Lots of war memorials have sculpted or cast friezes, showing soldiers. Today, for the first time, I saw one featuring a soldier riding a motorcycle. It's Stourbridge War Memorial in Mary Stevens Park.

RIP Michael Collins October 31, 1930 – April 28, 2021. True hero.

Looking back to 2015. Redundant angels, replaced during the restoration of the spire of St. Martin's Ypres, look sorry for themselves in a corner of the church. The one not speaking to the others is a spare replacement that wasn't needed.

Today I was reminded of the grumpiest tree on the whole of the UK canal network (at Stourport, Worcestershire.)

The small commune of Fay, Somme, captured by French troops on the first day of the battle, 1st July, 1916. Here are some French artillerymen with their 90mm gun, beside the church. The modern photo shows roughly the same spot in the remains of the church today. Then and now.

Bonne fête de Saint-Crépin Happy St. Crispin's Day 25th October 1415

Records of320,000 Punjabi soldiers found in the basement of the Lahore Museum, Pakistan. theguardian.com/world/2021/nov…

5.11.1917. A solitary soldier on the "corduroy road" through Hooge Chateau Wood. The road still exists as one of the service access roads to the Bellewaerde leisure park, which takes up most of the chateau grounds today. Then and now.

"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." The Folkestone Museum, has this huge painting, "Landing of the Belgian Refugees" (1915) by Fredo Franzoni (himself a refugee.) The Mayor of Folkestone and Albert, King of the Belgians, welcome them to Britain.

Nine years ago today. My tour group went to Disneyland Paris - I went into the city for a bit of hero worship in Montparnasse Cemetery.

British 6-inch howitzer on the road, "dans les houblonnières" ("among the hop-fields") near Poperinge. Then and now.

I found a shady spot near Gothersley (Staffs & Worcs Canal) yesterday, got the folding chair out and spent 45 minutes cooling down between boat-cleaning sessions. staying put today.

Almost-completed Mark V* tanks, outside the "Long Shop" of the Metropolitan Carriage Company's Old Park Works, Wednesbury, Staffordshire (now West Midlands). They are waiting to be moved by rail from the works sidings to have their armaments fitted and be put into service.

After quite an absence, been back in beautiful Krakow.

Congratulations to my son-in-law's band, Shed Seven, whose new album "A Matter of Time" has reached N0. 1 in the UK album charts, 30 years after their first UK chart entry. (Appropriate album title, then.)

I was in Amiens recently and walking to my hotel I passed this shop. It was closed. It was also closed the next morning. Couldn't wait any longer.