Vanda Wilcox
@vandawilcox.bsky.social
professional procrastinator, precarious historian, cat serf, romanista. Writes about the First World War, Italy, imperialism & Georgette Heyer, not usually all at once.🪡🥧🐈⬛️
Marathon of baking now completed!
November 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Marathon of baking now completed!
Wartime fascist propaganda from before July 1943:
fake British & US banknotes, with text on the back explaining that Allied airmen are getting paid bonuses to destroy Italy's people, civilization and religion
fake British & US banknotes, with text on the back explaining that Allied airmen are getting paid bonuses to destroy Italy's people, civilization and religion
November 27, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Wartime fascist propaganda from before July 1943:
fake British & US banknotes, with text on the back explaining that Allied airmen are getting paid bonuses to destroy Italy's people, civilization and religion
fake British & US banknotes, with text on the back explaining that Allied airmen are getting paid bonuses to destroy Italy's people, civilization and religion
A 1940 issue of an Italian fascist magazine, dedicated to Germany in Africa. It advocates the overthrow of the Versailles treaty & the restoration of the German colonial empire; sings the praises of pre-1918 German colonialism; attacks the mandate system.
There is ... a lot going on here.
There is ... a lot going on here.
November 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A 1940 issue of an Italian fascist magazine, dedicated to Germany in Africa. It advocates the overthrow of the Versailles treaty & the restoration of the German colonial empire; sings the praises of pre-1918 German colonialism; attacks the mandate system.
There is ... a lot going on here.
There is ... a lot going on here.
1938 advert for colonial fizzy drinks made in Italian East Africa, proudly proclaimed to be Made in the Empire
(I would like to try tamarind soda though, I must admit)
(I would like to try tamarind soda though, I must admit)
November 18, 2025 at 12:30 PM
1938 advert for colonial fizzy drinks made in Italian East Africa, proudly proclaimed to be Made in the Empire
(I would like to try tamarind soda though, I must admit)
(I would like to try tamarind soda though, I must admit)
subsiding cathedrals lead to Scissor Arches though and they make everything better!
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
subsiding cathedrals lead to Scissor Arches though and they make everything better!
I have tried to propose other cakes... but as far as she concerned there is only one acceptable Birthday Cake
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I have tried to propose other cakes... but as far as she concerned there is only one acceptable Birthday Cake
Double figures! Made the annual chocolate and raspberry cake: it's a Nigella recipe, with added raspberry jam layer on the middle, and a sour cream chocolate icing.
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Double figures! Made the annual chocolate and raspberry cake: it's a Nigella recipe, with added raspberry jam layer on the middle, and a sour cream chocolate icing.
I have one book proposal on the Italian colonial empire out for review and another one almost ready to send off so on this morning's train journey I'm refreshing myself by revising my essay on colonialism in Georgette Heyer's romance novels and getting it ready to submit #AcWri
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I have one book proposal on the Italian colonial empire out for review and another one almost ready to send off so on this morning's train journey I'm refreshing myself by revising my essay on colonialism in Georgette Heyer's romance novels and getting it ready to submit #AcWri
Halloween baking 🎃👻
ready for kiddo to take to her Halloween party tomorrow
Some of them will be sandwiched together with apricot jam
ready for kiddo to take to her Halloween party tomorrow
Some of them will be sandwiched together with apricot jam
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Halloween baking 🎃👻
ready for kiddo to take to her Halloween party tomorrow
Some of them will be sandwiched together with apricot jam
ready for kiddo to take to her Halloween party tomorrow
Some of them will be sandwiched together with apricot jam
Largo Argentina cat sanctuary in the sunshine 🌞 🐈⬛️🐈🏛
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Largo Argentina cat sanctuary in the sunshine 🌞 🐈⬛️🐈🏛
Looked like a divine visitation was under way at St Peter's this evening
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Looked like a divine visitation was under way at St Peter's this evening
my plan for the 3 hour train journey home: make a dent in the huge pile of exam grading
my brain:
my brain:
October 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
my plan for the 3 hour train journey home: make a dent in the huge pile of exam grading
my brain:
my brain:
Reminded of this article again after finding an Italian colonial army payroll today, where ascari acknowledged receipt of payment with their fingerprint
October 14, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reminded of this article again after finding an Italian colonial army payroll today, where ascari acknowledged receipt of payment with their fingerprint
Archival mysteries of the day:
Slightly singed or just natural, health-giving black mould?
Slightly singed or just natural, health-giving black mould?
October 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Archival mysteries of the day:
Slightly singed or just natural, health-giving black mould?
Slightly singed or just natural, health-giving black mould?
Ponte Milvio in the morning means it's an archive day!
October 14, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Ponte Milvio in the morning means it's an archive day!
tag yourself, I'm "sick foreigner"
October 7, 2025 at 9:54 AM
tag yourself, I'm "sick foreigner"
Chief superintendent of works!
There's a lot of white in the Thessaloniki street cats' gene pool, which is pretty but does rather show the dirt
There's a lot of white in the Thessaloniki street cats' gene pool, which is pretty but does rather show the dirt
October 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Chief superintendent of works!
There's a lot of white in the Thessaloniki street cats' gene pool, which is pretty but does rather show the dirt
There's a lot of white in the Thessaloniki street cats' gene pool, which is pretty but does rather show the dirt
I didn't buy any embroidered ecclesiastical fabric though and I think I deserve credit for that?
October 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I didn't buy any embroidered ecclesiastical fabric though and I think I deserve credit for that?
Have I discovered Thessaloniki's dedicated fabric and haberdashery quarter, computer with indoor market?
It was an accident, honest. The fabric just fell into my bag, I swear!
It was an accident, honest. The fabric just fell into my bag, I swear!
October 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Have I discovered Thessaloniki's dedicated fabric and haberdashery quarter, computer with indoor market?
It was an accident, honest. The fabric just fell into my bag, I swear!
It was an accident, honest. The fabric just fell into my bag, I swear!
In the CWGC cemetery I spotted my first ever YMCA grave:
October 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
In the CWGC cemetery I spotted my first ever YMCA grave:
Yes I was surprised by these French ones too! Colonial troops have a symbol marking their origins - an M, S or IC for Madagascar, Senegal and Indochina
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Yes I was surprised by these French ones too! Colonial troops have a symbol marking their origins - an M, S or IC for Madagascar, Senegal and Indochina
Some cemetery cats
October 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Some cemetery cats
The Italian cemetery was pretty sad and neglected by contrast
October 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The Italian cemetery was pretty sad and neglected by contrast
The French have enduring a cross-shaped headstone; Jewish and Muslim soldiers received a tiny Star of David or Crescent on theirs (deeply weird and disrespectful tbh)
October 3, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The French have enduring a cross-shaped headstone; Jewish and Muslim soldiers received a tiny Star of David or Crescent on theirs (deeply weird and disrespectful tbh)
Visiting the Thessaloniki Allied cemetery with @fwwsoc.bsky.social - a really amazing site which brings together French Serbian, British & Commonwealth and Italian military cemeteries, in the air of the main French camp in the city
October 3, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Visiting the Thessaloniki Allied cemetery with @fwwsoc.bsky.social - a really amazing site which brings together French Serbian, British & Commonwealth and Italian military cemeteries, in the air of the main French camp in the city