19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 7
May 6th, 1809 We are part of a regular army again, pressing on to confront the French. I must confess that my old bones are aching from the furious pace of our advance. Jem is [more…]
Blog
Authoritarianism
Remainers Didn’t Know What They Were Voting For
How often do we hear the tired refrain that leave voters didn’t know what they were voting for? Certain options were not on the ballot paper, usually followed by an insult to our intelligence. But [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 3
After a gap of many decades I’m setting off by train to visit the near continent. Some of my family are coming with me and as a special surprise treat I’ve booked first class seats [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – 1970
Featured song: Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over troubled water This is a series of articles looking at pop music from 1955 when in my opinion proper pop music began up to 1999 when they [more…]
Arts
Going Postal with Question Time
Graphic EJ Fiona Bruce presents debate from Winchester. On the panel are the Brexiteer and former Brexit minister who resigned her post over Theresa May’s deal, Suella Braverman MP, the shadow secretary of state of [more…]
Fiction
Joe Malone, Part One
This story is in the near future. The United Kingdom has left and not left the European Union. The country is united by division. Everything is just like it is today, only more so. The [more…]
19th Century
Milestones in Nineteenth Century Firearms Development, Part Three
Introduction Although the flintlock ignition system was technically advanced for its time, it wasn’t without its shortcomings. Flintlocks require careful setting-up and constant maintenance and adjustment to be reliable. They also have a relatively slow [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 6
March 2nd, 1809. We are back in Portugal at last. It has been a circuitous journey across ridges and valleys, avoiding the French troops on the lower ground, but we have managed it without any [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 2
First Class Previously I regularly visited the continent travelling by train, ferry and hovercraft. Subsequently I went via the channel tunnel but before the high speed rail link to St Pancras had been completed. After [more…]