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 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
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
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
TanGental 