Category Archives: History

Bunhill Fields

Posted on May 6, 2013 by

Three weeks ago I happened to be in London. As things turned out, on that very same day  the city was somewhat preoccupied with a very high-profile event at London’s most iconic church. Given the circumstances, I felt the need to escape … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Scratching the Earth

Posted on January 5, 2013 by

To begin the New Year, here is a piece on something close to home and close to heart - allotments. I touched on this subject briefly last year in my post on Dacha. The feature below originally appeared in Issue 3 of the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Norfolk, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Savamala, Belgrade

Posted on October 18, 2012 by

I have just returned from Belgrade, the Serbian capital, where I have been doing research for the fourth edition of my Bradt Serbia guide that will be published next summer sometime. Belgrade never was the white city that its name (Beo = white, grad … Continue reading →

Posted in Balkans, History, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Jezero to Jajce

Posted on October 2, 2012 by

Incompetence can have its benefits, it can even sometimes lead to adventure – that is my experience. A simple small error or misunderstanding can lead the way to the unexpected: an experience that perhaps you did not plan for but … Continue reading →

Posted in Balkans, History, Human Geography | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Baconsthorpe

Posted on August 13, 2012 by

The ruined castle at Baconsthorpe in north Norfolk can hardly be described as ‘hidden’ but it does lie nicely tucked away from the limelight, located at the end of a dusty farm track at some distance from the main road. Strictly speaking, it is not … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Norfolk, Travel | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Tofiq Bahramov, the ‘Russian linesman’

Posted on May 30, 2012 by

Last weekend England beat Norway 0 – 1 in a friendly football match at Oslo. Great Britain beat Norway at Eurovision too, although this was hardly cause for celebration as coming 25th, just a few points above 26th-placed Norway at the very bottom, is really nothing to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Caucasus, History, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A River Wensum Walk

Posted on April 11, 2012 by

Early April in Norwich. It’s cool but the sky is blue and daffodils are glistening in Wordsworthian tribute to the bright spring sunshine. What better then than a morning stroll through the city along the banks of the River Wensum? Like many cities – even … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Walking | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Road to Moulmein

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

‘By the old Moulmein pagoda lookin’ lazy at the sea There’s a Burma girl a-settin’ and I know she thinks o’ me’ These words by Rudyard Kipling form the opening lines of the Road to Mandalay, an evocative poem that … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, History, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wat Phou

Posted on January 22, 2012 by

Get there early – this is the sound advice usually given when visiting popular tourist sites. This is exactly what I did in Siem Reap, Cambodia when visiting Angkor Wat a week or so ago but it seems like several thousand others also … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, History, Travel | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Mekong musings

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

This post comes from somewhere firmly east of Elveden – from Southeast Asia or, more precisely, the deep south of Laos. Last week was spent travelling along the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam north into Cambodia. Then, courtesy … Continue reading →

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