May, 06
2013
Hobbies

Railways in popular culture

What is it about trains that capture our imagination again and again? Railways seem to pop up in book, films and TV shows so often, from “Thomas the Tank Engine” to “Murder on the Orient Express”. Why do these engines have such appeal that other forms of transport don’t? How many programs are there about aeroplanes, mopeds or hovercrafts? True, there have been two recent series that focus on white vans (“White Van Man” and “Olly the Little White Van”) but will they be remembered in fifty years? It seems doubtful.

Part of the appeal is the romance of the old steam engines. When JK Rowling invented the Hogwarts Express, she didn’t base it on a Wessex Electric, did she? No, it was a shining, scarlet steam train. And they are beautiful. You just have to pay a visit to the Watercress Line (one of the best attractions in the south) and see one of them in action to appreciate how majestic they are. That’s why the “steamies” in Thomas are the good guys and the diesels are the baddies – steam may be obsolete but it’s a darn sight more lovable than the trains that followed.

There’s also an extended metaphor to be taken through railways – every story should take us on a journey and the railway symbolises that journey. A classic example is E.Nesbit’s novel “The Railway Children”, where the family go on a bit of a voyage of self-discovery through the book. Their world is turned upside down, they have to “play at being poor” and along the way – twee as it may sound – they find out what’s really important. And again, it’s a steam engine that’s used in the film adaptation. Otherwise, the end scene where Roberta see her “Daddy, oh my Daddy” just wouldn’t be the same. Without the atmospheric clouds of steam, she’d have spotted him right away and there would be no suspense. And “Brief Encounter”  just wouldn’t be the same if it took place among the glitz of Heathrow Terminal 5.

It’s good to see that modern kids’ TV is still finding inspiration from trains. “Chuggington” features talking trains, from the electric passenger trains to the old steam train “Old Puffer Pete.” It may bear some similarity to the Thomas stories but really, it’s just another sign that the railway will always have a place in our popular culture.

May 6th, 2013 by David Whitechapel | Type: Standard
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Mar, 23
2013
Review

Time for a nice cup of coffee

Recently I decided that I was going to buy myself a coffee maker, being an absolute caffeine addict and lover of all things Italian. I decided to go for the Tassimo coffee maker from Bosch and wasn’t disappointed. I thought I’d share my initial thoughts and a bit of a semi-review here.

In the past I’d always struggled to make great coffee either in a cafetiere or an espresso press. People often complained when I tried to make fresh coffee (i.e. guests for dinner parties) that it would always taste burnt or bitter and it irritated the hell out of me. With the growth of coffee shops in the UK it seems more and more people are becoming coffee experts (myself included) hence the decision to invest in high-quality coffee maker.

The Tassimo machine that I chose was fantastic a huge improvement over previous methods that I tried, my initial reaction was that it was incredibly easy to use and considerably quicker than boiling water in a kettle. One of the unique aspects of the coffee maker is that it allows you to use pre-prepared coffee pods that are inserted directly into the top of the machine, once again taking all of the guesswork out of making a good cup of coffee.

coffeeHere’s the picture of the first cup of coffee that I’ve made, unfortunately the crema, that glorious pale yellow froth that appears on the top of the really well-made cup of coffee, had disappeared by the time I took the picture.

I have to say that if you’re a person who enjoys a really good cup of coffee my recommendation would be to try and get a high-quality coffee machine, it certainly doesn’t have to be an expensive machine, but an investment in one of these will certainly have a noticeable difference on your own coffee drinking, and that of your guests.

The only other note that I would add is that it’s a great idea to get the best quality beans you can, the pods that are used in the coffee machine do restrict you somewhat in your ability to use the beans that you like, for example you going to branch of Starbucks are able to buy whole Bean coffee very reasonably. That’s only a small minor niggle in the overall picture.

Now I’m off to enjoy my cup of coffee.

March 23rd, 2013 by David Whitechapel | Type: Standard
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Feb, 21
2013
Tourism

Hampshire – The County With A Bit Of Something For Everyone

Hampshire is a county that has something for everyone. From the dockyards of Portsmouth to the metropolis of Southampton, there are historic ships, modern shopping centres and impressive cathedrals. Here are a few popular things to do in Hampshire:

Paultons Park, just outside Romsey, has been a family favourite for 30 years and now includes Peppa Pig world, a hit with pre-schoolers. It has rollercoasters and dinosaurs as well as water play and garden. Romsey is a pretty market town and is also home to Romsey Rapids – a swimming pool with multiple water features and a play pirate ship. Every month, it welcomes 35,000 visitors to enjoy the fast-flowing rapids circuit and the huge flume.

Winchester is another historical town with its main attraction being the famous Winchester Cathedral. Built in 1093, it almost collapsed in the early 20th century and the diver William Walker had to dive underneath it in order to repair the foundations. There are several other historical buildings in Winchester, but just a stroll down the High Street gives you plenty to look at, including the Buttercross and the Tudor-style wooden frames of WHSmith. Even McDonald’s has a mediaeval theme to it!

If you’re looking for nature, the obvious place to head is the New Forest with its vast open spaces and deep forests. You can take a walk, meet some New Forest ponies or pay a trip to the Motor Museum at Beaulieu, famed for its monorail. It’s a beautiful area of the country and has rightly been preserved, so that huge sections of it are free from any kind of development. You would hardly know that the shops and cinemas of Southampton lay only a few miles away.

Yes, if you want modern entertainment Hampshire can offer that too. West Quay in Southampton and Festival Place in Basingstoke are both 21st century developments, with a wide range of shops and restaurants as well as other amenities.  In Portsmouth, you can find designer discounts at the Factory Outlet Village at Gunwharf Quays and while you’re in the area, you can visit the Historical Dockyard, which houses the Marie Rose and HMS Victory.

With so many things to choose from, how do you decide what to do? That’s up to you, but you won’t run out of things to do in Hampshire.

February 21st, 2013 by David Whitechapel | Type: Standard
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