Here’s where to keep in touch with “home”
“Ever been driving along a motorway, seen a building, and wondered what it was? Wonder no more. Mike Jackson and his small team have trawled the lengths of three of Britain’s longest motorways to find out for you!” Dave reviews Mike Jackson’s innovative and lively Motorway Sights Guides.
“Since I returned from Abu Dhabi, only slightly trimmer and more toned, I have managed to put on around six kilos in weight. Not surprising. I eat more in the winter and exercise less than I did in AD. But despite a campaign of regular exercise combined with sensible eating and drinking for a whole year, I have not lost even a pound and my waist is as wide as ever.” Miranda Irving thinks life just ain’t fair sometimes…
“I think many of us are blinded by the prospect of getting something without actually having to pay for it up front. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with making the odd large purchase in this way. But the problem comes when people start to rely on credit too much.” Miranda Irving muses on the consumer credit boom – and growing indebtedness – in Britain.
“Kay had been to Butlin’s several times as a kid and had memories of the classic holiday camp experience – mass-produced holidays churned out by the hundred thousand, from the wake-up tannoy call in the morning right down to the meals organised by sittings, and days and nights packed solid with fun-filled activities. I’d never been myself and was curious to see what the modern Butlin’s experience would be like.” After 40 years of holiday camp-free existence, Dave finds out…
“We’d nearly finished getting the house ready to put on the market, we were due for a break, and we knew there was going to be a beer festival in Minehead. One of the three remaining outposts of the once-mighty Butlin’s empire was located in Minehead – and Butlin’s still offered accommodation for smokers. The idea of staying there was too daft for words. How could we resist?” Tempted by beer, Kay and Dave return to the West Country…
“When I was a bairn, in the north east of Scotland, we had never heard of pumpkins. With the advent of colour television last year, I realised neeps had competition. In black and white, you can’t tell the difference.” Mike Clark takes a look at the origins of Halloween and the traditional celebrations running into Guy Fawkes Night.