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Mint Julep @ Sarah Vernon
Shower Curtain at Redbubble

The comments I made and make on your blogs do not register and haven’t during my blog sabbatical.  I have been unable thus far to resolve the situation  This is something I should have told you as soon as I returned from my sabbatical a month ago because it’s still happening. On top of this, there are new comments on old blog posts when comments allowed comments that I don’t seem able to reply to. Apologies. It’s very frustrating.

COVD-19

And now to the pandemic. Please keep safe and follow best practice. There’s a great deal of fake advice out there so check your sources.

In the UK, we have been very ill-served by the Prime Minister (no surprise when you look at the lies spouted about Brexit which pushed so many to believe it would be ‘a good thing’…

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Old Lifeboat House

The Old Lifeboat House

On December 9, 1886, a huge storm caused the German registered barque, Mexico, to wreck. Initially, the Southport lifeboat Eliza Fernley was launched but on approaching the stricken ship, the vessel capsized in the turbulent waters. It washed up three miles from Southport, most of the crew members drowned…

Source:  Old Lifeboat House

 

Georgian Perfume

Georgian Perfume

‘Today I thought we would take a look at some Georgian recipes for making perfume, most of them are still feasible to make at home today with some minor adjustments.

Perfume for gloves

Take one drachm of ambergris and sieve; add quarter of an ounce of flour-butter and mix together well. Rub the gloves over gently with fine cotton wool and press the perfume into them.

Or…’

Source: Georgian Perfume

“Theire Soe Admirable Herbe” How the English Found Cannabis

View of Masulipatam, published by Johannes Janssonius Waasbergen, 1672. The three flags indicate the location of foreign trading factories

Not long after he arrived in Machilipatnam, Thomas Bowrey began to wonder what it was that the people of Machilipatnam were smoking.

Source: “Theire Soe Admirable Herbe “How the English Found Cannabis

9 of the best historical novels – as chosen by expert historians

9 of the best historical novels – as chosen by expert historians

‘On World Book Day, and following the release of the eagerly-awaited final book in Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy, The Mirror & The Light, we asked nine expert historians and authors to share with us their favourite historical novels…’

Source: 9 of the best historical novels – as chosen by expert historians

World Women’s Day 2020 – Jessie Fawsitt first Civil Air Guard

Jessie Fawsitt. Civil Air Guard No.1 of U.K.

Jessie Fawsitt was an aviation pioneer in a quiet, unassuming way. She became Britain’s first Civil Air Guard in 1938. This was not planned by Jessie, more a case of serendipity, being in the right place at the right time…

Source: World Women’s Day 2020 – Jessie Fawsitt first Civil Air Guard

All Saints’ Church of Tudeley

All Saints’ Church of Tudeley

The village of Tudeley in Kent, England, contains a small church that dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. It’s even believed that parts of the structure may date back to the pre-Norman Conquest of 1066. Once inside, visitors are not greeted by medieval or even Victorian stained glass, but the unmistakable stylings of 20th-century master Marc Chagall…

Marc Chagall stained-glass window

Source: All Saints’ Church of Tudeley

Step into a Time Machine with This Incredible 4K, 60FPS Footage of New York City in 1911

‘Here’s something amazing to start your weekend off. The below video shows street scenes in New York City in 1911 but with a significant catch: the video quality has been boosted to 4K and 60 frames per second. It’s also been sharpened, colorized, and ambient sounds have been added…’

Source: Step into a Time Machine with This Incredible 4K, 60FPS Footage of New York City in 1911

Not Only Croatia Suffers From Serbian Deception

The persistent coverup of Serbia’s horrid and active role in the WWII Holocaust and the fact that in May 1942 Serbia was one of the first European countries to declare itself Jew-free (Judenfrei) had prostituted factual history to…

Source: Not Only Croatia Suffers From Serbian Deception

Katherine Johnson: Hidden Figures Nasa mathematician dies at 101

Pioneering African-American Nasa mathematician Katherine Johnson has died at the age of 101.

Nasa announced her death on Twitter, saying it was celebrating her life and honouring “her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers”.

Source: Katherine Johnson: Hidden Figures Nasa mathematician dies at 101

Happy 111th Birthday, Miep Gies

Today is the 111th birthday of Miep Gies, the woman who hid Anne Frank, her family and another family in her attic. Her inner moral compass knew what was right, it was right to help people. And she did…

Source: HAPPY 111TH BIRTHDAY MIEP GIES

The Wartime Spies Who Used Knitting as an Espionage Tool

DURING WORLD WAR I, A grandmother in Belgium knitted at her window, watching the passing trains. As one train chugged by, she made a bumpy stitch in the fabric with her two needles. Another passed, and she dropped a stitch from the fabric, making an intentional hole…

Source: The Wartime Spies Who Used Knitting as an Espionage Tool

Reblog – The Guardians Of London’s Lost Rivers

London is situated upon a river basin and owes its origin to the Thames. Yet once upon a time many other rivers flowed through the city which have been ‘lost,’ mostly absorbed into the modern drainage network or occasionally diverted into decorative water features such as the Serpentine in Hyde Park…

Source:  Spitalfields Life

I’m Back! My Sabbatical is Over.

I’m back. However, posts will not be as frequent as during the old days. Additionally, I’ve decided not to allow your beautiful comments partly because of the time that takes to reply. If there’s one thing I need in excess these days, it’s Time!

First Night History | Taking a Sabbatical | Update

Update 12 November 2018

I have been finding it far easier and less time-consuming to post on my accompanying Facebook page so if you’re on FB, join me there!

First Night History on Facebook

Take care and keep laughing!