Category Archives: miscellaneous essays

Siúil, Siúil, Siúil a Rún – a bit of Irish history in a folk song

Posted on March 17, 2018 by portiabridget

In order to celebrate St Patrick’s Day I am going to dissect a bit ‘Siúil a Rún’, a traditional Irish song and one of my folk favourites. There will be blood! 🙂 The title translates to “go, my love” (or ‘walk my … Continue reading →

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Princess in Love

Posted on February 14, 2017 by portiabridget

It’s time for an essay – it will be a terribly romantic story with a 19th century princess from the Netherlands as main heroine. The story, mind you, is true so expect it to be also a bit strange, cruel … Continue reading →

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St. Valentine’s special – like mother like daughter

Posted on February 14, 2016 by portiabridget

This year, in order to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, I decided to treat you with something horribly romantic. Accordingly, my little essay will have it all: doomed love, arranged marriages, love matches, unfaithful lovers, cursed inheritance, greed, worthless friends, illegitimate … Continue reading →

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A case study of one urban legend – the Unlucky Mummy

Posted on December 15, 2015 by portiabridget

How to create an urban myth or urban legend? I suppose you need not more than three-four components. First an interesting artifact with an obscure provenience which would move people’s imagination. The popular interest in such artifacts never vary. Then … Continue reading →

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The strange case of Arthur Conan Doyle and the Hound of the Baskervilles

Posted on October 16, 2015 by portiabridget

This essay was written for and first published on Book Bloggers International site as a part of their Sherlockian month – thank you, girls, for hosting me! Imagine you are a fairly acclaimed writer who has managed to create a great … Continue reading →

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Plants worth having around you

Posted on September 1, 2015 by portiabridget

If you have to spend long time day after day in a room with computers, printers and generally a lot of plastic and synthetic furniture, carpets etc. there is nothing better to surround yourself with plants. Plastic is reacting chemically with … Continue reading →

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Money won’t make you happy – a story of a marriage

Posted on August 7, 2015 by portiabridget

Despite those ironic smiles of people who say it, money really doesn’t bring happiness; if you don’t believe it meet a woman who had every opportunity to check that claim. Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore, one of the richest … Continue reading →

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The Devil’s Experiment or How Anachronist Has Turned into a Brazen Plagiarist Hussy

Posted on June 15, 2015 by portiabridget

You know I can turn into a proper she-devil when stirred properly. This little experiment of mine might shock you but I feel it’s the time to reveal the whole truth. I have been plagiarized. Many times over. I don’t … Continue reading →

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Lisowczycy or the 17th century James Bond unit from Poland

Posted on May 3, 2015 by portiabridget

As today is  the Polish national holiday I decided to write an essay concerning Polish history. I chose Lisowczycy.They were called „devils”, “barbarians” and „bloody hounds”. They were admired and copied. People feared them worse than the plague. Mothers in … Continue reading →

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Insta-love and insta-lust in three classical myths

Posted on October 31, 2014 by portiabridget

instalove: when someone you’ve just met thinks that you are their soul mate and they want to spend the rest of their lives with you and have kids with you.  Prepare yourself – there will be monsters. If you are at … Continue reading →

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