Podcasts about Blighty

This week on 2bfb - A man falls asleep in an unusual spot, two weird histories, and a lovely new shoutout! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Blokes again!In this episode of Two Blokes from Blighty, our cheeky UK duo dives headfirst into their week!, blending sharp takes, nostalgic banter, and a pint-sized dose of British humour. Whether you're here for deep conversation or just love hearing two mates take the mick out of each other — this one's for you.

Join Tim and Joey as they spend most of this weeks episode exploring the invention of the jetpack, the mine craft movie, a very naughty joke and some very mundane days of the week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️In this episode of the Home Trails Podcast, I speak to Rebecca Hormann.Last week, Rebecca stormed to victory at the GB ULTRAS Pennine Barrier 50 in 8:45:58, to not only win, but take 4th place overallRebecca is well traveled and holds multiple passports due to her heritage. She grew up in America, then moved to Spain for her soccer career (football), then moved to Malaysia, followed by Northern Ireland, Switzerland and finally good old Blighty!During her travels Rebecca started to run, then the pandemic hit and she really got into running.Since then she's gone from strength to strength, either winning or podiuming in every race she enters! I first met Rebecca at Alston during her Spine Challenger North race back in January, where I mistook her for a Canadian I'd raced with previously! Fortunately, she saw the funny side and didn't hold it against meWe made arrangements to podcast after that race, but due to my poor scheduling its taken until now to sort out!Rebecca was a pleasure to speak to and

The MCU machine churns on. Now it's time to see what Marvel's reinterpretation of the Thunderbolts team looks like within their connected universe.  Intro (0:00) 2 Blokes from Blighty promo (7:28) The trailers in front of Thunderbolts* are all over the place (9:19) I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) looks dumb for all the wrong reasons (10:04) Back to the trailers (13:14) Non-spoiler 'Thunderbolts*' time! (15:08) Josh's issues with US Agent (24:31) Non-spoiler resolution (26:20) Is 'Thunderbolts*' a Must-See or Pass? (27:40) Spoiler Discussion (31:42) Jeremy Renner's revelation about why no Hawkeye season 2 (1:10:48) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:17:45) Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

Episode Notes Oi m8! You want some podcast do ya? From dear old Blighty? Well then, 'ere you go, innit? Find out more at https://the-probably-bad-podcast.pinecast.co

Once upon a spaghetti Tuesday, a walrus named Gregory Fluffington III decided to open a hat shop for invisible ferrets. Business was slow, mostly because the ferrets kept forgetting they existed. To make things worse, the mayor—an enthusiastic muffin in a monocle—declared Tuesdays illegal, which really complicated Gregory's work schedule.So, Gregory hopped on his unicycle made of marshmallows and rode to the Council of Wobbleberries, who were busy arguing over whether spoons were just really lazy forks. On the way, he passed a cactus choir singing sea shanties in Swahili while being chased by a particularly aggressive cloud shaped like regret.When Gregory finally arrived, the Wobbleberries demanded he solve a riddle: "If a pickle whistles jazz at midnight, how many bananas are in a sneeze?"Without missing a beat, Gregory replied, “Forty-seven, but only if the moon is wearing socks.” A stunned silence followed. Then a kazoo exploded, and he was declared President of Nonsense.He celebrated by inventing a new language made entirely of hiccups and interpretive dance. Unfortunately, no one could understand him, so he retired to a quiet life of counting imaginary pineapples.And they all lived nonsensically ever after. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back, hear all about Operation Midnight Climax, as Tim and Joey talk about their weeks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textSimon and Lee talk about things they love.Things covered: back in Blighty, the nature of home, putting down roots, having multiple passports (Jason Bourne), freedivers, things we love, what Lee is wearing (again), being self-conscious (or not) about the things we wear, being policed and judged, tortilla covered sourdough, Lee loves perfume and smelling good, layering perfumes, clothes or scent, Dubai chocolate, cookie mix floor tiles, negronis, spending time with friends outside, being social, Simon loves stillness, Stansted Airport, a bus trip to Coventry, TikTok, three hours swiping, the absence of boredom and over-stimulation, Simon's yin phase, two different looks in two different countries, Coventry after dark. Get in touch with Lee and Simon at info@midlifing.net. ---The Midlifing logo is adapted from an original image by H.L.I.T: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29311691@N05/8571921679 (CC BY 2.0)

As Trump's 100 days in office edges closer, Anne checks in from DC to bring us all the latest on a domestically difficult week for the President.  Also, will the upcoming Canadian elections be a referendum on Trump from its biggest neighbours? Sam and Anne discuss what the global ramifications of that result might be.   And back in Blighty, local elections are nearing and Sam explains how they might shine a light on a tension in Labour between Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Will their briefs demand they push in opposite directions?        To find lists of candidates in all the local elections, you can search here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information 

It's time to dip your toes into "Dirty Water" - The Standells and their enduring 1965 hit, that is! We gab about the snotty vocals, their appearance on The Munsters, we rank the drum fills - and of course, we crack the code of the song's lyrics. The next version is by The Gants - who add fuzz and relocate the song to Miami. But they musta forgot to learn the song! The Apollos are some North Carolina kids who keep the song in Boston but their accents would rarely be heard in Southy! The song crossed the pond to Ol' Blighty when The Inmates authored a very Dr. Feelgood-y version. And finally, back to Boston, for a risible, post-World Series win  version by Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo. Pee-yew - go jump in the Charles, Bronson!

Double Digits baby! We're back, this week, covering everything from controversial refs in football, to being abandonded on a railway!Proud to be a PodPack Collective member! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this fabulously full-bodied episode of G&T Sips and Giggles: One For The Road, Glenn and Tina Leggs Tantrum serve up a cheeky cocktail of queer culture, royal drama, national obsessions, and reality TV chaos.First, the pair sip their way through Mid-Century Modern – the new Hulu/Disney+ series hailed as a “spiritual cousin” to The Golden Girls, starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and the late Linda Lavin in her final screen role. Expect warm takes on chosen family, ageing in the LGBTQ+ community, and a whole lot of Palm Springs fabulousness.Next, it's time for a royal reckoning as they unpack Prince Harry's turbulent month — from his dramatic exit from the charity Sentebale to his ongoing battle over UK security and the diverging paths he and Meghan Markle seem to be taking.Then it's back to Blighty for some classic British banter about the weather. Why are we so obsessed? Is climate consciousness finally catching up with our endless moaning? And what even is in garden soil that boosts our mood? (Spoiler: it's not just the Pinot.)Finally, Tina and Glenn preview the glittering line-up for Celebrity Big Brother 2025 — from Mickey Rourke to JoJo Siwa — and ask whether this revamped series can live up to the chaos of its heyday. With a smaller house and live audience feedback on the cards, it's bound to be explosive.Tune in for nostalgia, nobility, and nasal spray – all in a tight forty-minute package. Stay shady, but in the good way.Got a question or a funny story for Sip & Share, then why not get in touch. Send us a message or a voice note:Email us: ask@gandtpod.comWhatsApp: 074 9318 5518 or click hereInstagram: @gandtpod | @mcgookz | @madameleggs111Facebook: G&T: Sips & Giggles PodcastTikTok: @gandtpodYoutube: @gandtpodBecome a patron of the podcast and subscribe on Patreon. Subscribers get access to the Podcast a day early and access to exclusive content. Check out patreon.com/gandtpod.Thank you to our paid Patreon's: Jude Copeland, Angela Reid, Barry, Squeezy, Dominic Lynch, Dean McKenzie00:00 Welcome to Sips and Giggles03:03 Mid-Century Modern Sitcom Review15:31 Prince Harry's Royal Crisis21:03 Britain's Obsession with the Weather23:44 Weather Complaints and Summer Essentials24:56 Gardening and Mental Health Benefits26:20 Climate Concerns and Weather Impact29:40 Celebrity Big Brother 2025 Preview30:34 Big Brother Housemates and Predictions36:26 Big Brother Format Changes and Hosts41:32 Conclusion and Farewell Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FINAL EPISODE OF THE SEASON - Enjoy Episode 10 of season 9! We will see you again in 2 weeks time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tim and Joey as they look at the wierd world of the petty rich man, moments of silence, and word association on this weeks 2 Blokes from Blighty!Proud member of the PodPack Collective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim's back, and he's yappin' endlessly about his travels to the other side of the planet!Seriously, to upload this episode I had to speed up the whole thing by 10%, to listen to this at a normal speed please lower your playback speed by 10% Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh & Alex are back again to discuss the newest Bong Joon Ho allegory for class warfare; Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson! Intro/stories about Daylight Savings Time (0:00)  Exciting news for the upcoming 200th episode! (5:48) Josh saw his buddy CJ & wrestling talk (8:56) Check out Josh on the Game Club Pod twitch channel playing Split Fiction (17:18) 2 Blokes from Blighty promo (20:46) Mickey 17 non-spoiler review (21:38) Is Mickey 17 a must-see or a pass? (33:46) Spoiler review (40:34) Talking SMAC's new clickbait endeavor (55:07) Social media plugs and goodbyes! (1:01:35) Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

Join Alex and Joey as we do our usual weekly 2 Blokes. Tell us, which way do you face when you wash your hair? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Andy and Elton as we sneak across occupied Europe to get back to ol’ Blighty. Lt. Rosenthal joins the 100th just as one of its crews reaches a milestone. The U-boat pens at Bremen become a target for the second time.

Joey and Dan had been best friends since the first grade. They were the kind of friends who finished each other's sentences, laughed at jokes no one else understood, and always had each other's backs.One summer, they decided to enter the town's annual scavenger hunt—a legendary event with a grand prize of two brand-new bikes. The challenge? Solve riddles that led to hidden clues all over town.At first, they were unstoppable. Joey's quick thinking and Dan's sharp memory helped them breeze through the first few clues. But then, disaster struck.The next clue was hidden at the top of Miller's Hill, a steep and rocky climb. Joey insisted on going first. Halfway up, his foot slipped, and he tumbled down, scraping his knee badly.Dan rushed to his side. "Joey! Are you okay?"Joey winced but nodded. "I can keep going."Dan shook his head. "No way. You're hurt. We'll find another way.""But the bikes—""Forget the bikes," Dan said firmly. "You're more important."Instead of climbing, Dan found a hidden side path. Supporting Joey, they reached the top together and found the clue. They were the last team to finish—but they finished together.At the awards ceremony, the mayor surprised them with a special prize—two brand-new bikes, not for winning, but for demonstrating true friendship.Joey and Dan rode home side by side, knowing they had won something even greater than the scavenger hunt.They had proven that true friendship wasn't about winning—it was about always being there for each other, no matter what. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 19th March 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: https://www.ajah.ae/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-63432763/Kelly's final episodeThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillWhat it really takes to launch a podcast. With Kelly Molson and Paul GriffithsPaul Griffiths has worked in the Heritage, Museums and Tourism world now for nearly 30 years.After spending 16 years working in various role for English Heritage, in 2012 he moved to the Mary Rose Museum as Head of Operations to oversee the opening and operations of the multi award winning museum, welcoming over one million visitors before in 2018 taking on moving to the Painshill Park Trust in the role of Director of Painshill. Paul spent 6 years there before his move in December 2024 to Ras Al Khaimah one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In this exciting brand new role Paul is Chief Executive Officer of the Al Hamra Heritage Village, part of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with Visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden.Longtime listeners will remember my guest today, Paul Griffiths, when he was CEO at Painshill Park, from when he was interviewed back in season one by Kelly. In today's episode, Paul comes back to talk about his new role as CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamrah Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Now, I'm always interested in the first 90 days of people's experience in a job, so we'll be talking more about that and his for the future. Paul Marden: Paul, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul Griffiths: Hello. Thanks for having me, Paul. Great to be here. Paul Marden:  Long time. Listeners will know that we always start with an icebreaker question and our guests don't get to know that one in advance. I think this one's a pretty kind one. I was pretty mean to Paul Sapwell from Hampshire Cultural Trust a couple of weeks ago because I asked him whether it was Pompey or Saints and for political reasons, he felt that he had to abstain from that.Paul Griffiths: Testing his interest. I'd have gone Pompey at the time because that's where we live. Well, did live. Paul Marden: Oh, there you go. There you go. So you've moved over from Portsmouth. You're now in the UAE. Tell listeners, what is that one? Home comfort that after three months away from Blighty, you're missing? Is it proper English marmalade? Paul Griffiths: Do you know what? I've been able to get hold of most things, but I've not been able to get. I know people who cook properly, so I should be able to do this myself, but I haven't. Cauliflower cheese, one thing I'm missing from home, that doesn't sell it anywhere in a sort of pre pack or frozen form. I can even get hold of Yorkshire puddings in Spinny's supermarket, but I can't get hold of cauliflower cheese. Paul Marden: Can you get cauliflowers? Paul Griffiths: Can get cauliflowers. I'm sure I can make cheese sauce if I knew what it was doing. But you normally. I'm so used to normally buying a pack of cheese, cauliflower cheese to have in my Sunday roast. Paul Marden: Okay. So if I ever get to come out, I need to bring out a plastic wrapped, properly sealed so that it doesn't leak on the plane. Cauliflower cheese? Paul Griffiths: Yes, please. Yeah, absolutely. Paul Marden: So your last episode was actually. Or your last full episode was back in season one, episode 22. So five years ago and the world has changed a lot in five years, but most recently it's changed a lot for you, hasn't it? So why don't you tell listeners a little bit about what's happened to you since you were with us in season one? Paul Griffiths: Wow. Yeah, well, season one seems an age away, doesn't it, now with all the wonderful guests youu've had since on Skip the Queue, it's been a different program completely. But, yeah, no, well, back then I was at Painshill, were coming out of a pandemic and I remember, you know, Kelly and I were chatting over all the different avenues that everyone had gone and what we've done at Painshill and that continued brilliantly. And however, my life has taken a change in. In sense of where I am, but I'm still doing the same sort of work, so. Which is, you know, when our industry, and it's such a fabulous industry, it's great to stay in it. Paul Griffiths: So I am now over in the United Army Emirates in the Emirate of Ras Alhaima, which is the third biggest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, behind Abu Dhabi and, of course, Dubai. So I was approached, God, nearly always, this time last year, about a call over here. Yes. My recruitment company got in touch and went through, you know, had a good look at the job description and thought, well, actually, we'll throw my hat into the ring. And applied, went for a series of online interviews with the recruitment company, then an online interview with the people over here at various departments within the Al Kassimme Foundation and the Department of Museums and Antiquities. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, looking at this brand new job, which I'm now lucky enough to be in, I then was flown out in August for a round of interviews, met all the team. You know, one of those things that you later discover, the whole real four days was one big interview, although there was. There was a central one. But of course, everyone you were meeting along the way was being asked to feedback, And I love chatting to people and enjoying people's company. So actually went for dinners and lunches and all sorts, which was just a lovely four days and almost felt like a free hit in many ways, Paul. Well, this is going to be a brilliant experience. Paul Griffiths: If I don't get the job, I'm going to have a great four days in Rasta Taima, seeing it, meeting everyone, enjoying the time here. And, you know, the more time I spent here, the more time with the team, the more time, you know, going and visiting sites. I just became more and more that this would be an amazing job. Obviously gave my absolute everything, did loads of research, gave everything in the interview. The interview took a rather unusual turn. After the sort of hour and a half of questions and my questions, I was asked to leave the room for a short period. Not unusual in that sense because I was, you know, I wasn't just going to leave and go because obviously I was in their hands for four days. Paul Griffiths: But the doctor, Natasha Ridge, the executive director of the foundation, came out the interview and said, “Right, that's all gone really well. We're really pleased. We're now off to the palace for you to meet His Highness Sheikh Saud, who is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and on the Supreme Council of the UAE.” So I was sort of, I went to one of the small meeting rooms you. Now I know that. Now I know where I was, where I went. But at that point I had no idea. One of the lovely. There's a very much a service thing here. Paul Griffiths: So, you know, we have in the Heritage Village as well later we have a wonderful member of our team, Geraldine, who does lots of cooking, prepares stuff and just had a wonderful fish taco lunch because we're four hours ahead of you, of course, here in Alaihi. So, yeah, so one of the guys came in with, gave me an English breakfast tea and sort of, you know, sat there reviewing what, thinking what on earth was I going to be asked by His Highness. And then was put into one of the drivers and we drove up through Rat Sahma City, through into the palace, up the long driveway and there I was sort of eventually, after about 20 minutes, presented with. Presented to Sheikh Sword who asked me, chatted, asked various questions. Paul Griffiths: I don't think there could be many interviews that you end up with His Highness in the second half of it. You know, it's sometimes a presentation. Yeah. So that was. I was there for about half an hour and that's your time over and off he goes. And off I went back to then go and have dinner with some of the team. So it was a very surreal afternoon. Paul Marden: Being interviewed by royalty. But when you're not expecting that as part of the interview process, that must be quite unnerving. Paul Griffiths: I had a heads up that at some point in my trip I might meet him, but there was no formal arrangements. I had me had to get in a diary. So it hadn't even crossed my mind that's what was about to happen. When I was asked to leave the meeting room, I just thought maybe they wanted to come back with more questions or, you know, say I hadn't gone well, whatever. But, yeah, no, that was the. I took that as a good sign. I thought, well, actually, if I'm being whisked up there, the interview must have gone relatively well because I'm sure they would present me to shake sword if it hadn't gone so well. Paul Marden: Yeah. You'd hope that he would be towards the end of the cycle of the interview round. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. Paul Marden: Not doing the early sifting of CVs. Paul Griffiths: No. He certainly had seen who I was because he asked me some questions about where I'd worked and. Okay, things like that. So he'd obviously seen a CV. He's a very. I mean, I've met him subsequently a few times. I've been fortunate to be a dinner hosted by him a couple of weeks ago. But he is a very, very intelligent man. Works really hard. I mean, work. He, you know, for him, he spends every minute working on the emirate. He ruled, he. He's the ruler. But he's almost a. It's a sort of combo, I guess he's all Prime Minister at the same time as being the ruler. So he is constantly working. You know, I'm really committed and I'm lucky in many ways that where I am working at the Heritage Village is his real. Paul Griffiths: One of his real pet projects that he's really driving forward. So, yes, we come with sort of royal. Royal approval, if you like. So. Yeah. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I. I've not been to the Emirates before, so for those of us that have not been, tell us a little bit about Ras Al Khaimah, of course. Paul Griffiths: Well, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the quieter Emirates mentioned. Sheikh Saud there, he's really driving a sort of, you know, a sort of agenda of bringing in more tourists. But he wants to use culture and territory as part of that. So, you know, it's a more relaxed, low level, if that makes sense. It's not Dubai, it's not full on, it's more relaxed Emirate. It's relaxed in cultural and many of the ways it's not, as you know, some of the other Emirates are, for example, completely dry. Ras Al Khaimah has given licenses to hotels and big restaurants in hotels for serving drinks. And there are a number of sellers where you can purchase for your consumption your own home, whereas Sharjah, you can't purchase any alcohol, for example, so it's a bit more chilled like that. It's a lovely place. Paul Griffiths: We're very fortunate to have the heavier mountains go through the far side of Ras Al Khaimah. So where I'm based is more on the seafront but then not, you know, I can see the mountains behind and there's a number of drives up into the mountains which are absolutely fabulous. Up to the Jebel Jais, which is the highest point in the UAE, we have the world's longest and fastest zip wire. I have not gone anywhere near that yet. Goes up to 100km an hour and is the longest over from the top of the mountain, whisking you off to the other side. I think it looks terrifying. But my. Paul Marden: I'm more interested in cables that take you to the top of the mountain. Maybe with some skis on my feet than I am attaching myself to a cable and going down the mountain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Paul Griffiths: There's a toboggan ride as well up there as well.Paul Marden: Oh, I'd love that. Paul Griffiths: So that's the toboggan ride's on my to do list when the family get off, I'll save it for then and take my son Barney on that. But you know, there's all this sort of venture sports up on the top of the mountain and driving up there is remarkable. They put a proper road in. It's not the scary driving up the Alps, terrified what's going to come around the other corner. It's very like driving up a road, you know, normal sort of dual carriageway, two lanes each way and then right going through the mountains to the other side to one of the other Emirates for Jazeera , for example. So you're over on the Indian Ocean side Gulf Vermont. That road is just beautiful. There's no traffic on it, you know. Paul Griffiths: So Ras Al Khaimah is only about an hour and hour to an hour and a half from Dubai airport. And Dubai is a sort of people go to Dubai in the same way that we, you know, you'd go to London, I'd go to London when I was in Port Soviet, we would. It's now, you know, it's not considered a. There's always someone from work who's in Dubai every day almost for some reason. So nipping up to Dubai, I was like, I went to a dinner there last week and you know, it just seemed very normal that he jumped in a car and drove up to Dubai and came back that evening. Whereas. Seems remarkable actually to be doing that. But yeah, so because of where we are, Abu Dhabi is about two and a half hours away.Paul Griffiths: And we are the northern point of the Emirate, So we border on to Oman, split into a number of areas. Again, I didn't know any of this till I got here, but there's a part of Oman that's at the top of Ras Al Khaimah. And so, yeah, so it's a beautiful Emirate with nature, with mountain areas, which does get a bit chillier when you go up the mountains. I looked quite silly in my T shirt and shorts when I went up there on a Sunday afternoon. People were going past me like they were going skiing. You know, people wore coats and hats and looking at me as if I'm really daft. But I was still. It's interesting that because it's winter obviously everywhere here at the moment and at home, but it's. Paul Griffiths: People here are often telling me it's a cold day when I'm still standing. I still feel really quite warm. But yeah, finding that sort ofPaul Marden: Talking 30s at the moment for you, aren't we? Paul Griffiths: Yeah, it's a little bit. The last couple days have been down in the lower 20s, really comfortable. But when we last weekend, people were getting a bit nervous that summer had come very early because it was hitting the early 30s last week. So I don't know how for me, when we get to August, when it's in the mid, late 40s with real high humidity, I think I'm just going to go from aircon building to aircon building to aircon building.Paul Marden: I am such a Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing. Not too hot, not too cold, it needs to be just right. So I would definitely struggle in that kind of heat. Look, let's talk a little bit about where you are in the new job. So you've taken on the role of CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. So tell me a little bit about the village. Why is this village so historic? Paul Griffiths: Well, it's a really interesting one, Paul, because it is very important, but it's not that old. And that's why what coming to me about making it more alive is something that's going to be crucial to us. So the village has been lived in for many years. It was a pearl farming village. So most of the people who worked here were doing pearl farming, which is pretty horrible job to do. You were, again, learning about this. You were jumping off boats, going to the ocean depths for up to three to four minutes. No protection really, apart from a very light shirt and some little bits on your fingers. But actually you're nothing on your eyes. Paul Griffiths: So you're having to look through the salt water, find the pearls come up and they were going up and down sometime 15, 16 times or more a day. And there's a fascinating exhibition in Dubai at the Al Shindagha Museum which really does focus on how this worked and how these guys were living. So, so it's a real. So that was the village. So the village had that, it obviously had then had fishing men, merchants making boats, merchants selling, trading wares. And Ras Al Khaimah has been quite a strategic part as all of the UAE really for the sort of trades coming from the Middle east and out into the Gulf. So the villages was being lived in up until the very early 70s. Paul Griffiths: Up in the 1970s the Al Za'abi tribe who were based here were offered I guess a new life is the only way to look at it in Abu Dhabi with new jobs, with land, with housing and it's just a better way like pearl farming was now being done so much cheaper and easier in the Orient in Japan mainly. So that was, that dropped away. There wasn't the other merchant trading going on. So actually the oil boom basically led the tribe to almost one up sticks and head to Abu Dhabi. And in many ways good story because we're still in touch with quite considerable amounts of the tribes people who were here. Lots of the elders have done wonderful oral histories, videos talking about their lives here. But this village survived as just fell into ruins, but actually wasn't developed. Paul Griffiths: And where it becomes important is this would have been what all of the Gulf would have looked like before the oil boom. The UAE wasn't a wealthy nation before then. You know, when I went up to Dubai and spent some time at the Etihad Museum, which is based around which Etihad Union is the not Around Man City Stadium should point out very much around about how the UAE had come together and how, you know, so it wasn't the wealthiest nation, but actually they discovered oil. They then brought seven Emirates together. It then has flourished in the ways that we now know what Dabi and ifwe looks like and even Ras Al Khaimah in some parts and really quite glamorous. But this village survived. Paul Griffiths: So although it fell into ruin, all the other fishing, farmhome fishing, pearl farming villages across the Gulf had become, just got destroyed, knocked down, you know, turned into hotels and high rises. And actually when you visit the other Emirates, lots of them are now recreating their historic areas or re purposing some of the historic buildings and they're doing it very well. In Dubai, Sharjah has actually completely rebuilt. It's what it calls the Harp Sharjah, which is. Which was its historic sort of areas, but. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: But this survived. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. And what we've been doing for the last few years, as the Al Qasimi Foundation and the Department of Antiquities and Museums is restoring a number of these buildings, we've then sort of gone into a sort of activation so you can walk around. So we've got, you know, carving now. Only a year ago it was mostly sand. We've now got a path going through it, so you can walk in. And the job that I've really been asked to do initially on arrival here is to really push that activation forward and really look at my sort of. What I've done in the past and what we've seen other places do and think about what can we do to bring this bit more to life? Paul Griffiths: Because it's the sort of storage village is around the 1970s. Well, it was abandoned in the 1970s. Well, you know, for us from the UK, from lots of other nationalities, actually, something in the 70s isn't very old. It's in our lifespan. You know, we are looking at this going well, actually. So when I was talking to a lot of. So RAK TDA's basically visit RAK tourism authority. So they are really supportive in wanting to push Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which will from now on abbreviate to AJAH to save me. Keep saying that. Long tanned. So they are really keen that we're doing more stuff. So why would a tourist want to come? What is there to see once you're here? Paul Griffiths: On top of some abandoned and now beautifully restored houses, mosques, you know, things that you would have expected in a village of, you know, a thousand or so population, 500 houses, you know, so more than a thousand people, really. So that's the sort of plan in that way. So in many ways I've got a sort of blank canvas to play with. But, you know, money's not unlimited, so it's about. So working closely with local communities, working with, you know, local traders, looking at what could we bring into the village on the back of the art fair. I know we'll talk about later, but it's, you know, this has been a. This is a real challenge for me to. How do I take this sort of place forwards.Paul Marden: In my mind's eye, we go to the Weald & Downland Living Museum so open air museum, lots of houses recreating life through the ages. Is that the sort of experience that I'm going to get if I come to the village of I'm going to see the properties and I'm going to see this previous way of life come to life in front of me?Paul Griffiths: Well at the moment you'll see you just see in the houses and the buildings but you're walking around looking at historic buildings but we have got a number of the houses we've put in. Each video is at the moment showing the audio visuals so you can walk around and listen to members of the tribes chatting about their youth and what's happening and you can see the buildings in real life. I guess what I'm looking for this is telling the story a little bit of the village which we don't initially do that well at the moment that's no criteria. Yes, this is what we need to do going forward. There's been several stages of activation When I came last August part not many the paths weren't all finished. We didn't have anywhere for visitor services to be at the front.Paul Griffiths: We only had a very small sort officey area which has now been built up to where I'm. Where I'm sat today. So I think what you're going to get is a multi as a blend of traders who will be in our suitcase. The Souk is fully restored sooke and shopping market area so that's my first point is to move some people in there. So I've already got a goldsmith and move to her studio in got some handicrafts we've got some textile people moving in the. Paul Griffiths: The main gallery of Nassau Heyman Design Gallery which is the one big gallery where artists can go is going to have a sort of satellite shop if you like not shop a satellite so there will be pieces of work there are in here with their little souvenir store which they sell because they get people a lot of what the design gallery does is making souvenirs of Ras Al Khaimah that are all handmade so quite special gifts. So what we're hoping is tying up with our local hoteliers who many of which have not been so it's bringing them in and they need something more to see to send their guests here. Paul Griffiths: So you know talking to some of them over lunch when I hosted some of them on Saturday it was a case of you know actually, can they send their clients and say, you can do all your holiday shopping because at the moment they're sending people to the shopping malls which are just, you know, nice, but actually merchandise them to go to a heritage village, get that experience of what the golf would have been like and bags of shopping at the same time. Paul Marden: So who doesn't love a. A museum gift shop at the end? So, you know. Paul Griffiths: Exactly. And we don't really have that here at the moment from an Al Jazeera perspective. So on my plan for this year is to put in. We've got an info booth, as it's called at the moment. It's not a world. It's not the best customer service friendly. It's like a caravan but with some windows. And yeah, it's probably a better. Now it's got air conditioning. Yes. But it doesn't work very well for customers. You're trying to talk through little windows because you can only have small windows to keep the air con working, not have too much open to. It's just passing out. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I'm looking at building this summer, hopefully. Fingers crossed, touch wood, a visitor welcome centre, which is something we're really pushing along with, which will be lovely because that will be that proper visitor welcome with a shop with an induction into an introduction. Sorry, into the Al Jazeera story. And then let people go. And then when they get to the far end, they'll be the souk full of. He says again, hopefully slowly filling them out, but full of traders and local craftspeople and people who are. Even if they're not originally local, they're based in rack, so they are considered local. The UAE is built up of a lot of expat population. When I say expats, I mean just English people from around the world. It's a really accepting, welcoming community. I've been really. Everyone says hello to you as you're walking into the supermarket shops. There's no. Whoever they are where you're from. Paul Griffiths: Everyone's talking to each other because the local population know they've had to bring people in because there's thousands more jobs than there are Emirati population in Ras Al Khaimah. So, you know, it's always been. And when you look at the foundation of the UAE, it was about, we will need to bring people in to bring this. To build this nation with us. So, you know, it's been always a sort of welcome and melting pot of different people. Paul Marden: Yeah, amazing. Look, you mentioned when we had our initial chat. You've been there now three months, you've been doing lots of visiting of other attractions. Because I think you said to me, which I thought was quite interesting, that you were. There's lots that you bring with you from the UK in your experience, but there's lots of best practice and good practice happening within the Emirates already. So you've been kind of going out and visiting a lot of cultural venues and attractions in the Emirates. Tell me a little bit about those. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so it's been a minute of a manic last month in February, because we've had the art festival. I know we're going to keep hinting at it, we'll get to it at some point, but when I've had some time away, what's been fabulous, it's just sort of. And I think as well, because the family aren't here in my own at the moment, said, “All right, I've got some time off, let's go and explore.” Yeah. So I've sort of driven across to Fajera, spent time in Sharjah and took myself up for a weekend in Dubai, which was fantastic. Booked a very reasonably priced hotel and just spent a weekend flowering around everywhere and just really immersed in my. So and only scratch the surface. There's so much more to see. So, yeah, so I've been going and looking at. Paul Griffiths: Well, you know, I don't want to do something that's not. There'll be alien to, obviously, the culture here. And that's been really. What's been great fun in the last few months is it's not just going into a new job, you know, and learning that. It's actually been a terrifying, at some points, fabulous experience. I was learning new cultures, new working lives. You know, things are working. It's done very differently here. You know, there's a different hierarchical process we have in the UK and permissions are needed in different places. And that's not. I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing, it's just learning those different things. So I've been learning all these different cultures. You know, we're just coming into Ramadan, which I've had no real experience with before. And that is. That is a massive thing here. You know, it's the month. Paul Griffiths: Every billboard you go past is someone trying to sell something for Ramadan, whether it be a new chest of drawers, you know, your family needs this new dining table for Ramadan. It's a bit like, you know, you will see at Christmas at home, everyone catching on, you know, IKEA will be saying, new table and chairs for Christmas. You know, it's. It's not. It's a sort of different repeating itself. You know, those sort of signs you have around the supermarket. Christmas back home. They're all up now in supermarkets here for Ramadan. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: Encouraging what people are going to buy for when they break the fast at sunset Iftar. So, you know, so it's all sort of promoting. You need this for. So it's a real. We're going to a massive thing. And that's been a real sort of learning, cultural thing for me, which has been great because actually I've always enjoyed, when I'm traveling, learning about other cultures, you know, it's always been for me, I always try and visit museums, galleries, learn about the place I'm at. And so actually living somewhere and learn about someone who's been. I think it's added to the fun of the experience. But back to your question. Paul Griffiths: Yes, I've been traveling wherever the possibility to start to look at other historic venues, looking at where they've, you know, restored historic markets and souk areas and what sort of things are going in there, what are people doing there. Up in Dubai, there is a place called Al Shindagar Museum, which is where they've. Some of the historic buildings that have been saved by the creek of Dubai have been turned into the most amazing series of museums, is the only way I can describe it, because each house is a different gallery or different theme. So you have the story of the creek being built up, the story of Dubai seafarers. There was a faith and. Faith and religion room, talking about Islam and different cultures, how that's worked around Dubai. Paul Griffiths: Dubai being built up as a city, lots about the rulers and families, but every house you went to is a different place. What was so impressive there from a visitor experience perspective was the training that Stafford had was sensational. You know, you go into someone, you think they're obviously being managed really well because obviously this is. You don't just train. So obviously someone oversees this really well. But clearly the training, everywhere you went, the customer service was exceptional. People coming out from behind counters, giving you introductions, making sure you had everything needed, you know, as you were leaving. Have you got any questions? All those things we try and all have tried to teach over the years, and in many ways we've all been different levels of success of that. Paul Griffiths: But what was amazing was they also got the security guards in on the act as well, because there's a real culture here that there's a separate, they're secure, they're very different. You know, there's, we've got them here, they're in very much brown security, clearly marked, you know, protecting places. But what they've done there is they had clearly trained those security guards as well, because every security guard you came across was getting in the act of chatting to visitors, even if their English wasn't brilliant, they were really keen to direct you to the next. Come this way. So the next place, oh, you finished that room, you must go upstairs. And you know, that sort of. Paul Griffiths: And whether they, you know, really just said, look, you can have a much more interesting day than just standing, staring at people walking around. You can actually chat to visitors from around the world and get talkative. And I just had the most amazing. I ended up in this museum for over five and a half hours or something silly like that. And I thought I was going to be there an hour because it was priced very reasonably. You know, when you judge a museum on, well, actually I paid this, I'm probably going to be here for that amount of time. And actually it was just, you know, I found myself stopping for a coffee, stopping for lunch. But I was so impressed by the way the staff interacted. Paul Griffiths: They also had a number of cultural local guides as well, who really were, you know, in the full sort of Emirati national dress, but wanted to press on. This is where. This is what I'm doing. So I've some, you know, I traveled across to Fujairah every week and was in a, an old, what was the ruler's summer house. And the guy, and the guy who ran it just took me on a tour. I didn't ask for a tour. He just said, would you. Well, he said, should I take you around? Yes, please. And we had this great hours experience as he was just chatting about all the rooms. And I think people here are very keen to share their culture and their heritage and very welcoming. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I've done quite a bit traveling around the other parts of the UAE. I can't go out of the UAE because I've only got a hire car at the moment, so I can't go out to Omar, that's on my list. You get yourself a car. I can travel north of the border into Oman and explore that. But for now, seven emirates to. So no shortage of places. And I've not been up to Abu Dhabi yet, so still with that on my list. So yeah, Paul Marden: Wowzers. Okay. So I guess, and this is completely, what would I feel like if I was in your position of going to this new country, immersing myself in this relatively new place that you're leading? How do I say this without flattering you? You were a well connected guy. If I went to events, everybody knew you. You had this wide network of people having worked in the UK in the attraction sector for a long time and you've now jumped over to the UAE. What's happened to the network? How does that feel? I mean it must feel slightly kind of worrying or nerve wracking. What have you done to build the network in this new place? Paul Griffiths: There's a number of points to that. Right, so let's answer in a few minutes. So the world's a smaller place so I'm still occasionally having teams call zoom calls with really close ex colleagues, friends, you know, I'm sure, I mean I always say I'm sure but everyone keeps saying, “Oh I'm really loving the journey so please keep posting. So I am going to keep posting and probably going to start to annoy people after a while”, but the feedback so far is everyone saying we're loving the journey and following you with it and feel like we're on the journey. So I will carry on. I'm sort of keeping writing stuff up and sharing it and also I don't know how long I'll be here for. You know, probation is massive over here. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Paul Griffiths: I pass probation which is a six month period because it's a real right the UAE all not just off and across the UAE. It's a real big, you know, much more than at home, much more structured. On day one was given a series and this isn't a bad thing at all, a series of probation tasks, you know, around reports that are around other historic parts because the job that I've come over will eventually evolve into a wider heritage role. But at the moment the real focus is on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which is great. Get one site, get it going, then see where we go next. So I think I'm still connected to lots of people back home. I'm still looking, seeing everyone's posts and enjoy. Paul Griffiths: I mean my usual jealousy of not being part of the ALVA network anymore as they're all having that great time in Belfast in the last couple of days and seeing everyone's post, not just one or two, but everyone you know, Bernard down with you know everyone's post. I wish I was there with them.Paul Marden: The FOMO was real. So I had Andy Povey in the office with me yesterday and we're both saying the FOMO about that ALVAe vent was very real for both of us having. Paul Griffiths: Having spent. You know I was at the Mary Rose few years where we joined ALVA and go experiencing those council weeks and knowing just hey how much they are great for networking A. You get very spoiled because every host wants to really show off what they can do and I think the Titanic always do that because we go there before for a council meeting but it's. Yeah. So you still see this stuff. So it's still sit home and there's still people I can reach out to.Paul Marden: Of course.Paul Griffiths: If we need to and I'm still calling on people things, you know, different projects we're doing here. But then again it's about slowly building up that network here and I think there's a slightly. You know, there's a. Within Ras Al Khaimah I've started making connections with lots of other people in the Heritage world and. And outside that. So we're already, you know, connecting up with different people from different parts of Ras Al Khaimah, the work we're going to do moving forward and for me I think it's been just a. I'm sort of still pinching myself I'm here and that sort of. So many things keep happening and you know. The weather's been gorgeous because I've come out of a grim English weather to this quite nice winter here where it's mostly been late mid-20s. Paul Griffiths: You're in she and shorts when you're off duty. You know, there's other things. The thing that really surprised me is how smart actually the dress code is for business over here. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: So I had to sort of all the usual brands that from home Mount Marks is next everything here so you could order online and get it delivered quite quickly. So I had sort of came out of one wardrobe thinking I was going to be far more in polo shirt and linen trousers are sort of very sort of summer at Painshill look, you know outdoor. But actually yeah my colleagues are still. Because of the aircon atmosphere. Lots of colleagues particularly in the head office are in suits. A bit like where I would have been when back in my London days. When we're in the office you were in a shirt tie. So yes, I had to sort of buy A back home wardrobe almost once I got traveled out with very lightweight clothing. So yes, it's a bit different in that sense. Paul Marden:  Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about life as an expat. How have you found the transition? Paul Griffiths: Fine so far. I say there's lots of bits around work and practice and you know, no amount of inductions will be able to help you on some little faux pas you can make about not realising where you need approvals for staff. And obviously coming from the. For the last six years of being director of Painshill and only from feeding into a board of directors, board of trustees who we'd see quarterly and you know, I chat to the chairman every week. There was a lot of me sort of making those sort of decisions instantly was here, you know, particularly as were part of the foundation and we are representing Sheikh Saud as his name's in the title of the organization now, making sure we're going through those tick sheets. Paul Griffiths: You know, if I want to do anything that needs to spend more money, that's out budget, that is going to his Highness to be signed off. So any projects we're doing, we're needing to make cases to the highest man in the country to actually get those, you know, sign offs and things. And I'm not, that's not a bad thing. But you know, it's just that from an expat I guess it's getting used to. Everything's available here. Not the big supermarket up the road sells Waitrose and Marxist products and has a room at the back for non Muslims where you push the button, door opens, it's like a little bit of a naughty boys room. Paul Griffiths: You push back door open, slides you walk in and there's the pork heaven, you know, there's bacon, there's pork scratching, patays, you know, all because it's a real, you know, it's not just there's so many expats here, particularly from the Philippines and stuff who obviously pork is a big part of their diet. So yeah, that's available. I said earlier on there's cellars where you can pick up a great beer or a couple of glasses of bottle of wine or whatever you want. So actually it's not that I found myself flying into this really different world and I'm not really. Paul Marden:  It's a melting pot, isn't it? Paul Griffiths: Yeah. And I'm not someone who's ever been since very young, you know, going off to nightclubs or anything like that. But if you wanted that There is that. The hotels. So actually, if you're a younger person coming out and you wanted that nightlife, the hotels, particularly on Margin island and Minnal Arab, the tubing hotels have really nice restaurants, fully licensed clubs and stuff. But, you know, actually I found sort of the work is busy. Everyone's, you know, lots going on, actually, just going back to, you know, I was in a hotel for the first two months, which wasn't a dreadful thing because it was an apartment hotel. So, yeah, I had enough and now we've moved. I've moved into a villa ready for the family. Come out hopefully in about a month's time.Paul Marden:  Oh, that'd be exciting. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. So that's nice. So we've got the back onto the golf course. It's quite, you know, it's a nice place to be. It's going to be nice and, you know. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so I've not struggled adapting because it's not. It's not that, you know, normally I've got a wonderful team here, Asia, you know, so with one Emirati and some Filipinos and other people from around the. From around the world. So that's been nice. And it's melting pot of learning their cultures as well as the local culture and. Yeah. And then they eat rice with everything. So it's. Yeah. Every lunchtime there's a bowl of rice, big bowl of salad in the main course and there's me pouring on the one on the salad, everyone else on the rice. But, yeah, it's been great, Paul. I mean, I can't. It's been one of those. Every moment you think this is just a great place to be. Paul Marden: Good. Let's go back to Al Jazeera and talk a little bit about some of the events that have been going on. So I know you're coming to the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. Tell me a little bit about that and how well that's gone. Paul Griffiths: It's been brilliant. I know. I had no idea what to expect. First time for this. So this is the 13th International Art Fair. It started off back in the small museum back in the city of Central Town, moved to here, I think, five years ago is what I'm saying, and slowly grown every year since then. So this is the biggest one we've done, really. Lots of massive sponsors on board from across the Emirates, actually fully supported by His Highness, who's been here at least four times, if not five, since we've had the vessel. He was here at the opening ceremony for the big launch, you know it was, and it was like a proper opening ceremony. Paul Griffiths: Everyone sat round with a band and speakers and you know like not quite Olympics but you know it was a proper event. This is the opening of it and it felt like a big event. Yeah. All my female members of my team had, were given time off in the day to do hair and makeup. It was proper. Everyone looked, everyone looked the business, it was lovely. You know everyone was scrubbed up from the maintenance team to, you know, our executive director looking fabulous in a brand new dress. You know it was really was. No, I've had a new suit, I got a new suit for the occasion. Paul Griffiths: So yeah, it was a lovely evening and then it's rolled ever since and for me it's been wonderful because I've seen people in this village which has been quite quiet since I'd arrived and it's sort of been okay, how are we going to get this? But actually clearly putting something on has attracted a complete cross spectrum audience. So you know, we have people coming in, absolutely fascinating, obsessed with the art, beautiful and it's artists I should say from around the world. It's all exhibited outside or inside the little houses. So you know lots of the pieces have been blown up quite big and quite impressive. I mean do look at it on the website, you know people, you know if you go to ajah.ae you can then click on from there.Paul Marden: We'll put the links and everything in the show notes so people be able to find that. Paul Griffiths: It's been, but it's been, for me it's been fabulous because we've seen so many people in, you know I was, you know, we've had, we've got pop up restaurants so this won't mean anything to people back home but the restaurant called Puro P U R O has a restaurant at the top of the mountain at Jebel Jais. Really almost impossible to get booking, you know you have to book months advance for lunch or dinner. It's the place that everybody, both locals, internationals and tourists want to see and often frequented by his Highness. They've got a pop up restaurant here which just is fabulous. Paul Griffiths: They we've had a lovely couple, Kelly and Paolo in running a restaurant called Antica which is a sort of the chef's Italian Paolo but he's lived in Australia so it's a fusion of Australian middle Italy, sort of historic villagey type cuisine with an Emirates twist. But you're just served four or five courses without there's not a menu. It's not a restaurant as such, so it's sort of a sharing experience. But you know, the food is amazing. So I was fortunate to have dinner. Well, I've actually been fortunate enough to have dinner in Antica twice and lunch there as well. But one of the dinners I was then wandering around the village about 10 o'clock at night was full of people, you know, families just. Paul Griffiths: There is a different culture over here that people do more stuff in the evenings because of the temperature and a different way of life because the local people aren't obviously, for obvious reasons, down the pub on a Friday night, they're doing stuff with the family and you go past cafes and even outside of the village, you know, 9, 10 o'clock on a Friday night, they're full of people sitting very beautifully dressed in their finest, drinking coffee and eating desserts. That's a big thing. People seem to love coffee and desserts. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: But, but then of course it's because because of the heat most of the year we'll spend more time indoors resting in the day and then ready to go out at night and do some more stuff. So yeah, so we've had this sort of here in the evenings. It's really fun. What was interesting is our hours for the festival were meant to be midweek. So Monday we always close. Tuesday to Thursday we're meant to be open till 6 o'clock and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday open to 11:00. Often struggling to get people out then the first night. So the Tuesday night was the first night. Medusa goes at 6:00. 5:45, I had a queue of at least 40 people trying to get in. So we just had to make an on the hooves decision. Paul Griffiths: We're going to stay open later. And then we just opened till 8:00 in the midweek. We didn't want to push it too much because of obviously from the staff welfare perspective, an hour's work. But actually that first night were just. Myself and Sikrat, who's the director of the festival, Emirati. Wonderful. Emirati has been my cultural bodyguard in many ways because he's been the person, my go to person for what should I do here? What about this person? How should I do this? So Spencer Crouch just stood there. Look at this crowd. We both just said, “Well we can't turf them away. This would be daft.” So yeah, so we've had. And we've had about 40, 000 visitors will have come through the door by the end of the festival in 28 days. Paul Griffiths: The artworks then going to stay up in place for Ramadan. So we'll be working different hours again during Ramadan and this is the first time Al Jazeera will ever do. Has ever done anything special for. Because before now it's just been a come and visit, walk in, do what you like, leave now. We're trying to structure that visitor experience. So we're going to be for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, because Thursday's the sort of Friday night in many ways. Because a lot of people have Fridays off here. Yes, because of the day of prayers and so a lot of people in Ras Al Hamah go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work. So Thursday nights they'll travel back. So actually we're going to be open till midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday for Ramadan. Paul Griffiths: So people will break the fast with the families and then they want to do the sort of head top of activity. They've now got food back in them and an energy source. And out they come. So again, first time we've done it, hopefully see numbers with the artwork will still be in place. We're then working on some different options around cuisine, food, coffee and hopefully get some musicians in as well, just to give a bit of an atmosphere. But it is a holy month, so it's not. It's not parties, but it's enjoying the family. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So what does the future look like for the Heritage Village and for tourism and attractions more generally in RAK? Paul Griffiths: I think for RAK itself, we're trying to bring more tourists in then trying to get the most hotels. Interestingly, as they had a lunch with five of our local big hotels at the weekend using. Using our Antico restaurant, this is excuse to have another lunch there and invite some people in and just take on their views, which is great. So just chatting and getting their thoughts on it. They were saying what. What happens in Iraq a lot at the moment is people are finding the hotels through travel agents, through, you know, searches. I know when were looking before I came out here, I know Ras Al Hamra came up on a Thomas Cumbin telescope. Yeah, similar. What am I thinking of? Probably Tui, I guess, or someone like, you know, someone like that. Paul Griffiths: I was doing a search for when went to Canary, but up came Ras Al Khaimah as a hotel and what they were saying. A lot of people will book that and have no idea really what Ras Al Khaimah is, other than it's part of the UAE. Some people think it's part of Dubai, you know, actually, because it's not, they don't realize it's seven emirates, etc. So a lot of people are booking their sort of tourists, their hotels. Our job is to try and then get them out and attract them to do other stuff. So there's lots of adventure tourism going on at the moment. We talked about the zip wire and lots of hiking, walking, camel rail, camel riding, you know, trips to the desert where you can zoom around in 4x Fours and go karts and stuff. Paul Griffiths: So from my perspective of the Heritage village is about bringing it more alive, bringing more people in, promoting it, more linking up with these sorts of hoteliers, concierges. And this is really early days for us because this has always been sort of slightly done but not really pushed yet. And sort of listening to what their advice is and seeing how we can act upon it, you know, and what sort of stuff we can take forward because, you know, there's a lot to be done. And there's lots of other heritage sites across rat about 90 on the list of actual heritage sites. And some of those are real ruins that you're never going to be able to do anything with. Paul Griffiths: Those sort of English Heritage free sites, you know, the ones you stumble across with a little brown sign and you pull up with a lay by, have a potter around and off you go without seeing anyone. There's a bit like that. But then there's a number of sites that will work well with some activation. You know, we've got Dyer Fort, which is on the World Heritage site tentative list and we're working on projects to slowly take that forward to World Heritage status. Touchwood because it's a really important for, you know, and it's perfect for visits. You climb up to the top, you get the most gorgeous views. You know, really is a gorgeous little site. So more interpretation, more things there is what's needed. But you know, again, this is all early days. Paul Griffiths: So it's all about sort of, you know, each day's excitement. What can we do, what can we push forward, who can we talk to? And what's been great is as the festival's gone on, more people have been coming and chatting to me. Mine have become more, well known. That sounds wrong, goes back to your sort of earlier question about, you know, people are sort of learning about, oh, this person's here now. Paul said, although people can call me sir or Mr. Paul, which is fine. I can deal with that. Keep saying now, people, I keep saying, please don't call me sir. You really don't need to. But it's so culturally great. But Mr. Everyone see everyone externally, she's called Mr. Paul, so I can put up with that. But I was there. Although when we host his. Paul Griffiths: His Highness hosted dinner that I was invited to, I then got even pushed up to His Excellency, which was a title. I want to go. Paul Marden: That's quite nice. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, I love that. Apparently. I always thought that someone else I knew was his title. His Excellency was part of the family, but actually it's. Once you get to a CEO director level in royal that circle, you immediately become His Excellency, so. Paul Marden: Well, there we go. I will correct myself in future communications. Paul Griffiths: Please do. Yeah, but I thought it was wonderful. That's why it's just been lovely, the funny comments coming from people back home saying, oh, well, I've amended my entry in my phone to now shake your he status. But yeah, so. But there's a sort of cultural things. It's just. Okay, right, lovely. That's fun. Paul Marden: It's been a whirlwind for you. It's been really interesting actually, talking about it and understanding more about. About what's happening there, about how exciting it is, this huge opportunity that you've got to make a something out of this beautiful historic village and then that, you know, the remit will grow from there. So I think. I think this has been lovely. We always wrap up our interviews with a book recommendation and you've had this privilege once before. So have you run out of recommendations or do you have something ready for me? Paul Griffiths: Well, I was going to recommend the Red island, an Emirati story, because it's based on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, but I thought that might be a little bit too niche. This guy. So, again, little things have come across. This guy's written a book, Adil, and he's going to be coming to Al Jazeera to do a book reading signing. These little opportunities. I have read the book, I promise. It was actually fascinating because it's all about local culture. It went off in a number of tangents, but actually from a point of view of how the Emirati local culture works and families, it was actually quite a really good induction. But now I've decided to go with a more book for management or book for running. And I don't think anyone's given this before, but if they have, I'm nervous. Paul Griffiths: But this book, Fish!, which is one of my favourite books. I've actually launched this as the Al Jazeera Book Club for the spring. So all the team have a copy. Book clubs are massive over here for work. Every department has one here in the foundation. So this book, Fish, is based around the Seattle fish market. My colleagues who've worked me in the past, both. I can hear them groaning now because they've forced everyone to read this, but it's basically around having fun when you're at work. And it talks about the story of the Seattle fish market, how they were just flogging fish, but actually one day decided, we need to liven this up. We need to want to be here. So introduced, sort of involving the crowd, fish flying through the air. Paul Griffiths: But It's a more of a story about a woman joins, it moves up in a company into a department that no one's been able to manage. She gets to the bottom of using the fish market. And it's just a really fun, easy reading book. And so I recommend it to. To listeners and viewers. Paul Marden: That's brilliant. So listeners, if you would like a copy of Fish,Paul Griffiths: It's quite a cheap book as well, Paul, so please, you have to give one away. So it's not too much money. It's just 9.99 in the non fiction section. So, yeah, cheaper. Paul Marden: Bargain. Bargain. That's the trouble with. So I've been doing a few live events where we have panels, four people with book records, recommendations. That's going to bankrupt me. No, not today. We got a bargain this time. So I like this. Yeah. If you'd like a copy of Fish, if you'd like a copy of Paul's book, head on over to Bluesky and when Wenalyn posts the show note, go over there and repost it and say, I want Paul's book. And the first person to do that will get a copy of the book. Paul, delightful as always. Three times on the podcast, at least. Paul Griffiths: I think this would be number. This would be number four because we had the original episode where Kelly grilled me about life at Painshill. Then we did the Turn the Tables episode when I grilled Kelly on setting up podcasts. And then we did. Then we did the Goodbye to Kelly, whatever it was. 100 episode. And then this. Yeah, four Skip the Queues. Which is always a pleasure and I'm so delighted as you're my favourite podcast, obviously.Paul Marden: It's, oh, you say the nicest things. That must be a record. I need to go back and check that I think four times on the podcast is pretty impressive. Paul Griffiths: I think I should get to add all mine up into one as a total so I can beat Dominic Jones, who's always had the biggest number, isn't he? Paul Marden: So, yeah, so he does and he still does. So, yeah, I think aggregating the number of listens for across all of your episodes, I think that might be within the walls. Let me see what I can do and I'll add everything up and we'll see if you can take Dom's crown. Paul Griffiths: Sorry, Dom. Paul Marden:  Because he's not competitive at all. Paul Griffiths: No, he's not, mate. He's a great guy, though. So, yeah, a friendly rival. Paul Marden: Exactly. Thank you very much, Paul. I would love to keep in touch. Paul Griffiths: Let's keep talking. Paul Marden: I want to hear what happens not just after the first 90 days, but I want to hear what happens in a year's time and two years time. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about Ras Al-Khaimah and the Heritage Village. It's been lovely. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great. Been a real pleasure. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.    The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Enjoy the latest 2 blokes! We talk all kinds of nonsense as per. But Tim sings like a whale! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Joey and Tim for a quick romp! We talk eels, Boas, Horses and mint choc chip!Proud to be a member of the Podpack collective Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Joey and Tim for a rare I Love This Game treat, food that gives Tim the ick and for some fun audience participation!Proud to be a member of the Podpack collective Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theres so much nitro glycerine and melted money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Betty says: I have always been fascinated by the mind and human transformation. Since my late teens I have been obsessed with self-inquiry, and read everything I could get my hands on in an attempt to understand the mind, relationships, and... what it means to be human. I had just completed the first year of a degree in Music Therapy when I met my love, Rob, and after a stint in Barcelona teaching English (and giving puppet shows to kindergarten kids) we returned to Blighty to start a family.  Family life was, as I suppose it always is, a shock to the system. :-) Still pretty broke, and now suddenly faced by the reality of 'settling down' with no meaningful career to support us - we started to think about how we could turn our situation around. We both read the book 'Secrets of a Millionaire Mind'  by T. Harv Eker and found ourselves slowly beginning to ask 'what if...?'The answer was plain to me:Empower decent, dedicated people. Heart-centred, spiritually-minded entrepreneurs to liberate self-doubt & limiting beliefs, get out their own way and TRUST their biggest vision, so that they may grow their businesses, make their dreams a reality, impacting way more people, and thus contributing to birthing a new earth."And now, I'm proud to say; that's exactly what I'm doing.Discover more about Betty herehttps://truewealthwithbetty.com/https://www.facebook.com/truewealthwithbettyI hope you enjoy the conversation I had with Betty,Visit Middle Earth Medicine to learn more and connect with me, Caroline.Your donations directly fuel the growth of this podcast! They allow Caroline to bring in even more wonderful teachers and inspiring guests and expand her reach to uplift even more listeners. Please show your support and become part of the magic! Donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. You can make a secure donation through PayPal using the link below.Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference! paypal.me/carolinecarey60 Thank you for your support in spreading the light of soul and spirituality. You can also join our community membership for deeper soul explorations: https://middleearthmedicine.com/mem-community/ Thank you for listening to this podcast, let's spread the word together to support the embodiment of soul, to reclaim our spirituality and to remember a broken innocence, a reclaiming of soul and our life force. Gratitude to you all https://plus.acast.com/s/how-to-find-our-soul-purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh we are so back... 2 Blokes, 1 Blighty, 9 Seasons. You do... some math, or something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever...been green? Chris has! -And he has no recollection of it!Join us today as we time travel back to Medieval England, to a time when wolves...and Lou Ferrigno's illegitimate children...roamed the forests of Blighty!  Pull on your knightly robes, listeners, and come along with Linz and Chris, to solve the mystery of The Green Children of Woolpit!Support the showSupport us on Patreon

In the words of Donald Trump and Twisted Sister, 'we're not gonna take it'. There are only hours to go before the swearing in of the United States' 47th President and the world is watching. Back in Blighty, Labour are in knots over more corruption scandals. Rayner using the civil service to move house and Lord Hermer is up to his neck in it for his history representing illegal migrants coming from the Chagos Islands and representing Gerry Adams, it's all beginning to unravel.Wake up with Morning Glory in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got it all, US flat earthers land in Blighty, Reform want new coal mines - while climate scientists talk of weather whiplash. One side is hideously wrong. Meanwhile, is Veganuary flopping? Who says we need more roads to get to net zero and X-Rated corner gives us a fact - you couldn't make that up..:)

Yeah Nah Pasaran is back in 2025 but we're still writing 2005 on all our cheques. This week we talk to anti-fascist blogger Bob From Brockley about 20 years of blogging, the state of the far-Right in Old Britannia, and campism.

Josh and Alex discuss Sony's announcements for the Ghost of Tsushima anime, Helldivers and Horizon: Zero Dawn movies, along with trying to figure out how Sony will not understand the assignment, and pitching their own version of what Sony will produce as a final product, along with some casting and directing choices.  Josh flubs introducing Alex (0:00) When the regional accent comes out in local commercials (1:44) How is Josh still healthy and alive?! (8:59) Josh and Alex share some jokes (11:33) Josh's favorite joke (12:36) Sony's new video game movie announcements (14:34) Ghost of Tsushima anime (17:24) Helldivers movie (26:26) Horizon: Zero Dawn movie (41:23) Social media plugs (1:03:22) Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

As we usher in 2025, we want to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your support, passion, and engagement have made this past year an incredible journey for The Game Club Podcast.Whether you've been with us since the beginning or just joined our community, your enthusiasm for gaming and your unwavering dedication to our podcast have fuelled our passion and creativity. We've shared laughs, explored new worlds, and celebrated so much together.As we step into the new year, we look forward to bringing you even more exciting content and unforgettable moments. We have some amazing episodes lined up and can't wait to dive into games and our new episodes with you.Here's to a new year filled with fantastic games, thrilling adventures, and the continued growth of our amazing community. May 2025 bring you joy, success, and countless hours of gaming bliss.Thank you for being a part of The Game Club Podcast. Happy New Year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh took the family to see Disney's Moana 2, Alex—who hasn't seen the movie—asks Josh's thoughts on the animation, story, and music. The ravages of time (1:10) 2 Blokes from Blighty promo (3:49) The brilliance of Joey & Tim (4:40) What is time?! (5:31) Josh's tangents within tangents being! (6:45) Was the theatrical release the right call? (8:19) How was the animation? (9:14) Is Moana 2 a must-see or pass? (11:11) Spoiler talk: Alex asks the big questions (11:42) What role do the Kakamora play? (13:03) What's the plot of Moana 2? (14:03) Where's Tamatoa?! (16:22) Where does the movie's story seams break? (16:46) Are there any good songs in Moana 2? (20:00) The Rock does 'Hamilton' (21:47) Is there sequel bait for a Moana 3? (24:49) How does it compare to Inside Out 2 as an unplanned and unexpected sequel? (26:27) The biggest spoiler for Moana 2 (27:07) Moana's parents still got it! (30:18) Final thoughts (31:13) Let's plug the socials! (33:10) Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

The year began with a bang, quite a show,Resolutions made, though progress was slow.AI hit the scene,Chatbots became keen,While eggs cost a fortune—oh no!Spring brought debates, some fiery and loud,"Let's ban TikTok!" cried one worried crowd.King Charles was crowned,Some yawns went around,And Netflix said, "No more password-shared shroud!"Summer got hotter, the temps were unreal,Record heatwaves made everyone squeal.Threads took a shot,But Twitter said "Not!"While UFO hearings gave us new zeal.Year's end arrived with festive delight,But AI was writing your holiday invites.A SpaceX flight soared,Taylor Swift broke records,And inflation still gave wallets a fright! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Two Blokes From Blighty. On most podcasts you will find an episode description in this part. At 2 Blokes, we try and keep you on your toes, its time for you to put those toes up and enjoy a lovely meal, here is a hearty recipe for you in the lead up to ChristmasChristmas Roast Chicken with Cranberry Sauce and Root VegetablesIngredients:For the Roast Chicken:1 whole chicken (about 4-5 pounds)4 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons butter, melted1 lemon, halved1 bunch of fresh rosemary4 garlic cloves, mincedSalt and pepper to taste1 cup chicken brothFor the Cranberry Sauce:2 cups fresh cranberries1 cup orange juice1/2 cup sugar1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon ground clovesFor the Root Vegetables:4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks3 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks2 tablespoons olive oilSalt and pepper to taste1 tablespoon fresh thyme, choppedInstructions:1. Preheat the Oven:Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).2. Prepare the Chicken:Remove the chicken giblets and rinse the chicken inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.Rub the chicken all over with olive oil, then drizzle with melted butter.Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper, both inside and out.Stuff the cavity with the lemon halves and rosemary bunch.Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Add the minced garlic around the chicken.Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the pan to keep the chicken moist during roasting.3. Roast the Chicken:Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.Baste the chicken with the pan juices every 30 minutes to keep it moist and flavorful.If the chicken skin is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.4. Make the Cranberry Sauce:While the chicken is roasting, prepare the cranberry sauce.In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.5. Roast the Root Vegetables:Toss the carrots, parsnips, and potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme.Spread the vegetables out on a baking sheet.Roast in the oven (you can do this simultaneously with the chicken if there's space) for about 35-45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and golden brown, stirring halfway through.6. Serve:Once the chicken is done, let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before carving.Serve the roast chicken alongside the roasted root vegetables.Spoon the cranberry sauce over the chicken or serve it on the side.Enjoy your hearty Christmas meal with family and friends! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By 1994, grunge had waned and Madchester had set the table for the next massive wave of British music—the UK was ready for its next big rock band to refocus the global lens back on ol' Blighty. That's when Oasis popped onto the scene fully formed and captured the mantle with their iconic haircuts, perfect clothes, explosive feuds, and of course, their absolute bangers. Join along as Yasi Salek and her Wonderwall, The Ringer's Rob Harvilla, ask each other: where were you while Oasis was getting high? In this part one of two, we cover everything between the band's formation and what led up to the legendary Britpop chart battle.  SKIP AHEAD: 6:48 – Formation: Liam and Noel Gallagher 29:57 – Formation: Other band members 45:15 – Oasis pre-Noel 1:03:06 – Oasis gets signed 1:36:41 – First single “Supersonic”  2:12:49 – “Definitely Maybe”  3:06:48 – Early Britpop Battle EPISODE PLAYLIST: Listen to songs we detail in the episode ⁠HERE⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Rob Harvilla @robharvilla Producer: Liz Sánchez  Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Buy tickets for the live show HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Moon is considered part of humanity's shared heritage and is not owned by any one country, corporation, or individual. This principle is established by the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, a cornerstone of space law signed by over 110 countries, including all major spacefaring nations.Key provisions of the treaty include:No Sovereignty: Nations cannot claim sovereignty over the Moon or any celestial body. This means no country can declare the Moon as its territory.Peaceful Purposes: The Moon must only be used for peaceful purposes, prohibiting military bases or weapons of mass destruction.Benefit for All: Space exploration, including activities on the Moon, should benefit all humanity.The Moon Agreement of 1979 attempted to expand on these ideas by suggesting that the Moon and its resources are the "common heritage of mankind" and that resource extraction should be regulated internationally. However, the agreement has been ratified by only a few countries, and none of the major spacefaring nations (like the U.S., Russia, or China) are parties to it.In practice, there's growing ambiguity about how lunar resources will be governed. Recent initiatives like the Artemis Accords (led by NASA) and China's plans for a lunar research station highlight the need for updated frameworks to manage activities such as mining, which could complicate the "public space" concept.So, while the Moon is legally a "public space" under current treaties, the specifics of resource ownership and governance are still evolving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here we are for episode 745! In which Grizzly (aka Mateusz) returns to the UK for another visit and he and Paul go to stay in a hotel once again to celebrate their birthdays! There are plenty of adventures and some appearances by familiar regulars; it's impossible for the guys to have a completely relaxing time on this show! Thanks to Grizzly for his time and company in making this edition of the show and thanks also to our special guest, Harry F for his contributions! Our next show - #746 sees Paul attempting to impress Hubert Gentry with clips from some old episodes of Sutton Park! How will Hubert react!? Do join us! Email us at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have any comments - you can even send me a sound-file and I'll include it. The music is by Shy Yeti, Muffleyontour, Udio and Luca. Sound effects by Paul C and Soundbible. Logo by Owen O and Shy Yeti. All other content of this episode is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2024. Episode 745 was recorded between the 17th and the 23rd November 2024.

Aldrich Kemp and the gang are back with some new faces as the race for the mysterious and elusive Rose of Pamir moves from London to Paris, New York to Amsterdam and the Maldives to Tajikistan.Chapter Three: American CryptographyClara Page and Aldrich Kemp travel to New York and call in a favour, but who else is lurking in Manhattan? Meanwhile, Mrs Bartholomew and Mrs Boone are facing challenges of their own back in Blighty.Clara Page - Phoebe Fox Aldrich Kemp – Ferdinand Kingsley Mrs Boone – Nicola Walker Nakesha – Karla Crome Sebastian Harcourt – Kyle Soller Aunt Lily – Susan Jameson The Underwood Sisters & Forsaken McTeague – Jana Carpenter Mrs Bartholomew – Kate Isitt Lionel – Steven Mackintosh Selina – Catherine Kanter Vartan - Ben CroweWritten and directed by Julian Simpson Music composed by Tim Elsenburg.Sound Design: David Thomas Producer: Sarah Tombling Production Assistant: Ethan Elsenburg Executive Producer: Karen RoseNew episodes available on Fridays. Listen first on BBC SoundsA Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

Slow Roast Honey Ham Leftovers Recipe: Honey Ham and Cheese Stuffed PotatoesIngredients:For the Stuffed Potatoes:4 large baking potatoes2 cups leftover slow roast honey ham, diced1 cup shredded cheddar cheese1/2 cup sour cream1/4 cup milk3 tablespoons butter, melted2 green onions, chopped1/2 teaspoon garlic powderSalt and pepper to tasteFor the Topping:1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)Sour cream for serving (optional)Instructions:Prepare the Potatoes:Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).Scrub the baking potatoes clean and pierce each one several times with a fork.Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until they are tender and the skin is crispy.Prepare the Filling:While the potatoes are baking, dice the leftover honey ham into small pieces.In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced ham, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, milk, melted butter, chopped green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.Stuff the Potatoes:Once the potatoes are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes until they are safe to handle.Cut each potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the insides, leaving a small border of potato around the skin to keep the shape.Place the scooped-out potato flesh into the bowl with the ham and cheese mixture. Mash everything together until smooth and well mixed.Bake the Stuffed Potatoes:Spoon the ham and cheese mixture back into the potato skins, dividing it evenly among the potato halves.Place the stuffed potatoes back on the baking sheet.Top each potato with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.Final Baking:Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.Serve:Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if using.Serve the stuffed potatoes with a dollop of sour cream on top, if desired.Enjoy your delicious honey ham and cheese stuffed potatoes! This hearty dish is perfect for using up leftover ham and makes for a satisfying meal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thelesbianprojectpod.comEllen and Portia move to Englandhttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ellen-degeneres-moving-england-trump-piers-morgan-b2651291.htmlhttps://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/ellen-degeneres-portia-de-rossi-leave-us-after-trump-is-electedLesbian escort agencies as self-care in Japanhttps://theconversation.com/for-the-very-first-time-i-re…

Love at The Chicken InnOn a brisk autumn evening, the scent of fried chicken and warm biscuits drifted through the air at The Chicken Inn, the town's favorite diner. George, a shy middle-aged man with thick glasses and a penchant for plaid shirts, pushed open the door. The bell jingled, announcing his arrival. He shuffled to his usual booth, a small corner spot near the window where he could watch the world go by without being noticed.George wasn't much for company. His days were spent working at the local library, and his evenings consisted of quiet dinners at the diner and reading mystery novels in his small apartment. Tonight seemed no different, until he noticed someone—or rather, something—seated at the counter.There, perched on a bright red stool, was a pig. A real pig. Its rosy snout sniffed the air, its hooves rested delicately on the counter, and a tiny blue bow adorned its ear. George blinked, thinking he'd finally lost his mind. But no, the pig was very much real, and even stranger, the other diners didn't seem the least bit perturbed.“Hey there, George!” called Clara, the bubbly waitress. “Same as usual?”George nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the pig. It turned its head and met his eyes. To George's shock, it smiled—a soft, knowing smile that made his heart skip a beat.“Don't stare too long,” Clara whispered as she set down his coffee. “That's Penelope. She's a regular.”“A… regular?” George managed, his voice barely above a whisper.Clara chuckled. “Sure is. Comes in every Thursday for apple pie. Sweetest thing you'll ever meet.”As if on cue, Penelope oinked softly and trotted toward George's booth. She climbed up onto the seat across from him, tilting her head as if to say, Mind if I join you?George's face turned crimson, but he nodded. “Uh, hi.”Penelope squealed lightly in response and tapped the menu with her hoof. Clara appeared moments later, placing a slice of apple pie in front of the pig and a basket of fried chicken for George. “You two enjoy,” she said with a wink before walking away.At first, George wasn't sure what to do. He was used to solitude, not sharing meals with charming farm animals. But as the minutes passed, he found himself relaxing. Penelope had a warmth about her, a calm presence that made him feel less alone. They sat in companionable silence, George nibbling on a drumstick while Penelope daintily enjoyed her pie.When Penelope finished, she nudged a napkin toward him with her snout. He laughed—a real, hearty laugh he hadn't heard from himself in years. “You're something else,” he said, his eyes twinkling.From that night on, George and Penelope became inseparable. Every Thursday, they met at The Chicken Inn, sharing stories without words and finding joy in each other's company.In a world that often felt too big and too lonely, George discovered love in the most unexpected place—sitting across from a bow-wearing pig at a little diner called The Chicken Inn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking about Minutes 81-82 of Muppet Treasure Island, in which Kermit and Piggy finish "Love Led Us Here" and pirates mess around with treasure. With special guest Iris Strand! PLUS: The Statue of Liberty is a blobfish! Does Kermit need a haircut? Do Fisher Price puppets smell funny? Long John is Scrooge McDuck! What does "back to Blighty" mean? George Washington uses a Bugs Bunny stamp! And teleporting out of a plane! Hosted by: Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe Guest: Iris Strand Produced & Edited by: Ryan Roe Logo by: Morgan Davy Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ToughPigs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Podbean, or wherever you get podcasts!

here are 10 hilarious jokes about gamers:Why did the gamer sit under the tree? Because he wanted to find the hidden root directory.Why don't gamers play hide and seek? Because good luck hiding when you always respawn.Why was the gamer always calm during an earthquake? Because he was used to his world shaking and falling apart in-game.Why did the gamer get kicked out of the party? Because he kept trying to "respawn" the snacks.Why do gamers hate sunburns? Because they always forget to upgrade their sun protection to the next level.How do gamers stay cool during the summer? They find the nearest "Fan" page.Why do gamers make terrible athletes? Because whenever they hear "run," they instinctively look for a save point.What's a gamer's favorite type of music? 8-bit, because it's always in tune with their life.Why did the gamer cross the road? To grind XP on the other side.Why did the gamer break up with his keyboard? Because it just wasn't his type anymore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not even been two weeks since the US election and already some in the US will be feeling that buyers' remorse, with even Trump himself receiving a little shock from Russia (not with love) to remind him exactly who's in charge.Jemma and Marina digest some of Trump's latest Government appointments, which are as wild as they are dangerous, with one tweeter saying "it's like Donald Trump appointing the Grinch as Director of the Department of Christmas". Then it's back to Blighty and an absolute howler from GB News in their coverage of the two minute silence for Remembrance Sunday before discussing Jeremy Clarkson's new role as the farmers' hero. Funny how when a celeb like Clarkson gets involved in politics, it's all good - and yet when it's someone like Gary Lineker, he should stick to football. Which takes us to the news of Gary's departure from Match of the Day and a clip that thankfully never got aired, otherwise he might have left sooner...Finally, Jemma and Marina discuss the media and political gaslighting over the events in Amsterdam and clashes with Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, before some Royal-related underrated tweets and a pudding from Billy Eilish that sent Marina's spine tingling. Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Benny the monkey had watched the humans from his treetop for as long as he could remember. He saw them bustling around, bags in hand, always bringing home tasty treats. Curious and hungry, Benny decided to try it himself. So, one morning, when the sun was just rising, he slipped down from his tree, donned an old cap he'd found, and set off into town.The town square was busier than he'd expected. People rushed around, not even noticing the little monkey weaving through the crowd. Benny kept his head down, only stopping once he reached a big store with rows of fruits and veggies right by the entrance. His eyes lit up – bananas, mangoes, apples! He quickly grabbed a basket and began filling it.He wove through the aisles, adding everything he'd seen humans pick up before. Bread, crackers, even a small carton of milk. He hummed to himself, delighted by the success of his little mission. At last, with a basket piled high, he reached the checkout counter.The cashier, a young woman, looked down and stifled a giggle. "Well, aren't you the cutest customer I've had all day!" she said, scanning his items as if this was the most normal thing in the world.Just as Benny was reaching out to take the bag, he felt a tug on his cap. He turned to find a little girl pointing at him, eyes wide. “Mommy! Look! The monkey is shopping!” she exclaimed.People began gathering, snapping pictures and laughing, amazed at the monkey's calm demeanor as he paid with a handful of shiny coins he'd collected from around town. Benny tried to keep cool, acting just as he'd seen the humans do, until a loud bark interrupted him.A scruffy street dog, curious and territorial, had spotted the gathering crowd. He locked eyes with Benny, who suddenly felt his confidence falter. Clutching his grocery bag, he made a run for it, the dog in hot pursuit.Dodging through alleyways, Benny finally ducked into a quiet, dim building. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed shelves filled with different things – clocks, jewelry, old books. He'd stumbled into a pawn shop.The shop owner, an elderly man with thick glasses, peered down at him. “Well, what have we here? A shopping monkey, eh?” Benny offered him the bag with wide, pleading eyes.The old man chuckled, gave Benny a quick scratch behind the ear, and handed him a silver pendant in return. “For your bravery,” he said.Benny dashed back to his tree with his bag, the pendant around his neck as a badge of honor. From that day on, he became the monkey who not only grocery shopped but also wore a mysterious silver charm – a legend in town. And only Benny knew the secret of how he'd earned it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second episode of TV and film month features the incredibly entertaining Joey (Game Club Pod and Two blokes from Blighty) and Alex (Game Club Pod).They joined me to discuss TV and Film cliches and tropes. So listen in as we discuss:Driving on screenGaming on screenFood on screenand much (much!) more.Guest DetailsTo hear more of my guests check them out here - Game Club PodcastPod PromoTalkingSMACPodPack CollectiveCasting Views is a member of the PodPack Collective, an indie podcasting group dedicated to spreading positivity within the podcast community. For further information, please follow the link: https://linktr.ee/podpackcollectiveMerchYes - I have merch! If you'd like to support the pod and look wonderful at the same time take a look at my range of merchandise here:Shop now!ContactIf you like what you hear - please do like, subscribe and consider leaving a review where possible. If you'd like to be on the show, or would like to say hi or suggest a topic, you can find us at the following:castingviewspod@gmail.comTwitterInstagramPodpageLinktreeIntro - by Familiar Wilsons MediaOutro - Sporks Ahead by Familiar Wilsons MediaArtwork - Game Club Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the new J.A.K.E., same as the old J.A.K.E....or his he? Sgt. Coker & the G.I. Robot get leave in dear old Blighty and end up personal guests of a royal princess in a castle in Scotland! Is this G.I. Robot a pile of nuts and bolts or does he have the capacity to love? The Creature Commandos are also there. MAIL: bronzeagemonsters@gmail.com  STORE: https://bronzeagemonsters.threadless.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/BronzeAgeMonsters DISCORD: https://discord.gg/NcFaq9Ednq