About Me

Meloramus is a bit of an information junkie, which you can see from her Melography.

Her current ambition is to build 100 lenses and see what happens. You can view her progress on her blog The Big Squidoo.

10 Places to See in the UK Before You Die

The UK may be small, but it's full of a variety of amazing places stretching right from John O'Groats to Lands End. Here are some of the most iconic sights that our small island has to offer. Please feel free to add your own suggestions to the bottom...

The Golden Compass Movie

The Golden Compass movie is the biggest movie of 2007. Based on the Philip Pullman book of the same name (entitled Northern Lights in the UK) and the first part of His Dark Materials trilogy, it tells the story of Lyra's search for her friend in the s...

Seaside Style Interiors

The great thing about Seaside Style is that it's easy to achieve the look without spending a fortune. There are several key elements to follow: Keep walls pale and paint with either cool blues, greens or whites. Furniture should be simple in design an...

Arts and Crafts Interior Design

The Arts and Crafts style or Craftsman Style (also labelled Mission style) is a fusion of the aesthetic and the functional. It is characterized by simple design with a focus on craftsmanship and the use of natural materials. Wood is used heavily, usu...

How to get a better night's sleep

There's nothing worse than a lack of sleep. Not only does sleep deprivation lead to slower brain function, it can also contribute towards weight gain and low-self esteem. Luckily, there are some cheap methods that you can use to improve your quality o...

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) rules the 1970s San Diego TV network together with his band of faithful sidekicks in the Channel 4 News Team. It's all scotch, jazz flute and hair perfection for Ron until the feisty Veronica Corningsto...

Monkey! - the 70s TV Series

This is my tribute to the great TV series - Monkey! (or Monkey Magic) which was broadcast in the UK in the late 1970s and was the highlight of my TV week. Filmed in China by Japanese actors and then dubbed into English, it tells the story of a monkey...

How to Make the Perfect Cream Tea

I love cream teas. They're such a treat. Just imagining the mingling of the clotted cream, jam and warm scone served with a fresh pot of tea - makes my mouth water! Cream teas are traditionally associated with Devon and Cornwall, counties located in...

Hayao Miyazaki - Master Animator

The Japanese animation director and founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, is perhaps one of the greatest animators alive today. He is not only hugely gifted, but his movies are also financially successful. He is often called the "Walt Disney...

Property News UK

The UK property market is in complete flux at the moment. Rising interest rates, soaring house prices and an uncertain stockmarket make it a fast-moving industry to follow.  This lens is totally independent. It's main aim is to offer as balanced...

Studio Ghibli: My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro) is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most loved movies and one of the top children children's animations of all time. Released by Studio Ghibli in 1988, it tells the story of two young girls who go to live in the country to...

London Restaurants

London restaurants offer some of the best and most varied cuisine in the world. The capital is packed with world-class restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes. Sometimes, however, the choice is overwhelming. To help you get the best out of London...

A Guide to the Alethiometer

An alethiometer (from the Greek 'aletheia' meaning truth), a fictional truth-measuring instrument created by Philip Pullman, the author of the best-selling fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials. The Golden Compass is another name for the alethiometer a...

Great Gifts for your Wife

Buying a gift for your wife is a lot easier than it seems and it will be a whole lot easier after you have read this lens. As a wife myself, I know what women like to receive! The main element of gift-buying for a wife is to concentrate on what she wo...

Top 10 Places in the UK for Booklovers

The UK has inspired a huge amount of world-class literature ranging from Hamlet to Harry Potter. This lens lists the best places to visit if you want to explore British Literary Culture in more detail

Japanese Fugu

Fugu is one of the most fascinating and notorious dishes in the world. Prized in Japan as a delicacy, it is prepared from the flesh of the pufferfish (Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish). The flesh itself is edible, but the skin, liver and ovar...

The Fonz

I don't think I'm alone when I reveal that The Fonz was my first real crush. I remember seeing him in HAPPY DAYS when I was about five years old and thought he was just the most gorgeous man alive! Poor old Ritchie didn't stand a chance in comparison...

Pugin

The designs of A.W.Pugin are probably more recognisable than most people realise. He was a designer and architect who was instrumental in kickstarting the Gothic Revival Movement which in turn influenced the Arts and Crafts era. Certainly prolific, h...

Alexander Girard

Alexander Girard (1907-1993) was one of the most prolific designers of the 20th Century. Although his name is relatively unknown in comparison with his contemporaries - Charles Eames and Herman Miller, he was an incredibly versatile creator and lent...

Tiffany Jewelry - Elsa Peretti

Elsa Peretti has been designing for luxury jeweler, Tiffany & Co since 1974. Her designs are some of the most iconic in fashion are coveted by women all over the world.  Her most famous designs include the Tiffany open heart and the Tiffany...

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor is a rarity in this day of spoilt Hollywood A-Listers. He is not only a versatile actor, equally at home on the stage or behind the camera, he is also ready to tackle experiences that bring him back to basics. His recent motorcycle trip...

Vintage Dunhill Lighters

Vintage dunhill lighters are highly collectible and make great gifts for those who love classic design. There are three main types of dunhill lighters to look out for. The dunhill Unique, dunhill Rollalite and dunhill Rollagas. All of these are sough...

Borough Market

If you love food and are visiting London, then be sure to include Borough Market on your itinerary. It is one of the finest food markets in the world and sells not only the best British produce, but also a range of delicious international fare. It's...

M.R.James

As the nights grow dark and Winter approaches, it's time to bring out the ghost stories and draw near to the fire. If you want to be truly scared, then you have reached the right place. Montague Rhode James (1862 - 1936) was a British author who wrote...

London Pubs

No trip to London would be complete without including at least one visit to a pub - preferably more! But how do you choose? There are more than 4500 London Pubs - some great, some OK and some which you would be better off avoiding. Here is a select...

The Golden Compass Merchandise

Corgi International holds the license to produce the official toy line for New Line's The Golden Compass - the most biggest movie of 2007. The range includes a set of action figures (Lyra, Lord Asriel, Mrs Coulter), battling bears and various vehicle...

Merlin

Long before Harry Potter, there was Merlin or Myrddin, the legendary wizard and sage who guided King Arthur to the throne and has been a recurring character in many British myths and stories. He is most often pictured as an elderly man with long silv...

Studio Ghibli: Tales from Earthsea Movie

Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki) is the latest animated movie from Studio Ghibli, first released in Japan on July 29 2006.  It is Goro Miyazaki's (son of Hayao Miyazaki) directorial debut. The UK release was 3 August 2007, however the US date is...

Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents

As Christmas approaches, the countdown begins to find as many suitable family gifts as possible.  Grandparents can seem hard to buy for, but once you start to think about their hobbies and interests, you will be surprised how easy it is to come...

Melography

Since starting on Squidoo I have created a fair amount of lenses - some are serious, some are silly, some are full of content and others are heavier on image. There's no rhyme or reason behind my creations - I just choose subjects that I enjoy and st...

Tintagel Castle - Cornwall

Tintagel Castle is one of the most mysterious and beautiful historic sites in Britain. Situated on the west coast of Cornwall, Tintagel is built on the remains of a coastal headland which is gradually being eroded by the sea. Historians believe that...

French Country Style

The French Country Style interior rarely goes out of date - making this design a popular scheme for the home. The area most associated with this decorating style is Provence, which is situated in Southern France. Here the emphasis is on natural mater...

Shirley Bassey

Shirley Bassey has a successful career that spans 6 decades. Most famously known for the James Bond theme tunes, Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever, she has been a favourite on worldwide dance floors since the 1960s. Her longevity and public appeal...

Change Your Life for the Better

Do you feel as if you're stuck in a rut waiting for your real life to begin? Do you feel as if you're thirsting for new experiences and ways of living? If so, you've come to the right place. There is no secret to changing your life. You just need to k...

Sferra Bedding

Since 1891, Sferra has been synonymous with luxury living. Sferra's linens are woven from the highest quality linen and Egyptian cotton to create textiles of distinction. Each individually crafted Sferra product has a thread count of between 200 and...

Dr Hauschka Natural Skin Care

Dr.Hauschka is the brand name for the holistic skin care range made by German company, WALA. Its range is based on the idea that the energy of a product is crucial to your skin so that both the ingredients and manufacture are developed with utmost ca...

How to Give Up Smoking

If you want to know how to quit smoking then you've come to the right place. I was in exactly the same position as you and I have been smoke-free for over five years now. Almost all of my friends and acquaintances have also quit smoking now too. There...

Le Creuset Casseroles

There's nothing more comforting than cooking up a huge tasty casserole or stew in a Dutch Oven (or French Oven if you are Le Creuset!), especially at the coldest time of the year. Often it's just as easy as chopping up a few ingredients, throwing the...

Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman is an award-winning British author. His most famous work is His Dark Materials, a fantasy trilogy for children which draws it's influence from Milton's Paradise Lost. He is currently working on the fourth book of the series entitled Th...

Scrabble: The Best Board Game Ever

What is it about Scrabble that makes it so addictive? Is it the simplicity of the game, the great design or just the fact that we all like to show off our wordpower? For me, it's based all of these things.  Some of the best Scrabble players I kno...

43 Things

43 Things is a website where you can set goals, track goals, achieve goals and cheer other people's goals. It's a massive blog, diary and cheer factory all in one where thousands of people come together to share hopes and dreams. It was created in 20...

The Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona Chair is one of the most recognisable pieces of furniture in the world. The chair was designed by the Bauhaus architect, Mies Van Der Rohe in 1929. It was custom made especially for the German Pavillion at the World Expo in Barcelona wh...

Roald Dahl: The Best Childrens Author Ever

When I think back to my childhood, one of the best memories that I have is hiding under the bedclothes with a torch, trying to read Roald Dahl stories as quietly as possible. I loved them all, but my favourites were the magical tales of James and the...

Clarice Cliff - Art Deco Ceramics

Clarice Cliff Art Deco ceramics are distinctive and highly collectible. The most popular designs are the Art Deco ceramics stamped 'Bizarre' or 'Fantasque', which are rich in colour and often include geometric pattern. These ranges date from the 1920...

Alan Garner

The author, Alan Garner, is not heard of often these days, but his books have stood the test of time as milestones in British writing. I first read his work as a child and my experiences of Elidor and The Owl Service have coloured my reading habits e...

Dead Poets Society Video Showcase

Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir was a movie that resonated with a whole generation of misunderstood teenagers who were trying to find their identity. The story is set in a strict 1950s prep school. A new English teacher, John Keating (Robi...

Guinness Gifts

Guinness is one of the most recognisable drinks in the world. Created back in the 1700s, it's distinct black and white banding makes it an iconic brand. There are plenty of Guinness gift ideas for the stout drinker out there. Guinness pint glasses, G...

Diptyque Candles

Diptyque candles are one of my favourite indulgences. I love everything about them. The beautiful packaging, the elegant design and most of all, the delicious perfume that lingers on well after the flame has been extinguished. They are expensive, whi...

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Video Showcase

Ferris Bueller's Day Off, directed by John Hughes, is one of my favourite movies of all time. It follows Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) - a high school senior, as he plays truant from school and goes on a big day out with his girlfriend Sloane Pe...

Simon And Garfunkel Video Showcase

The American duo Simon and Garfunkel were amongst the most successful pop artists of the 1960s. Some of their greatest hits include Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Sound of Silence and Mrs Robinson (the latter featured in the film The Graduate starri...