Monthly Archives: April 2008

Yesterday, Sunday 27 April I was delighted to buy some stone-ground bread, with minimal food-miles. Especially pleased because a fortnight before I had suggested that the baker of Lainstone House hotel, who makes superb bread for the market, try using … Continue reading →

St Georges Day, our patron saint’s day 23 April passes quietly in Winchester but is more celebrated at the weekend. Check this out for a fun explanation of St George and the English. "St Joyce and the Dragon" from my … Continue reading →

Part one – St Alphege Last week, Saturday, April 19, was another saints’ day, once celebrated magnificently but now barely remembered, for St Alphege lived  a thousand years ago. He died in 1012, but what he achieved was great and … Continue reading →

A rather stunning visual feast in the Discovery Centre today when a historical re-enactment society from Leicester  ("The Vikings of Middle England") were out in force to show costumes, armour, early writing and other aspects of life over 1000 years … Continue reading →

This week an exhibition opened in London at the Imperial War Museum celebrating the  Centenary  of the birth of the novelist Ian Fleming, and his agent invention James Bond. The first 007 novel, Casino Royale was published in 1953 and … Continue reading →

This is a strange story, related to some fascinating genetic research at Oxford by Stephen Oppenheimer, a doctor and anthropolgist who is turning much of our history on its head. Stephen spoke to a large audience on Thursday this week … Continue reading →