Month: May 2020

Var-Siklod

Curious how houses often take centre stage in novels: Blandings, Brideshead, Howards End, Lorienburg, Manderley, White Ladies. I hope I can add Var-Siklod to the list.

The Lawrensons

John and George Lawrenson are brothers. John was a General, Colonel of the 13th Hussars, who died in London in 1883 aged eighty-one.

Hungarian Rhapsody

Imprint, noun 1. a mark or outline made by pressing something on to a softer substance. “he made imprints of the keys in bars of soap” 2. a printer’s or publisher’s name, address, and other details in a book or other publication.

Uncle George Remembers VI

“Gordon Selfridge was once a multi-millionaire and a prince of commerce but he ended up a pensioner, deprived of all power and riches and broken in spirit and, I heard, in mind.

All Things to All Men

Today’s text is taken from St Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

Nursery News

The peregrine falcons nesting on a ledge at the top of Charing Cross Hospital laid three eggs this year but only one hatched, on 27th April. They have little privacy as there are two webcams – one inside their nesting box and one above the ledge.

Uncle George Remembers IV

“Mr Hall’s case was serious, he declared. He then announced gravely that he was the King of England. “My name is Hall,” he explained, “and I am the direct descendant of good King Hal, otherwise King Henry VIII. The man now occupying the throne of England is a usurper and I request you to order… Continue reading Uncle George Remembers IV

T Time

I’m on The Far Side of the World with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin; it’s the tenth in the series and it looks as if it may not see me out of lockdown. A recurring trope, sorry that’s tautologous but my friend in Ukraine likes to expand her vocabulary and she may be unfamiliar with… Continue reading T Time

A Visit to the Cemetery

Three words I shy away from are “pleasant”, “nice” and “intriguing”; so I reluctantly admit that I found this memorial intriguing.