Hinkley is stocking country. Oh, these days they make Triumph motorcycles, but historically the main industry of the town was knitted legwear. Woven fabrics are great for suits, dresses, ribbons, sheets and curtains, but for something that hugs the figure and can deal with a bended knee or disguise cellulite in the thighs you need a knitted fabric, which will stretch and give. As Heinlein said, “If you think rocket science is difficult, you should consider the topology of a…
We spent most of the day at the Artis Zoo, which is only two blocks from the place we are staying. I fell in love with the southern ground hornbills, mostly because they are the only bird I have ever seen with eyelashes. There was also their song, a deep booming duet that echoed round the zoo. The first bird goes “HOOT hoot-hoot” and the second one replies “HOOT hoot-hoot-hoo-ho” trailing away into silence before the first bird takes up…
Sometime a great tree can grow from a tiny seed, and sometimes a bloody great weed. The Chelsea Physic Garden has been collecting and cultivating medicinal and useful plants since 1673, and has been responsible for some of each. The garden occupies almost four acres of some of the most desirable real estate in London, just across the road from the River Thames. They pay a rent of five pounds a year for this, a figure that was set in…