Hadrian and Antinous

The history of the Roman Empire is always a fascinating subject to read and hear

about. But I don't ever remember it as being part of our School curriculum. And so

in this cleverly created video put together by the people at Royalty Now, we learn about

the life of one of Rome's great Emperors, Emperor Hadrian who succeeded Trajan.

Of course I'm familiar with the name Hadrian as his name did pop up in some of our

School history lessons when learning about the building of Hadrian's Wall which cut

off Scotland from Northern Britain and which still exists today as a World

Heritage site.

And so in the 123 AD Emperor Hadrian met his muse Antinous who was eventually to

become his lover. And together they travelled surveying the corners of the Empire. But while

participating in the Festival of the Nile, the body of Antinous was found floating in the River in

suspicious circumstances.

Emperor Hadrian never got over his loss and so had over two thousand statues created

in the memory of Antinous, as if to cement a God like legacy.

The final part of this video above creates a digital image of what Hadrian and Antinous might

have really looked like.

ROYALTY NOW STUDIOS

Below: A bust of Antinous from my last visit to

The British Museum in 2019

HERE

It's a Gif......Re-Post

Here's a few classic comedy film clips that were begging to be giffed. And as old as the clips

are, they still manage to tickle my funny bone.

Top row: Laurel & Hardy in 'Them Thar Hills.

Plus Laurel & Hardy in 'Swiss Miss.'

Middle row: The Three Stooges in 'Brideless Groom.'

And Laurel & Hardy in 'Twice Two.'

Bottom row: Charlie Chaplin in 'Modern Times.'

Above:  Laurel & Hardy and a funny but

overacting Cop.

Our Partial Solar Eclipse 2026

Yesterday evening hundreds gathered at the top of Parliament Hill in Hampstead for the

Partial Solar Eclipse. And just after 7.00 pm the crowds gave out a loud cheer with clapping

as 90% of the Sun's light was blocked by the passing Moon, creating a twilight moment.

And although it was only a Partial Eclipse, Spain, Iceland and Greenland were beneficiaries

of a Total Eclipse.

Of course our last Total Eclipse was back in August 1999 just before the Millennium. And it

was best viewed down in Cornwall, and in the very week that I had booked a holiday there.

But sadly the Eclipse was not visible due to the build up of clouds. But we did experience that

eerie darkness as all the nearby coastal town's lights came on while all the seabirds suddenly

went very quiet.

Below are just a few pictures of yesterday's Partial Eclipse using my special and rarely used

Eclipse filter.

 

Summertime By The Regents Canal

This must be one of the best Summers we've seen here in the U.K for a long time. Although

England has now been described officially as in a drought. Rivers are drying up, grass,

fields and farmlands are all looking parched and it could affect the food and agriculture industry.

And tomorrow on Thursday we're expecting our fifth heatwave with temperatures of 36c or 37c.

So could our Summer be bowing out by next week? Somehow I hope not with just 2 weeks

to go before Autumn. I really don't want the Summer to end. So lets hope we're in for

an Indian Summer. I'm really not ready for the long dark nights after the last horrible Winter.

So above and below are some recent new pictures and a video taken down by 

The Regents Canal during a short walk from St John's Wood near Lords Cricket Ground

and up to the Feng Shang Princess Floating Chinese Restaurant.

Some of the colouring in the video is looking a bit off, which I'm working on. I might have to

use my stills camera a bit more often with it's video camera option, which gives me less problems.