Big Country

Advantages: Bryson's dry, stinging wit
Disadvantages: A little repetitive...I say, a little repetitive

...I'm a fan of Bill Bryson. I like his dry, acerbic wit, and the way he bombards the reader with lots of dry facts yet manages to still keep it entertaining. The latest book of his I read (although not the latest written), was Notes from a Big Country. As I said, delivering trivial facts and figures in an amusing fashion is Bryson's forte and when those facts are about the land of his birth (USA), and are compared then related to his once adopted homeland (UK), I can visualize him virtually drooling at the prospect. And so, following his return to live in New England after 20-odd years domiciled in Olde England, when the editor of the British newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, asked him to write a weekly magazine column documenting his return home, you would imagine he'd leap at the chance. Actually, he kept complaining that he didn...

proxam 26.01.2009 (27.01.2009) · Read review
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Review of Notes from a Big Country - Bill Bryson

For the Country in the City - Pollok Country Park

Advantages: Free Entry, Open All Year, Beautiful, Lots to See and Do
Disadvantages: None Whatsoever!

...Would you be surprised to learn that Glasgow has over 70 parks within its city boundaries? It's not known affectionately as "Dear Green Place" for nothing. One of the largest parks is Pollok Country Park. Situated in the southside of the city, just three miles from the city centre, it was voted Best Park in Britain in 2007 and then went on to be crowned Europe's Best Park in 2008. It's a large park at over 360 acres, so even when the sun is splitting the sky (which does happen in Glasgow, you know!), it never feels crowded and you can always find a wee quiet spot for yourself. Where is it and how do we get there? It's on Pollokshaws Road, postcode G43 1AT, if you have SatNav, or take junction 1 or 2 from the M77 and follow the signs for the Burrell Collection. There is plenty of parking within the park. It...

carcraig 02.06.2009 (08.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Pollok Country Park, Glasgow

Wellington Country Park

Advantages: Reasonable prices, tranquil setting, great for picnics, lots to do for children.
Disadvantages: Lack of toilets further down the park, too much bird pooh.

...Last week I was privileged to be a parent helper on my daughter?s pre-school trip. The destination was not far from our home address yet I had never heard of this place before. Not only was I able to spend the day with a lovely group of pre-schoolers but I was able to take in some breathtaking scenery and fresh air. What a thoroughly enjoyable day lay ahead for us all and this park deserves a review to encourage (hopefully) more visitors. Situated within easy reach of both the M4 and M3, the park is open daily and is well signposted from the A33. *** PARK DETAILS*** Wellington Country Park Odiham Road Riseley READING Berkshire RG7 1SP Tel: 0118 932 6444 info@wellington-country-park.co.uk http://www.wellington-country-park.co.uk **Opening times as of 2007: ** The Park is open daily from February half term...

mrsmopples 23.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Wellington Country Park

Wirral Country Park - the Wirral Way

Advantages: Great day out for all the family
Disadvantages: none

...Now that the warmer weather has arrived I felt it was time to write about one of the places that I have visited on so many occasions from a child through to an adult and somewhere that will never loose its attraction. History of Wirral Country Park During the time of the Victorians a busy railway linked Hooton to West Kirby on the Wirral 12 miles away, miles of the railway line ran near to the Dee Estuary. The Steam Trains that used the railway used to bring townspeople to various stops along the line such as Parkgate for a cheap day out and back to the cities and towns at the end of the day. However, in 1962 the line was closed the seaside resorts as was where silted up and the track lay derelict for many years. In 1973 backed by the Countryside Commision and a lot of work this old railway line was opened as Wirral Country...

Julieshobs 26.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Wirral Country Park, Cheshire

Country Boy shines

Advantages: Great voice
Disadvantages: A couple of weaker tracks

...**Introduction** Calvin Richardson was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and was signed to the Tommy Boy record label in the mid nineties with his vocal group Undacova who appeared on the soundtrack to New Jersey Drive but never released an album. He was then signed up by Universal Records and recorded and released his debut album Country Boy in 1999. Due to poor sales he was dropped by Universal Records and then signed with Hollywood Records with whom he released his second album entitled 2:35 PM, He released his third album this year with Shanachie Records, his latest album is called When Love Comes. **Country Boy** Calvin Richardson works with some well known names on this album including Cedric Hailey from KCI & JoJo. Calvin Richardson went to high school with the Hailey brothers and is married to their cousin. There was...

jcneil 09.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Country Boy - Calvin Richardson

A Country gem

Advantages: Quiet or Loud the choice is yours, Golf, Driving range
Disadvantages: You really need a car to get there

...Polkemmet Country is situated in West Lothian some 15 miles from Edinburgh. Entrance is obtained from the B7066 one mile West of Whitburn or the Harthill road.. Whitburn can be accessed from J3a of the M8 motorway which is the main route from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Among the facilities available are Information Centre,Waymarked walking Trails, Golfing, Restaurant, Bowling Green, Picnic and Barbeque areas, Play areas and a Bar. Brief Outline Polkemmet was owned by the Baillie family from 1620 to 1957 and they played a major part in the life of the local community. They provided various country sports a lot of which are still available to visitors today.In 1907 a mausoleum was built to the memory of Robert Baillie ( 4th Baronet of Polkemmet ) and it remains a landmark of the park to this day. After many years of neglect the estate...

donf18 01.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of Polkemmet Country Park

Notes from a Moose Country!

Advantages: It's Bill Bryson, hilarious, excellently written, short stories
Disadvantages: Some parts repeated from other books, can be irritating!

...I've read several of Bill Bryson's books and thoroughly enjoyed them, so when "Notes from a Big Country" came up on BookMooch I was looking forward to reading it without having to pay for it (I know the library is another option, but I like to keep books written by my favourite authors - and Bryson is certainly in my top 20). Rather than being a book as such, it is a collection of 78 short articles which Bill Bryson wrote for a column (which he was coerced into writing for!) in the Mail on Sunday's Night & Day magazine during 1997-1998. Therefore as you'll see it is very much written for a British audience. About Bill Bryson Born in Des Moines (Iowa) in 1951, Bryson moved to England in the late 1970s and spent 20 years over here before moving back to the US with his British wife and children. This gives him a very...

marymoose99 11.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Notes from a Big Country - Bill Bryson

Start looking like a Country gal

Advantages: Makes your hair looks nice. The conditioner smells really nice! Not a bad price.
Disadvantages: The lotion can sting a little.

...To be honest with you, it's very rare that I buy a colour for my hair. But in the winter months when we have little sunshine, my hair does tend to look a bit dull. So I though, well why not, I'll try a colour on it! The trouble is, there's just so many to choose from, it's difficult to know which one to opt for! Prices for colours can start as little as £1.99 right up to over £6 - £7. Anyway, the one I opted for was a middle of the road one. I decided on buying 'Schwarzkopf Country Colors' dye. (The word 'color' is spelt right in the title!). As I've got blonde hair, I bought 'Sunshine Blondes - Florida Golden Blonde'. Sounds good, doesn't it?! Especially if I'm going to look like those blondes in Florida! I paid £3.75 for a box. I'd never bought this product before, so didn't exactly know what I would be getting when I...

Louise90 06.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Schwarzkopf Country Colors

Black Country Bugle

Advantages: Covers the history of the Black Country
Disadvantages: None

...As a Brummie living in Shropshire, some people may wonder why it is that I enjoy reading the Black Country Bugle so much? Well, I went to college on the very edge of the Black Country at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, which is now Wolverhampton University. Also, I have relatives who live in Dudley which is very much in the heart of the Blakc Country. Why was it called the Black Country? Simply because of all the smoke and grime form the thousands of small manufactories throughout the area. It is probably not far from the truth that in every back yard throughout the Black Country there was a workshop where skilled craftsmen and women made chains, pins, needles, nails, screws, nuts and bolts, made castings using cupola furnaces, made guns, polished metal goods, etc., etc. Now, back to the black Country Bugle. It is printed every...

Martinscholes 11.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Black Country Bugle

GPS Speculation (Spook Country - William Gibson)

Advantages: fun, stylish, often insightful
Disadvantages: probably for fans only

..."Spook Country" takes place in the same universe as Gibson's excellent Pattern Recognition, and the Blue Ant agency with its mover and shaker Hubertus Bigend who moved stealthily behind scenes in that novel figures prominently in this one as well. Thus, comparisons are almost inevitable. I have to say that I liked the new offering significantly less, although it's still a very enjoyable read, especially for a fan. "Spook Country" brings the virtual reality (or something closely resembling that) out of the confines of the cyber and into the realspace. Instead of VR there is a seamless blend of digital images and physical space, anchored using Internet and the GPS grid. It seems like the real life caught up: Gibson stopped writing future fantasies as what is actually happening (or just about to happen, anyway) is more interesting than...

magdadh 21.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Spook Country - William Gibson