19th Century
Gertrude Bell: the uncrowned Queen of Iraq
This is the first article since the railway series went into the sidings, and we are now well overdue an article on the fairer sex. So, this week we bring to you a lady who [more…]
Iraq
Business
A Landscape of Lies
In 2007 I was the joint owner of a building services consultancy which undertook the mechanical and electrical design and production tender documentation relating to new construction and refurbishment projects. In addition, we also undertook [more…]
Politics
BritSitRep2026 – An overview of all that matters (Part 2)
The popular conception of politics, taught in schools and reinforced by every TV sofa politics show, is that the people elect representatives, the representatives debate the laws, and the laws are then administered by a [more…]
20th Century
Tanker Wars
All has changed. Or has it? We have been here before, literally. The Puffin is a well-travelled bird with a good memory and can recall rolling dunes, desert villages, remote sun-drenched harbours and trails of [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred And Fifty-Six
Monday Good morning from a dry but grotty Westminster. It looks like it’s going to rain at any moment, but the forecast is for a dry day. Today’s big question is, did the Camel actually [more…]
20th Century
Disaster Over The Strait of Hormuz
As Mrs AWS and I flash through the Scottish Lowlands after our day trip to Edinburgh, passing through Lockerbie station reminds us of events decades ago and thousands of miles away. Nowadays the term ‘Gulf [more…]
20th Century
Desert Mysteries Redux – Part Two
In Desert Mysteries Redux – Part One, I recounted the ‘Desert Mystery’ of the fate of my uncle in Transjordan in 1938. Whilst he was in the desert and not harassing rebellious Arab gangs via [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – Some Impressions
Having spent a while researching the Desert War series, it is only fair to leave you my impressions based on the many thing that have passed before my eyes. It takes a while to weed [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – May 1943
With the Axis occupying a smaller and smaller piece of real estate in Tunisia this was the month they would have to surrender, 291,000 of them. There was no way to supply them and no [more…]