Category Archives: Uncategorized

Winifred Barber was born in Birmingham, England, in 1907. She was blessed with the ability of perfect recall of the details of her long life. At the age of 93 she made this recording of her friendship with a soldier … Continue reading →

Bell ringing in the UK is a unique tradition; ringing complicated peals on four or more tower bells contrasts strongly with the usual practice elsewhere of tolling a single note to call the faithful to prayer. Other countries do, however, … Continue reading →

I got to know Egypt’s Red Sea Coast long before the resort of Sharm El Sheikh became famous for its association with the former President of Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak. My daughter married an Egyptian and settled in the small … Continue reading →

The phrase ‘Going throught the Roof ‘ usually applies to something moving from the bottom upwards;  but just as  damaging can be penetration from the top downwards.   And it’s a much more likely event, too. Either way roofs are tricky, … Continue reading →

We probably learned about bats’ use of echo-location to fly and feed in our early days at school.   But no one has yet explained to me how a bat distinguishes between its own calls and those of the other members of the … Continue reading →

For most of us there’s a clear break between where we live and where we work.   Not so, however, for people like lighthouse keepers, submariners and castaways. For some reason I’ve always been attracted by arrangements specially-designed to accommodate particular … Continue reading →

Farmers have had a difficult time over the last 25 years;  not only was there an outbreak of Foot & Mouth in 2001 but, 17 years earlier in 1984, the EC (as Alf Garnet would say, ‘In its infinite wisdom’) … Continue reading →

To someone under the age of sixty the importance of cinema organs might need a bit of explanation.   You’ve got to go back to the 1920s and 30s to understand the popular entertainment culture of the period. There was radio … Continue reading →

History is full of ironies;  one of its recurring themes is that, however powerful, however sucessful nations and individuals are, in the long run they lose the ability to adapt, decline and disappear altogether.   Often the only evidence that they … Continue reading →

Nick Greaves, Resident Falconer at the Betton Bird of Prey Centre at East Ayton, near Scarborough, recently entertained a party of audio recordists from the British Sound Recording Association. I’ve always been in awe of birds of prey – they’re … Continue reading →