On a recent excursion to the shops, accompanied by a friend, we found ourselves in the luggage section of a large and famous department store rather by accident. We had wanted to find quite another department but such is the labyrinthine layout of this gargantuan store, we had turned in a wrong direction somewhere and had ended up in an area of brass locks, leather tags and superfluous straps; surely, we needed nothing here. “Hold on” my … [Read more...]

Historic brands can be mightily deceptive. Early trading dates might stand proud above doorways; photographs of a visiting member of the Rat Pack may adorn the walls inside; but counters seem more like museum display cabinets and each product is accompanied by rather long-winded explanations of ‘heritage’ and ‘continuity’. I adore history and admire firms with great heritage, but I fear a good many lose sight of the reason for their … [Read more...]

It was through gothic arches and a carpet of leaves I strode; past withered branches, long handled brooms and mossy stone. The autumn scent of a distant pyre was lively in the early evening air; the ‘glorious death’ had come. It wasn’t until I had scrambled my house key from my pocket, stomped my way across the threshold and unwrapped my silk scarf from my neck that I fully appreciated the fragrance I had chosen for this particularly … [Read more...]