Author: penwithlit

Kaliningrad Oblast is a federal state of the Russian Federation that is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and has the city of Kaliningrad as its administrative center.

Until 1945, Kaliningrad was known as Königsberg, the former capital of East Prussia,  but after its World War II victory over Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union annexed the city and the surrounding area.

Kaliningrad’s ultimate strategic value to Russia is that it functions as a warm-water port as well as a staging area for military exercises. Russia has held frequent exercises in the region and Moscow has often threatened to place nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, which borders multiple NATO states.

Strange, isn’t it?

Just recently, a dear friend of mine said to me that Jews always travel with the Holocaust in their suitcase, which is why, I think, I understand what Goldie Goldbloom is trying to do in her most recent novel, Gwen.  It’s a fictionalisation of the complicated life of Gwen Johns, (1876-1939) the Welsh artist overshadowed by her flamboyant brother Augustus John, and the novel is set mostly in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century.  But there are some surreal elements of the novel that will baffle readers unless they know something of the dark history of Paris under the Nazis.

These days, Paris has marketed itself as the city of love, and tourists flock there in droves to enjoy its light-hearted ambience.  I’ve done that too, and will again, I hope.  But I’ve never forgotten the shock of seeing this plaque on a wall in…

During previous visits to Amsterdam I’ve always liked the way they make mint tea with fresh sprigs of mint rather than a tea bag.  This time a new discovery – ginger tea made with slices of root ginger in hot water with a little honey to add according to taste. Delicious – even though it might have looked like somebody had put slices of raw potato into the glass!

The disgusting abuse of Jeremy Corbyn by the immature young man who has been give the grave responsibility of running Britain’s defence is beyond redemption.

I am a Tory. I’m no longer a member of the Conservative Party and after 40 years of voting for it I shall never do so again until it turns away from its authoritarian and illiberal path. But I am a true Tory instead of the fake that inhabits 10, Downing Street and her sycophants and hangers on.

Similar smears about Corbyn’s efforts in talking to the IRA and Hamas by other Conservative politicians are also beneath contempt. If our senior politicians aren’t doing all they can to reach out to such organisations in peaceful dialogue then they are irresponsible.  However, that the Defence Secretary demeans himself and his office with such puerile conduct requires firm action. It is horrifying that this idiot has our…