Blackpool vs Scheveningen: which is the better fun, if slightly faded, seaside resort?

Both Britain’s Blackpool and the Netherlands’ Scheveningen are seaside resorts that, though they may have seen better days, are lots of fun. And they have a lot in common: trams, piers, cheap tat… but which is better?

Beaches: Blackpool has a great sandy beach, but it’s a bit hidden behind a big concrete sea wall (for understandable reasons involving winter storms and flooding). Scheveningen’s equally sandy beach is easily accessible, features posts with novelty logos and its beach cafes are really quite cool, even if high winds can end up dumping quite a lot of that beach in your drink.
Schev 1-0 BPL Continue reading “Blackpool vs Scheveningen: which is the better fun, if slightly faded, seaside resort?”

Brumspotting: how to see Birmingham (and Coventry) from the Cotswolds

For each pair of pictures, the one on the left is a wide view from a viewpoint with an arrow pointing to the city, the one in the right is a Brum-hanced (or Cov-hanced) close-up. Click on any image for a larger version. Continue reading “Brumspotting: how to see Birmingham (and Coventry) from the Cotswolds”

NHS trust plans alternative to ‘outdated hospital model’

Has North Bristol NHS trust found the answer to providing efficient health and social care after hospital closures?

New Southmead superhospital under constructionThis article appeared in the Guardian’s Society pages on 4 January 2012. I also wrote about North Bristol NHS trust’s progress towards its Southmead superhospital for Guardian Healthcare Network, based on the same set of interviews.

This image was taken of the site when I visited Southmead in mid-December 2011. Continue reading “NHS trust plans alternative to ‘outdated hospital model’”