BBC World Service ~ still one of the best ways of monitoring world events.  Radio, TV, laptop or phone.

World Time Zones
~ extremely useful when planning trips, setting timetables, being in the right place at the right time, worldwide.


The Home Office    ~ British government department dealing with passports, crime, immigration and more.

The Foreign Office ~British Government Department dealing with foreign affairs, embassies and providing up to date travel status

reports, country by country.  A must see ... before you travel.

Foreign Exchange Rates 
~ calculating what it costs, wherever you are, in whichever currency you need.

English PEN
~ worthwhile charity supporting writers worldwide in free speech, and promoting a greater understanding through literature.

Holds events, runs writing courses for prisoners in British prisons, campaigns for human rights.



Travel Health ~ good for checking out what you need to stay healthy in all those out of the way places.


Release ~ a charity that provides a range of services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drugs users and those who live

and work with them.

Prisoners Abroad a well-resepcted charity that provides support for Britons imprisoned overseas, their friends and families in the UK

and helps
ex-prisoners returning to the UK.


The Royal Society of Literature a long-standing literary organisation which provides information on lectures, readings and campaigns

on behalf of the writer and the written word.