This is an extract from my book 40 Humourous British Traditions The only fatality was in 1671 when Henry de Belancourt starved to death at the King’s Lynn sea-dyke leaping. He was determined to win and so decided to vault across using a small willow tree. In the final round a successful leap would haveContinue reading “British Traditions – Dyke Leaping”
Category Archives: Current events
Top 10 budget beach bed and breakfasts in the Seychelles
The Seychelles islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue may be known for their luxury resorts but there is also a great selection of family-run, more affordable guesthouses just as close to the archipelago’s famous, world-class beaches
10 top food markets in Madrid
With Madrid’s two-week Gastro Festival opening on January 31st, now is a great time to sample the best jamón, tortilla and tapas with this guide to the city’s markets
Australia’s best beach accommodation on a budget: NSW coast
Planning a road trip along New South Wales’s stunning coast? Here are 10 brilliant beach pads beyond Sydney, from budget cabins and surfers’ campsites to stylish mid-range B&Bs
Up Helly Aa – Shetland Islands – Pictures
Hundreds of costumed people carried flaming torches as they took to the streets of Shetland, in Scotland, during the annual Up Helly Aa festival to celebrate the island’s Norse heritage
When heaven was a drive-thru hamburger
Two beautiful urban oddities – one in sunny LA and the other in east London – have survived to tell a unique story of the human spirit. Now they both face the wrecking ball
Walking in Embleton Bay, Northumberland, UK
Walking in the North-East of England doesn’t get much better than this
Photo highlights of the day of January 27th
These images are worth seeing for the commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz 70 years ago, for the Vikings in the Shetlands, and the polar bear on a Tube train in London.
Vincent Laforet’s night aerials of New York – in pictures
The photographer captured New York from the open door of a helicopter 7,500ft over the city on a dark and chilly night. The flight required extensive planning and special clearances as he flew higher than the planes landing at nearby JFK, LGA and Newark airports.
New Orleans, where memories float on the summertime breeze
In this dispatch from The Guardian Jim Gabour recounts a fleeting encounter that stirred memories long forgotten
Julian Worker Travel - A few ideas for your next trip in every direction 