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Florence Nightingale And St Thomas’s Hospital

It would have been Florence Nightingale’s birthday today. This great doyen of the Crimean War and nursing reform ranks among the greatest of British reformers and is remembered with great respect and honour. Further to her other great achievements, Florence Nightingale greatly influenced the design of the 1872 St Thomas’ Hospital with its innovative ‘pavilion

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The Barcelos Rooster

Lots of people have asked me about my collection of cockerels, mentioned in a previous blog. This famous, vividly coloured cockerel, is the unofficial symbol of Portugal and varieties can be bought at souvenir shops everywhere in Portugal. It originated from Barcelos, the town in North Portugal, where the souvenirs are manufactured. Its proper name

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