Life
Was Graham Greene right about Shirley Temple?
Shirley Temple, who died last week at the age of 85, was the most successful child film star in history.…
The Grand National needs kinder weather
This year you don’t want to be a jockey’s valet. Never have their washing machines spun so vigorously. From every…
Bridge
Bridge players are a generous bunch — both with their expertise and their time. There are many charity events to…
Triumvirate
Three important tournaments concluded this month, for two of which (Gibraltar and Bunratty) I attended the awards ceremonies. I have…
no. 302
White to play. This position is from Keogh-Chevannes, Bunratty 2014. How did White’s massive central build-up transform into a winning…
Lonely hearts
In Competition 2835 you were invited to submit a profile for an online dating website for a well-known politician, living…
2150: Content
Each of thirteen clues contains a superfluous word. Initial letters of these words spell the first four words of a…
Solution to 2147: Amazing Performance
Taking one unchecked letter from each across solution gives EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, whose victims, according to Chambers 2011, include TERRORIST SUSPECTs.…
Playground bullies and the contradiction at the heart of democracy
A new book by a Swedish psychiatrist has just come out that I like the sound of. It’s called How…
Battle for Britain
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
In defence of the BBC’s Sochi commentators
You can trust the BBC to behave like a leaf blown by any breeze, but even that spineless leviathan (if…
Dear Mary: How do you escape from a stranger's childhood trauma story?
Q. Recently a cousin and I gave a small drinks party in the USA. She had invited a very elegant…
The Fable would do better as an American Psycho theme bar
The Fable is three floors high and two days old, a monster newly hatched on the Holborn Viaduct; deep below…
When Scotland goes, will England return?
Who, my husband asked, expects every man will do his duty? He was responding to the interesting and important question…
Multi-story dining
The Fable is three floors high and two days old, a monster newly hatched on the Holborn Viaduct; deep below…
Flying boards and killer moustaches
You can trust the BBC to behave like a leaf blown by any breeze, but even that spineless leviathan (if…
On course for thrills
This year you don’t want to be a jockey’s valet. Never have their washing machines spun so vigorously. From every…
Why doesn't Stephen Fry boycott the Saudis as well as the Russians?
Call me sentimental, but I’ve never seen a better opening ceremony than the Sochi one, evoking Russia’s great past in…
My night in Zambia with Ian Dury
Every time I hear that song ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ played on the radio, I think, Lord,…
Let's make Andre Rieu the leader of the world
‘Please, I beg of you, take me to see André,’ was my mother’s heartfelt plea. And so it was that…
In praise of Milton Keynes
Who would ever have thought it, but I have become quite fond of Milton Keynes. Although I live slightly closer…
Jubilant greetings to you, Celestino! How is the atmospheric pressure in your corner?
Laikipia ‘I am old and cannot work again,’ said Celestino. ‘But you are 46 and we have many years to…
Bridge
A couple of Sundays ago, in London, Zia Mahmood and Demetri Marchessini held the first ever ‘Goulash Individual’ tournament. ‘Goulash’…
Georgics
George Osborne is a supporter of chess. During the award ceremony at 11 Downing St for last year’s London Candidates’…
no. 301
White to play. This position is from Carlsen-Caruana, Zurich 2014. White’s pin against the black rook and the passed pawn…
