Arts
Ocean-to-Ocean, Part 4
We start in New York, having just disembarked the QM2 and taken a ferry across the river to Pier 11/Wall Street, so what now? The last time I stayed here there were two additional skyscrapers [more…]
Travel
Culture
A View (1500 Miles Or So) From The Greenhouse; A Postcard
My loyal reader may recall the birth of my first grandchild, twelve calendar months ago this week. To recap (contextual) it was a traumatic time for the whole family, not least for both mother and [more…]
19th Century
Today’s 200th Anniversary of The Railway
This weekend sees the 200th anniversary of railways – or at least of the first steam locomotive-hauled passenger service, which took place on the Stockton to Darlington railway 200 years ago today (27th September). On [more…]
Arts
Ocean-to-Ocean, Part 3
Well, the big day has arrived. The neighbour has been asked to keep an eye on the OLND, water turned-off, fridge & freezer emptied and defrosted, bit of oil poured down the sink traps to [more…]
Photography
Postcard From Spain
The dawn cacophony begins with palomas who settle on the roof terrace just before 6am. At one time I thought that they all sang the same song, but if you listen you can hear a [more…]
Culture
Of Gods And Terminuses
We’re at the front of the queue on platform one in the concrete trench that is Euston terminus, tipped off early by the steward in the first-class lounge as to which platform we’d be departing [more…]
Arts
Ocean-to-Ocean, Part 2
Readers will recall from Part 1 that, for my retirement trip, I had decided to sail across to the eastern seaboard of the US and then travel across to the other side of the continent, [more…]
Hobbies
Postcard from a Shepherds Hut
* You may have already guessed this last bit… June 6th is a bit of a special day in the life of Yours Truly as it’s my birthday and Mrs ABS had planned a 3-night [more…]
19th Century
The Shock of The Modern
Besides excitement and trauma, might the shock of the new also provide a synapse re-ordering adrenaline burst that remodels the brain? As a little boy the make-believe near-future modernist world of Thunderbirds (and the like) [more…]