Perihelion Day

 3 January 2024 is Perihelion Day. On this day the Earth is closer to the Sun than on any other day in the year. The Earth orbits the Sun in an ellipse, not a circle so sometimes it is slightly closer to the Sun than at others. The point when the Sun is farthest away from the Sun is called the Aphelion. It is usually on 4 July.

Laos

 I wrote a brief history of the Asian nation of Laos 

Plymouth

 I wrote a brief history of the great English port of Plymouth, in Devon 

Iron Bridge

 On 1 January 1781, the world's first iron bridge opened to the public. When John Wesley saw it he compared it to the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Today we take it for granted that large structures are made of metal but before the Industrial Revolution, it would have been unthinkable.

Frankenstein

 The famous story Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was published on 1 January 1818.

Shepton Mallet

 I wrote a history of the small but attractive town of Shepton Mallet in Somerset

Haiti

 1 January is Haiti Independence Day. Happy Independence Day.