Life
True grit and pushy parents
I took my three boys for a cycle ride in Richmond Park on Sunday. Under normal circumstances, this would have…
Dettori’s double
Eclipse was one of the most remarkable racehorses ever. Sired by the then undistinguished Marske, whom mares could visit for…
My big embarrassing Greek royal wedding
Tempus sure fugit, and how. Twenty years ago, on Saturday 1 July 1995, monarchs from around the world descended on…
Praise, insults, posh gin – and other perils of the book launch
Rachel Johnson, in last week’s Spectator diary, says that her husband says she only writes a book in order to…
House-hunting in Cobham has driven me to the verge of insanity
This much I know, I never want to live in an ‘executive home’, and neither do I want to live…
First I cursed the Calais migrants — then I thanked them
The Eurostar train descended gently into the Channel Tunnel, went halfway along it, and then stopped. There it remained for…
Bridge
I had no idea until last week that Burt Lancaster was a passionate bridge player. I found out after meeting…
Magnus toppled
Last week, world champion Magnus Carlsen suffered a devastating defeat in the first round of the Stavanger super tournament when…
No. 369
White to play. This is from Anand–Hammer, Stavanger 2015. White is a pawn up with a good position and his…
Court report
In Competition No. 2904 you were invited to take as your first line ‘There’s a breathless hush on the centre…
2218: Fab!
The unclued lights (two of three words and two of two words) can be preceded by the same word and…
To 2215: IVOs
The unclued lights include at least four Os (IV Os), and other clued solutions contain two or three. OROONOKO at…
Giving up alcohol is not as much fun as I’d hoped
Two months ago, I set myself the target of losing 11 pounds in time for the Spectator’s summer party on…
Battle for Britain
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A better way to be charitable: just give money
Seven years ago I wrote here about a site called Kiva.org. I had met the co-founder of this charity when…
Dear Mary: Before an old boys’ reunion, should I tip people off to an interesting fact?
Q. The problem encountered by R.B. of Fareham (6 June) is similar to one I wish to avoid. I have…
The true France in a bottle
‘There lies the dearest freshness deep down things’ — and also the dearest Frenchness. It is easy to be rude…
How a prayer became business speak
No doubt you, too, have had the feeling, upon glancing at an article in a paper picked up in a…
Battle for Britain
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
Magnus toppled
Last week, world champion Magnus Carlsen suffered a devastating defeat in the first round of the Stavanger super tournament when…
No. 369
White to play. This is from Anand–Hammer, Stavanger 2015. White is a pawn up with a good position and his…
Court report
In Competition No. 2904 you were invited to take as your first line ‘There’s a breathless hush on the centre…
Your problems solved
Q. The problem encountered by R.B. of Fareham (6 June) is similar to one I wish to avoid. I have…
Deep Burgundy
‘There lies the dearest freshness deep down things’ — and also the dearest Frenchness. It is easy to be rude…
High life
Tempus sure fugit, and how. Twenty years ago, on Saturday 1 July 1995, monarchs from around the world descended on…
