All posts by Keith

I’m a controversialist and catalyst, quietly enabling others to develop by providing different ideas and views of the world. Born in London in the early 1950s and initially trained as a research chemist I retired as a senior project manager after 35 years in the IT industry. Retirement is about community give-back and finding some equilibrium. Founder and Honorary Secretary of the Anthony Powell Society. Chairman of my GP's patient group.

Don't Criminalise Us …

The fight to get governments to decriminalise sex work (and sex workers) continues. Here’s a piece which highlights the views of Europe’s sex workers — most of whom are (voluntary, not trafficked) migrants.


It is notable that it isn’t just the sex workers who are saying sex work should be decriminalised. This view is backed by

major human rights organisations such Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the World Health Organization and several other United Nations agencies such as UN Women and the UNAIDS Advisory Group on HIV and Sex Work are also calling for the decriminalisation of sex work, noting that decriminalisation guarantees better working conditions, and reduces the social vulnerability and marginalisation of sex workers.

And as that implies many are now warning that the basic human rights — as covered, for instance, by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union — are being violated; and that those violations are state sanctioned the world over.
When are people going to wake up to what’s going on around us? It’s being done in our name, and yet how many of us agree with it?

Advent 13

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs

On the night of 14 October 1940, a bomb penetrated the road and exploded in Balham Underground station, killing 68 people; a No. 88 bus travelling in black-out conditions then fell into the crater

Image © Daily Mail

Ten Things for December

I thought we would start rounding up the year, so I give you …
Ten Odd Things I’ve Seen Auctioned this Year

  1. a pair of musket shot recovered from the ‘Invincible’ (1744-1758), with certificate of authenticity
  2. a decorative Christmas tree made from pipe cleaners
  3. an Elf transformer
  4. a Victorian stag hoof converted as an inkwell
  5. a Mills bomb grenade number 36M
  6. a Brookes Champion Standard B17 reproduction penny farthing
  7. a quantity of glamour magazines including Mayfair and Escort
  8. a vintage Agricastriol hand delivery pump for oil in original green cabinet
  9. a cocktail shaker in the form of a penguin
  10. an Edward VIII commemorative toilet roll holder, circa 1936, with an unopened pack of Tri-Sol medicated toilet paper (price 6d)

Advent 10

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs

Holler; Old St Pauls from the Thames

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

Advent 9

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs

Building of the Brunel’s SS Great Eastern at Millwall; 1857

Image © Victoria & Albert Museum

Advent 8

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs

Holborn; 1915

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

Advent 7

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs

Frozen Thames; 1814

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information