Another productive evening spent writing. However, time to put the laptop away and get a bottle of something out. Below is the Italian battleship Andrea Doria, which features in my current project. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Seems like a good time to get on with reading these.

#OnThisDay (2 Feb 1712) George Anson begins his distinguished career in the #RoyalNavy aboard HMS Ruby. His subsequent reforms as First Lord of the Admiralty were instrumental in professionalising the service and establishing British naval supremacy. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

I’ve got something a bit different in the works for later this year, and I hope you’ll all find it interesting....

#OnThisDay (27 Jan 1916) The Military Service Act gains Royal Assent, bringing conscription to Great Britain for the first time. The Act required single men aged 18-41 to serve. Around 2.5 million men were ultimately conscripted. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (26 Jan 1885) #Khartoum falls to Mahdist forces following a 317-day siege. General Charles George Gordon is killed just two days before a British relief column arrives. The event sparks a national public outcry in Britain. #MahdistWar (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Still one of my favourite war movies, and a pretty good way to spend the first part of a Sunday evening.

Another productive afternoon writing about the Battle of the River Plate. Tackling events in Montevideo in the lead up to Graf Spee’s scuttling shortly. For now, though, it’s time for coffee and an 80s movie. 🤓 Image: Damage to HMS Exeter during the battle - Wikimedia Commons

#OnThisDay (25 Jan 1797) A Royal Navy squadron of three frigates and a corvette under George Stewart engaged the Spanish ship San Francisco de Asís off Cádiz. Despite a fierce 3-hour battle, the British were forced to withdraw due to heavy damage. (Images: Wikimedia Commons)

My days of making plastic model kits are long in the past, but I had fun building this.

Slowly getting my head around the finer details of the Battle of the River Plate. This surely has to be one of the most intriguing stories of WW2.

A day of writing about this. ⬇️ Now for an evening of reading and coffee before the delights of another manic week ahead. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

History in the making. Absolutely fascinating. news.sky.com/liveblog-web...

Two new Lego builds for 2026, complete with light kits and display cases.

Today I've been writing about this ship and gentleman. Image: www.rmg.co.uk/collections/...

Off to Narvik next. Not literally, but for my Christmas/New Year read.

Merry Christmas to all my followers who celebrate it. I hope you all have a wonderful festive period. 🎄 The photograph below is of Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942. Image: IWM A 13568 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

My reading for the next couple of weeks.

Very sad to hear this. A reminder that working at sea can be very dangerous. Thoughts with their family and fellow crew. news.sky.com/story/extens...

I think this has become one of my most favourite TV series of all time! Mad Men | Netflix share.google/g4QtWfA1Ommt...

Remembering William Simner of the 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed-in-action on this day in 1915. www.cwgc.org/find-records...

Just arrived for review. That's my weekend reading sorted.

One of the more challenging but oddly enjoyable aspect of writing a book. Finding photos and images. Thankfully, I have a large collection of original antique prints and photographs.

If you are an old fart like me, you will absolutely love this! watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=a...

New additions to the collection incoming. I've no doubt you can guess the medal and topic.

Probably my favourite painting/picture from the Anglo-Egyptian campaigns. The Storming of Tel-el-Kebir by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville. A subject I am currently writing about. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (31 August 1918) The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin begins on the Western Front in France, during which the Australian Corps crosses the Somme River and breaks the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (29 Aug 1807) British troops under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeat a Danish militia at the Battle of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen. It is also referred to as 'the Clogs battle' due to the wooden Clogs worn by the Danes. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (28 August 1914) British and German warships clash at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea. It was the first naval battle of the First World War and resulted in the sinking of three German light cruisers and a destroyer. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (27 Aug 1896) The The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between Great Britain and Sultanate of Zanzibar takes place. It is said the war lasted for approximately 38 to 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history. (Images: Wikimedia Commons)

Another 8.5km run done this morning and several more hours working on my next book this afternoon. I might just have a relaxing and lazy bank holiday Monday as a treat... 😂

The first part of my Friday evening sorted... www.primevideo.com/detail/Vende...

Today started with a 10km run, followed by several hours working on my next book. Now I'm about to undo all my good physical and mental work with a burger, rum, and a Netflix binge... 😬

I have posted these before, and will post them again. Two of my favourite Second World War period cap badges: (left) King's Own Malta Regiment and (right) Royal Malta Artillery. There was also a Malta Fortress Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but they wore the standard RE badge.

Very sad to hear Jim Lovell has passed away. news.sky.com/story/apollo...

I've read 23 (soon to be 24) books this year so far. I always feel I need to up my reading game and that I don't read enough. People who have read more books than I, how on earth do you find the time? (And yes, I appreciate lengths of books vary a lot.)

#OnThisDay (8 August 1945) The London Charter (also known as the #Nuremberg Charter) is signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The charter established the rules and procedures under which the Nuremberg trials were conducted. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

If you have £15k spare (probably more). BBC News - 'Top secret' D-Day landing maps to go to auction www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For those of you in Doncaster this weekend. www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/people/...

I have to admit I do not recall this TV series. Did anyone watch it? #ANZACGirls www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-r...

I had boxes of these as a child. Its great to see they're still produced by Airfix. I'm tempted to buy some just for nostalgic reasons... uk.airfix.com/products/wwi...

BBC News - Thame WWII hero awarded blue plaque to mark legacy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BBC News - Greater Manchester's role in the WW2 battle for the skies www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#OnThisDay (3 Aug. 1940) Italian forces invade British Somaliland during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. The invasion would end within two weeks in Italian victory, with Somaliland being annexed to Africa Orientale Italiana. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

A piece of local history to me. c.March 1918: A tank (known as 'Julian') outside #Walsall townhall as part of a fundraising tour for the war effort during "Walsall Tank Week". (Images: Period Postcards)

This is still one of my top-10 movies, possibly top-5. Looking forward to the forthcoming sequel. #guiltypleasure www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse...

BBC News - Plait of Admiral Lord Nelson's hair up for auction www.bbc.com/news/article...

I've had this medal group for some years. They are named to an Able Seaman of the Hawke Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, who later served as a Special Constable in WW2. I thinks its time to expand my knowledge of the RND during WW1.

I do love a good Moth www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...