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
Tag Archives: history
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
The London Olympics – My Part In Its Downfall: Part Two
Having won the bid, the initial euphoria diminished somewhat. Beijing still had to host their games and there was sure to be a lot of controversy there. In addition, in typical British ways, as soon as we’d done something successful … Continue reading
Posted in experiences, history, law, London, miscellany, Olympics
Tagged history, London, memories, Olympics
10 Comments
Thoughts On Notre Dame
I suspect you need to be in a very small minority to have missed the fire in Notre Dame this week. There has been a lot spoken about it: the bravery and skill of the fire services in their operation … Continue reading
Chatsworth: It Works So Why Fix It?
What does a wet T shirt, the Crystal Palace and a sycophantic peer have in common? Chatsworth It’s one of those very precise stately homes we British do quite well, like queuing and moaning. Built by an extraordinary woman in … Continue reading
Objects Of Curiosity
Maybe it’s just me but as you wander around a city like London which has a history stretching further than a Galilean fish supper, you are constantly brought up short by things like the above. For those who can’t read … Continue reading
Posted in history, London, miscellany
Tagged drinking fountains, history, London, sewers
23 Comments
Hidden History #deptford
Every Thursday I help out at a shelter. My journey takes me from New Cross Gate station along the A2 towards Greenwich. It’s a tired, tatty piece of south London which is also home to Goldsmiths College. I’m not a … Continue reading
Posted in history, London, miscellany, thought
Tagged conscientious objectors, Deptford Town Hall, francis drake, history, nautical, Nelson, Robert Blake
30 Comments
History in the here and now
Despite it being May, it is cold here, misty too, as Dog and I perambulate around the Park. Once crisp views of the city in a chill winter are hazed to a blur, technicolour leached to monochromes. The radio talked … Continue reading
Posted in history, miscellany, thought, thought piece, walking
Tagged Alan Bennett, dog, history, History Boys, thought, walking
15 Comments
Nanthology – The Final Journey
Nanowrimo is a compelling challenge to write 50,000 words during November: that’s an average of 1667 words per day. My plan is to write a set of 30 short stories each 1667 words long instead. Each story comes from a prompt, a lot from fellow … Continue reading
Posted in nanowrimo, nanthology
Tagged drama, Esther newton's writing challenge, family, history, NaNoWriMo, nanthology, war
36 Comments
‘…history? It’s just one f***ing thing after another’
That quote is by Rudge in Alan Bennett’s brilliant play, the History Boys. There are several brilliant quotes on the nature of history in it, including: ‘Our perspective on the past alters. Looking back, immediately in front of us is … Continue reading
Posted in flash fiction, miscellany, writing
Tagged Alan Bennett, flash fiction, history, The History Boys
19 Comments
