My current book line‑up. I fully expect each one to leave me even more infuriated with those who’ve made such a mess of things, but they look like compelling reading nonetheless.

A Legendary WWII Plane Vanished in the Jungle. 80 Years Later, It Emerged From the Wild—Incredibly Preserved. Major Richard Bong downed 40 Japanese aircraft in his trusty “Marge.” Then, after a crash, it was lost to time.

www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a7094...

Another productive day working on my next book, teasing out the operational detail behind the actions at #Magfar and #Kassassin during the #AngloEgyptianWar

However, it is now time for an Old Fashioned.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Artemis II mission latest: How NASA expects historic space launch to unfold as countdown approaches Launch day for the Artemis II space mission has arrived. Yesterday, NASA put the chance of lift-off going ahead at 80%. The mission will take four astronauts on a 10-day test trip around the moon. Fol...

One positive today-at least in my opinion-the scheduled launch of Atremis II at 11.24pm UK time.

news.sky.com/liveblog-web...

Tonight's classic movie.

Today I am writing about... ⬇️

And this Saturday night's classic movie is...

Absolutely. Along with the The Saint and The Avengers.

Time for a re-watch!

Re-watching season one of Picard, and struck by how incredibly well Peyton List (the older one of Mad Men and The Rookie fame) plays the part of Narissa. A Star Trek villain it would've been interesting to know more of their back story. Alas, they killed the character off too quickly and easily.

‘Negatives are photographic truths’: the collector who fled Russia with a haul of second world war images Ukrainian-Russian photojournalist Arthur Bondar has amassed huge collection of pictures from often unknown photographers

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Potential classic film choice for tonight. A nice follow on from the Ipcress File last week.

Captain Tony Morton, naval aviator awarded the DSC for leadership in the Falklands War Under his command, the aged frigate Yarmouth experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the brief war – and survived without loss of life

Captain Tony Morton, naval aviator awarded the DSC for leadership in the Falklands War – obituary share.google/aLuek1BfVrhC...

Enjoying an Old Fashioned and I think I've settled on this absolute classic for later tonight.

A Sunday evening watching one of my all-time favourites.

Crew 'excited' as new £250m warship prepares for Portsmouth home HMS Venturer is among the fleet set to the replace the current crop of Type 23 warships.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How Lord Nelson masterminded Britain’s most impressive victory Paul O’Keeffe’s superb history of the Battle of Trafalgar recreates the fight in all its gruesome, visceral detail

Trafalgar by Paul O’Keeffe, review: How Lord Nelson masterminded Britain’s most impressive victory share.google/85rDrv2lWNYN...

Another productive evening spent writing. However, time to put the laptop away and get a bottle of something out.

Below is the Italian battleship Andrea Doria, which features in my current project.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Seems like a good time to get on with reading these.

#OnThisDay (2 Feb 1712) George Anson begins his distinguished career in the #RoyalNavy aboard HMS Ruby. His subsequent reforms as First Lord of the Admiralty were instrumental in professionalising the service and establishing British naval supremacy.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

I’ve got something a bit different in the works for later this year, and I hope you’ll all find it interesting....

#OnThisDay (27 Jan 1916) The Military Service Act gains Royal Assent, bringing conscription to Great Britain for the first time. The Act required single men aged 18-41 to serve. Around 2.5 million men were ultimately conscripted.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

#OnThisDay (26 Jan 1885) #Khartoum falls to Mahdist forces following a 317-day siege. General Charles George Gordon is killed just two days before a British relief column arrives. The event sparks a national public outcry in Britain. #MahdistWar

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Still one of my favourite war movies, and a pretty good way to spend the first part of a Sunday evening.

Another productive afternoon writing about the Battle of the River Plate. Tackling events in Montevideo in the lead up to Graf Spee’s scuttling shortly.

For now, though, it’s time for coffee and an 80s movie. 🤓

Image: Damage to HMS Exeter during the battle - Wikimedia Commons

#OnThisDay (25 Jan 1797) A Royal Navy squadron of three frigates and a corvette under George Stewart engaged the Spanish ship San Francisco de Asís off Cádiz. Despite a fierce 3-hour battle, the British were forced to withdraw due to heavy damage.

(Images: Wikimedia Commons)

My days of making plastic model kits are long in the past, but I had fun building this.

Slowly getting my head around the finer details of the Battle of the River Plate. This surely has to be one of the most intriguing stories of WW2.

Graf Spee.

A day of writing about this. ⬇️

Now for an evening of reading and coffee before the delights of another manic week ahead.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)