Arts
Male Singers
My tastes in Music are pretty catholic but I cannot stand garage, punk, rap and the like. Born in 1940 my introduction to serious music was our Sunday afternoon treat, courtesy of the foster parents, [more…]
Gillygangle
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part Four
There has been a lot of discussion on the blog about where might be a good place to retreat to if the future becomes as bleak as it appears at this time. Who knows what [more…]
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part Three
I was studying the election results and looking particularly at the proportion of votes attained by each party. I note that UKIP is holed below the waterline and that despite Reform gaining more votes than [more…]
20th Century
The Battle of Arnhem
Having parachuted nine miles to the west of ARNHEM during the early afternoon of 17th September 1944 2nd Parachute Battalion, reinforced by elements from the 1st Parachute Brigade reached the road bridge at dusk. In [more…]
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part Two
I do not look back in anger. Rather I look at what I have (and have not) accomplished. I have four children; the eldest is a successful software engineer though I have not seen him [more…]
Arts
Female Singers
What prompted this note was the mention by John Craven of the Czech coloratura opera singer Patricia Janeckova whom I had only stumbled across a few days ago. I was deeply affected as I listened [more…]
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part One
‘ But at my back I always hear, Time’s winged Chariot hurrying near …’ Andrew Marvell ‘What is this life if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare……’ William Henry Davies [more…]
20th Century
Borneo 1962 – 1966
Borneo (Kalimantan to the Indonesians) is the second biggest island in the world. Along its northern coast, one third of the island lay three British dependant territories – the colony of Sarawak, the Sultanate of [more…]
Literature
Britain’s little known wars
There are, amongst us, many little old chaps who have a tale to tell – I am one such but am not at all remarkable. It would be interesting to me for others to open [more…]