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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

An interesting detail from "A New and Correct map of the United States, 1785" - the first ever official map of the US...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

An absolute pleasure to be invited by the Gallipoli Association to speak at their annual conference at the prestigious RAF club on the role of the Australian Flying Corps in Eastern theatres, and in particular on No. 1 Sqn (AFC)'s contributions to aerial photography and mapping in the Middle East.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Sorry, unacceptable Australianism on my part. 🫡 I'm reminded though, of Monty telling Ming (of the Aussie 9th) "I do not know of any other Allied Division who could have done it."

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

South Western Railways map—still currently displayed on trains—dates from the 2017 Firstgroup franchise/rebrand. It seems to suggest several South coast ports from where you can catch ferries AND hovercraft. The last hovercraft crossing of the channel took place on 1/10/2000.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Amazing photo. By looking for the church spire (which I think is the American Cathedral in Paris) we can draw a line back from Eiffel Tower & figure out the curved pediment most likely belongs to the roof of Les Arcades des Champs-Élysées (76-78).

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Left, London worker summer 1966. Right, London worker summer 2026.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

For 90 minutes last night London wizards were able to sustain their Globe of Invulnerability and force the first storm dragon attack around the city. However, they were asleep by 4am.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I was being slightly facetious! There is actually a gif of this on the Wikipedia page for Australian states and territories, so it would be straightforward to do it within the tool.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Option 1: Amok on the Commodore Vic-20. Option 2: Crush, Crumble and Chomp on the Commodore-64. I still hear the anxiety music getting more intense as the military close in on your monster....

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Another of Dex's wonderful typographical maps, playing off the tube map this time. Find out more: abduzeedo.com/typographic-...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

So Canada had actually had two earlier flags, the one on the left was from 1868 to 1922 the one on the right from 1922 to 1965. Re "British Subject", all citizens of Dominions were automatically considered subjects prior to 1948. From 1948-72, Commonwealth citizens could still apply for it.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

So as per this illustration I provided before - the upper red arm of the St Patrick's cross touches the "hoist" or flag pole side margin of the flag, not the "fringe" which is the old fashioned term for the top of the flag.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Well, I've no idea what era your dad grew up in — but the Canadian flag from 1957 to 1965 was a Red Ensign defaced by the then Canadian badge. So no doubt he'd have been more used to seeing the Union Flag in the canton and how it was meant to be oriented.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Hoist is the flag pole, fringe is the uppermost length of the flag.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

There was briefly a Scottish alternative in the early 17th Century to address this (following Union of Crowns, but preceding Union of Parliaments), but it never really took popular hold.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

The upside down Union Flag is one of the fastest ways to trigger a LOT of Brits. If you dig around on social media you will find countless threads going back to the 90s about how easy it is to get this right & how often people get it wrong! Simple way to remember is: upper red to hoist, not fringe.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

The persistence of sunlight. apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26042...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

@raspberrypi.com pllllleeeeaaaase tell me this is going to be commercially produced!! www.raspberrypi.com/news/beige-i...

An isometric angled photo on a green background a new Raspberry Pi 500 keyboard, but retro styled with beige casing, black qwerty keyboard and red function keys, designed to look like a 1980s BBC Micro.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Positively Spring vibes at Kew today...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

50 years ago the English version of Adventures of the Black Hand Gang, by Hans Jürgen Press was released. Like Where's Wally?, Richard Scarry, Mitsumasa Anno, Ali Mitgutsch & even Hieronymus Bosch, it was an example of children's 'Wimmlebild'—deliberately crowded art to draw in & stimulate minds.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Ah, the good ol' days of 90s internet search. Less results, a LOT less dross and misinformation.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

The remarkable story of the Norman Cross POW site in Cambridgeshire from the Napoleonic Wars. www.linkedin.com/posts/histor...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

New British Rail train livery?? Not a fan, particularly the carriages, with them lacking the usual continuity of design you expect along the length of a train. I especially don't like the way they present half going in one direction, and half going opposite - very jarring.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The Soviet Union spent 3 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 2 days fighting against Nazi Germany. Putin's "3-day special military operation" to force regime change in Kyiv has now lasted 3 years, 10 months and three weeks - longer than the entire Eastern Front of WW2. Barbarossa, Stalingrad, Kursk...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

At the UK National Archives this morning, the top pond is completely frozen, the lower only remains clear of ice under the water flow.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Exceptional Christmas cracker joke today.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Looking for a perfect stocking filler for the map lover in your life? (Even if that is you) Well, the Second Edition of TNA's popular 'Maps: Their Untold Stories' is out now just in time to navigate it's way under your Christmas tree! 🎄📖 🎁 www.bloomsbury.com/uk/maps-thei...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Am I the only one who thinks the cover art/poster for MI: The Final Reckoning looks like a stunt pilot DLC for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Just because of feed proximity, I am now imagining a younger version of him with velvet hood.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Very excited to hear today's speakers @rgsibg.bsky.social's Challenging Maps and Exploration symposium.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

In 2019 Sasha Trubetskoy created a fabulous series of tube map style maps of Roman roads. They include major arteries of the whole empire, and ones which focus on the modern nations of Britain, Spain/Portugal, France and Italy. Here is the British one: sashamaps.net/images/roman...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

True from the 20th century onward, styles stayed practical; but earlier eras uniform fashions shifted with war or peace—for example, long peace = gaudy frills and lace; in the American Revolution, soldiers shortened or folded their coat tails to move more easily through thick shrubs.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

If you are heading towards #ClaphamJunction and plan on using P1 - it is rammed to the yellow line and backed up across the footbridge. You might want to consider a diffetent route.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Some amazing work from the London fire brigade dealing with a car fire on South Lane, New Malden. There may be some local traffic disruption, but the fire was brought under control really quickly. No suggestion of injuries.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

At the moment, the sun (or at least light through rain clouds in the case of London) is shining on about 7/8ths of the world's 8.2 billion people.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

TNA swans contemplating deeply on what new secrets will be uncovered at Kew today...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Australia's four turns at mounting the King's Guard were 1937 & 1953 Coronation Contingents; 1RAR in 1988 for the Australian Bicentenary; and in 2000 when the Australian Federation Guard did it to mark the centenary of federation—including the first ever female guard. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8146...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

How long by train from London? (🗺️map by Peter Kerpedjiev)

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Want to save overnight accommodation costs whilst travelling across Europe's rail network - check out the growing night train options.

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

A map of Japan’s High-Speed Network, in operation, planned or under construction. In the 61 years since 1964, Japan has constructed over 3,500km (2,175 miles) with an average track speed of over 260 kmph (160 mph) and top speed sections over 320 kmph (200 mph). www.nippon.com/en/features/...

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

#GreatBritishRailways "Coming Soon" stickers spotted in the wild in Southwestern territory. @geofftech.bsky.social @jagohazzard.bsky.social - I assume you've seen these?

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Robert Fleming @flemingrob.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

It's fair to say many people focus on the D-Day landings of 6 June when reflecting on the Battle of Normandy. But between 25-30 June the British 8th Corps had more than 4,000 men killed, wounded, captured or missing. However they had also progressed 10km in just five days.

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