Marie Antoinette at the Conciergerie

17 October 2019 // No Comments

“I was a queen, and you took away my crown; a wife, and you killed my husband; a mother, and you deprived me of my children. My blood alone remains: take it, but do not make me suffer long.” Marie... Continue reading →

80th Anniversary Afternoon Tea at Notch8 (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver)

19 September 2019 // No Comments

In honour of its 80th anniversary in May, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver‘s Notch8 restaurant came out with a themed afternoon tea with traditional sandwiches and sweets. I was lucky enough to win afternoon tea for two in May which I redeemed... Continue reading →

Jack the Ripper Museum

9 November 2018 // No Comments

9 November 1888. The mutilated body of 25-year-old Mary Jane Kelly was found in her bed in 13 Miller’s Court. She was the youngest, and possibly the last (at least during Autumn 1888), victim of Jack the Ripper. A few... Continue reading →

Anne Boleyn’s Hever Castle

19 May 2018 // No Comments

Today, 19 May, marks 482 years since Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, was beheaded at Tower Green (at the Tower of London) around noon. As today also marks the day of the royal wedding of Prince Harry... Continue reading →

75th Anniversary of Dieppe Raid

18 August 2017 // No Comments

Tomorrow marks the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (or Operation Jubilee) on 19 August 1942 and as a tribute, I would like to share some of my photos taken in 2008. When I first visited Dieppe in June 2008... Continue reading →

Schloss Heidelberg

20 July 2017 // No Comments

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will arrive in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg on Thursday, 20 July, I thought I would finally share photos from my exchange year of Heidelberg Castle (Schloss Heidelberg or Altes Schloss). Although the Cambridges are unlikely... Continue reading →

Captain George Vancouver: From UK to Vancouver

22 June 2017 // No Comments

Today marks the 260th birthday of Captain George Vancouver, the namesake of Vancouver and Vancouver Island, BC (as well as Vancouver, WA and others). I had long been curious about Captain George Vancouver, one of Britain’s greatest explorers, and decided... Continue reading →

Kew Palace & Gardens

2 May 2017 // No Comments

One of the perfect Historic Royal Palaces (HRPs) to visit during Spring is Kew Palace within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is open from 1 April to 1 October every year so be sure to visit soon whilst the... Continue reading →

61st Vienna Opera Ball & ‘Blue Danube’ Tiara

23 February 2017 // No Comments

Today marks the 61st annual Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball) at the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper). This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the premiere of ‘The Blue Danube’ (An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314) by Johann Strauss... Continue reading →

‘Seduction Late’ at the National Maritime Museum

20 February 2017 // No Comments

On Valentine’s Day, I passed the evening at the ‘Seduction Late’ for the ‘Emma Hamilton: Seduction and Celebrity‘ exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. This was a museum late where guests could view the exhibition after museum hours whilst... Continue reading →

The Lady & the Rose

Finding beauty in life

history