Author Archives: dgm

As we’ve said we’re tentatively planning a trip along the Trans Siberian from east to west. As part of the planning process we’re putting together a wiki with links and planning information while we try and sort out what we … Continue reading →

Here in Canberra, we moved into summer time a couple of weeks ago, suddenly making it light to half past seven in the evening, and suddenly the heating hardly comes on in the evening. One of the supposed benefits of … Continue reading →

No, not another long post about the the post October 1917 civil war in Russia or the importance of early twentieth century East Asian history. I have, over the past couple of years, accumulated too much leave. So much that … Continue reading →

I’ve been watching Rory Stewart’s programs on the new great game on SBS. Yes, I know they were on over a month ago but as we watch very little television we tend to accumulate shows – for example we’ll probably … Continue reading →

I’ve been doing quite a lot of reading around the history of the Russian civil war, renewing my fascination with that period. Given the upcoming centenary of the first world war, and the probable emphasis in anglophone countries on the … Continue reading →

Truth be told I’m a little squeamish about eating rabbit.  No matter how well disguised I have a definite withdrawal response about it. Totally irrational, I know. I put it down to being told that skinned, deheaded, defooted and detailed … Continue reading →

What seems a long time ago I bought myself an e-reader, and I’ve used successfully over the last two or so years with books from Project Gutenberg and with books bought through Borders (when they existed) and BookDepository (when they … Continue reading →

The revolution of November 7, 1917, in Petrograd was more than just a revolution. It was a world shaking event bring in its wake numerous insurrections in the wreck of the old Europe and even as far away as Patagonia … Continue reading →

Having read Bruce Lockhart’s autobiography I’m now about halfway through Clifford Kinvig’s military history of the British intervention in post 1917 Russia. It’s a sorry tale of how what started as an effort to stiffen the Kerensky government’s resolve to … Continue reading →

I’ve just finished reading Bruce Lockhart’s autobiography. It’s a moderately entertaining read, but it is remarkable for what it doesn’t say. As a witness to great events as the unofficial British representative in Moscow during 1918 he was uniquely placed … Continue reading →