Universal Pedagogue

I suppose its a gif(t) really

Pies As English As Big Ben

Link: Pies As English As Big Ben.

There are certain foods that are distinctly English in origin, like Fish N Chips wrapped in newspapers; mushy peas in vinegar; Yorkshire pudding and the humble English pie.

Those who fancy pies oozing with creamy ingredients encased in a golden brown shortcrust pastry will be thrilled to find them at Big Ben's Place - a cosy eatery hidden in a quiet Siglap estate.

Owned and run by Mr Benedict Tee, Big Ben's Place specializes in savoury and sweet English pies in more than 10 different flavours. The recipes for the pies originate from an English woman who ran a pie shop in Toronto, where Benedit's father had retired to.

Formerly located at Blk 551 Bedok North Avenue 1, Big Ben's Place shifted to its even more secluded current address at Swan Lake Avenue in Opera Estate two years ago. It is important to higlight that Opera Estate is deep within one of the residential pockets in Siglap and is possibly 1km away from the main commercial Siglap thoroughfare, via the pathway of the Siglap Linear Park (it took us almost 15 min on foot under the hot noonday sun to get out). Why they choose to remain elusive we didn't get to ask, but we're sure with pies these good, word sure gets around.

We ourselves knew about Big Ben's from someone, who's friend stays in the area. Naturally, residents in the vicinity count for the larger population of the shop's customers, but we were told that many also drive over from other areas to purchase their pies or to have a relaxing meal in the evenings.

So are their pies really worth all the trip there to get them? Let's go to Singapore and find out.

The Bank of England

Link: Bank of England - About The Bank.

The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom. Sometimes known as the 'Old Lady' of Threadneedle Street, the Bank was founded in 1694, nationalised on 1 March 1946, and gained operational independence in 1997. Standing at the centre of the UK's financial system, the Bank is committed to promoting and maintaining a stable and efficient monetary and financial framework as its contribution to a healthy economy.

The Montary Policy Committee

England's children getting fatter

Link: BBC NEWS | Health | England's children getting fatter.

Increasing numbers of boys and girls under the age of 11 are now obese, official figures for England show. Between 1995 and 2003, the prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 10 rose from 9.9% to 13.7%, the Department of Health found.

The biggest increase seen in an age group was among eight to 10 year-olds, from 11.2% to 16.5% over the eight-year period.

Obesity experts said the statistics were alarming.

I'm not dead !

The Ivory billed Woodpecker shows it knows a thing or two about life

Take me to Colorado

Port of London - successful year 2004

Increased trade at port facilities on the Thames has been reported as a key part of a successful year for the Port of London Authority (PLA). Cargo handled at London’s port terminals in 2004 increased to 53.3 million tonnes.

Highlights for the year include:

+ total cargo throughput up to 53.3 million tonnes (up 4.5%)

+ PLA turnover up to £37.8 million (£32.8 million in 2003)

+ overall surplus on PLA ordinary activities (after tax) £960,000 (£810,000 in 2003)

Announcing the Port of London Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2004, Chairman Simon Sherrard said:

“London is one of the UK’s largest ports and I am pleased to report that 2004 saw growth return. This was due to a mixture of factors, including increases to existing trade and the attraction of new services to the port. We expect the benefits of improvements and investments made by the terminals to continue.”

Walton Bridge

"Old" Walton Bridge, seen by Canaletto

and the "New" bridge,a bit later on

Maldives

We haven't been to the Maldives for a while. Last time we took a cruise between some of the islands, a beautiful place, a beautiful holiday.

I went looking for some pictures just to remind me ......

Yes, I think it must be nearly time to go back there again.

Abandoned Darfur Villages Burned to Terrorize Refugees From Returning - UN

Link: allAfrica.com: Sudan.

The United Nations refugee agency today voiced alarm that abandoned villages in Sudan's conflict-ravaged western Darfur region are once again being burned as a message of terror to discourage people who once lived there from returning home.

"This gratuitous act is clearly a message to the former residents not to return home," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told a news briefing in Geneva of an agency visit last week to the village of Seraf, near Masteri, some 60 kilometres south of El Geneina, capital of West Darfur state.

"We are concerned because acts like this - on top of the displacement of some 2 million people from their homes - threaten to change the social and demographic structure of Darfur irrevocably," she added.