Category: History

Sissi

I bought this because I hold Richard Bassett in high esteem as an historian and travel writer; a biography of Wilhelm Canaris, and a memoir, Last Days in Old Europe. And for another reason; I thought it was a biography of the 19th century Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi).

Kiss Me Hardy

The Needles are almost in sight after my long voyage with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. I am on the 20th and final (complete) book: Blue at the Mizzen.

Hanging On

“The Princess Royal this morning visited the Metropolitan Police Crime Museum at New Scotland Yard, Victoria Embankment, London SW1, and was received by Colonel Jane Davis (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London).”(The Times, 22nd October, 2025)

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Categorised as History

The Beasts of Holm

It’s an expensive hobby owning boats as some of my friends will attest. HMY Iolanthe, a 189 foot steam yacht, was built for Thomas Waller in 1881.

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Pictures at an Exhibition

This is a self-portrait in pastel of my great grandmother, Ada Gilbey. She died while giving birth to my great-aunt, aged thirty. Like many Victorian ladies she was a competent artist.

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Categorised as Art, History

Restoration of Independence

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence in Estonia following four years of non-violent demonstrations in the Baltic States, known as The Singing Revolution.

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Lunch with M

You may remember General Raymond E Lee from a recent post: the General’s Moustache. Well I have now got his London Journal which consists of his letters to his wife (and young daughter) living in America while he was serving as Military Attaché in London, 1940-1941.

Lamplighters

I have recently re-read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (John le Carré, 1974) in which lamplighters are the dogsbodies of British intelligence doing surveillance and courier work.

Tallinn Museums

This is The Great Coastal Gate into the walled, medieval centre of Tallinn. Worth noting that at 10.00 am on a sunny, summer morning in July the city is not busy. First mentioned in 1359, this was the most important of the six gates (of which only two remain), being the main route from the… Continue reading Tallinn Museums