So I reached as far south down the Ionian as you can go. Now the odyssey continues - sailing UP the Aegean... First stop: Milos

I have some new followers, so thought I might mention that this book is now out, has had positive reviews in TLS, The Spectator, and The Wall Street Journal, and I think would be a good summer read, if I do say so myself: pauldrybooks.com/products/friez…

If only people still read the Odyssey.

Seaside Special (9th August 1975). It's time for 'Whispering Grass' with Don Estelle and Windsor Davies.

10th August is the feast of St Lawrence whose martyrdom on a gridiron is depicted here in the 'Caligula Troper'. BL Cotton MS Caligula A XIV; The 'Caligula Troper'; 11th century; f.25r Medieval Manuscripts

11/8/1821 Ιδρύθηκε στην Στουτγάρδη της Γερμανίας φιλελληνική επιτροπή για την ενίσχυση του Αγώνα με χρήματα, πολεμοφόδια και εθελοντές. Αναπτύχθηκε κυρίως σε πανεπιστημιακούς κύκλους και παρά την λογοκρισία και τις απαγορεύσεις συνέχισε την δράση της.

🥳Such a joy to present Ben Ritherdon with this year's Lotus Chalice award #BoltonsEgypt, in recognition for his company funding the conservation of this 2000 year old #Roman sun hat 👒 found in #Egypt and now part of Libs and Museums world-class collection x.com/TheBoltonNews/…

Tombstone to Claudia Crysis who lived to the age of 90 - the oldest known inhabitant of Roman Lincoln. The stone is part of the collections at Lincoln Museum. 📸 My own. #EpigraphyTuesday #RomanBritain #LincolnMuseum

Taking a train and thinking of The Reverend the Lord Beaumont- the first Green Party peer and probably last Whig Clerical grandee- who came up with this supremely relevant piece of legislation 29 years ago.

Remembering the great English writer J B Priestley (John Boynton Priestley who died on this day in 1984. He was 89. #JBPriestley #TheGoodCompanions #AnInspectorCalls #DangerousCorner #WhenWeAreMarried #LastHoliday #TheLindenTree #LetThePeopleSing

⏪ #THROWBACKTHURSDAY Storm fans, as we get closer to celebrating 30 years since the very first Manchester Storm puck drop, it’s time for another off-season rewind in our Messages from the Storm series. This week, we’re highlighting three figures who each left a lasting mark on

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘Farm in Summer’ (1953) Artist: SR Badmin

Ah, heady times. A terrific era.

It's a bit faded now, and a few repairs have been needed, but I'm enjoying a canter through this postmodern classic for the umpteenth time. Always fun to be had in this book about books and reading. #ItaloCalvino

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, known in medieval England as 'Our Lady Day in harvest'. An Anglo-Saxon version of a popular legend about the end of Mary's life on earth, in which a much-loved woman reaches the harvest of her days: aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2017/08/as-sun…

Today would have been Walter Steggles' birthday as he was born on 15th August 1908. Very recently his oil painting of "Railway Siding" from 1930 turned up at auction from a house-clearance in Bridport: prior to that the painting was "lost", except for his preparatory sketch #botd

quisque suae faber est fortunae et quisque magister #hexameter "Every man is the maker, and every man the master, of his own fortune."

On what would have been Charles Causley's 108th birthday, his masterpiece 'Eden Rock'.

Behold, a Sunday morning banger courtesy of the late and incredibly great Ron Goodwin. Good day.

24 August is the feast of St Bartholomew, 'Bartlemy's Day'. As a late-summer holiday, it's traditionally been the time for many interesting calendar customs: honey-blessing, 'Bartlefairs', wayzgoose feasts, the Sandwich Bartlemas Bun Run... aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2013/08/some-t…