Chris Ponting
@chrisponting.bsky.social
Formerly known as Sporting_chin.
Cheese, beer, tripe.
Sharing Arthur Hirst’s 1947 diary.
If you’re looking for Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh, you’ll find him at @cgatist.bsky.social
Cheese, beer, tripe.
Sharing Arthur Hirst’s 1947 diary.
If you’re looking for Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh, you’ll find him at @cgatist.bsky.social
Saturday 29th November 1947
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
November 29, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Saturday 29th November 1947
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
A great afternoon with two old mates who should know better.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A great afternoon with two old mates who should know better.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
On our way back to Exeter. Just got to flag the train down.
November 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
On our way back to Exeter. Just got to flag the train down.
Went for the pork belly. Bloody lovely.
November 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Went for the pork belly. Bloody lovely.
Good afternoon from The Beer Engine. It’s a busy old place.
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Good afternoon from The Beer Engine. It’s a busy old place.
On a lads lads day out to Exeter. Lunch will be had at The Beer Engine in Newton St Cyrs. Should be a fine afternoon with two good old pals.
November 29, 2025 at 10:14 AM
On a lads lads day out to Exeter. Lunch will be had at The Beer Engine in Newton St Cyrs. Should be a fine afternoon with two good old pals.
Describe your cat's personality with one photo.
November 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Describe your cat's personality with one photo.
Three great outlandishly Truefax from the 1996 Shooting Stars book. I have to thank @alisoneales.com for reminding me of its existence, which prompted me to take it off the the bookshelf.
November 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Three great outlandishly Truefax from the 1996 Shooting Stars book. I have to thank @alisoneales.com for reminding me of its existence, which prompted me to take it off the the bookshelf.
Friday 28th November 1947
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
November 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Friday 28th November 1947
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
You Are Not Alone came out just as the love of my life at that moment left the UK to work in Bangkok for the British Council. I’d get pissed, put this on and cry like a baby. Great times. #totp
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 PM
You Are Not Alone came out just as the love of my life at that moment left the UK to work in Bangkok for the British Council. I’d get pissed, put this on and cry like a baby. Great times. #totp
Anthony Head’s brother, who must have thought at this point that he was the most successful of the Head siblings. But Tony was heading for the Gold Blend. #totp
November 28, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Anthony Head’s brother, who must have thought at this point that he was the most successful of the Head siblings. But Tony was heading for the Gold Blend. #totp
Letter writing for Arthur, and physio in the afternoon at St Stephen’s.
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Letter writing for Arthur, and physio in the afternoon at St Stephen’s.
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
TARDIS? TURDIS, more like. #MoreLike #DoctorPoo
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
TARDIS? TURDIS, more like. #MoreLike #DoctorPoo
Remembering the Beatles anthem to swinging, Got To Get You Into My Wife.
November 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Remembering the Beatles anthem to swinging, Got To Get You Into My Wife.
Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans, who are getting family together for a big turkey meal, exactly four weeks before getting family together for a big turkey meal.
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans, who are getting family together for a big turkey meal, exactly four weeks before getting family together for a big turkey meal.
Wednesday 26th November 1947
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Wednesday 26th November 1947
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
Put it away, Baz.
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Put it away, Baz.
Tuesday 25th November 1947
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Tuesday 25th November 1947
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
Double Diamond update: the cans are printed now, before they were plain cans with big labels added. Hopefully this means production is stepping up.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Double Diamond update: the cans are printed now, before they were plain cans with big labels added. Hopefully this means production is stepping up.