Monthly Archives: January 2018

While I was researching Valentine Baker’s attack on Rebecca Dickinson, I also came across his obituary. Several obituaries in fact, and all quite hagiographic. Most dealt with his attack on Miss Dickinson by ignoring it as much as possible – … Continue reading →

While reading about Victorian crime and sensationalism I came across a story that you have to put in the “you couldn’t make this up” category. Like all such stories, it has a sordid and dramatic beginning: On the 17th of … Continue reading →

I’ve been reading quite a lot about the Victorian period, and particularly about Victorian crime, newspapers and newspaper reporting as well as reading a number of Victorian sensation novels such as Wilkie Collins’ “Woman in White” and Mary Braddon’s “Lady … Continue reading →

I’ve previously written about the heads used on Queen Victoria’s coins, and how there had been an abortive attempt to introduce a common currency throughout the British Empire. One place where it didn’t work was Jamaica, where the local Afro … Continue reading →

A few days ago I was on the number 16 tram in Melbourne rattling up Balaclava Road, and half day dreaming while looking out the window. When the tram got as far as the intersection of Balaclava and Orrong roads … Continue reading →

Yesterday, as well as being the last day of the year was a beautiful cool summer Sunday morning and ideal for a walk before it got too hot. For a change we decided to walk up to the old Lunatic … Continue reading →