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Denmark's and Kenya's favourite author: Karen Dinesen Blixen
Karen Dinesen (1885–1962) was born in Rungsted on Denmark’s Zealand Island, one of 5 children. Her army officer father Wilhelm was an adventurer who worked as a fur trapper in North America. He...
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Archibald winning portraits in Australia: Rabbi Porush by W.E.Pidgeon
Let's Face It: The History of the Archibald Prize (1999) was a great book by Peter Ross. See earlier references to the prize-winning Portrait of the Artist Joshua Smith by William Dobell, for...
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Murano near Venice - a tourist's dream
VaporettoMurano consists of 7 individual islands in a lagoon north of Venice, linked together by beautiful bridges. Travel to Murano from Venice by public vaporetto, then walk the island canals and...
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Brilliant Czech doctor, Jan Janský 1873-1921 ........ Guest post
I could be seen as having two vested interests in this story (being Czech and a doctor). But I will try not to exaggerate the importance of some brilliant Czech medical science.Throughout history,...
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London's Blue Plaque heritage programme. Finally in Australia!
Napoleon III in Westminster, erected 1867 and is the oldest surviving plaqueA commemorative plaque scheme was first suggested to the House of Commons by William Ewart MP in 1863 and taken up by the...
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At least Australia had no Trump or Bolsonaro! Oh really???
Joh and Flo Bjelke PetersenCourier Mail, 1996The STATE politician Johannes Joh Bjelke-Petersen (1911-2005) served as Queensland Premier for 20 years. He was born in New Zealand and immigrated with his...
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Albert Einstein: a new museum to celebrate genius.
Born in Ulm Germany, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) married Mileva Marić in 1903 and had their first son in 1904 in Switzerland. But it was 1905 that was a frantic, miraculous year for the young...
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Graham Greene - great novelist, spy, Catholic, traveller, depressive.
Norman Sherry's biography, 1996Graham Greene (1904-1991) was one of six children born to Charles Greene, headmaster of classy Berkhamsted School in Herts, and Marion. He had a large, influential...
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Peabody Essex Museum Salem, built 1799 & modernised 2022.
Peabody Essex Museum, 2019 New wing designed by Ennead Architects on the right and the East India Marine Hall in the centre.Photo: Apollo The East India Marine Society, founded in Salem Mass in 1799,...
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The Everly Brothers' music changed our lives!
American brothers Don (1937–2021) and Phil (1939–2014) Everly, were born to country-western musical couple, and began playing on country radio in primary school. In Tennessee the brothers...
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Armistice Day, 11th November 1918-2018.
Huge crowd at Parliament House for the Declaration of the Signing of the Armistice Adelaide, 1918Photo credit: Australian War Memorial By Nov 1918 the Allied armies had driven the German invaders back,...
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Sidney Grauman, the greatest American showman.
Sidney Grauman (1879–1950) was the son of David and Rosa Grauman, Jewish theatrical performers on show circuits. In the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, David took his teenage son Sid with him to Alaska....
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"Bible John", Glasgow murderer (1968-9). What have we learned?
Newspapers searched for Bible John all over the UKusing the composite drawing of the suspect from witnessesGlasgow Evening Times, Feb 2018Murders are usually done on known contacts, from anger or...
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roller coasters: from Russian ice slides to wholesome entertainment in USA
Ice slides at a St Petersburg carnival, 1800.Credit: Popular MechanicsRussia and rest of EuropeRussian fun was on giant wooden structures with frozen-over ramps. People slid down on ice blocks and...
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"The Two Popes" - two film reviews
Two popes explored the failures and humanity of Benedict & Francis, Anthony Hopkins (left) and Jonathan Pryce (right)in SojournersI’ve not seen The Two Popes (Nov 2019), so I have quoted two...
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Olivia Newton-John, cleverest family ever!
Olivia and her father Bryn Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John (1948-2022) was born in Cambridge to Bryn Newton-John (1914–92) and Irene Born (1914–2003). Born in...
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Elgin Marbles - the endless Britain Vs Greece conflict.
The Elgin Marbles aka Parthenon sculptures were a marble frieze Doric temple on the Acropolis Greece, built in c440 BC and dedicated to Goddess Athena. The temple was the centrepiece of an...
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Old City Jerusalem, history and landscape .....guest post
Welcome to Israel. This fascinating country has a rich history and landscape to explore, starting with this rapidly moving history of Jerusalem.Tower of David (Citadel)located at the Jaffa Gate,...
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VERY modern chair designs 1920-32! Bauhaus (Germany) and Aalto (Finland)
Depending on your perspective, the Bauhaus Movement (1919-1933) either gave birth to, or nourished modern design, a design style recognised by its clean, simple lines and truth to materials....
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Cate Blanchett's greatest performance - Tar
Let me be honest; I would give Cate Blanchett the Oscar for Best Actress, sight unseen. First look at her career, then focus on her new film, before it opens in Australian cinemas. Cate (b1969)...
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