Canadians on the battlefields
Our only set item on the agenda was that they wanted to attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper, so that meant getting there for at the very latest 1900.
Articles tagged as 'pas de calais'
The Voice
Fly you fools
At the beginning of the year I was approached by a member of the Arras Tourist Board who was a friend of Juan Conchillo the director of the Béthune, Son et Lumière. This year the team wanted to present a spectacle recounting some of Béthune’s history during the Great War.
The Louvre at Lens
A first look at the Louvre-Lens
On entering the gallery my first thought was that there did not seem to be a lot to see. This is because you can see from one end to the other of the 120 metre hall.The items are displayed either in cabinets or free standing and it quickly becomes apparent that the visit is going to take longer than first thought.
S'now business by Coal Porter
Climb every mountain
My original intention was to take a few snapshots; walk out to the plateau and see if I could get a snowy view over the Loos battlefields. However, by the time I had reached the plateau I had realised that although it was cold, with the sunshine it certainly didn’t feel it and well, why not, whilst I am here and it’s a lovely day, I’ll climb it.
Dodging the rain
Dodging the rain
This year I suggested that September would be a better moment for my parents to come across because in theory it is still warm and sunny. August turned hot and sunny and I actually got to the beach on a number of occasions, but as we approached September didn’t those grey cloud glyphs start to proliferate on the weather maps.
Ye olde timer belt
A day in St Omer
In 1212 the town had passed through marriage from the Count of Flanders to the Count of Artois (with French becoming the official language). Two years later, an unhappy Ferdinand Count of Flanders decided to try and win back the towns of St Omer and Aire sur la Lys by force of arms. Forming a coalition of powers, the central architect of which was King John (Sans Terre) of England, war was declared on King Philippe Auguste of France.