Into the West

Driving along the elevated section of the M4 there may be time to contemplate the view when traffic is at a standstill.

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

A Similarity

This is about a septuagenarian writing a blog. Do you see a similarity?

Christian Hope

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord (Psalm 19:14).

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Categorised as Religion

Starship Enterprise

Two names you have never heard of: Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. They founded Skype and sold it to Microsoft for $8.5 billion.

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Categorised as Technology

Turkish Delight

There has been a tube strike this week, presenting an opportunity to visit neglected local restaurants for lunch.

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

The Gaumont

The Cadogan Estate has done its magic on Sloane Street turning it into a shopping boulevard with wider pavements and more greenery. It has already transformed the Duke of York barracks site into a pedestrian precinct with restaurants. Now it is moving west along the King’s Road.

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