The Empress Elisabeth of Austria is known for championing Hungary and being assassinated by an Italian anarchist in Geneva in 1898. In Ireland she is remembered for hunting with the Meath.
Hugh Trevor-Roper describes himself as a passionate potamolator* in a 1944 entry in The Wartime Journals. I am gratified to discover that, in a small way, I am one too.
It was Gordon Brown, I think, who said that the time to fix the roof is when the sun’s shining. What a load of cobblers politicians, who have usually never done a day’s work in their lives, talk.
Francis Plowden comments that a picture of HMS Glorious (see Sea Eagles and Hurricanes) can be seen at the Dulwich Picture Gallery until the end of this month.
Bodø is as far north as Norwegian railway (NSB) goes. The train will cross the Arctic Circle. Will the backpackers on the train celebrate the event as if it were the Equator? Let’s see.
I will find it hard to keep your attention on matters Norwegian in early August. Like Ping, Pang and Pong in Turandot your thoughts will be turning to getting back to your country estates and bagging a few grouse.
The Norwegians have been our staunch allies, not least in the Second World War, and the Out party in the EU Referendum will suggest we join them, outside the EU and outside the eurozone.