Home And Garden Online

It is that time of the year where your brain, whilst still technically remaining attached to your head, takes leave and goes off on an early vacation. Mine is currently swimming in the Algarve. It can be very frustrating as the rest of me is desperately trying to keep up with the last few items of work that need to be completed before I can escape for the Christmas break.

Thinking is very important - Try it!

Last night the British sky exploded with an orgy of fireworks.  People across the country celebrated the anniversary of the world’s most famous execution by burning effigies and pounding the sky with explosives. It is the one time of the year where people are able to  quell their pyromaniac cravings and re-enact execution. And we love it. But amongst all of this magnificent splendour and excitement there is there is tragedy.

The horrific truth - a young firework stick - abandoned and left for dead.

Chicago; the home of Barack Obama; ER;  and2.8 million people . The centre of jazz; the birthplace of the deepdish pizza and during the 1920’s the epicentre of organised crime. America’s second city has all the grandeur of it’s elder brother yet is friendlier and noticeably more relaxed.

So why is it called the windy city? It is famous for having torrid winters and bitter springs however the reference to it being windy is  not related to the stiff breeze that slips off lake Michigan. Instead it is a reference to the City’s politicians and their boastful speeches about the city.  In 1858 an argument began between Chicago and it’s rival Cincinnati. Politicians from each city claimed that theirs was the best. As a response to jibes from Cincinnati The Chicago Tribune wrote an article ‘from the Windy City’ and the nickname stuck.