My view this morning! Giving a talk at The Shard.

Having binged it ladt night, the new Mackenzie-Crooks series, Small Prophets, is kind of wonderful.

Did Nick Robinson just say that the UK would look as bad as Italy if Keir Starmer steps down as PM on BBC R4 Today? Implying that a quick succession of PMs makes us appear like a joke. In the past 10 years Italy's only had 5 PMs - the UK is currently on 6 for the same period. Arrogant much?

Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work. "Technology is the easy bit."

Reading Flight 777 by Ian Colvin this week. Published in 1957, it explored the mysterious circumstances of Leslie Howard's death in June 1943. Easy to forget what a huge star of stage and screen he was at the time of his disappearance. #histbookchat

Snowdrops beginning to bloom and a glimpse of sun!

Attended a lecture on the bombing of Dresden this evening. A difficult topic expertly handled by @spitfirefilly.bsky.social

Sunday vibes

Well, I don't care what people say, I'm warming to Star Trek Starfleet Academy.

Next up is Warriors by J. Glenn Gray. Been on the TBR pile for too long and now fits well into my current research into troop experiences. #histbookchat

Very pleased to announce that the cover design for my first book has been finalised. Co-authored with Professor Adam Fairclough, Madam V: Virginia Vernon's War will be published by The History Press in August. The story of this fearless woman needs to be told! #histbookchat #booksky

"Ye Hypocrites, are these your pranks To murder men and gie God thanks Desist for shame, proceed no further God won't accept your thanks for murder." - Thanksgiving to a National Victory, Robert Burns

At some point on Friday I passed the 50 mile mark! I'm also closing in on £1250 in donations (my original target was £250). Please help me get to my new target & thus support this fantastic cause. fundraise.dementiauk.org/fundraisers/...

“A gigantic icebreaker is sailing full steam ahead, shredding the old world order. And the name of that ship? The Donald Trump.” My dispatch from Moscow for BBC Radio’s From Our Own Correspondent.

Well, eldest son managed to get a place at McGill next academic year, so we're going to get to see a lot more of Montreal! Excited for him.

Idiots - succinctly put. #thearchers

Fear and the frontline soldier's experience are discussed in my blog post this week, based on a memoir by an officer at El Alamein. A sensitive and, at times, shocking topic, but for me it highlights the bravery of ordinary people placed in brutal situations. open.substack.com/pub/matteato...

This week I have been mostly reading The Sharp End of War by John Ellis. He writes about the experiences of the Allied soldiers during the SWW from fear to boredom. Highly recommended. #histbookchat

My brain is melting listening to Trump's address to Davos. He's just claimed that the FWW ended because of Spanish Flu.

Choux Farci at Pique Nique, Bermondsey. Delicious. This was shared between two, but it's fair to say that I've had my quota of pheasant for January!

A new one to spot on my walks in the Chilterns! BBC News - Rare fungi spotted at The Box Moor Trust Estate in Hertfordshire - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For your holiday weekend reading & reflection, here’s my 259th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share as widely as possible, & solidarity, all! 🗃️ blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

Feeds like #histbookchat and #histscalemodels are an important tool in BlueSky for building communities. Pin these communities to quickly see content updates by going to Feeds > Search for Discover New Feeds > and clicking pin. Public Service Announcement ends.

This week finds me reading The Broken Plume by Norman Craig for #histbookchat. A very honest memoir of the young officers experiences at El Alamein and Italy. Revealing insights into nature of bravery, morale, and companionship. The fog of war at a platoon level and for the men involved.

A #histbookchat recommendation picked up from The George the other evening, A Green and Pleasant Land by Ursula Buchan. How England's Gardeners Fought the Second World War.

Early evening drinks at The Guards bar. Raffles has done a good job with the Old War Office! Apparently, you can stay in Alan Brooke's former office.

Gazing darkly through the dimpled glass. This week's article considers the seriously important stuff - the disturbing lack of beer available to the troops during the Italian Campaign. matteatonmedia.substack.com/p/una-birra-... #skystorians #milwelfhist

This week I'm mostly reading Guns at Last Light, the final book in Rick Atkinson's Liberation trilogy. Enjoyable writing as ever and hoping it sheds more light on the political battles within Shaef. #histbookchat

Sobering summary of new Maga world view and historical context by Jeremy Bowen on BBC R4 Today programme - from timecode 1hr 37m. Recommended.

I've only just realised that Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom happens a year before Raiders of the Lost Ark. What more essential facts am I missing?

Its cold outside

Some new year nonsense - read about how the Fairy Freight Sergeant granted the Erk's wish to go to the NAAFI ball... Performed at RAF Staging Post, Sardinia 1944.

Catching up on #thearchers

Simple explanation - Matt Crawford is back. #thearchers

I started 2025 reading Naples 1944 by Keith Lowe and ended the year with the haunting Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd. #1 Insightful - 1945 The Reckoning #1 Discovery - Rick Atkinson #1 Biggest Dud - SAS in 1943 #1 Inspiration - A Time of Gifts #histbookchat

Meeting up with a friend to sample some historic pubs around Farringdon. Any recommendations? Thinking The Holy Tavern, Ye Olde Mitre, Citte of Yorke, The Seven Stars...

Added to the stash over Xmas! I predict a few #histscalemodel planes being built in 2026. Now, just need to finish that Tempest...

I know I said last week’s #ScholarSunday thread was the year’s final one, but y’all did too much good work this week to ignore—so here’s a Christmas bonus, my 256th thread of public scholarly goodness from the past week! Add more below, share widely, & enjoy! 🗃️ blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

I couldn't put Demobbed down - brilliant. Next one from the Xmas haul is The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd. Written during the SWW, describing the author's journeys in the Cairngorms. Many people have told me this is an important book to read. So diving in... #histbookchat

Next up is the RAF's version of Cinderella, performed in Sardinia in December 1944. How did the Brylcreem Boys compare to the Army when it came to pantomime, and what might it say about the two services? open.substack.com/pub/matteato... #milwelfhist #skystorians

The first of the Xmas haul is @alanallport.bsky.social's Demobbed. Making in-roads between the sausage rolls and recycling - enjoying it immensely! #histbookchat

There's a name for it? I thought it was just me being a miserable bastard with a low tolerance for other people. I experienced this much more in my youth - I have chilled out a lot since then. BBC News - Christmas can be a nightmare for misophonia sufferers like me www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's a Wonderful Life. "All you can take with you is that which you've given away."

Just finished @kitkowol.bsky.social's excellent Blue Jerusalem. If you like your perceptions of the SWW, liberal militarism, and the People's War to be shaken & stirred, read it. I dare you. #histbookchat

Here it is, the final regular #ScholarSunday thread of 2025, my 255th thread of great public scholarly writing, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, please share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

Wise words and a timely message. Recommended!

The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go.

Here's my latest blog post: The Festive Sack Was Positively Bulging in Italy 1944. It's a light-hearted look at a British Army Xmas panto based on a script from Kew. If you prefer the Brylcreem boys, part 2 covers an RAF show. matteatonmedia.substack.com/p/the-festiv... #skystorians #milwelfhist

Here's my latest blog post: The Festive Sack Was Positively Bulging in Italy 1944. It's a light-hearted look at a British Army Xmas panto based on a script from Kew. If you prefer the Brylcreem boys, part 2 covers an RAF show. matteatonmedia.substack.com/p/the-festiv... #skystorians #milwelfhist

It's a shame this series was overshadowed by the BBC's stupid deletion of a few words about Trump. Bregman's Reith lectures is far more important than that and has been largely overlooked, especially this last talk on AI. Worth a listen. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...