Life
What makes Argos worth £1.4 billion? I reckon I know
When I was at school in the 1970s, some of the richer kids would come back from their summer holidays…
Dear Mary: How can I make a conversation-stopping gaffe go away?
Q. What should a host do when a guest says something so embarrassing in front of the assembled company that…
The kindest man in the Bordeaux wine business
There was a moment during the war when De Gaulle was being more than usually impossible. Roosevelt, furious, asked Churchill…
The tangled story of dreadlocks, from Milton to YouTube
‘Why are you filming this?’ ‘For everyone’s safety.’ Those are the last words in a 46-second video that was watched…
Battle for Britain
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Sergey’s sensation
Sergey Karjakin, who in 2002 became the world’s youngest-ever grandmaster at the age of 12 years and seven months, has…
No. 403
White to play. This is a variation from Aronian-Svidler, Moscow 2016. In this game Aronian misplayed his attack and Svidler…
Gender reassignment
In Competition No. 2942 you were invited to submit a rhyme incorporating the lines ‘What are little girls made of?’…
Dear Mary
Q. What should a host do when a guest says something so embarrassing in front of the assembled company that…
A gentleman of Bordeaux
There was a moment during the war when De Gaulle was being more than usually impossible. Roosevelt, furious, asked Churchill…
High life
New York Even after all these years, I’m still at times floored by the scale of the place. And…
Long life
Forgive me if I feel a little depressed at the moment. There are a lot of contributory factors — among…
Long life
Forgive me if I feel a little depressed at the moment. There are a lot of contributory factors — among…
Low life
The younger grandson, Klynton, four, has got in the habit recently of thrusting his hands in my trouser pockets and…
Low life
The younger grandson, Klynton, four, has got in the habit recently of thrusting his hands in my trouser pockets and…
Dreadlocks
‘Why are you filming this?’ ‘For everyone’s safety.’ Those are the last words in a 46-second video that was watched…
Real life
My adventures in penury land me with two job applications on my screen, one for MI6, one for Sainsbury’s. Do…
A big hand for the two-faced tax hacks
Something odd happened at the Guardian on Monday as the paper’s editorial staff were basking in the glow of their…
A big hand for the two-faced tax hacks
Something odd happened at the Guardian on Monday as the paper’s editorial staff were basking in the glow of their…
My tip for the next cool shop: Argos
When I was at school in the 1970s, some of the richer kids would come back from their summer holidays…
Bridge
Well done to Janet and her team for their victory at the London Easter Congress. My own team — David…
Ray Moore lost his job for telling the truth
My old friend and one-time doubles partner Ray Moore has stepped down as chief executive of the Indian Wells Tennis…
Walking, and praying, in the hills of Provence
While I was in Provence, my hostess and I went out one day for a walk in the hills. We…
I knew my reasonably priced car insurance couldn’t last
After a year of affordable car insurance, I knew I had to be in for it when my premium came…
A glimpse of an older, kinder Chelsea
The Parish Church of St Luke in Sydney Street, Chelsea, is enormous. Vaguely reminiscent of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, it…
