This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 822 words. If he was expecting Alan to be angry, Terence was wrong. He was both apologetic, and very affectionate. “I am so sorry about what happened today. It was a trumped-up accusation at best, and that Clive was behind it, I’m su … | Continue reading
The Social Reformer Charles Booth was a wealthy man who campaigned for better conditions for the poorest workers in London. He commissioned photographers to take photographs of some of them to illustrate their plight. Here are a few of the photos he used to try to raise money to … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-second part of a fiction serial, in 772 words. Alan, now exposed as John Digby, looked mortified. He must have known from Terence’s address that he must be Phyllis. The times he had lusted after him, believing him to be a woman, the passionate kisses leaving hi … | Continue reading
I make no apologies for featuring more examples of my favourite architecture. These are from America, Britain, Italy, and Belgium. They include private houses, industrial buildings, offices, and public spaces like swimming pools. Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre, London. Former Kod … | Continue reading
I found a selection of photos online that interested me. They have no particular theme, I just liked them. (Some of them can be enlarged by clicking on them.) Freed slave children in the 1860s. An official measuring bathing suits in the 1920s to enforce ‘modesty regulations’. Fas … | Continue reading
When I was young, I heard a French song called ‘La Mer’, by Charles Trenet. I knew that meant ‘The Sea’, and I enjoyed the music. Not long after, when I was only eight years old, I heard an English language cover version, by Bobby Darin. The title had changed to’Beyond The Sea’, … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-first part of a fiction serial, in 776 words. Sitting in the back of the police car in handcuffs, Terence considered his options. He had been cautioned, and told he was being arrested ‘To allow further investigations into a serious allegation’. He decided to as … | Continue reading
I had already posted some musings on Wednesday, having missed out last Sunday due to becoming forgetful. If you didn’t see that post, here’s a link. Belated Sunday Musings On A Wednesday As a result, today’s offering is shorter than usual. ————————————————————————————– Ollie fina … | Continue reading
Thanks to Mr E. Musk, sharing of your blog posts to Twitter using the automatic process that exists currently will no longer be possible. I received this email today. Hi Pete, From April 30, 2023 you will no longer be able to share your WordPress.com posts automatically to Twitt … | Continue reading
This is the twentieth part of a fiction serial, in 793 words. A year later, and Terence had a thriving business. He was turning down bookings, and had a core of over thirty regular customers who came back week after week. One of them, who liked to be known as Diane, even paid jus … | Continue reading
We are all used to seeing elegant ladies in old photographs, but almost never in colour. This selection was photographed by various uncredited photographers over a ten year period using the ‘Autochrome’ process. The photos were not colourised later, and are shown as they were dev … | Continue reading
This is the nineteenth part of a fiction serial, in 754 words. Terence hadn’t forgotten Alan. Although it was a bit further for him to drive, he felt sure Alan would be keen to be part of New You. He had kept him informed of developments by messaging him on the old fetish site, a … | Continue reading
A collection of photographs taken almost 40 years apart show how London’s streets have changed. (Or in some cases, hardly at all) In 1973, civil servant John Hutchinson photographed areas in London which were under threat of redevelopment. He feared the Victorian buildings that h … | Continue reading
This is the eighteenth part of a fiction serial, in 745 words. As he sat eating a tasty Steak and Ale Pie with vegetables in a decent pub, Terence suddenly had an idea. It was one of those light-bulb moments, and a smile spread across his face. There were so many men like Clive, … | Continue reading
I don’t miss much about living in London. After all, I lived there for 60 years, knew every part of it well, and it holds few if any surprises for me. But I do miss the restaurants. For 12 years before I left the city, I lived in Camden Town, just a short walk from … Continue rea … | Continue reading
This is the seventeenth part of a fiction serial, in 805 words. Making sure he was up early the next morning, Terence was not surprised to find Alan still sleeping in his wig, and wearing a nightdress that would have suited an eighty year-old woman. After serving coffee and toast … | Continue reading
I have only just realised that I didn’t post any Sunday musings on the 23rd. I must be slipping! So here are some midweek ones instead. ————————————————————————————— Having just got used to our newer car and starting to enjoy it, a sudden crop of warning signals appeared on the d … | Continue reading
This is the sixteenth part of a fiction serial, in 814 words. Terence didn’t dwell on his concerns for too long. After all, he had the best part of a hundred grand in his bank account. That might attract the attention of the tax man at some stage, but he could say it was a … Cont … | Continue reading
When I was young, I was captivated by the Modernist and Art Deco styling of the cinemas I went to in London. I thought they were like palaces, inside and out. Once I was old enough to drive around England, I was delighted to discover that they were everywhere. A golden age of arc … | Continue reading
This is the fifteenth part of a fiction serial, in 730 words. Terence was able to park the car very close to where he had taken it. Once back inside his flat, he was pleased to see that Clive had not soiled the bed during his absence. After stashing the DVDs and his phone in … Co … | Continue reading
Never let it be said that the Edwardians didn’t know how to relax and enjoy themselves. But they made sure to always be dressed for the occasion. Children enjoying a day at the beach. This girl has used a bathing machine to protect her modesty when changing into her swimsuit. Kee … | Continue reading
This is the fourteenth part of a fiction serial, in 800 words. The house was a double-fronted detached 1930s style in a nice area of Derby. Terence parked the car in front of the separate garage, and ran his gaze over the property looking for any sign of a burglar alarm. The hous … | Continue reading
John is a blogger from America who mainly concentrates on the political situation in his country. However, he also posts some fascinating recollections of his youth, and has sent me a short story with a Gothic theme that I am happy to present here as a guest post. To see more of … | Continue reading
I found some more of Sander’s interesting portaits online. In the early 1920s Sander began People of the 20th Century – one of the most ambitious undertakings in the history of photography, the project occupied Sander for some 40 years, from the early 1920s until his death, durin … | Continue reading
This is the thirteenth part of a fiction serial, in 770 words. Terence had some thinking to do. If Clive could become a regular, five hundred a week was good enough, and showed he had money to burn. It would be no problem increasing the prices over time, and if he could afford it … | Continue reading
Originally posted on Stevie Turner: Back in 2020 my thriller ‘Scam!‘ won first prize in the Electric Eclectic Writing Competition, and the prize was for the book to be published free by Crimson Cloak Publishing. Three years later Crimson Cloak Publishing have kindly returned to m … | Continue reading
For the relatively wealthy, the Edwardian Era was an age of elegance in female fashion. The drab dresses associated with Victoriian times took a back seat to modern fashions that were ever-changing, and often designed by famous fashion houses. This was also a time when nobody lef … | Continue reading
This is the twelfth part of a fiction serial, in 785 words. Before Clive was due to turn up, Terence decided to buy some suitable attire. Deciding he should look something like a strict school-teacher or governess, he toured the charity shops for the right look. A tweed skirt and … | Continue reading
Originally posted on Stevie Turner: Today on Friday Showcase I’m going to feature two blogger friends of mine. The first blogger is Pete Johnson, alias BeetleyPete. You can find his blog page here: https://beetleypete.com/ Pete grew up in London and then retired to East Anglia. H … | Continue reading
My thanks to fellow blogger Carolyn for bringing my attention to this 19-minute video about the control and use of images. It contains a lot of familiar film footage throughout history, and some eye-opening information about who owns the rights to it, and how much they charge to … | Continue reading
This is the eleventh part of a fiction serial, in 790 words. On the way home in the train, Terence was angry. Angry at being duped by the man purporting to be Lawrence. Angry that he would now have to change websites because of that mistake. Angry at wasting time and money travel … | Continue reading
Back to 1934. Seriously retro, and what for me was the golden age of Jazz. This version of a well-known song is from the Roy Fox Band, accompanied by some energetic tap-dancing ladies. Vocals are kept to a minumum, probably because the English accents don’t sound that good on a v … | Continue reading
This short video (just over five minutes long) contains a real mixture of historical photos, the earliest ones taken in the 1890s. It covers a variety of subjects, from the Depression Era, to WW2 and later. I have not seen any of them previously. | Continue reading
This is the tenth part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. Terence strolled into the lobby of the nice hotel and sat down on a plush armchair with an oblique view of the long reception desk. When a waitress appeared moments later, he ordered a coffee, pleased that you did not need … | Continue reading
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea includes many well-known districts of London, both rich and poor. From Chelsea by the river, to Kensington and Earl’s Court, up to Notting Hill and the edge of Kensal Green in the north. This is a borough where wealth and poverty live w … | Continue reading
This is the ninth part of a fiction serial, in 749 words. Travelling as Phyllis was a refreshing change for Terence. It also saved having to pack changes of clothes to wear as a man. The hotel in Kensington was definitely a step up from the one in Bayswater. Although nothing gran … | Continue reading
Brixton is a district in South-West London. It was one of the first areas to become popular with West Indian immigrants in the 1950s, and over the decades has become one of the most multi-cultural boroughs in London. Famous for large markets, some on the street and another inside … | Continue reading
It already felt warm when I woke up this morning, and the blue skies enhanced my mood before I had my first cup of tea. By the time I took Ollie for his walk, the weather conditions were so perfect, it was a day I would like to save and repeat for the rest of … Continue reading T … | Continue reading
This is the eighth part of a fiction serial, in 746 words. With the number of messages now well over two hundred, Terence had to spend time whittling out the chaff. By the time he had done that, he was still left with over thirty that looked promising. That left him with the conc … | Continue reading
Various photos that I found interesting. Poplar, East London. Two young girls practice their ballet moves on the wall of their small garden. Late 1950s. The North of England, 1960s. Two female friends share some local gossip. Post-War London. A busy street market. Dustmen emptyin … | Continue reading
I am going all the way back to 1946 with this choice, which was a hit six years before I was born. But when I was a child, it was still played by my parents, and was also popular at family parties for dancing. It has many fond memories for me. Louis Thomas Jordan (July … Continue … | Continue reading
This is the seventh part of a fiction serial, in 780 words. Sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, Geoffrey was overwhelmed by the situation he found himslef in. He was unable to look at the almost naked man who was talking to him in a very different voice to the one … Co … | Continue reading
It has been a quiet week. Other than taking Ollie to the Vet, which I already wrote about on the blog, nothing much has happened. I am continuing with his ear-ash treatment, but it is hard to tell if there is much improvement so far. ————————————————————————————— I got my first i … | Continue reading
I admit this a personal rant, before anyone complains. For more than the last 25 years, I have watched characters in British films and TV shows happily eating with chopsticks. They seem accomplished in what I consider to be an ‘Ancient Chinese Art’. Now I have eaten in many Chine … | Continue reading
This is the sixth part of a fiction serial, in 801 words. As Geoffrey had taken off his suit jacket and excused himself to use the bathroom, Terence had a quick look through the pockets. As well as a wallet, he found a packet of Viagra, with one tablet missing. Smiling, he imagin … | Continue reading
The idea of the perfect English village has been promoted in books, films, and television series. Tourists from all over the world come to this country in search of them, and many still exist. Ironically, that fame has changed them in character, if not in architecture. Some can b … | Continue reading
This is the fifth part of a fiction serial, in 769 words. When the car pulled in outside Paddington Station, Terence was impressed. Geoffrey wasn’t driving, it was a suit and tie driver in the front. A chauffeur driven hire car, much more luxurious than a taxi. The driver took th … | Continue reading
Kensington Palace Gardens in London has the most expensive property prices in Britain. Many of the grand residences there house foreign embassies and diplomats, as well as private homes of the super rich, most of them foreign nationals. At each end of the street are private secur … | Continue reading