"Kingsman", "Louisbourg 1758" and two more trips booked

Saturday trip first to Carluccio's for a very tasty pasta lunch followed by Cityscreen in York to see "Kingsman". Both B and myself said the film was OK, a laugh, entertaining, definitely not to be taken seriously but a couple of hours well spent.

During the week I have sorted out some more travel for this year (off screen - rubs hands together with satisfaction and excitement), two more history trips.

First - I am a very inactive member of the Fortress Study Group (FSG). In the January edition of the FSG magazine, "Casemate", there was a piece about a proposed FSG Study Weekend to Plymouth in late April to tour the 1860's landward forts. These were built to protect the Royal Navy facilities in the port. I have a place on this tour. As the hotel rates are priced per room and not per person, B will come with me but to see friends in the South West, not to visit the forts and batteries.

Then in June I have my trip to the Maginot Line.

Second new trip - with B to see some of the sights of Andalusia in Spain. A week in mid-September, staying in Malaga, Seville and Granada, travelling by coach and visiting the major Moorish sights such as the Mezquita and the Alhambra. We are very excited about this, we have been saying for a few years that we should do this.

Other bits of news. Last week I returned to studying French history. The History of the Crusades course I am attending looked at the 12th century Albigensian Crusade against the Cathar religion of Southern France. This was very interesting as the class is mainly older people that went through a 1960's and 70's C of E based education and were not familiar with the intricacies of the Catholicism v Catharism debate.

Also, I read this book:

I like these Osprey books, they are always well written and illustrated. I have several by this author, René Chartrand, a specialist in the French military of the 18th century. They are a great way to get the basic facts and for quick reference material. The main problem is now that Louisbourg has been added to the list of sites I want to visit.