16 August, 2024
Hertz doubled the cost of my car rental. Here’s their process design trick.
This year, during my family holiday, I discovered how Hertz – and many other car hire companies – have crafted a process involving dark patterns to trick stressed travellers into paying far more than necessary for their car hire. I’ve used Hertz several times over the years, particularly in the 2000s, so I expected good […]
2 January, 2010
Southport, New Year’s Day 2010
First outing with the polarising filter given to me for Xmas by my friend and colleague James and decided to wander up to Southport for the afternoon. We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset that the filter really helped add punch to the skies. Downsides of the day? I think I’ve lost the use of […]
18 December, 2009
Iceland In Winter
I expected more ice, it has to be said. I also packed my thermals and it turned out to be warmer than home. But, I also know how bitterly cold it can get in countries like this in Winter even if the thermometer doesn’t show it as looking so bad – driving rain, strong winds […]
7 July, 2009
Krakow – June 2009
I was in Krakow recently – ostensibly for a weekend jolly, but it turned out there was a surprise birthday party organised for me! Here’s some pictures from around the city…
7 June, 2009
Crazy European Sports To Try This Summer
Europeans are considered to be the best educated, most sophisticated people on the planet. They also like diving into bogs, throwing tomatoes at one another, and chasing cheese.
10 May, 2009
Nice
Nice is one of the playgrounds of the French Riviera – but it can look cold in Winter. Still a damn sight warmer than Liverpool, however…
4 December, 2008
Butterflies in Liverpool
Sometimes you see something so cute, cutting through the dreary, cold wetness, that you have to stop and take a few quick snaps. There was nothing to say who did it, or why – but this is the kind of art I appreciate sometimes. I hope it lasts.
10 December, 2006
Liverpool Airport (Speke)
Liverpool has one of those small airports that’s done rather well over the past decade. A rise in air travel has been good for many airports, yet Liverpool’s Speke airport (now known as Liverpool John Lennon Airport) has done especially well. Why? Because first of all they worked well with easyJet – with a combination […]
26 November, 2006
Rocking in Paris
I spend… oooh, lots of time in Paris. Yet I’ve never actually quite got round to writing about it on this site. Why not? Good question. Perhaps because it’s a little personal. I’ve lived there, loved there, and so on. To talk about it in depth may reveal me more to the world at large. […]
19 October, 2006
Anthony Gormley’s Another Place
Some of you may have heard of Anthony Gormley’s Another Place. It’s a series of cast iron statues, of his own form. 100 of them, to be precise, spread over a large beach near Liverpool, in Crosby, and at the mouth of the Mersey. These figures stand looking out to sea and are remarkably poignant. […]
18 August, 2006
Italy – Lucky in Lucca, and more….
Sadly, I never had a chance to write fully about Italy – so you’ll have to make do with this brief overview. Sorry!