Blog about: London | street art | art & culture | expat life
When was the last time you received a letter in the post? Today, with so many different ways to communicate, it's never been easier to stay in touch with your friends and family (or even people you don't really know). My visit to The Postal Museum yesterday made me reflect on the lost art of letter writing and also taught me that delivering post 500 years ago was an extremely dangerous profession!
While British families are stocking up on flour, milk and eggs in preparation for national Pancake Day on Tuesday 13 February, parts of the Netherlands are starting their 5-day debauchery called Carnaval today. Although these two events may seem worlds apart, they are actually very closely related.
Waking up to a world covered in a layer of ice this morning suddenly reminded me of the Elfstedentocht, an ice skating tour of nearly 200 kilometres in the Netherlands. Although this must be the most anticipated sports event in the country, it has only taken place 15 times since its very first official edition in 1909.
"A long time ago, beyond seven mountains, beyond seven forests" there lay the English town of Corby. Just on the outskirts of the town one can find a little tranquil green haven made up from two little woods that used to be part of the ancient and bigger woods of Rockingham Forest, once the royal hunting grounds for King William I. From 1 August till 31 October, you can experience a magical moment whilst visiting the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art exhibition 'Beyond Seven Mountains' in these old Corby woodlands.
Zombies, vampires, the undead: these are all creatures that make up for successful franchise films, and all were originally born from gothic literature. The first ever Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto (1764), was written by British author Horace Walpole who found the inspiration for the novel in his gothic castle in west London. After an elaborate restoration, it is now possible to visit this extraordinary and eccentric historical house.
Today is the 5th of November: Firework Night in the UK! No, we don't celebrate New Year early here. Instead, the 5th of November commemorates an event that took place over 400 years ago, or rather an event that did NOT take place.