Blair Tidey
@blairtidey.bsky.social
Asia-focused Aussie. Read, write & sometimes participate in military history & foreign affairs. Army WO1 (E9), 2019 Chief of Army Scholar, ANU SDSC PhD candidate. He/him.
Today I paid a visit to the Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) to get my head back into Vietnam in the 1960s & 1970s. I think it worked!
September 17, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Today I paid a visit to the Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) to get my head back into Vietnam in the 1960s & 1970s. I think it worked!
Some photos from my first full day in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s great to see some of the recent changes, including the Metro, alongside the older buildings.
September 16, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Some photos from my first full day in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s great to see some of the recent changes, including the Metro, alongside the older buildings.
A long day of travel but I’m now set up in Ho Chi Minh City. I’m looking forward to the next few months, but I’ll miss my family!
September 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
A long day of travel but I’m now set up in Ho Chi Minh City. I’m looking forward to the next few months, but I’ll miss my family!
The big trip begins! One flight down, one to go!
September 14, 2026 at 11:23 PM
The big trip begins! One flight down, one to go!
I’ve been keeping this quiet for a while, but I’m excited to be heading off to Vietnam next week for three months to conduct research for my PhD. It was made possible by ANU’s VC HDR Travel Grant and Coral Bell School PhD Candidate funds. I’m looking forward to the experience!
September 8, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I’ve been keeping this quiet for a while, but I’m excited to be heading off to Vietnam next week for three months to conduct research for my PhD. It was made possible by ANU’s VC HDR Travel Grant and Coral Bell School PhD Candidate funds. I’m looking forward to the experience!
I got a good haul at the Lifeline Canberra Book Fair this weekend - something old, something new!
September 6, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I got a good haul at the Lifeline Canberra Book Fair this weekend - something old, something new!
Bookstores. You can find them everywhere, even in Toronto’s Union Station!
July 23, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Bookstores. You can find them everywhere, even in Toronto’s Union Station!
Waiting on the first of four flights at Washington Dulles Airport & checking out the famous mobile lounges! www.atlasobscura.com/places/dulle...
July 23, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Waiting on the first of four flights at Washington Dulles Airport & checking out the famous mobile lounges! www.atlasobscura.com/places/dulle...
One of the things I enjoy about travelling is visiting bookshops, whether selling new & secondhand. Even if I come away empty-handed, it soothes my soul.
July 22, 2026 at 8:15 PM
One of the things I enjoy about travelling is visiting bookshops, whether selling new & secondhand. Even if I come away empty-handed, it soothes my soul.
A quick visit to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum then off to the mountains of West Virginia for a few days!
July 18, 2026 at 12:16 AM
A quick visit to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum then off to the mountains of West Virginia for a few days!
When I’m back in Hagerstown to visit family, I pick a part of the nearby Antietam National Battlefield to explore. This time it was the Final Attack Trail. Ably assisted by maps and guide books, it was easy to locate key points and discover what had occurred there. Well worth a visit!
July 15, 2026 at 11:45 PM
When I’m back in Hagerstown to visit family, I pick a part of the nearby Antietam National Battlefield to explore. This time it was the Final Attack Trail. Ably assisted by maps and guide books, it was easy to locate key points and discover what had occurred there. Well worth a visit!
Guess the plane (okay, this is an easy one).
July 11, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Guess the plane (okay, this is an easy one).
Dropped by a few Montreal bookshops & some local art yesterday, before flying to the US for the next part of our holiday.
July 11, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Dropped by a few Montreal bookshops & some local art yesterday, before flying to the US for the next part of our holiday.
Some highlights of our visit to Quebec City on Wednesday!
July 11, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Some highlights of our visit to Quebec City on Wednesday!
Earlier this week, I visited the “Mile 0” marker of the Trans-Canada Highway in Victoria BC and dropped by Munro’s Books to pick up a copy of “Canada’s Main Street” by Craig Baird, one of my favourite podcasters. I’m looking forward to reading it in the weeks ahead! @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social
July 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Earlier this week, I visited the “Mile 0” marker of the Trans-Canada Highway in Victoria BC and dropped by Munro’s Books to pick up a copy of “Canada’s Main Street” by Craig Baird, one of my favourite podcasters. I’m looking forward to reading it in the weeks ahead! @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social
A comparatively rare thing - a statue of a Regimental Major (RSM). Located at the Citadelle of Quebec, the home of the Royal 22e Regiment. In this case, their first RSM, CWO Jean Couture.
July 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
A comparatively rare thing - a statue of a Regimental Major (RSM). Located at the Citadelle of Quebec, the home of the Royal 22e Regiment. In this case, their first RSM, CWO Jean Couture.
Day trip to Quebec City by train, so of course I am reading about the 1775 defence of the city.
July 8, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Day trip to Quebec City by train, so of course I am reading about the 1775 defence of the city.
We enjoyed out first full day in Montreal - walked through Old Montreal, visited the Pointe-à-Callière museum and explored the Underground City.
July 7, 2026 at 11:32 PM
We enjoyed out first full day in Montreal - walked through Old Montreal, visited the Pointe-à-Callière museum and explored the Underground City.
Highlights of our second day in Victoria, BC - Butchart Gardens, Emily Carr’s House, the “Mile 0” marker for the Trans-Canada Highway, Terry Fox Statue, and the Pacific Ocean (not the side of it that I’m used to).
July 6, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Highlights of our second day in Victoria, BC - Butchart Gardens, Emily Carr’s House, the “Mile 0” marker for the Trans-Canada Highway, Terry Fox Statue, and the Pacific Ocean (not the side of it that I’m used to).
Starting long service leave with a few days in Victoria, BC before heading over to Montreal. Highly recommended if you get the chance.
July 5, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Starting long service leave with a few days in Victoria, BC before heading over to Montreal. Highly recommended if you get the chance.
Seen at Goodie’s Mitchell & left there despite my better judgement.
March 8, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Seen at Goodie’s Mitchell & left there despite my better judgement.
A couple of cheeky purchases from Book Grocer, picked up while on a course last week.
March 2, 2026 at 9:01 AM
A couple of cheeky purchases from Book Grocer, picked up while on a course last week.
I picked up some bargains from the Canberra Lifeline Book Fair this weekend, a good mix of titles to inform and entertain!
February 9, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I picked up some bargains from the Canberra Lifeline Book Fair this weekend, a good mix of titles to inform and entertain!
Gorgeous stuff
For many years I have been posting little observations online. What you may not know is that for many years, artists have been illustrating them - for no reason other than they wanted to respond. Below is a thread of some of these beautiful drawings because they should be seen 🧵
January 27, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Gorgeous stuff
Starting off my 2026 reading on a good note - these are my combination Christmas presents and holiday purchases. As usual, a good mix of subjects and authors.
January 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Starting off my 2026 reading on a good note - these are my combination Christmas presents and holiday purchases. As usual, a good mix of subjects and authors.