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/...

Some great walks this weekend in the sunshine. Mickey approved.

Diving into Blue Jerusalem by Kit Kowol - a book I bought at WHWV earlier this year. Not a topic I would normally be drawn to but Kit writes beautifully about the broad church of conservatism during the 40s. Fascinating tracing today's myths of the SWW back to their origins. #histbookchat

sharing on #histbookchat feed

Struggling to finish a book by a prominent historian. I've seen him talk and enjoyed his previous works. This one would leave a dent if dropped and god I'm bored with it. I've been questioning myself as a reader, but sod it, I'm moving on. #histbookchat

Hmm - seems a little impractical. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

First stollen of the season!

Quietly nursing a sore head after the London IC day at HMS Belfast! Quite a week. You can read latest blog post here: open.substack.com/pub/matteato...

Just had a spine-tingling experience today. After a month of searching I managed to track down the family of a young lieutenant who died in Arras in May 1940. Long shot but they came back within a few hours of my email and now have permission to use photos in my book and lots of additional info.

Apparently I have a listening age of 73, according to Spotify.

This evening at 7pm UK - eek!

Not my usual read, but I was given a free copy so... Infantry A Global History by Jeremy Black. #histbookchat #photofriday

Beautiful morning walk with Mickey through the beeches. Love frosty blue sky walks.

The Thames today.

sharing on #histbookchat feed!

It started off as a strange fascination with It Aint Half Hot Mum, turned into a PhD and now a biography coming out next year. On Tuesday 2 Dec 7pm I'll be waxing lyrical about the real story of organised troop entertainment on @ww2tv.bsky.social. Hope you can join: www.youtube.com/live/86qfHAq...

Once more before Sunday ends, here's today's #ScholarSunday thread. Please share widely to get all this great public scholarship out there, & thanks! @hcrichardson.bsky.social 🗃️

Sunday morning walk between the showers.

This week's blog post looks at how Indian troops were entertained whilst serving in Italy during the Second World War. Suffice it to say, things could have been improved. #skystorians open.substack.com/pub/matteato...

Iconic innit?

Oh no! My wife's going to kill me! #vicandbob

Entering the 'grubby world of books' after securing a publishing deal. Targeting August 2026 for the UK release, which means everything needs to be done by mid-December. More details to follow! #histbookchat #virginiavernon

Kew again this morning - hoping to find letters from Churchill referencing Noel Coward and treasures in the 24th Guards Brigade war diaries

This weeks #histbookchat photo is Millions Like Us? A series of essays on British culture during the war edited by Nick Hayes and Jeff Hill. Been looking for a copy for a while.

Made this a few years back with the late great Steve Hewlett - a history of the BBC's many mortal crises: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

Poor Auntie Beeb - my barbs are dipped in deep affection, not malice. Saying that, in all the emergency meetings that will happen this morning at BH, I wonder if anyone will suggest using AI to bring back Lord Reith.

Been a while, but building a Hasagawa Typhoon 1/48. #histscalemodels

This week's post is about the contribution that ENSA made to the war effort and why they should be remembered. open.substack.com/pub/matteato... #skystorians

Some more marvels of the mycelium network on my walk today.

Fireworks? Great fun! And no Mickey doesn't usually sit on me like this as he's 36kg! Spare a thought for the animals.

"It had to be me" by Collie Knox (1947) arrived today. Bought largely for one chapter on his time as Director of Public Relations at ENSA, but looking forward to devouring the rest this weekend. #histbookchat

Long been on the cards. Good decision to hold on to the golden goose (ITV Studios) and sell the rest. Not sure where this leaves ITN though - would a Comcast ITV be able to not use Sky News? Not great for advertisers though as it would only leave Channel 4 as a realistic alternative for TV sales.

Leaving it a bit late this year - but 50 or so days of steeping in sherry should be ok. The kitchen smells very Christmassy!

Small mushrooms on trees on the dog walk this morning - the white domed one is Porcelaine Fungus apparently.

Wartime entertainment was just some toothy bloke with a ukulele. Hold my beer! Excited to be presenting a topic close to my heart on @ww2tv.bsky.social in early December! #histbookchat

Another Magpie Ink-cap in the woods today! @hopeeaton.bsky.social took this excellent photo, which involves something called "composition". She's so much better at taking photos than me!

Any of the #histscalemodels community going to SMW in Telford next weekend? If so, drop by the IPMS Rutland table in Hall 1 and say hi.

Here's my latest bi-weekly blog post, just for a bit of fun on the Grenadier Guards at Anzio. matteatonmedia.substack.com/p/twice-the-...

Happy Halloween! A huge Crown Prince ready to make pumpkin soup later.

The autumnal colours are spectacular this year - and a pleasing toadstool.