Two more UK companies in peril at the start of this week... Tate and Lyle set for a takeover by a US ingredients giant which in turn provides the sucrose for chocolate (Cadbury's) that also originated on these shores. The former began life in Liverpool in 1859, which is where much of the raw material was imported ~ fortunes further boosted by a licence to market the Swiss-German sugar-cube to the British to put in their tea.
Meantimes Airliner is struggling with finances, which is barely surprising in current circs in which so much more interest in terms of available capital lies in AI, space or preparations for war. Disappointing from the website for lighter-than-air lovers like myself is a lack of technicalities: possibly the only airship I've ever seen without the accompanying gaseous capacity unless I'm missing something.
We hope it succeeds, and despite its recent nose-dive that amply demonstrated the fact that one thing about being lighter than air is a susceptibility to its whims in the form of gusts vertical and horizontal; from which I suffered frequently whilst heavier than air.
Ed. The lump was invented by a Moravian man in order to make life easier for his wife although he went bankrupt ~ which probably didn't ~ and was revived by mass production in Germany. A 'sugar-cube square-pants' key-ring is available on our merch page.
