Fiction
The Burglary
George parked his grey van fifty yards from Miss Rosie’s cottage, turned the engine off and waited. He had been watching the tiny house for three weeks now; he knew the old lady went out [more…]
Blog
Authoritarianism
The slow, stealthy but steady spread of absolutism
The struggle and rivalry between the “West and the rest” might be grabbing news headlines due to the Ukraine war these days, but in truth, it is anything but newsworthy. This antagonism, this battle for geopolitical, [more…]
20th Century
A Postcard from Petrolhead Paradise
A Postcard from Petrolhead Paradise Well, Stone the crows! A sunny Saturday in September saw a bit of a surprise. Although we’d noticed the colourful banner advertising the event often enough as we wandered hither [more…]
20th Century
The ’59 Trail, Part Three
Part 3 of my uncle, John Alldridge’s 1959 report from Canada’s Far North for the Birmingham Mail – Jerry F Churchill, on Hudson’s Bay Until you have spent a day and a night in Churchill, [more…]
20th Century
Buried Treasure: An Acropolis on The Frontier
Amongst a century of detritus at the BBC, there lies some buried treasure. Between layers of fake news, preachy left-wing documentaries and un-funny comedy, the BBC’s iPlayer hides a gleaming gem of an old archaeology [more…]
Authoritarianism
Internal Combustion Fraught With Danger
“Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad”. This ominous observation, made by nineteenth century American poet Henry Longfellow, confronts rulers riven by internal discord so deep that it immobilises any capacity for coherent action. [more…]
Fiction
The Cuds, Part III
The Flying Hospital “Allan do you want to go for an early lunch?” Margin asked. “Do you mind?” “Nope. Wheels were up 1045. By the time it’s wheels down, got them on board, wheels up, [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred and Five
Monday Good morning everyone. Did you get thunder and lightning last night, it was pretty nasty here, but it didn’t start until I had retired to my cat basket. There was thunder rolling for ages [more…]
20th Century
Cabot Cove, Midsomer, Cockington
Cockington Cockington is a picturesque village located near Torquay, in the Torbay district of Devon. The village is renowned for its old cottages and serene landscapes. Cockington Court Country Park, a prominent attraction in the [more…]