Tag: History

The Pool of London
England

The Pool of London

In days gone down, this river carried with it the germ of empires, the seeds of countries, the dreams of uncountable millions. Some of these seeds took root in colonies at the uttermost ends of the Earth. My great grandfather, Charles Robert Blakiston, sailed down this very river in 1864, bound for the goldfields of Victoria and then, to the fledgling settlement of Canterbury. Continue reading The Pool of London

The New Jerusalem
England

The New Jerusalem

Here, in the cathedral’s shadow, I am still enveloped in its hallowed calm, a secular pilgrim at the gates of history. In this pause between the old stones and the sky-reaching Shard, it seems as though the burden of the present is perfectly balanced by the gravity of the past. I am standing at a crossroads in time, the very air around me saturated with a sacred stillness. Here, in the shadow of spires, I discover a sanctuary in the stone and stories, a threshold to the new Jerusalem. Continue reading The New Jerusalem

The Gordian Knot
England

The Gordian Knot

London is a living entity where new buildings rise, adding to the skyline, yet the historic heart of London remains. The city honours its past while boldly embracing the future, a testament to human endurance and creativity. Continue reading The Gordian Knot

Ship of the Line
England

Ship of the Line

At seven bells in the afternoon watch, Charles and I step aboard the afterdeck of HMS Belfast. There is no wailing of bosun’s pipes, sprung to welcome us aboard. No stamp and clash of Marines presenting arms. No doffing of hats, no white-gloved sideboys, no parade of midshipmen. We are simply two more civilian tourists coming aboard. Continue reading Ship of the Line

Lunch at the Club
England

Lunch at the Club

We climb the staircase to the club’s first floor. From the high-ceilinged corridor, oak-panelled doors lead to discreet rooms and chambers, each one bedecked with portraits of military men and scenes from great moments in military history: the retreat from Kabul, the Battle of Plassey, Captain Oats leaving the tent in an Antarctic blizzard: “…I may be some time.” Continue reading Lunch at the Club