Recent content by andrew markworthy

And I'm 6ft 9" and can intimidate night club bouncers. But no way would I wear an Apple Watch in some neighbourhoods for a while after their launch. There's always some crack head willing to have a go, knowing how many fixes he can buy with a stolen item like this.

Actually, Sam, I can see your argument from what I said. The back story is a bit different, however. I was 9 when the first moon landings took place. I saw the moon watch in a jeweller's window and my dad saw me doing this and said 'If you ever get a degree, I'll buy you one'. Now I remembered...

Let's see if I've got this right: (1) The Apple Watch will do very little unless you also carry round your iPhone as well. How often do you *really* need to look at information on a watch versus on a phone? And do you always want to have your phone with you (sorry, I realise that question must...

I don't think a monarchy necessarily does give stability. It's how the monarchy operates in a democratic country as a figurehead that is an *expression* of stability. Just the same goes for a presidency. And both systems have their merits and faults, but overall they work perfectly well. So vive...

In the spirit of the day, and just to show we Brits don't hold grudges, here's a blast from the past:

It's odd how some sports just resolutely remain minority activities in one country but in another they are huge. For example: rugby (big in the UK, France, Italy, and bits of the UK Commonwealth) ice hockey (USA, Canada, Russia, a couple of Scandanavian countries) field hockey (Asia in the...

Competition for places in the big league European teams is even more vicious than that, since a relaxation of the rules a few years ago meant that players didn't have to be naturalised citizens. The result of this is that over half of the big teams like Manchester United consist of foreign...

I spoke too soon. I'd forgotten about Wimbledon, which will now occupy the news instead. Oh joy. Glad to see that Suarez is perpetuating his role as pantomime villain. I don't know what is more shaming - the biting or the histrionic display afterwards.

Have you any idea what it's like living in the UK when England are involved in the World Cup and you're amongst the majority of Brits [yes, you read that correctly] who are not avid football fans? An early exit is a blessed relief as the news media here regain at least some sense of proportion...

The FIFA World Cup, yes. But before the FIFA cup, there were other semi-official competitions between nations that were called 'world cups'. Sorry, not a football expert, but this is what I've been told and always taken it as accurate. However, more than happy to be corrected. Actually, if it is...

I'm a Brit, but I never cease to be amazed by three delusional themes in the national psyche: (1) We won our last three significant European wars (Waterloo, WWI, WWII) without anyone else's help. Admittedly, this view is mellowing, and some radicals are now prepared to admit that the...

As per usual, the Brit market is perverse. For example, if you're a Brit and want to watch Poirot, one of ITV's most successful titles in the UK and a perennial favourite on the ITV HD broadcasts, then you have to get the Spanish edition of the programmes. The same goes for umpteen other hugely...

Camera and bag both arrived in this morning's mail (way earlier than expected). The combo does work surprisingly well. I wouldn't want to wear it sitting in an airplane seat or for long distances in a car, but for walking around, etc, it seems fine and way less cumbersome than anything involving...

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've tried an R strap and don't like it. I can see why a lot of folks do, but I just don't like anything hanging from my neck or shoulders. I'll tolerate my Billingham bag to lug around my SLR and its various lenses, but it's under sufferance and usually I don't...

I don't know how the heck it happened, but I managed to throw out my Leica D-Lux 4 by mistake. This was a huge blow to me, simply because it was my late father's camera and it had sentimental value. For 'serious' photography I have a Canon EOS with a range of lenses and that is safe and fine...