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Articles by Bruno Blackstone

Browse published articles attributed to Bruno Blackstone, with full-archive search.

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By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The Diary of a Broken Ankle - A True Story Highlighting the Importance of the Correct Footwear Whilst Outdoors

The article is a true account of the experiences of the daughter of a friend who suffered a severe ankle injury as a result of not wearing the correct boots whilst walking. Diary of a Broken Ankle BBA (Before Broken Ankle): I have an active lifestyle and enjoy walking and cycling, getting out into the great outdoors is one of my favourite things.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

5,644 views5/5 (1)

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The Rising Popularity of Cycling

After many, many years of decline cycling is starting to boom again, the sight of people wearing bright lycra outfits and flashy backpacks is once again common. In cities the sight of someone wearing a suit whilst riding a bike, is becoming nearly as common as a suited bus or rail passenger. If you are a cyclist, however, what does this say about you?

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

4,176 views5/5 (1)

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The way to get the most out of camping.

Camping definitely is a very good way to relax and bond with the great outdoors, whatever age you are and regardless of whether you are on your own, a family, a couple or a group of pals in search of a break there is a camping break to suit you. Lately there are numerous camp sites, tents and gadgets out there it really doesn’t have to be a back to basics break, unless you want it to be! It is also really adaptable; you can go camping for however long you desire – no travel agents dictating the duration of your holiday simply pack all of your camping equipment and away you go.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,786 views5/5 (1)

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Walking to see wildlife – how to experience flora and fauna as you enjoy the countryside

For many of us the most enjoyable part of walking is seeing the various plants and animals along the way. In this article the author suggests how to maximise your wildlife spotting chances If we stop to think for a moment about the many types wildlife that surround us all we will quickly realise how diverse and interesting spotting wildlife can be e.g. Birds, Wild Plants and Flowers, Mammals, Funghi, Butterflies, Moths and insects are all around us and to maximise our chances to experience them we need to consider some simple principles.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

955 views5/5 (1)

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Why do some people stick coins into trees?

It 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 A side 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 whether to congratulate her or to telephone for a medic. It transpires that the woman was referring to a penny the strategy for which was that a kid that happened to be with her would push it in to the bark of a tree. What a strange thing to attempt I thought.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

4,171 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing Gaiters for Hiking

Traditionally Gaiters for Hiking are garments worn over the shoe and lower pants leg, and used primarily as personal protective equipment; similar garments used primarily for display are spats. Originally, gaiters were made of leather. Today, gaiters for walking are commonly made of plasticized synthetic cloth such as polyester. Gaiters for use on horseback continue to be made of leather. Nowadays it is also possible to buy neck gaiters, to be worn around the neck as added protection against the cold.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

2,177 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

What exactly is Team Bonding Experience? Or Whatever Happened to the ‘Company Outing’?

It 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 alte ative to passing the time with our fellow workers sitting around in the sunshine chatting and perhaps having several wine or a meal, now we literally need to try our best to work at building friendships with these people. These experiences can have several forms and may be extremely cut-throat, that means everybody will get to exhibit their abilities at whatever degree of capability.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,952 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

If You Hear an Owl – Take Your Clothes Off

The cuckoo's first call in Spring gives us annual news in the correspondence pages of the UK 'Times' newspaper. Supposedly from olden times the quantity of calls a cuckoo produced suggested different things whether you were actually a young person (the point when you would get hitched), a married couple (the birth date of the next baby) or aged folk (how much more time you had to live), and it's stated that because the poor bird was kept so busy answering these kinds of questions, it had no time to create a nest and for that reason had to offload its off spring on to foster-parents.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,907 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How to take care of your walking boots

When you’ve invested in a decent pair of walking boots you need to take care of them not only to get good value for money ( a good, well looked after pair of boots can last for many years) but to keep them in good condition so that they keep you dry, comfortable and well supported on your walks. The importance of good, strong walking boots can not be over emphasised in order to support and protect your feet, a slip in the wrong footwear could result in a broken ankle or even worse! Follow these top tips to get the most from your boots.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,858 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing a Coarse Fishing Rod

Coarse Fishing Rods There is a huge variation in prices for coarse fishing rods. not surprisingly, the more you pay, the more you get. Coarse fishing rods are no longer made from natural materials, like split cane, and modern rods take advantage of modern materials technology, giving the angler a rod with superb characteristics at a reasonable price.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,821 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Eastwooding

On August 30th, the Republican National Convention took place in Tampa, Florida. Veteran actor Clint Eastwood gave a speech endorsing the Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. During his speech, Eastwood rhetorically addressed an empty chair as if current President Barack Obama were seated in it, conducting an 11-minute mocking “interview” with him, asking questions on behalf of the Republican party. Now, this event, in of itself is not really what I want to focus on, I think it’s rather trivial.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,711 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

WALKING POLES - What Benefit Do They Have To Help Hiking?

A significant stage withi 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 human structure. Back, hip, knee or leg issues are a common grievance especially involving walkers. According to a 1999 study withi The journal of Sports Medicine, rambling poles can lower compressive force to the knees by approximately 25%.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,625 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing Walking Socks

So what’s wrong with wearing ordinary socks when hiking? Well it is all about understanding the particular challenges of the type of walking that you like and maximizing your comfort whilst hiking. As trivial as they may seem the right socks will help you enjoy anything from a short ramble up to an energetic hike across the roughest terrain, however the wrong socks can make walking unpleasant and ultimately lead to foot problems. So how should you chose what’s right for you?

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,605 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Where’s there’s muck there’s fewer wildflowers!

My 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 spare time on my hands and partook in several guided walks in my local area. Some of these were specifically for bird watching, but by way of a change I decided to go on some wildflower walks, an area in which I had not taken a lot of notice of previously.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,600 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Eat Your Heart Out Indiana Jones!

Recently I was reminiscing with a friend about all the games we used to make up as children when we would disappear outside for hours at a time; sadly those carefree days are over and the modern child has adapted to a more sophisticated, but indoor, world. With most kids nowadays having access to computer consoles and adventure games it is often very difficult to get them to play outside at all. Gone are the days when kids could be packed off to play ‘cowboys and indians’ or build a den for example.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,598 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Something Wicked This Way Comes…

During 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 suit and some Mozart from time to time. It couldn’t be said they weren’t a clever bunch, each of them was studying for some lofty purpose of science or philosophy. Inevitably, the ale and wine we drank together gave rise to all sorts of conversations, and all sorts of strange ideas.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,568 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing a Rod for Sea Fishing

Sea fishing rods come in a large variety of types and sizes and that’s mainly because the sorts of fish you may be targeting are many and varied. In terms of making a choice, of course, the right one for you depends on what sort of fish you are after and where you will be fishing from. The more specialist the rig you buy the less flexible it will be use in a range of differing situations.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,516 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Enjoying Nature All Around Us

Many 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 the Yorkshire Dales and have a stream or beck as they are known around here flowing across our small garden. Over the coming few posts I will catalogue the many and varied species that we can identify from our windows; what we refer to as our “window list”

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,509 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Esssential Camping Gear List

Camping is a great way to experience the great outdoors. Living, eating and sleeping outdoors makes for a great, fun and relaxing time. People of all ages can enjoy it and it needn’t be expensive. However, it is important to be properly prepared and unless you are keen on lightweight camping you will need to take a fair amount of gear to ensure you are comfortable and safe. With this in mind I have assembled a simple guide to make sure you don’t forget anything

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,495 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Under the Sea!

This 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. In this article Pete, who chose an underwater dive, talks about scuba diving and how this popular activity can be used for both leisure and professional purposes.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,488 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Be on the lookout for Half a Dozen Crows!

Those who enjoy the country side cannot help observe the strange folklore linked with flora and fauna and particularly the Corvids or Crow family. A friend of mine can not rest assured unless he says “Good Morning Mr Magpie” to the very first magpie he sees every day and I have witnessed quite a few times where land owners will sometimes suspend dead magpies (indeed other beasts as well for example moles) in a line along a fence. Puzzled I started off a thread on a hiking weblog and found out that this is done for a pair of reasons.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,482 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Be a Cowboy? I Kid You Not!

Recently I was watching a re-run of an old television series that I remember my parents watching avidly when I was a child. It was set in the Wild West and every week the heroes had to deal with hold-ups by bandits, Indian attacks or rescuing damsels in distress, with the odd gold-rush thrown in for good measure. With only two TV channels to choose from during my English childhood we tended to get hooked into these great escapades from the wide open spaces of America.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,468 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

He Flies Like a Bird!

In a previous article I mentioned that I took on an unexpected child-minding job on what turned out to be a very rainy day. The three of us ended up in front of the computer searching online for adventure activities to entertain young children. Both the kids chose what would be their most favoured activity if they were lucky enough to receive one as a birthday gift. One chose scuba diving and the other chose an indoor skydiving experience, as I was feeling a little flush at the time I set them a little challenge.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,460 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Base Layers for Out Of Doors Activities

Being out and about in the great outdoors means you need to be prepared for any weather. Golfing, cycling, fishing, camping, hiking or just taking in the wildlife on a leisurely stroll you need the ability and flexibility to be able to keep warm when the weather suddenly turns against you. Being active though will also mean that you can quickly get too warm and end up drenched through perspiration, so on a rainy day you can get soaked from without and within, a particularly unpleasant experiences.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,459 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Around the Course in 80 Seconds!

In my youth I was quite a fan of motorsport and I liked nothing better than travelling to a racetrack and spending the afte oon watching different classes of cars race around the course. I do believe some of my contemporaries went to great lengths to avoid paying the admission fee by concealing themselves in the boot of a car as it entered, but that’s another story! In those days we didn’t get the chance to get behind the wheel of a car at all until we reached the legal age to drive at seventeen.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,454 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The Occidental Tourist!

Recently 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 before the advent of our modern forms of travel. When I started some research on the subject I came across the idea of the ‘Grand Tour’, this was undertaken by many a young person in an effort to broaden the mind and fit into high society.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,453 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

A Folly in the Garden

Several weeks ago I decided to have a change to my normal stamping ground and went walking in the south of the country for a few days. I am used to rugged terrain or rolling hills so what struck me first about the area were the wide open spaces and vast expenses of flat ground or gentle hillocks. I then began to notice that dotted about here and there were tall, unusual buildings. On getting up close to one or two of them I realised that they seemed to serve no useful purpose other than garden decoration, as they had no doors or windows.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,452 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

5 Things to Consider When Selecting a Tent

Camping is an increasingly popular way to enjoy the great outdoors for all sorts of people, families, couples or friends. It needn’t be an expensive pastime but you can’t avoid the fact that you will need to buy some basic equipment to get you going There’s no denying that the most essential piece of equipment for your camping trip is the tent. Whilst camping your tent is your “home” and needs to keep you safe, warm and sheltered from the elements. The bigger it is the more flexibility it will give you but it is also likely to be heavier and a greater strain on your finances

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,415 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

What Makes The British British!

My 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!

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,408 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

I 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 nearby, I decided to find out a little more about this much –revered creature. It’s quite difficult to pinpoint when man first began to domesticate and train, what was essentially a wild beast of the open plains, – the horse.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,374 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Should there still be zoos?

Some 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, particularly of endangered species. They try their utmost to make enclosures as close to the natural habitat of the animal’s origins as possible.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,321 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How to Backpack. Advice on Choosing a Backpack, Day Pack or Rucksack for Walking to ensure maximum comfort and minimise back problems

Walking backpacks come in many different shapes and sizes. Each rucksack is specific to a certain activity or pursuit. When looking for a rucksack the first question is what activity you intend to use the backpack for. Are you going on an afte oon walk, or a walking holiday? To help you make the right choice My Outdoor Store, the premium price comparison site for all your outdoor clothing gear, has produced a guide to choosing a walking rucksack to ensure maximum comfort

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,300 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How Novels Helped Social Improvement in Victorian England

A handful of 19th century Uk writers were in a position to see at first-hand what everyday living and working conditions were like during the Industrial Revolution, of massive significance were the increases in both the amount of manufacturing establishments and of the people prepared to labour in them. As a result the proprietors made great profits by preserving overheads, for instance wages, small. This produced a great divide in between the wealth of the factory bosses and the poverty of the workers.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,290 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Ten Top Tips on How you can Choose Walking Trousers

There'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 Churchill, William Shakespeare and a Lawyer. All three present you with directions, who really should you not trust? – The answer, obviously, is your self – there isn't any such a thing as a wonderful hot day in this country!

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,278 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How to look after your barbecue.

Whether you choose a charcoal or a gas barbecue there are then various accessories that will prove essential to your cooking, keeping it clean and protecting it from the elements. First of all, cooking accessories; you can buy these in sets or individually. Naturally make sure you choose utensils that have long handles so that your hands do not get too close to the heat. Essential items are:- Brushes – one for applying oil to the grill bars so that food does not stick and another for basting food as it cooks.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,259 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Heathland Wildlife

Many people who like rambling do so as a result of wide variety of wildlife which it is possible to experience as they explore the outdoors. Obviously, the species that you are likely to see will be dependent on the type of the habitat in which you are hiking. One sort of habitat which is commonly favoured by people is heathland however bilogists distinguish between what's referred to as upland and lowland heathlands as the prevailing climate conditions are rather different and therefore so are the indigenous species.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,255 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The Appeal of the Orient Express

Recently, 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 oozes from the carriages and it got me thinking about all of the people who have travelled on that train over the years.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,231 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing a Fly Fishing Rod

Fly Fishing is, of course, different from coarse fishing and sea fishing in that you are trying to catch fish not through tempting your prey with actual food but with an artificial fly made to fool the fish into thinking that it is taking an insect or fly. Sometimes these flies are on the surface and hence known as dry flies and sometimes below the surface and there a great range of flies for below the surface fishing including buzzers, lures and a bewildering range of exotically named flies such as cats whisker or boobie.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,199 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing Sea Fishing Tackle

Sea Fishing Tackle Fishing in general is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and feel in touch with nature but where do you start out with sea fishing? Sea fishing has many different variations and so in terms of choosing sea fishing tackle the two basic questions are where do you intend to fish and what sort of fish are you looking to catch? Sea fishing can take place from a boat, from a pier or jetty or from the beach or by an estuary.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,190 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Should there still be zoos?

Some 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, particularly of endangered species. They try their utmost to make enclosures as close to the natural habitat of the animal’s origins as possible.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,187 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How to Choose A Fly Fishing Fly

Fly fishing flies or game fishing flies are a unique part of the fly angler’s gear to catch fish. Unlike most of coarse and sea fishing the angler is trying to fool the fish into believing that the fly, tied from all sorts of natural and man made materials is actually food rather than using actual food as bait as is the norm in other sorts of fishing.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,184 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Today's dish is Named After the Dish!

Whilst 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 quick rundown of my discoveries so far:-r

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,183 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

To (Charcoal) BBQ or Not to (Gas) BBQ!

Recently 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 square and cook fresh food for their invited guests. I say barbecues because they had both a gas-fired one and a traditional charcoal one, in the end, because of the amount of food and the number of people to be served, having two on the go was very useful and both had their merits.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,178 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How to Cast Using a Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing which is also known as game fishing requires the angler to perfect their cast before they can hope to fish properly and in this sense is harder for the beginner to perfect than other sorts of fishing. Not only must you cast your fly to a specific spot (often some distance away) but also you must move the fly through the water to mimic the actions of a living creature.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,169 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Choosing a Sea Fishing Line

It is obviously important to understand the sorts of fishing line that exist and when you should use one rather than another. A major factor is what you are fishing for and where you intend to fish; there are basically four different sorts of fishing line. They are manufactured in different ways and this affects their properties in use. The properties you need whilst sea fishing differ from those you would need if fishing a river, canal or lake.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,129 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Hot Stuff! or…How to Keep Warm Once the Sun Goes Down

People who have read some of my previous articles will know that I am a great love of the outdoors, walking and hiking, fishing and birdspotting. However, I do also enjoy just sitting at home in the garden watching the comings and goings of the neighbours and my wildlife visitors. Speaking of visitors, when we do get them (human, rather than wild ones), I find it most delightful to sit outside long into the evening with a little snifter and stimulating conversation.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,117 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Messing About on the River

Contrary 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 back. It was a lovely day and it got me thinking about past boating experiences.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,111 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

How Do You Prefer Your Eggs Mr Benedict?

During the research for my foods named after cooking pots article, I also found a fair few foods named after people so here they are: some you might already know, some may be new to you. Beef Stroganoff was the prize-winning recipe created for a cooking competition held in the 1890s in St. Petersburg, it consisted of a combination of beef, mushrooms, and sour cream,. The chef who devised the recipe worked for the Russian diplomat Count Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov, a member of one of Russia's grandest noble families.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,103 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

The Theme Park

My 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 task which I soon tired of. Memorably my son, when very small, managed to escape from an indoor soft play area (it was in a marquee and he just crawled under the flap when no one was looking) and was found wandering around outside, not a care in the world and in his stockinged feet.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,088 views

By Bruno BlackstoneRecently published1 topic

Any Old Porch in a Storm!

Here in Britain we are not having a very good summer this year, we are having a lot of rainfall and many places are flooded. Whilst sitting in the house the other day looking out at the rain (again!) I got to thinking, “wouldn’t it be lovely if houses in this country had those American-style porches all around the house with lots of different kinds of garden furniture?” Unfortunately, this country is not blessed with consistently good weather so we can’t always sit outside, much as we’d love to.

Primary topic: Work Life Balance

Work Life Balance

1,085 views

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