Anyone lucky enough to have gone skiing will tell you that it is the biggest natural high you can attain. I remember it well, the first time I took to the slopes. Even as a beginner there was a sense of magic about travelling on the snow. As time went on my skills and confidence grew, and then things got really interesting. Hurtling at high speed down the slopes, there is nothing quite like the sensation that you cannot stop, and that the only thing for it is to keep going. Then venturing off-piste, weaving through the powder and dodging the trees, a new, and equally exhilarating, experience c ..read more

For all our colonisation, reconnaissance and discovery, the world’s oceans are still a mystery to us. The fact is, we know more about the surface of Mars than we do about the deep blue of our planet’s oceans. David Attenborough, may Poseidon bless him, continues to show the wider public all the new discoveries that are constantly being made beneath the waves, and so it is no wonder that scuba diving is so popular. Humanity has always been drawn to the mysterious, it is why we spread across the globe. When submerging yourself in the Earth’s most tantalising environment, the full scope and spect ..read more

It was a warm spring day and the year was 1941. A group of RAF pilots sat around a table and played cards. Apart from the bets they pledged, the centrepiece was awash with empty glasses and filled ashtrays. Their backgrounds were different, and their personalities were forever jaded by their personal experiences of war. Yet they had one thing in common; each of them had suffered the most horrific of injuries by fighting against the greatest evil humanity has ever faced. In previous conflicts, surgeons would have thought them beyond saving, but the man of the hour was there. Just as Alan Turing ..read more

There really is nothing quite like owning or driving a supercar. They make hopeless commuters, are expensive to run and are hamstringed by speed limits. Effectively the owners of such vehicles have a Saville Road suit or a Gucci dress without a suitable event to attend. But there is just something about them that draws us in. We marvel at the engineering that goes into their development, the history and prestige of the badge that adorns their frames and, in many cases, we are utterly transfixed by their beauty. Or maybe we should forgo the fancy descriptions and say that we just want to tap in ..read more

On April 6th 1953 the world lost a voice that spoke for the forgotten. It was a voice that was forged form hardship and experience, that shed light on the plight of his contemporaries and paid homage to the sacrifice of his forebearers. The voice belonged to Idris Davies. Born at the dawn of the 20th century, January 6th 1905, in the coal mining community of Rhymney, Wales, he was thrust into an underclass that, despite being vital for the nation, was neglected and buried under the caverns they toiled within.         Davies was sent to work in the Welsh coal ..read more

The opera is one of humanities greatest achievements. Its sounds and sights may not enthral, rivet and charm everyone, but even those people can appreciate the talent and work that goes into them. As with all forms of music, opera has the power to take our emotions on a rollercoaster of which we have no control over whatsoever. We cry with Puccini, we soar with Verdi, and Gilbert & Sullivan are there to remind us that even the most exquisite forms of art can be brought down to the lowest levels (a bit like Agadoo does with pop music).         As with many ..read more

Monte Carlo. The playground of the rich that glitters with the presence of the glitterati. A place where many can only experience its wonders within the salubrious serenity of slumber. It is a place of captivating beauty and opulence that only those who have been there can hope to find the words to do it justice. With the waters of the Mediterranean shimmering upon its shores, and mountainous peaks soaring behind it, the city is situated delicately between the powers of nature. As such it has been the inspiration of artists, poets and filmmakers. There is a certain romance to the place, a part ..read more

The eighteenth century saw the creation of Britain and its subsequent meteoric rise. Through warfare, diplomacy and political intrigue the nation, in its latest incarnation, had become one of the leading world powers by the centuries close. With the efforts of the British East India Company (EIC) there was also a substantial cash flow pouring into the nation’s coffers, and London saw a great economic boom as a result. The rich grew fat, and an emerging middle class were afforded more time in which to pursue the delights of leisure and politics. Yet London at this time really was the personific ..read more

Since time immemorial humanity has been drawn to the sea. In fact, there is archaeological evidence to suggest that our genetic forebears, Homo Erectus, built the first seaworthy ships nearly 800 000 years ago. It is rather perplexing as to why our species has heard the call of the sea because, anatomically speaking anyway, we are so woefully unprepared to thrive in its environment. We cannot cope well with pressure, our limbs are unsuitable for aquatic propulsion and, perhaps of paramount importance, we cannot breathe underwater. Yet humanity has sought to conquer and thrive upon the world’s ..read more

In the rich and prestigious world of horology, Rolex has embedded itself firmly within the highest echelons of this industry. The very name conjures images of sumptuous luxury and unwavering reliability. Yet Rolex is more than just a manufacturer of high-end timepieces.  It may come as a surprise to many that they have actively participated in some of the most important endeavours of the 20th century. From the deepest fathoms of the Mariana Trench to the greatest heights of Mount Everest, Rolex watches have adorned the wrists of explorers and pioneers seeking out the very extremes our wor ..read more