Of Chimney Sweeps and Other Urchins

Derrick Knight's recent post on child labour and chimney sweeps prompted me to re-read my copy of Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies. I must have been around eleven when I last read this book. We didn't have television, and I didn't have a sibling near my age, so I was a voracious reader. Books were precious to me. …

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

My resolution to catch up with the travel blogging was set aside for a brief visit by two of the grandchildren. It should be a no-brainer how to keep them occupied at this time of the year - beach, then beach, followed by more beach. Except that the weather did not co-operate. So we fell …

LEST WE FORGET – THE ANZAC DAY CENTENARY

The Rising Sun Badge - Third Pattern, May 1904, carried a scroll inscribed with the words ‘Australian Commonwealth Military Forces’ and was worn throughout both World Wars by the First and Second AIF. Although there were a number of variations, one of which was the Commonwealth Horse, this badge pattern formed the template for all …