Tag: UK

The Wyles Family on Tour - 2026!

UK: Giant Sun-Dial [Wakefield Gardens] – Outside the South Exit of Tower Hill Tube Stop! (1.8.2026)

As such, we completely missed this giant sun-dial and were not aware of its presence. Yesterday, (31.7.2026) we visited the Tower Bridge – which allowed us to leave the Tube by its other exit – thus permitting a close-up encounter with the giant sun-dial. The children have seen the sun-dial at the former home of Charles Darwin in Kent – so they were aware of the mechanism and the science behind its functioning. What impressed them (and us) was the sheer scale of this structure. Everyone attempts to get the best and all inclusive photographs. We have always followed the idea that the more the children physically experience – the greater will be their progressive thinking capacity! This sun-dial is fascinating to encounter – similar to finding a maze! London – like England – is full of these kinds of things and we are lucky to live so close to it all!

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The Tower Bridge - London - UK

UK: Visting Tower Bridge – North & South Towers – East & West Walkways! (1.8.2026)

Of course, the bridge was never designed to be a tourist attraction per se – but it certainly is today – replete with a glass-floor on each of the two towers. Climbing the 209-steps-up essentially culminates in the traversing of the two towers – “North” and the “South” which are 213-feet above the water of the River Thames. Along the side of the Walls are arranged historical write-ups about this or that fact. For instance, a “bail of hay” has to hung beneath the arms of the bridge when these arms are not in operation and/or receiving repair.

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The Wyles Family at London Bridge!

UK: The “Engine Room” of London’s Tower Bridge! (1.8.2026)

We visited Tower Bridge on Friday July 31st, 2026. Oddly, none of us had visited this iconic site before. The Engine Room is around a hundred foot or so from the bridge proper (we actually visited the bridge proper – before we approached the Engine Room) – and features the original turbines that lifted the bridge up and down. Although the engineers that built the bridge received ridiculously good wages – the everyday workers who kept the bridge functioning safely on a daily basis received nothing like as good pay. Still, the engine is said to be similar to those found in ships like the Titanic.

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The Beautiful Devon Village of Kentisbeare - 1947!

UK: Yorkshire Puddings Are Made of It – Dead Fish Are Covered in It – On Why the MCC is “Wrong”!

My Dad learned cricket from the rich-boys who played on pristine pitches in the overwise bombed-out city of Leicester. These were Grammar School (posh) boys and my Dad was definitely not allowed to play. He was from an averagely poor working-class background. What he did was cleverly make himself useful to these privileged fools – so that they would slowly let him into a little bit of their affluent world. This is how he learned to play cricket. Many years later, when I was a child, the BBC would screen six-hours of cricket on a Sunday – I think BBC 2 – and my Dad would explain the game to me. This is how I learned to understand the rules of cricket. My Dad went on to found Tiverton Cricket Club as a player-manager – and I used to go with him as a child to roll the pitch a day before each match. On occasion, I would be at the game – mingling with the players – as I was young – I did not grasp “opposing sides” thing too well.

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A video of a wicket during Saltburn's win over Norton in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has gone viral for an alleged incident of cheating

UK: Weird News from England – Saltburn Cricket Club ‘Clicking’ Scandal Goes Viral! (29.7.2026)

Anyone who knows cricket – will understand that there is a lot going when the ball is being bowled. Add to this the players talking, shouting, running about, and the noise from the crowd and the general environment, as well as the weather conditions – I would say it is impossible to a) make a loud enough noise to fool the Umpire (simulating a leather ball is hitting a wooden bat), whilst b) doing this so as not to make it obvious you are attempting to cheat. There is now a viral investigation where cricket enthusiasts are watching past videos of Saltburn CC games – to see if the alleged fielder is regularly doing this. A recent video can be seen on the BBC coverage of this story – and it looks to me like a mannerism – but I could be wrong. More evidence is needed. Apparently, despite being local cricket, numerous videos are available of Saltburn CC playing matches – but failing that (the situation may not be obvious whilst filming at a distance) – the players might have to be interviewed and a confession extracted if this matter is to be resolved. There is another possibility. As Saltburn CC seems to be doing rather well for itself – has it fallen victim to malicious intent from an unknown cause?

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Glastonbury Tor - Spiritual Centre of England!

UK: My Father’s “Celtic Cross” Has Arrived! (27.7.2026)

I ordered this sometime ago from a small business in the UK – who sent me a wonderful postcard of Glastonbury and a bundle of free incense. Although we are modern people – and not religious – we may be described as “spiritual”. The Celtic Cross, I believe, is pre-Christian, and that the Christians may have encountered it amongst the Pagans – and decided to co-opt it into their religion. All the Celtic Cross means is that the seasons (in the Western-world) are separated into four-seasons. The cross represents this – and this only. A cross like this can be found within Viking and Anglo-Saxon cultures. Christians, for centuries, used two-fishes, and an “X” with a “P” (a Greek character) – and various other symbols (Christ is depicted as using a “wand” at one-point) – but never a “croos”.

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