April 2020

How do howler monkeys generate so much noise? They are actually the second loudest animal in the world after the blue whale and release their voluminous, plangent magic by using the wind?
The tropical exuberance of animal life was utterly enchanting with new species offering up a daily surprise. From the fishy, to the furry and the feathered. I felt immersed in the natural wonder of the many birds and animals.

McLaren Automotive have revealed the stunning, streamlined form and sensational specification of the McLaren Speedtail at a special event in London. The next chapter in McLaren’s Ultimate Series, the Speedtail is the first ‘Hyper-GT’ from the pioneering British company recognised for producing luxury sportscars and supercars that deliver extraordinary driving experiences.

Royole Corporation, a leading innovator and manufacturer of next-generation human-machine interface technologies and products including advanced flexible displays, flexible sensors, and smart devices, has introduced the world's first commercial foldable smartphone, a combination of mobile phone and tablet with a flexible screen, the Royole FlexPai. Disrupting consumers' traditional concept of a smartphone, the unit can be used either folded or unfolded, giving it the portability of a smartphone plus the screen size of a high-definition tablet.

Bremont launch their new Concorde inspired Supersonic watch at the Design Museum in Kensington in partnership with British Airways. It was a lovely affair with lively band who cavorted amongst the many guests from the watch world, media and celebrities, sipping champagne and cocktails. Ben Shepherd presented with his usual flair and humour alongside Nick and Giles English, the founders of Bremont, who gave a charming speech outlining their passion for aviation and Concorde in particular.

As a little girl, with an imagination larger than my wildly untamed hair (my hairbrush refusal was my mother’s morning battle), I often wondered what it would be like to skip right into a kaleidoscope. An imagined sugar-rush, spinning-tea-cup-ride surge of delight as every kind of colour and shape danced their flamboyant, unrehearsed, flamenco routine.

Roll out the barrel! Simply said, great beer comes from a great country. Now whilst some might disagree as to which nation is the ‘World Champion’ when it comes to produces the best beer - lager, ale or call it what you will, the Czech Republic is certainly up there with the best of them.
The Germans will naturally claim that their beer can be considered the best and especially so around the Oktoberfest, while Belgium’s output cannot be discounted for its rich variety of beers with over a thousand different beers including Belgian Abbey beers.
 

I’ve been to enough weddings to know that rain on your wedding day doesn’t necessarily a happy bride make. But ask a superstitious Italian, and instead of cursing the rain clouds, you’ll embrace the special day downpour – your soaking instead believed to be a symbol of fertility and cleansing, luck and love drenching you from the skies.

Ferrari’s Corse Clienti division is pleased to announce the launch of the Ferrari Challenge UK series for 2019, with the Ferrari 488 Challenge to race on four UK circuits. This is the first time in the history of Ferrari that the brand has offered a one-make racing series dedicated for a single market.

Coming back from the summer break with recharged batteries and a suitcase full of souvenirs and good intentions, September always seems to do its best to challenge this with a tsunami of shows. For myself and my colleagues at Quarterre, a transport and product design studio based in London, this has centred around two things this year: The London Design Festival, when the world and its soft furnishings comes to our doorstep and the Paris Motor Show, a veritable Grande Dame of the automotive industry whose glory days might be behind her now but who still knows how to put on a class act.