Gerard h Ultacháin
@gerardhultachain.bsky.social
Amalgam of mostly Irish, brummie & by adoption krakowian. A bit of a lefty I guess. Big reader of European & ancient history. Love walking the Tatras & Scottish Highlands. From the Dubliners to Schubert is how I take my culture, the best of everything.
Just had a fun nostalgic evening at the Dubliners Encore gig at Birmingham Town Hall. As good as it twas, it did underline how unique Luke Kelly's vocals were.
November 21, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Just had a fun nostalgic evening at the Dubliners Encore gig at Birmingham Town Hall. As good as it twas, it did underline how unique Luke Kelly's vocals were.
Very evocative photo, reminded me of my trek up to the navvies' graveyard at the Blackwater dam at Kinlochleven in the Highlands, no management there though.
October 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Very evocative photo, reminded me of my trek up to the navvies' graveyard at the Blackwater dam at Kinlochleven in the Highlands, no management there though.
One does get the impression that Trump's foreign policy is akin to the Monkey Keyboard theorem, whilst his financial backers are very focussed.
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg" alt="Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg (1028×818)"/>
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg" alt="Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg (1028×818)"/>
October 11, 2025 at 11:13 PM
One does get the impression that Trump's foreign policy is akin to the Monkey Keyboard theorem, whilst his financial backers are very focussed.
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg" alt="Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg (1028×818)"/>
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg" alt="Chimpanzee_seated_at_typewriter.jpg (1028×818)"/>
L'Œuvre au Noir - Marguerite Yourcenar or (Zeno of Bruges in some translations) is an eloquent, grounded & poetic statement of how the human condition & dilemma, is unchanged across the
millenia. Best I've read since Narziss und Goldmund, by Hermann Hesse
millenia. Best I've read since Narziss und Goldmund, by Hermann Hesse
October 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
L'Œuvre au Noir - Marguerite Yourcenar or (Zeno of Bruges in some translations) is an eloquent, grounded & poetic statement of how the human condition & dilemma, is unchanged across the
millenia. Best I've read since Narziss und Goldmund, by Hermann Hesse
millenia. Best I've read since Narziss und Goldmund, by Hermann Hesse
Beni, Bibi & Bezzy the Israeli mob gang, played by Mike Mazurki, George Raft & Harry Wilson. Mind you I think maybe the mafia has more morals than the current Israeli government.
<img src="https://www.the-solute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/George-Raft-640x360.jpg" alt="Playing on his image"/>
<img src="https://www.the-solute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/George-Raft-640x360.jpg" alt="Playing on his image"/>
August 8, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Beni, Bibi & Bezzy the Israeli mob gang, played by Mike Mazurki, George Raft & Harry Wilson. Mind you I think maybe the mafia has more morals than the current Israeli government.
<img src="https://www.the-solute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/George-Raft-640x360.jpg" alt="Playing on his image"/>
<img src="https://www.the-solute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/George-Raft-640x360.jpg" alt="Playing on his image"/>
Fast becoming a big fan of Åsa Larsson's Rebecka Martinsson krimis set in northern Sweden. Decided to read them in the original Swedish after watching the weird mystery of the missing episodes on Amazon Prime. Swedish is really lovely, but yes has its chewy bits.
Vadå?
Ja, jag är lite galen.
Vadå?
Ja, jag är lite galen.
June 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Fast becoming a big fan of Åsa Larsson's Rebecka Martinsson krimis set in northern Sweden. Decided to read them in the original Swedish after watching the weird mystery of the missing episodes on Amazon Prime. Swedish is really lovely, but yes has its chewy bits.
Vadå?
Ja, jag är lite galen.
Vadå?
Ja, jag är lite galen.
<img src="https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/iulibraries/files/original/d814f77353681991ac2be3e17ed6100d519aea9c.jpg" alt="d814f77353681991ac2be3e17ed6100d519aea9c.jpg (1626×1417)"/>
May 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
<img src="https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/iulibraries/files/original/d814f77353681991ac2be3e17ed6100d519aea9c.jpg" alt="d814f77353681991ac2be3e17ed6100d519aea9c.jpg (1626×1417)"/>
Eine kleine Nachtlektüre.
"In The Garden Of The Beasts'
- Erik Larson
'Berlin 1933. William E. Dodd is the US's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany & is about to witness a turning point in history'. Guess the current German ambassador to the US might be getting the same vibes.
"In The Garden Of The Beasts'
- Erik Larson
'Berlin 1933. William E. Dodd is the US's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany & is about to witness a turning point in history'. Guess the current German ambassador to the US might be getting the same vibes.
February 16, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Eine kleine Nachtlektüre.
"In The Garden Of The Beasts'
- Erik Larson
'Berlin 1933. William E. Dodd is the US's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany & is about to witness a turning point in history'. Guess the current German ambassador to the US might be getting the same vibes.
"In The Garden Of The Beasts'
- Erik Larson
'Berlin 1933. William E. Dodd is the US's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany & is about to witness a turning point in history'. Guess the current German ambassador to the US might be getting the same vibes.
The novel series 1793, 1794 & 1795 by Swedish author NiKlas Natt och Dag, is a compeling but brutal read exploring dark niches of European history. All three picked up from my wonderful lokal book shop on Krolewska for about 12 euros.
February 2, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The novel series 1793, 1794 & 1795 by Swedish author NiKlas Natt och Dag, is a compeling but brutal read exploring dark niches of European history. All three picked up from my wonderful lokal book shop on Krolewska for about 12 euros.
Winters past. An original painting from my Krakowian home.
January 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Winters past. An original painting from my Krakowian home.
Christmas shopping this evening na Starym Rynku w magicznym Krakowie.
December 21, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Christmas shopping this evening na Starym Rynku w magicznym Krakowie.
It's available in translation, but the original Polish paperback has the best cover, and the essence of the novel. And sadly currently maybe relates to why CEO's of a certain ilk attract desperate responses. Maybe I've said too much there, not condoning just observing.
December 8, 2024 at 12:50 AM
It's available in translation, but the original Polish paperback has the best cover, and the essence of the novel. And sadly currently maybe relates to why CEO's of a certain ilk attract desperate responses. Maybe I've said too much there, not condoning just observing.
The first Gladiator movie was stunning both visually & emotionally (apart from the crap soldier garb). A good follow up might be to read Martial's Epigrams: De Spectaculis Liber, which describes the events 1st hand. G2 looks fun but will always lack the impact of G1. Martial also has rhinos v bulls.
December 6, 2024 at 11:46 PM
The first Gladiator movie was stunning both visually & emotionally (apart from the crap soldier garb). A good follow up might be to read Martial's Epigrams: De Spectaculis Liber, which describes the events 1st hand. G2 looks fun but will always lack the impact of G1. Martial also has rhinos v bulls.
'Black Friday' purchase, Frank McDonough's The Weimar Years. Unfortunately very pertinent as we see the fatal draw of populist politicians across the globe offering simple answers to complex problems. Reading for an extended Christmas holiday, balanced by Terry Pratchett's 'Interesting Times'!
December 6, 2024 at 2:15 PM
'Black Friday' purchase, Frank McDonough's The Weimar Years. Unfortunately very pertinent as we see the fatal draw of populist politicians across the globe offering simple answers to complex problems. Reading for an extended Christmas holiday, balanced by Terry Pratchett's 'Interesting Times'!
Piccola Sicilian is a novel by Daniel Speck. It switches between WW2 Tunisia in & the present day Germany. Still only available in German it really deserves to be translated beyond. It's epic but very intimate, dealing with self-identity against the backdrop of shifting empires & lost causes.
December 4, 2024 at 11:55 PM
Piccola Sicilian is a novel by Daniel Speck. It switches between WW2 Tunisia in & the present day Germany. Still only available in German it really deserves to be translated beyond. It's epic but very intimate, dealing with self-identity against the backdrop of shifting empires & lost causes.
One difference between the books is the dragons in Les Rois Maudits are human, and therefore even more terrifying. It's entertaining and packed full of French history, and of course some spicey speculation where the gaps in the records allow.
A BBC article from 2014.
www.bbc.com/news/magazin...
A BBC article from 2014.
www.bbc.com/news/magazin...
November 28, 2024 at 7:35 PM
One difference between the books is the dragons in Les Rois Maudits are human, and therefore even more terrifying. It's entertaining and packed full of French history, and of course some spicey speculation where the gaps in the records allow.
A BBC article from 2014.
www.bbc.com/news/magazin...
A BBC article from 2014.
www.bbc.com/news/magazin...
Les Rois Maudits / The Accursed Kings - Marcel Druon is one the great historical novels series. George R. R. Martin called it "the original game of thrones", citing Druon's novels as an inspiration for his A Song of Ice and Fire. Fiction but very thoroughly researched, a taster for further reading.
November 28, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Les Rois Maudits / The Accursed Kings - Marcel Druon is one the great historical novels series. George R. R. Martin called it "the original game of thrones", citing Druon's novels as an inspiration for his A Song of Ice and Fire. Fiction but very thoroughly researched, a taster for further reading.
Just finished this, a very enjoyable read. If you like mystery/thrillers & don’t know Guillaume Musso, he might be worth a go. He’s the best selling writer in the French lang' & very widely translated. I’ve read several now & found them very entertaining, relies on intrigue rather violence etc..
November 20, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Just finished this, a very enjoyable read. If you like mystery/thrillers & don’t know Guillaume Musso, he might be worth a go. He’s the best selling writer in the French lang' & very widely translated. I’ve read several now & found them very entertaining, relies on intrigue rather violence etc..
Did you know that Guillaume de Machaut (1300-77) is maybe the greatest European composer of the C14th? Well if not, neither did I until about 10mins ago. Interesting where Spotify can if you let it, lead you after an hour or so starting off with some C20th minimalist music.
machaut.weebly.com
machaut.weebly.com
November 20, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Did you know that Guillaume de Machaut (1300-77) is maybe the greatest European composer of the C14th? Well if not, neither did I until about 10mins ago. Interesting where Spotify can if you let it, lead you after an hour or so starting off with some C20th minimalist music.
machaut.weebly.com
machaut.weebly.com
Going po polsku for lunch.
November 20, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Going po polsku for lunch.
The first snowfall. Always makes me think of Karen Carpenter, wonderful voice & wonderful song.
November 19, 2024 at 11:02 AM
The first snowfall. Always makes me think of Karen Carpenter, wonderful voice & wonderful song.
Autumn by John Clare (1793-1864)
Maybe England's greatest nature poet, he is mine anyway.
Maybe England's greatest nature poet, he is mine anyway.
November 18, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Autumn by John Clare (1793-1864)
Maybe England's greatest nature poet, he is mine anyway.
Maybe England's greatest nature poet, he is mine anyway.
It's lovely in Guatemala so my roving daughter tells me. Unfortunately I need one of these this morning for the usual!
November 16, 2024 at 2:27 PM
It's lovely in Guatemala so my roving daughter tells me. Unfortunately I need one of these this morning for the usual!
If you can get C4 UK this looks interesting. Also look up 'The Promise' from 2011 a drama series concerning the past and current situ in Palestine.
November 16, 2024 at 2:09 AM
If you can get C4 UK this looks interesting. Also look up 'The Promise' from 2011 a drama series concerning the past and current situ in Palestine.
A novel written in 1935 about the rise of a populist leader in the USA. FDR is defeated by a the fictitional, Berzelius ‘Buzz’ Windrip, thanks to his appeals to ‘traditional’ values and a hateful position on immigration. Sound familiar?
November 15, 2024 at 5:10 PM
A novel written in 1935 about the rise of a populist leader in the USA. FDR is defeated by a the fictitional, Berzelius ‘Buzz’ Windrip, thanks to his appeals to ‘traditional’ values and a hateful position on immigration. Sound familiar?