Keep the home fires burning – please!
Here’s another post about the first world war. It’s such a compelling period to study: it’s so close in time to us, yet it’s slowly receding into “proper” history. My…
The Watkins Path
I do love a good walk. And as an amateur historian, I love the ancient paths and tracks that cover these islands. Not only the Roman roads which criss-cross…
Quizzing the Wren
I have spent Lockdown 2020 writing about all that wonderful history hiding in plain sight. There were 25 posts in all. Here are a few snatches of conversation from…
Now bring us some figgy pudding
Well, we’ve already started the big count-down to Christmas Day. We’re opening the little windows on our Advent calendars day by day, and - especially this year - dreaming of…
Essex Bad Boys: Richard Rich
What would you call a man who betrayed all who helped him when first starting out in life, and who dropped his friends at the first whiff of trouble? Who…
A drop o’ Nelson’s blood
A short while ago, my son, who is in foreign parts, as they say, started winging me snatches of sea shanties over the internet. “Listen to this one, mum”,…
Street Life
Following my recent musings on crop circles, JP, a friend who takes an occasional interest in my posts, took me to task. “ Why are you writing all this boring…
Hearts of oak
We pass them by with barely a thought, yet they’ve been here far longer than any of us. They'll be here long after we’ve gone. The mighty oaks. “Uh oh,…
UFOs, Aliens and the Mowing Devil
Going through the lockdown box-set options, I considered, for a brief second, starting again with the "X Files". Better sense prevailed (namely "Spooks"), but the thought stuck in my mind.…
For the benefit of Mister Kite….
…..there will be a show tonight - on trampoline. The Hendersons will all be there, Late of Pablo Fanque’s fair - What a scene! Another lyric for the baby…
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
I am a true baby boomer. I grew up with the sound of the best popular music ever, as the background to my teenage life. Heavy-rock, prog-rock, glam-rock, blues -…