Category: Columns

The world of technology is full of mystery. From my previous tale about the legendary arcade unit Polybius, to the dark web. And none of us want to know the secrets behind the dark web. Let’s all just pretend we don’t know it exists and crack on with our innocent and mindless scrolling of Amazon […]

What do the stars have in store for you? You enter the New Year on a calm and even footing, knowing that this is going to be a pivotal mile stone year in the span of your life.  As such, January brings a fresh breeze of self-confidence, which allows you to practice the gentle arts […]

It goes without saying that a lot can change in ten years. But when it comes to technology, ten years is a lifetime. It’s hard to imagine that it was only the 90s when technology started becoming a ‘thing’ in general – from the launch of the World Wide Web in 1990 to the first […]

With the Council still batting around ideas about how to change and improve access to our dear old train station, we decided to look back to the beginnings of that iconic building. Trying again Our current station is actually something of a second attempt by civic leaders to get it right. As we’ve detailed in […]

Gordon Bennett, it’s 2020. A whole new decade, sings Aladdin, on his time-travelling magic carpet. I’d say I can’t believe it’s January, but that’s getting old now. I couldn’t believe it was December, November or October either. As a nation we always seem surprised by the autumn and winter months. You don’t hear people being […]

By the time you read this there’s a good chance that episode nine of the Star Wars saga, The Rise of Skywalker, has been released. You might already have seen it, and the chances are strong that I will have, too. Normally I reserve my column in the January issue for a Christmas piece; some […]

January.  The month of even less money than usual, following all those Christmas purchases from the Middle of Lidl (a whole ham for £24.99? A complete bargain. Until you chuck away 7/8 of said ham in January, and realise the two slices that actually got eaten cost £12.50 each). Yes, it’s the time to try […]

What do the stars have in store for you? Quite an easy going month without too many hassles. Some niggles with a partner regarding Christmas arrangements, but there’s always a compromise if you go looking for it. Work routines steady and relatively uneventful, giving you plenty of time to concentrate on more personal issues, and, […]

What do you get when you cross a tech column with the month of December? You get a gadgety Christmas wish list, that’s what. And that’s exactly what I’ve got for you – with the added bonus of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to ease the strain on the purse strings. Black Friday has officially […]

Ah. Christmas. “The most magical time of the year” (ho, ho, ho). A time of joy and delight and hours spent lovingly choosing presents for your nearest and dearest (which, if my family is anything to go by, means your dogs). The world, it seems, is divided into two types of people. Those who start […]

“Apparently men aren’t allowed to be called ‘dames’ in pantomimes anymore because of transexuals,” says the disgruntled woman sat in front of me on the bus, as she points out a news story to the person sat next to her. “The world’s gone mad.” ‘The world’s gone mad’. Allow me to give you an example: […]

If you think you know all the famous people York has ever produced, buckle up as this may be a new one on you. This month we’re taking a look back at a son of York who became famous for failing to build the first ever ‘New’ York in America. Confused? Read on… Captain Christopher […]

Sometimes it makes a refreshing change to go for a walk not too far from home and so this month’s walk is a gentle stroll beginning at the Bar (city) Walls. Starting from Monk Bar (or Walmgate Bar if you prefer) it crosses the surprisingly remote feeling Walmgate Stray before cutting across a corner of […]

This short walk is packed with interest. Starting at the attractive village of Gilling East it follows a quiet lane with views across to Ampleforth Abbey. Crossing fields to reach the edge of Ampleforth village it then passes the Abbey, which is open to visitors, before heading back to Gilling East across the extensive playing […]

What do the stars have in store for you this month? It might be the beginning of winter but there’s the scent of springtime in your heart! For some this could represent some new life in affairs of the heart, while for others it will represent being able to look forwards and knowing that long […]