French heritage to become a cross-generational world appeal, as few bags have caught the appeal of grandmothers, mothers and daughters alike, the Longchamp Le Pliage bag, launched in 1993 inspired by Japanese origami and named after the French word for “folding”, the tote made from recycled nylon canvas, with beautiful leather handles, snap-button flap costing around £125. The Longchamp Le Pliage has been adopted as the school bag favourite choice by Generation Z. You don’t have to be Princes of Wales or Kendall Jenner or Angela Merkel to own and use one. Jean Cassegrain’s family privately owns the brand founded … Continue reading Cross-generational favourite handbag

Contemporary Gardens features an astonishing 300 gardens around the world, each accompanied by knowledgeable detailed descriptions of both public and private gardens like the exotic reinvention of the Old Rose Garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex and Sarah Price’s community garden. The Exchange in Erith, in North Kensington, The Grass Gardens at the Horniman, High Line, Changi Airport Garden, dreamy hillside garden in Morocco by Umberto Pasti, African Ancestors Memorial Garden, Chihuly Garden & Glass, Gardens by the Bay, Brook Gardens, Jardins d’Etretat, The Opera Park, Anna Wintour’s elegant garden in upstate New York by Miranda Brooks and Prairie … Continue reading Inspirational connection with the natural world

In the Nineteen Ninety’s, Nigerian mastermind Emmanuel Nwude pulled off the great $242million  scam selling a completely non-existent airport in Abuja to Brazil’s Noroeste. Posing as the Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank Nwude promised $10million commission, and duped the bank’s director and pocketed $242million leaving the bank to collapse in 2001. Nwude was eventually convicted and his assets seized though he later recovered $52million, claiming it was legally his. Continue reading Deception and $242million fake airport scam

Vicky Pryce and Andy Ross chart UK’s economic trajectory from industrial superpower to an IMF bailout. In 1976 m the global financial crisis, Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, is a wake-up call to politicians and policymakers of all stripes. How did the UK transition from being the world’s workshop to having the dependent, service-driven economy of today, prone to severe negative shocks and daunting economic challenges? Mismanaged Decline gives an urgent reality check that will embarrass politicians from all parties, and track the forces that have shaped the UK economy since the Industrial Revolution. The authors tackle complex issues such … Continue reading Pragmatic solutions over political dogma!