Castles & Walled Gardens

Government backed “levelling up” has mixed results. That’s my way of saying taxpayers’ money is usually spent as ineffectively in this area as it is for overseas aid.

Almost an Emperor, Not Quite a Gentleman

When using the lavatory in an English country house there are two things of which you may be certain: the seat will be wooden and there will be a faded copy of The English Gentleman by Douglas Sutherland.

Published
Categorised as Literature

The Royal Parks

Everyone’s at it – I mean making money out of car owners. And why not? If you can afford to run a car you can afford all the FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices) and car parking charges. So why is parking free in the Royal Parks?

Marble Hill House

The year 1729 was relatively uneventful. All that Wikipedia can come up with that piqued my interest is this rather charming story.

Prenez Garde

Primo Levi’s account of the year (1944/45) he was at Auschwitz was published in Britain in 1947 as If This is a Man. I can say no more – I haven’t read it but it is on order.

Reading Maketh a Full Man

These authors have recently been introduced to me. I have read the first in the Erast Fandorin and David Audley series and have all the James Marwood historical thrillers ahead of me.