People Profiles - Mussolini
Footprints - Harald Brüning
Harald Brüning, a seasoned journalist with four decades of experience in Macao, has witnessed firsthand the city's historical transformation. As Macao celebrates the 25th anniversary of its return to China, Brüning shares his personal journey and insights into the past, present, and future of this vibrant city.
People Profiles - Hitler
The Man in the Brown Suit
Available through Amazon
Poirot Investigates
In Poirot Investigates, Agatha Christie presents eleven riveting short stories featuring the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. From high-stakes jewel thefts to baffling murders, Poirot faces a variety of complex and puzzling cases that challenge his remarkable intellect and investigative prowess.
In these tales, Poirot must unravel a web of deception involving missing persons, secret identities, and shocking crimes, using his keen observation and logical deductions to reveal the truth. Whether it's a stolen diamond at a high-society gathering or a mysterious death on a countryside estate, Poirot’s methodical approach and unparalleled insight never fail to expose the culprit.
This collection of classic whodunits is a brilliant showcase of Christie's talent for crafting intricate plots and memorable mysteries. Poirot Investigates delivers suspense, wit, and unexpected twists, making it a must-read for lovers of detective fiction and anyone who enjoys being kept on the edge of their seat until the final revelation.
TENZING Christmas Campaign
TENZING Energy Drink Christmas Campaign
People Profiles - Stalin
Minhall & Jones Podcast - Episode 55
In which we discuss
- Recovering from kitchen disasters
- Eating custard
- Welsh cakes, stewed plums and cream cheese
- Stuffing pointless things
- Lunchtime etiquette
- Christmas
Footprints - Guo Geng
As the world faces challenges to preserve biodiversity, individuals like Guo Geng, a zookeeper from Beijing, emerge as beacons of hope. For about three decades, Guo has dedicated himself to advocating for wildlife and raising public awareness about animal protection through writing books and giving engaging lectures.
People Profiles - Marx
Footprints - Hou Hongxing
As climate negotiators convene in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to discuss the most urgent climate change issues, we turn our attention to a group of researchers who are working to safeguard the Earth’s precious black soil land. We meet Hou Hongxing and his fellow researchers who have spent years in the field in Northeast China, monitoring the evolving conditions of the region’s black soil and exploring ways to retain its fertility.
Footprints - Evandro Menezes de Carvalho
In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we explore the journey of Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a Brazilian scholar and professor of international law with a deep passion for China studies. Since his first visit to China in 2013, Evandro has immersed himself in research and teaching, building bridges between China and Brazil. In recognition of his commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, he was awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2023. Join us as he shares the story of his experiences and the special bond he has developed with China over the past decade.
Footprints - Ehsan Doostmohammadi
In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we delve into the journey of Ehsan Doostmohammadi, an Iranian researcher at Southwest University in Chongqing, southwest China. With a profound passion for traditional Chinese medicine and culture, Ehsan is dedicated to translating classic Chinese texts into Persian, opening the door for Iranian readers to engage with Chinese heritage. Join us as we explore Ehsan's experiences and insights as a Sinologist.
Bangor Pier
Photo © Rob Jones
Poirot - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
“Step into the heart of mystery with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, an audiobook that brings one of Hercule Poirot's most challenging cases to life. When the wealthy Roger Ackroyd is found murdered in his study, it’s up to the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery. Set in a small English village, this gripping tale of deception, secrets, and betrayal features some of Christie’s most memorable twists and turns.”
Poirot - Murder on the Links
Narration of Agatha Christie’s Poirot mystery ‘Murder on the Links’
Available through Amazon
China Plus: Footprints - Krankin' Beyond Barriers
CGTN: Back to the Farside
Photo © Rob Jones
Lick
A relentlessly grey day
The weather forecaster doomcasting armageddon.
The answer?
CAKE.
And for old times’ sake, harking back to the dark days of lockdown, and realising that a couple of bananas in my fridge appear to have developed frostbite (no I don’t know how that happens either) I decided to make a Banana Cake.
Job done. Cake doing its thing in the oven as I write.
Needless to say that I made short work of licking out the bowl of cake mix residue before washing. A habit since childhood when I was given the honour of licking the bowl after cakes were made, stood on a chair, covered in flour from ‘helping.’ Happy days.
And apparently such childhood days which have gone, according to a little frivolous research online. Gone the same way as scrumping apples, and playing in mud, and cycling alone for miles along country lanes, and being left alone with a box of matches, and open coal fires, and eating dog food. Ok so, some things are best forgotten.
And not just for children. A cursory search throws up doom-laden reports, advice from doctors and internet not-doctors, and hear-sayers, saying DON’T LICK THE BOWL OR ELSE.
The ‘Else’ being a nasty case of food poisoning, not from the raw eggs in the mix, but actually from raw flour.
Now, it would be irresponsible for me to say ‘Tosh,’ to these reports. There will always be exceptions, and one should always weigh up the risk according to your own personal circumstances. But I can’t help noticing the frequency that the comments online start with the words ‘When I was little, my grandmother always let me lick the spoon, or the bowl but…’ But then go on to say that they won’t let their child do it, or they now regard it as a dangerous thing to do, or they’ve read some damning evidence somewhere.
We live in an anxious world, and licking the cake-bowl makes me feel less anxious.
R