Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door. This is who it was:

PHOTO OF THE DAY. A woman in New York City walking her dog in the driving rain (1957). 📷 Saul Leiter

Ye Gods!

Am I correct in saying that when someone receives a gunshot wound - it is not like the movies (where they show a neat little hole with minimal surrounding damage). In real life, bullets cause horrendous injuries. Is that right? #Question #History #Medicine

Does anyone understand how Oyster cards work? I've lived outside the UK for so long that I'm totally clueless about such things. If you're using the Tube for a day (or two), is it worthwhile getting one? Or just buying a day travelcard? Or using the tap-in/tap-out system they've got in place now?

It is a good film, but I feel guilty about saying so - as it misportrays what life was really like for those building the railway, omitting the horrific treatment by the Japanese.

Can any bright sparks answer this?

PHOTO OF THE DAY. A stunning image of Christ the Redeemer (unveiled #OTD in 1931) seemingly holding the Moon in Rio de Janeiro (2024). 📷 Leo Sans

Yes. I once saw a post from someone wishing he'd had the chance to know his father's (mostly deceased) family better. As a #genealogy enthusiast, I immediately offered to research his #familytree. Little did I know where it would lead. Here's me meeting his Mom, #BelindaCarlisle a few weeks ago.

Check out my new #blog post. It contains tips and advice on visiting the #WesternFront - somewhere everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes. Feedback and comments are welcome! #Travel #FirstWorldWar #WW1 #LestWeForget #France #Belgium elizabethjbond.wordpress.com/2025/09/20/v...

So this happened at the weekend. I haven't stopped smiling since. And yes, she is absolutely wonderful. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Wordle 1,528 2/6 🟩🟩⬜🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes!!

Happy National Bacon Lovers Day (yes, really). Coincidentally, I had a bacon and egg fry up this morning. Yes, I know it's unhealthy, but I enjoyed it. 😋

Yuck! Just had a truly unpleasant experience on Bluesky, involving a user, who didn't like his assertions questioned, proceeded to hurl false personal accusations/ foul abuse at me, and tried to encourage a pile-on. Had hoped to avoid that on here.

On this anniversary of Britain's entry into the First World War, please can you sign this petition to save the #Scarisbrick War Memorial? It would mean a lot to me as my great grandfather (who died as a result of #WW1) is named on it. #FirstWorldWar www.ashleydalton.uk/2025/08/03/s...

The last time, the men's England team won anything - 59 years ago today. Congrats to the #Lionesses on their far more recent victories! I did manage to collect 10/11 autographs from the 1966 #England team. Sadly, Bobby Moore's eluded me. Maybe I should start collecting the Women's team instead.

Remembering #JamesMason, who passed away #onthisday in 1984. I've done a lot of #genealogy research into his family & I'd like to share this collage. 60+ years separate these pics, but both show him with the stone lion, which was at his childhood home & later shipped to his house in Switzerland.

I know this is the Mail, but it perhaps explains why the government has suspended publication of the Bona Vacantia list on its website. If true, it's the most blatant example of fraud I've ever seen. How in the world was probate granted on this estate? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

FACT OF THE DAY. 23 July 1914. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, following the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914. It served to escalate the international crisis which led to the outbreak of the First World War.

RIP, Ozzy Osbourne. #OzzyOsbourne

Remembering Basil Rathbone, who passed away 58 years ago, yesterday. Here are a few facts you might not know about him. #BasilRathbone #Hollywood #ErrolFlynn #FirstWorldWar #WW1

The sun cast incredible crespuscular rays during last night's saffron hued sunset. Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

My new TikTok video on how Prince Philip solved the mystery of what happened to the Romanovs. Give it a watch and let me know what you think. #Romanov #History #Russia #Royal #RoyalFamily #PrincePhilip #Genealogy #DNA #GeneticGenealogy #TikTok www.tiktok.com/@elizabethjb...

Interesting fact: The Tsarina's eldest sister was Prince Philip's maternal grandmother. Years later, Philip's mitochondrial DNA was used to help confirm the identity of the Romanov remains. This also explains one of Philip's most infamous lines. #History #Genealogy #DNA #GeneticGenealogy #Russia

Fascinating photo of T. E. Lawrence in Wejh (aka 'Al-Wajh' in modern-day Saudi Arabia) in 1917. Not long afterwards, he set off to take the city of Aqaba as part of the Arab Revolt against Turkish rule. This was achieved 108 years ago today. Photo by B. E. Leeson. #History #WW1

Post someone with wings. RIP, Julian McMahon.

Very good video on why a sandwich did not start the First World War and why it's important to debunk that story. #FirstWorldWar #WW1 #History #Fww www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbOj...

I am not overly superstitious, and this is just a coincidence - but still it's a spooky one. #FirstWorldWar #Sarajevo #WW1 #ArchdukeFranzFerdinand

FACT OF THE DAY. 28 June 1914. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was the trigger for an international crisis that led to the outbreak of the “Great War”.

This video made my day! I feature in the second half of it. Check it out below - either on YouTube or TikTok. It may be of particular interest to #FirstWorldWar / #history / #geography enthusiasts. And thank you again, JoséMonkey. 😊😊😊 #WW1 #Travel

From the archives: Would you want to be the enumerator going to this house? #History #Genealogy

This video made my day! I feature in the second half of it. Check it out below - either on YouTube or TikTok. It may be of particular interest to #FirstWorldWar / #history / #geography enthusiasts. And thank you again, JoséMonkey. 😊😊😊 #WW1 #Travel

Flashback to my most miserable week. Pic 1 was day before I was admitted to hospital, dangerously anaemic with a life-threatening Hb level of 5.3. Pic 2 was the day I was released. I think you can see the difference. On #WorldBloodDonorDay, I want to thank all who #giveblood. You saved my life. 🥲🥹

I never met my grandmother's sisters as they died before I was born. However, I was named after her eldest sister, 'Betty' - and there are strange parallels between my life and hers. I also wrote a bit about Betty in this blog, if anyone's interested: 👇 elizabethjbond.wordpress.com/2025/04/27/h...

Flashback to last year in Arras. My first time on the Western Front. It was a fantastic experience, but there are some things that I wish I'd known beforehand. New blog on that subject dropping soon. #Arras #WesternFront #WW1 #FirstWorldWar #LestWeForget 🌺

An unusual favour. I have a chance of potentially making money from TikTok to help pay costs incurred when doing @projectinfant.ie. If you want to help, share this post, then watch the video & interact with it & follow along with me. Every little helps! vm.tiktok.com/ZNdSaqCLS/

Have you seen all of my most recent videos? www.patreon.com/posts/icymi-...

What's not widely known is that #OscarWilde had a co-accused, Alfred Taylor - a man who had inherited a lot of money & used it to live a life of pleasure, incl. basically being a pimp. He got the same sentence as Wilde & the judge didn't hold back. I'm very curious what happened to him afterwards.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Flare fire at night, on the Western Front, in WW1 (1917). 📷 google images

Here's an interesting census entry. Listed here is a 64 year old gardener, named James Phipps - the same person who was inoculated with cowpox as a child by Edward Jenner, thereby paving the way for vaccinations and the eventual eradication of smallpox. #history #genealogy #vaccination

I have just been reading up about Paul Vellacott, former Headmaster of Harrow and Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. What an utterly fascinating life he led - particularly his #FirstWorldWar service. Bit oh, how disappointing to find his obituary hasn't been properly scanned. 😥 #FWW

Future winner of the Great British Bake Off! Actually, I'm not much of a cook, but the girl I look after had a birthday yesterday, and she really wanted a chocolate cake. #Kids #BakeOff #GBBO

Well, that was over quickly....

Interestingly, I believe Heath is the only PM to have seen active combat in the #SWW. Callaghan was also a veteran (joined the RN), but I can't find firm evidence that he saw action. Surprising - given that four PMs served in #FWW and no fewer than 7 US Presidents served in the Second. #VEDay80

Think I'd enjoy this. Cannot stand Eastenders, but I think Ross Kemp is an excellent presenter. His documentary on Libya and what has happened to that country since the fall of Gaddafi was a real eye-opener. I cannot understand why people don't talk about it more.

What is it about kids? You tell them not to sit on you because you'll end up as flat as a pancake. For some reason, they find this hilarious and want to do it even more. 🥴 #JoysOfWorkingWithKids #Kids #Pancake

I love JoseMonkey's videos and always make a point of looking out for them - whether they flag up in my feed or not. To anyone on TikTok - check him out. Especially if you're interested in detective skills.

New blog post. This one was quite difficult to write, but I'd be interested in any thoughts/feedback. How were disabled people treated in the past? And are things better now? #genealogy #history #disability #AmWriting #blog elizabethjbond.wordpress.com/2025/04/27/h...

Wishing all who celebrate a very Happy Easter. 🥚🐣🐇