Remembering the genius of Reg Presley

Harvey Keitel in the Duellists

This look has probably influenced Adam Ant in his current incarnation.

We are the Tyning Boys

We are the Tyning Boys
we are the Tyning boys
we know our manners
we pay our tanners
We are respected wherever we may go
Out on the long wide road
we always carry our load
We can laugh we can grin
We can lose we can win
We are the Tyning Boys
(Song reproduced in a letter in the NR Journal about Whitelands -)

Adam Ant - Cool Zombie - Full Official Video

First video for ages - what do you reckon? Alright I reckon

Mud Sharks Dave Barbarossa

I've always been a fan of drummer Dave - from back in his days playing in Adam and the Ants and Bow wow wow but this book is so good it has blown me away.... again. It tells the story in the style of page-turner fiction of his early life and his musical paths and the people that were central to that story. It is a work of genius IMHO - rather like his drumming. Buy it here.

Lines of Wellington

Interesting new film with John Malkovich in the title role with some well known faces in there too. Apparently a TV series as well...wiki

Băneasă's Green Glade - Andy Irvine 1976

We had a deer visit us this morning which got me to humming this old Planxty tune. Charming.

In Baneasa's green forest out under the trees
We'd lie on our backs, we'd live at our ease
We'd wake in the morning at the first shafts of day
And watch the shy deer as they scampered away

We'd rise from our warm beds as the sun it got higher
And cook up our breakfast on a sweet scented fire

In the still early morning a cool gentle breeze
And the echo of woodpeckers rings through the trees

We'd sit in our glade till the heat of the day
Walk down to the zoo to sing and to play

Well the money rolled in and the people looked on
When the hat was quite full we'd up and be gone
In Dimovitsas tavern we spent money free
And drank to our friends wherever they may be.

We'd talk of old times, fond memories we'd trade
At dusk we'd walk home to Baneasa's green glade.

Happy world Rhino day

9eme Legere book

  'Incomparable' - a new book published by Osprey on the life and times of the 9eme Chasseurs.

Author: Terry Crowdy

About this book
An elite battalion under Louis XVI, the 9th Light Infantry regiment were with Napoleon from almost the beginning, turning the field at Marengo and breaking the Austrians. They then spent over a decade fighting their way across the continent, following Napoleon to the bitter end. Bringing their Eagle out of hiding when Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 they almost saved the day again, at Waterloo, spearheading a charge to rejoin Napoleon. But unlike at Marengo, they failed. Napoleon dubbed them ‘Incomparable’, and their story is extraordinary even by the standards of the dramatic and turbulent years in which they lived. Buy it here

200 years ago today

The Moscow fire.

Borodino action footage

News item about Borodino 2012

Here

Putin at Borodino

My friend Boris got to shake his hand when he was presented to their regiment. Cool!
Read a news item on the event where this photo is from.

This looks like an official recognition of the Russian reenactment hobby - something that has been considered a bit marginal but thats just my opinion - I am not an expert on politics - just an enthusiast.

March to Waterloo 200

This is an interesting initiative by the Napoleonic Association to get more members ready for 2015, They are organising open days and the like. Go here to join their Facebook page.

Borodino 200 is coming

Ralph Mitchard (1981)

Here's a picture of me in my prime - when I was 21. Those were the days.....

Borodino 2012

Coming soon this spectacular reenactment. Details here 
In English here

Waterloo Rd Radstock

This is an early photo from the time before the coming of the railways. Named Waterloo Rd as the Scots Greys camped there before departing for Waterloo and glory.

Crossing the Neman 1812

So today 200 years ago Napoleon begins his invasion of Russia.

Serge Gainsbourg and pinball

From the movie Anna (1967) which is up in its entirety on Youtube.