Today in History May 1st

Greetings Gentle Reader. its a new month so lets plunge headlong into the ocean of history.

1328: Scotland has its independence acknowledged my England.

1707: After 379 years, Scotland and England reunite politically with the Act of Union.

1786: Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" has its premier in Vienna.

1960: Francis Gary Powers' U2 spyplane is shot down over the Soviet Union.

1999: Cartoon "Spongebob Squarepants" debuts on Nickolodeon.

2004: Latvia and 9 other countries, join the European Union.

#latvia #scotland #unitedkingdom #spongebob #garypowers #mozart

Orthodox Easter fun

Happy Easter gentle reader.

I know what you are thinking.

"Easter was last month!!!"

Well its the christian orthodox easter so Lena, Robert and myself are making colourful boiled eggs for breakfast.

Today in History 30th April

Hello Gentle Readers, Spring has arrived so lets dance through the meadows of time as we sniff the flowers of history, 

1938: Porky's Hare Hunt, sees the introduction of Bugs Bunny.





1945: Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide.

 
1980: The Iranian Embassy Siege of London begins.





2008: 2 Bodies found near the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia are confirmed as the remains of Alexei Nikolaevich Tsarevich of Russian and his sister the Grand Duchess Anastasia.





#adolfhitler #evabraun #Alexei Nikolaevich #anastasia #iranembassysiege #todayinhistory #april30 #bugsbunny

Riga: The Metro

Riga's proposed Metro system

You may not be aware Gentle Reader, that while Latvia was still under the control of the Soviet Union, plans were made for the building of an underground metro system in Riga.

Plans were made incorporating 3 separate lines with a total of 33 metro stations. It was hoped that by 2021, Riga would have its very own mass transport system, but it never happened.

The reasons why it never happened are varied.

History

The idea of Riga having its own metro was first planned during the 1970's when city planners were asked toimprove the cities transport links.

Other ideas included high speed tram lines and development of the overground rail network, but it was the Metro that had the most support. This was because at that time the population of Riga was quickly expanding and if, as predicted, it passed 1 million people, it would meet the Soviet Union's own test of whether a metro was warranted.

Axonometrical plan of placing of Uzvaras station, 1981

The Metrogiprotans institute was given the responsibility to design the systems layout, work out the cost and develop the details of design. They were given three years to come up with the technological and economic side of the project. Three more were dedicated to come up with the station design and other planning. The first 8 stations and the first line would take another 9 years meaning the metro would open in the early 1990s.

A series of delays due to financial problems, geological meant the earliest in could of opened was 1997.

Local art-deco architects were approached to plan stations and in 1986 the number of lines was upped to 3. Things were looking good as the initial phase was finally completed and an opening in 2000 looked like a real possibility.

In the late 1980's the project started to receive strong criticism, this combined with the fall of the Soviet Union, meant that the project was shelved without a single bit of physical work done.
When planning started there were to be 2 lines.
1. Zolitude to Purvciems
2. Milgravis to Ziepniekkalns
This was changed to
1. Imanta to Jugla
2. Plavnieki to Centrs
3. Mezaparks to Ziepniekkalns

#riga #rigametro

Wednesday thought. Shakespeare....on The Donald!

Hello Gentle reader. Culturally William Shakespeare is probably the most important British person....ever.

400 years after his death his plays are still performed all over the world and the themes he used in his plays all those years ago still have resonance in our modern 21st century society.

Here are some quotes that he wrote then that have something to say about today. It would seem gentle reader that the bard even foresaw the rise of Trump.

We know what we are but know not what we may be.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

God has given you one face, but you give yourself another.

There is no darkness but ignorance.

#shakespeare #trump #devil #ignorant #

Dear Dad 3

Hello there Gentle readers, I have made it back safe and sound from Stockholm and today is my Dad's birthday. He passed in 2000 and I miss him still, this will be the third time on the blog that I have written him a letter. You can find the others here

http://ascotsmaninriga.blogspot.com/2015/02/dear-dad.html

http://ascotsmaninriga.blogspot.com/2015/04/dear-dad-2.html

Dear Dad,

Sorry I have not written for a while but as you know, adopting a little boy is not easy and time has sometimes been short.
We got Robert (named for you) at the beginning of the year and he has been amazing. He loves football and his mama and he will hopefully be starting at my school in August. At Easter, Lena and I took him to Norfolk and he met his Granny, Auntie Fiona, Janine, Brendan and Honey and they made him really welcome and he and Honey have become firm friends.

Please look out for Fiona and Janine, they have had a rough time lately, as I am  sure you know and they could do with your wisdom right now.

Mum seems much healthier and happier, she has even put on some weight, which she really needed to do. So please don’t wind her up about it like you did when I was a kid.

I know that wherever you are, you are looking down on all of us and I wish I could chat to you again. I regret not taking the time to talk to you when I had the chance, I reckon I would have been better off if I had.

Love you Dad

Neil

Goodbye Sweden and Takk

Well Gentle readers, my Stockholm adventure is nearly at an end. My colleagues, Karyn, Diana, Graham and I are on the Arlanda express train to the airport.

I have really enjoyed my stay here. Everyone I met was friendly and I cant wait to come back with Lena and see more.

Thanks

#stockholm #sweden