Paul O’Donnell
@paodonnell.bsky.social
History, Ships, Manufacturing and Trade Policy. Attempting a PhD (the left and the navy in early C20/interwar Britain) twenty years later than is traditional.
OED also gives it as a “scotch” variant of ‘foe’ and has a 1787 Burns usage, albeit not one that is obviously supernatural. Does note that ‘foe’ could refer to the devil though and cites Chaucer and Milton.
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
OED also gives it as a “scotch” variant of ‘foe’ and has a 1787 Burns usage, albeit not one that is obviously supernatural. Does note that ‘foe’ could refer to the devil though and cites Chaucer and Milton.
Football, bloody hell
November 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Football, bloody hell
I watched England’s 4-1 win over Holland at Euro ‘96 in ‘rough’ pub in east London. Consensus was that Holland’s consolation goal, which put them through at Scotland’s expense took the edge of the win.
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I watched England’s 4-1 win over Holland at Euro ‘96 in ‘rough’ pub in east London. Consensus was that Holland’s consolation goal, which put them through at Scotland’s expense took the edge of the win.
Well, 90 mins of poor football, but three points, so all good.
However, we go to games to watch 22 players (plus subs) playing football, not one man, dressed all in black, waving his arms around like some sort of shit interpretive dance piece. That ref’s main character energy was embarrassing.
#lofc
However, we go to games to watch 22 players (plus subs) playing football, not one man, dressed all in black, waving his arms around like some sort of shit interpretive dance piece. That ref’s main character energy was embarrassing.
#lofc
November 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Well, 90 mins of poor football, but three points, so all good.
However, we go to games to watch 22 players (plus subs) playing football, not one man, dressed all in black, waving his arms around like some sort of shit interpretive dance piece. That ref’s main character energy was embarrassing.
#lofc
However, we go to games to watch 22 players (plus subs) playing football, not one man, dressed all in black, waving his arms around like some sort of shit interpretive dance piece. That ref’s main character energy was embarrassing.
#lofc
Orient 3 - 2 Exeter
Connolly, Ballard, Wellens
Can’t think of a reason for my optimism though.
Connolly, Ballard, Wellens
Can’t think of a reason for my optimism though.
November 15, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Orient 3 - 2 Exeter
Connolly, Ballard, Wellens
Can’t think of a reason for my optimism though.
Connolly, Ballard, Wellens
Can’t think of a reason for my optimism though.
@flatshistory.bsky.social wrote a very good book, Saving the People’s Forest, about the radical working class movement which saved much of the Forest in the C19
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
@flatshistory.bsky.social wrote a very good book, Saving the People’s Forest, about the radical working class movement which saved much of the Forest in the C19
The ancient herd was finally dispersed in the mid 90s as a result of either a)the BSE (mad cow disease) scare or b) the construction of a major highway (M11 Link Road). There is now a much smaller herd which is confined to one area of parkland
November 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The ancient herd was finally dispersed in the mid 90s as a result of either a)the BSE (mad cow disease) scare or b) the construction of a major highway (M11 Link Road). There is now a much smaller herd which is confined to one area of parkland
The area used to be part of Epping Forest and various bits of greenery, from large parks to glorified grass verges, still enjoy protected status. The cows had the right to wander freely between them. The law was actually tidied up in the C19 before the city expanded but has not been updated.
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The area used to be part of Epping Forest and various bits of greenery, from large parks to glorified grass verges, still enjoy protected status. The cows had the right to wander freely between them. The law was actually tidied up in the C19 before the city expanded but has not been updated.
Wanstead, E11, so inside the North Circular.
The cow incident involved six lanes of traffic
The cow incident involved six lanes of traffic
November 11, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Wanstead, E11, so inside the North Circular.
The cow incident involved six lanes of traffic
The cow incident involved six lanes of traffic
Yes, but he was being disingenuous. He was really Middle Upper Middle Class and he knew it.
November 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Yes, but he was being disingenuous. He was really Middle Upper Middle Class and he knew it.
British version of this:
I was once late for school because a herd of cows surrounded the bus. Their right to wander wherever they wanted was guaranteed in the reign of Henry VIII, and no one has challenged it since.
I went to school in East London.
I was once late for school because a herd of cows surrounded the bus. Their right to wander wherever they wanted was guaranteed in the reign of Henry VIII, and no one has challenged it since.
I went to school in East London.
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
British version of this:
I was once late for school because a herd of cows surrounded the bus. Their right to wander wherever they wanted was guaranteed in the reign of Henry VIII, and no one has challenged it since.
I went to school in East London.
I was once late for school because a herd of cows surrounded the bus. Their right to wander wherever they wanted was guaranteed in the reign of Henry VIII, and no one has challenged it since.
I went to school in East London.
Wycombe 1 (og) - 0 Orient
November 8, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Wycombe 1 (og) - 0 Orient
Is that one of those new fangled Belisha Beacons in the picture?
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Is that one of those new fangled Belisha Beacons in the picture?
He’s been called out of retirement at the specific request of the Secretary-General of the UN. Suspect it will hinge on the exact wording of that request.
Can’t believe I have an opinion on this.
Can’t believe I have an opinion on this.
October 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
He’s been called out of retirement at the specific request of the Secretary-General of the UN. Suspect it will hinge on the exact wording of that request.
Can’t believe I have an opinion on this.
Can’t believe I have an opinion on this.
I’m not sure an entity called Orient could ever fully escape geography
October 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I’m not sure an entity called Orient could ever fully escape geography
Anyone got a butt of Malmsey handy?
October 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Anyone got a butt of Malmsey handy?
The dropping of the word Leyton in 1966 is interesting. I think it follows the abolition of the borough of Leyton; was there a sort of modernist, year zero, belief that the place had ceased to be?
October 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The dropping of the word Leyton in 1966 is interesting. I think it follows the abolition of the borough of Leyton; was there a sort of modernist, year zero, belief that the place had ceased to be?
1-2
Ballard, Connolly
Ballard, Connolly
October 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
1-2
Ballard, Connolly
Ballard, Connolly
Yes, I think they adopted the name after moving there and then became Leyton Orient after moving to Brisbane Road (or maybe a few years later)
October 18, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Yes, I think they adopted the name after moving there and then became Leyton Orient after moving to Brisbane Road (or maybe a few years later)
It was on Millfields Road, after Orient moved out in 1930 it continued as a dog track until (i think) the 70s. Then used for housing. One of the roads on the estate is called Orient Way.
October 18, 2025 at 1:14 PM
It was on Millfields Road, after Orient moved out in 1930 it continued as a dog track until (i think) the 70s. Then used for housing. One of the roads on the estate is called Orient Way.
Spent some time a couple of years ago in the stores of a former municipal museum’s collection. It had a large collection of early C20 Heath Robinson style wooden vacuum cleaners. I don’t think anyone knows why.
October 13, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Spent some time a couple of years ago in the stores of a former municipal museum’s collection. It had a large collection of early C20 Heath Robinson style wooden vacuum cleaners. I don’t think anyone knows why.
Was it a Goblin?
October 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Was it a Goblin?