Category: 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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Categorised as History

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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Categorised as History

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

Muscat and Oman

  Ian Skeet was in Muscat and Oman from 1966 to 1968 and wrote the first draft of this book a few months after he left. He explains about his book. “Because of the peculiar attitude of Said bin Taimur to visitors, progress, change, publicity and the many other concepts to which most of the… Continue reading Muscat and Oman

The Fire Court

“I’m a crime and historical novelist. I’ve written nearly fifty books, three of which have been televised. My awards include the Diamond Dagger of the Crime Writers Association and the Gold Crown of the Historical Writers Association. Who am I?”