THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2014...

The Great British Bake Off  2014 started tonight this time on BBC 1.

Ten hour long episodes for us to follow amateur bakers battle to win the title of the UK's Best Amateur Baker. This year we even have someone from my neck of the woods in Nottingham.

Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which becomes progressively more difficult as the show unfolds. Nancy was the star baker this week, can't wait for next week's episode.

A BRITISH MAN WHO DEVELOPED SPECTACLES...

Among the most famous Franciscan friars from this time, Roger Bacon studied at Oxford, and later worked on optics and the refraction of light through lenses, leading to the development of spectacles. He had a reputation as unconventional, pursuing learning in alchemy and magic - interests which earned him the soubriquet 'Doctor Mirabilis'. This led to his rejection from the Order and eventual imprisonment. He died in Oxford not long after his release.

Roger Bacon was ahead of his time: he sought reform the calendar and, among many other projects, he discussed the possibility of early concepts of automobiles, aeroplanes and submarines. In 1266, many of these observations were published in his Opus Maius, only recognised centuries later for its brilliance and astonishing modernity. 


Source - We British