Making life a holiday with interesting vacation and adventure ideas.

Just as well that the British are not as persuaded by the influence of numbers as the Chinese, it turns out that 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic!

However, there are other anniversaries that do give cause for celebration, 2012 is the 200th anniversay of the birth of one of the world's greatest writers, Charles Dickens.

Incredibly, it is also the 400th anniversary of the Cotswold Olimpicks at Chipping Campden, England. The event, which features many strange sports peculiar to the British countryside, such as Shin-Kicking, was started by Robert Dover back in 1612.

Labels: 100, 200, 2012, 400, Dickens, literature, Titanic

Sunday sees the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and part of the closing ceremony involves a handover to London, which becomes the next Olympic City.

The handover will be celebrated with numerous events throughout the UK, including a party in London's famous Mall, with performances from The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and McFly. Use the search tool on the London 2012 site to find an event near you.

Sing the Nation is organizing a series of mass city sings on August 24, at 20 BBC Big Screen / Livesites and City centres around the UK. In each participating city, community choirs will lead the public in the biggest singalong that the world has ever seen.

Following the spectacular opening ceremony that the Chinese presented for the Beijing Olympics, there has been much discussion in the UK about what on earth London could do to produce anything that would come anywhere near the 2008 opener; with tongue in cheek, it has even been pointed out that there probably wouldn't be that many performers in the UK. However, the 'Sing the Nation' initiative has prompted me to realize that historically the British have shown a great aptitude for organizing other people and events such as 'Sing the Nation' are notable for bringing people together, so the answer for 2012 is simple, organize a series of mass participation events synchronized with performers in the Olympic stadium but spread out across the UK and indeed the World. I'm on a roll here, what about a 'Mexican Wave' that starts in London and ripples around the globe.

Labels: 2008, 2012, London, Olympic Games, UK

It might be long dark nights and falling leaves in the north but the southern hemisphere is celebrating the coming of spring. In one annual celebration, Canberra's Commonwealth Park is transformed into a tapestry of colour with more than a million bulbs and annuals in bloom at a free, month long, festival, the Floriade, which is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Yes, it goes under the same name as the famous Netherland's festival but this Floriade occurs every year; the next Netherland's Floriade occurs in 2012.

This year's Australian Floriade runs until 14 October, 2007, and visitors are able to wander around flower beds inspired by an Australian icons, myths and legends theme and enjoy good old Aussie entertainment, food and much more. During the month-long Floriade festival there is always plenty of activity at Canberra's most popular tourist attractions. Kids are entertained throughout Floriade with children's arts, crafts and activities, and loads of extra entertainment every day of the school holidays.

Floriade and the spring school holidays is a busy time in Canberra, so it is best to book accommodation early. Tourist information and accommodation advice can be found at visitcanberra.com.au.

Labels: 2007, 2012, Australia, festival, Floriade, flowers, Spring