Beachcombing's Bizarre History Blog

Dear Friends, many of you have written over the past months to ask me how I am and whether Beachcombing will return. I can’t answer that yet: though if it comes back it will be in a different form – there is muttering for example about a podcast. For now thanks for your interest and […]

Dear Reader, a crappy month with a *serious* wordworm problem in the house and a health disaster in the wider family. As a result the next month might be particularly tricky towards the end. Please be patient if there is interruption in service. The most popular posts this month were Why Did the Chicken Cross […]

Dear Reader, They are risen! Three of the six Beachcombing tortoises are out now in the garden. Now to business… The most popular posts this month were Bloody Babs Says Goodbye to Tommy If I were your Husband I would drink it When Churchill Came within Twenty Yards of Hitler Gay Fairies What Happened to […]

Dear Reader, a weird end to February with a sudden blizzard that has covered our Italian village. Biggest snowfall I’ve seen here in ten days, so we are all here at home. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Note that the new email address is drbeachcombing […]

Dear Reader, A tense January as efforts to get Italian citizenship run into problems: a middle name on a British birth certificate has already led to hundreds of euros spent on legal advice, consulate visits and general headbanging. Starting, though, the writing of a new book and that is a balm. There follow the most […]

Dear Reader, A great December and a fun Christmas. Even better the family is about to go off skiing so a few days of writing… Thanks for all good wishes. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Note that the new email address is drbeachcombing AT gmail DOT […]

Dear Reader, November a pleasant month after the hell of October (ever forget): lots of writing and proofreading. Thanks for all good wishes. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Beach Big Brother Urban Legends: Filip G with some great East bloch examples… Cruiser Tank: NH gives […]

Dear Reader, A crappy October. Three bouts of flu and a three-day migraine: never in my life anything like this. Not sure what is going on but I’ve been confidentially and confidently told that it will mark a change in my life! Sceptical, but looking forward to being able to swallow without pain again. Certainly […]

Dear Reader, Gentle September. Little teaching, lots of writing. Tortoises slowly taking their leave. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers…  Enjoy October! Beach A Jack the Ripper Urban Legend: Ultweets on twitter came up with a 1909 version… Annie Kidnapped by the Fairies: Chris S. on […]

Dear Reader, August was gentle and productive but the summer is now running out… Existential angst with the Barcelona attack: family on same street the day before. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers…  Enjoy September! An Immortal in Venice: precious stuff from R. Labanti on the […]

Dear Reader, Strangely the busiest month of the year. Summer shouldn’t be like this…. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers…  A few precious days alone here for writing: children suitably enough on a beach. I’ll get back to linking and images in September. Enjoy August! Beach Beggar for […]

Dear Reader The above image comes from the web but my elder daughter wanted this picture of record on the web of two of Beach’s favourite friends. Happy times in the garden here. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Enjoy July! The mosquitoes have arrived […]

Dear Readers, fifth female in house (above) just arrived, acclimatizing. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Enjoy June! B Bodies in Elm, 1760? Bruce on bodies in roots… Bodies in Trees: Filip G. and some continentals… Evans Wentz and Money: Filip G. with banks… Evans […]

Dear Reader, semester winding down and lots of sleep. Evidently some dream poison to sweat out. There follow the most interesting words sent in to StrangeHistory. Thanks to all contributors and linkers… Enjoy May and live and prosper. Beach A Duel in the Middle of Battle: Fred finds a Japanese-German sword fight and Bruce speculates… […]

Dear Reader, Sad month, the suicide, on another continent, of one of Beachcombing’s old and beloved aupairs: she sat in a car and gassed herself. No words. You haven’t lived in the twenty-first-century until you’ve read a memorial board on Facebook. ‘I once met ‘Jenny’ for an hour in a youth hostel in Paris…’ The […]