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Articles from Bruno Blackstone | Selfgrowth.com
- Looking for Ghosts in Edinburgh - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneA couple of years ago I happened to be in the glorious ancient city of Edinburgh with a lot of time to pass and in consequence I decided to search for a few interesting things to do. Not having any vehicle with me I wanted to search for things I may do walking not overly far from my lodgings. As ...
Views: 445 - Love Flora and fauna? Some handy info concerning the best way to entice a variety of birds to your garden. - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneDespite the fact that I enjoy the countryside I am additionally not averse to a bit of wildlife spotting in my own garden; last month my spouse and I remained transfixed as a stoat moved its family, 1 baby at a time, to a place less than 6 feet from where we both were sitting. After having ...
Views: 499 - Matching Food to Wine - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneThere genuinely are a numerous varieties of wines available in the market, put together with the written matter, devices and countless jargon this can be very difficult to establish exactly where to start out with the whole thing. Some folks come across a tipple they like and don't change, ...
Views: 740 - Messing About on the River - by Submitted on Jun 21, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneContrary to popular belief we do occasionally get some very hot days in this part of the world. On one of these recent ones my wife and I decided to take a lake cruise on Lake Windermere in the English Lake District. Rather than hire our own boat we took the ferry from Ambleside to Bowness and ...
Views: 1019 - Picking out Binoculars to Spot Birds Whilst Walking - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneSeeing our feathered friends whilst on your outdoor walk genuinely is a fascinating thing to do, there will likely be a number of unique birds to experience and recognise. A few birds are well-known and simple to see, others are rarer and more challenging to name. Some species of birds are so ...
Views: 775 - Rambling and the European Financial Crisis - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneWalking for fun is the most well-liked leisure time activity in The UK by far. According to data from the United Kingdom government 16% of individuals do it every week, compared with 11% who head over to the gym. Maybe staying and being in the country side is linked with success and the “upper ...
Views: 488 - Recollections of the land and sea and how artwork helps you to enjoy your surroundings. - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneBeing a country kind of fellow I am always drawn towards magnificent landscapes in all sorts of locations. I've got a couple of particular favourites and my family already has orders (when the moment comes) to distribute my charred remains over one of them. There is a golf links next to where I ...
Views: 496 - Should there still be zoos? - by Submitted on May 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneSome people do not like the idea of keeping animals in captivity but long gone are the days when animals were kept locked in cages to be stared at with no regard to their feelings or being kept in unnatural surroundings. Nowadays the main work of wildlife parks and zoos is conservation, ...
Views: 1100 - Should there still be zoos? - by Submitted on May 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneSome people do not like the idea of keeping animals in captivity but long gone are the days when animals were kept locked in cages to be stared at with no regard to their feelings or being kept in unnatural surroundings. Nowadays the main work of wildlife parks and zoos is conservation, ...
Views: 1231 - Social Networking - What's your views on it? - by Submitted on May 18, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneBeing the thoroughly modern chap that I am, I use Facebook. This is partly a business thing, but I find it’s also pretty useful for staying in touch with people who otherwise had passed completely out of my life since I upped sticks and came to the countryside. Old friends from the days of my ...
Views: 911 - Something Wicked This Way Comes… - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneDuring my university years, studying at an institute of higher learning in a town of disrepute, I became friends with some budding ‘scientists’ whom at the time would have more accurately been described as ‘nutters’. These were men who loved heavy metal and ale, but knew the benefits of a good ...
Views: 1463 - Straight From the Horse’s Mouth - by Submitted on May 20, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneI was walking in the beautiful countryside around Middleham in North Yorkshire recently and was quite surprised at the number of race horses that were trotting through the town centre. I later found out that because of the wide open spaces around those parts there were several racing stables ...
Views: 1267 - Tales Of The Bleak Midwinter – The Benefit of a respectable Walking Outerjacket (Even for the Northern Chap)! - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneSimilar to most English people, I was caught unprepared by the cold winter weather of 2009. I will keep in mind Dec. 17th particularly well because, untypical for me, I was ill prepared for the weather and the happenings of that day. I had enjoyed the morning rambling, it was chilly and the very ...
Views: 900 - Ten Top Tips on How you can Choose Walking Trousers - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneThere's a particularly old yarn which We have adjusted to suit my purposes that is as follows. “You are walking to the stores on a beautiful sunny day to search for some walking and hiking outside clothing. However, you are not sure of the shortest route and you meet the ghosts of Winston ...
Views: 1194 - The Appeal of Hot Air Balloooning - by Submitted on May 21, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneHot Air Balloon Rides are a great way to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside from above drifting along in a tranquil journey across the sky. The really appealing elements of hot air balloon rides include the exceptional quiet (except when the propane burners are firing), the lack of a ...
Views: 996 - The Appeal of the Orient Express - by Submitted on May 01, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneRecently, I was lucky enough to be treated to a trip on the Orient Express, it was quite an experience absolute luxury combined with excellent service. If it weren’t for the modern dress and occasional buzz of a mobile phone I could have been back in the heyday of the infamous train. History ...
Views: 1153 - The Occidental Tourist! - by Submitted on May 22, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneRecently I recounted to my readers how I left my beloved Yorkshire to spend a week in the Italian Lake District. The travelling was done by train and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it took me three days to get to my destination. I started to think about people who travelled in bygone times ...
Views: 1353 - The Pendle Witch Trials - Their 400th Anniversary - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneSalem might be famous for its witch trials but there was an equally shocking case some eighty years earlier in the heart of England. 2012 marks the four hundredth anniversary of the Pendle Witch trials held in 1612. Many events have been planned to mark the date but what was it all ...
Views: 757 - The Tale of a Damaged Ankle - A Cautinary journal about the perils of the wrong footwear - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneBBA (Before Broken Ankle): I have an active daily life and value trekking and road cycling, getting out into the great country side is one of my favorite activities. Day 1: Enjoyed a charming ramble with my companion and our pet dog - Tess, sporting my brand new wellingtons because there had ...
Views: 925 - The Theme Park - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneMy family and I have never really been great lovers of funfairs and theme parks. My wife does not go on any of the rides and so objects to paying the admission price. When the children were younger therefore, it was always down to me to take them on the ride (and stand in the queue with them!) a ...
Views: 998 - The Way To Decide On a GPS or SATNAV Right for Walkers - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneWhat is Sat nav? The Global Positioning System (GPS) is really a satellite-based navigation system (hence they're in addition referred to as SAT NAV) made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was initially created for armed service ...
Views: 901 - The Yorkshire Three Peaks - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneI purchased some new outdoor kit just lately and in consequence decided I wanted to justify my expenditure by creating myself a challenge, I pick on the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the challenge being to ascend the three tallest hills in Yorkshire - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent. Typically ...
Views: 856 - There must be fifty ways to find your lover; or the musings from a forty-something unromantic! - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneA handful of years ago whilst off on a business trip I found myself eating on my todd at a peaceful small bistro in some unknown city. As the bistro was quite tiny, the tables ended up being rather near to each other and as a result it was relatively simple to hear dialogue at the neighbouring ...
Views: 446 - Tips on how to Eat Out in Style – Or “If I Don’t Choose Someplace Great to Take My Wife, I Am a Dead Man! - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneI’m confident all of us is able to remember the film Mary Poppins, I stood in line outside the picture house with my folks when it first came out. Just as we arrived close to the front of the line the usher said the house was full – how disappointing. Mother, Dad and younger cousin went homeward ...
Views: 653 - To (Charcoal) BBQ or Not to (Gas) BBQ! - by Submitted on Jul 11, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneRecently I attended a street party as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It took place on a town square and because of the proximity of the residence of the people who had invited me to the venue, it was possible to wheel out their barbecues onto the ...
Views: 1099 - To Bee or not to Bee! - by Submitted on May 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneIn one or two of my previous articles I have written about how grasslands are managed to encourage wildflower growth. Farmers are being given incentives to promote this kind of management in order to halt the decline in these native wild plants. There is another reason why this decline should be ...
Views: 996 - To Bee or not to Bee! - by Submitted on May 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneIn one or two of my previous articles I have written about how grasslands are managed to encourage wildflower growth. Farmers are being given incentives to promote this kind of management in order to halt the decline in these native wild plants. There is another reason why this decline should be ...
Views: 755 - Today's dish is Named After the Dish! - by Submitted on Apr 17, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneWhilst doing some research for another article I became intrigued to find the number of foods that are named after the dishes or pots they are cooked in. Now although I am normally an outdoors type I am not averse to a spot of creativity in the kitchen and definitely love my food. So here’s a ...
Views: 1070 - Under the Sea! - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneThis is the second of the two articles in which the twin boys Mark and Pete choose an activity that they would like to do, and give a little potted history of the subject. In the first article Mark describes how the Wright brothers achieved powered flight and how the sport of skydiving followed. ...
Views: 1370 - WALKING POLES - What Benefit Do They Have To Help Hiking? - by Submitted on Oct 22, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneA significant stage within Human evolution was the moment our ancestors initially stood up, the way in which people use our upper limbs as well as the hands especially is what has stimulated our intelligence to develop in the way it has. Sad to say, walking vertically has taken its toll on the ...
Views: 1514 - Walking the Dog - Which Breed Would Suit You Best? - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneIn this article Bruno Blackstone examines the many different breeds of dogs and considers how a person's preferred exercise may effect the choice of breed. There is a place near to where I live that is very popular with dog walkers, it is a combination of woods, flat paths, fields and a river ...
Views: 703 - Wat-er Day in the Pool - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneI was sitting in a friend’s garden recently watching their children playing in a paddling pool during an unusually hot spell for this country. Well I say ‘paddling pool’, it looked more like a swimming pool to me. The friends are somewhat younger than me and can’t remember the days when gardens ...
Views: 982 - What exactly is Team Bonding Experience? Or Whatever Happened to the ‘Company Outing’? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneIt appears to be the done thing these days that what used to be called a ‘company outing’ is currently called a team building day. As a result as an alternative to passing the time with our fellow workers sitting around in the sunshine chatting and perhaps having several wine or a meal, now we ...
Views: 1890 - What Makes The British British! - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneMy job involves dealing with the public on a daily basis and one thing I’ve noticed is that a good way to strike up a conversation with someone of whatever age or walk of life is to comment on the weather. If there’s a heat wave it’s news, rain is news, snow is news! So, this got me thinking ...
Views: 1306 - What’s In a Name - A Trip From Ignorance to Local Historian! - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneA little earlier this year The writer took a rail trip from my place in Yorkshire to pay a visit to my mom and dad 80 miles away. My local station was one of those minor unmanned rural stations; my destination station was just as tiny but on the outskirts of a major industrial town. As I had ...
Views: 850 - When We Were Very Young…(We Didn’t Know About Computer Games!) - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneNot long ago I was calling on a good friend while he was baby sitting his grandkids who were staying for a few days. They had brought a variety of things to keep theirselves occupied (and out of Grandad’s hair!). Apart from the old favourites of books, board games and puzzles they had ...
Views: 850 - Where there is muck there’s not as many wild flowers! - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneMy regular readers will know that I adore being in the outdoors and furthermore anything to do with the natural world. Especially I like to recognise the wildlife I come across whilst hiking, hence I rarely go out without my binoculars. Last year, for a variety of reasons, I had an exceptional ...
Views: 773 - Where there’s muck there’s grass! - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneIn a preceding article I outlined how experiening a series of guided rammbles gave me an interest in wild flowers. Having begun to learn a little more about grasslands I was amazed to hear that our wild flowers were effectively under threat and this in turn was affecting the wildlife ...
Views: 956 - Where’s there’s muck there’s fewer wildflowers! - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2013 from Bruno BlackstoneMy regular readers will know that I enjoy being in the outdoors and also anything to do with nature. In particular I like to try and see and identify the birds I see whilst walking, consequently I never go out without my binoculars. Last year, for various reasons, I had an unusual amount of ...
Views: 1506 - Which Indulgence Therapy Will I Choose? - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneThere is no doubt that the spa break business is bouyant, put ‘spa break’ into Yahoo and google and you shall get countless of results. Even during these hard days we can not get enough of indulging ourselves with a quick holiday to pamper ourselves. Perhaps you planning a hen (or stag) ...
Views: 833 - Why Camping Excursions Make Ideal Holidays for Young Ones - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneUncovering a suitable holiday to please all of the members of the family is often quite a complex job. More years ago than I care to mention when my children were still young I was always reluctant to take them to another country, and did not do so until they were both young adults. I knew how ...
Views: 777 - Why do some people stick coins into trees? - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneIt happened to be a wonderfully bright day last Sunday and therefore my family and I went trekking to a really nice locale close to Morecambe Bay known as Arnside Knott. Once we started our descent a female rambler adjacent to to us called out “I have got one”. In all honesty I did not know ...
Views: 4059 - Why is it that Cows Follow Trains? - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneThere's a great movie produced in the 1950s starring Alistair Sim (possibly most famous for his portrayal of Dickens’ Scrooge) known as “Folly to be Wise”. It is set in a British army camp in the 1950’s in which a recently arrived barracks chaplain (Sim) attempts to liven the place up by staging ...
Views: 949 - Wild Plants - Their Uses Through the Years - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2011 from Bruno BlackstoneWild flowers from many places have been thought for a great number of years to contain healing and other attributes. Woodland plants like Wood Avens otherwise known as Herb Bennet, have been worn as an amulet to guard the wearer. The sap from Dog’s Mercury was used as an antiseptic and was ...
Views: 899 - Wildlife Surrounding Us - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2012 from Bruno BlackstoneMany of us who delight in the great outdoors do so partly as a result of flora and fauna that we see there. Wildlife is, after all, all around us and I think it is especially entertaining when one has to go no further than one’s own home to spot it. We live in a remote locale in the centre of ...
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