I have recently discovered the joys of what is, in my opinion, simply the best blog in Wales.Run by Anthony Brockway, Babylon Wales is a treasure trove of quirky facts about Wales and all things Welsh over the years.
Being a big fan of the "Hollywood Babylon" books of Kenneth Anger, this Welsh version is more accurate than its distant US relative and actually of far more interest than the sad decline of third rate American cinema actors and actresses.
It is a treasure trove that is delightful to read and prompts the inevitable "I didn't know that" on nearly every visit.
My particular favourites from last year include:
My particular favourites from last year include:
- Hermann Goering's Bullet-Proof Car (when his car was on display in Castle St, Cardiff in 1947
- R.S. Thomas and the Hell's Angels, which discusses a cult novel about Hell's Angels from the Llyn Peninsula
- Sophia Loren in Crumlin, a description of the a visit by the great Italian actress during the filming of Arabesque
- Haile Selassie goes camping in Swansea, which recounts a visit by the Emperor of Ethiopia to the Penllergaer Estate in 1939
In my humble opinion, BBC Wales should be beating a path to Anthony Brockway's door immediately with a very large cheque.
Babylon Wales - a national treasure.
Babylon Wales - a national treasure.
