Category: History

Broken Line

You may remember, I do, the ferry tragedy at Zeebruge in 1987 when Herald of Free Enterprise, a roll-on/roll-off car ferry, capsized killing 193 passengers.

1 Pangari Street

This Art Nouveau building was completed in 1912 as a residential house when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire under the last Czar, Nicholas II. After Estonia declared independence in 1918 the Provisional Government met here to direct the War of Independence. Later, in the 1920s and 30s, it was the Ministry of War.… Continue reading 1 Pangari Street

Stolpersteine

Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day. The person who may have done most to keep memories of victims alive is German artist Gunter Demnig. Since 1992 he has been placing small square brass plaques (Stolpersteine) on pavements to mark the last place they lived. He says “a person is not forgotten until his or her name… Continue reading Stolpersteine

Published
Categorised as Art, History

Crumbs

This is one of three portraits by Hans Eworth at Tate Britain.

Published
Categorised as Art, History

St Stephen’s Day

Wednesday 26 December 1660 In the morning to Alderman Backwell’s for the candlesticks for Mr. Coventry, but they being not done I went away, and so by coach to Mr. Crew’s, and there took some money of Mr. Moore’s for my Lord, and so to my Lord’s, where I found Sir Thomas Bond (whom I… Continue reading St Stephen’s Day

Christmas Day

25 December (1940) Christmas Day! An old butler came in to wake me at half-past eight, bearing the conventional tray with tea. He was a trifle apologetic at bringing it to an American. And as he began fussing around opening the curtains and folding my clothes, I asked him about himself. He said he had… Continue reading Christmas Day

Of Obelisk and Orchid

I have been interested in war memorials for a long time and have wondered vaguely when they were first erected and, in particular, when the names of the fallen of all ranks were listed and commemorated.

Walking the Streets

  In Paris on Monday it was 15C and the sun was out. We walked from near the Palais Garnier to the base of the Eiffel Tower. May I digress and tell you that sentence has the names of two architects with structures named after them. This is not as usual as you might think.… Continue reading Walking the Streets

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

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.