Peter Elliott

The whole point of a code name is that it gives no idea about what it relates to. The boffins at Malvern came up with lots of names including VILLAGE INN, BOOZER and LIQUID LUNCH - anyone detect a theme there?

I first met Jonathan over 30 years ago. He was keen on the Stirling then, and has continued to acquire and disseminate knowledge of the type.

Driving through Spain, the Google Maps lady pronounced Badajoz as Barber Joe's. 🤦‍♂️

Birthday cake in the shape of an aeroplane, emitting blue and white smoke.

Aeroplane-shaped birthday cake, trailing blue and white smoke.

My daughter made me a birthday cake - a few days after the event - with candy floss "smoke". Thanks, Fi - Wizard show!

We must be twins! Many happies...

A box of "Beard Baubles for festive facial hair"

A Christmas present from my daughter, maybe 10 years ago - I've only lost one so far...

The Dragon and Old Father Christmas stand ready for the 2025 performance.

Another splendid, if cold, Boxing Day with the St Albans Mummers. Good crowds at the five venues (only two of them pubs) who seemed to enjoy the updated script containing at least one new joke... Some £800 in donations, most of which will go to local charities. stalbanstimes.co.uk/events/in-pi...

It seems that Overhead Projectors are still much-favoured by the teaching staff. A very enjoyable visit ended with Gill and I joining students and staff to sing English Christmas carols - an annual tradition in the language faculty!

Reproductions of leaflets created by the White Rose Group of students, who protested against the Nazis. Part of a memorial to those who were executed.

Memorial to Sophie Scholl.

Members of the White Rose Group, from an exhibition in the University

Splendid afternoon with Saskia - my Research Tutor, now at the University of Munich - including a tour of the buildings and a discussion on the students who protested about the Nazis.

Very interesting article which shows that #Archives can be a much-underused resource.

JAH: Britain's Aircraft Heritage: How government departments have influenced its preservation

My paper on government departments and aviation history is now available to download free from the @aerosociety website: www.aerosociety.com/publications...

I think Rosencrantz and Guildernstern was the first proper play/production I saw. Many years later I saw Hamlet and decided that Shakespeare was mostly a collection of quotes...

View towards Flamborough Head across the North Bay

Sunset clouds over the sea, looking towards Spurn Point

Sunset across the harbour and south shore

Grand to be back in #Bridlington for the Old Bridlingtonian Club Annual Dinner. A bracing breeze and a good sunset.

A sign "Science F" with a finger pointing to History & Topography downstairs

The floors in some rooms are ratings, so Air can flow around the shelves.

Long runs of shelving packed with books

Very interesting visit to The London Library with colleagues from the RAF Club Library. It's a fascinating, labyrinthine building with a massive collection.

One of the pleasures of archive work is finding a mundane document next to a rather special one. In Sir John Charnley's papers, when he is made Knight Bachelor, the Grter King of Arms invites him to apply for a Grant of Arms, while BT ask whether his entry in the Telephone Directory needs changing.

Sewerby Cricket Club

I can't imagine that there's much you and your colleagues could do to boost the figures... Special Offer - Have a Wedding, Get One Free? Press Gangs roaming country lanes in search of courting couples to drag off to the altar?

Did you tell him there'd be more when the boat comes in?

View over the left (port) wing of a light aircraft, with the sun breaking through cloud above and lower cloud in the distance

Broken cloud above the wing of a light aircraft, with further - lower - cloud on the horizon.

A pleasant bimble around Herts., Beds., Bucks., and Cambs., but I'd fogotten about the cold draught in that aeroplane!

Similarly, how many acts of heroism worthy of a VC were performed but nobody survived to report them?

It was - some might say - a wizard meeting, and the new archive facilities made me more than somewhat envious. It was well worth the trip from darkest Hertfordshire, marred only by a puncture on the return some 100 miles from home. In the rain...

"One of our databases is missing"?

Architect's site plan for 'A National R.A.F. Museum' on the South Bank in London

My article 'A national aviation museum for the United Kingdom for the United Kingdom: missed opportunity, or lost hope?' has just been published, and is available to read at www.tandfonline.com/eprint/GQ7VC...

Similar situation down south. Suppose I should see the positive side and be glad I'm (officially at least) young and healthy...

Red fireworks above a layer of smoke, with spectators in the foreground.

Fireworks light up the crowd and the lake in Verulanium Park.

Orange and yellow fireworks, reflected by a lake.

Splendid #fireworks at last night's display in #StAlbans - we heard that there were 15,000 people in the crowd - raising funds for a local hospice.

An improvement!

This was fun. I'm looking forward to the second session, which begins at 2100 UK time.

Two sessions covering a variety of topics, presented by erudite speakers. And me.

I look forward to you seeing me there!

I didn't even have to move them: they were already next to each other.