Sorry I'm late with this one, but I've just been out on Leighford Common blasting grouse with my Purdy. All right, none of that is true, but I just want you to be aware of the social class from which I emanate.
Now, to History Business ...
William Blake, poet, artist, visionary and kook, died today in 1827. His poems are pretty good - 'Tyger! Tyger!' etc but his art is awful; he was a very poor man's Michelangelo, with flat, derivative scenes mostly from the Old Testament.
In other news ...
The last of the Quaggas died in Amsterdam zoo today, in 1883. Zebediah Quagga was out for a stroll in the elephant house when he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Shame. He leaves no next of kin.
May I also take this opportunity to wish a very happy birthday to the very lovely Eloise Campbell-Bowling, esteemed photographer and demon Yahtzee player. To see what she gets up to when not beating me into the ground at Trivial Pursuit (I know ... I know ... a few lucky throws is how I like to think of it) visit here
