On Appro

Although Dunleer in Co. Louth is only a village it had on the main street a department store, Matthews of Dunleer, that stocked furniture, carpets, clothes and so on. It’s on the same site today, now specialising in carpets and flooring, and has other branches around the country.

Published
Categorised as Politics

First Night of the Proms

The Proms kicked off last night with an unscheduled piece – La Marseillaise. The Prommers were of course already standing but the rest of the packed Albert Hall rose to their feet for this mark of respect to France. 

Local News

Are you a regular? The sort that when you go to the bar the bartender says “the usual”? There isn’t really a usual post here anymore than Rachid, the cocktail barman at my club, can anticipate my order. However, there are a few bits and pieces to update you on.

Another Local Hero

If you are not a Sapper you will need to extend your vocabulary this morning to understand my post. Just three rather technical words and you may know them already. I didn’t. Here they are quoted from Wiki. 

Published
Categorised as History

Farmers’ Markets

When farmers’ markets first came to London they were fun, a shopping destination on Saturday morning. Now …

How to be a Brit

George Mikes came to live in Britain from his native Hungary just before WW II. His book How to be a Brit is a minor classic but it was written about seventy-five years ago. His one-sentence chapter on Sex may or may not be accurate: Continental people have sex lives: the English have hot water… Continue reading How to be a Brit

A Tooth for a Solex

Maybe all dentists in the 1950s and 60s were like Mr Behan in St Laurence Street in Drogheda (above). He had a handshake like a vice – the ritual of shaking hands was bone crunching. My grandfather thoroughly approved; “you need a powerful grip to pull teeth”.

Published
Categorised as Family

Le Corbeau

Alan Furst writes atmospheric espionage novels, usually set in WW II. His first successful book was Night Soldiers, published in 1988. It is excellent but it left him with a problem, one he shares with Simon Raven, whose Brother Cain was published in 1959.

Seven Halts on the Somme

It is easy to feel overburdened by history visiting Westminster Abbey.  It was founded in 940, the Lady Chapel was built in the early 16th century by Henry VII and is where he is buried but it is not a fossilised place of worship; it constantly evolves.