Monthly Archives: December 2020

A not very good review of a pretty rubbish year, 2020.

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Having a special interest in chest infections, it was about 55 weeks ago when I first heard of what was to become the Coronavirus. It took until January before the first hints of it were dismissed in the mainstream awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Opinion | Tagged 2020, Coronavirus, Diary, New Year, year in review | 5 Comments

Making a Christmas Posset

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

It’s long been traditional at this time of year to make mulled wine or cider and its something I too often do. It’s certainly just the thing for cold winter weather at Christmas time. However there is a drink … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life | Tagged Christmas, Drinks, Mulled Wine, Posset, winter | 9 Comments

The Chedworth Romain villa mosaic – Adding some light to the Dark Ages

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Last week news was released on recent research that might change the way people think 6th century Britain following the discover by archaeologists of Britain’s first known 5th-Century mosaic at a Roman villa in Gloucestershire. Radiocarbon dating revealed a mosaic … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, News | Tagged Archeology, Britannia, Chedworth Roman Villa, Mosaic, Roman Empire, Romans | 3 Comments

Living in a Slow Glass World

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

It’s been a rather surreal few weeks where I live, in an increasingly surreal year. It has been extremely dense fog for the most part as I write this for almost 2 weeks. It reminds me a little of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Life, writing | Tagged Bob Shaw, Fog, Light of Other Days, sadness, Short Story, Slow Glass, Twilight Zone | Leave a comment

Stalin Vs Hitler: A comparison – who was worst?

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

It’s a bit of a fools errand trying to compare disasters, discoveries and empires from different time-periods. How can one properly make comparisons between the Roman Empire and the British Empire for example? The Mongol Empire and the French Empire? … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Popular Culture | Tagged Hitler, Hitler Vs Stalin, Nazi, Soviet Union, Stalin, The Death Of Stalin, WW2 | 2 Comments

My offering of Christmas goodies! Books and Video Tours

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

I must be the most useless blogger the world has ever seen at least when it comes to self-publicity. Here I am with a new book that came out at the end of August and I’ve never even mentioned it … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Travel, writing, WW1, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged 101 Most Horrible Tortures In History, Christmas, Lest We Forget, Secret Gardens of the City of London, Straight from the Horse's Mouth, Virtual Video Tour | Leave a comment

Getting up to mischief in some old woods

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Some of you might remember back towards the beginning of the pandemic I wrote a lengthy series of posts on my new neighbour having gone exploring when everyone else was confined indoors. One of my posts was on Grim’s Dyke, … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Travel | Tagged Gilbert and Sullivan, Grims Ditch, Grims Dyke, Grims Dyke Hotel, Harrow, Stanmore, W S Gilbert, walks, Woods | 1 Comment

The Most Powerful Women in History 5 – 1

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

Following on my post on the first 5 of the most powerful women in history, here is the final part. 5. Theodora (500-548) was a highly influential Empress of the Byzantine Empire and a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments