It’s the world’s best known and, these days, its most popular museum. You could tell that by the queue. It snaked, zig-zag fashion, from a tent inside the vast forecourt to outside in the street. There were no special attractions, just the usual broad ranging fascinating stuff. Less than one percent of their hoard isContinue reading ” WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, THERE’S ALWAYS THE BRITISH MUSEUM”
Category Archives: history
ON THE ROCKS
Castle Rock Ignoring the screams beside me; “You’re going the wrong way, turn right, turn right!” Deep inside I believed the direction we were heading was correct as we rolled into Lynton, aiming for a railway…only this is a special railway, so called. It has two cars that pass each other on their 854ft routeContinue reading ” ON THE ROCKS”
NO L-AUGH-ING MATTER
Such was the man’s fame that there’s a hotel in Tenby that still advertises the fact that he got completely sloshed and left the manuscript of what is arguably his most famous work, Under Milk Wood, on the stool. I’m referring to Dylan Thomas and the Coaches and Horses Tavern, in the improbably named UpperContinue reading ” NO L-AUGH-ING MATTER”
THE HOMAGE
DOWN IN THE BLUEGUM FOREST Walk in the Blue Mountains often enough and there’s a name that will crop up. Blue Gum Forest. No serious walker can avoid it, so the fact that I’d managed to not go there for 76 years indicates how serious I’d been. For the seasoned hiker it’s usually part ofContinue reading ” THE HOMAGE”
THE GALLERY
Art IS civilization. It’s a measure of how advanced or not society has become. Thus, when I see a new gallery opening up I should be pleased. I’m not. Not all the art at Circular Quay is bad How many millions were spent on the new North Wing of the N.S.W. Art Gallery and howContinue reading ” THE GALLERY”
A PARK CALLED OATLEY
It’s fair to suggest that, other than those who live nearby, few would have heard of a park in Sydney called Oatley. It’s one of many areas of interest that abound in the city that tourists overlook. Personally, I’m glad, because it’s busy enough as it is! Still, during the week it’s not crowded andContinue reading “A PARK CALLED OATLEY”
WATKIN STREET, WHO KNEW?
Yes, I realise it wasn’t lost, but people living just a few blocks away are unaware of its existence, so, perhaps a more accurate description would be “overlooked”. It’s maybe a reflection of the inner suburbs of Sydney that people seemingly aren’t that interested in either the historic architecture or the large bodyContinue reading ” WATKIN STREET, WHO KNEW?”
NOT ALL CATHEDRALS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Chartres was the goal, the “jewel in the crown of Gothic architecture”. We’d left Charles du Gaulle airport in record time, heading south in a rented Opel that smelt like a 50’s pub in Oz. It absolutely reeked of cigarette and, had it been easy to turn around and go back, we would have returnedContinue reading “NOT ALL CATHEDRALS ARE CREATED EQUAL”
RIVERBOAT POSTMAN
Imagine, for whatever strange reason (to the normal world) that you’ve decided to build by the water with no road access whatsoever. It’s around the turn of the 19th/20th century, just living is a significant problem. However, there is a whole world out there of which you know very little in terms of current affairs. Continue reading “RIVERBOAT POSTMAN”
BALMAIN BUGGED
As I parted with my $25, the lady was clearly smiling. Then again, she hadn’t stopped since she first spoke. I’d arrived at the Watch House, an original sandstone gem somewhere down Darling Street, on a rare day when it’s open. I was purchasing a book on Streets, Lanes and Places because I felt aContinue reading “BALMAIN BUGGED”
Taking You To Places You've Never Been 