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…]
Italy
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…]
21st Century
Detour To The Eternal City
We interrupt my grandparents’ 1950s Continental road trip to bring Puffins a contemporary photo montage just arrived via that modern-day family photo album that is Instant Messenger. Inspired by childhood dinner table tall tales of [more…]
20th Century
Through The Mountains To Piedmont
Essentially hill and lake people, and having traversed the French and Italian Rivieras during their 1958 Ford Prefect continental road trip, my grandparents headed inland in search of inclines and hairpin bends. Col de Tende [more…]
20th Century
Finding Jimmy
San Remo San Remo, also spelt Sanremo, is a town located in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. It is a popular tourist destination on the Italian Riviera and is known for hosting cultural events [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – April 1943
The Axis forces will surrender in May so April sees the Allies squeezing the Axis into a smaller and smaller area. On the 1st the US 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions attacked Italian positions at [more…]
Arts
Going It Alone
Almost fifty years ago I booked a package holiday to Austria. I was young, impressionable and thought that by having everything organised I could play the quintessential Englishman abroad. How wrong I was. The “family [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – March 1943
With the Axis on the run in Tunisia it was only a matter of time until they had to surrender. Their supply routes to Tunisia were under constant attack and the Axis could do little [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – February 1943
This month sees the battle of the Kassarine Pass.This was where the Axis forces gave the Americans a run for their money and may have been the start of the “our Italians” handle given to [more…]