Politics
Polling Predictions #21
As you read this we stand on the edge of history, Opinion Polls are not allowed to be published on election day so we can expect a flurry of them by the Wednesday. History may [more…]
Blog
20th Century
Desert Mysteries Redux – Part One
In the original Desert Mysteries series, I wrote about a 1939 edition of Blackwood’s magazine bought at an antiques fair that led me to research the lives of the men who had read it and [more…]
Elections
A Tale of Three Manifestos
The manifestos came thick and fast throughout June for the General Election being held on July 4th 2024. 100 parties are involved, standing anything from 635 candidates to just one, with only eight parties fielding [more…]
Hobbies
Cruising From Malta, Part One
I won’t bother taking you through all the preliminaries for this cruise except to say this time I choose to fly to Malta to pick up the cruise ship, P&O Azura. It cuts out a [more…]
20th Century
Report From Kenya, 1955 – Part Three
In 1955, at the height of the Mau Mau Rebellion, my uncle John Alldridge produced a series of reports from Kenya for the Birmingham Mail and the Manchester Evening News – Jerry F Fort Hall, [more…]
Conservatives
Expect the Unexpected, Part Two
Throughout the ballot box’s history, unexpected election results have stunned the public, defied polls, and shifted political landscapes. These surprising outcomes often reflect underlying societal changes, voter sentiment, and the unpredictability of electoral politics. As [more…]
Elections
Polling Predictions #20
As we trundle into the final full week of the campaign the furore over Nigel’s Ukraine comments shows no sign of dying down. The establishment thinks it has found a surefire way of beating down [more…]
Arts
Postcard From The Scotsman
Mrs AWS and I are enjoying our May day-trip to Edinburgh, but time is tight. After walloping down (£10) ice creams, we must hurry to Waverley station if only to watch our train depart the [more…]
Arts
Fabulously Flamboyant Fridays – A Nice Firm Bottom
Welcome back my friends, to the flamboyance that never ends, as Fabulously Flamboyant Fridays proudly present yet another light-loafered, lubed-up and luxuriant leap over the pavilion-end puddles of musical magnificence. Tonight’s missive will probe the [more…]