Chronicles of War

Sir Alan (Tommy) Lascelles cropped up recently in a reply to a comment. He served as Assistant Private Secretary to George V, Edward VIII and George VI and then as Private Secretary to George VI and Elizabeth II, retiring in 1953 aged 66.

The Rule of Seven

Great discoveries have been made in a bath in Greece and an orchard in England. I make my contribution in the library bar at the Lanesborough Hotel on Hyde Park Corner.

Christmas Shopping is a Nightmare

Fellow Irishman, blogger and all-round good chap, Tim, aka Lord Belmont, reported recently on a Christmas shopping expedition to Molton Brown. He notes that MB is now By Appointment. What would I have done in his buffed brogues if Her Majesty had come into the shop?

Published
Categorised as Shopping

From Z To Somewhere Else

A recent post about Dr Zhivago leads me to London Spy, a recently concluded psychological thriller on BBC TV. The journey has a few stops on the way so, if you’d care to come for the ride, all aboard!

Punkers*

One purpose of blogging, for me at least, is to improve my writing. There is plenty of room for this endeavour. A reader has told me that I have fallen into error. The Spanish Inquisition is still with us.   

Published
Categorised as Literature

Two Prayers

If you read Steps of the Throne here this week you will know that I had a Blue Peter moment. Cutting and pasting is such fun and much quicker than writing an original post. I’m itching to use my electronic scissors again.

A Post About Post

I recently listed a few of the abundant, high quality crop of novels published in 1932. 1847 wasn’t so dusty either: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Vanity Fair and The Macdermots of Ballycloran were all published. You haven’t heard of The Macdermots? Nor me until now.

Steps of the Throne

Francis Plowden has commented about privileges at the Palace of Westminster extended to the children of peers. The last word goes to the website, Parliament.uk: 1.59 The following may sit on the steps of the Throne: · members of the House of Lords in receipt of a writ of summons, including those who have not… Continue reading Steps of the Throne

A Mixed Bag

There are only two reasons for having full-time employment. One is to get a pay cheque and the other is to have a delivery address for online shopping.

Footer

The team that won the FA Cup Final in 1879 won again in 1882 beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at The Oval. (FA Cup Finals continued to be played at The Oval until 1892.) 1882 was the last time an amateur side won the Cup Final and that team were Old Etonians. 

Published
Categorised as History