I like the way that this book sounds, an historical text rewritten as a story by a journalist who has the ability to make anything sound interesting. The research involved is penetrating in the way that it picks up on personal points from eye witness accounts, this leaves the reader with a genuine sense of… Continue reading 1968: The year that rocked the world, Mark Kurlansky
Category: Europe
Football’s coming home
What a night! At half time I was on the phone to Ben and Chris. “They’re in a different league! They may as well just start smashing the stadium up! Outclassed!”. What do I know, or any one else come to think of it. Who in their wildest dreams could have thought that a crushed… Continue reading Football’s coming home
Homage to Catalonia. by George Orwell
Homage to Catalonia is George Orwell’s fascinating account of his part in the Spanish civil war. In a strikingly honest manner it details his basic training (or lack of it!), various theatres of warfare and the underpinning political factions involved. Unsurprisingly it is the latter on which Orwell focuses attention, the political parties, splinter groups… Continue reading Homage to Catalonia. by George Orwell
Prince Edward. A pathetic, weedy individual
Today saw the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Lets think about what that means, the sheer scale that is six million people, the death, the terror, the hate. For all the wrong reasons the Holocaust is without doubt the most significant event of the last century, and like most people… Continue reading Prince Edward. A pathetic, weedy individual
Wicked holiday in Austria!
We spent last week skiing in both sunshine and snow in the fantastic Alpine resort of Soll, in Austria. Although Mandy and myself travelled alone we met Stuart, Mark and Sarah on the first night at what the Airtours reps described as, “A world famous Bar for complete nutters!”. Exactly, simply a snowy version of… Continue reading Wicked holiday in Austria!
Brussels for New Year
I’ve only really thought about Brussels as the much hated thorn in the side of the tabloid press. A perfect reason to visit the city for New Year. First and foremost there’s Eurostar, the king of trains that teases commuters in south London every morning of the week. It’s bigger, better looking and faster than… Continue reading Brussels for New Year
Picking the Bones, by Geoffrey Regan
Today, George Bush Jr has been re elected as US president in what must be one of the most doubtful and shameful episodes of modern American history. The halfway point in his campaign of terror and lies is a good point to talk about Picking the Bones by Geoffrey Regan. I’m working my way through… Continue reading Picking the Bones, by Geoffrey Regan
Denmark
For Paul and Rickie’s seventies wedding I managed to find a smart black suit in a second hand shop on Hammersmith High Street. I was quite pleased with my buy, which is why I was a bit pissed off when it caught fire after I staggered onto one of those garden candles. You’ll find that… Continue reading Denmark
Kobenhaven
Really knackered after yesterdays marathon drinking session in Melby, Denmark. Paul and Rickie’s 70s wedding proved to be a really good party, everyone had a really good time and of course, got staggeringly pissed. The flight with Easy Jet was an absolute nightmare, I’m starting to wonder whether the genuinely horrible ordeal of their flights… Continue reading Kobenhaven
A Tale of Two Cities
Okay, now for some reason I’ve never really been into proper classic books or old literature or whatever the right name is for it. Maybe because I was in the wrong set for English at my distinctly average suburban comp, or maybe because the front covers of Dick Francis and Douglas Reeman seemed an easier… Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities