After a bumpy couple of years Eurovision is back but is a win for Ukraine a given?
Where the U.S.A. goes the U.K. often follows and that includes increasing interest rates
Save food and save money into the bargain with the Too Good To Go app
Stan and Ollie follows the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy on a 1950s tour of the U.K. undertaken out of financial necessity. The comedy duo are less famous and aging fast; do they still have what it takes to wow audiences?
Old peoples home for 4-year-olds has returned for a second series and it is as heartwarming as ever.
Friday a royal wedding, Monday a royal baby announcement - where will it all end?
If death comes calling unexpectedly will you be prepared?
Backpacking can be great fun and may broaden your horizons but take care of your back and spine.
Directly and indirectly taxpayers in the U.K. are funding yet another royal wedding and they have no choice in the matter.
Travel insurance can be expensive if you have pre-existing health conditions but it is a false economy to travel uninsured.
It was worth booking early for prime theatre seats to spend an entertaining evening listening to Joan Armatrading in her one woman show.
Hastings is famous as the site of a battle in 1066 but it has a great deal more to offer visitors.
Each Greek Island has its own charm and at least one of these islands could be your perfect vacation choice.
York has much to offer visitors and perhaps its pièce de résistance is the National Railway Museum.
Are you killing your dog with kindness? You do not need to overfeed your dog to buy its love.
There is more to owning a dog than feeding and walking. There is, or should, also be play time!
Christmas may be months away but retailers are already pushing the commercial Christmas message. You do not have to run with the crowd though.
Creating a website could be the next step on your Internet journey. Why not give it a go?
Ditching social media can help restore your good health and free time.
Robin Hood's Bay Fylingdales is North Yorkshire at its best.
Es Grau is Minorca’s best kept secret with sandy beaches, shallow waters, crisp white pianted buildings and a nature reserve.
Kingston-upon-Hull or Hull as it is called locally has a fine maritime museum which offers an intriguing insight into the city’s maritime history.
Hamer Radshaw has radical political opinions formed from his background of poverty but age and success mellows those views.
We all love our smartphones and tablets but how clean are they?
We all take our feet for granted until something goes wrong. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot and heel pain, but it can easily be treated. However, as always, prevention is the best treatment.
This chutney has green and red tomatoes, red onions and shallots and more but the vital ingredient is sweet chill sauce.
The British government is determined to introduce widespeard fracking with or without the consent of people who live in any affected areas.
Three ripe pears looked set for the bin but what about baking for a quick dessert instead?
Selecting a good dog groomer is vital. Why would you hand your dog over to just anyone?
Are political All Women Shortlists undemocratic?
Kent the Garden of England may have lost that status, according to some, but this southern county of England still has plenty to offer visitors.
Bodyguard is British drama at its hard-hitting best!
After years of faithfully following Mum’s recipe for scrambled eggs I now use this quick and easy recipe and the results are terrific.
Off-road parking causes more problems than it solves.
With a large harvest of tomatoes to use making various chutneys has proved fun and useful. This offering uses red onions and red tomatoes plus a range of other flavoursome foods.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is often an outspoken critic of the British government which has led to shouts of hypocrisy.
Needing to use garden produce quickly this sweet yet tangy chutney made easily and quickly looks set to become a family favourite
Sick of coloring your hair just to hide those pesky gray hairs? Why not brave the gray and embrace older age?
Our humble little tomato plant grew beyond expectation and produced a bumper crop. I made a delicious green tomato chutney with garlic.
Beamish is a living working museum which takes a look at the not too distant past and how people of the area lived. It is set in the North of England.
The ruins of Whitby Abbey inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula and these days it features high on tourists wish lists.
With continuing low voter turnout should the British government consider making voting in elections mandatory?
Funny news websites are mixing it up but are they damaging?
The mystery of Brexit as the U.K. exists in a state of limbo. Will we ever leave the E.U?
The Green Party have elected two leaders to share the role. As a minor British political party the news may not be extensively reported but the Greens could still have the power to determine who governs the U.K.
M. C. Beaton created a light hearted series of murder mysteries featuring fictional police constable Hamish Macbeth. Set in Scotland these books have now a wide and firm fan-base.
All nine left slate candidates were successfully elected to Labour’s NEC strengthening Jeremy Corbyn’s grip on the party.
Being a lifelong Labour Party voter why not become a party member? Why not indeed!
Nigel Farage is a divisive political figure in the U.K. admired and despised in possibly equal measures. He has crafted a “one of the lads” appeal but he is far from that.
Elected to lead the Labour Party in September 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has endured a series of attacks and some from within his own party. Could this man be the best political leader for the country at this time or will he lead the U.K. down a disastrous path?
Finding a black spot on your bottom lip can be scary but it may just be one of those peculiar things that happen at times
Menorquin horses are peculiar to the Balearic island of Minorca. You can watch a horse display of these animals but at a price or maybe like us you will be lucky enough to catch a free open-air display
Having re-homed dogs over many years here is some hopefully helpful hints and tips.
The City of Hull has a wealth of museums and an outstanding art gallery and best of all they are free to enter.
There is a show called Heir Hunters in the UK. Heir Hunters track down beneficiaries of unclaimed estates. Imagine my surprise when they came to me
Fake news is becoming a political battlecry but is that cry simply more spin and propaganda?
Voting in local and national elections is a must for some citizens, but for others it is something that's best left ignored!
LGBT events take place across the U.K. and Pride In Hull was Kingston-upon-Hull’s sensational event
Social media is a great way to network, have fun and interact but watch out for nasty trolls using the Internet for all the wrong reasons
The Balearic Islamd of Minorca has remained a favourite destination since we first visited in 2010. This Spanish island has some great beaches and this is just one.
Made in Dagenham is based on events in the United Kingdom in 1968 when a group of female skilled machinists walked out on strike as part of their fight for equal pay
We had long promised ourselves a visit to the Isle of Wight and finally in retirement we made it. This is our review
Hay-fever can blight those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer so how do you fight it?
A Very English Scandal explores the Jeremy Thorpe scandal of the 1970s
We were lucky enough to be in Minorca for the flower festivals in 2017 and 2018, but it wasn't until our second visit that we learned what the festival was really all about!
Upcycling, or giving old items new life, is an increasingly popular way to keep items out of landfills. Learn how to turn crop jeans into a tote to get started!
Talking Pictures, also known as TPTV, offers free-to-air vintage shows, archive material and movies in the U.K.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder never attacks just one person. If a person in a family has PTSD there will be implications for all, not least any children.
Little Paddy came to live with us after the death of our precious dog Leo, a rescue dog that had a hard life before he came to us. When he died Jessie needed a comfort and along came Paddy.
Isla del Rey is situated in the huge estuary that leads into Menorca's capital, Mahon. There are other islands scattered around and at least one of these will be on our hit list when we visit again.
The Waterson Family have been performing together as a group for over 50 years. The music is traditional folk music often with no accompaniment.
Maqbool Fida Husain was born in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India on September 17th, 1915 and died at the ripe old age of 95.
Another injunction or gagging order in the U.K. looks set to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Both my parents died many years ago. I would love to spend time with both of them but, if I have to choose one person that I would love to spend some time with, I would choose my Dad and this is why
Three times married Wallis Simpson snared the would be King of England, but where did they live during the war?
When we married in late 1972 I was not keen on owning a dog. I was a little scared of dogs to be honest. My husband soon began to make plans for buying a dog and he wanted a German Shepherd or Alsatian dog but life threw us a curved ball.
Bear-baiting is still legal in the state of South Carolina. It appears that bear hunters are using "bear-baying," as they call it, to train their dogs to hunt bears.
World News aired in the U.K. August 13th, 2010, portrayed a sorry picture of Amsterdam's red light district. This liberal country has legalised prostitution, and more, in an effort to offer some control but for many of the women and girls it is a story of abuse, violence and captivity.
I am well aware of China's terrible human rights record. I am also well aware that animal welfare in China is or was a non-existent concept.
Mark Chapman shot and killed John Lennon outside of John and Yoko's home in New York on the 8th December 1980. He continues to seek parole.
Since the Lib Dem Conservative coalition government popularly called the Condems British people have been expected to suck up austerity. However it has only been selective austerity for some citizens.
A key match for the England squad in Fifa World Cup 2010 was their game against the U.S.A. Would experience trounce enthusiam? English fans held their breath, once again.
Cockney rhyming slang is traditionally spoken by those Londoners within the sound of Bow Bells, or so I believe.
There some tasks only you should undertake!
If your Dad is rather mature and life has been kind to him he may appear to have everything. If that's the case you will probably be stumped as to what gift you can buy him. But think outside of the box
Weekly Comics were a big thing when I was a child. With TV viewing only available in black and white, no computers, no videos, no DVDs,not every home owning a TV set and the era being post second world war England children entertained themselves very differently to kids of today.
Good bathroom storage can improve hygiene in your home.
English weather is always too hot or too cold, too dry or too wet and forever a talking point
The Internet writing community is full of people who hold strong religious beliefs. I envy such resolute faith. I know that is what faith is all about. It is not about having tangible proof that God exists but having faith that he does. I have read many articles over the years regarding all sorts...
Do you need cataract surgery? Feeling nervous? hope others can be reassured by my experience with cataract surgery and post-operative recovery. It is not as scary a procedure as you may think. Read on for my full first-person perspective.
Maureen O'Hara was born in 1920 in Dublin Ireland. Although her stage name sounds Irish enough her name was originally Maureen Fitzsimmons. She starred in movies spanning more than 60 years and in more than a few she co-starred alongside John Wayne.
When Father Ted arrived on British Television screens in 1995 it got a mixed response but two decades on it remains popular viewing.
Harry Secombe was one of my Mum's favourite entertainers. He had a powerful, almost classical, singing voice. This was what my dear Mum used to love about him. Mum's sister though could not stand his singing voice but loved his comedy.
The late Richard Burton, CBE, was a fine actor. He was world class and world famous but for more than his acting. A hard living man Richard was one of many famous celebrities to battle the booze. He was also famous as being one of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands. Their love affair was fast and furious.
It is generally accepted that the Welsh National costume evolved in the late 1700s. The Welsh National Dress though is only for females. There have been attempts to create a welsh kilt for men but this has not really taken off.
What is it they say about women being from Mars and men from Venus. No that''s not right is it? Men are from Mars and women from Venus.
Having recently created one Hub about Yorkshire Dialect, and one about some of the language differences between British and American people, my thoughts have turned to British slang, colloquialisms, idioms and funny euphemisms.
Hubby and I married on 23rd December 1972. A very long time ago!
For those readers who would like to give something back to their community and volunteer to help those in need at Christmas there are many places where your help would be greatly appreciated.
"Head lice are human parasites which require human blood to survive. They have been around since the beginning of time, at least a few thousand years. In recent years they have resurged in the UK.
The movie The Elephant Man was released in 1980 and in black and white which added to its atmospheric and authentic style. It was also based on a true life story
My Doctor sent me for various tests and each one came back negative but my health continued to deteriorate and I felt as if I was going mad. I was not and it turned out there was a reason and I was finally diagnosed as having an overactive thyroid gland.
Obvious things can make researching your family history a little more difficult. For, example, my Mum's maiden name was Smith, which is the most common surname in England. If your family have travelled around this can also add complications.
There are many things that make you realize your age and one is the toys you loved as a child.
The British retirement age is set to rise-will it be a case of work till you drop?
Pine furniture seem to be a little out of fashion currently. Pine was the ultimate wood a few years ago but the light tan wooden furniture constructed from pine is rarely given house room these days.
Reports of murder, assault and much of the usual goings on but also this week the death of three celebrities.
The main reason why the death penalty should never be restored in the UK, without some boundaries is to save innocent lives
Are we becoming too obsessed with having a perfect exterior. Will Cosmetic Surgery satisfy your needs?
Parking your car across a pedestrian crossing point is inconsiderate and can be dangerous for pedestrians and people with disabilities but tackling it is not easy.
Farrah Fawcett was that oh so beautiful woman that us girls longed to look like, all those years ago. Despite her warm image she still oozed sex appeal.
An ex smoker's personal expereriences, and avice learned the hard way, about how to stop smoking. Join Ethel on the road to freedom from cigarettes,namely their expense and health risks.
Dogs may sound a strange title for a hobby but as a general term it suits the subject well. Having been lucky enough to own dogs my pets have taken some of my time, plenty of money and bags of love.
Never heard of Harry Potter? Where have you been living? The planet Zog at the far side of the Universe?
The first Gay Pride UK Rally was held way back in July 1972. In some ways we liked to think we were quite liberal at that time but you have to remember that Homosexual acts between consenting adults had been illegal until 1967.
Born in 1952, I am from that generation that were the first to become television addicts. Our television, with the tiny screen, was installed in our home with much excitement, and cartoons appeared before our eyes
Joan Charlton was an 85 year old resident of the city where I live in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. I say was as this lady was brutally murdered. When her body was discovered at her small council house, home, police were uncertain just how long she had been dead.
Looking around the Internet it would seem that Jyoti Amge's story is already somewhat known. However, for me it was totally unknown. I was very impressed by this teenager and her story.
Watch With Mother, from now on referred to as WWM, was an early afternoon programme aimed at Mum's and their young children. Blip, Blop, Weed plus Andy Pandy evokes memories of classic childrens television of a bygone era.
Over the years British television has entertained us with some great situation comedies. It has also at times embarrassed and bored us whilst we were left wondering just what was supposed to be funny about some particular scripts. Overall though we are left with some fine series.
Research your options online and look for those travel options that represent good value overall. Welcome to the United Kingdom and enjoy your stay.
Susan Boyle shot to fame after appearing on Britain's Got Talent but she remains one unusual superstar.
Lefkas or Lefkada is a small Island off the west coast of Greece and is one of the Ionian Island group.
The American Idol finale, for 2009, showcased both Adam and Kris's talents. Overall the judges, and most like minded people, were left in no doubt that Adam Lambert was the Star and Kris Allen was the also ran.However the Idol crown went to Kris.