Frasers Group

This is a good reading to learn business words.

What next for Mike Ashley’s patchwork retail empire?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/15/mike-ashley-patchwork-retail-empire-starting-to-fray-frasers-group

flux
span
lush
splendour
football boots
awe
see off
de facto - spelling and pronunciation
thwart
call the shots
console
far-reaching
distressed [Collins]in financial straits; poor - distressed asset
amass
ditch
cut-price
snap up (BR)
down-at-heel / down at heel
array - array of brands
ailing
zero-hours / zero-hour contract
squarely
well-off / well off
lag - lag behind
flotation
acquisitive
tilt [Collins]A tilt at something is an attempt to win or obtain it
wad - a wad of
underpin
admonish
impish
lieutenant [Collins]If you refer to someone as a person's lieutenant, you mean they are that person's assistant, especially their main assistant, in an organization or activity.
out in the cold
fallout
spearhead
burn a bridge


Sports Direct
Boohoo
Evans Cycles
AO
Marks Electrical
Asos
St James’ Park
Michael Murray
JJB
JD Sports
Donnay
Dunlop Slazenger
Flannels
Findel / Studio Retail
Blue

Frasers Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frasers_Group

an idea of the next trip

It seems to me that most of recent world news are dystopian sci-fi.
I've come to believe that D.J. Vance will be the next president of the USA. This havoc may continue for 12 years.

Only thing I can do is escaping from those nonsense. I should focus on 'daily life'.

Why you should visit the chocolate-box Swiss town that most tourists miss
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/switzerland/thun-switzerland-visit-b2698418.html

glitzy
glimmering < glimmer
teal [Collins]a greenish-blue colour
quaint
hamlet
endearingly < endearing
ibex
namesake
perch
slatted < slat
marvel
conical < cone
turret

I should check European travel articles than silly American political news.

Richard Branson's houseboat

Kevin Ayers!! I didn't know about his relation with Richard Branson's first wife!!
I thought he's gay but he was very popular among girls. They had a daughter!

Sir Richard Branson's Little Venice houseboat is up for rent for £5,200 a month
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/richard-branson-litte-venice-houseboat-for-rent-b1212993.html

makeshift
ripple
fitting
inception
mooring

Sir Richard Branson's childhood home: Tanyards Farm in Surrey where the billionaire launched early businesses for sale for £4m
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/celebrity-homes/richard-branson-childhood-home-surrey-a140635.html

budgie
seedling
sapling
vengeance
set free
in instalments

Budgies!! I saw some flocks of budgies when I lived in Surrey.
There's no doubt they came from the Bronsons!! I think that caused damage to ecosystem! It's strange to see green flocks of birds in England!

Queen Elizabeth II memorial

I found this article, just I've read an article about '赤尾一夫'.
I didn't know that Norman Foster and King Charles have been in dispute. He is one of the five finalists.

Norman Foster on shortlist to design Queen Elizabeth II memorial
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/25/norman-foster-on-shortlist-to-design-queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial

skew
champion (verb)
moat
cauldron - Olympic cauldron < Olympic flame

Reichstag
Chelsea barracks
Qatari Diar
Quinlan Terry
Richard Rogers

1. Foster + Partners
Yinka Shonibare
Nigel Dunnett
2. Heatherwick Studio
Thomas Heatherwick - Routemaster
Halima Cassell
3. J&L Gibbons
Michael Levine
William Matthews Associates
Tom Stuart-Smith
4. Jamie Fobert Architects
Adam Lowe - Factum Arte
5. WilkinsonEyre
Lisa Vandy
Fiona Clarke
Gateshead Millennium Bridge


Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, and others shortlisted to design Queen Elizabeth II Memorial
https://www.archpaper.com/2025/02/foster-partners-heatherwick-studio-shortlisted-queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial/

[quote]The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial will be located close to Buckingham Palace, in St. James Park next to The Mall at Marlborough Gate and includes the Blue Bridge [unquote]
[quote]The winning design team will be chosen by summer 2025. A final design will be announced in April 2026, close to what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday.[unquote]

Recent Phil Collins

It's sad to read this article.
I don't like his music but he was a very good drummer.

Phil Collins says he's 'very sick' and not 'hungry' to make new music in devastating health update
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/phil-collins-sick-music-health-update-b1212644.html

me going ??
rite
vertebrae

The article is from the latest MOJO magazine. I want to get the issue.
Phil Collins. I'm not hungry for it anymore...
https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/phil-collins-im-not-hungry-for-it-anymore/

Phil Collins: Drummer First
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdGmydR715Q

He has an abundance of money and fame but I realised that health is the most important for us.

Peter Capaldi's come back to music

It's a marketing article of his new album, but it's interesting.
He is 66 now. He was successful to gained his dream job as 'the doctor'. He's now enjoying his life doing what he wants to do.

Peter Capaldi: I've come back to music again after 40 years
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86p9zg6j7po

precedence - take precedence over
enlist [Collins]If you enlist the help of someone, you persuade them to help or support you in doing something.
apt [Collins]An apt remark, description, or choice is especially suitable.
carve [quote]carving time out in his acting career to write songs.
down time [Collins](informal) time spent not working; spare time
play in time, stay in tune
confound
Belladrum Festival

The Dreamboys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPZucOpvnU

Not bad. I like the Capaldi vocal.
It's not sure the drums in the recording was played by Craig Ferguson. The drummer plays a bit fast.

Aw. More than one on YouTube.

Shall We Dance?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab6V6ckS5NU
Bela Lugosi's Birthday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQyE2IgIFo
Outer Limits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0zdoWqRwo8

These drums are good. I like the late 70's punk songs.

I'm enjoying free music on YouTube. I should support musicians to go to gigs.

A violin stolen in a pub

A violin! In a pub!!
I hope the violinist will reunite with the violin.

Musician seeks help to recover ancient violin stolen in pub
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c981d427d1ro

offload
on stand-by

Canonbury
Lorenzo Carcassi

There are some attractive pubs in Canonbury. There is a George Orwell's green plaque.

A gossip of The Apprentice director

It's a shame.

Trump biopic director Ali Abbasi accused of 'aggressively groping' A-list actor at Hollywood party
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/trump-director-ali-abassi-groping-actor-b1212641.html

biopic
grope
inebriated

I completely agree with the director. I don't think the movie is controversial. Trump is controversial.
[quote]“I’ve said this many times, I still don’t understand. I mean, you’re dealing with someone who is the encyclopedia entry of World Controversial, Donald Trump. I don’t know what’s controversial about the movie. [unquote]

I hope the actors will win Academy Awards. That will make people to have interest in the movie.

Fire at Chiltern Firehouse

I completely missed the news of the fire. it was 14th February. I need to catch up.

Chiltern Firehouse future unclear after fire
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2e4212rqzo

It's a important news but no words...

I'd wanted to stay at the hotel, but I failed.
Although the restaurant is closed, I still like the street because of Monocle or other nice small shops.

Advanced Data Protection

I haven't noticed Advanced Data Protection which was a feature of iOS 16.2. It's about two years ago... iOS is now 18.3...

Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj54eq4vejo

gravely disappointed
on a point of principle
hinder [quote]end-to-end encrypted services can hinder child safety and protection efforts
CSAM - child sexual abuse material
zero-sum
callous

I cannot use ADP for one of my iPhones, but I should enable the feather for another iPhone and Apple devices.

Why You Should Enable Apple’s New Security Feature in iOS 16.2 Right Now
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-set-up-apples-new-icloud-encryption-security-feature/

The Brutalist

I like the Barbican Estate. I didn't know it's Brutalist architecture.

London's best brutalist homes — from the Alexandra Road Estate to the Barbican
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/london-brutalist-homes-alexandra-road-estate-barbican-golden-lane-balfron-concrete-b1207641.html

brutalist < brutalism
coin [Collins] (verb) If you coin a word or a phrase, you are the first person to say it.
laud - remember!
megastructure
downright (adverb) [quote]downright vandalism, downright dangerous, downright rude
load-bearing
timber
monolithic
reminiscent of - remember!!!
pilotis
stilt
ziggurat
sunken
Arup < Ove Arup

I will explore Langham House Close and Parkleys Estate. Housden House, Dunboyne Road Estate and Alexandra Road Estate, too.
I should watch the movie for the preparation.

Kamikaze shoplifters

Why Kamikaze? It's similar as '闇バイト'.

Shoplifters 'out of control' and becoming more brazen, say retailers
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp82jvd3g54o

brazen
unsuspecting
in the line of duty
apprehend

[quote]offenders were becoming more daring because they don't see that there's necessarily any consequences. [unquote]

[quote]Ultimately when shoplifters start to see the levels of consequence more and more than we're seeing today… that will really change the tide. [unquote]

Police should show shoplifters the dire consequences.

The investigation has been reopened

Finally!! The name of the driver was unveiled. Claire Freemantle, 48.
She hasn't faced a charge?? Met Police is right to reopen the investigation for the victims' family. Poor girls.

Driver rearrested over girls' school crash deaths
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm27dg7e7ddo

epileptic seizure < epilepsy
seizure
behind the wheel / at the wheel
manifest [Collins]If you manifest a particular quality, feeling, or illness, or if it manifests itself, it becomes visible or obvious.
runs its course [Collins]to develop gradually and come to a natural end
unhindered << hinder> hindrance
line [quote] Our main priority is to ensure the lines of inquiry identified by the review are progressed.
Is this meaning? [Collins]If you say that something happens along particular lines, or on particular lines, you are giving a general summary or approximate account of what happens, which may not be correct in every detail.

[quote]At the time, her solicitor said her epilepsy had "never previously manifested itself" and Ms Freemantle "had always enjoyed good health".[unquote
I'm sceptical of the Freemantle's epileptic seizure. I shouldn't speculate, but had police investigated the history of her phone or dashboard camera???

Save The Prince Charles Cinema

At the moment, the petition has gathered 94,251 signatures. The target is 100,000.

It's legendary. The selection of the movies is nearly my preference. I like cult movies.
I want to sign on it on an emotional level, but I'm not a local resident.

I hardly go to movie theatre these days, or even I rarely watch movies recently.
Actually, I've come back to the movie theatres really recently. I watched a documentary of Japanese primary school and a drama of Trump at cinemas this month.
I might be influenced by stealth marketing. I'm a very easy target of marketing.

Cult London film venue Prince Charles cinema under threat of closure
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/28/prince-charles-cinema-threat-of-closure-london-cult-venue

span(verb) [Collins] If something spans a long period of time, it lasts throughout that period of time or relates to that whole period of time.
buck the trend [Cambridge]to be obviously different from the way that a situation is developing generally, especially in connection with financial matters
entitlement - remember!
mischaracterise
hinder

property words
break clause [Cambridge]in the UK, a statement in an agreement, especially one about using land or property, that allows someone to end the agreement under certain conditions before it would normally end
stewardship[Collins]Stewardship is the responsibility of looking after property.
London’s Central YMCA - I didn't know it's a gym
Criterion Capital, whose CEO is billionaire Asif Aziz

People who are only interested in practical things, such as wealth and money, destroy local society, tradition, history and culture. They are not educated liberal arts.

the end of British Council

I've been thinking to take a course of British Council Tokyo which may be disappeared sometime soon.
The way of diplomacy has been changed the direction from soft power to hard power because of Trump.

Why the financial crisis at the British Council matters as UK pushes soft power
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/25/why-the-financial-crisis-at-the-british-council-matters-as-uk-pushes-soft-power

jarring (adj) < jar (verb) [Collins]If something jars on you, you find it unpleasant, disturbing, or shocking.
bolster [Collins]If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it.
on the verge of [Collins]If you are on the verge of something, you are going to do it very soon or it is likely to happen or begin very soon.
plight
prosperous
onerous
at issue
league table
discourse
precondition
vibe shift
narrative
force multipliers [Cambridge]something that increases the effect of a force

[quote]As a precondition for what McClory calls a “vibe shift” in the national narrative, he urges the government to “end the collective complacency around the British Council and the BBC World Service.[unquote]
I agree with his opinion. British Council and BBC World Service have finished their roles.