Month: November 2025

Zsolonay

Are you curious about the roofs in Budapest? They sometimes have brightly coloured tiles made out of pyrogranite at the end of the 19th century. They were and still are made by Zsolonay.

The Holy Right Hand

I don’t know why I went to St Stephen’s Basilica to see his Holy Right Hand when St Oliver Plunkett’s head is more dramatic in Drogheda. But, to be fair, something I don’t like, Saint S in Budapest gets a lot more visitors (half price seniors and students) than St O in Drogheda. And, if… Continue reading The Holy Right Hand

Budapest Buildings

I usually try to avoid having people in photographs but here the couple emerging onto the steps of the Museum of Fine Arts show its scale and grandeur.

Serendipity

I am very fond of foie gras the production of which is illegal in many countries; generally ones that did not produce foie gras.

Into the East

I am a fan of Tony Scotland’s books, as you may remember from previous posts. His latest has transported me to Eastern Europe in 1989. Tony explains how the book came about in his Introduction.

Ruler of the Queen’s Navy

In a recent comment John mentioned that the First Sea Lord’s flagship is HMS Victory. At lunch yesterday I was asked what the difference is between the FSL and the Admiral of the Fleet.

Books and Maps

“The British Library holds more than 150 million items in its collection. British Library Publishing actively publish from the Library’s collection to bring forgotten stories and original non-fiction to new audiences.  We publish thought-provoking books to showcase unexpected treasures from our collections, including maps, manuscripts, great works of literature and rare books.   We are also… Continue reading Books and Maps

HMS Victory

A wet Monday morning in November, in school term-time, may not sound the ideal conditions for a visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard but better than the crowds in summer.

Published
Categorised as History

Dulcibella

This oil, Fetching Water, by Martyn Mackerill depicts an event in Erskine Childers’ 1903 classic, The Riddle of the Sands.

Pompey

Pompey’s Pillar is a Roman triumphal column not built in memory of the emperor Pompey (106 – 48 BC), as you might expect, but to honour Diocletian (284 – 305 AD). It stands at the eastern side of the temenos of the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is now in ruins. So you have two obscure… Continue reading Pompey