19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 23
November 15th, 1810. We have just crossed the Equator. Only one sailor on board, Misha, has been in the southern hemisphere before. He told us that it is customary for those who ‘cross the line’ [more…]
Hobbies
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 16
I’m thoroughly enjoying life in Davao City on one of the Southernmost islands of the Philippine archipelago, Mindanao. It is election time and our candidates are (General) Fidel Ramos for president and Rodrigo Duterte for [more…]
20th Century
An Afternoon at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
Although we moved from Yorkshire to the South Coast 38 years ago and despite living only two miles from his premises in New Milton, I had only once previously visited Sammy Miller’s wonderful motorcycle museum [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 22
October 12th, 1810 (September 30th O.S.). We sail on, occupied by many small repairs necessary after the storm. Damaged blocks have to be replaced, and lashings that have worked loose need remaking. Yet all in [more…]
Hobbies
Owning a Shotgun
A puffin on here has written a series on firearms and their technology up to the 20th century, but what about owning a firearm in the modern day in the UK? What are the laws [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 21
August 28th, 1810 (August 16th O.S.). Finally we are through the strait between Asia and America. After our long sojourn in a region where the chart shows only pictures of sea monsters, we are again [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 15
As with America, I went back and forward, back and forward to the Philippine Islands for about five years, but will tell the tale as one continuous story, in situ over there, perhaps including an [more…]
Arts
Project Mower Refurb
It is the Easter holidays. The Missus is at work for the day, so I’m not being dragged around the shops, the kids are revising/ generally avoiding dad. I’ve pottered for a day or so [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 20
June 13th, 1810 (June 1st O.S.). We have left Novaya Zemlya, to general relief, and are sailing down the west side of the island to resume our eastward course. No one enjoyed our sojourn in [more…]