20th Century
Childhood Memories
At the end of August 1939 my maternal grandmother took the decision that her children would not be evacuated because of the war. My grandfather had little say in the matter and accepted that if [more…]
Nostalgia
Arts
When We Was Fab – Cars – Speeding
My lot on here seems to be nostalgically picking over the debris of my younger days for the entertainment of the drooling perverts who make up the vast majority of the readership. I’ve got the [more…]
20th Century
A View From (Brougham Hall) Quite Near The Greenhouse; Was It All Worth It?
I don’t doubt that my long suffering reader will have had a similar conversation to the one I had some days ago with Mrs. C. It went something like this; “Er, Colin, are there any [more…]
21st Century
A View From The Greenhouse; Reflections
As expected (once DJT got his feet back under the table), it became more than a possibility that the war in Ukraine could be brought to a conclusion of sorts. It may not bring the [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…]
20th Century
What’s in a Name?
A few days ago, the Little Girl Next Door had a school friend come home when school finished at three o’clock. They happily played in the back garden and the visitor stayed for tea. A [more…]
20th Century
A Leicestershire Lad (Continued)
When I finished writing my recent article about the role the small Leicestershire village of Barkby played in shaping me into the person that I am today, I realised that there were many anecdotes that [more…]
20th Century
Nostalgia Album, Part Fifteen
From Irun on the Spanish/French border, my father and grandparents made their way south and east to San Sebastian in their heroic Ford 8. It is 1952. Famous for its magnificent double bay and beeches, [more…]
Biography
A Leicestershire Lad
Watching formal schooling, community spirit and childhood and family life in general being relentlessly trashed in recent years has made me think more and more about my growing-up years in a small Leicestershire village between [more…]