Life
Stable conditions
The Chatsworth estate, Derby-shire. I am overwhelmed by marketing literature. I am prostrate. I am weeping. I am staying in…
Being the best
This time last year, England’s cricketers were 2-0 up against Australia, two thirds of the way towards their third consecutive…
An eye for quality
Through a stormy July weekend our task was to prevent four feisty grandchildren from murdering or mutilating each other before…
I’ve just met the future Mrs Taki — again
Gstaad I write this on 14 July, France’s big day and the 25th anniversary of my father’s passing. He died…
I am walking to the Spectator party — sober, clean and in all my finery
They do love a party at The Spectator. I was invited to four in ten days last week: the Apollo…
I bought a tin of dog food and paid £67.50
‘Cydney,’ I have just told the spaniel, ‘you had better enjoy this tin of dog food because it cost me…
Assisted suicide is too close to murder to be legal
How amazing to have two former Anglican archbishops, George Carey of Canterbury and Desmond Tutu of South Africa, supporting Lord…
Climbing Mount Kenya with my 13-year-old daughter
Kenya Highlands I’ve just descended Mount Kenya with Eve, my 13-year-old daughter, and her class of school leavers from Pembroke…
Bridge
The recent Open European Championship was won by Israel — but right up to the end, Monaco and England were…
Final flame
I am very sorry to report the death of International Master Andrew Whiteley, a friend of mine for half a…
No. 323
Black to play. This is from Litsberger-Whiteley, Harrachov 1967. This position also emanated from the Dragon Variation. What was Black’s…
Soccer lesson
In Competition No. 2856 you were invited to recruit a well-known author of your choice to give Phil Neville a…
2171: 31 Across
Seven identical two-by-two squares in the completed grid must be highlighted to depict the unclued entries, each of two words.…
to 2168: History exam
Initial letters of superfluous words in clues give nightingale, quail and cuckoo, specimens of AVIFAUNA (5) represented by FLUTE (43),…
Cameron was right to move Gove
I tried to reach Michael Gove on Tuesday shortly after the news broke that he’d been moved to the Whips’…
Battle for Britain
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Why we’ll never go back to smoking indoors
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
Dear Mary: How do I train my husband not to shout for me from far-flung rooms?
Q. My former cleaner has now retired and lives nearby. I visit her with clockwork regularity and always enjoy seeing…
A toast to all bottles
Where two or three British males are gathered together, the agenda often includes a glass or two. One thing can…
Origins of the toe-rag
‘I am glad to say that I have never seen a toe-rag,’ said my husband, assuming, as unconvincingly as one…
A toast to all bottles
Where two or three British males are gathered together, the agenda often includes a glass or two. One thing can…
How good laws change our ways
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
Wild life
Kenya Highlands I’ve just descended Mount Kenya with Eve, my 13-year-old daughter, and her class of school leavers from Pembroke…
With a hangover like this, my soul is ready to be saved
Island of Rhodes When I’m on the water, I feel I was born to it. Yachting has always been a…
Honesty, simplicity, integrity: not what I want the morning after
Tap tap tap at the door. I opened my eyes. ‘Check-out 10.30,’ said a neutral or possibly slightly hostile female…
