General Election 2015: Brits would trust a fictional dog more than political leaders March 5, 2015 Forget David Cameron versus Ed Miliband, there's a new candidate in town leading the polls in the popularity stakes. In what can only be described as a damning indictment of politics today, Britons think a dog is more trustworthy than any of the current candidates who could potentially become Prime Minister in May. Nearly three-quarters [...]
A stunning glimpse into Japan’s past along the magnificent Nakasendo Way March 1, 2015 Japan’s sleek Shinkansen has been the country’s fastest mode of transport since it launched 50 years ago, its aerodynamic nose slicing through the rugged landscape. Before that, if you wanted to quickly traverse the country you would take the Nakasendo Way, one of five ancient highways built during the Edo period (1603-1868). Winding through the [...]
48 hours in… Gothenburg March 1, 2015 WHERE TO GO Cars aren’t allowed on the southern part of the Gothenburg archipelago – the 20 islands offer uninterrupted natural beauty with bijou villages and stunning beaches a short ferry journey from the city centre. Seal safaris, boat rides and fishing are just some of the activities available on the islands. goteborg.com WHERE TO [...]
Barings’ collapse: The reflections of rogue trader Nick Leeson, the man who crashed a bank February 25, 2015 Twenty years on from the collapse of Britain’s oldest merchant bank Barings and the rogue trader responsible for its demise is perched opposite me on a sofa in the rarified Palm Court tea room in the Langham Hotel, sipping tea and eating biscuits. Dressed in a pink shirt, blue jacket and jeans, the Nick Leeson [...]
Selection dilemma for Pochettino as trophy bid looms for Spurs February 25, 2015 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted the conundrum of juggling resources is preying on his mind as his side prepare to face Fiorentina in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League tie tonight. Spurs have reached the last 16 in the past two seasons but face a potentially difficult assignment having travelled to Florence [...]
The National Theatre’s head chef Simon Flint on organising chaos February 24, 2015 There are two main challenges to running the restaurants at the National Theatre: people have very high expectations because the theatre is so good, and they’re often in a hurry, so we need to serve great food quickly. Our restaurants are open at other times, but pre-theatre – which is 5–7.30pm – is very much [...]
Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins talks pipes, politics and £1m election bets February 22, 2015 I don't know much in life, but I know how to run a plumbing company,” says Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, matter-of-factly. Mullins is entitled to his own opinions (and he’s got his fair share) but he’s probably wrong on this one. The self-made multi-millionaire is unerringly humble – he’s not just any managing [...]
Food deliveries roll out at Uber and Burger King February 19, 2015 CONTROVERSIAL ride hire firm Uber yesterday launched its latest experiment in delivering more than just people with UberEATS in Barcelona. UberEATS works with local restaurants in the Spanish city to put together a daily selection of meals that can be ordered to arrive in under 10 minutes. Meanwhile, US fast food chain Burger King has [...]
Film review: Cake – the one where Jennifer Aniston feels sorry for herself February 19, 2015 Cert 15 | ★☆☆☆☆ Since Friends, Jennifer Aniston has gone on to build a successful, if not groundbreaking, career as a commercially bankable but critically patronised American sweetheart. But she wants more. She wants respect. She wants awards. She wants – whisper it – to do a McConaughey. Cake isn’t Aniston politely asking to [...]
25 years of Photoshop: A short history of the image editor which gave us Katy Perry’s left shark, Kim Kardashian breaking the internet and Ed Miliband eating a bacon sandwich February 19, 2015 It’s created iconic images and can take responsibility for the most bizarre image fails ever seen, now Photoshop is celebrating its 25 year anniversary, a quarter of a century in which it changed our visual culture. The image editing software package which became a verb is so integrated into our lives and the way we [...]