Arts
In The Bleak Midwinter
This is a poem written by Christina Rossetti, set to music first by Gustav Holst in 1906 and then by Harold Darke in 1911. This is by Darke : RIP Caroline Catherine McNicholas 2nd [more…]
Blog
20th Century
The Desert War – December 1942
Things are finally looking up for the Allies at the last month of 1942. The Axis are on the run in North Africa, Operation Torch has been a success though not without some busy bits. [more…]
Arts
Les Fogueres De Sant Joan De Alicante
The history of burning offerings before the summer solstice can be traced back to prehistoric times. It is part cleansing and part preparation for the coming harvest. At some time in recent history it became [more…]
20th Century
Addressing the Furka Pass
If, in the mid-1960s, you visited a provincial northern cinema to watch the latest James Bond and, during a car chase through the mountains, a middle-aged couple sat nearby were heard muttering to each other [more…]
Hobbies
Crossword No. 247
First correct entry out of ‘the hat’ wins a book of your choice (subject to T&Cs) & a mug! Email entries to me by 6.00 pm Friday, subject ‘Crossword’. Contact here on email Winner of [more…]
20th Century
My Leg Ends of Pop Music – Part Thirteen – Yes
After 60 proper legends of pop (OK, you may have thought that some were a bit iffy), it is now time for my Top 20 Leg Ends of pop. These are those groups or artists [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 15th December 2022 The Panel: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative) Shabana Mahmood (Labour) Daisy Cooper (LibDem) Peter Hitchens (Journalist) Pat Cullen (RCN) Venue: Winchester Privately educated Peter Hitchens attended Mount House School, Tavistock, the Leys [more…]
Fiction
Jinnie’s Story, Book Four – Chapter Twenty-Two
When the BA cabin manager approached Penny on the flight from Venice to Heathrow she knew what to expect, but she let him tell her that she was to be deplaned first and an official [more…]
20th Century
Memories of the first World Cup held in Asia: Final rounds
The Japan-Korea World Cup in 2002 was the first time the competition had been co-hosted. It was the first time it had been held in Asia, and the first time a country that had never [more…]