Oscar-winning actress Melissa Leo used to work in Fenwick's at Brent Cross.
I wasn't the only one who used to get Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins mixed up.
There was an Andy Capp video game.
Showing posts with label What I've Learnt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What I've Learnt. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Sunday, 16 January 2011
What I've learnt (comeback edition)
I gave these a bit of a break over the holiday season, but now we're back.
The late JB Priestley was a big fan of Monty Python, and was annoyed when the BBC didn't show it in the Midlands region.
There are a lot of duplicated Latin names for plants.
The technical name for a a hare's dropping is caecotroph.
New Zealand television shows the British version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
According to official figures, more cassette singles were sold in 2010 than in 2009.
The late JB Priestley was a big fan of Monty Python, and was annoyed when the BBC didn't show it in the Midlands region.
There are a lot of duplicated Latin names for plants.
The technical name for a a hare's dropping is caecotroph.
New Zealand television shows the British version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
According to official figures, more cassette singles were sold in 2010 than in 2009.
Friday, 24 December 2010
What I've learnt this week (written in advance to make sure it's on time edition)
Amanda Vickery was once told she was too old to present television programmes.
This year is the 500th anniversary of the first documented Christmas tree (in Riga).
Being in a largely abandoned office building can be a bit spooky. But the upper floors give you a good vantage point for pretty winter sunrises.
Both Tony Hancock and I were demoted in our school nativity plays. Of all the things I could have in common with him, that's one of the least bad ones.
This year is the 500th anniversary of the first documented Christmas tree (in Riga).
Being in a largely abandoned office building can be a bit spooky. But the upper floors give you a good vantage point for pretty winter sunrises.
Both Tony Hancock and I were demoted in our school nativity plays. Of all the things I could have in common with him, that's one of the least bad ones.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
What I've learnt this week (too sleepy to type on Friday edition)
Taking the bus to work because I was running late was a waste of money.
DH Lawrence had red hair.
In order to be acquitted for crimes committed while sleepwalking, the accused must prove a defence of "non-insane automatism".
Wokingham is officially the least deprived borough in the UK, and is therefore used to calculate local government funding nationwide.
Not only was Police Squad cancelled after six episodes, the last two apparently weren't even aired in the US at the time.
DH Lawrence had red hair.
In order to be acquitted for crimes committed while sleepwalking, the accused must prove a defence of "non-insane automatism".
Wokingham is officially the least deprived borough in the UK, and is therefore used to calculate local government funding nationwide.
Not only was Police Squad cancelled after six episodes, the last two apparently weren't even aired in the US at the time.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
What I've learnt this week (only one day late edition)
The famous Shito Sauce is not suitible for vegetarians. However, British Sea Power's fudge is.
Women are not (yet) allowed to serve on Royal Navy submarines.
Home-made baked beans taste so much better than the tinned ones that even I like them.
The generic name for the game commonly known as Jenga is "tension tower".
Women are not (yet) allowed to serve on Royal Navy submarines.
Home-made baked beans taste so much better than the tinned ones that even I like them.
The generic name for the game commonly known as Jenga is "tension tower".
Friday, 3 December 2010
What I've learnt (on time edition)
Any time it snows south of Birmingham, it will be the lead story on the news in Britain.
Nicholas Sarkozy once had to chase a dog and a rabbit around his ministerial office in front of the US ambassador.
Apparently I have seen the film Airplane!.
Nicholas Sarkozy once had to chase a dog and a rabbit around his ministerial office in front of the US ambassador.
Apparently I have seen the film Airplane!.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
What I've learnt this week (slightly less late edition)
Gary Numan is, in fact, older than Gary Oldman.
Only about 75% of ginger cats are male.
Andrew Marr used to write the Bagehot column in the Economist.
Bernard Matthews, the most famous man in the British turkey industry, died on Thanksgiving.
Honesty is only for poor people, apparently.
Only about 75% of ginger cats are male.
Andrew Marr used to write the Bagehot column in the Economist.
Bernard Matthews, the most famous man in the British turkey industry, died on Thanksgiving.
Honesty is only for poor people, apparently.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
What I've Learnt (very late edition)
It can be very difficult to stop eating freshly-roasted pumpkin seeds.
Some people think Catherine Of Aragon might have had an eating disorder.
The reason I only like carrots when they're cooked certain ways might be to do with the sugar content. This also applies to many root vegetables.
The least-downloaded Beatles song last week was 'What Goes On' from Rubber Soul
.
It was possible to take very vivid colour photos as far back as the 1950s, at least if you had the lighting conditions of Morocco.
Some people think Catherine Of Aragon might have had an eating disorder.
The reason I only like carrots when they're cooked certain ways might be to do with the sugar content. This also applies to many root vegetables.
The least-downloaded Beatles song last week was 'What Goes On' from Rubber Soul
.It was possible to take very vivid colour photos as far back as the 1950s, at least if you had the lighting conditions of Morocco.
Friday, 5 November 2010
What I've learnt this week
The association of red with the Republicans and blue with the Democrats in the US only seems to date back to the year 2000.
JML direct stands for John Mills Limited.
Japan has no daylight saving time.
e-books are subject to VAT, whilst of course printed books are not.
A colleague of mine once applied to become a firefighter. He didn't get the job.
JML direct stands for John Mills Limited.
Japan has no daylight saving time.
e-books are subject to VAT, whilst of course printed books are not.
A colleague of mine once applied to become a firefighter. He didn't get the job.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
What I've learnt this week (slightly late edition)
Some people don't bother to check whether something is possible before the promise somebody else will do it.
More languages than you might think have words for the practice of making a mobile-phone call that isn't intended to be picked up.
The governor of Tokyo really doesn't like crows. The feeling may be mutual.
I'm even less likely than I thought to be related to Phil Collins. Or Edwyn, or Lewis, or Andrew, or Colin...
The title of Steve Reich's box Phases
is a pun. Admittedly, that is a musical fact but one unlikely to appear on any of my other blogs.
More languages than you might think have words for the practice of making a mobile-phone call that isn't intended to be picked up.
The governor of Tokyo really doesn't like crows. The feeling may be mutual.
I'm even less likely than I thought to be related to Phil Collins. Or Edwyn, or Lewis, or Andrew, or Colin...
is a pun. Admittedly, that is a musical fact but one unlikely to appear on any of my other blogs.
Friday, 22 October 2010
What I've Learnt This Week
Smoking lettuce might be dangerous.
Yes, I know I must have been about the last person on the internet to see that.
Eurasian Cranes like trying to eat shoelaces.
Some photos look a lot better on a lightbox than they do on paper.
The British Museum closes at 5:30pm, at least some days.
A traditional Japanese social ceremony included a five-course meal followed by thick tea and finally thin tea. And the host didn't even get to drink any of it.
Teenagers still say things like "Shame on your life" to each other.
A fortnight off work is very relaxing, even if you like your job.
Yes, I know I must have been about the last person on the internet to see that.
Eurasian Cranes like trying to eat shoelaces.
Some photos look a lot better on a lightbox than they do on paper.
The British Museum closes at 5:30pm, at least some days.
A traditional Japanese social ceremony included a five-course meal followed by thick tea and finally thin tea. And the host didn't even get to drink any of it.
Teenagers still say things like "Shame on your life" to each other.
A fortnight off work is very relaxing, even if you like your job.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
What I learnt last week (2)
In 1990, Charles M. Schulz appeared on the same episode of Wogan as New Kids On The Block.
Some people still think it's possible to walk and type a message on a BlackBerry at the same time.
People in shops is Chiswick are quite friendly.
Starting a blog and not telling anybody about it doesn't lead to a big hit count.
...However, Google thinks my Now blog gets a lot of views from Denmark.
Gauguin was a good painter, but not a very nice person. He did, however, do a carving with some monkeys eating mangos, which I liked.
Keeping to a regular blogging schedule is harder than it looks.
Some people still think it's possible to walk and type a message on a BlackBerry at the same time.
People in shops is Chiswick are quite friendly.
Starting a blog and not telling anybody about it doesn't lead to a big hit count.
...However, Google thinks my Now blog gets a lot of views from Denmark.
Gauguin was a good painter, but not a very nice person. He did, however, do a carving with some monkeys eating mangos, which I liked.
Keeping to a regular blogging schedule is harder than it looks.
Monday, 11 October 2010
What I learnt last week
So I'm launching things here with an end of-week feature, at the beginning of the week. Start as you mean to go on, or at least as you expect to, I guess.
So, the idea of the feature is that I'll try to keep a tab on small things I've learnt over the course of a week just gone, in the hope that the need to write this will help me remember them and get me into the habit of blogging regularly. It should also help serve as a reminder of what a joy it is to learn things.
Johann Hari keeps a regular diary of things he's been wrong about. I have to hope this doesn't include "Not punching that funny-looking kid in the year above me at school".
'That's What I Like' by Jive Bunny has one of the most offensive videos in pop history. And the sleeve's not much better.
If your front door seizes up due to humidity, applying WD-40 will help loosen it.
If you stand around in your office holding a box numbered 9 and start saying "Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine..." people probably won't get the reference.
Magpies are very bold this time of year.
So, the idea of the feature is that I'll try to keep a tab on small things I've learnt over the course of a week just gone, in the hope that the need to write this will help me remember them and get me into the habit of blogging regularly. It should also help serve as a reminder of what a joy it is to learn things.
Johann Hari keeps a regular diary of things he's been wrong about. I have to hope this doesn't include "Not punching that funny-looking kid in the year above me at school".
'That's What I Like' by Jive Bunny has one of the most offensive videos in pop history. And the sleeve's not much better.
If your front door seizes up due to humidity, applying WD-40 will help loosen it.
If you stand around in your office holding a box numbered 9 and start saying "Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine..." people probably won't get the reference.
Magpies are very bold this time of year.
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