Hobbies
The Wolds, Part Two
It takes a week to cycle from Penzance to Berwick. It took me 40 years. Because on the way, I wanted to include every town in England, in what amounted to some two years of [more…]
Hobbies
Hobbies
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred and Fifty-Four
Monday Good morning from your favourite cat reporter and chief mouser. Well, it rained again yesterday, just as forecast, but it was a ‘Gray’ day for another reason here at No. 10. Don’t believe what [more…]
20th Century
Hasn’t Time Flown?
The conversation ended as it often does with a young colleague reminding me it’s because I’m old. Perhaps because I really am old, I can’t remember the topic. Maybe the latest delivery of dog food [more…]
Drinking
Non-Alcoholic Pub Drinks
Let’s start with an apology. The title of this article alone will be enough to provoke a sudden and dangerous rise in blood pressure amongst many readers, and for that I am extremely sorry, but [more…]
20th Century
European Journey 1953, Part Eight – Sezanne
This small French town of Sezanne is one of those places — like Crewe — that you are always passing through but somehow never get to know. Three routes nationales converge on it like the [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred and Fifty-Three
Monday Good morning from a not very happy cat. I trotted down to the bottom of the garden and it was horribly cold and wet, and I returned a soggy cold moggy. I must admit [more…]
21st Century
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Seven
Shall we climb the Minecraft Library of Birmingham as far as Mrs AWS’s iffy-with-heights wobbly legs will take her? Find a balcony and enjoy the vista? Yes, we will, and we’ll take a few photos [more…]
20th Century
A Ukrainian Enigma
I have an original photograph bought as part of a “bundle” from a militaria seller whose business model is to put together sets of documents, photographs and ephemera that appear to be vaguely related so [more…]
20th Century
European Journey 1953, Part Seven – Trogen
The village lies in a sheltered fold of the mountains, 3,000 feet above sea level. On a fine day you can see clear across to Lake Constance, a bit of burnished silver under the strong [more…]