Archive for the ‘My life & thoughts’ Category
Thanksgiving in the USA (6)
November 24th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
I have long been fascinated by the American political system (if you Google those three words, my website guide will be referenced in the first page of results) and intrigued by American politics (which is why a visit to the USA within a couple of weeks of Donald Trump’s election as president is so interesting). […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (1)
Thanksgiving in the USA (5)
November 23rd, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Everyone knows that the American Civil War was a key period of US history that arguably still has resonances today and many Americans – including Mike – are fascinated by the personalities and engagements that made up that titantic struggle. Most non-Americans though would struggle to identify more than one of the civil war battles […]
Posted in History, My life & thoughts | Comments (2)
Thanksgiving in the USA (4)
November 22nd, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Today (Monday), Mike and Laura had things to do, so I headed off to downtown Washington DC on my own to visit a couple of favourite museums. Laura drove me the 20 minute ride to Glenmont metro station, which is at the end of the red line, and an hour later I was at my […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving in the USA (3)
November 21st, 2016 by Roger Darlington
My base for this trip to the USA is the beautiful home of my American friends Mike & Laura Grace. Mike bought three acres of woodland with tulip poplar trees and had the house built in 1979 and then in 2004 they had the place extended. It now occupies over 4,000 square feet with everything […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
How many executive orders has Barack Obama issued?
November 20th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
On my flight from London to Washington DC to spend Thanksgiving with American friends, I met an intelligent and articulate Anerican who voted for Donald Trump, who hated Hillary Clinton, and who told me that Barack Obama had issued more executive orders than the previous seven presidents combined. I told him that he was absolutely […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving in the USA (2)
November 20th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
On Saturday, I flew to the United States in a British Airways Airbus A380. The aircraft was absolutely packed and I had to content myself with a window seat instead of my usual preferred aisle seat, but the two passengers to my side were fascinating. One was an American cyber security expert who voted for […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving in the USA (1)
November 19th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
For some time, it has been on my bucket list that I should enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner in the USA. I’ve seen this event in so many American television shows and movies and it looks such a lot of fun, so I persuaded my good American friends Mike and Laura Grace to invite me over […]
Posted in American current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (3)
I’ve been thinking about Naples …
November 18th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
My mother, Anna Maria Romano, was born and brought up in Naples, Italy, and did not leave the city until in late 1946 she married my father who was stationed there with the post-war Royal Air Force. Over this summer and autumn, I have been reading all 1700 pages of the four ‘Neapolitan novels’ written […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Whatever happened to Halloween?
October 31st, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Last year, almost 60 children came to our door for Halloween. This year, it was less than 30. I blame Brexit. Now what am I supposed to do with all those chocolates?
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Five consecutive nights, five different beds
October 24th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
It’s been a crazy few days in which I’ve taken a few moments in the morning to work out where I am, since I have spent five consecutive nights in five different locations: On Wednesday night, I was at a place called Sanctuary Farm at the foot of Lake Naivasha about two hours drive out […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (2)