Coronavirus Chronicle IX

It’s a strange world in the UK. Covid restrictions, although only guidance, are repressive – with any luck of the virus.

The Battle of Bouvines

The Battle of Bouvines is not one of those famous battles like Agincourt, Crécy, Blenheim, Waterloo, El Alamein. This is simply because, in spite of being in an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto IV, and having numerical superiority the English army was given a good beating by King Philip Augustus of France. As… Continue reading The Battle of Bouvines

Alan Brooke’s War

Colville’s Downing Street Diaries have led me on to General, Sir Alan Brooke’s wartime diaries. He later became Field Marshal, Viscount Alanbrooke, slightly confusingly. The diaries are a daily record of his war.

Boohoo

Boohoo, or crying all the way to the bank?

Double-chamfered

This spectacular monument, in Pevsner’s opinion but I concur, is in the south aisle of St Mary Magdalene in Great Offley, Hertfordshire.

Uncle George Remembers XVI

“Although such incidents (the canopy cock-up) during the rehearsals could be treated lightly at the time, they were nevertheless disturbing to “the management” and had to be ironed out lest they be repeated on The Day.

The Big Double

“This year’s Punchestown Festival will be remembered for its marvellous attendence and for the glorious week’s weather . People flocked from all over the country, and from abroad, to attend the festivities. The latest fashions were on show and all types of motor car were seen making their way down the Naas Road.”

Més que un chess club

If you know a finer clubhouse for chess aficionados, tell me. This is the Nuovo Circolo Degli Scacchi in Rome. It’s almost worth playing chess to belong but I can pop in as a reciprocal member and have done so.