Archive for August, 2009
Northern Ireland 40 years ago
August 24th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Forty years ago, I set off to visit Northern Ireland for the first time. A week before, sectarian rioting had broken out in Belfast and Londonderry and troops moved into the cities. Like most people in the remainder of the UK, I was shocked by the events and could not understand how this could be […]
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Watching “The Unit”
August 23rd, 2009 by Roger Darlington
While my wife has been away in the Czech Republic, I’ve been viewing a DVD box set loaned to me by my son. It’s the first season of an American series that I’d not heard of before “The Unit”. I’ve now watched all 13 episodes in the first season. Based on show producer Eric Haney’s […]
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The outbreak of war
August 22nd, 2009 by Roger Darlington
This week, the Imperial War Museum in London opened a fascinating new exhibition to mark the outbreak of World War Two on 3 September 1939 seventy years ago. The exhibition is called Outbreak 1939 and I visited it on the first day that it was open to the public. Of course, when you think the […]
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My fifth short story
August 21st, 2009 by Roger Darlington
I’m thoroughly enjoying my summertime project of crafting short stories. Today I’ve added to my web site my fifth story called “Six Degrees Of Separation”. In some respects it’s my most ambitious effort yet, so I hope that you’ll give it a go and let me know what you think of it.
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Message from the Czech Republic
August 20th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Dear Mr. Roger Darlington. I am Jitka Dočekalová and I am a “personal guide” of your wife Vee and her sister Mari. I must write you and thank you very much for all the things you have done for the memory of Karel Kuttelwasher. I am so excited about all these events taking place these […]
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The 10 greatest movie moments
August 18th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
In the August issue of “Empire” magazines, it ventures to identify the 1001 greatest movie moments. The top ten are: The crop-duster attack in “North By Northwest” The bicycle crossing the moon in “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” The “Bond, James Bond” introduction in “Dr No” Gandalf shouting “You shall not pass” in “The Fellowship Of The […]
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KK’s 50th anniversary
August 17th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Today is the 50th anniversary of the death of Karel Kuttelwascher, my wife’s father. He was a Czech pilot who fought with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and became an outstanding night intruder ace who won the Distinguished Flying Cross twice in 42 days. He was only 42 when he died […]
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Are you ready for the e-book?
August 16th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
In this piece, Robert McCrum looks at the up-sides and down-sides of the electronic book. Personally I love the feel of books and like to own all the ones I read, so I won’t be an early candidate for an e-reader. But I can see the case for one, especially if one is going on […]
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The joy of blogging
August 15th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
In today’s “Guardian”, there’s an article about how some bloggers have become so popular that they have been able to make money from their writing. I’ve been blogging now for more than six years and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to express myself on different issues. However, I’ve never seen or wanted a commercial dimension to […]
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All alone am I
August 14th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
My wife Vee left home today to travel down to her twin sister Mari. Tomorrow the two of them set off to drive to the Czech Republic (I know!). They are going over there to take part in various events to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of their father Karel Kuttelwascher. He was […]
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