Rod Collins

Does History Matter or is it a thing of the past (groan - sorry)
A test photograph at home today had me thinking whilst spending most of the afternoon in Bradley Woods
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The Modern Domesday Book
Regular readers will be aware of the oft quoted Domesday Book of 1086 but today we turn to the up to date version.
We can now see what has changed since 1977
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Lucian Freud’s Self-Portrait with Black Eye ~ is it any good ?
The picture itself is coming up for auction, which in itself accounts for much of the self-generated publicity I suspect, and is expected to fetch between £3 and £4 million !
A lot of money, but then good art is expensive - the question is . . .
Is this painting an example of good art ?
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Do I need a hobby ? Yes You Do !
People with hobbies or interests are, without doubt, more interesting, invariably nicer and pleasant to talk to
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Does Anybody Still Use Latin ?
A post along these lines popped into my head and circulated around the bean in the subconscious for a little while until it percolated into a thought.
Anybody who cannot understand Latin is a peasant !
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson of Somersby in Lincolnshire is famous for being born and living in the Sceptred Isle of Lincolnshire but did you know he also wrote poetry ?
My trip on the trail of the famous poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson is dedicated to Annie Flinn
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Derren Brown’s Roulette Trick - Did he deliberately fail ?
Having just watched Derren Brown’s Events TV show on Channel 4 called How to Beat a Casino and being surprised at him having failed my immediate thought was . . . did he really fail ?
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Did Derren Brown Guess the Lotto Numbers or Was it a Trick ?
Well of course it was a trick - he’ll tell you himself he has no psychic powers. Psychic he may not be but genius he is !
Did you see the television show ? Do you know how it was done ? Have you an idea or opinion as to how it was done ?
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Once more I’m on the culture trail in historic Lincoln. Already having reported on The Collection and The Museum of Lincolnshire life it just remains for me to visit The Usher Gallery - so I did !
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So much did I enjoy my trip to Lincoln on Monday I began searching through leaflets and books for an excuse to return.
The Museum of Lincolnshire Life veritably beckoned ‘come hither’ - not only was it well worth the visit but also a place to get you thinking about things other than Lincolnshire Museums.
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Today saw me out and about once again - this time a return trip to the historic city of Lincoln.
I went for one reason only, that was to take a picture of The Chapter House, there were plenty I could use on the net etc but it somehow made sense to drive all the way there and take my own !
Good job I did too otherwise I wouldn’t have gone to the Lincoln Museum
Called The Collection is was opened in 2005 and cost £12.5 million - money well spent !
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Advertising during the Art Deco period must rank as by far the most stylish yet seen !
It was whilst flicking through a 1936 copy of Country Life magazine that once again I was struck by just what a stylish period it was.
I think I’m slightly frustrated here in this world as I always find my self compellingly drawn to this period - possibly I’m displaced
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Today saw your host once again taking in the fine weather and visiting another historic Lincolnshire site
This time Tupholme Abbey near Lincoln
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Today saw me, once again, on the track of Roman Walls - this time in Banovallum in Lindsey - or Horncastle in Lincolnshire if you insist in living in modern times !
My mission was to locate 3 sections of Roman Wall ~ I failed !
I located 4 ! ! Read the rest of this entry »

One sentence in a book I am currently reading brought about an urge to visit a town in Lincolnshire I’d not been to in years.
I used to visit Caistor very regularly, usually on the way to or from Lincoln, as it had a nice secondhand bookshop - sadly no longer there.
It was the startling information on Lazarus I previously blogged which necessitated this trip and well worth while it was too
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What happened to Lazarus ?
Well, most would say he was raised from the dead by Jesus - and that would be correct.
OK then, we’re a long way from Lincolnshire in that case.
Well, just down the road from me is a small market town called Caistor and . . .
Lazarus or Simon Zelotes . . . Read the rest of this entry »