The princess myth: Hilary Mantel on Diana

Diana should be as passe as ostrich plumes: one of those royal or quasi-royal women, like Mary of Teck or Wallis Simpson or the last tsarina, whose images fade to sepia and whose bones are white as pearls. Instead, we gossip about her as if she had just left the room. We still debate how in 1981 a sweet-faced, puppy-eyed 20-year-old came to marry into the royal house. Was it a setup from the start? Did she know her fiance loved another woman? Was she complicit, or was she an innocent, garlanded for the slab and the knife?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/26/the-princess-myth-hilary-mantel-on-diana

Lita Cabbellut

"I do not see ugly people," says Cabellut. "I paint different people. I paint people in whom you need to find the real beauty behind the skin. I have a weakness for underdogs, and one part of me will always stay with them. What drives me is the portrait of the human being, of you, of me, of us."

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36580311
http://www.litacabellut.com/

Eighties Fashion Designers

The eighties are considered one of the most experimental periods in British style history, but trends weren't limited to massive shoulder pads with sizeable hair to match. It was in this era that people expressed themselves in any way they wanted and, at the heart of it all, was a celebration of the individual.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0929rts

Edinburgh's floral clock

Edinburgh’s world-famous floral clock, one of the star attractions of Princes Street Gardens,  honours the 200th anniversary of The Scotsman this year.

http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/edinburgh-floral-clock-tribute-for-the-scotsman-s-200th-year-1-4443613

I don’t mean to ruin your holiday, but Europe hates tourists – and with good reason

We claim that travel opens our eyes to the world – and it does, a little. But it also requires closing them. We have to turn a blind eye to much of what we see to enjoy ourselves. Sometimes it is big things such as poverty and unemployment. Mostly, though, we have to ignore the hordes of people just like us, all of whom want what we want: the authentic tapas, a glimpse of an older way of life, a sight that we can put on Instagram.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/16/dont-mean-ruin-your-holiday-but-europe-hates-tourists-with-good-reason-suzanne-moore

Edinburgh's 101 Objects

 Visit 101 of Edinburgh's most treasured objects and step into our city's history, brought together to celebrate Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. #Edinburgh101

http://edinburgh.org/101#object25

First Venice and Barcelona: now anti-tourism marches spread across Europe

With the continent sweltering under a heatwave nicknamed Lucifer, tempers have been boiling over, too, as a wave of anti-tourism protests take place in some of Europe’s most popular destinations. Yet, as “tourism-phobia” becomes a feature of the summer, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has defended the sector, calling on local authorities to do more to manage growth in a sustainable manner.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/10/anti-tourism-marches-spread-across-europe-venice-barcelona

The true importance of good spelling

While some spelling mistakes are harmless and funny, many aren’t. The humble typo not only has the power to make us appear less intelligent than we are. Poor spelling can also create confusion, a loss of clarity and meaning and in extreme cases it can cost millions in missed sales and job opportunities. It has the potential to wreck customer relationships and even ruin your chance of finding love online.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170807-the-true-importance-of-good-spelling

The UK’s hidden shame: disabled people trapped at home with no wheelchair

Barely a week after London proudly hosted disabled athletes from around the world, it’s emerged that our own government is failing to provide its disabled citizens with something as basic as a wheelchair.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/03/wheelchair-provision-nhs-disability

There are two Cornwalls: the paradise of my fantasies and the place I’ve moved to

U

ntil recently, I lived in a flat in Camden Town, above the betting shop, with my husband and three-year-old son. There were rats on the fire escape and junkies on the street. Sometimes, the junkies offered me childcare tips: “Don’t feed him lollies or he’ll end up fat, like you.” Was this man a contributor to Mumsnet? Was he right? I had a list of things I did not like about London, and it grew longer. I did not like the nearest primary school, for the children had upside-down smiles. I did not like the fuggy heat, or the air pollution, or the children who threw eggs at my window. I did not like the butcher who charged me £110 for a joint of beef.

We sold the Camden flat and moved to a tumble-down house on the edge of Newlyn, the fishing port next to Penzance.

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2017/aug/05/two-cornwalls-tanya-gold-poldark