring phenomenon that visits earth only once every couple of years or even decades. Ever since ancient times, humans have been fascinated, fearful and reverent of eclipses. Myth and the Solar Eclipse Ancient Greeks, Mesopotamians and Egyptians were the first to record solar eclipses. In 585 BC, Herodotus wrote ‘DayContinue reading “Eclipse Hunting For Star-gazing Dreamers”

The World of Tomorrow – Yesterday: The World’s Fair in 1939, New York

This  bright bold fold-out map from the World’s Fair in 1939 along with postcards, pictures and a documentary speak volumes about a new optimism following the bleakness of the Depression and a blind faith in technology and all of the hopes and possibilities of the future. Click image to see larger detailed version. Watch anContinue reading “The World of Tomorrow – Yesterday: The World’s Fair in 1939, New York”

Travel: Welcome To The End Of The World – And It’s Amazing

Welcome to Slope Point. This is no man’s land – southernmost tip on New Zealand’s South Island. Basically what happens is that air circulating from Antarctica bursts forth towards these shores and create ongoing turbulence that’s so violent that trees are warped and gnarled in perpetuity, and envelop the landscape in twisted, morphed shapes. This isContinue reading “Travel: Welcome To The End Of The World – And It’s Amazing”