Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
@goakl.bsky.social
Published on 19th Century Vendéen memorials. Former PwC partner. Trustee at Institute of Historical Research. Trustee at NHS Retirement. Active travel in Bishop’s Stortford. Keyboard warrior. Bearsted CC. Cricket, cycling, rugby à XV. France and England.
Misses out the Titanium piece of art.
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Misses out the Titanium piece of art.
On days when you’re feeling low and it’s too wet to even think about a bike ride to blow it away…make comfort food and drink red wine.
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
On days when you’re feeling low and it’s too wet to even think about a bike ride to blow it away…make comfort food and drink red wine.
Ridiculously warm in Essex still. Way too many layers!
November 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Ridiculously warm in Essex still. Way too many layers!
Missus is out singing the Beethoven 9 with an impromptu choir and the Hertford symphonia. So I have had a day of rugby snacks. And this. This is dinner.
Boat pushed firmly out.
Boat pushed firmly out.
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Missus is out singing the Beethoven 9 with an impromptu choir and the Hertford symphonia. So I have had a day of rugby snacks. And this. This is dinner.
Boat pushed firmly out.
Boat pushed firmly out.
Still pacing myself…
November 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Still pacing myself…
Half time in Scotland game. Pacing myself.
November 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Half time in Scotland game. Pacing myself.
Is there a “best looking ref on the international circuit” competition?
November 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Is there a “best looking ref on the international circuit” competition?
Is there a better Saturday afternoon in from if the rugby sandwich?
November 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Is there a better Saturday afternoon in from if the rugby sandwich?
And here it is…
Have a lovely evening.
Have a lovely evening.
November 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
And here it is…
Have a lovely evening.
Have a lovely evening.
I wish I could give you something original tonight. At least the wine - a Rousanne-Marsanne from Chile has never been on here before.
Fish pie Friday.
Fish pie Friday.
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I wish I could give you something original tonight. At least the wine - a Rousanne-Marsanne from Chile has never been on here before.
Fish pie Friday.
Fish pie Friday.
After Waterloo the coach fell into Prussian hands and they gave this book to Sir Henry Hardinge (later governor general of India and commander in chief of the Army) who in turn gave to a Scottish noblewoman Emily Stewart, wife of foreign secretary Castlereagh.
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
After Waterloo the coach fell into Prussian hands and they gave this book to Sir Henry Hardinge (later governor general of India and commander in chief of the Army) who in turn gave to a Scottish noblewoman Emily Stewart, wife of foreign secretary Castlereagh.
And here it is in the original presentation case now stored in the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.
When old Boney marched back into Paris he knew he would need to be on the campaign trail again. So he nicked a coach and took some books to relieve the tedium. This was one of them.
When old Boney marched back into Paris he knew he would need to be on the campaign trail again. So he nicked a coach and took some books to relieve the tedium. This was one of them.
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
And here it is in the original presentation case now stored in the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.
When old Boney marched back into Paris he knew he would need to be on the campaign trail again. So he nicked a coach and took some books to relieve the tedium. This was one of them.
When old Boney marched back into Paris he knew he would need to be on the campaign trail again. So he nicked a coach and took some books to relieve the tedium. This was one of them.
Ah. You want to know more about THE BOOK do you? Well here it is. A first edition presented by the author to King Louis XVIII on his restoration and Napoleon’s first exile in 1814. And a picture of the lady herself looking very counter-revolutionary.
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Ah. You want to know more about THE BOOK do you? Well here it is. A first edition presented by the author to King Louis XVIII on his restoration and Napoleon’s first exile in 1814. And a picture of the lady herself looking very counter-revolutionary.
Dinner tonight was at Le Garrick in that London. In the lovely company of D2 and her young man. Perfect.
November 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Dinner tonight was at Le Garrick in that London. In the lovely company of D2 and her young man. Perfect.
Soup in progress
November 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Soup in progress
Soup two days in a row, you say? Well it’s almost winter and this IS my mother’s legacy soup. So, yes, soup tonight.
November 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Soup two days in a row, you say? Well it’s almost winter and this IS my mother’s legacy soup. So, yes, soup tonight.
Do you think I should hide my Republican views slightly better?
November 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Do you think I should hide my Republican views slightly better?
Don’t throw away the stalks from the asparagus spears. Or the bones from the roast chicken. Bone stock (an onion, a carrot), some potatoes and asparagus, splash of single cream at the end. Enjoy.
November 3, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Don’t throw away the stalks from the asparagus spears. Or the bones from the roast chicken. Bone stock (an onion, a carrot), some potatoes and asparagus, splash of single cream at the end. Enjoy.
Roast dinner anyone?
November 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Roast dinner anyone?
Facebook doing its thing locally.
Colonist class is a new one though.
Have to admit that I’d always associated “colon” with “pieds-noirs”.
Colonist class is a new one though.
Have to admit that I’d always associated “colon” with “pieds-noirs”.
November 2, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Facebook doing its thing locally.
Colonist class is a new one though.
Have to admit that I’d always associated “colon” with “pieds-noirs”.
Colonist class is a new one though.
Have to admit that I’d always associated “colon” with “pieds-noirs”.
Highly violent cultures being implanted into Britain.
I AM going to make this fit my narrative.
I AM going to make this fit my narrative.
November 2, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Highly violent cultures being implanted into Britain.
I AM going to make this fit my narrative.
I AM going to make this fit my narrative.
“Inherently violent cultures”.
“Culture” definitely the new racist dog whistle.
“Culture” definitely the new racist dog whistle.
November 2, 2025 at 12:43 PM
“Inherently violent cultures”.
“Culture” definitely the new racist dog whistle.
“Culture” definitely the new racist dog whistle.
One of the things that Agulhon rightly pointed out about “statuomanie” in the early 3Republic was how much dross there was. Same with the generic post 1918 memorials. The difference between the Cathelineau memorial and the de la R one is stark. And then the Bara one. Beauty and, well, not beauty.
November 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
One of the things that Agulhon rightly pointed out about “statuomanie” in the early 3Republic was how much dross there was. Same with the generic post 1918 memorials. The difference between the Cathelineau memorial and the de la R one is stark. And then the Bara one. Beauty and, well, not beauty.