The Sincerest For Of Poetry
Apprenticed To My Mother
Walking Into Trouble
Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle
The Last Will Of Sven Andersen
Booms And Busts
Buster & Moo
Salisbury Square
My Father and Other Liars
Life In A Conversation
Life, in a Grain of Sand
Life In A Flash
Category Archives: history
The World Reimagined
This tour covers about three to four miles around the city of London. For convenience, I started at Mansion House tube – it was a Sunday, a day when public transport tends to be the subject of various last minute … Continue reading
Why History Is Based On A Horse’s Ass…
I love this sort of stuff. You may have seen it already, but it tickled me. ‘The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? … Continue reading
History Repeats
‘She’s there, just by the shore.’ Sarah glanced nervously at Martine, hoping for some response. Any response. ‘How far?’ Sarah sighed. Martine was like the others. ‘About 200 yards, at two o’clock. She’s staring out to sea.’ Of course she … Continue reading
Week Five: 2022
I’ve been running around rabbit holes this week. I blame David. He may be a friend but he got me thinking about the story of how my grandparents – mum’s mum and dad – came to marry. I will write … Continue reading
Posted in families, history, miscellany
Tagged 2022, family, focaccia, food, history, Percy Francis
17 Comments
What Did The Victorians Ever Do For Us #crystalpalace
As with Monty Python and the People’s Front of Judeah listing what the Romans missed, so we can often forget the genius of some Victorians. One such near me was the creation of the Crystal Palace which was reconstructed on … Continue reading
A Short History Of Climate Change Conferences #history
‘Where’s dad?’ ‘Watching the clouds.’ ‘It’s verging on paranoia, you know.’ ‘I know that but try telling him. The Big Guy says this, the Big Guy says that. You know what he’s like when he’s had one of those apocalyptical … Continue reading
Unintended Consequences: The Pub And The Pandemic
I was enjoying a socially distanced walk with a friend today and we began to reminisce about cosy pubs and welcoming restaurants. At the moment, the weather is bitter – the Beast From The Baltic is battering us on the … Continue reading
Posted in history, thought piece
Tagged Beer Orders, courage, grand metroplitan, pandemic, pubs
24 Comments
Plus ca change… #historyrepeats
If you’re interested in seeing how what’s happening around us today is but an echo of the past then I recommend you read this by my brother, the Archaeologist. Fascinating.
Putting A Value On A Life
It’s not something we like to do. We fight against the whole idea that one life is worth more or less than others. And taken to an individual level, even suggesting that such a value judgment could be made is … Continue reading
Posted in history, miscellany, thought piece
Tagged atomic bombs, Covid, Japan, pandemic, thought piece, VJ Day, WW2
21 Comments
The University Years: Making Friends And Nylon Pyjamas #university #bristol
In 1975 I began my three year odyssey at an undergraduate law student at Bristol University. Those first few days as I settled into university life remain very vivid. Today I recall my first evening in hall and a life … Continue reading
Posted in Bristol, history, memories, miscellany, university
Tagged 1976, Bristol, history, memories, university
19 Comments
TanGental 