Melography

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...

The Subtle Knife is the sequel to The Golden Compass and is the second part in His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. The Subtle Knife movie was pencilled in for release in late 2009, but has now been put on hold indefinitely due to low box o...

The Japanese animation director and founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, is perhaps one of the greatest animators alive today. He is hugely gifted and his movies are also financially successful. He is often called the "Walt Disney of Japan&...

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...

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 co...

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.

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...

The UK may be small, but it's full of a variety of amazing places stretching right from John O'Groats to Lands End, Belfast to St Davids. It has a wealth of history, culture, wildlife and it's own unique eccentricities. Here are some of t...

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...

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...

There's no doubt about it - Owen Wilson has got it all. Not only is he an extremely funny actor and a talented writer/producer, but he also one of the sexiest stars on screen. This lens is devoted to all things Owen - from his crooked nose to his wind...

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...

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 motorcycle trips aroun...

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...

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, whites or ivory. Furniture should be simple in de...

Since 1891, Sferra has been synonymous with luxury living. Sferra 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 10...

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...

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...

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...

Here's the good news. If you want to become an expert in your field, be that art, sport or business - you can. Contrary to popular belief, it's not always innate genius or talent that will make you a success, it's the hours that you put in, which mea...

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? There is no secret to changing your life. You just need to know what you want to achieve,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

Orla Kiely is one of the hottest affordable designers right now. Taking her inspiration from 1960s and 1970s patterning, she has produced a range of designs that are bold, yet classic. Orla Kiely handbags, totes and purses are vibrant with colour an...

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...

The UK property market has changed dramatically in 2008. Falling interest rates, plummeting house prices and an uncertain stockmarket make it a fascinating industry to follow. Despite the doom and gloom, there will certainly be opportunities to inves...