20th Century
Return To The Jernbanemysterium
A phrase lingers in the mind. In passing, Mr. DH — my colleague, a fellow Puffin to us all, and master of that mysterious gift known as the turn of phrase — once summed up [more…]
Travel
Holiday
Yet Another Caribbean Christmas And New Year, Part Four
Wednesday 1st January 2025 – At Sea As usual, I was awake just after six, as seems to be the habit this cruise. I lay in bed for a bit and messaged “Happy New Year” [more…]
Holiday
Yet Another Caribbean Christmas And New Year, Part Three
Saturday 28th December – Antigua (mid-cruise changeover day) I really don’t know why, but as usual, I woke just after six a.m. as it was just getting light, and we were heading into port. It [more…]
Holiday
Yet Another Caribbean Christmas And New Year, Part Two
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) – St Kitts Breakfast today was in the MDR as my excursion wasn’t due to leave until 09:30 I was in no hurry. Once again it was a sharing table [more…]
Holiday
Yet Another Caribbean Christmas And New Year, Part One
Friday 20th December – Home to Barbados My alarm woke me at five, and I got up immediately—no lie-in, as I would probably go back to sleep, and that could be a disaster. Shave, shower, [more…]
Holiday
Yet Another Caribbean Christmas And New Year, Part Zero
Being on my own, I have taken to going on a Christmas cruise. The only problem is that single accommodation goes very quickly and isn’t cheap. I booked this year’s trip before going away last [more…]
Arts
Basilica Santuario Santo Stefano – The Seven Churches of Bologna
It is a short walk from the twin towers, past the oldest house in Bologna, to Via Santo Stefano. For the most part the journey is under a colonnade of stone, cast in cool shadow [more…]
Capitalism
Postcard From Antebellum Birmingham
“You know there isn’t going to be any war,” said Scarlett, bored. “It’s all just talk. Why, Ashley Wilkes and his father told Pa just last week that our commissioners in Washington would come to–to–an–amicable [more…]
Eating
Cruising From Malta – Part Four
Day 12 – 2nd Monday – Corfu As we had sailed from Dubrovnik in Croatia to Corfu which is Greek we have had to put the clock forward an hour overnight to Greek time which [more…]