Category: AWAY FROM THE DESK
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Winterbourne Gardens
The horror! The horror! I worked next to Winterbourne Gardens for two and a half years and I never visited. On my very last day I decided to pop by for a now-or never-visit. Thank the Gods I did, it’s stunning! I kick myself though because I could and should have been a regular.
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The Netherlands and Belgium for ITP #2
I really looked forward to this and it didn’t disappoint. The 2nd in-person ITP course was at Vlerick’s main campus in Ghent, giving me a chance to enjoy that city and Bruges nearby. Both were complemented by exceptional weather and incredible atmospheres, due in part to football fans passing through on their way to and…
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Kyoto @ the RSC
I’ve never managed to get to a show at the RSC Stratford so I was delighted to get tickets for the world premier of “Kyoto.” I didn’t expect much, the premise wasn’t exactly my thing (or so I thought) with the show being about a climate accord and the processual build up to it. I…
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Championing an Underdog
Birmingham does not lack for critics and some of the criticism is hard to refute. It’s not the prettiest city, compared to the best of mainland Europe it’s embarrassing. The shopping scene is poor compared to rivals and its poorly connected and disjointed. Still, from up on high on a summer’s night there’s a certain…
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Off to see the Wizard
It’s not really my thing but I was happy to accompany a friend. For those who care the stars attractions were Craig Revel Horwood and a guy from JLS – a boyband (apparently). It was very well written up by the critics and the show was well put together. Lots of children were on hand…
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Getting it in before I’m gone from UoB: Edgbaston Reservoir
The countdown is well underway and I’m getting through my University of Birmingham bucket list of things to do. Today’s agenda was Edgbaston reservoir, which I’ve thought about walking around many times but I’ve never quite got around to it. It was a little cold and cloudy, although this didn’t diminish the experience. I’ll hold…
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London Town & City, University of London
It’s pretty rare for me to visit London spontaneously but this was only planned at 18:30 the night before. I had to get some important administration taken care of. It was a case of sooner-the-better, so I jumped in the car and got it done. Of course, it’s a long way to go for a…
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Escaping the depressing de-developing dystopia that is the UK: Time in the Netherlands & Belgium
Spending time elsewhere in Western Europe (i.e., outside the UK) reminds you of what the terms “developed” or “advanced” nation really mean. The Netherlands and Belgium exude wealth, comfort and confidence in a way that the UK no longer does. There isn’t an endless array of empty stores, there isn’t homelessness at every turn and…
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London Weekend Adventure: Royal Parks, Literary Gems and Natural Encounters
I got lucky on the weather and put in some serious steps: 30+ thousand on the Saturday and 25+ thousand on the Sunday. I got my alternative-tourist money’s worth too, seeing the former houses of John Keats, Sigmund Freud and George Orwell as well as pretty much every Royal park and a fair few non-royal…
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Exploring the Sights, Sounds, and Smells of MOROCCO
It was exactly the orgy of sights, sounds, colours and smells I hoped it would be. The weather was surprisingly unreliable but the city delivered in every other way. In comparison to Egypt (which I also visited recently) Morocco was laid back and more Westernised – which isn’t to say better but it was more…
Dr Martin James 