Arts
The Swaling, Part Nine
We are in the front room at 28 Dumfries Street, Kovan. The awful Nicolaas and Dora Clogg have called in response to an “Operation Bonfire” appeal in the Straights Star. Tai Tai and Lotus are [more…]
Culture
Arts
Book Review: Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
A while ago this reviewer attended a lecture. The subject was ten books that had changed the world. Delivered by Melvyn Bragg, author of a work of the same name, having been talked through three [more…]
Arts
The Swaling, Part Eight
Tai Tai was invited into Belinda Wong’s business services premises on the seventh floor of residential block 357, apartment six. It was a standard-issue Housing Development Corporation room but fitted out for business. It was [more…]
19th Century
South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company
It is obvious from many of the articles that appear on this website that history and mechanical things are of interest. So here is one that combines the two, the history of a railroad and [more…]
Arts
19th Century
The Rise and Fall of the British Police
In light of the recent abominable and unprofessional behaviour, during riots and public demonstrations, by members of what used to be a well-respected British police force — together with their now routine displays of a [more…]
20th Century
Building a nation of psychopaths
It is us, the new radicals, a Labour party modernised, that must undertake this historic mission. To liberate Britain, from all the old class divisions, old structures, old prejudices, old ways of working and of [more…]
Arts
The Swaling, Part Seven
Myself, Tai Tai and Lotus are sat on the unfolded Fortnum and Mason boxes on the attic floor at 28 Dumfries Street, Kovan, Singapore, the property that we rent for a pittance from the missing [more…]
America
Book Review: Kick by Paula Byrne
The subtitle of this book is ‘the true story of Kick Kennedy, JFK’s forgotten sister, and the heir to Chatsworth’, although personally I think the title ‘forgotten sister’ might be more accurately applied to JFK’s [more…]