The grandeur of ancient Egypt is evident in their jewellery. Egypt had the resources. There was gold, emeralds, turquoise, cornelian and faience. They also had the craftsmen who could produce exquisite work during this time...

The oldest emerald mines are located in the Wadi Valley of Sikait which is about halfway between Luxor on the Nile River and Roman-era port city of Berenike on the Red Sea. It’s a barren, no man's land of dry, rocky mountains. Hidden deep in the mounds lies treasures of gold, silver, amethyst and, you guessed it, emeralds. ...

The colour green is revered in Ireland. When I think of Ireland, I can’t think of any other colour but green. The Emerald Isle with its green rolling green hills, misty, verdant mountains, leprechauns,  four-leaf clovers, shamrocks and the national flag which is partially green. (Actually, it started out as royal blue, but that's another story). ...

For many of us, including me, grey skies and the permanent mist that clings to my hair and clothes that hangs over me like a dark cloud typifies mid-winter. It doesn’t seem to matter how many layers of clothes I put on, I still have that wet chilly feeling that somehow seeps into my bones....